dlee7674 Reviews

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

I find it hilarious

[8/10 · 25 August 2009]

I have never been a huge Tarintino fan, and i still am not. But this stands out there as of my more favorite films of his. Really you have to go into the movie with the mindset that this is a spaghetti western/war movie spoof. I tried not to take the movie to seriously. And if you look at it that way it's actually quite funny. The typical Tarintino over the top gore makes it humorous. They scalp every Nazi they kill and the ones they leave alive the carve a swastika on there forehead. There are a couple of Mexican standoffs and some hilarious dialogue from Pitt. The movie was funny but Hans Landa was actually a pretty well crafted character and really was my favorite in the film. You have to see this movie no matter what, but if your a Tarintino fan you should really see it.

Commando (1985)

Typical bad 80's action film

[4/10 · 1 July 2009]

Well i pushed myself to make it through this one and i don't know why i bothered. It's typical Arnold saying some good one liners and shooting random people but the plot is lacking. His daughter gets kidnapped by the former president of Val Verde who he helped overthrow when he was an elite soldier. The president wants Arnolds character John Matrix(Typical tacky action hero name.) to kill the current president so he can return to power. But John Matrix doesn't cooperate and he finds the island they have taken her to and he kills pretty much everyone there and rescues her. The acting is very dry but we have come to expect that from Arnold through out his career. The action scenes are mediocre at best with a horrible shot knife fight between him and a soldier who was in his unit. All in all this is an action movie you can avoid. Not one of Arnolds better movies.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Cool but average

[7/10 · 2 May 2009]

I was worried when i heard that they were making this movie. A prequel to a series that i liked a lot. I wasn't worried so much about Hugh Jackman as i was worried about the rest of the cast. After watching it i came out with mixed feelings. The Action and special effects, were awesome and Hugh Jackman was funny and cool. But the overall acting in the film was very average. The beginning of the movie felt very rushed, it seemed they wanted to get to the middle very quickly. The middle of the movie was cool but somewhat confusing if you arnt Knowledgebale about X-Men. The ending was the best part, i don't want to give anything away but there is a pretty epic battle at the end. And the ending bridges this movie with the others quite well. I liked this better than X-Men 3 Last Stand, but this wasn't a great movie. It's a gap filler nothing more.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Love it and Hate it

[6/10 · 29 January 2009]

Pearl Harbor is a very interesting movie. Now their are two sides to my opinion of this movie. The historian in me knows this movie is horrible in showing everything that occurred. But i love the atmosphere of this movie. Jerry Bruckheimer's movies always look good. I also am a sucker for war romances ( I love the Winds of War). If you don't like romance in war movies i would steer clear of this film. Although i would watch anything Kate Beckinsale is in because she is gorgeous. I did have a problem with some of the casting. Ben Afleck works in the movie but i hate Josh Hartnet in this movie. He's just kind of there, he doesn't do much. His relationship with Rafe is not fully shown so it kind of diminishes the whole story. All in all this is a pretty average war film, the highlight is the special effects an beautiful scenery.

Underworld (2003)

I love the atmosphere

[8/10 · 29 January 2009]

I love this movie. It has given me a movie i've always wanted to see. A modern vampire movie, that has tons of action and has a true Gothic atmosphere. As a amateur film maker i watch tons of films to help me create my own unique filming style. I have discovered that what makes me like films is the atmosphere. If i feel like I've entered a different world when i watch it, then i can usually look past other flaws a film may have.Underworld does a great job of creating a unique atmosphere. It gives this Gothic metropolis look. I also think Kate Beckinsale is extremely hot so that kept me interested. But this is a really cool film that will keep you entertained.The Lycans are pretty cool to.

The Dark Knight (2008)

The movie of the year

[10/10 · 1 August 2008]

Ever since i saw batman begins i was waiting in anticipation for this movie. I was very interested to see how they would revamp the batman franchise. They went a very different path from Tim Burton but in my a opinion represents the comic book better. This is the best comic booked based film ever, and is the best movie so far in 2008. The opening scene where the Joker robs the mob bank go me hooked right away. The film progresses steadily, and their is never a dull moment. Heath Ledger really steals the show and should be considered for an Oscar as many people are saying. Christan Bale is good as batman again and Maggie Gilenhall is a much better actress than Katie Holmes. And Aaron Eckhart is great as two face. I have heard a few rumors that cat woman will be in the next film, their was a hint in the movie!! The only complaints i have heard about this movie was that it was a little to long. I don't know what could have been cut, everything in the movie was necessary. Although i think it could have been split into two movies with the Joker featured in this one and at the end start two face and then in the second one they could have showed two face get corrupted. But thats just being nit picky i love this film. I have seen it twice and probably will see it more than that.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)

In one word awful

[2/10 · 1 August 2008]

I am not going to lie i am a big fan of the mummy movies. I saw them in the theaters and have enjoyed them. Now I wasn't expecting much in this movie, i knew Rachel Weiz was not going to be in it and it was the third film in the series. But i was still excited to go see it just because i love the feel of the mummy movies. But after about the first 5 minutes it lost me. The mummy movies don't really lend themselves to China. So i didn't find the plot very interesting. Their seemed to be no chemistry between any of the actors. I was especially disappointed in Brendan Fraiser. The abobidble snow man, i mean come on. I just found myself looking at the clock on my phone waiting for it to be over. It just didn't have any flow and it was missing the one thing that made the mummy movies good for me, that mysterious 1920's / Indiana Jones feel. This movie just didn't give me anything positive and didn't entertain me at all and i wouldn't recommend this movie to anybody.

Sphere (1998)

Very disappointing

[4/10 · 12 April 2008]

I happened to have read most of Michael Creightons novels including this one. Usually with the movie versions of his stories you lose something but this one it lost a lot. They changed a lot of the story, now i don't complain about that normally because i understand you have to change stories to make them good movies. But the changes in this made it worse. The acting was especially bad. This was probably Samuel Jacksons worst performance. The movie starts out okay i thought it could almost be a good movie, but it went way down hill the last 30 minutes of the movie. Anyway this movie was just a complete bust and i don't recommend it. The only reason it got a 4 is because i like the story.

Uprising (2001 TV Movie)

A little disappointed

[6/10 · 12 April 2008]

I went to the library one day and saw this movie on the shelf, i had vague memories of this being on TV a few years ago and thought i should watch it. I had to push myself to get through the first half hour before it got better. The acting starts out really bad and the dialog is horribly written. But at a certain point it hooks you in and the rest of the film is pretty good. I didn't know much about the Warsaw uprising until i saw this movie, then i asked my dad who like me is a history buff and happened to know a lot about this. He thought it was pretty good but we just didn't think the acting was very good. Jon Voight was the biggest disappointment, i am usually a fan of his work but this just came up short for me. All in all a 6 out of 10 film.

300 (2006)

Good but flawed

[7/10 · 12 April 2008]

I came into this film highly skeptical, i had heard great things from my friends, but my friends arnt the best at giving advice. But they where actually pretty right on this one. This movie proved very entertaining and actually a pretty well rounded movie. The movie is based off of a comic book retelling the story of the Greek battle of Thermopolye. If you are going to see this based on historical correctness don't come then, their are multiple problems with the movie in that sense. What impresses me about the movie, is the creativity in the special effects and battle sequences. The fighting which is most of what the movie is, is well crafted. The acting leaves something to be desired but it is decent enough to make it a good movie. Gerard Butler gives a great performance and stands out from the other actors in the film. All in all a good 7 out of 10.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

The Greatest Star Trek Film

[8/10 · 26 February 2008]

This was the best of all of the star trek films thus far. I want to describe this movie by giving a summary of it and commenting on it. It starts out with the Kirstie Allie doing the kobiashi maro simulation, although it was interesting i don't like this part of the movie it gives it a slow start. Kirk then goes home and feels bad for himself not having a command because he is an admiral. THen it shows chekov doing research on the reliant with space station regula one the help find a test site for the genisis project. They find Khan and he controls them. Ricardo Moltabon may give the best performance of any actor in a star trek movie. He then takes the ship and finds kirk who is on the enterprise for a training mission with spock as captain. They intercept a signal from regula one. They set an intercept course, on their way they are attacked by khan and narrowly manage to escape. They then go onto the station and find all the bodies of the scientists but his son and former lover have transported to an underground test site. Chekov and the captain of the ship reliant are their posing to be good but when they find the genisis torpedo on at the station they beam it up onto khans ship then the captain dies and Chekov is injured they then wait for the enterprise to get ready to rescue them. They get aboard the enterprise and are chased into a nebula by Khan and fight a battle which Khan loses and before he dies he turns the genisis device on and blows it up, but the enterprise escapes just in time and they head home but in order for them to escape spock had to give his life. He dies and they shoot his body in a torpedo onto the new planet created by the genisis device. This has a well written script with the best lines going to Khan in my opinion. This is a very good film and by far my favorite star trek movie.

There Will Be Blood (2007)

A Great Film

[9/10 · 3 February 2008]

I was very excited to go see this movie this weekend. It had not been in my area until now, and i had heard great things about it and was very eager to see it. I didn't know exactly what to expect coming in so i cant say that it was better or worse than i thought, but it was very good. The first 20 or so minutes there was no talking so i started to get a little uneasy about what i was getting into. But as the story progressed i started to get really into it. This was truly Daniel Day Lewis's movie. None of the other actors played that much of a role in it. He was excellent and he became the character. It was as if watching somebodies life. There were a few stretches in the film when it started to drag on, but overall i was into the movie through the whole story. The ending i was a little displeased with but overall it is a very good movie that should win best picture this year.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Epic

[9/10 · 28 January 2008]

As i go back and review all the movies i have seen so far in my life i had to write this one first. This is probably one of my favorite movies ever since i first saw it, it had been my favorite. I want to look in depth at this film and find out why i like it so much.

After the first film i was excited to see what Peter Jackson could do to my favorite book of the series. The movie starts with Frodo and Sam lost and circling in the same area. They run into gollum, which is one of the best cgi created characters. He leads them out and into the dead marshes.That story continues up until they get out of Osgilioth. They meet Farimir and the rangers, they go to Osgilioth and then head towards the staircase, thats where they where that part of the story ends, but during this time several other stories are intwined. The stroy of Merry and Pippen who are captured by the Uru-kai and then run into the forest and meet treebeard and they try to convince the ents to attack Saruman and help fight the war. Also during this time it follows Aragorn Legolas and Gimli who try to find the hobbits bu meet with Gandalf who is a white wizard after his near death expirence they head to Rohan and free King Theoden from Sarumans wrath and flee to helms deep to fight Sarumans forces. This is the best part of the movie a roughly 45 minute long battle, witch is a massive siege its really cool. I love this movie.

The Godfather Part II (1974)

The Greatest sequel ever

[10/10 · 28 January 2008]

Well when it comes to movie sequels i am usually very skeptical. Many film sequels leave me disappointed and wanting something better. When i watched this movie i realized that it was as good if not better than the first which is saying a lot. Al Pacino gives yet another Oscar worthy performance and the story continues to keep you interested. This is one of my all time favorite films. The movie progresses the story from where it left off and shows the struggle of the corleone family to stay out of trouble with the law. Michael becomes a darker more evil character than in the first film. The other characters develop into deeper more sophisticated people, and the flashbacks of Vitos childhood ad depth to this film that is a masterpiece in its own right.

The Godfather (1972)

Excellent Movie

[10/10 · 28 January 2008]

Ever since i watched this movie i have loved it, every detail of the movie keeps me intrigued. Its sad in todays society that many people cant sit through such an amazing movie because they get bored so easily. Everyone needs to be constantly entertained, if you are a person like that you shouldn't watch this movie. If you love movies and have a fine appreciation for it you will find this to be one of the greatest movies of all time. The acting is brilliant, the music keeps you dazzled and the drama keeps you into the movie the whole way through. After i saw this movie i had to see every Al Pacino film and i think this may have been his best performance of his career, and Francis Ford Copla set a standard with movie making, one which i hope to follow in my quest to become a director and a screen writer.

Cloverfield (2008)

Very Good

[9/10 · 27 January 2008]

I was very pleased with this film. I have wanted to see it ever since i first saw the summary of the film and heard about the shooting style. I had heard of lots of people getting sick while watching i did not have that problem. Some of my friends told me it was boring.Obviously they did not see the same movie as me. I enjoyed it immensely i only had a few problems with it here are the pros and cons to the film.

Pros- -The filming style, it makes you feel as if your experiencing it. -The special effects were surprisingly good i wasn't expecting it based on the shooting style. -The camera guy, he provided some comic relief to the film i laughed a lot because of him. -The intensity, there are some really intense moments in this movie.

Cons- -The filming style, it makes you miss some of the action -I thought it was unrealistic that during this whole movie the guy would carry the camera up. -I didn't like the end but i think it will grow on me.