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February 2012
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Fan of 7 items > See all
American History X
#1 Movie of All-Time
Daniel Day-Lewis
#1 Actor
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Snowboy
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Gonna be moving to a new town, into a new apartment today!! Not only is the apartment nicer, but it's also cheaper, and there are far more opportunities in this town than where I'm currently at. Very, very excited about this!!!!

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Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: 12 days ago

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon



2000-poster-crouching_tiger_hidden_dragon-1

Directed by: Ang Lee
Written by: Hui Ling Wang, Kuo Jung Tsai, James Schamus, Wang Hui-Ling, Kuo-Rong Tsai
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Chow Yun-Fat, Sihung Lung
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Genre: Action
Official Site:
Plot: Legendary warrior Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) is looking to retire with the help of his longtime friend, Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), also a skilled warrior. When Li Mu Bai's most treasured sword is stolen, it is up to he and Shu Lien to recover it.

Review:

Watching this again on glorious Blu-Ray reminded me just how much I love this film, and how truly beautiful and majestic cinema can be, especially when they focus on seemingly trivial things such as 'character development' and 'story.' Don't get me wrong, though...I enjoy loud, escapist action movies as much as anyone else, but having those elements can certainly add to the overall experience. Needless to say, it's one of Ang Lee's best films and still one of the best moviegoing experiences I've ever had...[more]...

Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: about 1 month ago

Toy Story 3



Toy-story3-poster9

Directed by: Lee Unkrich
Written by: Michael Arndt
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey, Jodi Benson, Ned Beatty, Bonnie Hunt, Timothy Dalton, Jeff Garlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Keaton
Studio: Walt Disney/Pixar
Genre: Animation
Official Site: www.toystory3.com
Plot: As Andy prepares to leave for college, Woody and the gang are afraid of being thrown away, and must figure out what to do next. After a close call with the dumpster, they end up at Sunnyside Daycare, which looks like toy heaven; unfortunately, it's anything but, where they meet Lotso-Huggin' Bear, a bitter, angry stuffed bear who has other plans for the gang.

Review:

Another Pixar triumph. Need I say more...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: EVILDEADKING (9/10) , Derek237 (10/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: 7 months ago

May



May-poster

Directed by: Lucky McKee
Written by: Lucky McKee
Cast: Angela Bettis, Jeremy Sisto, Anna Faris, James Duval, Merle Kennedy, Kevin Gage
Studio: Lion's Gate Films
Genre: Horror
Official Site:
Plot: May is a shy, awkward girl with a "lazy eye" who has always had a hard time making friends, with her only 'friend' being a doll enclosed in a glass case. That is, however, until her eye catches a handsome young man named Adam who happens to have a taste for the weirder side of life. As the two spend more and more time together, Adam realizes that her psychological "flaws" might be a little too much for him to handle. So May, taking her own mother's advice, decides to create her own friend, using other people's body parts in order to create a "perfect whole." Yeah..........

Review:

Good, bloody fun. If that's what you're looking for, you'll find it here. But if you're also looking for something with a little more elegance and style than the average slasher flick, well, it's your lucky day. MAY is a wonderfully constructed, brilliantly acted piece of horror filmmaking that we don't get to see very often...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: Tweek (9/10) , Kings-Rook1 (6/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: 9 months ago

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader



Chronicles-of-narnia-the-voyage-french-poster

Directed by: Michael Apted
Written by: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Cast: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell
Studio: Fox
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Official Site: www.narnia.com
Plot: While living with their extremely bratty cousin Eustace, Lucy and Edmund are once again swept away into the vast world of Narnia, this time through a painting. They wind up on a ship known as the Dawn Treader, where they (along with Caspian, who is now king, and many other crew members) are sailing to the edge of the world.

Review:

The third chapter of C.S. Lewis' epic fantasy may not quite reach the heights of the first two films, but I'll be damned if I didn't enjoy it. The fact that a new director took the helm (Michael Apted, whose resume really isn't bad at all) concerned me at first, as I really loved what Andrew Adamson had created thus far. I've heard quite a few people say that the "magic" of Narnia seems to have disappeared somewhat, and I can see why; but for me, it was an entertaining film with some truly remarkable effects (the "transition" to Narnia through the painting was simply stunning, and almost exactly the way I imagined it) and some wonderful character work...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: Hal2001 (6/10) , IwishIwasBond (6/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: 10 months ago

Scream 4



Scream4-new-poster

Directed by: Wes Craven
Written by: Kevin Williamson
Cast: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, David Arquette, Adam Brody, Anthony Anderson, Alison Brie, Mary McDonnell, Rory Culkin, Marley Shelton
Studio: Dimension Films
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Official Site: www.scream-4.com
Plot: Now the successful author of a self-help book, Sidney Prescott returns to Woodsboro on the anniversary of the infamous massacre that took place fifteen years earlier. Needless to say, lots of blood and death ensues....again!

Review:

So here we are, fifteen years after the original film that reinvented slasher films. I'm sure many of you, like myself, were both excited and terrified at the idea of a fourth Scream...I mean, there's only so much you can do with these ideas, right? While Scream 4 is not without its flaws, it turned out to be quite the entertaining ride, and honors the original trilogy, even if it doesn't live up to it (although that's one hell of a tough act to follow...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: Derek237 (8/10) , Anakin (8/10) > Display all
lordtyler912
lordtyler912 at 06:57 PM Apr 19

Loved it.

Snowboy
Snowboy at 06:59 PM Apr 19

Glad to hear that! :)

Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: about 1 year ago

Black Swan



Black-swan-international-poster1

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Written by: Mark Heyman, John McLaughlin
Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey, Sebastian Stan, Kristina Anapau
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Genre: Thriller
Official Site: www.blackswan2010.com
Plot: Nina is a passionate young ballerina who still lives with her controlling mother. To her surprise, she is cast as the Swan Queen in a production of SWAN LAKE; however, this particular production requires her to dance both roles: the White Swan, and the Black Swan. She is the embodiment of the White Swan, but lacks the dark sensuality required to play the Black Swan. She meets a new dancer named Lily, who helps Nina bring out her darker side.

Review:

Darren Aronofsky's BLACK SWAN is, simply put, nothing less than astonishing. Given the director's amazing body of work, I really shouldn't have been surprised by what he delivered here; not only did this film surpass my already high expectations, but it just might be the director's most accomplished work to date. If anything, it's certainly the most unrestrained and wildly entertaining movie he's made. But one thing's for sure: BLACK SWAN isn't for everyone. But if you're a fan of Aronofsky's work, chances are you'll love it...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: Strider (9/10) , cerealkiller182 (10/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: about 1 year ago

V for Vendetta



2006-v_for_vendetta-3

Directed by: James McTeigue
Written by: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski, Hilary Henkin
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt
Studio: Warner Bros
Genre: Thriller
Official Site: www.vforvendetta.com
Plot: A young woman named Evey meets a mysterious masked man, who rescues her from two corrupt guards. She forms a relationship with the man, who calls himself "V," but it isn't until later that she discovers his true intentions, and learns that she, too, must choose a side.

Review:

V FOR VENDETTA is the rarest of Hollywood entertainment: it functions on a basic entertainment level, while offering a story that is complex, funny, thrilling, and emotionally (as well as intellectually) resonant, and multi-dimensional characters with whom we can identify. The best thing, I think, about this movie is that it doesn't insult the audience's intelligence, unlike most of the one-dimensional crap that is thrown our way in order to make money...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: KcMsterpce (7/10) , Cottonmouth (10/10) > Display all
lordtyler912
lordtyler912 at 04:14 PM Dec 10

AMEN!

Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: about 1 year ago

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1



Hp7-banner-2-2

Directed by: David Yates
Written by: Steve Kloves
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Rhys Ifans, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Jason Isaacs, John Hurt, Maggie Smith, Miranda Richardson, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, Robbie Coltrane
Studio: Warner Bros
Genre: Fantasy
Official Site: www.harrypotter.com
Plot: With Hogwarts now taken over by Voldemort and his minions, Harry, Ron, and Hermione must find and destroy the Horcruxes left behind by Voldemort, which proves to be much more difficult than they imagined.

Review:

So here we are. The first part of the finale of this epic saga. I'm surprised by how much I've really gotten into this series. At first, I had little to no interest in the world of Harry Potter, but as the series has progressed, the characters have grown richer and the stories more complex. David Yates has proven to be a big factor in making these last few films work, and his commitment does not seem to have waned one bit; Deathly Hallows is a haunting, beautifully shot, and well-acted prelude to what looks to be an amazing finale. (I'll try not to divulge too much in this review...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: cerealkiller182 (6/10) , wallcrawler383 (9/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: about 1 year ago

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince



2009-harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_prince-3

Directed by: David Yates
Written by: Steven Kloves
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, David Bradley, Jim Broadbent, Jessie Cave, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Frank Dillane, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Helen McCrory, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Natalia Tena, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Julie Walters, David Thewlis, Bonnie Wright
Studio: Warner Bros
Genre: Fantasy
Official Site: www.harrypotter.com
Plot: In his sixth year at Hogwarts, Harry comes across a book with the inscription "This book is the property of the half-blood Prince." Unsure of who this is, he embarks on an adventure to discover the identity of this person, while learning more about Voldemort's past.

Review:

What started as a charming children's adventure has evolved into a much darker, dramatically competent, and frankly, beautiful piece of filmmaking. I haven't read the books yet, but each film has progressively gotten better in every respect: the characters grow richer and deeper; the story becomes more involving, and the visuals are nothing less than astonishing. Needless to say, with the first part of the conclusion only a few days away, I am stoked to see how this wonderful saga ends...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: KcMsterpce (3/10) , cerealkiller182 (6/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: over 1 year ago

Princess Mononoke



1997-mononoke-hime-poster1

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Written by: Neil Gaiman
Cast: Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson, Jada Pinkett Smith
Studio: Miramax
Genre: Action
Official Site: www.princess-mononoke.com/
Plot: A young man named Ashitaka becomes cursed by a boar, who has been infected by a group of mysterious worms, which cause the boar to become a demon. During his fight with the boar, Ashitaka also becomes infected, and must leave his home in order to find a cure.

Review:

Simply put, PRINCESS MONONOKE is a towering achievement - not only in the world of animation, but in the world of cinema. These days, when people think of animation, they think of hokey childrens' movies with cardboard characters and plots that are easy to navigate. This is fine, because even the young ones need to be entertained, but for us adults, it tends to get a little...well, tedious...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: tbondrage99 (10/10) > Display all
YoshioKun13
YoshioKun13 at 02:46 AM Oct 16

Fantastic movie.

I do believe that this was my intro into the world of Miyazaki, and I've never looked back. This one's still my fav of his.

Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: over 1 year ago

The Neverending Story



1984-the-neverending-story-poster2

Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Written by: Wolfgang Petersen, Herman Weigel
Cast: Barret Oliver, Gerald McRaney, Drum Garrett, Darryl Cooksey
Studio: Warner Bros.
Genre: Fantasy
Official Site:
Plot: A young boy named Bastian, still dealing with the loss of his mother, discovers a bookshop where a mysterious (and rather HUGE) book dwells. He decides to take the book with him to school, and hides in the school basement where he is transported to an unusual world: a world created by the hopes and dreams of humans, one that is threatened by an entity called "The Nothing."

Review:

I remember ADORING this movie as a kid, but I don't think I ever truly realized just how profoundly creative this film is. Think about it: a world created by human dreams and imagination, and threatened by a form of emptiness - a lack of imagination, if you will. That in itself is a pretty cool concept. But does the film hold up after all these years...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: Psycho-Pirate-99 (8/10) , WP-DFA (10/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: over 1 year ago

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe



2005-chronicles_of_narnia_the_lion_the_witch_and_the_wardrobe-1

Directed by: Andrew Adamson
Written by: Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeeley
Cast: Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, William Moseley, Rupert Everett, Ray Winstone, Dawn French, Liam Neeson, Jim Broadbent
Studio: Walt Disney
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Official Site: www.narnia.com
Plot: The four Pevensie children - Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan - are sent away from home while their father is off fighting in the war. They are taken to a professor's mansion where the youngest, Lucy, discovers a wardrobe which leads them to the magical land of Narnia.

Review:

Watching the first few minutes of this film, which features a surprisingly intense battle sequence, I knew I was in for something special - something that would go beyond the family film cliches. And while the overall framework of the story may seem familiar (especially if you've read the books), the first chapter of the Narnia films is a wonderfully creative, visually spectacular adventure...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: KcMsterpce (4/10) , RiverStyx (7/10) > Display all
IwishIwasBond
IwishIwasBond at 07:32 AM Jul 05

One of my favourite fantasy movies, LOVE IT!

Dr.Frankenstein
Dr.Frankenstein at 10:01 PM Jul 09

Gr8 piece of work-both in print and on film.

Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: over 1 year ago

The Blind Side



Blind-side-poster

Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Written by: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron, Lily Collins, Jae Head
Studio: Warner Bros
Genre: Drama
Official Site: www.theblindsidemovie.com
Plot: A wealthy family takes in a homeless young man named "Big Mike" and help turn his life around.

Review:

This movie belongs to Sandra Bullock, through and through. I'm sure we're all familiar with her knack for comedy, but like many comic actors, she's just as well-versed in drama. Anyone with half a brain can see where this "based on a true story" is going from the start, but Bullock injects enough charisma and heart to make you care about what's happening. To be honest, I'm glad she won the Oscar; it's about time those awards people started recognizing her talents...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: psykowrks (9/10) , filmguy450 (7/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: over 1 year ago

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)



Girl-with-dragon-tattoo-poster-2009

Directed by: Niels Arden Oplev
Written by: Nikolaj Arcel, Rasmus Heisterberg
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist
Studio: Music Box Films
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Official Site: www.dragontattoofilm.com
Plot: A disgraced journalist hooks up with a heavily pierced and troubled young woman to uncover a series of dark family secrets.

Review:

At nearly 2 1/2 hours, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is not going to appeal to everyone. Aside from the epic runtime, this can be a very difficult film to watch. It is relentlessly dark, and occasionally quite violent. But if you're looking for something as far removed from the typical formulaic thrillers which have become a staple in America, then you will be HIGHLY rewarded...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: Derek237 (10/10) , filmguy450 (10/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: over 1 year ago

How To Train Your Dragon



How-to-train-dragon-poster2

Directed by: Peter Hastings
Written by: Adam F. Goldberg, Peter Tolan
Cast: Gerard Butler, America Ferrara, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Studio: DreamWorks
Genre: Animation
Official Site: www.howtotrainyourdragon.com
Plot: A young Viking named Hiccup isn't exactly your ordinary Viking; at least, not in comparison to the big, burly Vikings which roam the community of Berk. When Hiccup discovers a "night fury" dragon, he chooses not to kill it; instead, he decides to learn from it, and eventually takes it as his own personal pet, much to the dismay of his father and the rest of Berk.

Review:

Prior to its release, I hadn't heard much about this movie, except that it featured dragons, vikings, and was being produced by Dreamworks. Now, it's no secret that the studio has been hit-or-miss over the last few years. They've milked the ever-loving crap out of the SHREK franchise, which in turn, has caused it to become stale and almost lifeless. I'm hoping they don't do that here, because this is one of the best movies to come out of Dreamworks in quite some time, and definitely one of my favorites of the year thus far...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: filmguy450 (10/10) , magicwizguy (10/10) > Display all
dannywalker17
dannywalker17 at 11:55 PM Jun 12

Great review! Loved it, especially the score!

Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: over 1 year ago

Notes on a Scandal



2006-notes_on_a_scandal-1

Directed by: Richard Eyre
Written by: Patrick Marber
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Genre: Drama
Official Site:
Plot: Barbara (Dench) is a lonely schoolteacher who befriends new art teacher Sheba (Blanchett). One night, when Barbara discovers Sheba having an affair with one of the students, she decides that the best way to maintain control over Sheba is to do nothing. The rest I leave for you to discover.

Review:

Notes On a Scandal is pure, unadulterated melodrama - but when it's so expertly crafted as this one, it's easy to turn a blind eye to just how ridiculously over the top the story really is. This is a deliciously dark, tightly paced, and magnificently acted piece of filmmaking that, despite the difficult subject involved, is actually a lot of fun to watch.

The film received Oscar nominations for both Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench, and I can tell you that both actresses delivered truly amazing performances. Dench, in particular, is extremely effective as a heartbreakingly lonely woman with her own personal agenda. She manages to maintain an element of sympathy despite her vicious intentions. And Blanchett is equally as compelling as the woman who, following a horrible mistake, finds herself at the center of Barbara's crusade.

The technical aspects are also rock-solid, with crisp cinematography and a haunting score by Phillip Glass, which gives many of the final scenes a tremendous dose of suspense.

As I stated before, the story itself is very over-the-top, but everything else works so well, I think you'll be able to look past that, especially given the insane talent involved. If you're looking for a great psychological thriller, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Other reviews of this film: Monotreme (9/10) , JesseNick (7/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: about 2 years ago

Avatar



Avatar-poster1

Directed by: James Cameron
Written by: James Cameron
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver
Studio: Fox
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science-Fiction
Official Site: www.avatarmovie.com
Plot: A paralyzed Marine named Jake joins a team of scientists and soldiers who go between their world and the world of the Na'vi by way of Na'vi avatars. Taking on the form of a Na'vi, Jake finds himself completely immersed in the ways of these people, and he must also fight for survival as his team attempts to destroy the Na'vi in order to obtain a valuable rock called Inobtanium, said to be worth millions of dollars.

Review:

I went into AVATAR with moderately high expectations, knowing well that, despite the glowing reviews, it had received its fair share of criticisms. As the lights in the theater dimmed, I put on my 3D glasses, ready to see what Jim Cameron gave us after all these years of waiting, and I am happy to say that I was not disappointed...[more]...

Other reviews of this film: Weapon X (9/10) , KcMsterpce (6/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: about 2 years ago

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire



Precious-poster-quotes1

Directed by: Lee Daniels
Written by: Lee Daniels
Cast: Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz, Gabourey Sidibe
Studio: Lionsgate
Genre: Drama
Official Site: www.weareallprecious.com
Plot: Claireece is a 16-year-old mother of two children who endures severe mental and physical abuse from her chain-smoking, foul-mothed, welfare-cashing mother. After getting kicked out of public school, she begins attending an "alternative" school where she meets a group of colorful students and a teacher, Ms. Rain, who sees tremendous potential - and pain - in Claireece.

Review:

After reading glowing reviews of this film, and it's all-star cast including Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, and Mo'nique (not sure if I put the apostrophe where it's supposed to go :P ), I decided to give it a try. I'm a sucker for heartfelt, gritty dramas, but not so much a fan of those types of films that force sentiment and sap down your throat. Thankfully, "Precious" avoids those traps, and emerges as a dark, powerful, yet uplifting drama that can be placed among 2009's finest cinematic efforts...[more]...

Precious1

Other reviews of this film: filmguy450 (1/10) , Monotreme (7/10) > Display all
Jack The Narrator
Jack The Narrator at 01:47 AM Nov 30

Thanks for the review. Not sure when this will make it to my part of town. But I of course intend to see it.

Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: over 2 years ago

District 9



2009-district9-1

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Written by: Neill Blomkamp
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James, Mandla Gaduka, William Allen Young, Vanessa Haywood, Kenneth Nkosi, Devlin Brown
Studio: Sony Pictures
Genre: Science Fiction
Official Site: www.d-9.com
Plot: A group of alien refugees living in South Africa meet a government official who has been infected with some kind of liquid, causing him to slowly mutate.

Review:

I appreciated the ideas presented in DISTRICT 9. Unfortunately, ideas are not enough to carry a movie; you need strong characters and emotions if you're going to pull off a film of this nature. There were many times in this film I found myself wondering when all of the supposed "thrills" were going to happen. Unfortunately, for me, they never came, despite some impressive technical work and some decent action in the end.

I don't mind a slow pace, so long as you use that time to build your characters and story, and that's one area DISTRICT 9 is sorely lacking. I felt no connection to the main character. In fact, I found him to be one of the dullest characters I've seen in any movie this year. We know virtually nothing about him, except that he's a government official. With a wife. Whoopty-doo! He spends most of the film running, and trying to figure out how to cure his mutation. That would be fine and dandy, except for the fact that I just didn't care one way or the other.

The themes here are pretty obvious as well, and honestly, didn't feel like anything I hadn't seen before. The technical elements are definitely top-notch, with some nifty alien designs and stunning cinematography. But, in the end, I just didn't feel as overwhelmed by it as many others do.

District-9-poster

Other reviews of this film: Weapon X (10/10) , KcMsterpce (3/10) > Display all
Snowboy posted a MOVIE REVIEW item: over 2 years ago

Ponyo



Ponyo-poster

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Written by: Melissa Mathison
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Genre: Animation
Official Site: disneydvd.disney.go.com/ponyo.html
Plot: A young boy, Sosuke, finds a goldfish named Ponyo who wants to be human. When her wish comes true, the earth is suddenly thrown off balance, causing the ocean water to rise higher and higher, while her father frantically tries to find Ponyo and put an end to the natural threat.

Review:

Easily one of the most charming films in Hayao Miyazaki's amazing body of work, PONYO is a delight from start to finish. In fact, this one's probably more kid-friendly than anything Miyazaki's done before, but don't let that turn you off; every frame of this film brings with it the same sense of awe and wonder prevalent in Miyazaki's previous works. It's especially impressive that there's no CGI here whatsoever; it's entirely hand-drawn, and let me tell you, it looks stunning (wait until you see Ponyo running across the waves...WOW). The score by Joe Hisaishi is also magnificent, but that's also par for the Miyazaki course.

I did enjoy the characters, particularly Sosuke and Lisa, as well as Ponyo herself, who was a joy to watch. The only real complaint I have is that some of the supporting characters didn't get as much screen time as I would've liked (Ponyo's parents, for example), and the narrative did seem to wander aimlessly at times, but those are merely small missteps in an otherwise delightful adventure worthy of the high standards set by Miyazaki's previous films.

Other reviews of this film: filmguy450 (9/10) , tbondrage99 (7/10) > Display all
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