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robzillatx
Reviews
Jarhead (2005)
What did I see?
I love movies because they often pull emotions out that I rarely experience in real life. I watch Jarhead thinking it would either anger me or make me sad. Yet, despite many intense situations, the movie left me emotionally blank.
The acting was well done. The story was interesting. Yet, at the end of the movie, I was numb. Not numb as in "Saving Private Ryan" or "We Were Soldiers" numb ... just emotionally ambivalent. The movie does not overtly take sides, and straddling that line may have diminished the effect on the viewer.
Perhaps by not serving in the military, I missed something, but that is why I like to watch movies about war. One thing Jarhead did do is give me an additional respect for the sacrifices soldiers make for their country.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Very disappointing
I had high hopes for this movie. The trailer made the movie look unique and interesting. However, the story line was lame, the action was stupid and it just went on and on and on. At one point, I was tempted to leave the theater, I was so bored. It gets a little better near the end, but spend your money elsewhere and see this in the discount theaters!
p.s. - I have not read the comic books (er, "graphic novel"), so this perspective is from someone who is not familiar with the LXG background.
28 Days Later... (2002)
Average 'B' Movie
I had high hopes for this movie. The trailer made me think this movie would be creative and treat one of my favorite horror/sci-fi topics, the "end of civilization" story, in a fresh manner.
I was very disappointed. The movie was quite predictable. The jittery, out-of-focus filming technique was annoying. The storyline was inconsistent.
Perhaps movies like this will never live up to expectations, because each person's imagination would probably come up with a different scenario. I place this movie on the same level as "Night of the Living Dead." It will probably become a cult classic "B" movie, but a "B" movie nonetheless.
I don't think the following is a spoiler, but you might.
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT *** *** POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT *** *** POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT ***
p.s. - if you are in a house full of "zombie-like" creatures, it is best to wait until they are cleared out to start thinking about sex!
Joshua (2002)
Keeps fairly true to the general message of the book.
First of all, let me be clear that I am a huge fan of Joseph Girzone's book, "Joshua." So this comment will be biased somewhat in favor of the movie.
This movie is not a great cinematic work. There isn't a whole lot of character development. The cinematography could be better. But, I still find this to be a wonderful movie because it was able to successfully portray a message of compassion and love. It may be a little idealistic and simplistic, as is the book. However, my faith leads me to believe that the main message in the bible is also quite simple: Love Thy Neighbor. I still struggle with questions about who or what God is, or if God even exists. But that doesn't dilute the message for me. Whether or not God exists, or appeared in the form of Jesus, it is still a pretty darn good idea to help each other and care about one another. That is what I get out of this story. It breaks down "God's" message into its simplest form, and does so quite well.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
For Best Results: See This Movie TWICE
When I first saw Episode II, I spend too much time analyzing it and finding the flaws in the movie. I saw it again a week later, and just sat back and enjoyed the movie. One reason it was better is that I saw it on the DLP screen. If you have the means to do so, please make the effort to watch this on DLP. It is awesome! The acting seemed better the second time around, especially with Christensen (the "attitude" threw me off the first time, but he really does a great job portraying the role). If you were disappointed with this movie, give it one more chance.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Starts out magical ...
In my vote for this movie, I gave it a 9 (out of ten). This was a combination of the first thirty minutes, which were a 10, followed by the remainder of the movie being an eight. If you've read the book, you'll get chills as the beginning sequences of the movie makes you feel the same way as the book did. This is true movie magic at its best. After getting past the introduction and settling into the story, the movie sometimes drags a little, but it will still keep your interest. Despite the length of the movie, there is still plenty left out. I'd be curious to hear what someone who hasn't read the book thinks about the movie.
As far as the casting goes, I was especially pleased with the Dursleys. Hermione was also quite well done, as was Hagrid (but was Hagrid really that illiterate in the book???).
Oh, and is it just me, or were you also disappointed in the size of the Great Hall. It just didn't come close to matching my imagination! :-)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Visually stunning, funny AND touching!
As the credits were rolling, I just sat there stunned, still trying to absorb everything from this unique movie. The sets and costumes were spectacular, the music was energizing and the movie was filled with funny, strange and touching moments. I didn't know what to expect going into the theater, and I'm still not sure what I experienced. I just wish the soundtrack had more of the original music from the movie!