[ { "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" } ]