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Reviews
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Funny but not up to Smith standards
I am probably one of the biggest Kevin Smith fans in the entire world so it pains me to admit that I was somewhat disappointed in this movie. I loved the references to his other films but that was about it, which speaks volumes. After all of the New Jersey Triology references we were taken on a nonsensical ride that had a few laughs but lacked the true Kevin Smith flare. The cameos were also neat but with the plot they really couldn't add too much. I think this movie dropped the ball when the whole diamond heist subplot was introduced. If Smith had kept this movie as a Hollywood satire and an homage to himself I would have been a lot more satisfied. Clerks was innovative, Mallrats was mediocre, Chasing Amy was genius, Dogma was edgy, and J&SBSB is decent. As you can tell this ranks last on my Kevin Smith List (1. Chasing Amy 2. Dogma 3. Clerks 4. Mallrats 5. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)
Snatch (2000)
I WANT MORE SNATCH!
I really liked this movie for every element that makes this genre of movie great. It had great intertwined plots, great dialogue, great acting, and one of the coolest and best twists at the end (even on par with the Sixth Sense).
I was a huge fan of Lock, Stock and personally I think it's the fans of that movie that are really going to appreciate this movie. If someone goes to this movie cold on Guy Ritchie they aren't going to find it as entertaining as someone familiar with Lock, Stock.
A lot of people are comparing this movie to Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, which I would take as a compliment if I were Ritchie, but eventhough Snatch has a few similaritites it is its own entity. I think just because it's a crime, neo-Nior flick automatically pegs Ritchie as a Tarantino wannabe (who would be better to model ones creative career after?) and I think that takes a lot away from Guy. He had an original twist and idea to a classic story, threw in some snazzy stylistic touches, and it's a winner.
The only beef I had with this movie was how little screen time Benicio Del Torro had. He was one of the main reasons I wanted to see this movie.
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Overall an entertaining picture
So maybe the story was cliche and not too original. Maybe it wasn't Tom Cruise's most thoughprovoking film (but IMO it was a lot better than "Eyes Wide Shut") but "Mission: Impossible 2" was well worth my money. First in its defense, this movie falls under the action genre, which isn't known for it's deep philosophical dialouge or art house directing. You go to an action movie for the action and this movie had plenty. This movie was probably my most anticipated movie because it combined the talent of Tom Cruise and John Woo.
John Woo in his own right is a god among directors. He's totally changed the face of the action film in Hong Kong and now the US. Maybe his US films didn't have the world's best stories (i.e. "Broken Arrow" or "Hard Target") but they didn't fail in the action department. I think "Face/Off" had a better story but it lacked in the action area. His presence is even felt in the films that he just produced ("The Big Hit" and "The Replacement Killers"). I'll admit that the only truly entertaining parts of the movie was the final 1/3 of the film, but then again that's what I went to the movie for.
Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood's most popular, talented, and underrated actors today. He's been nominate for the coveted Oscar three times and each time he's been snubbed. I'm just praying for the day he's work is appreciated with the time honored golden statue. I think this movie was a good move for Cruise in more ways than one. First, it shows that he has no problem making sequels like some actors do. Second, it proves that he's a multi-layered actor. He can work in a drama, comedy, love story, and now an action movie (and yes I know he proved that in the first "Mission: Impossible). It's important to find an actor who has more than one role and Tom Cruise is one of those actors.
All in all I was entertained with the film. It wasn't a thought provoking drama but it was an action packed John Woo film, enough said.
The Boondock Saints (1999)
This is a winner
"The Boondock Saints" is probably one of the greastes sleeper hits since "Reservoir Dogs". Many have compared Tarantino's breakthrough hit and this film and they "Boondock Saints" is just as good if not better than "Reservoir Dogs" (and that's saying a lot because I'm a huge Tarantino fan). This has got to be one of the best crime flicks in a long time and ranks up there with "Pulp Fiction", "Reservoir Dogs", and "The Usual Suspects".
With the accents of the two Irish brothers it also resembled that little English hit called "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" but with a little more edge to it. Wilem DeFoe was great in and it's one of his best since "Platoon". Sure it was violent but it was for the sake of good.
There were some obvious influences in this movie that made it fun to watch. The prayer that the two brothers recite before they shot their target is a lot like Jule's Ezekiel 25:17 from "Pulp Fiction".
In the end this movie was just great.
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Madonna, guns, blood, and gems
Some people say "Reservoir Dogs" was too violent, offensive, and crude. But others say because of the fact that this movie is violent, offensive, and crude makes it one of the greatest movies of all time. I fall in the later of the two groups.
The smart moviegoers make reference to "City on Fire" and how "Reservoir Dogs" either resembles, borrows, or rips off from. I don't doubt this but I hadn't heard of "City on Fire" until "Dogs" made it big so Lamb better be kissing Tarantino's shoes for making him a hit. I'm sure Lamb is a good director but not too many American film buffs are familiar with the Hong Kong action genre. The majority of America's insight on HK movies go as far as John Woo's "Face/Off" and maybe Chow Yun-Fat because of "The Replacement Killers" and now Jet Li because of "Romeo Must Die" and "Lethal Weapon 4". I'm a big fan of all three men's work but I'm also a big fan of Tarantino's work.
Bottom line: Give QT the credit he deserves. Maybe his movie resembles Lamb's but does that mean that these two movies are the only one's with: diamond heists, Mexican standoffs, undercover cops, and guns? So maybe the storylines are similar but Lamb lacks in one area, he's not Tarantino.
"Reservoir Dogs" works not just because of the story but because of a lot of other elements. Each and every character in this movie has style (even Mr. Blue who had no more than 5 lines) and they all work off each other. What makes this movie great isn't the story but the character's and what they have to say. From Mr. Brown's "Like A Virgin" speech to Mr. White's "Let's get a taco" diatribe there's nothing but witty lines and it's this wit that made Tarantino a star.
Was this movie too violent, offensive, and crude? HELL YEAH! But isn't that what Tarantino wanted? He wanted us to be shocked, disgusted, and offended because it made the movie memorable. You may hate this movie but you'll never forget Mr. Blonde hacking off Marvin Nash's ear. There are critics out there who say Tarantino's a racist because he uses the word "nigger". So does that make Blacks racist because they call each other that? They'll say no because it's just an expression to them and the same is true with OT. Tarantino grew up around Black people and watching Black based movies, one of his favorite actresses is Pam Grier, does that make him a racist? So if you were squeamish by the blood, offended by the words than you just proved that Tarantino's a great writer and movie maker.
The Green Mile (1999)
Nothing great
I can't say that the "Green Mile" was a bad movie but it was far from the year's best. Maybe it's just the Anti-Hanks feelings I have but this movie was somewhat lack luster. I didn't care too much for Hanks' performance but then again I don't care for any of his movies. "Saving Private Ryan" was no "Fighting Sullivans" despite trying to be one, "Forrest Gump" had it's moment but I don't think a retard should be given the Best Actor award. This was the guy who played a manchild and played opposite a slobbering dog. But I digress. There wasn't anything that really grabbed my attention, I take that back. The mouse was the only entertaining character in the whole thing. Maybe it would've been better without the King-esque parts, then it would've gained some respect in my opinion. Honestly there's a better movie out there about a black man being thrown in jail for a crime they didn't commit, "The Hurricane". Denzel Washington's drama was more gripping and heart warming and Washington's performance was far better than Hanks' hick characters in "Green Mile" and "Forrest Gump". If Hanks beats out Washington for Best Actor and "The Green Mile" beats "The Hurricane" then I'm giving up on the Academy all together and sticking to Hong Kong action movies.
The Hurricane (1999)
Great movie; Oscar worthy
If this movie doesn't win Best Picture and Denzel Washington doesn't win Best Actor then I'm giving up on the Academy all together. This was quite possibly the best movie of the year (with "Dogma" a close second but that's a biased remark). This movie had it all, great characters, a moving story, and superb acting. What is even more amazing and moving is that this is a true story about a real man. It's sad that something like this happened in the home of the "free" but in the end justice prevailed albeit tardy.
This was also Denzel's best work since "Glory", which won him an Oscar. But then again it followed a lack laster "Bone Collector" but I like his work. Washington is probably one of Hollywood's best actors despite sometimes being type casted as the angry black man but no one does it better. All I have to say Tom Hanks better not get the nod over Denzel for "The Green Mile" because Hanks wasn't great and he's highly overrated but then again I'm still bitter because he beat out John Travolta (in "Pulp Fiction") for best actor for "Forrest Gump". All I hope for is the end of Hollywood's fascination for Hanks while there are better actors out there today.
I think the Best Picture award will be between this movie and "The Green Mile" because they have similar stories (a black man imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit and those who support them) but "The Hurricane" was believable and it should be since it's a true story while "The Green Mile" was nothing more than Stephan King fantasy with touching undertones. But then again "Titanic" won this award so there have been bigger mistakes.
Le violon rouge (1998)
Excellent movie
This movie was captivating from start to finish and is truly a work of cinematic art. Anyone who is a fan of great film and not just the mainstream, mega blockbuster, more cgi than story will love this movie. The fact that the movie is based on the violin rather than the people (which isn't a new idea) is what makes this film great because it shows that objects in our lives have stories all their own. I also loved this movie because I'm a huge Samuel L. Jackson fan and this is one of his best roles to date (other than Pulp Fiction of course) because I didn't know if I was supposed to like him or not until the very end. I also liked the twist involved with the origin of the violin's color because it was totally unexpected. Bottom line: this movie was great and one of the best of the year.
P.S. - If you liked this try "Twenty Bucks" with Steve Buscemi, Christopher Lloyd, Brenden Fraser, and Elizabeth Shue. It uses the same idea of an object passing from person to person but in a span of a couple of days not centuries.
Out of Sight (1998)
Good Movie
"Out of Sight" is an entertaining movie about crime and guilty pleasures and shows how movies have changed in the 90s. After watching it the first time I saw hints of Tarantinoesque in it and I almost thought that it was one of his movies but QT's proven he can't blend Leonard's style with his (look at "Jackie Brown"). To say that Soderbergh is trying to be the next Tarantino is like saying Tarantino was trying to be the next Jean-Luc Godard. What it comes down to is nothing's original in cinema anymore, someones done what you're doing a long time ago. Tarantino himself doesn't like it how so many young directors are being typecasted as Tarantino wannabes in an interview he did.
Dogma (1999)
Kevin Smith has done it again.
Kevin Smith has done it again with his new release Dogma. Personally I think this movie is one of the best of the year and unfortunately it had so much bad press. Being Catholic myself I wasn't offended by this movie but in some cases it opened my eyes some aspects of my faith. To anyone who judges this movie before watching it is small minded and needs to stop taking things so personally. Was this movie offensive, to some extent yes but all of Smith's movies are. Was it entertaining, yes. Was it bad mouthing the Catholic church, not really but who I'm I to say what does. Trust me there's other movies out there that are more offensive to the Catholic church. This movie was by far one of the best movies from Smith and one of the best to come out in a long time.
Jackie Brown (1997)
Not Quentin's Best Work
I'm a huge Tarantino fan (loved Dogs and Pulp) but after watching Jackie Brown I was a bit disappointed. To me every character was boring and some were useless. DeNiro and Fonda's characters weren't too interesting and could've been done without. Sam Jackson's character also disappointed me but then again none of his characters will ever touch Jules Winfield. All in all I didn't care about anyone in the movie.
Personally I felt that QT somewhat sold out with this movie. Let me remind you I love his work and think he's a god among moviemakers but Jackie Brown lacked something that Dogs and Pulp oozed, attitude. Tarantino used the whole different POV's in the department store but he had to give times and just used different angles of the same scene. If anyone knows anything about Pulp the opening diner scene and last diner scene has Pumpkin saying two different lines. Some say this was a goof and some debate that it uses the different point of views. (first being Pumpkin's and the second being Jules'). To me a true Tarantino flick wouldn't have to flash times on the screen to inform the audience, they should figure it out for themselves.
I still don't blame Tarantino though, I feel if he'd used his own work and ideas instead of Leonard's Rum Punch he would've made a better movie. I'm just hoping his next movie will blow me away like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.
Chasing Amy (1997)
Great Movie
Chasing Amy is probably one of the best romantic comedies in the history of the drama because it was something new and Kevin Smith is one of the great innovators. Smith has successfully tackled every major aspect of life (work-Clerks, recreation-Mallrats, love-Chasing Amy, religion-Dogma) and he makes us look at these things in a new light. What I liked most about Chasing Amy was the fact that the guy didn't get the girl like he's supposed to. Everyone wants Holden and Alyssa to make up but in reality that doesn't happen. Smith didn't sugar coat this movie and that's why it's great.
Hamlet (1996)
Shakespeare's greatest story brought to life.
What made this rendition of Shakespeare's Hamlet the best above all was Branagh's vision of recreating the entire play word for word. By doing this it stays true to Shakespeare's original work and pays homage.
I also liked how it was created in a later time period which allowed Branagh to use props that weren't available in Shakespeare's time. I must add that I also like DiCapprio's Romeo and Juliet for the same reason. I feel that making Shakespeare's plays more contemporary it opens up younger audiences to his work. It gives the once boring works a new hip feel to it.
I personally feel that this has been the greatest film adaptation of any Shakespearian play to date. I do wish someone makes a Macbeth like this Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet.
I also recommend this to any high school student who has to read the play as a study aide. By watching it while reading you can understand the story a lot better but don't replace the written work, it's a classic.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
One of the greatest of all time
This movie is quite possibly one of the greatest movies ever written and produced. Tarantino is a brilliant storyteller and one of the best in the business. Reservoir Dogs exposed us to QT but Pulp Fiction made him a God.