Forbidden Kingdom Movie Review by armchaircritic

Forbidden Kingdom Movie Review by armchaircritic


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Time for some high-flying, gravity-defying kung-fu fighting! The Forbidden Kindgom is a fun, light movie where martial arts legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li battle countless minions (and yes, each other) to save a kindgom.

This story starts off in South Boston, where awkward teen Jason Tripitkas (Michael Angarano) loves kung-fu movies, has no luck with the local girls, and gets bullied by some one-dimensional teenage thugs. After a botched robbery and quick chase at Jason's favorite store, he finds himself transported back to ancient China, holding the mysterious staff from that store.

In short order Jason meets Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), a travelling martial artist and heavy drinker; he also claims to be one of the legendary immortals. Lu provides the story behind the staff. At a gathering of immortals, the mischievous Monkey King (played by Jet Li) was tricked and betrayed by the Jade Warlord (Collin Chou), who turned the Monkey King to stone. Before being petrified, the Monkey King sent the staff away, and legends say when it is returned by a seeker the Monkey King will be free.

Jason also meets up with the Silent Monk (also played by Jet Li) who, after fighting with Lu, decides to join them. Rounding out the makeshift party of heroes is Sparrow (Liu Yifei), a beautiful young woman and skilled warrior whose family and village were slaughtered by the troops of the Jade Warlord. She has a weapon which can slay an immortal, and she seeks revenge on the Jade Warlord.

The villains aren't as diverse as the heroes. The Jade Warlord is a ruthless leader, skilled and fighting and ruthless in command. There's a deadly assassin named Ni Chang (Li Bingbing), a white-haired killer who is equally skilled with a whip, a bow, or her enchanted hair. Otherwise, the bad guys have hordes of heavily armored sword-wielding troops who know enough martial arts to fight the heroes but not enough to do anything but get their butts handed to them every time.

The Forbidden Kingdom is enjoyable fluff. The fight scenes are impressive, and it's nice to see Jackie Chan reprising his drunken master style of fighting again. Even though the action uses as much special effects and wire tricks as combat, Chan and Li still manage to put on a great show of martial arts. (The other actors are no slouches either.) The story is as much comedy as excitement, and there are no surprises along the journey: We know who's going to find themselves, who's doomed, and what will happen in the end. The Forbidden Kingdom is a good diversion, a movie that's an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.

Overall grade: B

This review is provided by The Armchair Critic, bringing you the most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment

Premonition Movie Review by armchaircritic

Premonition Movie Review by armchaircritic


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I've had the Premonition disc sitting around for months, and simply didn't get around to watching it. After I did, I was glad that I finally got to it.

Sandra Bullock plays Linda Hanson, a suburban housewife with a husband and two young daughters. Her life is pretty much average, until one day she awakens to the reality that her husband is dead. However, she keeps getting premonitions (hence the title) of other adverse events that are going to happen affecting herself and family. As the tale gets told, in a series of nonconsecutive days of the week, we learn about marital difficulties with her husband, her relationship with her mother, the daughter's accident that she can't remember, and a psychiatrist that thinks she's psychotic works on getting her committed.

Premonition reminded me of another film that runs out of order, Memento. In that film, the story is told backwards to simulate the memory disorder where the main character has no short term memory. In Premonition, we're a lot more jumbled as there's no true order, but characters and subplots keep getting revealed in bite size pieces for easy digestion. While it sounds like it is very confusing, I'd say that it's only mildly so, and makes us identify with our protagonists unsettling feeling of each time she wakes up to start a new day, she's not sure if her husband is alive or dead.

Overall, I enjoyed Premonition. It's an interesting drama, that attempts to break new ground in the sequence of storytelling. Also, don't miss the DVD's featurette that shows the story sequence chronologically after you see the film to get some insight on how the whole thing fits together.

Overall Grade: B+

Reviewed by Jonas

This review is provided by The Armchair Critic, bringing you the most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment

Paranoid Park Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Paranoid Park Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

"Paranoid Park” stars Gabe Nevins, Daniel Liu, and many other first time actors. It’s written and directed by Gus Van Saint (Good Will Hunting, Elephant) and is based on a novel written by Blake Nelson.

A teenage skater named Alex (Gabe Nevins) becomes the suspect of the possible murder of a late night security guard patrolling an area near the train tracks. A detective named Richard Lu visits the school known for multiple skaters who hang out at the famous skate park known as Paranoid Park. His reason being that the murder weapon was a skateboard and occurred near this famous skater hang-out.

“Paranoid Park” is an independent flick shot with style and grace. A subtle thriller featuring Gabe Nevins’ debut as an actor and this role just might boost his way to stardom. He gives a spectacular performance as a loner who finds himself in the most disturbing of situations. Not only does Gabe Nevins nails his character, but just about every actor portrayed in the film appeared natural on camera. It’s amazing how confident all of these first time actors (composed primarily of young teens) are. Some of this credit goes towards veteran director Gus Van Saint for prying out these fresh performances, but most of the credit goes to the actors themselves for being so casual during filming.

This is an atmospherically dark and thought-provoking entry into the film noir genre. The excessive use of slow-motion is common in independent flicks. Gus Van Saint takes full advantage of this using ultra slow-motion every chance he gets, eventually overusing it at times. This is a film full of gritty style, even using an unfocused camera at times adding a hazy effect. It has a very modest pace to it that neither hurts the film nor does it really help. The script was sharp and intelligently written.

My only real problem with this film is the ending. It doesn’t quite answer important questions and leaves a dry feeling. An odd selection of music was used in appropriate moments and the direction was done with fashion. This is a well made sleeper that with its subtle approach is gripping, and most of all unsettling. Anyone who is looking for a film with first time acting at its best, distinctive style and a pneumatic ring to it, “Paranoid Park” has that and much more. 4/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

No Country for Old Men Movie Review by star757

No Country for Old Men Movie Review by star757

This movie was the Oscar winner for best picture. Javier Bardem also won best supporting actor. It is based on the story by Cormac McCarthy, the writer of All the Pretty Horses. This movie was well done, but the subject is intense, depressing, and violent. Javier Bardem plays Chigurh who kills just because, if he makes up his mind to kill someone no one can stop him. Out in Texas a man, Josh Brolin, comes across a drug deal gone bad. People are dead, there are cars around and dead dogs, and a truck with a lot of drugs in the back. He walks further until he finds a case with $2 million in it. He plans to keep the money and not tell anyone...this doesn't work out. The movie follows him running from Chigurh, a sociopath out to kill him and get the money. Chigurh will kill anyone, for his own his reasons, and it's not a big deal to him. Also looking for Chigurh is the local sheriff played by Tommy Lee Jones. What will happen? Will Chirgurh find and kill his man? How many people will die along the way? Will the sheriff find him and stop him? The first half of the movie is good, it keeps you watching. About three quarters in it slows down, I even started to fall asleep. There are many parts with no dialogue, which isn't bad. I liked the movie at first, but then it slowed down. There is a lot of killing, so be prepared for that. And the ending, well it is what it is...depressing and sad.

Super High Me Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Super High Me Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

“Super High Me” stars stoner/comedian Doug Benson and has cameo appearances from multiple comedians and noted pot smokers including comedian Sarah Silverman and stoner king Marc Emery. It features Michael Blieden’s directorial debut to the big screen.

After witnessing the documentary “Super Size Me”, habitual pot smoker Doug Benson decided to make a documentary on the effects of non-stop usage of the herbal mood enhancer known as Marijuana for 30 days. The big catch being that he has to quit smoking reefer for 30 days before conducting the experiment. This experiment includes memory tests, SAT tests, sperm tests, and psychic tests. The result is the stoner related documentary “Super High Me” released on 4-20-08.

Doug Benson, the guy who was recently named #2 pot comedian by High Times Magazine, is admittedly a funny man. Most of the documentary is composed of stand up comedy by Benson along with many other well known comedians, with the center of all the jokes being the mind-altering substance formally known as cannabis. If your familiar with the buzz and support marijuana, you will appreciate this attempt and some of the aspects that Benson points out in his documentary. One of the most crucial aspects being the DEA raiding medical marijuana labs. Just evidence that not all of this is funny business.

There are some problems with this film. It pretty much fails on the documentary level, lacking in a sufficient amount of statistics to inform the audience of the importance of the oldest known cash crop. A good deal of the film (about 75%) is short stand up acts, most of which are performed by Doug Benson. The majority of the jokes are pretty good, while a good quantity of them aren’t as funny as he makes them out to be. There are several interviews with medical marijuana users, along with an interview with Marc Emery (very interesting). Marc Emery, more commonly known as The Prince of Pot, has become a legend in Canada. This man has been arrested a total of 17 times and his home has raided dozens of times, all for marijuana.

Although it doesn’t supply the desired amount of stats for a documentary, it was mildly interesting. There is an unexpected mood swing the film delivers. That smile on your face will be turned upside down by the sight of the tortured souls of medical marijuana users watching the DEA take away their medicine. There is a point to this documentary, just a very muddled one thanks to the overuse of stand up comedy, the sight of Doug Benson getting “Super High”, and lack of statistics. I liked it, but it just feels like a comedy special to me. 2.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

The Great Debaters Movie Review by star757

The Great Debaters Movie Review by star757


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This movie was a familiar Denzel Washington role, where he plays a strict college debate coach, but I think it could have been a lot better. The acting was good, the characters were interesting, but there could have been more depth to the movie. This movie is based on the true story of the Wiley College debate team in Texas, set in the 1930's. Denzel Washington plays Prof. Tolson, a somewhat controversial man who stands up for what he believes and expects a lot from his debate students. The team consists of four students, 1 girl and 4 guys. It follows there debates, but here is where it could have focused more. They show some parts of debates, but mostly them just traveling around and winning. The second storyline is about Denzel Washington's character trying to set up a union of the sharecroppers and farmers. The sheriff is much against this and we see some racial tension here. Throughout the movie you see how some white people treated blacks in the 1930's, and this was a story of a team that overcomes. It is insinuated that Prof. Tolson is a communist, but all this doesn't fit well with the rest of the movie. It could, but it's just like they deal with everything lightly. They don't go in much depth or tie it all together well. Throughout the movie Prof. Tolson has been writing letters to universities to try to get his debate team into a big debate, to show they are good debaters, not just good black debaters. At the end they are invited to Harvard. Will they win the debate? What will happen to Prof. Tolson? This was a good movie, but I wouldn't watch it over and over. A good movie that could have been better.

Prom Night Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Prom Night Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

“Prom Night” stars Brittany Snow, an uprising actress who’s more commonly known for her side role in “Hairspray”. It features the directorial debut for Nelson McCormick who previously directed TV shows that include Nip Tuck and The Closer.

A night of magic turns into a nightmare for a senior traumatized by the brutal killing of her family (Brittany Snow). The sadistic killer gets put in the mental institution, but escapes in search of the one person he wanted the most. It happens on a night that every teenager should remember for the rest of their life and Donna is guaranteed to remember this one.

Let me first start by saying this wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, it was worse. The character development was weak (what were their names?) and frankly I didn’t care whether or not these people were slaughtered. Like most teen-friendly slasher flicks, it relies entirely on cheap scares and poorly structured jolts. The kind where the camera slowly sneaks up on a character, only to find out that there is nothing there. What is suppose to leave you in a state of uncertainty and anxiety are the around the corner attacks that are nowhere near satisfying. It’s just another hauntingly familiar addition to the teen slasher genre. Nothing original or new. It’s just the same old cliched stuff.

With subliminal acting, poor production, and a Made-For-TV script, this film has no qualities worth crowning. Brittany Snow can’t carry this movie through it’s short 88min running time with the horrible acting she displays in “Prom Night”. There is no way a timid actress like herself can boost into a mainstream career with tired material like this. There isn’t a sliver of suspense here. A couple moments of just decent acting can be found if you look closely. Not from Brittany Snow, but from Dana Davis who obviously should have been the lead actress.

In the end, this modern retrend of the old school 80’s slasher flick that goes by the same name is just another tired attempt at remaking a classic horror movie. If there is any talent, it was lost during production time. Everything, down to the trite and amateurish script, is irrational and poorly set-up. Don’t spend you time and please don’t spend your money on this soon-to-be-forgotten night. 1/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Added The Great Debaters DVD to Prize Catalog

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Win it before you can buy it in stores, The Great Debators comes out on DVD on May 13, but you can get this 2 Disk DVD today at Popcornmonsters.com
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Inspired by a true story, "The Great Debaters" chronicles the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson, a brilliant but volatile debate team coach who uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time.

Must Love Dogs Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Must Love Dogs Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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“Must Love Dogs” stars John Cusack, Diane Lane, and co-stars Elizabeth Perkins, Christopher Plummer and many more. It’s written and directed by Gary David Goldberg, who’s previous work is found on the small screen.

Sarah Nolan (Diane Lane) is recently divorced pre-school teacher looking for the right guy to wake up and eat breakfast with for the rest of her life. Thanks to her sister, Sarah’s profile get puts on PerfectMatch.com with the closing line stating “must love dogs”. Jake (John Cusack) is a hopeless romantic who comes across her enthusiastic profile and stunning picture. They just might be the perfect match.

Stepping into my shady zone (that being romantic comedies), I wasn’t too excited about seeing this one, which is why it flew under my radar. However, I really enjoyed the story and more importantly the characters. Under rated actor John Cusack nails his role as the energetic and charming man and Diane Lane couldn’t be more gorgeous as the shy and beautiful-without-knowing-it teacher. Not only is this movie romantic, it’s also surprisingly funny and witty. If you take in consideration my uncontrollable sickness to dislike most romantic comedies, you will realize that this movie is much better than it should be.

Unlike most romantic comedies, this one is simultaneously romantic and very funny. A very difficult feat if you ask me. I wasn’t trying to predict the predictable story, which just proves that I was really interested in the movie and the very likable characters developed with style and grace. John Cusack and Diane Lane have expert chemistry that carries this film smoothly through it’s appropriate 98 min running time. The ending is sweet and the film definitely knows how to touch the viewers heart.

Astonishingly, I highly recommend “Must Love Dogs”. From the near hilarious opening to the heartfelt ending, I couldn’t adore this movie more. Some people might think this is a girlie movie, but it’s not. It has viewpoints from both the male and female perspectives. This isn’t very usual when it comes to this genre. The most amazing thing about it is the chemistry. It’s very obvious that John Cusack and Diane Lane clicked during the screening for “Must Love Dogs”. Other than it being forgivingly predictable, there really isn’t much bad to say about this film. Some might say I am praising this movie too much, but, I really liked it. Not the best romantic comedy, but it was undeniably close to making the top 5 list. Whether you spend money on a rental or catch it on television, this one is easily worth checking out. 4/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

No Reservations Movie Review by armchaircritic

No Reservations Movie Review by armchaircritic


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No Reservations is the Hollywood remake of the German film, Mostly Martha. It stars Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Zeta-Jones is Kate, a driven executive chef in a swanky Manhattan restaurant. Apparently no one ever told her the phrase "Work to live, don't live to work," as she has her entire life is tied up in this restaurant, and she has little (more like nothing) outside of it. The plot develops with a crisis as Kate's sister is coming into town to visit, and is fatally killed in an automobile accident, and her niece, Zoe (Breslin), is injured as well. Suddenly Kate has to fulfill her godmotherly duties and raise her sister's child, a responsibility that she unenthusiastically fulfills.

Along the way, we realize that Kate is wholly unprepared for this endeavor, despite her outward achievement at the restaurant. Seriously, it shouldn't take a psychotherapist to suggest making the kid fishsticks instead of duck or a whole fish (with the head on) to eat! Geez, no wonder Zoe wasn't quite gobbling this fare up! Enter Nick (Eckhart), a budding chef that for most of the film we can't decide if he is truly studying under Kate, or waiting for his chance to push her aside in the kitchen. Quite predictably, and inevitably, a romance develops between Kate and Nick.

No Reservations, while mostly predictable, is still a good film. There's no plot twists and turns to keep track of. You can guess the ending halfway through, and there's no surprises along the way beyond an occasional speed bump. It's like ordering a hamburger at the diner: completely predictable, but still satisfying. Sometimes, that just what your taste buds need, and this film can deliver. All three stars turn in convincing performances so No Reservations is definitely a safe viewing choice.

Overall Grade: B+

Reviewed by Jonas

This review is provided by The Armchair Critic, bringing you the most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment

Waterborne Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Waterborne Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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“Waterborne” stars Christopher Masterson and Jon Gries. This gritty story of survival takes place in Los Angeles where terrorist have contaminated the city’s water supply. A horrific Drama directed by Ben Rekhi.

The movie centers on several characters, mainly two friends played by Christopher Masterson and Jon Gries, that connect to a story of racial equality and human survival. The film takes place in three day increments. Tension builds on day one of the contamination as the fear of drinking water intensifies. While the city is in a frantic, friendships deteriorate and the urge for water turns to a deadly rampage.

Stunning performances from Christopher Masterson and Jon Gries. As expected, this film held my interest with it’s gritty storytelling and outstanding photography. Once the film kicked off, my eyes will be glued to the screen. First time director Ben Rekhi does an excellent job at proving his skills behind the camera. Fine performances from its supporting cast. A very engaging drama from start to finish.

The photography was shot so well that you feel almost obligated to watch. A mesmerising drama showing that fear is what controls us. This is the most important movie about human survival made in years and a work of art that has been overlooked by many. Great work done by a first time director Ben Rekhi. “Waterborne” deserves a spot on my top ten list.

Successfully combines the cinemagraphic look of the movie “Traffic” and the power that came with the movie “Crash”. A very sobering, thought provoking film that demonstrates the power of racial equality and human survival. Waterborne is one of the most powerful films of the year. Great acting and directing. This is the most terrifiying story of survial I have ever seen on film. I recommend “Waterborne” to everyone who hasn’t yet discovered the talent behind Ben Rekhi as a director. 5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Cool Hand Luke Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Cool Hand Luke Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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“Cool Hand Luke” stars Paul Newman as Lucas Jackson and mostly takes place at a prison where he takes part in a chain gang. Mainly categorized as a drama with some humor mixed in. “Cool Hand Luke” co-stars George Kennedy and is directed by Stuart Rosenberg.

The film starts off with Lucas Jackson committing the crime of vandalism in a parking lot while intoxicated. He is then sentenced to a chain gang in the South. He soon becomes the talk of the prison when he claims to be able to eat fifty hard boiled eggs. After many attempts to escape, he is tracked down by the guard dogs. His sentence keeps getting extended for his behavior and he soon gets tired of the extra hard work given to him as punishment. As a result, he gives escaping one more try.

This is definitely a masterpiece. Great performances from every actor’s part and has one of the most quotable lines in cinema history. This is a film that will grab you and hold you decades after it is over. Ranks among the greatest films ever made along with “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”. “Cool Hand Luke” is Paul Newman’s signature film and most memorable one.

Having been made in 1967, it is still considered to be one of the most appreciated films of all time. ”Cool Hand Luke” features a spectacular script written by Donn Pearce and Frank Pierson. Unforgettable movie that should be experienced by all movie lovers. If you try to scope out the films flaws, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. This is movie making at it’s best.

This film will be admired for years to come for it’s high degree in film making. A film that actually demonstrates what the perfect movie should look like. Unforgettable performances, good direction done by Stuart Rosenberg, excellent script written by Donn Pearce and Frank Pierson, and catchy lines such as “What we have here is a failure to communicate” makes for one of the most honorable movies ever made. 5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Death Proof Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Death Proof Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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“Death Proof” stars Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms, Rose McGowan and Zoe Bell. It is directed by my all-time favorite writer and director Quentin Tarantino, who pays homage to his favorite Cult Classic car chases in his most recent film “Death Proof”.

Kurt Russell plays the role of Stuntman Mike, a psychopath who stalks beautiful women in his so called “death proof” car. After an early encounter with a group of women puts him in the hospital, he recovers and searches for his next victims. In Tennessee, he spots another gang of women who appear to be an easy target. Once Stuntman Mike starts his rage, he soon finds out that he messed with the wrong people.

The film had an unique style of photography to give it that B-rated effect. I really enjoyed the car chase, mainly because it never goes over-the-top and stays within the reality zone. Witty dialog with a Tarantino vibe and the acting was nothing to complain about. Like all of Quentin Tarantino’s movies, he adds a touch of humor along with his high caliber directing.

“Death Proof” has a sizzling sound-track that adds to the movie experience. The “Death Proof” being released on DVD has some added material that makes it thirty minutes longer than the one that was featured in “Grindhouse”. Great stunt work done by Zoe Bell. Note that the missing reels and the fake trailers are absent, which I found disappointing. It tries to redeem itself with an added lap dance, but the missing reel gave it that grindhouse effect.

Overall, “Death Proof” is definitely worth a look, but it should have been distributed as the double feature. This is worthy of a collector’s item that will be a top DVD seller. I would recommend this film to fans of Quentin Tarantino and the Cult Classics of the 70’s and 80’s. Outstanding stunts, great photography, and edge of your seat car chases that will leave you breathless. 4/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

The Stephen King's Mist Movie Review by ajazfiazuddin

The Stephen King's Mist Movie Review by ajazfiazuddin


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Stephen King's "The Mist" is yet another adaptation of a King masterpiece novella. Once again, King examines the interplay of human tragedies and their impact on human nature as he follows the survival efforts of several small town residents trapped inside a supermarket after a thick fog of unknown origins descends upon the town. Of course, given that this is a Stephen King story, there is nothing nostaligic or romantic about this fog. In fact, the fog is merely a cover for nightmarish creatures of varying forms that have quite the sweet tooth for human flesh.

As interesting as the fog's creatures and the human attempts to fight them is, what is as interesting is the roles once simple people take during catastrophes. Some noble roles, and some not so noble. At times, we learn the humans can be as dangerous as the creatures in the fog.

Rent this film. Its dark, depressing, scary, and all around good fun ! But remember, its only a movie...

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Master filmmaker Sidney Lumet (The Verdict, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico) scores big with this absorbing suspense thriller. Oscar?-winner* Philip Seymour Hoffman is Andy, an overextended payroll executive who lures his younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke), into a larcenous scheme: the pair will rob a suburban mom-and-pop jewelry store that appears to be the quintessential easy target. The problem is, the store owners are Andy and Hank's real mom and pop, and when the seemingly perfect crime goes awry, the damage sends them hurtling toward a shattering climax.

Shattered Glass Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Shattered Glass Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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“Shattered Glass” stars Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloe Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Melanie Lynskey, Hank Azaria and Steve Zahn. Each and every one of these actors are at the top of their game. It’s written and directed by Billy Ray, who later wrote and directed the thriller “Breach”.

“Are you mad at me?” and ”I’m sorry.” These are words spoken from a guy who can’t stand being disliked. “Shattered Glass” is based on the true story about Stephen Glass, a man who’s career is stopped dead in it’s tracks because of multiple fraudulent stories he wrote and were published as fact. He became the youngest writer for “The New Republic” and basically lied through his teeth about more than half of his published work, leading to his downfall.

A great movie indeed, “Shattered Glass” features a acclaimed cast that delivers some startling performances. Every actor in this movie has never (and probably will never) make a better movie than this one. The story is remarkable. Rather than being an attack on Stephen Glass’s fraudulent stories, this film honors his ability to lie entertainingly. Peter Sarsgaard provides a shattering performance as Chuck Lane, the man who accepted responsibility for publishing Glass’s fabricated stories.

If I had a list for the top 20 best films of all time, I would find room somewhere on that list for this movie. Superbly directed and strongly written, there is nothing bad to say about his movie. It is a captivating movie experience, right down the sketchy facts written by the admired journalist Stephen Glass. An intelligent, thought provoking story that is told with both style and grace. The film gets more interesting as it goes along, dishing out amusing fictional stories that are sure to entertain.

A virtually untouchable film with some of the most memorable performances I have ever seen. Take my advice, this is a must see movie. Easily one of the best films made in the millennium age. Don’t believe me, watch it for yourself and see if you can call it anything other than masterful. “Shattered Glass” is an important movie, proving that the most entertaining stories are the ones imagined. 5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

King Kong Movie Review by star757

King Kong Movie Review by star757


Buy the Movie King Kong

I enjoyed the first half of this movie, but then it got a little long. The movie is just over 3 hours long so be prepared for that. This is a remake, but I've never seen the original King Kong. It starts in New York City during the great depression. Anne Darrow, played by Naomi Watts, is a starving out of work vaudeville player. Jack Black plays a movie director who has big ideas that the studio doesn't want to play for. He isn't afraid to do what it takes to get what he wants, even if it hurts others. He has a map to a mysterious Skull Island where he plans to make his movie. When his lead actress quits on him he comes across Anne and decides she's perfect. You learn that he will lie, cheat and steal to make this movie..including distracting his writer so he can't leave the ship. Most of the movie follows their voyage to the island and their strange adventures there. It's a bit creepy on the island with the natives...anyway Anne is captured and offered as a sacrifice to King Kong. He runs off with her and everyone follows to save her. They find dinosaurs, giant bats, and very huge disgusting bugs along the way. Through the movie you see how Anne was afraid of King Kong and then feels compassion for him as a wild animal being tormented for money. There is also a romance thrown in between Anne and the director, played by Adrien Brody. In the end Kong is taken to New York, although they don't show how he fits on the ship. Once there he is sad and we see his connection to Anne again as she goes to him once he breaks loose. The movie has great scenery and special effects. The island is great and it all looks so real. There's even a fight between King Kong and a T-Rex. The first part of the movie is good, but I felt it was too long. It just seemed to go on and on. It was good, but too long to watch more than once.

Atonement Movie Review by star757

Atonement Movie Review by star757


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This was a good movie in some aspects. It stars Keira Knightley as a wealthy English young woman, and James McAvoy as the son of workers at the home set before and during WWII. They come from different backgrounds, but are attracted to each other and don't want to admit it. The movie starts and then shows the events of a few hours before to show how it got where it did. It does this throughout the movie and is kind of interesting. This was a good movie, but the end is a bit depressing. I always like a nice happy ending and this one isn't there. I guess that makes it more dramatic and emotional. The movie is about the relationship between Keira Knightly and James McAvoy's characters. A series of events that Keira's character's 11 year old sister witness leads to a huge misunderstanding and the changing of all lives involved. It starts out so small, but she puts all the clues together in the wrong way forever changing her sister's life. It is interesting to see how the movie plays out. You really feel for the characters and have an emotional connection with them. I guess this is the part that makes the movie good. It was depressing throughout, and yet still a good movie. I would recommend watching it, but not for a happy ending.

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21 Movie Review by Ross_Miller

21 Movie Review by Ross_Miller


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The name of 21’s game is not the presumed blackjack but the game of flashiness and little else. Sure the film’s nice to look at, as stylish to watch as Vegas itself, but beneath that there’s not much else other than less-than-believable characters and a story that wears thin.

21 tells the story of Ben Campbell, a smarter-than-smart MIT student who gets offered an opportunity he can’t refuse. That is to join a team of other students and a witty professor to count cards in Las Vegas to pay for his entrance into Harvard Med School.

21 is like one of those smartly packaged birthday presents you got when you were younger, one that looks fantastic on the outside but once opened up the content doesn’t live up to what you’d expected. The visuals of 21 are probably the reason to see it. Slick in that Ocean’s kind of way, it makes for a nice visual experience when compared to other less in-your-face films. Perhaps, for some, the visuals are enough to carry the film, along with the good looking actors and easy-to-digest script. For me, although I didn’t not like 21, I wanted a lot more from it and I’m sorry to say didn’t get it.

The film’s biggest problem is the amount of effort it takes for the viewer to actually believe what happens throughout. It starts out adequately but soon spirals into a pit of unbelievability in most, if not all, areas. We are just supposed to accept that this young man is as smart as he is, that he’s so much better than everyone else around him and that the counting cards situation would even arise let alone play out in any way. And even such a small thing as one Kate Bosworth even being part of a math club is really hard to take on-board without calling the film’s believability into question. Even in its most minute of details little about 21 rings true and therefore it lost me way before the end credits appeared.

There’s nothing overly wrong with the performances by everyone involved, it’s just that as an ensemble they didn’t really click. I don’t necessarily have a problem with the fact that the faces were all picked, to some degree, because of their magazine cover looks but what I did have a problem with was that they just didn’t work together. Sturgess holds his own as the extremely intelligent and ambitious Ben and a few of the supporting student characters do their job as they’re supposed to. It’s the addition of Laurence Fishburne and especially Kevin Spacey that stick out the most. Although it’s a role Spacey could play in his sleep there was just something inexplicable about the way he carried himself that just made him stick out like a black tooth in a set of otherwise white teeth. Since he also acts as producer on the film it’s obviously clear he believed in it but from where I’m sitting, for the man who was involved with such all-time greats as American Beauty and Se7en, I can’t imagine why. Like I said a few of the key players work fine but as a whole the cast just didn’t feel right to me.

I am possibly being a bit too harsh on 21. It’s not a bad film and there is fun to be had at various points throughout. The most enjoyable aspect being the various different techniques the director uses to capture the feeling of the game at hand. One of those techniques is CGI of blackjack being played with extreme close-ups of chips being counted and cards turning over. It does this, and many other quite clever camera tricks, in such a way that’s simple enough to grasp a hold of but still complicated enough not to feel force fed to the viewer. It does wear thin after a while, when you realize that it’s the most fun you’re going to have, but for what they are the various techniques make for a fun time.

As ludicrous as the story is to begin with you simply have to just suspend you’re disbelief if you want any chance of half enjoying it. It’s the twists in the storyline, which happen towards the end, which pushed me over the edge into complete disbelief. Reminiscent of the mentioned Ocean’s series, and in particular the first instalment, the twist attempts to make you smirk at it’s cleverness but at the same time feel a sense of, “Why didn’t figure that out?” Where Ocean’s Eleven succeeded in that area tremendously, 21 comes off as a desperate attempt to seem as clever as possible when in fact it’s idiotic and generally unimpressive.

As a whole the film plays it disappointingly safe. I could have seen it being an edgy, twist-ridden gem that would leave you feeling satisfied. 21 is far from that; flashy and in-your-face with little underneath to sustain interest for its overly long runtime. It’s not going to be in either of the worst or best of the year list but if anyone makes up such a thing; the mediocre list.

Overall: 2.5 out of 5

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Leatherheads Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Leatherheads Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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“Leatherheads” stars George Clooney, Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski. It’s directed by George Clooney, this being the third time he has directed himself in a movie. The script was written by Ducan Brantley and Rick Reilly.

The film is set in the 1920’s football era. Where there weren’t helmets, there were leatherheads. Dodge Connelly (George Clooney) is the captain of the football team and plans to lead his dysfunctional team to the pros. Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger) is a journalist looking for the story of her career. That story being the talk of the town known as Carter Rutherford, who forced many German soldiers to surrender in WWI all on his own.

The problem with “Leatherheads” is that it tries to brew together multiple genres and fails miserably. Renee Zellweger as the perky, sour faced journalist (usually found wearing scarlett red) doesn’t really show any talent. The chemistry between her and George Clooney feels dispute. The filmmakers did a good job at catching the essence of the 1920’s, nailing the clothing styles, music and the transportation established during this time. But the film itself feels dated. This is definitely something that might appeal to older folks, particularly within the age range of 70 and up.

George Clooney, who usually plays very mundane characters, tries to liven his act up a bit. The problem is he isn’t funny. The script is frail and doesn’t have any true moments or surprises. Very few of the scenes involve football, so the trailer was kind of a mislead. Sadly, these rarely shown football scenes rely on close-ups of Clooney’s goofy expressions to make us laugh. The entire thing was rather boring and was too long for a comedy. The dialog is missing snap and wit, something repeatedly shown in the trailers. Another mislead.

The direction wasn’t bad, but it never reaches any level of success. A short summary would be the film is lacking. The comedy failed completely without a moment of chuckles. For those who are looking for something with some comedic payoffs and a more football related comedy, skip this one. Overall, the film that doesn’t really know what direction to run in, fumbling between a screwball comedy and a romantic love triangle. Having said that, you might want to thing twice about seeing this one. 1.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Breakfast at Tiffany's Movie Review by star757

Breakfast at Tiffany's Movie Review by star757


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This is a great classic movie from the 60's. It stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a socialite who lives off of what men give her. The movie takes place in New York City, and the title comes from the jewelry store Tiffany's. This movie is based on a novel by Truman Capote. Paul has just moved into Holly's building and right away is intrigued by her eccentric ways. Her apartment looks unlived in, she has a cat who she calls cat because it would be too permanent to name him, and she keeps her telephone in a suitcase on the floor. Paul is a writer who makes money in a way similar to Holly. The movie follows the two characters as they grow closer together, until Holly's secret is revealed. All in all it's a great movie. Watch for Mickey Rooney playing a Chinese man. The characters are well acted, and they have depth. I enjoyed it, and if you're looking for a classic comedy romance, you'll like it too.

Bachelor Party Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Bachelor Party Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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“Bachelor Party” stars Tom Hanks, Tawny Kitaen, and many others who names become lost in memory, thanks to well known Tom Hanks. It’s directed by Neal Isreal who’s work is usually found formally on the small screen.

Rick (Tom Hanks) is a school bus driver who is soon getting married to a beautiful brunette named Debbie (Tawny Kitaen). During the usual outing with his friends, Rick informs his buddies about his latest news. Of course, the first thing that springs to the mind these party animals is a bachelor party complete with hookers, drugs, alcohol…and a mule?

The film features a young, healthy, and energetic Tom Hanks as a refreshing character who is immature with no moral intentions or thoughts about the future: Very funny. The rest of the movie relys on the wit of the script that only shines on a few occasions, but those few occasions are genuinely amusing. The movie also has a large quotum of gorgeous women, most of which exhibit some serious flesh. However, I do feel that Tawny Kitaen was a miscast here. The chemistry between her and Tom Hanks felt bland.

“Bachelor Party” is dirty, raunchy, rude and often laugh-out-loud funny. At times the movie is just noisy and leans toward an uncomfortable area, but doesn’t loiter in this area. This a film some people might find insulting, others might describe it as being as raunchy and crude for it’s generation as “Superbad” is for our generation. This romp does overstay it’s welcome and has moments that should have been cut to make it an appropriate 90 minute running time. Those who become bitter and enraged by random acts of sex with mules and the appearance of hookers with whips, this isn’t the comedy for you.

There are moments of hilarious vulgarity earning this wild party a very cautious recommendation, provided that some might find it extremely offensive. Tom Hanks really shines here, pending the fact that he has no competition on screen. It is lacking in a more appropriate supporting actress with some sort of chemistry to dish out. If your looking for a good laugh here and there, “Bachelor Party” has a decent amount of those scattered in it’s 105 minute running time. A few of those laughs being uncontrollable. This is a large compliment to the widely overlooked Tom Hanks comedy that spawned an unnecessary sequel. Worthy of a rental if you aren’t easily offended. 3.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Nim's Island Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Nim's Island Movie Review by Derek_Fleek



“Nim’s Island” stars academy award nominee Abigail Breslin, academy award winner Jodie Foster, Gerald Butler known for his role in “300″ as King Leonidas. It’s directed by Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin.

Nim (Abigail Breslin) lives on an island with her dad (Gerald Butler) and many of her animal friends. Her dad is a marine biologist who studies microscopic organisms that live in the ocean, which Nim report as not being her thing. Nim’s hobby is reading. She loves reading books about a fictional adventurer named Alex Rover (Gerald Butler) written by Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster). When Nim’s dad becomes missing at sea and her island becomes invaded, she asks for the help of her mythical hero Alex Rover.

Another average family friendly film with an issue not usually found in this genre. The problem being it doesn’t try hard enough. I found that most films geared towards kids try too hard to please audiences and end up being annoying to adults. This isn’t the problem here. Never once did I find myself truly aggravated. With a great imagination this film could have been taken too the outer limits without huffing and puffing it’s way to the finish line. It felt like the actors were just on vacation. Jodie Foster was decent and would have been really good if the movie was a little better, Abigail Breslin is adorable like she was suppose to be, and Gerald Butler give an uneven performance, with the more likable character being Alex Rover.

The scenery is really the only thing to look forward to if you going to see this in theaters. It was beautiful too look at. But with no adventure or action taking place, the film begins to slowly fade in memory, never being a real burden. I enjoyed it, but not immensely and it never uses a sufficient amount of imagination to sparkle. Jodie Foster was very energetic and brought some life to the screen. A screen lacking in full-on entertainment and a suitable amount of happenings. This isn’t a boring movie or a bad movie, but it’s lacking in effort.

I did like the movie, but I felt like there could have been much more done here, starting with it being more adventurous. The acting wasn’t bad but the script (which took a total of four writers) felt underwritten. There is no real chemistry to be found between the actors, aside from Nim and her gassy sealion who spend the most screen time together. Nothing special and I wouldn’t spend the admission price plus popcorn and soda to see it, but it certainly isn’t a hardcore disappointment. Nim's Island is worth a visit when it hits DVD. 2.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

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Beginning with a suggestion from the audience, a guest monologist tells a story that kicks off a series of high-octane improvised sketches. From medical marijuana to embarrassing sexual encounters, no topic is off limits to the renegade performers who have helped make ASSSSCAT! one of the longest running improvisational shows in the history of the world. Based on the troupe's cutting-edge live comedy show ASSSSCAT!, which for over a decade has drawn sell-out crowds to UCB's New York and Los Angeles theaters, this DVD and the television special is produced by Shout! Factory in association with Upright Citizens Brigade. ASSSSCAT! marks the comedy group's second foray into DVD and TV, following their self-titled cult hit on Comedy Central, the 1998-2000 series, Upright Citizens Brigade.

The Ruins Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

The Ruins Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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“The Ruins” stars Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore, and Laura Ramsey. It’s directed by Carter Smith (Me and Max, Bug Crush) and based on the novel written by Scott B. Smith, who also wrote the screenplay for the movie.

The story follows a group of friends who decide to head to a remote temple in the Mexican jungle. They are accompanied by a tourist with a map to the temple. When the group arrives, the are welcomed in the most unpleasant way by village people who are determined to sacrifice them to a horror that grows like weed.

Those who can’t stand the sight of blood or become queasy easily should probably skip this one, for it has it’s fair share gory moments. There are many problems that flood the film. One is the fact that it wasn’t hardly scary. The thought of plants that get under your skin wasn’t the least bit frightening nor was it believable. Another flaw was the thinly written script and poor character development. All of this lead to my cheer for the flesh eating plants to devour each and every character, which really isn’t a good thing. This is a strictly by the numbers horror flick, so don’t expect to be blown away by it’s originality.

I was surprised that the cast did moderately good acting, more notably by the female leads. Unfortunately, the movie managed to cough up more laughs than thrills. The scenes that include dwelling into the temple were poorly shot and too dark at times to tell what was going on. Other scenes were shot beautifully, including a scene in which the plants snatch up a couple of severed limbs. I laughed quite a bit, which I don’t think was the film’s intention. On the plus side, it has it’s moments of extreme gore that will have many covering their ears and cuffing their mouth.

It tries very hard to dig under your skin, but truthfully digs deep down and tickles the funny bone. A disappointing feat if your expecting a horror movie. Take the time to view this when it hits DVD. I was somewhat disappointed in the sudden ending and the whole outcome of the movie. The beginning was paced slowly, giving me that “get on with it” feeling. The unintentional laughter was heavy compared to the scares, which felt as light as a feather. This is a film that breezes by without being truly captivating or maintaining a staining effect. 2.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Cloverfield Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Cloverfield Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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“Cloverfield” stars a young and talented cast that includes Mike Vogal, T.J. Miller, Jessica Lucas, Odette Yustman, and Lizzy Caplan. It features Matt Reeves’ directorial debut and is written by Drew Goddard.

The film takes place in Central Park, Manhattan. A going away party for Jason Hawkins (Mike Vogal) is interrupted by an earthquake that shakes the building, all of this being documented by a friend of Jason Hawkins named Hud (T.J. Miller). The party heads to the roof to see if they can see anything and witness an explosion that sets this monster movie in motion.

Most people are quick to reference this movie to the infamous Blair Witch Project, which is totally appropriate considering that they stole the concept. However, this is more real and intense than that. At one point they refer to terrorist attacks, which is what most people’s first reactions would be to an unexpected explosion that occurs nearby. The jittery camera work does varnish the realistic effect, but this is used very excessively and will probably nausea to those with motion sickness. I don’t have that problem, so I had a great time. I felt like I was there, actually getting the urge to run from this hideous, but undeniably gorgeous, monster. A movie has never been so frighteningly real.

Buckle yourself in, hold on tight, and don’t hit your head on the ceiling, for this is so intense you will not be able to sit still. It was so much better than I expected. To cope with what’s going, the documenter resorts to some humor while others panic and loot. How much more real can you get? Truth be told, I loved it. You get an excellent shot of the monster, which is very frightening, yet engaging. It has many jump out of your seat scares and genuinely surprising moments where I caught myself holding my breath, then gasping for air. This happened repeatedly. It’s a more innovative and shocking sci/fi horror movie than any other out there. My heart was pounding, my palms were sweating, and I was in complete awe. What more could you ask for from a horror movie?

Surprisingly, I cherished the shaky camera work. I was never lost and knew what was going on at all times. That’s impressive considering the camera becomes tilted at several different angels. Many questions are left unanswered, but this is forgiven when a movie delivers something deeper than goosebumps. I know that this is a bold statement, but it’s one of the most frightening monster movies made in decades. The acting was solid and the director did fantastic job at making a masterpiece without one scene feeling choreographed. Heart pounding terror filled the core of my bones as I nearly fell off my chair. Thank you Hollywood for finally making the ultimate monster movie. 4.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Son of Rambow Movie Review by Ross_Miller

Son of Rambow Movie Review by Ross_Miller

Sure to be one of the most charming movies of 2008, Son of Rambow is a tale that's cute, loveable and just a general crowd pleaser. And it proves that home movies are sometimes world’s better than an actual ones.

After seeing First Blood at a much too young age, new friends Will and Lee decide to make their own version of it using a home video camera and eventually with the help of the rest of their school.

Although throughout the film the script isn’t as fully written as it could and should be it still, none the less, fits together in an adequate fashion allowing plenty of room for the creativity and enthusiasm that’s injected by writer/director Garth Jennings. Since he’s the man who brought us the recent Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy film, creativity isn’t too hard for him to muster. There’s plenty of it on display here, predominantly in the scenes where the two boys make the home video. Similar to Michel Gondry’s recent above average Be Kind Rewind they use very creative and original ways of getting the desired effects, including a hilarious sequence involving a flying dog…don’t ask, see it for yourself. There are also some very creative and well done, in that home-made kind of style, of dream/imagination sequences. Even the older viewers should be inspired by these two little enthusiastic rascals.

The rest of the fun comes from the shenanigans of the two boys, in particular Lee, the renegade of the two. He gets thrown out of class almost every day of the week, steals from the local supermarket (including stealing a charity for the blind collection statue) and is just generally one of those misbehaving kids we all knew from school at one point or another. His attitude and actions are generally bad, and the audience obviously knows it from growing up, but the school kid in all of us can revel in this boy's antics and think back to when they no doubt did the same things at one point.

Will, the more level-headed “good student” of the two, is naive and innocent but eager to learn and join in on Lee’s antics. As well as relating to the misbehaver we also relate very much to the nature of “the good one”. He is also the kind of student we all remember either being or seeing around school. Since his mother is a devout Christian he isn’t allowed to watch TV or hang around with people like Lee, thus he has been shielded from what the world truly has to offer. The film explores the relationship between the two, the ups and inevitable downs of their time together before, during and after making their own version of Rambo. It’s all round sweet and charming pretty much from start to finish and even at the worst of times there’s always something round the corner to put a smile back on your face.

Evidenced by the relationship between the two main characters and the enthusiasm on show it is very obvious that this is a very personal film to writer/director Jennings. In an interview he said that it’s an absolute true story as when he was younger he and his friends made versions of all kinds of films, including First Blood. This gives a lot of weight to the film that it otherwise might not have had. To know that this story is coming from such a sincere place is a very good element to have within the overall package.

What Jennings is able to capture is the essence of 1980’s England and school life in general. Despite all the fun you have at that age it still sucks and sucks even more having to go school. Getting up at the same time every morning, going to sit in boring classes and coming home at the same time. Doing the same thing everyday, day in-day out. Anyone presented at that age with the proposition of doing something creative like making your own version of a movie would jump at the chance.

Fans of films like Be Kind Rewind and Little Miss Sunshine will eat this one up with a huge smile on their face. It has a couple of problems, most noticeably is the underwritten script (and a strange sub-plot involving a French foreign exchange student) but it’s not enough to damage the film beyond repair. Charming, fun and just all round loveable, Son of Rambow is a real treat.

Overall: 4 out of 5

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Gone Baby Gone Movie Review by star757

Gone Baby Gone Movie Review by star757


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This movie stars Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan as two private detectives who are hired to investigate a kidnapping case. The movie is set in a rough Boston neighborhood. A little girl goes missing and her aunt comes to Affleck to help find her. The mother is not the most caring, competent mother. The police are all over this case and at first don't appreciate the intrusion by Affleck and his partner. They are from the neighborhood and are able to relate more to people and investigate more. The movie follows them trying to find the girl, then switches direction a bit in the middle, and wraps it all up at the end. Throughout the movie you see how Affleck's and Monaghan's characters react to the kidnapping differently. The movie looks at what is right and wrong, how do you draw the line, and tries to make you think deeper about this.

I thought it was an interesting movie. Definitely not a happy, feel-good movie. Don't rent it for that. It has some unexpected plot turns, but maybe you will see them coming. The ending is supposed to make you think. I wouldn't say it's the best movie, but it's ok. I would rent it if you're up for something that's depressing and makes you feel unsatisfied at the end.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

“Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon” stars newcomer Nathan Baesel, Angela Goethals, and co-stars the legendary Robert Englund. It’s written and directed by first-time director Scott Glosserman.

Leslie Vernon (Nathan Baesel) is the new slasher on the streets and invites a crew of filmmakers to document his life as he plans his next kills in the sleazy town known as Glen Echo. While the filmmakers get a sort high from the experience of the premeditated murders, once the psychotic Leslie Vernon kills his first victims, that euphoria soon diminishes.

Writer/Director Scott Glosserman has a little fun with the subject, adding references to Michael Myers, Freddy Kruger, and Jason Vorhees. All of this is mentioned in the sluggish beginning, involving two dimensional character development that soon evolves into three dimensional character development as the film proceeds. This movie clearly has it’s ups and downs.

The first half of the movie is a complete mess. It has an unrelenting artificial flavoring heavily coated on the flimsy documentary style camera work that lessens the realistic effect it was trying to display. As the film continued on, one scene was projected that was very interesting. This scene involves the premeditated murder of a group of party animals. From there on, the film moves slowly up and down the rating scale, containing an occasionally intelligent written script and a couple scenes of boredom where I found myself more interested in petty things, like the twirling of my thumbs. One thing is for certain, this is a sadistic insight of the mind of a serial killer that will be the root of long discussions during dinner time.

I would’ve liked the film to be more of a slasher film than a documentary. The movie lacked blood (some of the most grotesque moments were off camera) and displays a series of cheap and forgettable kills. Therefore, the true gorehound, like me, will be somewhat disappointed. Nathan Baesel gives a mighty strong acting debut, bringing a moderately creepy vibe, especially when he is preparing his attacks. Scott Glosserman uses similar elements of “The Blair Witch Project”, without the staining style or powerful substance. I do see the talent here, but it wasn’t used to it’s full extent. There are some strong, compelling performances and a sometimes incisive script that are overwhelmed by a substantial amount of dimwitted moments. Did I like it? Not really, but I wouldn’t withhold you from viewing it. 2.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

The Counterfeiters Movie Review by Ross_Miller

The Counterfeiters by Ross_Miller


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To be awarded the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film is a respectable thing indeed. And although there were a few others released in 2007 which deserved such an accolade more than this one (most notably 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days), The Counterfeiters is none the less a stellar piece of cinema that is worthy of the much sought after award it managed to pick up.

Based on a true story, The Counterfeiters tells the story of Salomon “Sally” Sorowitsch who is the dubbed “king of counterfeiters”. One day, in 1936, Sally is unfortunately caught and put into a concentration camp by the Nazis. Shortly after arriving he and a group of other similarly skilled men within the camp are forced by the Nazis to forge money for them.

What is, perhaps, most impressive about The Counterfeiters is the startling realism that it manages to convey. Everything is very dirty and gritty looking, from the clothes the prisoners where to the conditions surrounding them. The cinematography captures some sort of feeling of what it was like on a purely humanistic experience level of what it was like for these men. The film perfectly grasps not only the personal journeys Sally and the other prisoners have to go through but also the gravity of World War II in general. It is both an extremely personal film and one that deals with the bigger picture of the war and what it meant for so many people.

The film also captures the time period in which it’s set. Out with capturing the trials and tribulations of life inside a concentration camp it also grasps the essence of 1940’s Germany, with an amazing attention to detail in every area. As a result of both the accurate conveying of the time period and the gravity of the story the film tells it is, at times, fairly depressing stuff and thus isn’t necessarily an entertaining piece of cinema. But the story the film is dealing with is itself a depressing one and I say the truer the film can stay to the real life events the better and if that means it’s depressing then so be it.

Contrasting the very bleak edge the film has for the most part, it also has a strange comedic slant to it which surprisingly works very well in the films favour. It’s mostly down to the light-hearted, French-style score that it’s weirdly upbeat at times and also because of darkly funny moments involving the interaction between the prisoners. This provides some relief from the overall depressing mood of the film and I sense that without this element it may have been too depressing to take, just maybe.

Throughout the film there are a few very effective techniques employed, mostly regarding how the film puts across certain moments of fear, shock, comedy and sadness. The most notable of these techniques is the sudden zooming of the camera whenever emphasis is being put onto a certain person or object. It’s not the easiest thing to explain in simple words and without seeing it but I guess the simplest way would be to imagine the camera instead of just cutting straight away to a close-up (the most common technique) but it actually shows you it zooming all the way into it. This, and many other techniques, all make for an interesting viewing experience out with the story itself.

For most this film will convey information that is new and unknown. The situations within the film I certainly haven’t seen before and by the end I learned a lot I didn’t know before. So not only is this a compelling piece of filmmaking but also an exercise in information to anyone, like myself, who isn’t overly familiar with this specific storyline of WW2.

Despite the fact that we learn of the main characters’ fate within the first ten minutes of the film, and his story being told in flashback form, we still very much care what happens to him during his time beforehand at the concentration camp. By the middle of the film I even forgot that we had learned the outcome of his story, something which was a result how compelling and interesting his story actually was. Much of my interest was kept by the performances, specifically that of lead actor Karl Markovics. He is both a charming and crafty fellow (a criminal, let us not forget) but at the same time we feel a great amount of sympathy and admiration for him, which only increases as the film goes on. The film’s seemingly straightforward opening ten minutes by the end, once we come back to it after the story of the concentration camp has concluded, seems to resonate a thousand times more.

The Counterfeiters moves at a brisk pace and has a short runtime which, coupled with a slight edge of comedy, prevents it from being the sever depression inducing film it easily could have been. But at the same time it’s not the most fun of watches to say the least, and depressing it is fairly often. Excellent performances, a general sense of gritty realism and a satisfying ending make this an absolute must see.

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

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Great new pictures for Hellboy 2:The Golden Army

With a signature blend of action, humor and character-based spectacle, the saga of the world’s toughest, kitten-loving hero continues to unfold in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Check out the EXCLUSIVE TRAILER DEBUT in HD on Yahoo! Movies here: http://movies.yahoo.com/premieres/7254432/standardformat/

Synopsis:
With a signature blend of action, humor and character-based spectacle, the saga of the world’s toughest, kitten-loving hero from Hell continues to unfold in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Bigger muscle, badder weapons and more ungodly villains arrive in an epic vision of imagination from Oscar®-nominated director Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy).

After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it’s up to the planet’s toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it’s time to call in Hellboy (Ron Perlman).

Along with his expanding team in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense—pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair), aquatic empath Abe (Doug Jones) and protoplasmic mystic Johann—the BPRD will travel between the surface strata and the unseen magical one, where creatures of fantasy become corporeal. And Hellboy, a creature of two worlds who’s accepted by neither, must choose between the life he knows and an unknown destiny that beckons him.

Superhero Movie Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Superhero Movie Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


Buy the Movie Poster for Superhero Movie

“Superhero Movie” stars the young uprising actor Drake Bell, the young hottie Sarah Paxton, character actor Christopher McDonald, and funny guy Leslie Nelson. It’s written and directed by Craig Mazin, who is responsible for writing films like “Senseless”, “Scary Movie 3″, and “Scary Movie 4″.

This is a spoof of all the recent superhero movies, including “The Fantastic Four”, “Batman Begins”, X-Men” and the spotlight of the film being the first of the “Spiderman” series. A loser named Rick Riker (Drake Bell), who is introduced in the first scene by multiple shots to the head, is the hero of this silly story. When our unlikely hero is bit on the neck by a genetically engineered dragonfly, he becomes the go-to-guy to destroy his arch enemy, Hourglass (Christopher McDonald).

With all of the recent flat-out unfunny spoofs of the past few years (Date Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans), this is one of the best ones I have seen. There are some spirited moments that are well spoofed and fine timing when it comes to the one-liners. Unfortunately, all of this is weighed down by not so funny references to my space, google, you tube, and facebook. Not to mention adding a stupid moment involving dumping someone because they are no longer on their cellphone’s five person plan.

Most of the jokes are very lame and some of the laughs feel forced. This is a very common matter when it comes to spoofs. This is a sporadically funny spoof containing a few good laughs that become interrupted with the tired references to pop culture and overlong potty humor. Drake Bell is good in this genre and I found him to be pretty funny at times. His expressions sell the movie, bringing life to some moments of unfunny gags. I had a good time with all of this, but nothing is particularly memorable.

“Superhero Movie” is a much better approach to the live genre known as spoofing. There are some surprisingly clever moments that associate with the first “Spiderman”. It’s when the filmmakers attempt to spoof “The Fantastic Four” and “X-Men” that most, of the jokes fall flat. It’s a good thing that “Spiderman” was their mainstream movie to spoof. Compared to the worst film of last year, (that being “Epic Movie”) “Superhero Movie” is masterful work. Leslie Nelson could’ve been funnier and there are much better movies to see, but if your feeling in the mood for stupid fun, that is exactly what “Superhero Movie” is. A golden turd of a movie that I surprisingly recommend viewing once it hits the rental shelves. 2.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek

Stop-Loss Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Stop-Loss Movie Review by Derek_Fleek



“Stop-Loss” stars Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Channing Tatum, and many more uprising stars . It’s directed by critically acclaimed movie director Kimberly Pierce (Boys Don’t Cry), who is partially credited for writing the story.

After serving his time and duty in Iraq, dedicated war hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) returns to his home in Texas, only to find out that he has been stop-lost. This is a military term meaning the extension of ones service involuntarily. When Sgt. Brandon King hears this, he goes AWOL and escapes in a desperate attempt not to return to Iraq.

Being hailed as an anti-war/pro-soldier drama, “Stop-Loss” is both a powerful and harrowing film. Director Kimberly Pierce does an outstanding job at digging deep for the performances of a lifetime given by both Ryan Phillippe and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The stable performance by Ryan Phillippe is compelling , but the truly riveting act here was dished out by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the soldier falling apart. I took the time to relish each moment he was on screen, proving to be the best performance of his career and possibly worthy of an Oscar nod.

You know that little box in your head that stores every memorable movie? Stop-Loss fits neatly in that box, being one of the top ones you pull out to recommend. It’s the best anti-war movie I have witnessed in my career of viewing movies and is the first must-see drama of the year. The acting is top-notch, especially by Joseph Gordon-Levitt who gives the first perfected performance of his accomplished and growing career. The hand held camera work is used at times to polish the rawness of the film. These are just a few of the things that prove that Kimberly Pierce was born to direct such emotionally effective films like this one.

As I looked around at the dead-empty movie theater, I couldn’t help but wonder why nobody is going to see this great movie. If there is one movie to be seen in theaters right now, that movie is “Stop-Loss”. The film does have it’s flaws, but none of them are clearly noticeable. If you probe hard enough you might find these blemishes, but you will have one hell of a time seeking them out. I was very impressed. 4.5/5 stars

Written by Derek Fleek
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/Derek-Fleek