MerianMoriarty Reviews

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Would have been better if I'd never seen the trailers...

[8/10 · 23 June 2009]

It's very unfortunate that most of the trailers spoiled a huge plot-point. I feel that the first part of the movie, following Marcus Wright, would have been more compelling if I hadn't seen any of the trailers. It lost the suspenseful sensation, and only left me wondering how and when the big spoiler would be revealed to all the other characters.

Overall, I think it was a good film, and that we've needed a film set during the war for a LONG time (in fact, while T3 was well done, I think I would have preferred it if this movie had been made instead).

For fans of the series (or at least the mythos), I certainly recommend seeing it, but I also recommend avoiding the trailers like the plague.

Knight Hunters: Weiß Kreuz (2001– )

a series for the seiyuu connoisseur

[25 September 2005]

an assassin story! and you thought those days of Japanese film-making were over...well, Takehito-sama brought them back, just for us. very dark and violent, though not quite as gratuitous as parts of the manga. great soundtrack albums, too, because Weiss is a great vocal group (but don't expect much from the Schwarz songs...).

okay, it's true that, even for the time it was released, the animation of Weiss Kreuz wasn't exactly up to snuff. and it's true that a good deal of the angst is so contrived and plot-device-induced that it feels like it belongs in a yaoi manga.

BUT! it's also true that the cast includes Seki Tomokazu, Koyasu Takehito, Yuuki Hiro, and Midorikawa Hikaru.

it's angsty, the characters are involving, and listening to it is like bathing in chocolate. old-school enjoyment, pure and simple. <3 8/10 stars

Mio in the Land of Faraway (1987)

One of my All-time Faves!

[10/10 · 21 June 2004]

I first saw this film when my mother bought it on VHS in a store... I think I was about seven. I loved it from the moment I first watched it, and even now, at nineteen, it's still one of my favorite movies.

Now, I realize the effects aren't that great and the ADR is horrible--but as fairytales go, it's among the best. I found the plot to be better translated to film than that of The Neverending Story (which is one of my favorite books--but not one of my favorite movies), and the music is wonderful. Watching the movie was very reminiscent to reading The Chronicles of Narnia, or in fact reading a British translation of Astrid Lindgren's book.

This is still my favorite of Christian Bale's many roles, and among my favorite Christopher Lee roles (the man has over 700, so it's hard to pick faves sometimes ^_^).

A classic for children and families, I must say. (And coming from a cynical college student, that's saying something!)

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Definitely Tarantino -- You MUST see this movie!

[10/10 · 15 October 2003]

Pretty typical Tarantino fare, as far as content: violence, excessive bloodshed (is there such a thing? ^_^), extreme theatrics, larger-than-life characters, and cool music (um...well, except for the go-go rock at the restaurant, but even that had an interesting effect on the scene).

The Bride was definitely as cool as El Mariachi (but maybe I only say that because I'm a chick *shrug*), O-Ren Ishii was a total badass, and Go-Go was one of the awesomest psychos ever. Once again, Tarantino delivers a star-studded cast, as well: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, David Carradine, Sonny Chiba.

The plot is great, and out of order again (a la Pulp Fiction). I liked that we got to see what kind of person The Bride was ("It was not my intention for you to witness that...") right off the bat. It was great how we were shown where O-Ren came from and why The Bride was so torqued; it made them into compelling characters, and made their final fight almost (but not quite) poignant.

Good cinematography, too; definitely liked the shadow-fight, as well as the black and white segments.

One thing -- did anyone else notice that everybody on the plane had a katana?? Isn't that just...weird? (*cough cough* like the dancing in Pulp Fiction wasn't...)

Any fan of action films and/or Tarantino's work will love this movie. The only problem? The second one isn't out yet!

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Dark, but beautiful...a visual masterpiece.

[9/10 · 25 March 2002]

Visually a stunning film. Quite beautiful in its premise and in its artificial architecture. I was quite partial to the scene in which Kida fused with the Heart of Atlantis, and the faces of the kings fell as she walked forward.

A good deal of dark humor, and not a sign of that odd let's-all-break-into-song atmosphere. An old-fashioned but revolutionary animation style. A very seamless fusion of CG/traditional animation, unlike efforts in "Hercules" and its ilk. Don't let the dark aspects of this film turn you away; it is still Disney, still teaches life lessons, and is still, in its heart, maudlin as any Disney flick before it.

A better plot than other recent Disney films, and a fresher look as well. "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" may be dark...but it is also beautiful; overall a visual masterpiece. Kudos to Disney.

Legend (1985)

Beautiful...could have been so much more.

[10/10 · 25 March 2002]

Having seen all three edits of the film, I must say that I would dearly love to see a director's edition of it. To see such a magnificent flick in its entirety would be any movie-lover's dream. Beautiful effects. Lovely music. Ridley Scott works magic in an early piece, just as dark as his modern-day classics. If "Legend" had not fallen prey to the demons of screen-editing, it might have been much greater; as is, it is a striking film, with moving themes and a setting of pure fantasy. A very beautiful film, especially in the HBO/Television edit.