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Reviews
Silent Hill (2006)
Fans of the game will enjoy this film!
Fans of the game will enjoy this film. Critics should be impressed with the set design, effects and cinematography; but I'm afraid most of them will miss the boat entirely. As far as a game to film translation, this is one of the best ever made.
There are scenes in the film that are direct recreations from the game. Sounds, music, colors and even meticulous set design that pays homage to the game series. In as far as a horror film, there were scenes in this movie that are incomparable. Really disturbing, solid moments of horror.
Pyramid Head is this decade's Pinhead. A new cultural icon to be feared, and loved.
Good movie. Keep an open mind, and enjoy. This is one of those films that actually deserves its R rating. Don't take the kids, unless you're into the whole "terrible parent" thing.
Gigli (2003)
Some memorable scenes; worth the matinee price
There are a handful of scenes this film - most notably Al Pacino's cameo - which really make the movie worth your time. The overall storyline was interesting and there enough meat there to make it worth a matinee price at the theatre.
In honesty, Gigli is not nearly as bad as it has been panned to be. I believe that most people who think otherwise haven't seen the film in its entirety.
There is a good bit of foul language in Gigli - just to prep you for it, as I was fairly surprised by it. Also, the focal points of the film revolve around the mismanagement of a mentally handicapped person and the dynamics between a rebellious lesbian and a machismo male. What we've got here is (Pulp Fiction + Rain Man + Chasing Amy), and for the most part - it works.
Not to leave the review without any criticism, I thought a good deal of the movie could've been left on the cutting room floor. The sheer number of highly enjoyable scenes should've been the focus of the movie. It reminded me of Kurosawa's "Dreams", which was packed full with memorable, vibrant imagery and storyline; but made you endure minutes after minutes of nothingness.
Okay, the "Dreams" comparison was a bit of an exaggeration; but that's the ballpark that Gigli ends up with. More spotlighting of the quality moments and less time for the filler would've gone a long way.
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)
Jet Li DMX and make it worth the price
Good action film along the same lines as the director's previous films: "Romeo Must Die" and "Exit Wounds." DMX and Jet Li look great together onscreen and have some very memorable fight (and chase) scenes. A good cast all'round, including DMX's minions and most notably Tom Arnold paired again with Anthony Anderson (Barbershop, Romeo Must Die). Just the right combination of hip-hop, comedy and martial arts action. Worth full-price if action-films are your forte; but certainly worth a matinee admission regardless.
The biggest disappointments for me were in the misuse of Kelly Hu (The Scorpion King) and Mark Dacascos (Brotherhood of The Wolf). I expect great things from these two; but the roles they were given were simply too shallow. A few gripes about the father-daughter storyline being too over dramatized, and the arms dealers in the last 1/4 of the film looked pretty enough to be on the cast of "Friends" (which again seemed to go too far).
By a large margin, this film isn't going to be an Oscar Contender next year; but it certainly does rank high on the charts of martial arts action films set in the United States. A good action film all around.