Reviews

I read 30+ reviews before screening this one and I was ambivalent. I was expecting either very very good or very very bad. Turns out the AVERAGE of the reviews is the best indicator.

The movie is an action flick with sparse dialogue. The sets are excellent, CGI is superb, there are some logic holes: the plot is OK with a nice twist at the end.

What fails is basic Physics: If it's 700 degrees (on ANY scale, Farenheit, Celsius or Kelvin) you are going to cook, EVEN if you are in the shade. Second error (IMHO) flesh usually gives first NOT metal handcuffs. You'll know what I mean when the scene pops up.

Other than this type of problem, it's an interesting take on the Jihad theme. Camera work is so-so: much too jumpy during fight scenes or fast moving ones.

The actors are fine. So-called intellectuals (the ones who keep trying to tell you what's good for you while ignoring their own rules) moaning about poor acting are full of drak. No Oscars here, but hey, they do their roles.

Thandy Newton would look sexier without the Kohl look... She has nice oufits though.

Laughable anachronistic armor on the necromongers

Good SF adventure feature with 'sequel!' written in.

Could not decide what I liked best: a great cast, great editing or great writing. ALL the best english actors can be found here (excluding Kiera Knightly...British IT girl of the month - why?) including Thompson, Rickman, Firth. I was quite happy to see Laura Linney - she is wonderful in any role. 9 (or is it 10?) vignettes about love, including all the classic situations: betrayal, new love, second love, young love, you get the idea. Hugh Grant is actually ok as a PM and Billy Bob Thornton has a good cameo. A chick flick, but a good one!

Kevin Costner should stick to baseball and westerns. He shines in both. The last time I saw a western I REALLY enjoyed was Silverado in 1985 (sorry Clint) which coincidentally also starred a young Costner along with a string of unknowns like Kevin Kline,Danny Glover, Scott Glenn and the well-known,superb Brian Dennehy.

Open Range is a simple story discussing a basic tenet of American society: freedom to do what you please as long as it does not injure or harm your neighbour. Duvall is great, Annette Bening is also (and gorgeous!). The acting is understated and real. The townsfolk act like you or I would, especially when seeing heavily armed men walking into a tavern/kitchen - nervously.

The Old West seen in countless movies is mostly myth: the majority of settlers were veterans of the civil war of 1861-65 and were quite capable of handling would-be thieves/tyrants. Handguns were NO match for a good Winchester in the hands of a former soldier...

This movies reminds us of one of the few times when violence could and did occur: over access, property rights and freedom.

To be free requires vigilance AND the will do fight for it. Or as my father always said. "NEVER start a fight but if you're in one, finish it!"

Good cast, excellent dialogue, fairly realistic action,no serious suspension of disbelief required here. Ed Norton is cold, amoral ie. superb. Donald Sutherland has a great time (but not a long time) onscreen. Charlize Theron is still drop-dead gorgeous; when she weeps, you just want to hug the lady. Seth Green steals the scenes he's in: very funny guy. Mark Wahlberg still can't act, but hey it's not really required here. Everyone else does it for him.

All-round great entertainment. 9/10

The opening sequence alone is worth the admission. When I realized Nightcrawler was being introduced, I was unsure as to how they would manage to present his unique abilities.

The first 5 minutes were like...WOW. The director, actors and CGI crew can do no wrong. The film presents several new XMEN and does it well. All story lines concur with past comic history.

I am very glad I live in this century.

Chris Tucker may not be the king of one liners, but he sure is the prince. The plot is dumb, it's used as a platform from which our hero can put forth his views on politics, America and life. Just go to be entertained...

Great cast, dialogue and pratfalls. Grant and Bullock enjoyed working together and it shows. A very good commentary on the idle rich, their views on life etc. Sandra Bullock shows once again why she keeps drawing the crowds - she is the best at whatever she does. Waste little time reading about it, rather go see it !

Since we know the end of the story (Episodes IV-VI) there should not be any big surprises here. Boy meets girl again, still acts like an 8 year old, albeit armed with a lightsaber and the Force. The plot is Not quite paper-thin but is geared to the younger crowd. The scale is amazing as are the special effects. The romance is a little maudlin, the declarations of love will make some of you wince, but hey - to each their own. The climactic fight between Evil Henchman #1 (Count Dooka) and Yoda is worth the price of admission by itself, although the arena battle is a close second. Bet Samuel Jackson had a great time! Jar-Jar Binks's character does a superb faux-pas, paving the way for the coming of the Empire. See it, the good definitely outweighs the bad...

A poorly tailored trailer does not begin to describe what is one man's journey from the heaven of clear thought to the hell of schizophrenia.

Russell Crowe does an excellent role as John Nash, a mathematician who revolutionizes Group Theory, only to have his mind crash into confused and split views of the world.

Jennifer Connelly is superb as his wife. It is through her that we begin to understand the range of problems and pittfalls Nash is facing, most of his own devising. She deserves an Oscar, period.

The director has arranged beautiful 'red herrings' to kept viewers guessing and it works suprisingly well. Ron Howard's best work to date.

A beautiful movie to decribe a beautiful mind.

I have had extended family members who died of cancer but I was unable to visit due to work/distance and so I always ended up on the phone with them. I never saw the physical changes cancer causes.

This film brings on what few of us ever realize: how mind-numbing, painful and demeaning it is to fight a losing battle for your life over an extended time period. Attitude alone can preserve some dignity to the sufferer and in the end how you exit life's stage will depend not only on your strengtgh of will but on those around you who are willing to protect your right to such dignity.

Emma Thompson shines in the lead role. She is one the very few actors in this century who has shown such talent, intelligence and wit as this character requires.