Reviews

I very recently viewed Bad Taste. The only thing that drew me to this, like many people, was the fact that it is Peter Jacksons first feature film, and I'm a fan of him not even from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but from King Kong.

You have probably heard a lot about how Bad Taste is amazing, but i'm here to set the record straight, in my mind anyway.

The fact is: it is good for certain things. This certainly doesn't rank among the best films ever made, but as far as low budget horror films go, I'd imagine this is one of the best.

At first, after near-puking, I thought "this movie is just disgusting," then I realized that was the point of it. But still, thats not what I find appealing about it.

I'm an aspiring film director, and I've got a friend Australia writing a screenplay for me, so this movie is inspiration for me, because of the way it is made. It took Peter Jackson four years to make this film, the reason being he could only shoot on weekends, and his friends that were helping him weren't as dedicated as he was. It was done on an extremely low budget, but despite the current going against him, it got to some film festivals, was released in a good number of theatres, and won him fame and an eventual Academy Award.

So, for everyone, this is a imaginative film, that shows if you know how, and you have the means, to make a movie, there is a way, no matter how long it will take

Now, i'm not gonna go off and give this movie a cold review. I'm gonna go through all the motion picture arts, and see how "Manos" - The Hands of Fate adds up Acting -- Horrible. The best actor in this movie is probably Torgo, and thats not saying much. IT sounds like their yelling at you. Their unnatural, emotional depiction, looks, everything dreadful. To give you an example of how bad it is, take Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, Russell Crowe, and Jack Nicholson, and think the COMPLETE opposite.

Art Direction -- Not much to say here. They used an existing house, and the stayed in basically two rooms the whole time, so there isn't enough room to talk about how bad it was.

Cinematography -- Ghastly. The angles in the ten minute car ride, showing the Masters picture 5 times in 30 seconds, while the picture is at the other end of the screen, it really makes me wonder how it can be that bad.

Directing -- Hollow. Maybe the reason was because the director really was tied to a tree the whole time Editing -- I can't decide whether it was done with cut and paste, or a hammer and chisel Music (Score) -- They used the wrong music at the wrong time Music (Song) -- "Row Row Row Your Boat." Very bad singing Sound Editing -- Most of the duologue was dubbed. They did a very bad job at it. Their lips would start moving and two seconds later you would hear them talk. Mixing that with the music, it was very poorly done.

Writing -- Not bad. When I heard of the plot, I was attracted to it, so I bought the movie. If all of the above would of been changed, this script would of made a good movie.

Overall picture quality, just bad. I guess i this is the movie to see if you have ever been sitting around at home, and your wondering what kind of film a fertilizer salesman from El Paso, Texas would make. I thought i could put up with it, but I starting clawing at my face when the movie was finished, only taking breaks to kick myself in the head.

I can say with true confidence that this is the worst movie ever made

His crime: nonconformity. His sentence: the chain gang. Paul Newman plays one of his best-loved roles as Cool Hand Luke, the loner who won't — or can't — conform to the arbitrary rules of his captivity. It recalls other hallmark Newman performances: Luke is "The Hustler" without a dream of victory, "Harper" without a moral mission, "Hud" without a father to defy.

"Give an actor a good script and he'll move the world," Newman said when pronouncing Cool Hand Luke on of the best scripts he'd read in years. "Luke is detached and indifferent, but he can't beat the system he scoffs at." There's good reason for the scripts authenticity: co-author Donn Pearce spent two years of his own life on a chain gang.

A cast of fine character actors, including George Kennedy in his Academy®-Award winning† role of Dragline, gives Newman solid support as fellow prisoners. And Strother Martin is the Captain who taunts Luke with the famous line, "What we've got here is...failure to communicate." No failure here. With rich humor and vibrant storytelling power, Cool Hand Luke succeeds resoundingly.

†1967: Best Supporting Actor.

—From the Cool Hand Luke DVD box

"Candy doesn't have to make since, that's why it's candy," so says the character Charlie in Tim Burton's (Sleepy Hollow, Big Fish) re-adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's tale, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So does this, in so many ways, "quirky" film, have to make since? Should the interesting, and kind of scary performance by Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Neverland) matter on whether this film is good or not?

Over the past week, critics such as Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper have said that "this movie has succeeded despite Depp's performance, which should have been the high point of the movie." Now lets consider the career of Johnny Depp; he started in the 1980's in Wes Cravens' A Nightmare on Elm Street. He considered himself an actor when he got to Oliver Stones' Platoon. Then he received a Golden Globe nomination for his silent-actor portrayal of an outcast in Edward Scissorhands, then to Benny and Joon, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. Then he had another venture with Tim Burton, and received a Golden Globe nomination and critical acclaim for his work in Ed Wood. Then he stared in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, portraying one of his favorite authors, the late Hunter S. Thompson. He stared in another film by Tim Burton, Sleepy Hollow, for which he received a Blockbuster Entertainment Award. Then to Blow. And a few years later, he received Academy Award Nominated performances in Pirates of the Caribbean, and Finding Neverland. Now we're off topic, but the point of that was, his entire career is made up of versatility, just in this past half decade, he played a gypsy (Chocolat), a drug lord (Blow), an inspector (From Hell), and a Pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean). So, Johnny Depp did a wonderful job considering he was trying to portray Willy Wonka separately, away from Gene Wilder's performance in the 1971 adaptation. Sure, he reminded us of Michael Jackson mixed with Mr. Rodgers, but it works. In my opinion, that's probably what Depp wanted. He enjoys freaking people out, especially the producers, with his performances. He made it seem like Wonka was a recluse, which he indeed was. I thought this was a wonderful ingredient to Johnny Depp's filmography.

Tim Burton has worked with Johnny Depp three other times, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, each one a classic. It was a risk to make this film. Many people were hysterical about it, including the original Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder. Tim Burton's main purpose of this movie was to re-adapt the book, not remake the movie. With many new ideas, it is successful. It is visually amazing, with the introduction, to the set decoration, also the incredible score and songs, written by the composer of almost all of Burton's films, Danny Elfman, to the incredible book-to-screen adaptation.

The low point of the movie… Freddie Highmore. It's true, sorry to say it. Highmore possibly bought you to tears in 2004's Finding Neverland. For that performance, Johnny Depp was so pleased with it that he recommended him for this film. Freddie doesn't touch the grain of good acting, he was unnatural, and monotone. And he is really bad at showing emotion in this movie (surprising considering his recent film). There is a scene where he is forced to make a decision, that decision results in him being mad at Wonka, and it was an immediate change, nothing leading into it, and it just made people laugh at him, with the look of intimidation and it sent audiences chuckling. So, despite his critical acclaim in Finding Neverland, this performance is not what you wish it could be. Peter Ostrum never did another film after Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which was out of his own will. It is truly ironic that Highmore himself says that he does not plan to continue acting as an adult.

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton are working together again, in the stop-animation film The Corpse Bride, a cousin to Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas.

So, does this film have to make since? Many people don't think so, considering the track records of Depp and Burton, but, yes it does. It has to, and it does. Charlie has hilarious acting, good directing, good story, it's all around good, quirky fun!

I've always been told to close with a quote, because someone else already said it, so why try and top it? When asked about his roles being so different than the others, "I hope so. That's kind of the goal, isn't it? To try something new, each time out of the gate, and, you either make it work or you fail miserably." —Johnny Depp

Basically what I though this movie was showing was my parents fantasy, driving north of San Diego (I live there so it's ironic) and tasting Wine all day in Temecula and San Luis Obispo. It drug on a lot and it was kinda boring, but I did laugh in some parts. There was some good acting by Thomas Haden Church, and Paul Giamatti. I don't think Virginia Madsen did the greatest job in the world, but she is a good actress so I guess it's alright. I didn't think it was best picture material, however. I think Hotel Rwanda should have taken it's place. It had a much more in depth meaning to it, as opposed to Sideways, which was a bout finding something inside of you that you didn't know was there. I don't think that this movie made that evident. I had to hear it on the Golden Globes to even recognize that. 5 out of ten.

Martin Scorsese's The Aviator is a depiction of the life of Howard Hughes. Howard Hughes was a pilot, a billionaire, a businessman, and before anyone else, a "womanizer" and a victim of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). He cared very much about what he did, and demanded a good title, not the rich boy from Texas. Now, did this movie, with Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes, portray his life well? First we need to look at what Hughes' life was. In a sense, his problems started with his mother. In the beginning of the movie young Howard Hughes is being adamantly bathed by his mother, ensuing the OCD, and talking to him on how "he is not safe," ensuing paranoia.

This is normal for one of Scorsese's films, considering many of his main characters have problems and/or are trying to find their way in life. The director did portray the drama in Hughes life, putting special emphasis on the presses flashing light bulbs, screaming, stepping on light bulbs, etc. I, personally did not like how much emphasis they put on the drama. I think they made the film kind of confusing on what it was really about, which makes it hard to do things like this. When I walked into the theater I thought I was going to see an awesome film about planes, and movies, because that's what Howard Hughes is essentially known for, by most people, but it trailed from film, to aviation, to the drama in his life and women. I thought to much was focused on the women in his life such as Jean Harlow (Gwen Stefani), Katherine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale), and other teenage whores.

Leonardo DiCaprio did a good job, however, of transitioning through these. So I guess it made it less abrupt. He also did a good portrayal of Hughes in general, making his passion for what he did believable, and I was impressed by the determination he bought to life. He did an excellent job as Hughes, but personally I didn't think it was the best portrayal of a character, but that's my opinion.

Now, this is one of the best portrayals of a character that I have seen, Katherine Hepburn, played by Cate Blanchett. Just a few things that made it good, the looks, the fake laughs, the accent, the attitude, the words she used, it was brilliant. I would like her to win her Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

This is one thing I like about directors like Martin Scorsese, Peter Weir, and others; they get really into there movies. They make sure they are down to the point historically correct, and they actually care about them, and in a sense they are the only people who produce it. For example, Scorsese recommended to Blanchett to watch Hepburn's first 15 movies to get everything down, so she did, and she also took cold showers, something Hepburn is known for, whether that helped her acting or not I don't know.

The movie portrays two decades of Hughes' life, and Scorsese must of wanted it all because he put it into a long, dragging 3 Hours (2 hrs. 46 minutes). What is interesting is it won the Oscar for best Film Editing, but they should of edited out about an hour, then I would understand.

Another thing I didn't like about The Aviator was that it kept switching plots. It's called The Aviator, so plane people go in there, rightfully expecting aviation, and aviation is 25 % of the movie, I went in there because I heard of his movies, another 25%, etc. I liked the movie, but I thought it was a good movie for people who have never heard of Howard Hughes, it sums in basic terms.

It had the lead in the 2005 Oscar Nominations, 11 total, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Leonardo DiCaprio and Best Supporting Actress, Cate Blanchett. However it went home with only five, Best Supporting Actress- Cate Blanchett, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design

Million Dollar Baby is a story of a girl who has a dream and is hell-bent on fulfilling it, that dream is boxing, the girl is Maggie Fitzgerald. She is dedicated to make her dream come true and is desperate for a coach, and seeks out Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood,) and Dunn is scared off because he "doesn't train girls." Dunn finally submits to coaching Fitzgerald, and they are on their way to a title.

The character played by Hillary Swank (Maggie Fitzgerald) is a girl from Missouri, your average hillbilly, who has been a waitress most of her life and wants to get out of that lifestyle, the lifestyle of stealing leftovers for food, and getting paid minimum wage. She is convinced that boxing is that way out, and she goes to a respected, but whole-in-the-wall gym in Los Angeles, only to bug Frankie until he trains her. Soon enough she definitely wasn't the one doing the begging.

He is not optimistic by the idea, considering she has been boxing for three years, and it doesn't show. Clint Eastwood did a wonderful job producing it, directing it, and playing one of the lead characters. His character brought together the seriousness of the movie, along with all the humor. It is a wonderful balancing act for Eastwood, and it works. The Good the Bad and the Ugly star marks this the 25th film he has directed, the 57th film in which he has acted, and the 21st he has produced. He is supported by Morgan Freeman, who is a former boxer, and janitor of the gym.

Morgan Freeman plays Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris, a muse it seems like, to Fitzgerald. He is the one that taught her how to box, even though Dunn directly told him not to encourage her. He is half blind, and makes fun of himself for it, and is probably the wisest one in this movie, who's counsel will get you thinking. He is a character that demands respect in a quiet way, but when he is angered he is ferocious, the one scene in the movie that shows it anyway.

About the movie, it isn't a "boxing story," or anything of that sort. It is a movie about a father/daughter type relationship. It is a story about devotion, unconditional love, and strength. Later in the movie the characters battle something that I will not go into.

Million Dollar Baby was nominated for 7 AcademyAwards, but went home with four very honorary ones including: Best Motion Picture, Best Actress- Hillary Swank, Best Actor in a Supporting Role- Morgan Freeman, and Best Achievement in Directing.

It is definitely Oscar-worthy, but not the best film I have ever seen. It was a little long, and perhaps they could of spent a little more time on the moral of the movie, but it was a simple story of three people, two passions , one Million Dollar Baby.

Ray Charles was a man with incredible talent, taste, and style. A man with humble roots in a rural area, who grew into being the most incredible influence in music, and, when you think about it, many other things. He was a master at the piano, which amazed people, being blind and all. He did things that were uncalled for such as combining Gospel and Blues, and later in his career combing classical, blues, gospel, and even country. The film Ray took a shot at portraying Ray's life, and did a wonderful job.

Jamie Foxx portrays the "innovator of soul." His performance was outstanding. I had never heard of any of his movies before Collateral and I am surprised he did such a wonderful job on this one. He was very dedicated in his role, going as far as gluing his eyes shut for the role. He watched every interview with the younger Ray he could, fearing that the older Ray would rub off on him. He has been playing piano since he was three years old, and he even went to college for Classical Piano, so he was appropriate for the role, however Taylor Hackford knew none of that when he chose Foxx. He was a carbon copy of Ray Charles, getting everything very appropriate such as the looks, voice, posture, etc. 10 Minutes into the movie, you forget it is Jamie Foxx, and believe you are looking into the life of the real Ray Charles.

Also the work of director Taylor Hackford was an amazing achievement. He has one Academy Award on his shelf, in 1978 taking home the Best Short Film Live Action for Teenage Father. It would not have surprised me if he won for this. He got the rights to this film late 1989 or early 1990, and waited fifteen years to make it. If he had made it fifteen years ago, he wouldn't of had Jamie Foxx, because he was doing his off-and-on TV series In Living Color, hardly an application for this Drama. I do believe this should have one for Best Directing.

Comparing it to other films in the 77th Academy Awards, it was a strong contender. Much better than The Aviator, on a different tone with Million Dollar Baby, and in a street fight with Finding Neverland. What's interesting is that both The Aviator, Ray, and Finding Neverland are biopics. Aviator was to focused on one thing, and unfortunately not the right thing, but Neverland and Ray were amazing depictions. Trying not to get off subject with Neverland, Ray formed a perfect molding of the life of Charles, because he had Ray Charles himself help him out. It focused a lot on the music, the women, the drama, everything all in one, beautifully balanced movie.

It tops every book ever written about the man, and will turn into a classic, along with it's contenders, in a matter of a few years. A definite must-see.

After the Oscars Ray was nominated for Six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role. It took home Two, best Achievement in Sound Mixing and Best Actor in a Leading Role, JamieFoxx.

Don Cheadle stars in this emotionally heartrending depiction of when the world turned its back on Rwanda when its innocent civilians cried out for help. Paul Rusesabagina (Cheadle) is the manager of the five-star Hotel Milles Collines in Kigali. In 1994, Hutu extremists took over the country wanting to terminate all of the Tutsi people. With most of the world unconcerned and unsympathetic, and U.N. peace-keepers ineffective, the Hutu's had a green-light to slaughter more than one-million Tutsi's.

Paul is married to a Tutsi (played by Actress Sophie Okonedo) and decided to allow Tutsi refugees to live in the hotel; holding off the soldiers with bribes such as wine. But bribery only works for some time as his wine reserves begin to run dry and he is forced to make hard decisions and take a stand to save not only the Tutsi people, but also his half-Tutsi family.

Hotel Rwanda is a very important movie that shows how senseless religious and cultural hatred could result in the decimation of so many innocent lives. It also demonstrates how little the world truly cared about this little country and it's Cival War, as one character put it: "If people see this footage, they'll go, 'Oh my God! Thats horrible!" then go on eating their dinner." During some scenes, the movie is raw and violent, but it's true eminence and heart comes from the emotional struggle Paul has to endure to save the people he loves and the people he has developed bonds with. Hotel Rwanda is a powerful movie with a throat-clenching, underlying message of what happens when humanity is lost in the harshness of war, and reclaimed in one person's quest to ask why.

-Rawan Aqil

Finding Neverland, a movie of the life of Sir James Matthew Barrie, his relationship with the Lewellyn Davies family, and imagination. All of these points were delivered perfectly. Johnny Depp portrays J.M. Barrie, a playwright who recently had no acclaim for his play. He needs to think of a good one because his impresario Charles Frohman is breathing down his neck. While in the park one day he runs into a perfect inspiration for his play, the Davies family, Peter, Jack, George, Michael, and Sylvia, the mother, which leads him to write Peter Pan.

Much speculation has arisen over the years that Barrie had an inappropriate relationship with the Davies boys, so this story would be short lived today. But with Johnny Depp in charge, he makes the character believable, and 100% acceptable.

And Kate Winslet delivers an outstanding performance also. With her Oscar Nominatated performance for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind behind her, it is amazing that she can come so close to rising above that. Barries love for her is not shown much, because he makes it so innocent. The drama in her life is kept to a low level, and the movie does not focus around that, even though she comes down with an alarming cough.

Also a surprisingly good performance comes from Freddie Highmore, playing the part of Peter Davies. This new actor most likely has an amazing carrier ahead of him, already done with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, again with Depp.

Another incredible point this movie drives home is imagination, with multiple references to it by Barrie, and multiple scenes such as a pirate ship and...I wont spoil it. Barrie keeps telling the boy to imagine things, by believing, dreaming, and making it real for yourself.

Honestly, best movie of the year. It was amazing, and do not be scared of the PG rating. Much better than Depp's performance in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

I came out with a different view of the world, and I think you will to. It's a moral, wonderful movie, and is number one on my list.