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- Spangle - 03-28-2014 ![]() 3/10 - Oh the missed opportunity. It cuts me deep. Great visuals and direction from Ralph Fiennes in his directorial debut. The modern day adaptation of Shakepeare's play was a very creative way to change it up. The difference in setting when we see Apple Computers in one shot and then we see this very 1500s/1600s set pieces outside was a very interesting choice that I enjoyed. The action sequences were intense and the thrills were certainly there. In spite of knowing that this is a tragedy, you still get attached to the characters even though you know there is no other way for this one to wind up. Impressive on those fronts for sure. Now, the negatives. There are, admittedly, not many, but they are major enough to knock this down all the way to such a low rating for me. The major negative here is the dialogue. You can kind of piece together what is going on, for sure, but the Shakespearean language made this one a pain to watch. Very intense scenes could have been all the more intense if I understood what they were saying. The fact that they were intense at all speaks to Fiennes' talent in the director's chair, but his failure to realize that Shakespearean language is very hard to understand and does not really translate well to film is a major redmark on this debut. In addition, aside from Fiennes, the acting was incredibly spotty. In too many scenes, it felt forced and as if I was watching a bad play. I am sure the language used played a role in this feeling, but the acting was anything but up to snuff. With such a capable cast of actors, I expected much more, but was instead left disappointed as I never really "bought" a lot of it, as it was painfully obvious they were acting. ![]() 9/10 - Holy cow. I went into this one with the lowest possible expectations, but what I got in return was a moving story of accepting death, but just saying that does this film significant injustice. First off, the visual effects were jawdroppingly gorgeous. At times, I could not contain my awe and found myself almost moved to tears by these visuals. I simply cannot describe to you how gorgeous this film is without having you sit down and watch it. The visuals alone make this a crowning achievement in cinema and undoubtedly a crowning achievement for Darren Aronofsky, who's vision for this film comes through load and clear and was a resounding success. Aside from the visuals, the soundtrack was absolutely sublime. Much like the visuals, it was beautiful, elegant, and breathtaking at every turn. Hugh Jackman turned in a phenomenal performance as well. My main complaints surrounding this one surround the confusing nature of it. The nonlinear storytelling was great, but made for a confusing film as we bounced around between characters and then you had to try to find your footing again. However, that is simply me being petty. While it was hard to follow at times and made your brain explode at others, the story as well was quite moving and was really what helped to put the icing on the cake for me. While I think it could have been less compiicated, I am more content with the way it is currently. It is hard for me to understand the criticism aimed at this one. The way the story is presented also gives rise to a very good idea about the true nature of this film. Ultimately, there may just be one story in this one with it being directly tied to the other elements of this film. ![]() 7/10 - This one is pretty good overall. For a comedy that is almost 34 years old, the majority of the jokes still work pretty well. Sure, at no point was it absolutely laugh out loud hilarious, but it was damn funny all the same. Bill Murray was easily the funniest person in the movie, but I also really enjoyed scenes with Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield. In addition, the gopher was quite funny and was an unexpectedly solid addition to this one. On the negative side of things, the story was quite, well, there was no story. It felt like a mishmash of scenes that had little connecting them to one another with a few forced storylines over the way. I am not expecting some revolutionary story, but I was just hoping for something a little more than I got in terms of that story from this one. ![]() 7/10 - Disturbing in the beginning and happy in the ending, Sleepers is relatively straight forward. The acting is good, especially from all of the child actors, Robert De Niro, and Jason Patric, the story is interesting, and the disturbing moments really strike a chord with the audience to the degree that they want it to. Overall, the film is a solid watch and while it winds up devolving into your run-of-the-mill courtroom drama, the intrigue is still there throughout. However, the film just never is great. It's good at most moments, but never really takes that extra step and is really missing the "it" factor that makes a great film great. As of now, it is quite watchable and is still a fine film, but it had just never reached for the mountains, which is a shame. Regardless, the film was a fine watch and I cannot complain too much. ![]() 8/10 - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was certainly a very unique experience. Witty humor coupled with an interesting mystery thriller typically makes for a solid movie and this one is no exception. I really enjoyed the three leads; Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, and Michelle Monaghan. All of them did a good job and contributed positively to the film. Overall, one of the most enjoyable aspects of this film for aside from the laughs is the constant parallels drawn between the story of the film and a series of books mentioned frequently in the film. It is interesting while watching to see these parallels unfold throughout. Overall, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is certainly not a masterpiece, but what is nice to see is that it was creative. The plot, while I did enjoy it, is pretty straightforward and not exactly earth shattering. However, the added humor, especially from Downey and Kilmer, really elevated it above a cliched mystery thriller. - ORIGINSZ - 03-28-2014 Need for Speed 2/10 Awful movie horribly acted. Could not invest myself in the story at all didnt believe anything. Dont waste your money at all. Cool cars but is far from fast an furious series. American Hustle 7/10 Great acting, Cast, and very believeable. However i just didnt get into the story much. It didnt have me drawn into it as much as i hoped still a good movie but doesnt make me want to watch it many times - Spangle - 04-03-2014 ![]() 8/10 - Really good film here that makes it easy to see why it gets all the praise it does. Cary Grant does a great job and makes for a really enjoyable lead in this film as you really feel the exasperation with his situation that his character feels. The thrills were certainly there in this one, helped out a lot by the twists and turns throughout that really helped to elevate the film. My main problem with this one is that Eva Marie Saint's acting is not always up to snuff. There are moments when it is entirely cringe worthy. Also, maybe this is because this one is so old, but the plot became slightly predictable and cheesy. Not to a large degree, of course, but enough where it was worth mentioning. Regardless, this one was really enjoyable and very entertaining. ![]() 6/10 - In terms of influence, this one is a clear 10/10. The acting, for non-professional actors, is really good and De Sica proves that it is not just hype and that his films are deserving of the praise it receives. This one is absolutely a must watch for people who love film and is very much watchable. However, where this one struggles is that it undoubtedly can get quite boring at times and is very slow without question. In addition, while the melodrama is expected, it is a tad overbearing at times. Yet, in spite of those negatives, the story, while simple, is very interesting and while it serves as a background for everything else, it really helps tie everything together. Overall, I cannot rate this one higher because I did not enjoy it enough, but I certainly appreciate it regardless. ![]() 8/10 - Charming, sweet, touching, heartfelt, and tragic, Mud is a successful film for many reasons, one of which is the acting. It is hard to think of an actor more on top of his game than Matthew McConaughey and Mud is no exception. His charisma and easy going demeanor really pull you in and, while he is not directly the protagonist (even though he plays the title character), you find yourself rooting for him and hoping things work out for him. On top of McConaughey, both Tye Sheridan and Jack Lofland did fantastic jobs. For actors of their age, they packed considerable emotion and passion into their roles and really impressed me. Also, the supporting cast, headed by Sam Shepard was also phenomenal and really helped. While Fargo is a superior film, a lot of Mud reminded me of Fargo. While it was a totally different film, the way the film totally embodies the region it depicts and sort of oozes with Southern charm is very similar to the way Fargo really represents Minnesota. Both are also beautifully filmed. Fargo's imagery really helped to define it, especially with the blue/white colorization, while Mud's visuals have the same effect, but with golden light on it as if it was shot in "the magic hour" a la Terrence Malick's Days of Heaven. ![]() 1/10 - Wow this was just pure unadulterated trash. Not one character, aside from maybe Selena Gomez' character and James Franco's to some degree were likable. The film was essentially an incoherant mess with a random assortment of scenes that really lead nowhere. In fact, I found myself trying to figure out what the movie was about after it finished. The acting was ok, I would be hard pressed to think of another positive. I mean, the film did a good job making the ending intense, but even then, it felt sort of pointless and random. Intense, sure, but useful? Not at all. That is how Spring Breakers is defined for me, really. A bunch of scenes and situations that were dragged out for far too long. For me, this one felt like a horrible music video that was an hour and a half long rather than just 3-5 minutes long. Hell, even if this one was just a music video, I would still hate it. ![]() 7/10 - This one is not bad at all. The thrills are there and the ending sequence, even though we know it is coming, is as tragic as it should have been. However, in spite of that, the story feels...rushed. For example, the story felt a little on the short side and the character development, as seems to be the case with many films based on military actions, seems to be pretty thin as well. But, on the plus side, the acting was really good across the board. Tom Cruise caught a lot of flack here, but I enjoyed his performance here. It was a really nice, reserved, dramatic, and thoughtful, performance, that was by no means the best acting job I have seen, but it was far from the worst. - Maxy - 04-03-2014 I couldn't agree more on Spring breakers. Spring Breakers is literally the only movie I've ever turned off half way through because it was so awful. I love me some Selena Gomez and am a big fan of James Franco but this whole thing was just a train wreck of awful despicable people. - Spangle - 04-07-2014 4/10 - This one was nothing more than ok. Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson are both good in their roles and really help to elevate this film. The story is ok, but my main complaint has to do with the fact that the character development was extremely uneven and muddled. For example, both characters have moments where they are good guys and try to be honest, but then the next scene they are absolutely despicable human beings at the drop off a hat in order to get revenge. If this is some comment on society, then this one takes itself a little too seriously. If this is simply what they came up with, then the writers need to be a bit more creative. The constant horrendous acts by both sides made it hard to root for either side, in spite of my trying to identify with them, only for them to totally ruin that over-and-over. On top of that, their acts of revenge were a little far fetched and over the top. I guess the point is that nothing is off-limits for these guys, but I just had a hard time believing that any of this could happen as the film tried to claim. Overall, Changing Lanes is pretty much a run-of-the-mill thriller with solid acting and definite intensity than teases you constantly. Throughout, I wanted to love it and really invest myself in it, but I never could, because right as the film would start to open itself up to me, it would turn its back and get cold once more. 8/10 - I did not like this one as much as I expected to, but I liked it a lot all the same. I was initially going to rate this a little lower, but I paused and realized that I all of the major aspects that I look for were good to great in this film. The acting, led by Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster, was phenomenal, especially those two. Martin Scorsese is one of the best filmmakers around and this film is no exception as his direction is on point and provided for some really cool shots of New York City, especially those from inside the taxi cab. The writing here was also good with plenty quotable lines and providing for a fantastic characterization of our lead, Travis Bickle. It was so painfully obvious who he was, that you could almost predict his actions before he did them, which is a sign of a great script. We really become invested Travis and he truly comes to life in this film. Ultimately, that is the film's "claim to fame". I do not love the story and the film can be quite slow, almost boring, at times, but at the end of the day, the film is a class-A character study that really hits all of its marks. ![]() 8/10 - I have seen a lot of films that have been left me emotionally reeling, but nothing like this. This film was not at all what I was expecting and I totally love that about it. Hillary Swank and Clint Eastwood were phenomenal in this film and I also absolutely loved Clint Eastwood's direction. His dark, moody direction worked perfectly here and really helped to define this film for me. Really, though, at the end of the day, this is a character driven film and both Swank and Eastwood carry this film together as a team and bring it past the finish line. It is tough to write about a film like this, aside from telling you to watch it if you have not. If you have, you know what I mean. Great film. ![]() 4/10 - This was just not for me. I enjoy Paul Thomas Anderson's films and his direction here was great as expected. I also really enjoyed Adam Sandler in this film, he really embodies this entirely psychologically off character and his final confrontation with Philip Seymour Hoffman (who was also great here) was both funny and intense. The added element of the pudding, with it being something from real life was also very interesting. However, my main problem here was it was just too quirky and weird for me. I somewhat enjoyed the pudding thing, but it really added a lot to this problem. The awkwardness and quirkiness in every scene was overbearing at times and really sapped any enjoyment this one could have provided for me, to the point where it felt like nails on a chalkboard. It was awkwardness overload. ![]() 8/10 - Really good film here without question. In the lead role, Al Pacino is absolutely killer and you can really feel the nerves, frustration, and exasperation, that he feels without even having to hear him say a thing. John Cazale is also great as the slightly unhinged accomplice who Sonny (Pacino) has to try to keep under wraps. I also really enjoyed the news footage look to it, considering the story became a major news spectacle, so it was as if we were simply watching the story on the news or a documentary after the fact (especially considering the story was based on a true story). My main complaint with this one would probably be that it slowed down a bit in parts, but whenever it picked up again, thoughts of those slower moments disappeared, so it was not a major issue for me at all. Yet, it is definitely worth mentioning. - GroupMeIsKindOfOkay - 04-07-2014 felt the same way about Taxi Driver. expected it to be better, but it was still good. - Spangle - 04-07-2014 Quote:Originally posted by Midas Whale@Apr 7 2014, 02:36 PM Indeed. I felt like it was missing that special something. I mean, I heard people saying it was the best movie ever and shit, but I just didn't see it. Really good, but just short of being something great for me. - GroupMeIsKindOfOkay - 04-07-2014 Quote:Originally posted by Spangle@Apr 7 2014, 01:54 PMsimilar to TD :ph34r: - Spangle - 04-07-2014 Quote:Originally posted by Midas Whale@Apr 7 2014, 03:08 PM YOU MOTHERFUCKER ![]() - Hallsy - 04-09-2014 can't believe people actually watched Spring breakers. - Spangle - 04-14-2014 ![]() 3/10 - This is not a successful comedy by any standard. First off, the story is not that good. At times, it can pique your interest, before falling off again. When it comes to the jokes, I have a hard time identifying more than a handful. I could probably count on one hand the amount of times I laughed and/or smirked. That is never a good thing when it comes to comedies. On top of that, the actors all looked like they just mailed this one in. Not many seemed to care that much and just wanted the paycheck that came with accepting this role. Down Periscope is not funny or exciting, so it is hard for me to recommend this one to anybody. ![]() 7/10 - Quite a good film indeed. Colin Firth kicks ass and takes names as King George VI and it is truly no wonder that he won Best Actor. Throughout the film, I could not help but marvel at Firth's amazing performance and he really caries this one on his shoulders. Beyond him, the film is a very nice period drama with pitch perfect art and costume direction that really define the era that is covered here. Geoffrey Rush also did a very good job here, though I cannot help but think he almost got overshadowed by Firth's powerhouse performance in the lead role. The film also does a good job making us feel sympathy for the King as he struggles with this debilitating speech impediment that prevents him from being able to speak to his nation as he should. In terms of negatives, this one has a couple which prevent me from giving it a higher score. First off, it is incredibly slow. The final 15-20 minutes are gold and exactly what we are waiting for, but, while everything before certainly has its moments, it certainly drags a fair bit. I was never bored, but it was troublesome to say the least. Also, this one does not strike me as a film with a lot of replay value. I watched it and now what? If this one is on television or what not, I do not really envision myself stopping and having to watch it again. Regardless, it is quite a good film and it is not hard to see why it did so well at the Oscars. 8/10 - This was my first time watching a film by Akira Kurosawa and I was anything but disappointed. The cinematography was great as expected and, while certainly slow, the film was absolutely engrossing. At times, the film can certainly be more than a little confusing (especially during battle sequences), but in spite of that, it remained enjoyable. There was a small amount of humor mixed in there that really helped to lighten the mood, but any lightening of the mood was undone by the ending sequences, which were heartbreakingly tragic to watch unfold. Overall, Kagemusha is a really good film and I cannot wait to keep exploring Kurosawa's works. ![]() 8/10 - Really really intense film, which made for a very exciting and satisfying experience. Tom Hanks is great in the lead role, as expected and throughout, the expected thrills and suspense are absolutely there as you find yourself virtually on the edge of your seat at times. What was unexpected, for sure, is the sympathy I personally felt for a couple of the pirates, in particular Barkhad Abdi's character. You certainly get the sense that he does not want to be doing this, but has no choice as it is the only way he can make any money in Somalia. In spite of that, director Paul Greengrass is still able to instill the sense of fear felt by Phillips as the pirates prove again and again that they are unpredictable and prone to rash decisions, which really makes you worry for Phillips and will become of him. Overall, Captain Phillips is a very entertaining film that is entirely straightforward (not a knock) and proves to certainly be another strong entry in what was a great year of film in 2013 ![]() 3/10 - I could never really get into this one. There are a lot of philosophical questions being discussed, largely of the ethical nature, but it just felt really pointless to me. Maybe that was the point, I'm not sure, but regardless, it never really grabbed me. At the end of the day, I just saw two pointless stories being told for some unknown reason and totally lacking in interest. One story was somewhat interesting, the one concerning Martin Landau's character. There was plenty of depth there and it really does save this movie as we see him grappling with the decisions he had made. On the other hand, the story concerning Woody Allen's character is annoying and a waste of time. It felt like they did not feel they had enough with the other story and tacked this on for no reason. Really, all we see is a man who is wrapped up in his hatred of this other guy and let's it get to annoying heights. Luckily, there are occasional moments of comedy that help bolster this one up a bit as well or else the rating would be far lower. I really do not understand the praise for this one. - Spangle - 04-19-2014 ![]() 4/10 - Buffalo '66 is simply an ok film. It is an interesting character study of a very damaged man who is struggling throughout with the demons of his life. The film is at times very dark, funny, quirky, and absurd, but mostly the last of those. Usually, I do not have a problem with absurd scenarios, but with this one being essentially based around an absurd scenario (well, not based around, but a large part of it concerns it) is annoying. It really distracts you from the film. On top of that, I get what Vincent Gallo was going for in terms of his character Billy Brown, but it was a little overdone to the point that his quirkiness is overwhelming, and much like the absurdity, annoying. The film is far from horrible, but these negatives really took away from my enjoyment of it. In terms of positives, the aforementioned characterizaton of Billy Brown was really done well, as well as his transformation throughout the film. The Billy Brown we first meet is totally different than the one the film ends with and it is enjoyable to watch this transformation take place throughout the film. In addition, the acting by Vincent Gallo and Christina Ricci was quite good and really helped to carry this film. ![]() 8/10 - This one is absolutely crazy. Throughout, I could feel my brain exploding as I tried to grasp what was going on. However, once I had an idea (and that idea was later confirmed), everything made a little more sense, but even then, the ending is still completely open to interepretation. In many ways, that is what makes this film so successful. It is confusing as all get out, then it shows a little "hint" and then as that sinks in, you realize that that may not be the answer we were looking for. Ultimately, it is a film of decisions and how those decisions will change the course that our lives take. From a technical standpoint, the cinematography is great and Jaco Van Dormael is able to really create some interesting things with this film without question and really helps you to feel sympathy and happiness and then symapthy and then happiness over-and-over throughout the film.. On top of that, Jared Leto is great as always in the lead role. In terms of negatives, the confusion is one of them. I love the confusion, but at times, it goes too far and you are left sitting there thinking "really?". On top of that, there are a few inconsistencies I noticed that disrupted the film slightly for me or left me more confused about the inclusion of a specific scene if it was not going to have an impact on other things. Other than that, I really enjoyed this film and it certainly makes you use your head. ![]() 8/10 - Great acting as always from Tom Hanks, as well as good supporting turns from Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, and Ed Harris, as Apollo 13 manages to capture the suspense, excitement, and potential tragedy, that is packed into this true story. The film is certainly slow at points, but for me, throughout, I was very intrigued by the film. From when they were preparing to when things start going wrong to the end, I was hooked. The film is never great, so to speak, but it was still very good and, while it needed no help in doing so, did a great job creating suspense when things went wrong, as well as sympathy for the families of the men aboard. The suspense is constant and really leaves you on the edge of your seat as you see the inner workings of the ordeal and it almost leaves you in tears as you watch their families deal with the ordeal back at home. Overall, a very enjoyable film that is not great, but is still very good. ![]() 7/10 - Big is a pretty good comedy overall with a touching story to boot. Throughout, laughs are provided as you watch the absurdity of the situations that Josh Baskin finds himself in and that is coupled with a touching story that we can all relate to as we age (though not quite as rapidly, haha). The film is admittedly a little cheesy at times, but it never really bothered me honestly. In the lead role, Tom Hanks is killer and plays the grown up overnight role perfectly and really embodies the little "ticks" you would expect from somebody who underwent the transformation he underwent. Overall, this film is far from a cinematic masterpiece, but is a cute little comedy that is endlessly enjoyable. ![]() 8/10 - Really good film here. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe turn in reliably great performances here, but the real star of this show for me was Ben Foster. From the moment he entered the picture, he began staking his claim as the actor with the best performance in this film. His performance honestly floored me and, while he clearly defined himself as the antagonist and pure evil, I could not help but root for him to some very small degree. Beyond the acting, the action was really well done and, throughout, the suspense and intensity of those situations and the non-action sequences were definite pros for this film. The characterization of everybody was very well done as well. The film was just two hours, but managed to go into shocking detail on all of the major players and that really impressed me. Another pro was the sets, costumes, and cinematography. All of those worked really well to encapsulate the time period and the cinematography really provided some "classic Western shots" that were as beautiful as always. I really have a thing for the cinematography in westerns and this one is a great example of that beauty. Finally, the ending was suitably tragic and, yet, oddly uplifting at times, which really made it all the more effective as we saw the end of every character's arc and it really leaves you feel satisfied. - Kesler17 - 04-20-2014 ![]() 7/10 I really enjoyed this movie, it had everything, nudity, action, jokes etc etc. Orlando Bloom was great in this movie, lol he looked pretty over grown in this and not all neat and tidy like I have seen him in other films. I would suggest watching it imo tbh. - Spangle - 05-03-2014 ![]() 9/10 - This one managed to completely live up to my hopes. First off, like all Wes Anderson films, it has a very distinctive look, which is endlessly gorgeous, but I think this one is the most beautiful of his works for me. Every set piece, every costume, every shot, every everything, was absolutely breathtaking. I would be hard-pressed to find a shot that is not beautiful. The amount of symmetry in practically every shot was also very impressive and shows you how much work was put into this one. One thing that differentiaties this one from other works of his that I have seen is how the exterior shots of buildings (such as the hotel) look almost animated from a distance even though they are obviously not. It was a very odd, yet awesome touch. On top of the beauty of the film, it is absolutely hilarious. Ralph Fiennes makes for a hilarious main character (not really the lead) and there were so many scenes with him that were absolutely hilarious. I honestly never expected to laugh as much as I did, but this was easily the funniest Anderson film I have seen yet. On top of these positives, the story was incredibly engrossing and never really caused me to lose any interest, as there was no real lull in the film. Overall, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a great film that is probably my favorite Anderson film to date and will likely wind up being one of my favorites of 2014. ![]() 7/10 - Overall, Bad Boys is a pretty solid film that is anchored by a great performance from a young Sean Penn. The main success for the film is the slow, meticulous build to the climax throughout the film and then the intensity of that climax. Both leave you reeling to a certain degree as you realize that situations like this really do exist. On top of that, the transformation that Mick undergoes is astounding, as he really changes from the young boy we meet at the beginning to the man who we see at the end of the film. While the juvenile institution may have been useless for many of his fellow inmates, it clearly helped him. The film is pretty straight forward and is not great in any area (aside from Penn's acting), but is still a pretty solid flick that is worth a watch. ![]() 6/10 - This film is not successful in many areas, but the one area where it is successful is what ultimately saves it. As a comedy, it is not exactly a success in my mind. I rarely laughed throughout and, honestly, felt as though it operated as a light-hearted drama with a few comedic moments thrown in to lighten the mood further. While the jokes were sporadic, what was not sporadic was the pure joy provided by the film. Overall, the film is not a technical masterpiece, the acting is spotty, and I did not really find it funny, but I enjoyed it all the same. It is simply a fun movie to watch, it leaves you smiling and it is hard not to have a good time watching this one. That is where this one is truly successful. ![]() 8/10 - The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a war film that is far more than your typical war film. It is dark, yes, but it is deeply emotional and entirely tragic, yet beautiful all the same. From the shots of the lovely Irish countryside to the interactions amongst the characters to the costumes, the film was very much a beautiful one. However, it is the acting and characterization of the characters that really help to make this film a home run. In war films, there is typically a plethora of action with little-to-no character development. However, here, we get both. We are not shielded to the carnage of war as there is plenty of "action", but we also get the emotional trauma that accompanies war in the characters' interactions with one another and their families. Cillian Murphy and cast also kill their roles and really handle this one perfectly, as does the director, Ken Loach. Another strength for the film is the delicacy with which is handles the tension between the British and the Irish. Yes, the British are depicted as evil and unjust, but we are not given a romanticized version of the IRA either. Instead, we see them doing exactly what the British do, but since we are seeing the war through their eyes, we are not angered by their actions. But, by showing them doing exactly what the Brits do, especially at the end, the film allows us to realize that there is no true bad guy and both sides have rotten elements to them. Nobody is truly innocent on either side. At the end of the day though, the violence and trauma depicted effect everybody involved in the war effort, whether directly or indirectly. A beautifully tragic film, The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a very good film. It is not a great one, but it is hard to ask for much more from a film of this kind. ![]() 7/10 - Nobody does stylish violence like Quentin Tarantino. Yes, the blood is very much over-the-top, but my God it is just so beautiful filmed I cannot even be bothered by it. Plus, it is absolutely hilarious the way in which some people die in this film. In addition, the battle sequences are 100% gorgeous. The choreography is amazing and thought out. In the lead role, Uma Thurman is perfectly cast and absolutely kills (heh) her role. On the negative side of things, the dialogue can become a tad cheesy at times and make you roll your eyes that they decided to go with that line. On top of that, the violence, while stylish, can be numbing and the death scenes repeat themselves (i.e. many characters die in the same exact way and you see a similar shot of their death). Finally, the weird anime sequence as we got a character's back story was a turn off for me. It just made the film feel disjointed and felt like a very weird turn that was not really necessary. Overall, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is a pretty good film. However, as it is simply half of the final product, it does feel unfinished, so you have to take the fact that it is intended to be the first half of the film into account, which is why I do like this one as much as I do. As a lead-in to the second film, it is very successful as I was left with a burning desire to watch part two almost immediately after finishing this one. - Duey - 05-03-2014 Last movie I watched, The Amazing Spiderman 2 in 3D Review: It was awesome. |