I have watched quite a couple of films lately. Most of them I didn’t even bother to review. Not because they were bad, although they were some really bad ones like Step Brothers, but because there was nothing special about them. I wouldn’t recommend or warn anyone about them.
Now onto the ones I really liked (recs) and the ones that were a waste of time (wrecks):
Precious
Review!
The Hurt Locker
Review!
Brothers
Review!
Invictus
Review!
500 Days of Summer
Julia
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Julie & Julia
The Blind Side
Avatar
I love you Beth Cooper
Jennifer’s Body
2012
The Proposal
Trick ‘r Treat
District 9
Orphan
Moon
Review!
Inglourious Basterds
Last House on the Left
Review!
Dragonball Evolution
Ice Age 3 (3D)
Transformers 2 – Revenge of the Fallen
Quarantine
The Spirit
Didn’t know the graphic novel this is based on. Maybe the original material is already utterly ridiculous and over the top, but this film set the bar higher (or lower in this case) for crappy films than I have ever seen. Don’t expect another Sin City or 300. This is crap!
Drag Me To Hell
Hilariously dark horror flick but grandmaster Sam Raimi. How could anyone need more incentive than that?
Push
Not even the hotness that is Chris Evans can make up for this wannabe superhero/mutant flick. Did I mention Dakota Fanning is in this one? Yep, the film is as bad as it sounds.
The Day The Earth Stood Still (remake)
Keanu Reeves, changed plot details, the Will Smith mini-me – nuff said. Stay clear!
Paul Blart – Mall Cop
Kevin James is a funny guy. Unfortunately not in this film. Ridiculous plot (if you wana call it that) with silly slapstick comedy that doesn’t let James’s charme shine through make this a total dud!
Sunshine Cleaning
Quirky indie with two big hearts – namely Amy Adams and Emily Blunt. If that doesn’t already get you to watch it you probably won’t appreciate it anyways.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Review!
Madagascar 2 : Escape to Africa
Great sequel with all the characters/animals we loved in the first one and most importantly – the penguins are back! The film is good fun for kids and adults, with tons of little jabs at things only adults will get. This is definitely one for the entire family. Re-watch potential galore!
Religulous
No matter what you think of Bill Maher or where you stand on the faith/belief-science debate spectrum, you have to check out this film. Probably more fun for people who are not strong religious believers, but his more than valid points should get everyone thinking and a debate starting.
Vicki Cristina Barcelona
I am not a Woody Allen fan. Quite the opposite actually, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Different narrative style, great acting and amazing locales make this an entertaining must see!
JCVD
If you have ever sworn to yourself to only watch one Jean Claude Van Damme film in your lifetime then this is the one! Fans of the “muscles from Brussels” will watch it by default and will hopefully not be scared off by the new direction Van Damme seems to be taking with his film career. Tongue-in-cheek, ironically hilarious and self-deprecating. Welcome to the new Jean Claude.
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Review!
Nomad the Warrior
I felt like watching the bad twin of Mongol.
Right at your Door
Review!
Pride & Glory
Starring Edward Norton and Colin Farrell the film centers on a cop family dealing with corruption. Well done, but unfortunately we have seen this done so many times by now….. If you really like any of the actors or like cop films go for it. Everyone else stay clear!
Igor
I was not too excited about this film. The trailer wasn’t that great, it tanked at the box office as far as I remember and after watching it I totally get why. This has got to be one of the worst animated films since Delgo, not because of the animation, but thanks to the lackluster story. The best thing about this film is the character Scamper, voiced by Steve Buscemi. Unfortunately that doesn’t carry a whole film. Don’t even bother getting this one for the kids. Stay clear!
Max Payne
Review!
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I am on of the (apparently) few who didn’t like Button. The film was too stretched out and lengthy for me and I don’t have a problem with a film running close to three hours. The running time has to be warranted and in Button it just isn’t. The fascinating story, great actors and interesting setting and visuals can’t outweigh the lack of pushing the edit button. A great accomplishment on the visual and sfx front, but unfortunately nothing more.
Gran Torino
One of, if not, THE best film Eastwood ever made I still don’t understand why it was completely snubbed by the Academy. Great acting, decent story, fun and laughter as well as tragedy and drama. This film has it all. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
My Best Friend’s Girl
Kate Hudson. You made me watch this. But not even seeing you on the screen could make up for the crappiness that is this film. While watching this I made a mental note to never ever watch a film with Dane Cook ever again. This guy is now officially a reason to NOT go and see a film. STAY CLEAR!
Pineapple Express
I knew this was a stoner movie when I got to see it, but James Franco gave me some hope this might turn out to be a decent flick. Unfortunately I don’t seem to be able to relate to stoners at all since I don’t understand the appeal of the film or why it ever saw the light of day. One helluva waste of celluloid. If I had used the negative to wipe my ass I would have given it more meaning and purpose. Don’t even pick this one up to look at at the store!
Frost/Nixon
Politics? No thank you. A film about politics? NO THANK YOU! A film about politics of 30 years ago? NO FUCKING THANK YOU!!! Those were my initial thoughts about Frost/Nixon and was I in for a surprise when I finally got around to watching it. I can’t really put my finger on it why this film works whether you like politics or not, whether you knew about those tapes before watching the film or not. It all does not matter thanks to Ron Howard being a great director and somehow managing to keep us enthralled until the last minute. One of my pics for Best Picture of the Year!
Slumdog Millionaire
Beyond a doubt the Best Picture of the Year. This film has it all. A great story, characters with depth and faults and an execution that makes this film nearly perfect. If you only get to see one film it better be this one!
Revolutionary Road
Kate Winslet’s Oscar-worthy performance (although the Academy didn’t even nominate her – idiots!) is reason enough to watch this. The film itself is quite depressing (as 99% of the films opening around xmas last year were) but still a must see for the powerful performances not only by Winslet, but DiCaprio and especially Michael Shannon, who at least got the recognition he deserved. MUST SEE!
In Bruges
Who would have thought that there will ever be a film in which I can’t help but like Colin Farrell and his acting? In Bruges managed that. Quirky dialogue, a good story, great actors and an amazing showdown make this a must see!
Appaloosa
I am not a fan of Westerns, but this one was a lot of fun to watch. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen play off each other perfectly and make for an interesting “couple” of marshals. Action, backstabbing, humor, cool heroes – this film has got it all. Don’t let Renee Zellweger scare you off!
How to lose friends and alienate people
Simon Pegg and Megan Fox were the reason I went to see this. Pegg can be hilariously funny, unfortunately annoying and obnoxious fit better this time around, and Fox is always nice to look at. Even adding Gillian Anderson to the mix didn’t save this disaster of a film. Don’t even bother with this one.
An American Carol
Too low brow and stupid for my taste, Zucker is trying it again with old star Leslie Nielsen in the mix. Unfortunately the poignant satire strays off course and gets drowned by stupid gags all around. Stay clear!
The Visitor
Review!
The Dutchess
Review!
Doubt
One of the best films of the year, Doubt has tragedy, drama and humor paired with brilliant performances. A MUST SEE!
