Worf101
02-22-2010, 07:07 AM
Been a while since I chimed in here but I've been on a tear lately so I've decided to play catch up before I gits too far behind.
1. "Avatar" - C - Finally saw the elephant this weekend. Due to wounds (concussion, loosened eye muscles) suffered in service I cannot see 3D but I took the family anyhow. They enjoyed the effects but thought the story (Natives = Good, Corporations/Soldiers = Bad) was hackneyed at best. I called it dances with Navi. The couldn't decide if the Navi were Native Americans, African Tribesmen, Tarnsmen of Gor or whatever. Ian thought that the 3D effects were so sparingly used as to make the experience wholly underwhelming.
2. "The Complete Superman Collection" - B-Minus - This 2 disk collection features all the Paramount Studios Superman Cartoons from the 30's and 40's. The first disk contains 8 shorts from the Fleisher Brothers (think Popeye) which mostly follow the Mad Scientist, seeks to destroy Metropolis and threatens Lois Lane formula. This scenario gets old quick. The Second Disk has 7 shorts made during the war. The Fleishers no longer seem to be involved. These shorts find Superman fighting Nazi sabatoers and "Japs" in Tokyo. There were several episodes that made me cringe but considering the time in which they were made. The disk got a minus grade from me because of the less than stellar soundtrack and the complete lack of any extras.
3. "Up" - A - This film gets the first "A" I've given out in a while. This movie was/is a marvel. It uses simple but effective story telling to draw you in and bind you within the first 10 minutes. Quite simply the best movie I've seen all year. Do yourself a fave and rent it.
4. "The Hurt Locker" - C+ - In case you didn't know, when I was in the Combat Engineers I did a bit of EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) work when stationed at Fort Leonard Wood Missourri. Now the most I dealt with was unexploded rounds left over from WWII and Korea and sometimes granddads WWI souvenier. While I enjoyed the storytelling, in my experience any NCO who flaunted safety protocol so often and thoroughly would've been relieved or fragged in a heartbeat. The protagonist's near suicidal methodology wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes in my unit and as a result I could "never suspend belief" I just kept hollaring about what he was doing wrong. Perhaps that's why I'm giving it a less than stellar rating.
5. "District 9" - B - I enjyoyed this movie a lot. The whole idea of a race of aliens having their whip break down over the South African capital was pretty novel to begin with but the sublte manner in which they explore xenophobia, racism and their own sordid past via this allegory was pretty darn outstanding. Calling them Prawns was a bit of a mis-nomer though cause if they're anything they're walking cockroaches... period. Gave me the damn creeps.
6. "Julie and Julia" - C+ - Wifeypoo wanted this one, I sat through as much of it as I could. She thought that the schizophrenic nature of the story ruined it. It would've been a far more effective film had it just concentrated on Julia Childs fascinating story alone. Amy Adams might be a good actress but when paired with Meryl Streep she just couldn't hold up her end. Kinda sad really.
7. "Rent Filmed Live on Broadway" - B - This filmed Broadway performance was/is everything the failed feature film was not. Do yourself a favor and see this one. The sound is excellent, the music marvelous, the extra's thorough and spectacular. "Rent" was more than a Broadway play it was almost "therapy" for certain communities in New York City. It is quite simply a marvel.
8. "Qulls" - B - Fascinating story of the confinement and death of the Marquis de Sade. Stellar cast, sumptuously filmed this movie is a treat for those unfamiliar with the man behind the name and the myth. Geoffery Rush and Juaqin Pheonix are marvelous as is a young Kate Winslet.
9. "Cheri" - F - Another "period" piece that fails at every turn. Forget the film, read the book. Poor script, worse acting and haphazard direction make this one of the worst films I've ever endured.
Hope this all helps...
Worf.
1. "Avatar" - C - Finally saw the elephant this weekend. Due to wounds (concussion, loosened eye muscles) suffered in service I cannot see 3D but I took the family anyhow. They enjoyed the effects but thought the story (Natives = Good, Corporations/Soldiers = Bad) was hackneyed at best. I called it dances with Navi. The couldn't decide if the Navi were Native Americans, African Tribesmen, Tarnsmen of Gor or whatever. Ian thought that the 3D effects were so sparingly used as to make the experience wholly underwhelming.
2. "The Complete Superman Collection" - B-Minus - This 2 disk collection features all the Paramount Studios Superman Cartoons from the 30's and 40's. The first disk contains 8 shorts from the Fleisher Brothers (think Popeye) which mostly follow the Mad Scientist, seeks to destroy Metropolis and threatens Lois Lane formula. This scenario gets old quick. The Second Disk has 7 shorts made during the war. The Fleishers no longer seem to be involved. These shorts find Superman fighting Nazi sabatoers and "Japs" in Tokyo. There were several episodes that made me cringe but considering the time in which they were made. The disk got a minus grade from me because of the less than stellar soundtrack and the complete lack of any extras.
3. "Up" - A - This film gets the first "A" I've given out in a while. This movie was/is a marvel. It uses simple but effective story telling to draw you in and bind you within the first 10 minutes. Quite simply the best movie I've seen all year. Do yourself a fave and rent it.
4. "The Hurt Locker" - C+ - In case you didn't know, when I was in the Combat Engineers I did a bit of EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) work when stationed at Fort Leonard Wood Missourri. Now the most I dealt with was unexploded rounds left over from WWII and Korea and sometimes granddads WWI souvenier. While I enjoyed the storytelling, in my experience any NCO who flaunted safety protocol so often and thoroughly would've been relieved or fragged in a heartbeat. The protagonist's near suicidal methodology wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes in my unit and as a result I could "never suspend belief" I just kept hollaring about what he was doing wrong. Perhaps that's why I'm giving it a less than stellar rating.
5. "District 9" - B - I enjyoyed this movie a lot. The whole idea of a race of aliens having their whip break down over the South African capital was pretty novel to begin with but the sublte manner in which they explore xenophobia, racism and their own sordid past via this allegory was pretty darn outstanding. Calling them Prawns was a bit of a mis-nomer though cause if they're anything they're walking cockroaches... period. Gave me the damn creeps.
6. "Julie and Julia" - C+ - Wifeypoo wanted this one, I sat through as much of it as I could. She thought that the schizophrenic nature of the story ruined it. It would've been a far more effective film had it just concentrated on Julia Childs fascinating story alone. Amy Adams might be a good actress but when paired with Meryl Streep she just couldn't hold up her end. Kinda sad really.
7. "Rent Filmed Live on Broadway" - B - This filmed Broadway performance was/is everything the failed feature film was not. Do yourself a favor and see this one. The sound is excellent, the music marvelous, the extra's thorough and spectacular. "Rent" was more than a Broadway play it was almost "therapy" for certain communities in New York City. It is quite simply a marvel.
8. "Qulls" - B - Fascinating story of the confinement and death of the Marquis de Sade. Stellar cast, sumptuously filmed this movie is a treat for those unfamiliar with the man behind the name and the myth. Geoffery Rush and Juaqin Pheonix are marvelous as is a young Kate Winslet.
9. "Cheri" - F - Another "period" piece that fails at every turn. Forget the film, read the book. Poor script, worse acting and haphazard direction make this one of the worst films I've ever endured.
Hope this all helps...
Worf.