Change Your Image
byhring2
Reviews
The Fence (2011)
Great Example of Our Tax Dollars At Work
Now I'll preface this review with the fact that I am an attorney who specializes in admin, land use, and environmental law.
Okay. So this documentary is a fan-fricken-tastic example of how Congressional law makers frequently create laws that have practically unintended consequences.
Now, creating an under or over-exclusive law is nothing new. Congressmen are subject to voting pressures that make them do things that simply do not make sense. I do not make excuses for these law-makers, but actions that are subject to timely pressures, like building this fence, will have predictable problems from 'experts'. Lawmakers were subject to post 9/11 pressures to keep people out of our country, so the enacted shortsighted legislation to appease the public.
Immigration legislation was aimed at stopping terrorism, yet our own drug laws have created a market for drugs in America in which Central and South American drug producers will kill for. The Reagan Administration shipped out illegal aliens who were also gang members back to their country of origin in a max exodus in the 80s. These criminals set up gang networks that now terrorize local communities, which has caused even more illegal immigration of families looking to escape a life of violence, and the number of illegal aliens who have entered America from these drug laws is in the millions. Nothing, not even a shottily created fence, will stop them.
This documentary was frustrating, comical, maddening, and most importantly, effective at showing how pathetic our rule-makers can be. The fence that was put up cost billions (yes, with a 'b') of dollars that John and Susie Taxpayor worked hard to make.
The ironic thing is that John and Susie will sit on their couch with a Big Mac and think this is a good thing.
22 Jump Street (2014)
7.5 IMDb Ranking Makes Me Question IMDb Rankings
I'll keep this brief...this movie was awful. Just awful.
There is a 'joke' at the beginning of the movie that makes fun of sequels that copy the same story and jokes as the original.
And then the entire movie precedes to do the exact.same.thing. as it made fun of. Actually, scratch that; I actually enjoyed 21 Jump Street.
What I'm thinking is that the producing company has paid individuals to make fake reviews because I was so flabbergasted by how this got a 7.5 ranking that I had to go through some of the reviews. What I got was a lot of reviews that describe "bro-mance; explosions; sexiness; best film of the year; top comedy of all times". Seriously?!
At least have the audacity to make a fake review that acknowledges this is NOT one of the top comedies of all time. I didn't laugh once, and neither will you. You should be ashamed IMDb, Channing Tatum, and Jonah Hill.
Questioning Darwin (2014)
I, too, Could Make a Documentary with Raving Lunatics
I'll keep this short; the movie tries to explain the Christian views of those who oppose the theory of natural selection. However, instead of using any form of the scientific method, or any legitimate rationale to disprove the theory of natural selection, the movie shows interviews of ordinary citizens explaining why they believe God is real and Darwin's theory is false. What ends up happening is that a lot of intuitions are thrown around, and "miracles" are given credit to God, as opposed to doctors, biological processes, etc. It is VERY frustrating.
What I did like was learning about Darwin's family life, and what his life was like after he wrote The Origin of Species. The movie could have been a decent historical documentary if this was all it showed. But alas, I couldn't take it serious because of the raving lunatics that were given screen time. If I wanted to make a similar film, all I would do is walk down to the local food shelter and/or church and ask why God exists. I was not expecting it, but I wanted legitimate explanations of beliefs, but like everywhere else I have looked in life, the movie proved that Christians still have not been able to point to one piece of scientific EVIDENCE that shows evidence that God exists.
Here are a couple of quotes that had an effect of both infuriating me, and making me laugh at the same time.
"I would love to encourage Mr. Darwin, and others just like him, to try God," said one recovering crack addict and former prostitute. Really?! You would like to encourage Mr. Darwin, a man dead well over 100 years no, to try God?
"God knows the amount of hairs on my head," said a BALD pastor from a Church trying to disprove Darwinism. Really, bud? I can tell you how many hairs are on your head too; it's 0 bucko!
How could anyone believe that Dinosaurs and Humans lived together, or that the world is 6,000 years old? I can't take anyone who thinks this seriously...and this movie was full of people like this. I am worried for our future when there are still parents out there teaching their children creationism, and completely overlooking the importance of scientific advancements.
Broken City (2013)
Somewhat Gritty, Somewhat Noir, and Somewhat Entertaining
First off, I didn't go into Broken City expecting an Oscar winning movie about a crime-fighting P.I. trying to take down a city's leading politicians. Oscars are (or should be) should be reserved for story lines that haven't been done a million times before, but all in all, Broken City was entertaining enough.
The cast, including all the supporting roles, was solid. Wahlberg's had cliché back story he had to try to recreate, and did a good job at making me feel like I haven't seen this exact same story before. Russell Crowe was predictably a BAMF.
What I was impressed with was the music, scenery, and dialogue. The director did a fine job at keeping the movie on track, and forward. The lighting keeps the viewer in suspense, and frequent throughout the movies are scenes in classy and low lit bars, dreary alleys, and dangerous overlooks.
Broken City was a movie that understood its direction, and intention. It did not try to be anything more or anything less. For what the movie was going for, which was a story as old as Hollywood, it did a fine job at having a classic feel with a modern ambiance. Don't watch this if you're looking to be blown away by something new...or do, and be disappointed. But if you go into the movie understanding what you're going to watch, you should be pleasantly entertained. Rating= 6.8797/10
Machete (2010)
One Bad ('Bad' As in 'Good') Western
This movie got right everything it was going for, and probably then some. It was a bit of a (don't call it a) come-back flick for Rodriguez, who made a strong directorial showing with this surprisingly star studded crew. It was violent, fast paced, humorous, and...well, I guess I'd to have to say...downright bada**.
Playing on the number of cliché situations that exist in action movies that actually take themselves serious, Machete finds a way to weave all that is usually bad into something good. It has Western themes and and a plot which focuses on ethnic issues that actually divide North and Central America citizens. It is highly satirized, but its story focuses on a hypothetical example of what could happen because of poor immigration laws, so it even has educational value (I'm just joking, it is extremely violent. I wouldn't recommended letting your kids watch).
As long as your going into the movie knowing what it is, then you're going to at least enjoy some of it. Go 'head, give it a watch. Rating: 6.937/10
All the Pretty Horses (2000)
Visually stunning, but a stunted version of the book
All the Pretty Horses had its entertaining moments with believable characters, but it failed to capture the book's nostalgic luster. For the most part, All the Pretty Horses followed the generally accepted rule that books are usually better than the movies that are made after them. While it at least followed the same general plot of the book, it also shortened nearly every major episode, which down played the depth and general tone of nearly every scene. Pivotal moments were built up to a crescendo in the book, whereas the movie tried to speed through John Grady's story in an limited amount of time.
Sitting at just about 2 hours long, the movie could have(and should have) been made longer to give each epic moment some gravity. In my opinion Billy Bob Thorton may have gotten a better response if he had not punctuated the most dramatic, raw, and realistic moments that the story had to offer in order to keep the movie at a popular time length.
However, it had a good western feel in relation to the scenery and landscape. The acting is good enough and does a decent job at character development. To someone who enjoys this genre and has not read the book, there is a good chance it will be enjoyed. This movie may not be entertaining to those who expect a realistic and rugged style of a western, such as McCarthy's No Country for Old Men. For others, the natural beauty and John Grady's character development makes All the Pretty Horses a memorable watch. Reading the book could make all the difference.
I have enjoyed a lot more westerns than this one, a lot more, but I would also probably keep watching it if I came across it on T.V. Go ahead and give it a watch. 5.75/10
I'm Still Here (2010)
Satire Falls Short of Message
First off, this was a highly anticipated documentary for me. I had been following the story of Joaquin Phoenix's "retirement" from acting from the beginning. I, like most, was shocked and disturbed at what was happening to an actor I revered as much as Joaquin, and so when the word came out that his change in personality was for artistic expression, needless to say I was interested to see where he would go with it.
As time went on and Casey Affleck and Joaquin announced that this production was attempting to portray the pressure and lifestyle of mainstream actors in today's world, I began to anxiously await the arrival of this movie even more. However, their attempt at making a thoughtful and provocative social commentary fell as hard as Joaquin's fake musical career-the documentary was just film of a bumbling, drugged out human. They had the potential, audience and the hype to truly make this movie worth while by reinforcing the message they originally set out to tell, but it had very little, if anything, that made me sympathize with Joaquin's "character".
I get what this documentary was going for, but it just didn't materialize in any way that will turn heads. Now that he got this out of his system, hopefully he can return to being one of the best dramatic actors of my time.
Good for a watch? Yes. Will it be remembered? Definitely not.