DVDizzy Forum

The Kite Runner (2007) 6.5/10 - not bad but not good. It just never really connected with me. Its a story about redemption and while the main character feels he's found it at the end, I never forgave him. I really disliked the protagonist for his cowardice and what it cost his friend. I found the historical facts on Afghanistan interesting (never knew what it was like pre-invasion) and if they are all correct, it makes me really hate the Taliban even more.

Bolt (2008) 7/10 - the best of Disney's computer animated efforts but thats not saying much (going by the concept art, Bolt would've looked better traditionally animated). Watched it on Blu-ray and just like in the theater, the painterly look that they wasted soo much money on is still barely noticeable if at all. The picture quality was good but not as sharp as all the other computer animated effort but I blame the style and lighting for that. The extras are very scarce and were quite a disappointment. While I personally think Chris Sander's American Dog would've been more interesting and creative, we have no way of knowing if it would've been better or worst. So judging Bolt on what it is, it just alright (giving the time and budget, it's quite amazing). Miley Cyrus and John Travolta were miscast and their voices just don't match their character (they both sound too old for their characters, if that makes sense). Its too bad the TV show at the beginning was more entertaining then the rest of the movie (the ending, of which, is just too corny for me tastes). The animation is good for the most part, just spotty in a few places.

jpanimation wrote:...Chris Sander's American Dong...

Oh my. That would have been a... bizzare film. To say the least.

The Little Mermaid- When the day comes when I can pinpoint why I love this movie so much- it'll be a miracle. This time, it was just delightful to listen to Jodi Benson's voice.

The Flame of New Orleans: unusual romantic comedy vehicle for Marlene Dietrich; lots of fun.

Carrie: not the Sissy Spacek horror classic, but rather the 1950 screen version of Theodore Dreiser's "Sister Carrie" starring Laurence Olivier and Jennifer Jones. In my opinion this is Olivier's GREATEST movie performance. See it!

The Skeleton Key - It wasn't at all scary until the very end, which was more creepy than scary. The flashbacks were also a bit disturbing. Kate Hudson delivered a good performance for what she was working with. She seemed a little bored throughout the movie, though. It was pretty good, all in all.

Fear - Besides the beheading of the dog, this was a very entertaining movie. Reese Witherspoon gave an innocent, as per usual in the 90's, performance while Mark Wahlberg gave a pretty frightening one. Alyssa Milano and Amy Brennermen were great side characters, and the movie actually did make me jumpy towards the end.

Disney's A Christmas Carol- I'll post my thoughts in the appropriate thread, but I enjoyed it!

PeterPanfan wrote:
Fear - Besides the beheading of the dog, this was a very entertaining movie. Reese Witherspoon gave an innocent, as per usual in the 90's, performance while Mark Wahlberg gave a pretty frightening one. Alyssa Milano and Amy Brennermen were great side characters, and the movie actually did make me jumpy towards the end.

Good movie... I really need to buy it on DVD soon.

A Bug's Life (1998) 7/10 - Pixar's worst. People have been hating on this movie for a while now and I couldn't understand it, as I remembered liking it. Well, just watched it on Blu-ray, first time in widescreen since seeing it in theaters, and it wasn't as good as I remembered seeing it on VHS years ago. Now-a-days people like to say Cars (2006) 7.5/10 is Pixar's worst but I don't agree. The animation (love Hopper) and voice acting is great in this movie (didn't recognize the actors when I was little but was delighted to hear them now). Its the story that is a little messy. I instantly picked up on the story similarities between this and Akira Kurosawa's movie, only Seven Samurai (1954) 8/10 and it's American remake The Magnificent Seven (1960) 7.5/10 are far better. They tried to change it up and ended up making it a little too disjointed and sloppy. I didn't feel the connection between the characters that I got it the originals (especially with the circus bugs). All things considered, even Pixar's worst isn't that bad. Also, can't help but compare this movies with Dreamworks' superior but completely different effort, Antz (1998) 7.5/10, that just happened to come out the same year featuring ants (the similarities end there).

Brother Bear (2003) 7/10 - I had to watch this after defending it all week to make sure my defending was justified. It is. While not my favorite, it just doesn't deserve the bashing it gets. I feel the first part of the movie is practically flawless but after Kenai's transformation, it changed a little too much in tone for me. The aspect ratio change worked better in theater then on DVD but its still an interesting idea. The animation is solid throughout and the background paintings are beautiful at times. The transformation scene is perfect and the music for it is great. The rest of Phil Collins music just feels like left-overs from Tarzan and just doesn't work as well (maybe they would've been better sung in Inuit like the transformation song). Would've loved an audio option with an Inuit dub of the film. I love the bears at the salmon run, very reminiscent of Marc Davis's Country Bears, and would've loved to see a little more of them (Rutt and Tuke were great too). I watched a DVD extra that said Tug was originally going to be with Kenai on his journey and I would've liked to see that version. Michael Clarke Duncan has such a warm and inviting voice (like in the The Green Mile (1999) 8/10), not to mention I found Koda annoying, that I really think the directors should've fought harder for their version. For what it is, this is an interesting movie that with the second half refined and all the Phil Collins songs removed (excluding the transformation song), this could've been great. In its current form, its not bad.

Shadow of the Thin Man: not my favourite but still a decent "Thin Man" title. Confusing plot but some great performances, especially from Stella Adler as the gangster's moll.

The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing: Joan Collins stars as "notorious" showgirl Evelyn Nesbit, the center of the scandalous Thaw/White murder trial. This movie was originally intended as a musical for Marilyn Monroe; I can't imagine her being any better than Collins who is lovely and poised in one of her first major roles at Fox. This is a movie I've seen many times since buying the DVD.

Adventureland - A fun, although more depressing than funny, film set in the 80's about theme park employees. Kristen Stewart gives a barely bored, so better than most of her other roles, performance, as well as Jesse Eseinberg. Ryan Reynolds and Kristin Wiig were the highlights.

Pocahontas (1995) 6.5/10 - probably my least favorite to come out of the Disney Renaissance. I haven't watched this since seeing it in theaters at a girlfriend's birthday and remembered liking this more as a kid. The beginning moves way to fast and doesn't really set up the difference in culture as well as it should've to payoff better later on (the extremely short runtime says they should've opened a little slower). Once it settles in, the pacing is great. One thing I dislike is the pink and blue color palette used for the backgrounds (has a DTV feel to it). Those colors take you out of the movie, feels like a never ending dream sequence, and should've been left only for the songs. Eric Goldberg's only influence I can see is on the sidekicks and their goofy antics, which are amusing, but other then that it was a mediocre effort. Jim Cumming's singing voice was WAY too obvious and instantly took me out of the moment. What was good was Alen Menken's music and the short runtime. Just wish the background colors would've been grounded in reality a little more like Brother Bear's beautiful art and more time would've been spent at the beginning setting up the characters and cultures.

Dedication- I had wanted to see this for a while, and it did not disappoint. Mandy Moore was amazing as always. It's a nice story, with some twists and turns...it isn't a movie that you can totally predict what will happen, which is always refreshing.

The Outrage: 1964 period western remake of "Rashomon" with Paul Newman, Claire Bloom and Laurence Harvey. Took me a while to settle into it, but came away having really enjoyed the film. And I don't usually like westerns that much.

Night at the Museum 2 - Battle of the Smiithsonian, I actully like this one better than the original

Batman Begins still exciting.

Doing a little bit of a Peter Jackson marathon. On Saturday I watched:
The Fellowship of the Ring - still a good movie. First time seeing it since its theatrical release. The CG is looking a little dated though.
Then on Sunday I watched:
King Kong - again, another one I didn't see since its theatrical release. Good movie however some scenes do tend to drag on, and some CG isn't that great.
Last night I watched:
The Two Towers - another one i haven't watched since it's theatrical release. Good movie too. I liked this one a bit more this time around.

You can probably guess what I'm watching next.

Barbossa wrote:You can probably guess what I'm watching next.

Heavenly Creatures?

albert

The Governess- A period drama starring Minnie Driver. I had never heard of it before, but I really enjoyed it.

Escapay wrote:Heavenly Creatures?

albert

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!

I'm sorry, I still freak out whenever that horrible, horrible movie is mentioned. Avoid it like the plague.

Brute force (1947)

I'm ashamed to say, this is only the first film with Burt Lancaster that I've ever seen. But what a great one! One exciting work, which avoids the clichés of the average prison-movie. I was pleasently surprised with the great empahasis on the psychology of some of the main characters. Besides Lancaster, I think Art Smith as the doctor was particular good. The only thing that annoyed me were the abysmal performances by most of the females in the flashback scenes. Luckily, they were brief.

From IMDb:

As many of the actors in The Group were members of the Communist Party or leftist organizations, they would soon be blacklisted during the HUAC period along with the director of this film, Jules Dassin.

The three burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)

Very special film, with and directed by Tommy Lee Jones. Unfortunately, the characters remain flat all through the film, and the special relation between Pete (Jones) and Melquiades never convinces. All in all the film is more appreciated for the acting performances, beautiful camerawork and spotless direction, than for the somewhat empty story. The idea was good, the execution is disappointing.

Escapay wrote:

Barbossa wrote:You can probably guess what I'm watching next.

Heavenly Creatures?

albert

Nah, last night I watched:
Terminator Salvation: Director's Cut - besides the 1 second long topless scene, I couldn't figure out what was added from the theatrical release. Wonder how the next one will be.

Ok, today I'll be watching Return of the King, and then I'm going to start hitting some Christmas movies after that.