Change Your Image
levityak
Reviews
Hope Springs (2012)
It's like being forced to spy on your awkward neighbors
Everything about this movie is forced.
Before the viewer can even wrap his or her head around the relationship between Arnold and Kay (the married protagonists), both characters are suddenly on a plane to Maine and we're thrown directly into a very awkward marriage counseling that lasts basically the whole movie.
The sheer amount of sexual dialogue throughout the movie is quite awkward to sit through and watch. It feels almost if we, the viewers, are uninvited observers spying on their private moments, which are already unnerving in themselves.
As a bi-product of general discomfort and apathy towards the characters, I found myself not even caring if I saw the end of the movie or not.
Tommy Lee Jones does manage to sprout a few laughs, but other than those occasional chuckles this 'comedy' is generally lacking in comedy.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
Childlike Fun That's Amusing and Endearing Even Years Later
This royal film's got it all: a princess, a queen, a classic Cinderella story, a ball, "cute boys", a quirky BFF... you name it, you got it! I'd say pretty much any female will find this movie a pleasure to watch, as it fulfills the childhood fantasy we've all craved in a humorous and tasteful way, and in the end leaves you satisfied and feeling good.
The characters are all endearing and special in their own ways, from Mia's disgruntled neighbor, to the classic "mean girl", to her typical "backstreet boy" crush. I admit that sometimes it does become a little trite and cliché at times, what with the overdone stereotypes, but it keeps the viewer intrigued so it's not at all negative. It might even make you chuckle believe it or not! However this movie, like many other movies, is not for everyone; rather, this movie is better suited for tweens and teens. And when I say that, I am in NO WAY belittling it or putting it down, because to me 'Princess Diaries' is and always will be an enjoyable, funny, and at times childish film. (Not gonna lie--most guys will probably find no joy in watching it, but that fact does not a bad movie make.) I've seen this movie numerous times, and it seems I can never get tired of it. Cheesy? Yes, but in this case, the cheese works.
Zoey 101 (2005)
Interesting Plots...HORRIBLE artificial characters!
Okay people, I have to agree with almost everyone else's reviews here. The characters. Are. Stupid. They're ALL stereotypical, and yet have nice clothes and are always skinny.
Don't even get me started on Jamie Lynn's role as ZOEY. Zoey is a pretty, popular, tan, blonde young teen who everyone just LOVES! She has a "rebellious", great, personality that everyone agrees with no matter how dumb or extreme it is. Most annoying of all: her voice is so darn bubbly and obnoxious. "OMG!"
Take for example the first episode. The moment she steps onto the huge PCA campus, everyone seems to love her. The boys want to ask her out, the girls want to be her friend, etc. Thinking she's all that, the episode plays out with Zoey always being the center of attention; she is the so-called best player of the unofficial girls basketball team, confident, and has everyone pity her when she weakly gets hit in the face. Oh boo-hoo.
My favorite character by far is this whole series is a girl that appears much later into the show, Lauren or something, who is the ONLY person ever introduced in the show to hate Zoey.
And Zoey doesn't even seem to be very loyal to her friends sometimes. In one episodes she even calls her friend a freak without EVER apologizing and doesn't show the least bit regret in doing so.
Zoey is ALWAYS the best:
-Desiging professional T-shirts and backpacks (which become a big hit)
-coming up with VERY elaborate schemes BY HERSELF to teach a single person a lesson.
-Flawless grades
-Taking the blame for stuff that wasn't even related to her just so everyone else could be happy.
-Coming up with a commercial that was so good it was put on TV. The list goes on and on...
Ugh. She has no acting talent. She's always the perfect person. She acts snotty and rebellious and preppy and...UGH! Can't stand her.
Not only that, but everyone in the show always has great clothes. EVEN THE NERD! Her wardrobe is better than mine, and mine is pretty freaking decent.
No one cares if everyone at PCA loves you, Zoey, and would do anything for you, even if it meant giving their right arm.
BUT regardless of these cardboard characters, the plots are creative. Not everyday things. They're interesting and amusing. The humor is usually good-natured and fun, but the characters are so paper flat that it's hard to enjoy it.
This show would be really good if Dan Schnieder put a bit more time thinking of the type of characters he wanted, because they are so typical, so boring that's it's lame and stupid.
Point: No one's the least bit overweight, everyone has stylish clothes, Zoey is the definition of Mary-sue, the story lines are well-thought out, and the humor is laughable. But again, I want to emphasize that the characters taint the show. Watch the show if you must, but don't say I didn't warn you if your eyes start to bleed.
The Cheetah Girls 2 (2005)
Songs were okay but the plot? Don't even go there.
To be honest: this movie was in my opinion teetering on the points of an okay movie with somewhat decent songs and a movie that's so cheesy and that wants people believe that if you follow your dream on matter what you will always get what you want and will overcome every single thing life throws at you in the end.
*microscopic spoiler*
Okay what? That's stupid. The plot was fairly OK in the beginning. But at the end everything just magically 'falls' into place with everyone happy. Which doesn't happen in real life, or if it has, I don't know anyone who that has happened to.
A Pro though: the songs were not bad. They were actually catchy in a way. Like the song 'strut' and 'Amigas Cheetahs' were pretty good. There are more like 'Why Wait' and 'The Party's Just Begun' that were also good.
So my conclusion here is: the plot was a major downer but the songs were good enough to boost up my rating by four stars.