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drea_me_3000
Reviews
Spy (2015)
Meh with a few chuckles.
I love Melissa McCarthy... let me start off by saying that.
But lets not make her out to be Lucille Ball.
Lucy had a sophistication and class and was still able to get laughs without having to "play blue" (resort to perverted jokes or foul language). In fact, Lucy is still making people laugh. It doesn't matter how old you are or how long ago Lucy was on the air, you tend to like Lucy if you have a sense of humor.
Not so with McCarthy. I like to think I have a great sense of humor... and while I like Mike and Molly, I tend to not like her movies. I find her much more funny in Mike and Molly where she has to be more reeled in because of the FCC standards on network television.
This movie was one or two big laughs, mixed with a few smaller chuckles among a bunch of - seriously? moments. Some of the attempts at laughs were unnecessary... like the big penis selfie... it was not only NOT funny, it added nothing to the moment, and was there for the cheap, and quite forced laugh. The audience, when I saw the movie, seemed uncomfortable and weren't quite sure if they were suppose to laugh or not. When you fall to cheap laughs - it's because the writing/acting isn't strong enough on it's own.
And you know you may be dropping the "F-bomb" too often, when you have 50 cent doing a cameo and he's the only one with a clean mouth. You also know the movie is in trouble when side characters who pop in and out on occasion to drop a joke, (like the ones played by Statham and Law), are funnier than the leading character. I actually anticipated the moments Statham would appear. I also enjoyed Law's character.
I'd say it's funny enough to see - but you will not want to own this one on DVD or really feel like seeing it again (say, for example, you have a friend who hasn't seen it and wants you to come along). You'll probably politely decline and say, "Saw it already. once was enough."
I give it a C/C+.
If they'd have dropped a few more jokes instead of F-bombs... I think it could easily have been a better movie. but they were pushing blue too many times for a cheap laugh.
I really really really wanted to like it more than I did. But alas, the funniest scenes were in the commercials.
The Rite (2011)
Decent representation of exorcism.
I read a lot of reviews that panned this movie. Personally I didn't think it was nearly as bad as people claimed it was. I found it interesting and a more true to life representation of what an exorcism is.
You didn't see heads spinning 360 degrees, projectile pea soup spitting, and lots of special effects. However, true exorcisms are not like what they show in the hyped up movies. This is more like what exorcisms are, and for believers, that's equally if not more frightening, because it's more real.
I will agree it is probably more frightening to believers and specifically Catholics than it would be to an Athiest hoping to see a Hollywood horror film.
The acting was quite solid, especially by Sir Anthony Hopkins. Then again, he puts his all into all roles he takes on.
That's not to say there weren't problems in the film. there were some cinematography issues. It was disjointed in many places. It seemed to hop from scene to scene with no proper segway. There were quite a number of moments where they could have pushed the button just a bit more, but missed the chance.
However, the acting was good, the script was fairly solid, the cinematography could have been improved, but it wasn't the worst I've seen... and I appreciated that it wasn't gratuitous. They didn't need to throw in explicit sex or gore to keep the story moving like other Oscar nominated movies. (black Swan lesbian sex scene). It held it's own without all the frills.
I gave it an 8 out of 10. Well worth the watch, but I think Catholics will get more out of it than anyone.
Marley & Me (2008)
Bring tissues... and I'm talking to you guys mostly
I love Owen Wilson, this movie validated why. I wasn't a big Jennifer Aniston fan... this movie changed my mind.
These two actors perfectly conveyed every emotion the audience was suppose to feel with them.
When they laughed, we laughed harder, when they cried, the theater flooded.
this is the timeless tale of how lives can be touched by an animal, that the unconditional love they give makes everything worth all they can sometimes put you through, and that they will change your life for the better, just for having known them.
I'd have to say, while there was not a single dry eye in the theater... the guys were wailing the most. one guy was walking out and he said, "That was my Benny. Tell me that wasn't Benny up there. That was a damn good dog." Even this teenaged boy sitting to my right was trying to wipe away tears by pretending he was itching his eye.
This isn't just your typical pet story... this is more about the people that are in Marley's life, and how he affects their lives little by little, leaving a lasting impression. Their hearts were so much bigger for having known Marley.
I don't think there was a single person who didn't leave sniffling if not down right bawling. Just be prepared for that.
this is more than a holiday feel good movie... the book was more than a collection of silly stories about a dog.
Its about love, all the good, and the bad moments in our lives that are healed by love. In this case, the unconditional love of a pet.
On a plus side... fans of the Marley and Me book can rest happy knowing that, minus very minor changes, this holds true to the book.
The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
Great movie!!
I really enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would.
**Spoilers** 1. It was great to see Jackie Chan doing his drunken master/drunken fist act.
2. Jackie Chan and Jet Li on the same screen was awesome. The fight scene between the two was just the greatest.
3. Jet Li made a great Monkey King. He was light hearted, silly, and over the top as the Monkey King should be.
4. There are subtle references you need to really pay attention to.
a. when Jackie Chan tells the boy "Because you don't LISTEN" when the kid keeps telling him he doesn't understand what he's saying.
Most people will complain "How convenient they know English." They don't... when he told the kid to "Listen" he opened his ears and suddenly the kid understood what they were saying. We were hearing it from his perspective.
MAJOR SPOILER HERE b. I didn't realize the old man was Jackie Chan. You have to pay attention to what he says at the end to realize it was him.
c. The monkey kind and the monk have a very interesting connection. While it should have been obvious... I honestly didn't see it coming till it happened, and it was an "OOOOOHHHHHH" moment.
---------- END SPOILERS ------------- I give this movie an A- It would have been a solid A, but character development/relationships could have been better developed.
Otherwise, I hope for a sequel! ^_^