moviegalreviews

moviegalreviews @ 2008-10-25T14:59:00

2008-10-25T19:01:15Z

So obviously, I haven't been keeping up with my reviews. But I still want to keep track, so this will be my keep track post for the rest of the year.

22. Tropic Thunder - 7/10
23. Sex and the City - 5/10
24. Baby Mama - 7/10
25. What Happens in Vegas - 6/10
26. The Strangers - 5/10
27. The Mist - 5/10
28. Mamma Mia - 8/10
29. Get Smart - 6/10
30. Made of Honor - 6/10
31. The Ten - 3/10
32. An American Crime - 7/10
33. Incredible Hulk - 6/10
34. Golden Compass - 6/10
35. Twilight - 9/10
36. Sunshine - 7/10
37. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - 7/10
38. Hancock - 5/10
39. Wall-E - 10/10
40. Wanted - 5/10
41. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - 4/10
42. X-Files: I Want to Believe - 5/10
43. The Dark Knight - 10/10
44. The House Bunny - 8/10
45. The Women - 4/10
46. It's a Wonderful Life - 8/10
47. Eagle Eye - 6/10
48. Teeth - 7/10
49. Slumdog Millionaire - 9/10
50. Vicky Cristina Barcelona - 8/10
51. Revolutionary Road - 6/10
52. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 - 5/10

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (2007)

2008-07-04T14:30:12Z

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Jon Voigt, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris
Rating: 4/10

So despite my pretty much loathing of Nicolas Cage, I actually liked the first "National Treasure" movie - it was fun. So I thought, ok - I'll watch number 2. Nope, the magic is dead. The movie was over the top, nonsensical and Cage was, as usual, annoying. Sorry I wasted my time.

MOVIE 21/100
(I'm never getting to 100 this year, I have little to no interest in movies)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

2008-07-04T14:27:40Z

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf, John Hurt, Cate Blanchett
Rating: 7/10

First of all, I saw this movie about a month ago. I have been slacking on posting, my apologies. Now, I am a child of the 80's - I grew up thinking "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" was the coolest thing ever because there were bugs, snakes, monkey brains and ripped out hearts. So I wasn't going to hate this movie. I did think it had issues, but overall, it was more of the same - a lot of frenetic fun, and Harrison Ford (somehow) still has it. Not great, but not a bad way to spend 2 hours.

MOVIE 20/100

Iron Man (2008)

2008-05-11T07:08:55Z

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges
Rating: 7/10

Actually something like a 6.5, but it was a well done movie so I'll round up. It was a good origin comic book movie, but it didn't blow me away. And I have to say, it's a great cast all around.

MOVIE 19/100

P.S. I Love You (2007)

2008-05-11T07:02:13Z

Starring: Hillary Swank, Gerald Butler, Harry Connick Jr, Gina Gershon, Lisa Kudrow, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, James Marsters
Rating: 3/10

Ok, a disclaimer: I read the book first. So of course I'd hate it. But seriously, besides the complete crapping on the book this movie took, it's just bad - corny as all hell, a horrible romantic interest in Connick Jr. (his character in the book was COMPLETELY different, and so likeable), and just - I spent so much time rolling my eyes at this movie. I didn't like it at ALL.

MOVIE 18/100

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

2008-04-19T16:36:11Z

Starring: Jason Segel, Jason Segel's penis, Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Russell Brand, Bill Heder, Jonah Hill
Rating: 10/10

In my life right now, I needed a good laugh - watching this movie last night, I feel like I got about 500 of them. This movie is hysterical, and Jason Segel's penis really should have gotten its own credit. I highly recommend this movie - it's sweet, dirty, and truly hysterical. GO SEE IT.

MOVIE 17/100

August Rush (2007)

2008-03-17T02:17:00Z

Starring: Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Freddie Highmore, Robin Williams
Rating: 7/10

So you know I watch anything and everything with Keri Russell in it, so this was one I had been looking forward to for a while. It was a bit overly sentimental, but if you buy into it and go with it, it's really a very nice film. However, every moment with Robin Williams is torture - he damn near ruins the whole film. I hated his subplot, and wished more than anything that he had not been in it. And, FYI, Russell and Rhys-Meyers have GREAT chemistry.

MOVIE 16/100

Dan in Real Life (2007)

2008-03-16T22:03:09Z

Starring: Steve Carrell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, Dianne Wiest, John Mahoney, Norbert Leo Butz, Amy Ryan, Jessica Hecht
Rating: 8/10

I originally had no interest in seeing this movie - I really think it was marketed horribly, and that's including the dumb movie poster. But I was pleasantly surprised - this movie is basically a retread of "The Family Stone", which I also enjoyed, with Carrell in love with Binoche, who is dating his brother, a tolerable Dane Cook. It has a lot of heart, and the writing is well done. A nice movie.

MOVIE 15/100

Into the Wild (2007)

2008-03-08T05:08:54Z

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Hal Holbrook, Catherine Keener, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Marcia Gay Harden, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Stewart
Rating: 6/10

I had been dying to see this movie for a long time, and unfortunately I just don't feel like it measured up to what I expected, and the reviews. It was filmed gorgeously, and the story was interesting, but it just didn't have that thing to really draw me in. And there's the question of the main "character" - he's partly sympathetic, and partly - you just think he brought it all on himself. Anyway, it was an OK film, and I was just really disappointed in it. Too bad.

MOVIE 14/100

Michael Clayton (2007)

2008-02-24T09:40:35Z

Starring: George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Sydney Pollack
Rating: 9/10

Going into this film, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. The trailers never really moved me, and then a_good_storm over at movieness gave it a so-so review. So imagine my surprise when I completely felt engrossed in this film - I thought the two hours flew by, I thought the performances were top notch and, with the exception of, understandably, Wilkinson, subtle - which is really hard to pull off, if you ask me. I thought this movie was really excellent, and worthy of being nominated for Best Picture. Give it a shot - it is somewhat Grisham-esque - sort of like an "Erin Brockovich" without the message, the brass mouth, and the boobs - but, in my opinion, it's really really good.

MOVIE 13/100

27 Dresses (2008)

2008-02-09T04:00:28Z

Starring: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Ed Burns, Malin Akerman, Judy Greer
Rating: 8/10

I got over my Katherine Heigl issues to watch this movie, and she really did a great job carrying the film, if you ask me. Romantic comedies are almost by definition formulaic, so it's hard to go too wrong, but this movie does a lot of things right. You get a heroine you really feel for and genuinely want to be happy, two likeable male leads, and a great supporting cast. My one gripe is that Heigl spent the whole movie, it seems, with her eyes brimming with never-released tears. I really wanted her to have that one breakdown scene a lot earlier than it actually happened. A sweet movie - see it on Valentine's Day whether you're with someone or alone. It's a keeper.

MOVIE 12/100

The Game Plan (2007)

2008-02-09T03:53:05Z

Starring: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kyra Sedgwick, some annoying kid.
Rating: 4/10

Someone somewhere told me this movie was actually pretty funny, and I wish I could remember exactly who it was so I could punch them. Sure, it has one or two funny moments in it, but overall it's such a formulaic piece of junk that I am mad that I wasted my time watching it. I gave it a 4 instead of a 3 only because it wasn't so much BAD as it was so much TYPICAL family comedy. Not good.

MOVIE 11/100

Cloverfield (2008)

2008-01-22T03:56:19Z

Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Lizzy Caplan, and Jessica Lucas
Rating: 8/10

In actuality, I would probably give this movie 7 and a half stars, but I'll round it up as a reward for the original take on an old genre, and really that's what's so cool about it. The characters we follow, via handheld camcorder, have no input into what the monster is, no brilliant idea on how to take it down. They're just the bystanders, and it's very exciting. Of course, I also spent the whole movie thinking that Rob (Stahl-David) was like a young Michael Vartan, and I may have drooled. A very cool movie which I recommend.

MOVIE 10/100

Good Luck Chuck (2007)

2008-01-21T08:04:24Z

Starring: Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, Dan Fogler
Rating: 6/10

I always feel bad giving movies which I know are bad a score higher than 5 (usually 6 is as far as they get) but I think - OK, I know it wasn't very good, but there were funny moments and I wasn't bored and I think - "fairly enjoyable" and that's a 6. The movie tries to cash in on the raunchy comedy wave going on and can't decide what type of film it wants to be. Cook is OK - still don't think he's quite a leading man. And Alba has very white teeth - this is what I take away from this film. Oh, and there's penguins in it. Cute. :)

MOVIE 9/100

The Bucket List (2007)

2008-01-21T01:06:46Z

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes
Rating: 6/10

I had no interest whatsoever in seeing this movie, so I have no idea why I did - but it wasn't that bad. Of course, it wasn't that great either. Morgan Freeman plays a great character, but Jack Nicholson pretty much plays himself (if he was dying) and Sean Hayes is totally wasted in a role an extra could have played it was that insignificant. The movie has some beautiful locales and some nice sentimental ideas, so it's not a bad way to pass an hour and a half. Of course, you can find better ways.

MOVIE 8/100

Juno (2007)

2008-01-15T08:02:11Z

Starring: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, JK Symmons, Allison Janney
Rating: 10/10

As unlikely as it may have seemed if you know me, I have found a film I love as much as I loved "Waitress" and this movie is it. I went in knowing I'd love it, but I came out having completely fallen in love. It's witty, funny, and completely heartbreaking. Ellen Page blew me away, and I already knew she was excellent after having seen her in "Hard Candy" last year. Also special kudos to Jennifer Garner, who is heartbreaking in the film. I love love loved everything about this movie.

MOVIE 7/100

Across the Universe (2007)

2008-01-07T04:47:36Z

Starring: Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Anderson
Rating: 7/10

I had long been wanting to see this film and knew it was one of those love it or hate it movies. Well, I fell somewhere in the middle - but much more to the love it than hate it side (duh, I gave it a 7!) I thought the visuals were amazing, the music (of course) great and I liked some of their interpretations. And Jim Sturgess was awesome. What I didn't like is some of the inside joke moments which obviously tried to mirror the Beatles - for example, singing "Don't Let Me Down" on top of a roof. Had the movie used the soundtrack of the Beatles without often alluding to them, I would have been a bit happier. All in all, a good movie that did somewhat drag for a bit (from Bono & Eddie Izzard, two, for me, unwelcome cameos, onward for a bit). But I still recommend it.

MOVIE 6/100

Mission Impossible III (2006)

2008-01-05T10:26:42Z

Starring: Tom Cruise, Phillip Seymour-Hoffman, Michelle Monaghan, KERI RUSSELL, Billy Crudup, Ving Rhames, Maggie Q, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Laurence Fishburne
Rating: 7/10

I really only watched this for two reasons: KERI RUSSELL and JJ Abrams, the director. But I have to say it was actually pretty well done and I feel like that is 99% because of JJ - the episode felt like "Alias - with Tom Cruise!" If you've seen the film, you'll know that one thing had me going "COME ON!" and made me want to shut off the movie, but I'm glad I kept with it, despite the "COME ON!" moment. All in all, not a bad flick.

MOVIE 5/100

Amelie (2002)

2008-01-05T07:43:38Z

Starring: Audrey Tatou
Rating: 10/10

Was I technically the last person in the universe to have seen this movie? I've owned it for years and just never got around to it. Silly me, this movie was beautiful. I loved how random and whimsical it was, and I wanted to just squeeze Tatou's cheeks. The film was gorgeous- the colors so rich- I want to live my life in those colors. But seriously, and this has bugged me for a while considering the DVD cover - why do they make her with such a white face? It's just weird. Anyway, a classic.

MOVIE 4/100

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

2008-01-03T20:28:42Z

Starring: Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Ben Foster, Peter Fonda, Alan Tudyk, Vinessa Shew, Gretchen Mol
Rating: 8/10

I am not really a fan of Westerns, and after a half hour, I thought that I wasn't going to like this film either. But it picks up, and the movie was actually pretty darn good - mostly for any and all interactions by the (as always) excellent acting Christian Bale and Russell Crowe. Also, Ben Foster was hella creepy in it.

MOVIE 3/100

Starter for 10 (2006)

2008-01-02T02:36:04Z

Starring: James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall, Alice Eve, Catherine Tate
Rating: 7/10

My love of James McAvoy caused me to rent this movie, and the fact that it has a great 80's soundtrack didn't hurt either. It's basically a college themed coming of age story, with McAvoy a slightly awkward college student not sure if he's in love with the blonde, or the brunette. And trying to win the University Challenge, a college v. college gameshow he's watched since he's a kid. The movie lives or dies on McAvoy's charm, which thankfully there is plenty of. All in all, I'll probably forget this movie in a month's time, but it wasn't bad to watch in the meantime.

MOVIE 2/100

I, Robot (2004)

2008-01-01T21:54:32Z

Starring: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell
Rating: 7/10

I had put off on seeing this film forever - initially because I thought the trailer sucked ass. But I'd heard for a while that it was actually pretty good, and I love Alan Tudyk, so I finally checked it out, and I did enjoy it. The concept was pretty cool, and creepy. But the main problem I have with the film is actually the star. I didn't feel like I was watching Will Smith as Detective Spooner. I felt like I was watching Will Smith. In the hands of someone who didn't act like he was The Lead in a Big Action Blockbuster, I think it would have been a better movie. I like Smith, but he seemed amped up too much, and it felt off with the tone of the film.

MOVIE 1/100
(how depressing!)

2007 Recap

2008-01-01T06:42:34Z

Movies Watched: 109
Average Score: 6.54
Metacritic Average Score: 6.0

Top 10 11 of 2007:
10. The Bourne Ultimatum
9. Stardust
8. Enchanted
7. Ratatouille
6. Knocked Up
5. Sicko
4. Gone Baby Gone
3. Atonement
2. Once
1. Waitress / Juno (don't make me choose!)

5 Worst of 2007:
5. I Know Who Killed Me
4. The Grudge 2
3. Santa Clause 3
2. Deck the Halls
1. Epic Movie

No Country For Old Men (2007)

2007-12-30T08:53:38Z

Starring: Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Woody Harrelson, Kelly MacDonald
Rating: 8/10

I think this film has, at this point, suffered from a little bit of over-hyping. I mean, I enjoyed the film a lot and I had a lump in my throat for pretty much the entire movie for fear of Javier Bardem showing up and shooting me in the head with an air gun, but I think it's being touted as one of the best films ever and it's not. It's merely a very well made film with an amazing performance by Bardem, who I will never look at the same way again. And while I understand why Tommy Lee Jones got the "meaningful" monologues in the film, I had a hard time following him whenever he got to monologuing. I know that's basically the meaning of the film - the "no country for old men" and all, but I wished there was less of him and more of Bardem, that creepy fucker.

MOVIE 109/150

Atonement (2007)

2007-12-29T07:22:54Z

Starring: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai
Rating: 10/10

An amazing film that breaks your heart - a 13 year old girl tells a lie and ruins everyone's lives in the process. It's disjointed and full of amazing performances, especially, imo, McAvoy and Garai, who unfortunately hasn't been getting enough accolades. It will definitely stay with me for a long time.

MOVIE 108/150