26-02-2009, 00:49 | #651 |
The Mouse King of Denmark
Join Date: Jul 2006
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1408
As a Stephen King adaptation I was worried that this would stink, as they don't often translate well to screen. Thankfully they did a really good job on it. It really is a hark back to early horror/thriller, with an awesome dynamic in the few scenes where John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson get to throw dialogue back and forth. This film could have been made fifty years ago (minus the special effects) and would stand up today, although no doubt Hollywood would have remade it already. /cynic Although I wish the ending could have been better portrayed, there were a couple of neat turns along the way and some genuinely unsettling moments. There were still a couple of make-you-jump moments but they weren't cheap, and they used them in the right ways unlike many modern horrors that use them as a safety net. Cusack is perfect for the main role, and I can't imagine any modern actors in his place as the perpetual sceptic; it's the kind of role that Jimmy Stewart would have excelled at. A good gauge of whether I like certain films is if I'd watch them again just to see other people's reactions. This is one of those. 9/10
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26-02-2009, 12:44 | #652 |
The Mouse King of Denmark
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The Pursuit of Happyness
Two hours of sheer frustration as down-on-his-luck Will Smith and his kid go further down on their luck at every turn. It reminded me of shows like 'Stressed Eric' and 'The Worst Day of My Life', which were meant to be comedies but I just couldn't watch them. There's just no caché for me in 'entertainment' that relies solely on the continuous misfortunes of the characters. I lost emotional interest in the film after about the third time the main character misplaced another portable bone density scanner and had to find another way to pay a surprise bill. It felt very much like Will Smith just wanted to show himself as a good father and devised the plot himself as a showcase.* The film just never really takes off; it's just a constant uphill slog against a series of bad luck and the character's tenacity in the face of it. The kid plays his part awesomely though. At times I forgot he's just a child acting because he was so natural. But then his actual father is Will Smith. Nicely made film with some good touches, but half the time it feels like watching an exercise in futility. 4/10 *I should add that the film is based on a true story, but my comment still stands.
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Last edited by Belmit; 26-02-2009 at 12:48. |
26-02-2009, 19:31 | #653 |
Abandoned Ship
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 282
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harsh times
7/10 pretty good, christian bale was great again i thought the ending was gonna be predictable but it had a half decent twist, if a little far fetched |
26-02-2009, 20:43 | #654 | |
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Sex Drive.
Actually very funny with a great cast including the legend that is James Marsden. Quote:
8/10 |
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04-03-2009, 21:26 | #655 |
Rocket Fuel
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Adrift in the Orca
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Cloverfield, nothing special. 6/10
Iron Man, awesome - 8.5/10 This post has been brought to you by Short Reviews Inc.
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04-03-2009, 21:28 | #656 |
I'm Free
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Location: Tyneside
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Gran Torino. 10/10.
Clint Eastwood's finest work yet.
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05-03-2009, 00:47 | #657 |
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A bold statement given Bridges of Madison County, Million Dollar Baby and True Crime all kicked ass.
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05-03-2009, 01:39 | #658 |
Absinthe
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,247
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TAKEN 7.5/10
Enjoyable but not a film I'd go out of my way to watch again. Plenty of great one liners and action scenes though, but it loses out to Bourne on very aspect IMHO. |
05-03-2009, 01:46 | #659 |
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99% of movies do .
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05-03-2009, 01:52 | #660 |
Absinthe
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