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Rayweiser21
Reviews
Speak (2004)
Speak....the movie
Glad to see some of you still check in here...
Anyway, I read "Speak" earlier in the quarter. I thought it was good. It did have a few predictabilities and some holes, but I can see the value in reading it in high school. However, I watched the movie tonight. It is a lot different than the book. It doesn't have the sarcastic tone of the book. In the movie, you learn about the tragic event too early, the parents are semi-interested in Melinda's life and she doesn't go through the ostracism and betrayal that takes place in the book.
I agree this would have been a tough movie to make. With a main character that doesn't say much, it really presents a challenge. A lot of you will not like this but I think if the movie wasn't set up like an after-school special, it may have been able to connect with the book more.
ObKb, so I have ranted enough for now. The movie, by itself, is a nice view of the lives of high school students. But other than the character names and overall theme, Speak lacks punch! 6 out of 10!
The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005)
Wow, what a descent!
In 1994, when the first movie came out I was fifteen. It is truly one of the best action movies ever made. I believe it was the predecessor to Sin City, using the comic style of film-making. I still watch it from time to time and, although it has lost some of its gleam in time, it is still a very well-made movie.
The second Crow movie was a disaster. The bad accent of the main character, plus the fact that it just ripped off the original movie made it a bust.
Salvation was decent. Having Kirsten Dunst be part of it added a little flavor and it was easier to follow than City of Angels.
Now, Wicked Prayer...what do I say. There was good talent surrounding this film and yet, it just didn't have the mood. The acting is forced. the story is forced. It is choppy. I turned it off in disgust after forty minutes.
The good news is that there, probably, not be another Crow movie made after this travesty.
I didn't even want to give this movie one star out of ten. How did this movie get released? Horrible!
Dark Ride (2006)
Skip this one, no need to see it
I have seen most of the After-Dark Horror-Fest movies and this one is the worst. It is uneven and really does not flow well. The acting is stale and the story is a little unbelievable.
The only reason I give this movie more than one star is because the killer is pretty awesome. If there was more of the killer in the movie, it may have had a better result. There are a few scenes that work and the blood and gore is a plus. But, the movie fails to do anything but play on stereotypes and show the same teenagers do stupid things just to get killed in the end.
This movie is pretty bad.
Vacancy (2007)
Predictable, but entertaining
I went into this film, knowing the story. It is your typical Friday the 13th/Psycho/Hicktown Horror rip-off. However, it is entertaining to watch and uses the typical stunts and story line very well. It is a great, but small, cast and each actor does a good job of making the film believable.
I gave the movie four stars, because it didn't surprise me. There was no unexpected twist or "freshness" that it added to the genre. Beckinsale and Wilson are a believable couple but I wanted to know more. If I cared more for them, it would make their dooming situation more tense. Plus, the crazies are not anything but one-dimensional maniacs. They rarely speak throughout the movie. The only thing I see them as is crazy people who love to kill with a camera.
This movie could have been a lot better. It was fun, but it needed more originality.
War of the Worlds (2005)
It wasn't that bad....
I watched the movie this afternoon and other than the usual action film b.s. it is not that bad.
I didn't like how people were videotaping the aliens, yet all the electricity had been fried. I didn't (once again) like how the "heroes" of the story were constantly just-missing their doom.
But, there were some good points. 1. I like the idea that only people and animals from earth can live on earth and that the earth; itself, is what killed the aliens. 2. The family aspect of the story is a bit predictable, but there are other examples of coming together. The blood bank was a nice addition and people helping others is always good. 3. From a political and social standout, the movie has a message. the message; I believe, is that we must not worry about martians and aliens invading our planet. Instead, we must come together and fight for the ultimate good.
Anybody care to try?