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IgMasterW
Reviews
300 (2006)
Tonight we Dine in HELL!
I loved this blood bath, epic war story. OK. Please don't see this movie if graphic images offend you. But to me... I really liked it. It was a total guy movie. Ridiculously ripped men running around bashing each other's heads in and stabbing the living daylights out of each other. It was like a realistic superhero movie. This stuff could actually happen---OK not totally, but pretty much it did.
The filming of this feature was rockin'. I loved the weird hugh that saturated the film and the blood splatters were actually beautifully artistic. I can't explain it. But it was ten times better than the filming of Sky Captain, and not as colorfully annoying as Sin City (in my opinion it was horrible). The actors were totally disciplined for this one. I mean... They must have had a five to ten hour work out each day. They were sick.
The one part they could have done without was that Smiggel-esk character who was over done. But alas, it served its purpose. Somehow this movie made me want to work out in a barn and become a hulking soldier who storms into combat. This is saying a lot, especially seeing my views are for peace and not war and violence. So rock on with this movie!
Ghost Rider (2007)
Above Expectations, but still just OK.
So this movie wasn't disappointing because pretty much my expectations for the movie was for another Fantastic 4 Debacle. Honestly, it wasn't a great movie, and I don't think I could stretch it to be a "good movie" but I have to say it wasn't that bad.
The imagery was pretty sweet at times, the plot moved along so I wasn't bored, and the story wasn't horrible. GASP. This isn't the negative post I expected to write. But there was SOMETHING horrible in the movie. Yes... You guessed it Mr. Coppala himself, Nicholas Cage. OK, horrible may be a bit too strong. I think the word for it is annoying. What the heck is up with his mouth! I can't stop looking at it and wondering if his teeth and lips are real. Actually if I didn't know him before this movie I may have thought him to be funny or perhaps have good timing, but nope. Can't do it. I guess this blog falters in equality. He is ripped like a GI Joe in this movie, so he looks the part. But something just doesn't click for me.
The problem I really had with this movie (other than Roxy's shirt popping open in every scene--honestly it was a little much) (and the whole cheese factor) (and the whole Texas factor) was the ending. I have a much better ending which is far more tragic and believable, but would still lend itself to sequels to satisfy the companies behind the Benjamins.
For those of you looking for a grade, I refuse to put a grade on this movie out of principle. But if you went and saw it I wouldn't hate you for it.
Amazing Grace (2006)
Somewhat-Good Grace, not Amazing.
So I think the movie needs to be called "Somewhat-Good Grace" because the movie left me with a bland taste in my mouth. I have to admit I didn't really follow the characters very well, my bad. I guess it was mainly because I thought two separate characters were the same guy... I mean Daddy Warbucks and Dumbledore look the same right? Well it took me until the last scene to realize they were two totally different men. And because of this the movie was even more bland.
Well, despite (or in spite) of my lack of character understanding I really think the director and writers of this film had a much bigger story to work with and decided upon the one which would sell best to the mainstream, white Christian viewers. Boring, boring, boring. The historical, period piece was so typical and wasn't even filmed that wonderfully. I was really frustrated during the first few minutes of the film because I thought people were walking in front of the projector. Low and behold it wasn't the theater's fault, but the directors. He had servants and messengers walking in front of the camera. Perhaps this was to subconsciously reinforce the notion of aristocracy and a class based society, but I don't know.
When I picture this movie in my mind I see something more along the lines of The Red Violin, Crash, or Amores Los Peros. It could have been as good as all of those. Something with multiple story lines all happening at once, culminating in the words of the song being expressed. Think of how moving it would be to watch the composer begin to write the words, watch the politician fight the words, watch a slave live the words, and maybe throw in another example of the words being passed on to another. This would be so much more amazing than what we were given.
Alas, the acting was OK. Nothing worthy of great kudos, and yes there were some moving brief moments in the story, but all in all I felt the movie was bland, typical, and while the story was good, it didn't flex it's cinematic muscles enough to be a work of art.