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superpotts
Reviews
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Complete Waste of Time
This is easily one of the most overrated films of all time. Of the 141 minute run-time, maybe 30 minutes of that is story development; the rest is just time fillers such as watching a ship fly through space for ten minutes. I found it necessary to engage in other activities throughout the movie while these time fillers went on. This meant I was doing something else for about 90% of the time the movie was on.
The music is loud, irritating, and incongruent with what is occurring. Half of it feels like happy show tunes when the visuals are either somber or nothing (i.e. a space ship flying through space for ten minutes).
The ending had the feel that Kubrick was trying to do something artsy and creative...but failed miserably and created only something that was a boring culmination to a boring movie.
Avoid this one at all costs...unless you want to take a 2 1/2 hour nap.
Before Sunrise (1995)
snooze fest
In Before Sunrise, you simply watch two people go on an overnight date. Yippie. I've been on plenty of dates to know how they work, so I certainly don't need to waste my time watching other people do it. The two characters in the movie have extended conversations broken up about every ten minutes to change the scenery and give you a chance to wake up. The conversations are mundane and often pointless. It's like watching a reality TV show, only without all the drama that makes it interesting.
The acting is sub-par. Ethan Hawke was okay, though his character was extremely annoying. Julie Delpy, on the other hand, delivered her lines devoid of any emotion. Her way of attempting emotion was to simply stare out the window.
This movie appeared to be made simply because the writer wanted other people to hear his ideas about life. This is fine, as many movies have been made for this purpose. However, the flaw here is that this is the only point to the movie. There isn't any connecting plot at all, just a series of conversations. The movie "Tape" (also w/ Ethan Hawke) is also just a series of conversations, though the only setting is one hotel room and the movie is actually just one really long scene. However, "Tape" actually is entertaining in that the conversations have a point and actually move the characters to some sort of resolution or change - this is where "Before Sunrise" fails.
To sum up, if you have insomnia, this "film" is your cure. Or, if you're a hermit and you miss having conversations with people, then this will provide for a substitute to interacting with others...just don't plan to be entertained.
Lost in Translation (2003)
extremely boring
I was watching this movie and it came to a point where it had dragged on so long that I was anxious for it to be over, so I checked the time and only fifteen minutes had passed since the beginning of the movie. I spent money to rent it so I kept watching it for another 45 minutes...still no plot after an hour. I would say what the movie is about, but I don't know that it's really about anything. It's a conglomeration of pointless scenes that don't make up a story. I was expecting a great film considering it's 8.0 ranking here at imdb, but for the life of me, I can't figure out how one person would think this movie is in any way good, let alone fifteen thousand. This one has apparently done well at the film festivals, so that should be enough of a sign to steer clear of it. Indie movies are indie for a reason...they suck. This is a great one to rent if you struggle with insomnia.
Secondhand Lions (2003)
don't waste your time
While both Robert Duvall and Michael Caine do a great job with their performances, Haley Joel Osment pretty much ruins the whole thing. He acts like he's still stuck in AI as a robot...same facial expressions, same movements, same complete lack of acting ability. The story had all kinds of potential to be good, but it just wasn't. It leaves you wanting. Supposedly a relationship develops between the boy and the two old guys, but that development is never shown. It happens in about a matter of five minutes and it keeps you wondering where that bond ever came from in the first place.
I rented this hoping for a good one-timer, but it wasn't even that. I don't recommend wasting your time or money on this one.
The Scorpion King (2002)
good action flick
There will be many people who don't like this movie because it's corny, bad dialogue, poor special effects, blah blah blah. The bottom line is, though, that if you're wanting a good mindless action flick, then this is a great pick. It's not filled with Oscar-level acting, writing, and directing, but then it wasn't meant to be either. It's meant to be fun and give the viewer a chance to simply vegetate while being entertained at the same time; and it's this purpose that the movie fulfills greatly. It doesn't have some of the "depth" of the Mummy movies, it's just straight action. I would say that this is a flaw only because I've seen what it could be with the DVD special features. There's a whole prophecy storyline that they left out of the theatrical release that really would have added a lot to the movie; I'm not real sure why they took it out. In any case, if you like action movies, and if you're not a critic who exists soley to bash movies rather than to enjoy them, and especially if you like The Rock, then I would recommend Scorpion King.
Panic Room (2002)
Yawn.....
This movie is decent, but don't waste your money to see it in the theater; it's definitely a rental. The previews depict the movie to be a thriller, but the movie itself falls incredibly short of inspiring any fear whatsoever. The three bad guy characters are all extremely typical (a moron, a good-hearted criminal (?), and the ever-present ruthless madman) and lack any kind of depth.
With that said, the movie is fairly entertaining, but save the movie theater experience for something more engaging.