2004 Film List - Page 10

2 newbies plus my usual assortment of oldies added to the list

Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman - Some outstanding fights, I thought the CGI blood worked (much better use of CGI than many $100m+ Hollywood films). Kitano once again shows off his unique comic sensibility which I never fail to enjoy. But the shift of the story away from Zatoichi to a comic sidekick and a brother/sister pair of geishas seeking revenge along with a story that has so many bad guys and multiple climaxes, results in a dispersal of the wonderful energy it had been building. B+

Intimate Strangers - A breath of fresh air from director Patrice Leconte who brings us one my favorite kinds of movies: The delicious complexity of human communication. No action necessary or desired, especially when we are watching two actors as skilled as Fabrice Luchini and Sandrine Bonnaire. Earns a spot on my top 10 list. A-

The Bourne Supremacy
8.5 of 10
First the bad. The direction just does not work well with the story. The hand camera style that works well for the "you are there" feel of great documentaries does not serve a serious action film that is centered around realistic action rather than Bay-over-the-top styles.

And that really is too bad because the script and stunts for the sequel are on par with the first (minus a cab taking a bit too much of a beating for how long it stayed in one piece). When the camera does get back far enough and stops zooming in and out you can see really great car stunts and interesting and intense fight scenes.

Backing it all is a solid script that actually motivates its characters appropriately and establishes their interaction quite well. The only scripting issues I had were in the last act as some pieces weren't well-connected on screen, a few leaps in their logic that might have made sense but came out of nowhere. Rather like the film was being hurried along at the end.

Bourne is not perfect and the people after him aren't nitwits. There is real danger here requiring him to apply his skills to the fullest, and this makes him a far more interesting character. More like James Bond without the fantasy. Finally a guy who limps and struggles to move after a hard fall or fight. Maybe not as much as he really would, but far more than is typical.

If only the camera would sit still and far enough away to let you clearly see all this great work.



The Big Bounce
1 of 10
I have read a few Leonard novels, though not this one (I also have not seen the original). As I watched this film I could see the original, interesting, typical Leonard story unfolding (ala Jackie Brown, Get Shorty, Out of Sight - all good at capturing his flavor).

What I couldn't see was a good script telling it. It was only because I know his character types and mix of light humor, criminals, and cons that I could appreciate what was going on in the film. Even still I struggled to recognize a coherent story in this film, made up of directionless scene after directionless scene.

Truly an awful adaptation. It might have had the characters right and the story right, but as for how it presented all of that in the film medium...just horrifyingly awful in a Tomcats/Ecks vs Sever way.

Finally updated my list with entries from the last 2 months, including lots of great titles from the Fantasia and Comedia festivals.

And tomorrow is the opening of the sweet Montreal World Film Festival. I'm a tiny bit disappointed with this year's programming, but nevertheless, I'm planning on watching quite a few films again this year.

Joshua Marston's Maria Full Of Grace

As I noted in my review comments, this is the type of film that gets a director instant international acclaim in the same manner City of God did to Fernando Meirelles, Before Night Falls to Julian Schnabel and Amores Perros to Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

~Edwin

That's pretty strong praise Edwin. You got my attention. I think its in town now so I might try to catch it if its still on this weekend.

Two DVD rentals

The Butterfly Effect
6.5 of 10
If it didn't feel a bit like other films at times and had some better acting in most of the roles (Ashton was one of the stronger efforts in the film IMO) I could have rated it higher. But while it treads some familiar Twilight Zone ground it also adds new elements like the confusion/insanity of trying to comprehend all the memories of different realities which gives it a good bite.

Not a bad effort.

13 Going on 30
4 of 10
Another film that really pounds familiar sidewalks (didn't we just cover this issue in Freaky Friday), its not really horrible as much as it is safe and dull most of the time.

At least Butterfly Effect had some real zip to some scenes. BTW, who in their right mind would join in on the Thriller dance? Hell, who really remembers it enough to do so? Not to mention the generally goofiness of the extras in that scene that slips into outright camp.

Seth, I would rather have you go in without that high of an expectation. Those three other films I mentioned above are unique in their own way, two of which I rated 4 stars. Maria Full Of Grace earns a 3 1/2 star rating from me.

~Edwin

Maria has been playing here for 2-3 weeks but there is just so much to see right now that I probably will be waiting until DVD.

I'll probably be seeing Father And Son or Hero this weekend along with Taxi Driver at the midnight movie. I think there are 12 movies opening in Atlanta this weekend and I want to see at least 5 of them.

Zhang Yimou's Hero - U.S. Theatrical Version (Hong Kong/China)


On Deck: Garden State

~Edwin

Tommy O’Haver’s Ella Enchanted

This fantasy film fable puts a lot of the old fairy tale elements into a modern day setting. Where one falls in their enjoyment of this film will depend on how they are able to take its slapstick, pop culture references, and modern day soundtrack, among other things, which oftentimes go over the top.

Sadly, where the film fails is in its ability to incorporate strong special effects that complements its rather imaginative story. Simply superimposing regular creatures against a blue screen to make it look like they are surrounded by giants and shooting above their heads to make them look small is just sloppy given today’s technological advances.

It’s a good thing that Anne Hathaway is there to save the day. She gives a bubbly and charming performance that keeps this family film from being so terribly bad. This one is definitely aimed at a specific target audience who wouldn’t mind its many shortcomings.

~Edwin

Starsky and Hutch
7.5 of 10
Much like Old School and Anchorman this film is often flawed and often funny. It was also a little slow off the start for me and a bit irritating in the initial setup. Once they got going with the characters there were some pretty fun parts.

However, the entire time I couldn't shake the feeling that I would rather be seeing a more serious treatment of these characters rather than a parody that ended up making fun of Lethal Weapon, etc. more than the TV show. The TV show had a strong mix of fun and edgy crime drama which seems sorely lacking lately. On the other hand this film has more of the same from both Stiller and Owen whose characters could easily be swapped with characters from almost any other film they've done in the last 2 years.


The Girl Next Door
8.5 of 10
I was surprised with how strong the direction, script and acting was for this film based on reviews and adverts. The film was nothing like it has been portrayed, instead being a dead-on update of Risky Business. Plot and characters are just slightly shifted, yet remain remarkably similar as does the tone and scoring/soundtrack for the film.

I happen to enjoy Risky Business for the edge it has and its refusal to just play as a straight teen film and I loved Girl Next Door for the same reason. Don't expect much nudity or sex in the film despite the ads as it serves as backdrop only to the main story, much as the prostitution in RB did.

Open Water - A strong idea spoiled by mostly poor execution. The filmmakers simply didn't have enough confidence in their material and I would say underestimated audiences ability to handle it. Time and again just as the tension begins to build and my heart started beating a little faster, they deflate the tension by cutting to a "calm" scene. One would think that spending the night on your own in the open ocean would be absolutely terrifying, and yet this sequence is given perhaps 1 minute of screen time. The film isn't helped by the use of a truly awful score when silence and the sound of the ocean waves would have been far more effective. The leads are fine once they are done with going through the motions of the setup and get in the water, and do an adequate job with the material (my wife would disagree, she was rooting for the sharks).

The only thing that gave me positive feelings about the film was the ending/final 2-3 minutes which are surprisingly underplayed and strike a tone missing from the rest of the film. B-

Father And Son - Alexander Sokurov's follow-up to his breathtaking Mother And Son, is an artistic depiction of the paradoxical relationship between fathers and sons. Sokurov's camera eye is one of his best attributes and is on full display here, taking full advantage of his Portuguese locations and using lense distortion to give scenes a dream-like feeling. His themes bring out the universiality and timelessness of the competing emotions of love and disappointment at the heart of the relationship. However, unlike Mother and Son which concentrated our attention solely on two people and their relationship; Sokurov introduces other characters (a girlfriend and a young man searching for his own father) and external story elements that draw our attention, not to mention valuable screen time, away from the film's powerfully compelling central themes. B+

David Koepp's Secret Window - Just when you think there might be something original in this film comes an all too familiar and blase twist ending.

~Edwin

The Passion of the Christ - I feel sorry for the performers in this film who are saddled with Mel Gibson's mediocre direction and conception that is to my way of thinking, misguided at best. His efforts to "punch up" a story whose singular power needs no such additions, combined with the use of the standard issue Hollywood Middle Eastern score, push the story uncomfortably close to camp territory. This film is the polar opposite of the elegant simplicity of Pasolini's Gospel According To St. Matthew - C

Larry's 2004 Movie List

Offical Count: 86


Explaining the ratings...

***** - A 5 star movie would be considered one of, if not the best of the year. A wonderful and amazing movie experience in which I would call a must see for any movie fan. Films that fall under the 5 star rating are simply favorites of mine that I can watch over, and over, and over. Recommended to everyone. (Perfect/Supreb).

****½ - Nearly the same as a 5 star rating, but is missing something small. Still an amazing experience and recommendable to everyone, but not as favored as a 5 star movie. (Wonderful).

**** - Missing a little more, but still a very watch-able and enjoyable film that excels on many aspects. Surely recommendable. A semi-must see. (Great).

***½ - This is a movie that I thought was really good, but could've been better. There will be people who don't like it at all, but I can recommend this film with confidence that you'll find it entertaining, or thought provoking. (Very Good).

*** - Watch-able and enjoyable, but hit or miss. (Good).

**½ - A film that teeters on bad, to decent, to good. It has it's moments, and it is watch-able, but sometimes not worth a 2nd look. (Solid).

** - This also teeters from bad to decent, but almost never reaches the "good" stand point. Sometimes this movie isn't even watch-able, but it had one or two decent scenes or qualities. (Weak).

*½ - Stay away unless you are just curious. (Bad).

* - Sometimes funny because of how bad it is. Don't even watch if you are curious, just please - for all of mankind, don't see this film. (Awful).

ZERO - Worst Movie of the Year; possibly one of the worst movies in many years, or of all time. Complete and utter garbage. Stay far away. (Hideous).

================================================== ========

* * * * *
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

* * * * ½
• Collateral
• Hero (Ying xiong)
• Kill Bill: Volume 2
• Oldboy
• Shaun of the Dead
• Spider-Man 2

* * * *
• Bourne Supremacy, The
• Corporation, The
• Dead and Breakfast
• Immortel (ad vitam)
• Notebook, The
• Passion of the Christ, The
• Saints and Soldiers
• Saved!
• Spartan
• United States of Leland, The
• Village, The

* * * ½
• 24th Day, The
• Butterfly Effect, The
• Dawn of the Dead
• Girl Next Door, The
• Harold and Kumar Goto White Castle
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• I, Robot
• Manchurian Candidate, The
• Man on Fire
• Mean Girls
• Miracle
• Shrek 2
• Stander
• Terminal, The

* * *
• 13 Going On 30
• 50 First Dates
• Anchorman
• Around the World in 80 Days
• Chronicles of Riddick, The
• Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
• Hellboy
• In Enemy Hands
• Ladykillers, The
• Napoleon Dynamite
• One Point O
• Secret Window
• Seeing Other People
• Starsky and Hutch
• Taffic: The Mini-Series
• Troy
• Whole Ten Yards, The

* * ½
• Alone Came Polly
• Calcium Kid, The
• Coffee and Cigarettes
• Day After Tomorrow, The
• Jersey Girl
• King Arthur
• Mindhunters
• Open Water
• Punisher, The
• Stepford Wives, The
• Taking Lives

* *
• Barbershop 2: Back In Business
• Bad Apple
• Catch That Kid
• Garfield
• Goodbye Girl, The
• Thunderbirds
• Walking Tall
• Welcome to Mooseport
• Without A Paddle

* ½
• Alien vs. Predator
• Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid
• Envy
• Fahrenheit 9/11
• Godsend
• Home on the Range
• Suspect Zero
• Van Helsing

*
• Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
• Johnson Family Vacation
• Never Die Alone
• New York Minute
• Van Helsing: The London Assignment

ZERO
• Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London
• Catwoman
• Roomies
• Sleepover

Zach Braff's Garden State


On Deck: Zatoichi

~Edwin

Massive Update:

4 Stars: Hero, Collateral, Before Sunset, Spiderman 2, The Terminal.

3 1/2 Stars: Farenheit 9/11, I, Robot, Open Water, Shrek 2.

3 Stars: The Girl Next Door. (I also moved Secret Window from 3 1/2 to 3 upon further reflection).

2 Stars: The Village.

I'll try to keep my list more up to date as the fall rolls along.

Hero
8.5 of 10
Artistically beautiful but a bit too indulgent for my taste at times. Some of sequences just extend to long when they offer (to me) very little other than mood. Both the art direction and cinematography are often outstanding, with only slight dips into the cliches of style over substance. I found the last 15 minutes to be the most powerful when the film hit a few moments that were very Kurosawa in mise-en-scene and character choices (forget the more obvious connection to Rashomon).

My reaction while the comparisons to Crouching Tiger are natural, Hero was not as emotionally powerful in story as that film was. Part of that is simply due to the nature of the two stories, but some of it is in how they each engaged me with the central characters. Lee had me bought into the characters much quicker in CTHD than Zhang did with Hero.

I have little doubt that how I react to the film differs greatly from how people in the Far East do, so take my reaction with a grain of Marco Polo salt.

Jersey Girl - The film is very conventional/cliche in structure and style, but once again Kevin Smith's writing finds emotional touchstones that provide a pleasurable movie watching experience. It's funny, charming and dare I say, sweet; though touched with sadness as well. The characters feel a little more human than Hollywood usually offers. The performances by Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, and George Carlin as well as the daughter and the smaller roles, are genuine and enjoyable. This may be Affleck's most likeable and honest role.

While there are times that Smith's use of the various cliche's of this sort of movie reach groan or unintentionally comic levels, any sins are more than made up for by the hilarious and warmly touching musical finale. Recommended for all Daddies who love their little girls. B+

Brook,
I agree on Jersey Girl, I really liked it too.

Late August/Early September roundup before the Boston Film Festival:

#85: Last Life In The Universe - ¼ - One of those slow, mood-piece movies, telling its story with hints.
#86: Code 46 - ¼ - Wants to be Gattaca, but doesn't have the heart for it.
#87: Open Water - - Good little movie that uses despair rather than dread to create fear.
#88: End of the Century - ½ - Maybe fans of the Ramones would like it more.
#89: Garden State - - Eventually recovers from its quirky overload to become a pretty good movie.
#90: The Machurian Candidate - - Pretty good, but won't supercede the original.
#91: Danny Deckchair - ¾ - Cute, lighter-than-air comedy.

...Along with some scattered older/odder movies here and here.

2004 Releases
Total To Date Count: 37
_______________________________________

List By Title
Title/Rating out of ****

Agent Cody Banks 2 **
Against The Ropes *½
Alien vs Predator **
Along Came Polly **½
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy *½
Bourne Supremacy **½
Butterfly Effect ***
Collateral **½
Connie and Carla ***
Dawn of the Dead ***
Day After Tomorrow **½
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story ***
50 First Dates ***
Godsend *½
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ***½
Hellboy ***
Hidalgo **
I, Robot ***
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 ***½
King Arthur **
Ladder 49 **½
Miracle **½
Passion Of The Christ ****
Punisher *½
Raising Helen **½
Resident Evil Apocalypse **
Secret Window **
Shrek 2 ***½ :thumbsup:
Spider-Man 2 ***
Starsky & Hutch **
Taking Lives *
Terminal ***
13 Going On 30 ***
Twisted **½
Van Helsing **
Village **
Whole Ten Yards *

Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer (Hong Kong) ½ (out of four)

~Edwin

The Punisher - A decent actioner that presents a palatable moviecized version of Frank Castle, but is no more true to the comic book character than the Dolph Lundgren version. John Travolta gives a good performance with little to work with as the villain. The film is also overlong, wasting time on a silly subplot involving Travolta suspecting his wife of cheating on him with an underling. Other than giving Travolta more screen time, it serves no purpose in telling Frank Castle's story. The action scenes are ok, but nothing to make you sit up in your chair and say WOW. C+

Lars von Trier's Dogville

~Edwin

Updated with the fun guilty pleasure Cellular (****/*****).

Takeshi Kitano's The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (Japan)


At Bat: The Girl Next Door

~Edwin

Updated with the first half of the Boston Film Festival:

#92: Primer - - A nifty boutique sci-fi movie.
#93: Easter Egg Escapade - ½ - Of course, being older than four, I'm outside this movie's target audience.
#94: The Almost Guys - - A laid-back, enjoyable throwback.
#95: Easy - ¾ - Marguerite Moreau is really, really, good in this.

... and ...

#96: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow - - The real deal, an eye-popping, funny popcorn movie that has something for just about everyone.

(Oh, yeah, that blog's counter is finally going to break 100 for a day. Folks want to know about The Almost Guys)

Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl

~Edwin

I've added a number of films. I'm slowly putting reviews in the alternate film thread. I'll review mainstream films here. How do I link to other threads?

The Five Obstructions - A- (a look inside the mind of Lars Von Trier and a showcase for the talents of Jorgen Leth)
Mean Creek - B (but I keep vacillating between B and B-)
Baadasssss! - B+ (well done behind the scenes making of a landmark film)
Young Adam - C+ (a mostly dull, mechanical, and disjointed affair)
Silver City - B- (a disappointingly heavy-handed political film lacking in the rich characters Sayles usually provides)
The Brown Bunny - A- (a challenging structure that gives way to the soul-baring performance of Vincent Gallo)

On Deck: Coffee & Cigarettes, Mean Girls, Carandiru

Luke Greenfield's The Girl Next Door - "Slimy yet satisfying".

~Edwin