Change Your Image
batman1891
Reviews
Hitman (2007)
Almost a Decade after the Matrix
Almost a decade after the low budget action film The Matrix we get a Hollywood release of an action film that is all together uninspired. With so many advances in American cinema dealing with detailed martial arts, extravagant "shoot 'em up" scenes, and incredible chase scenes it seems almost frustrating that a bad ass like Agent 47 stars in a movie that is far behind its time. There were no great martial arts (or hand-to-hand) fighting scenes, no great kill scenes, no great chase scenes, no great one liners, no great explosions, etc.
If you decide to watch this movie for the story then at least you get a linear story that adequately explains the background of the character yet avoids the fall of an origin story for a character many have never heard of. If you decide to watch the movie for the acting try something else: not consistently bad enough to take you out of the movie completely but still bad enough that you are not "trapped" in the movie.
If you are just looking for hot chicks, yeah, Olga Kurylenko is extremely attractive but I am sure you can oogle over her pictures on the internet or watch another movie she is in. Plus, the nude scenes are short and not as prevalent as some reviewers at this site have led you to believe.
In short, don't pay to watch this movie, if it is on TV for free and there is nothing else you want to watch... Go for it, there is entertainment value, just not much.
Closer (2004)
Brilliant acting
This film is a great display of how relationships effect people emotionally. The acting was top level and this movie is not catered to Hollywood which is very refreshing. The way these people cope with their feelings is realistic and will take you to the time you felt the same- from both sides of the relationship. Fantastic film, truly an insight into the emotions of people.
Natalie Portman and Clive Owen steal the show from the "better" known actors and are magnificent to watch. This by no means is a failure on Julia Roberts or Jude Law, who were both stellar, but is just the simple truth to this film.
The Hunted (2003)
Ehhh-it was OK
The film was mildly entertaining and did have some good aspects to it but I find it COMPLETELY unbelievable that an old Tommy Lee Jones is able to take Del Toro, who is a veteran gov assassin who has been taught by Jones AND much more training. But Hollywood prevails and the movie was wrapped up nice and neat.
I felt like there were ways that the movie could have been taken that would have made a very compelling film, such as having Del Toro having been right about the deer hunters and was the "good guy" after all. Then there was the sub-plot with Del Toro's g-friend that was completely unexplored.
In all this movie is just avg. Nothing that makes this movie suck you in, wow you, or make you think. If it is on TV for free and nothing else is on, go for it, but don't waste any money on a rental for this one.
Queen of the Damned (2002)
Exactly what I expected
This film was basically set up for failure by the studio. One, Anne Rice (author of the book) offered to write the screen play but was refused by the studio. Two, they tried to stuff 2 in depth novels in to a 2hour movie.
I maintain the only way for these two books -Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned- to work in a live action form would be through a mini-series. First off the the Vampire Lestat alone takes place from the 1700's to the 1980's and has a plethora of character vital to the plot understanding of the main character, Lestat. The entire book Vampire Lestat sets up the events of the second part Queen of the Damned. Without that full understanding the premise of a movie is destroyed.
Lestat was not cruel and vicious to all, he was not wanting to go along with Akasha's plans, Marius did not make Lestat, Lestat did not love Jesse or make her, Lestat could not go remain unscathed by the light, Marius was not after David nor the other way around, every character was completely represented wrong, BASICALLY same names different story.
If they wanted to make a vampire movie, fine. Even if you wanted to be inspired by these novels, fine. But don't piggie back into the theaters off the success of Rice's great novels and characters just to destroy what her loyal readers have come to love.
If you haven't read the books you won't understand the film really, if you have read the books you will be insulted. That being said, I am such a huge fan I had to see the movie knowing full well this was going to be the case and still went for it. Catch 22, must see it, will hate it.
Dune (1984)
This movie sucked
I can't believe anyone would think the Lynch version was better or even close to Herbert's masterpiece. I read the book and then watched the Lynch version the day after finishing the book and was horrified.
The only thing that the book stayed true to were the character names and that people wanted spice, for Christs sakes the weirding way got transformed from a martial arts movements to some sort of gun fighting. This is only one instance, I could write a novel with all the discrepancies, OH WAIT there is a novel with all the discrepancies it is titled "Dune" by Frank Herbert. What about the lavishness of the novel, how in depth the story went and then to get this cut and dry movie that is hard to follow (even after reading the book) which just completely changes the characters moods and motives and AHHHH, just extremely frustrated by this whole movie.
Then there is the Sci-Fi Channel's version, in honesty not great acting, sets, or costumes, but this is a cable channels mini-series version, NOT A MAJOR STUDIO PRODUCTION, don't expect to get those great ascetics you seem to complain about. The story is what matters and the mini-series is about as close to the novel as you can expect. Characters stay true to there portrayal in the novel and *I know this is a lot to expect from a movie adapted from a novel* the story is the same in the subtitles and the major plots.
But if you have not read the book(s) then this movie will probably be enjoyable, as is evident in the fact anyone who has not read the books does enjoy the Lynch version, and truly the visual effects of this movie were extremely advanced for the time.
But to you who have read the book and found a story with a scope far beyond your average novel/story/epic you will be sorely disappointed. *****NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT***** If you have read all books - Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emporor Dune, Heretics of Dune, Chapter House Dune, House Atreides, House Harkonen, House Corrino, Bulterian Jihad, Machine Crusade, and the most recent Battle of Corrin do not AND I REPEAT DO NOT watch this film, it is heresy and insulting to say the least, and only a true fan can truly realize this.