As opposed to the first installment, which had a much more meandering pace, this one moves along quite nicely. The premise is well conceived and has a much better structure.
Blog Archive
Search This Blog
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Quick Movie Review: Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge (2001)
As opposed to the first installment, which had a much more meandering pace, this one moves along quite nicely. The premise is well conceived and has a much better structure.
Labels:
2001,
critic,
dcom,
dcoms,
debbie reynolds,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
halloweentown,
kalabar,
movie review,
rating system,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating
Quick Movie Review: Idle Hands (1999)
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Quick Movie Review: Dear White People (2014)
The subject of race is often met with bias in one direction or the other. Not racism necessarily, but topics involving race and the tensions between races. Being from an area that is extremely diverse, I can't relate to some of the examples displayed in this film. I grew up around people that don't exclusively hang out with their own race, and where many were colorblind when it came to choosing their friends. My 2 best friends are Asian-American and black. My girlfriend is of Mexican heritage. I suppose that I was fortunate enough to be raised by parents who didn't bring to my attention our differences, nor did they probably even think about it, but I know that the majority of the country isn't this lucky. It's just that some instances in this film come off as unrealistic to me. If all this stuff really does happen, then I can see how this movie would be effective.
This film involves the upper-middle class and how racial tensions affect them specifically. While the setting is highly essential for proving points, it's also a hinderance. I should have brought a dictionary to the theater. The target audience for this movie may not understand a lot of the vocabulary. The verbiage is a quite highbrow and quick-delivered for the intents of the movie. That aside, the script is very self-aware and smart. It knows what its doing and saying at all times. And when it tries to be funny it succeeds.
This film does well what so many other teen and college movies don't--it doesn't overindulge in self-importance of the kids' lives. For one, it's because there is an importance of the topic being discussed. But it also doesn't portray the students as having all the answers and doing it all on their own. Each character makes mistakes and each character says things that make a lot of sense. It's a really honest film.
Dear White People handles a heavy topic surprisingly well and does a good job of remaining unbiased and not telling you what to think. Even though you want it to sometimes, you realize that no one has a definitive answer, and the only solution is to look at the world with colorblind eyes.
Labels:
critic,
dear white people,
dennis haysber,
film,
film critic,
movie review,
race,
racial tensions,
rating system,
sundance,
t ethan brehm,
tessa thompson,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Quick Movie Review: Halloweentown (1998)
The 1990s. Back when children's television was at an all-time high, child actors weren't hired for their looks, and Disney Channel Original Movies didn't talk down to kids. In 1997, Disney rebranded their TV movies under the Disney Channel Original Movie marquee and their style of films also changed. They started featuring younger kids as main characters and had them dealing with their own issues. In 1998, Disney released their 5th DCOM, Halloweentown. Sure, it wasn't perfect, but as a kid it invoked our imagination. The script is full of wit, and the talent here is really impressive too--especially the lead actress, Kimberly J. Brown, who went on to also star in another DCOM, Quints. Debbie Reynolds is also fantastic here as the adventurous and crazy grandmother that every kid wants.
Labels:
1998,
critic,
dcom,
dcoms,
debbie reynolds,
disney channel original movie,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
halloweentown,
movie review,
rating system,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating
Quick Movie Review: The Judge (2014)
The biggest complaint that I heard with this film is that it's full of cliches. I have to disagree somewhat. Yeah, sure, I know that it's the typical father-son drama where the dad never had time for his son and all that cat's in the cradle stuff. But when it comes down to it, this film goes far beyond the typical courtroom drama. It's full of surprises and twists that are slowly and carefully exposed along the course of the narrative. The first act takes its time, but never drags. It doesn't rush to reveal the plot all at once, saving things for later and not spoiling us with all the details right away. But then it gets really interesting when you don't see it coming.
Twizard Rating: 96
Labels:
2014,
critic,
drama,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
judge,
movie review,
rating system,
robert downey jr,
robert duvall,
the judge,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating
Quick Movie Review: Fury (2014)
At first they were displeased with him and thought he would bring them down, but at a moment these 4 guys realize that Norman makes them better. Meanwhile, Norman learns a lot about himself and what he's willing to do. And then it all comes full circle in the end with a moment of compassion show by a German soldier.
Labels:
2014,
brad pitt,
critic,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
fury,
logan lerman,
movie review,
rating system,
shia labeouf,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating,
world war 2,
world war ii
Quick Movie Review: The Boxtrolls (2014)
Visually, this The BoxTrolls is next-to-perfect aesthetically. As far as the content of this film is concerned, it's entertaining and intriguing. However, it's not always laugh-out-loud funny. Charming would be a good word to describe it. It makes you smile a ton and has its fill of memorable characters, but there just aren't a whole lot of memorable scenes. You also can't help feeling like the plot is being stretched too thin, as there isn't a whole lot that happens in this movie, and the runtime is still pretty short. Sure, much of it is used to establish setting, but it could have definitely ended sooner. The final "battle" scene dragged on for too long.
Quick Movie Review: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)
Steve Carell is always likable and where Jennifer Garner is meant to be funny, she is really funny. And while this film isn't amazing, it's also fairly entertaining. If you can get past the slow set up, the slapstick is pretty fun. However, there are a few screaming plot holes, and some of the minor characters who are contributing to this bad day can get annoying with their unrealistic behaviors. But the main cast was all really impressive, and a few bits had me laughing out loud.
Labels:
2014,
alexander,
alexander and the terrible,
critic,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
jennifer garner,
movie review,
rating system,
steve carell,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating
Quick Movie Review: Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
The thing about spoof movies of this sort is that it might make you laugh, but they are hard to warm up to. They sacrifice depth for humor. And in this movie's case, there isn't even a whole lot of genuine laughs. There aren't even a whole lot of one-liners. Although some of the subtle details are clever and it does have its moments. A lot of scenes will even make you smile at the good points that they make, but unless you are watching this with a group of friends, it's not really going to satisfy.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Quick Movie Review: 10 Things I Hate About You
Taking pages out of John Hughes' playbook, 10 Things I Hate About You falls just short of cliche as we forget that much of what made Hughes' work so clever was that it invented its own cliches--as this film does. While it does subject to the usual idiot adults and predictable plot, there is a lot more depth here than the average teen comedy.
But although the laughs slow down at times, there aren't really any eye-rolling jokes. And wisely, there are hints of self-satire carefully scattered throughout.
Labels:
10 things i hate about you,
1999,
critic,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
heath ledger,
julia stiles,
movie review,
rating system,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Quick Movie Review: Walk of Shame
If you can withstand the first 20 minutes you're in for a fairly good farce comedy with some subtle humor on the side. Our film begins with a montage of inorganic imitations of famous viral news bloopers that would be pretty funny if they had showed the actual clips, since none of them exerted the same spontaneity as the originals. It then shows Meghan Miles (Elizabeth Banks) at the end of the montage having a similar "mess-up" involving cats acting uncontainable while she attempts to tell a news story. The movie continues through another 20 minutes setting up what I am now expecting to be a less-than-decent experience. Her boyfriend leaves and she doesn't get the job she's been wanting, so she goes out with her party-animal friends to a club to meet guys. This is all cliche as can be. She goes back to a guy's place, and after a romp with him she wakes up in the middle of the night and receives a call from her producer informing her that she actually did get the job if she can show up to the station the next afternoon. She goes outside and her car is towed but she can't find the name of the tow company. She then comes across some really annoying characters that are not willing to help her out as they think she is a hooker. I'm cringing. The rest of the movie continues as she attempts to get to the tow yard and ultimately, the news station. Throughout the whole ordeal these cops are trying to catch Meghan, who they think is a hooker starting all kinds of trouble.
Quick Movie Review: Gone Girl
This film is anything but formulaic. Rosamund Pike is phenomenal, and Ben Affleck's blinking is minimal as he is at his absolute best. David Fincher keeps you on your toes, and the script is thrilling and smarter than its own good. You don't know who to root for or who you dislike more until it hits you like a ton of bricks. Very few films can justifiably jerk your emotions from one side to the other with such grace and necessity. You don't usually see the bad guy become the good guy so fluidly.
Labels:
2014,
ben affleck,
critic,
david fincher,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
gone girl,
movie review,
rating system,
rosamund pike,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Quick Movie Review: Friends With Benefits
Now, it's only natural to compare this movie to No Strings Attached which came out a few months before. Honestly, they are both good movies. However, I think that Friends With Benefits is a lot funnier and slightly more enjoyable. While I thought that the script was stretched a little too thin in this one, it has a much more relatable themes and is more fun altogether. But although both films are worth a watch, No Strings Attached is a little smarter and suffers less from cliches.
Labels:
2011,
critic,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
friends with benefits,
justin timberlake,
mila kunis,
movie review,
no strings attached,
rating system,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating
Quick Movie Review: Nymphomaniac Volume 2
With the "journey" finished, I don't like this film any more than the first installment. No character is liable, except for maybe Joe's father, and Joe can only seem to like and empathize with those who she can relate to herself. She's selfish. Finally at the end she seems to become friends with the old man, whom she knows nothing about, because he listened to her. But that all ends when she kills him. Lars Von Trier want you to love Joe so badly, and it's evident in the script. After every action she is seen as the good-guy in the end. And you have the old man who keeps telling her that she's not a bad person and keeps justifying her mistakes, when in fact she isn't a good person. But I suppose, at least, the audience sees that a little better this time around.
Labels:
2014,
critic,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
lars von trier,
movie review,
nymphomaniac,
rating system,
shia labeouf,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating,
volume 2
Quick Movie Review: Nymphomaniac Volume 1
It's hard to particularly like this story so far because it calls for a very acquired taste and it hasn't resolved much of the conflicts yet. For those that do not understand film and are just looking for entertainment, you will quickly find this movie boring. It plays mostly with metaphors and uncomfortable/unrelatable situations. There is a lot of depth, but not exactly specific to any one character in particular. Meaning, there isn't much difference between characters--they seem to all be written in the same way. With that said, the script is very smart and very aware of itself and what it's saying. But I think that it serves more as a philosophical challenge than an entertaining film. I'm not getting much out of it myself, but it definitely keeps the brain moving. However, some of the logic that the two main characters conclude to is very arguable and faulty on occasion even though the narrative is unique and the metaphors are interesting.
Labels:
2014,
critic,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
lars von trier,
movie review,
nymphomaniac,
rating system,
shia labeouf,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating,
volume 1
Friday, October 3, 2014
Quick Movie Review: The Equalizer
From the first 30 minutes or so, I'm thinking that the script is really going to have a lot of depth. But that all changes after that. It goes from a writer's film to a editor's film. Granted, a really good editor's film. There's nothing original story-wise, but it's a really fun movie! I might sound crazy, but it was reminiscent of Home Alone at times. You see his process when defeating the bad-guys instead of just leaving it up in the air as a mystery. It's kind of like Home Alone meets Taken. Although it isn't AS ridiculous and silly as Taken tended to be. The main character is just as invincible, but at least the body count isn't usually unrealistic. But at least Taken isn't 131 minutes long.
Labels:
2014,
chloe grace moretz,
critic,
denzel washington,
ethan brehm,
film,
film critic,
movie review,
rating system,
the equalizer,
the twiz,
the twizard,
twizard,
twizard rating
Quick Movie Review: The Drop (2014)
The Drop is a really good movie, but what else can you expect if Tom Hardy's in it? It may be slow sometimes, and eventually you may find yourself asking for clarification, but the acting here helps encourage you to not want to look away. The depth of Hardy's character is ridiculous when you take the time to think about it. The pacing is consistent and tied together with the music creates a film that keeps your attention. You never quite know any character until the climax--then it all hits you like a ton of bricks. It's amazing. And it's impressive on a technical scale as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)