Movie #39 -- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Title: Etrernal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Director: Michel Gondry

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: Joel (Jim Carrey) wants to have Clementine (Oscar nominee Kate Winslet) erased from his memory... Doesn't he?

Thoughts: I saw this movie opening weekend with a few of out other fine reviewers on this here board and upon completion of viewing, I said "It was good... but not THAT good." That is, until I woke up the next morning and all I could think of the next day is "Would I erase somebody from my memory?"

The screenplay won an Oscar for best original screenplay at this year's ceremony, and rightfully so. This is Charlie Kauffman's (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich, etc...) best script to date, and that's saying something. Jim Carrey was again not nominated for his fantastic work (this film being the strongest of his career by far) which is indeed a true shame.

Eternal Sunshine... is the only destined-to-be-classic movie that was released in 2004. Quirky in the extreme, witty dialogue, love and confusion (which one could argue is the same thing) abound.

This is about as close to perfect as films get.

Rating (0-10): 9.5

Recomendations: Buy this right now. For Charlie Kauffman fans and non-fans alike.

Movie #38 -- About A Boy

Title: About A Boy

Director: Chris Wietz & Paul Weitz

Release Year: 2002

Plot Summary: A selfish, middleaged man named Will (portrayed by Hugh Grant) lives off of the royalties of his father's one hit (a clever ditty ditty called 'Santa's Super Sleigh'). His life takes a strange and dramatic turn when he meets Marcus (Nicholas Hoult).

Thoughts: Based on Nick Hornby's book of the same name, this movie shows Hugh Grant as, more or less, an ass. And it actually works -- he gets to play a character for once, as opposed to the charmingly befuddled yet loveable English oaf he is often typecast as. Quite a good coming of age movie (not nearly as effective as, say, 'Garden State' or 'Igby Goes Down') but very good nonetheless. A strong supporting cast of Rachael Weisz and Toni Collette round out this fine film.

Rating (0-10): 8

Recomendations: Worth picking up for... oh, I don't know... $11 or so. Good for anyone interested in the whole "what does life mean?" thing.

Movie #37 -- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Director: Gore Verbinski

Release Year: 2003

Plot Summary: Lovely Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) is kidnapped by Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and his crew of undead pirates. Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Captain Jack Sparrow (Oscar Nominee Johnny Depp) set off to save her.

Thoughts: Sure, it's based on a theme park ride. Sure, it's a Jerry Bruckheimer production. Sure, the special effects kinda suck. But this may be the most fun movie ever made.

Johnny Depp's campy performance is nothing short of absolutely fantastic and he was robbed of an Oscar (thank you, stupid academy) for his portrayal of one Captain Jack Sparrow. The supporting cast is fantastic as well. This movie has eye candy written all over, but what it comes down to in the end is an amazingly entertaining story and my favorite screen performance of all time.

Basically, if you don't come out of you house pretending to be a pirate, there is probably something wrong with you.

Rating (0-10): 9.5

Recomendations: Go buy this movie. Right now. It will be at Meijer and they are open 24 hours a day. You can thank me later.

Movie #36 -- Orgazmo

Title: Orgazmo

Director: Trey Parker

Release Year: 1997

Plot Summary: A naive Mormon named Joe Young (writer/director Trey Parker) is tricked/hired to be the star of the adult/action film "Orgazmo".

Thoughts: Despite the fact that this movie is quite what one might expect from the creators of 'South Park', it still has it's moments. Sure, the directing is terrible and the acting isn't much better, but it is funny nonetheless. I am wholy convinced that had this movie been released, say, last summer, it would have been quite the box-office hit, simply because of the hordes of 'South Park' fans in the world. Quotable, if you have no problem dropping the 'f-bomb'.

Rating (0-10): 6.3569

Recomendations: Worth seeing to be able to throw some new quotes into your repetoire. For fans of 'BASEketball' and 'Team America: World Police'. Don't let your kids watch it, though. Ever.

Movie #35 -- Closer

Title: Closer

Director: Mike Nichols

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: 4 ridiculously good-looking people struggle with relationships, sex, love, hate, and a myriad of other things in the greater London area... think if 'Love Actually' had an evil stepsister and you get the idea.

Thoughts: This film is highlighted by a superb cast (Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Best Supporting Actor and Actress Nominees Clive Owen and Natalie Portman, respectively) and the excellent direction of Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Regarding Henry, The Birdcage, etc...). It deals with, more or less, the downright wrong side of love in London.

'Closer' is based on Patrick Marber's play of the same name and I can see how this worked quite well on the stage. On the screen, it translates fairly well -- certainly not the best screen adaptation of a play, but quite respectable nonetheless.

A very character-driven piece to say the least. It leaves the viewer angry, sad, a bit confused, and hating each of the four main characters. Each and everyone of them is dispicable, to say the very least. But, flying in the face of all of that, at the end of the ride (and an emotional rollercoaster it is) one can easily feel just as angry at their own failed or successful relationships.

Rating (0-10): 7.5

Recomendations: I'd recommend this to folks who want to learn what NOT to do in their love life. Worth renting for sure. Only Buy it if you are interested in having a kick-ass movie collection. Certainly not essential, but worth the effort. Do not see with a date.

Movie #34 - Saving Grace

Title: Saving Grace

Director: Nigel Cole

Release Year: 2000

Plot Summary: Woman's husband dies, leaving no assets and butt-loads of debt. She resorts to unique methods to save her home.

Thoughts: I loved how this was a movie about pot smokers but wasn't a pot smoker movie. It's hard to describe but it was just somthing that was enjoyable to watch. You really need to see it to understand.

Rating (0-10): 8

Recomendations: If you've got time then rent it. It's definatly worth the time and maybe a few dollars.

Movie #33 - Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Title: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Director: Sara Sugarman

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: Girl moves to suburban New Jursey town from New York. Drama ensues.

Thoughts: Lindsay Lohan is decidedly the best role model for young women today. I felt that this was kinda like a dry run for Mean Girls, which was much better. It was definatly cheezy but still entertaining. If you're a girl you'll like it, if you're a teenage girl you'll love it, if you're an adult you'll respect it.

Rating (0-10): First 3/4 - 2 Last 1/4 - 6.5 Overall - 4

Recomendations: Eh. Unlimited rentals at blockbuster?

Movie #32 - Guess Who

Title: Guess Who

Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A girl brings her white boyfriend home to meet the family. Dad doesn't like him. Hilarity ensues.

Thoughts: I was kinda leery about this one, not least because I'm terribly unfond of Ashton Kutcher. But I have to admit, I was chuckling or outright laughing throughout the whole film. And honestly, it's just eerie how much Bernie Mac's "father" character is like my own stepdad... =b

In short, this could have been like any other "boy meets girl's parents, dad doesn't like him" movie, but it managed to stay fresh and funny throughout. I fully endorse it.

Rating (0-10): 7.7

Recomendations: It's funny - go see it if you're in the mood for comedy.

Movie #30 - Luther

Title: Luther

Director: Eric Till

Release Year: 2003

Plot Summary: The story of how a Catholic preist, Martin Luther, becomes the father of the refromation in the 1500's.

Thoughts: If I were a Catholic back in the day I would have totaly followed off and become a Lutherin. But being that through 2 councils and a counter refromation we've fixed most of those dealie-doos I'm set.

I was thuroughly impressed with how well this was shot, and acted. I guess after seeing Druids I just had low expectations. But everything in this movie was right on key. I esp. love how they touched on Luthers slight break from reality when he has his privat shouting matches with the devil. They did a good job to paint him as a man struggling with a faith he had been tought all his life to uphold, only to find that faith was not worth upholding.

Rating (0-10): 8.8

Recomendations: If you like accurate (as far as I know), history films then this one's for you. Well filmed and presented. A good watch all around.

Movie #27 - Flight of the Phoenix

Title: Flight of the Phoenix

Director: John Moore

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: They crazy in the gobi desert and build a plane out of thier crashed one.

Thoughts: Umm... WHAT?? I mean some guy who makes model planes is just randomly at this oil rig in the middle of thet desert when they shut it down, and just happens to have technical knoweldge of this one random plane? I mean come on two chimps in a panda suit could have come up with a better plot then this.

And Dennis Quaid for all his acting skills keeps getting the shaft on roles. I mean really. Maybe he should READ the script before signing on.

Rating (0-10): 2.3

Recomendations: Don't waste your time.

Movie #26 - The Road Warrior

Title: The Road Warrior

AKA: Mad Max 2

Director: George Miller

Release Year: 1981

Plot Summary: A loner in post-apocyolyptic Australia is scavenging for food and gas. He finds himself helping an unlikely band of people to escape with their gas and their lives.

Thoughts: For 1981 standards this is a very well produced fillm. They did well to do the prologue with canned war footage as opposed to creating it new. Any atempt that in 1981 would have been exceptionaly cheezy. But for the most part it is a good movie. The main reason to see this movie is so that you can see "Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome" and have it make sense.

Rating (0-10): 6.5

Recomendations: See it because of random references made in current movies and whatnot.

Movie #25 - The Incredibles

Title: The Incredibles

Director: Brad Bird

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: Superheros save people. People sue superheros. Superheros go into hiding. Superheros breed and then redeem themselves in the eyes of the publc.

Thoughts: This was an amazing movie. The carchters were well devolped and the comic wit was sharp as a tack. The animation was flawless and complemented the plot without surpassing it.

Rating (0-10): 9.5

Recomendations: Got kids? Got family? Are you alive? If you've answered yes to any of these questions stop what you are doing and go see this movie.

Movie #24 - Hotel Rwanda

Title: Hotel Rwanda

Director: Terry George

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: The true-life story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsis refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda.

Thoughts: "If people see this they'll say 'Oh my God, that is horrible,' and then go on eating their dinners." And the worst part is, that's apparently exactly what happened.

I'm astonished that there can be people like Paul Rusesabagina in a world where mass genocide occurs and no-one seems to give a shit. I'm astonished, and I'm terribly grateful.

Rating (0-10): 9.5

Recomendations: Go see it. We can't just let things like these happen and pretend they didn't.

Movie #23 - Robots

Title: Robots

Director: Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldahna

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A little robot with big dreams goes to the city to meet his idol and become an inventor. Unfortunately, not everything is exactly the way it looks on television, and trouble is brewing in Robot City...

Thoughts: The more I think about it, the more this movie really didn't do anything for me. It just felt like someone watched all the Pixar movies, said "Hey, we can do that!" and then completely missed the point. As loathe as I am to say it - oh, who am I kidding, I love saying things like this! - Robots just didn't have a soul.

What made it truly annoying, though, was the completely hit-and-miss approach to funny jokes/gags. For every completely hilarious 2001: A Space Odyssey reference or similar, there was an even more terrible Britney Spears reference or suchlike. It appears that there were four writers for the movie - looking back, I'd say one of them was funny, and the other three should have been shot in advance.

Rating (0-10): 2.5

Recomendations: Go see Monsters, Inc. again. Monster city >> robot city.

Movie # 21 - Corky Romano

Title: Corky Romano

Director: Rob Pritts

Release Year: 2001

Plot Summary: Corky is sent in undercover to destroy the evidence aginst his father at the FBI.

Thoughts: So the FBI know everything about the family except the existance of Corky. Right. Overall I thought it was pretty good though. It didn't have the ludicrius gags that most comidies have thrown in just for the sake of it. Additionaly his carchter shows growth without changing who he is. Get what I mean?

Rating (0-10): 6.8

Recomendations: If you're bored and need somthing to fill a small amount of time (less then 1.5 hours) watch it.

Movie #20 - Hostage

Title: Hostage

Director: Florent Emilio Siri

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: Jeff Talley, a former LAPD hostage negotiator, has moved himself away from his failed career outside of Los Angeles, and away from his wife and daughter. When a convenience store robbery goes wrong in his turf, the three perpetrators move in on an unsuspecting family. But the family's father has a secret which might compromise his kin, and one of the criminals is about to jump over the edge. Jeff Talley has to get everybody to survive the night......if he can.

Thoughts: Quite a bit better than I was expecting, honestly. It never got to the point where I sat there thinking "I know exactly what's going to happen next," which is a great thing in my book - especially when it could have turned out like any other hostage-taking movie out there. The very end was a little forced, I thought, but not too rough.

Bruce Willis... well, he was just Bruce Willis, nothing particularly new there. The real standout performance was Ben Foster as Mars, the calm, cool, and completely psychotic teenager. Actually he reminded me a lot of a younger Brad Dourif (you might remember him as Wormtongue...).

Rating (0-10): 7

Recomendations: A nice little action/suspense flick. Not the best movie currently out, but something to see if you've already watched Constantine.

Movie # 19 - Exorcist - The Beginning

Title: Exorcist: The Beginning

Director: Renny Harlin

Release Year: 2004

Plot Summary: The story of how Father Lancaster Merrin fights the devil as well as his own lack of faith in order to save an innocent who became possessed.

Thoughts: I thought it tied together nicely to the first Exorcist. There were a few possible plot holes. Why did they say 5 AD at the beginning and 500AD later? Why were so many who were close to the possesse affected so strongly as opposed to the orginal film where it was only the little girl? My big pet peeve though was the use of CGI. I mean really if you're going to do a shot flying over Cairo, then fly over Cairo, don't CGI it. :-P

Rating (0-10): 6.5

Recomendations: Worth seeing but wouldn't pay more then 9.99 for it.

Movie #17 - The Day After

Title: The Day After

Director: Nicholas Meyer

Release Year: 1983

Plot Summary: The cold war gets out of hand and the Last War takes place.

Thoughts: Although I can't remember the names of the majority of the carchters I find that they are easy to identify with. The story is not told from the perspective of the president or the army, but from the people who are just hearing on the news that these things are going to happen. Granted the special effects are lacking, but that's 1983 for you. Overall I thuroughly enjoyed this movie because it struck me as the most realistic portrail of WWIII that I've ever seen except for the book "Warday".

Rating (0-10): 9

Recomendations: If you can get past the effects and the cold war mantality it is a wonderful but cautionary tale. But don't count on Blockbuster it's almost never checked in there.

Movie #16 - The Sum of All Fears

Title: The Sum of All Fears

Director: Phil Alden Robinson

Release Year: 2002

Plot Summary: The United States and Russia are set on course to war by neo-nazis who want to see the rise of facism. A CIA agent, John Ryan, figures out the entire plot and manages to stop the impending war.

Thoughts: Once again my taste for the end of the world was tempted by this film. The two largest nuclear powers in the world facing off is just tickles my fancy. Now The Sum of All Fears is another in a long series of movies that feature Jack Ryan, and I honestly think that Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford were MUCH better at the part then Ben Affleck. I thought the plot was well thought out and I was impressed that they acctually let one of the bombs go off. All too often we cut the blue wire right in the nick of time. Well in this case there no one ever saw it except the bad guys, until it exploded then everyone saw that cloud.

Now normaly when I see a movie when we're brought to the brink of war and for whatever reason we are saved I feel very unsatisfied. But I found the conclulsion of this film very satisfying nontheless.

Rating (0-10): 7.0

Recomendations: It wasn't anyhting spactatcular but leaves a satisfying feeling when you're done, so if you've got a rainy day go for it. :)

Movie #15 - The Jacket

Title: The Jacket

Director: John Maybury

Release Year: 2005

Plot Summary: A military veteran goes on a journey into the future, where he can foresee his death and is left with questions that could save his life and those he loves.

Thoughts: This film could probably be best summed-up as "12 Monkeys Lite." There are pretty glaring similarities throughout the entire thing.

However, I'd have to say that Adrien Brody holds this movie together. Pretty much all the other actors (especially Keira Knightley) are uneven at best, but he's dead-on as Jack, a genuinely nice guy who has to figure out what the hell is going on in his world and in his own head.

As for story - let's just say there's some things that obviously happen solely to become plot points later; and that in the end, there's no real "final explanation" for everything that's happened. And yes, this is meant to be as ambiguous as possible. ;)

Rating (0-10): 5.5

Recomendations: Watch it if you're a fan of Adrien Brody. Otherwise, go see 12 Monkeys instead.

Movie #14 - Transformers: the Movie

Title: Transformers: the Movie

Director: Nelson Shin

Release Year: 1986

Plot Summary: The Autobots must stop a colossal planet-consuming robot who is after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership.

Thoughts: It's classic, it's epic, and I love it. Animation-wise, I think TF:TM is easily on par with anything on television today, and I dare anyone to disagree. The music may be 80's cheesy, but it fits perfectly - and it's a damn shame no-one has ever heard of Stan Bush unless they're a Transformers fan...

I just noticed in this viewing, however, how much of an epileptic's nightmare this movie really is. ;)

The live-action film coming out has a helluva lot to live up to...

Rating (0-10): 9

Recomendations: If you're a Transformers fan, you can't not see this film. I think it stands alone, but I'm hardly unbiased. ;)

Movie #13 - The Crow

Title: The Crow

Director: Alex Proyas

Release Year: 1994

Plot Summary: A man brutally murdered comes back to life as an undead avenger of his and his finacee's murder.

Thoughts: I find it hard to put into words why this movie is so spectacular. It's about a love that extends beyond death, and it's about revenge. It's about rage, justified rage; and while I have a hard time condoning it, it hits me in just the right way. It feels right to see those bastards get what they deserve - no-one should destroy something that perfect and get away with it.

The writer of the original comic, James O'Barr, apparently wrote it after suffering the loss of his girlfriend to a drunk driver, and reading about a similarly senseless killing in Detroit. I think that's what makes the anger so real, even moreso in the comic than in the movie.

Eh, I'm rambling. As tragic as it is, it's a fabulous, fabulous movie.

Rating (0-10): 9.5

Recomendations: I'd say it's easily the best comic-book adaptation I've ever seen. Not to be missed.

Movie #12 - The Abyss

Title: The Abyss

Director: James Cameron

Release Year: 1989

Plot Summary: An underwater drilling platform is commendered by the military to do a search & rescue on a sunken sub. They encounter somthing completly unexpected along the way, somthing that changes the whole of the world.

Thoughts: Ok well first off it's a clostrophobic's nightmare. Cramped quarters, thousands of feet underwater, flooding, and crazies. I love this movie. Granted that I have a predisposition towards sci-fi to begin with. Now the thing is I absoultly love apocolyptic films, particularlly of the cold war persuasion. Although the bombs don't acctually fall, there is that threat of "the end" througout the film all the way up until the end. The special edition ending I happen to like best. But that's just me.

Rating (0-10): 8.8

Recomendations: Go see it! Geez. :)

Movie #9 - All The Presidents Men

Title: All The Presidents Men

Director: Alan J. Pakula

Release Year: 1976

Plot Summary: Follows the story of the two reporters who uncovered President Nixons' connections to Watergate.

Thoughts: Because Watergate took place before I was born, I never really understood exactly what happened. I was impressed how well they simplified such a complex story. There was a multitude of important players in and they somehow managed to keep their different roles clear and seperate.

Rating (0-10): 8

Recomendations: Definatly worth seeing. Esp. if you're not completely famialiar with the Watergate fieasco.

Movie #8 - Die Hard

Title: Die Hard

Director: John McTirenan

Release Year: 1988

Plot Summary: New York policeman ends up trapped in a building taken over by Severis Snape...err....Terrorists. He kills most of them and lives out an Annie Lennox song.

Thoughts: Only Bruce Willis is bad ass enough for this role. Well played by all, including the annoying stock broker who gets shot. It also is only dated by the low grade computer tech. Which is completely acceptable due to it's low role in the movie as a whole.

Rating (0-10): 8.3

Recomendations: Duh. See it. It's an American Movie staple.