IcarusMoon Reviews

Black Adam (2022)

The annoying kid was distracting

[6/10 · 10 December 2022]

The movie has its flaws and its funny moments, but the kid! Doesn't listen to his mother, rides a skateboard, it's the driven reason why anything happens in the movie because he wants to be in the middle of danger and to see what's happening - Rolling my eyes hard!. There are also some dumb decisions made by the bad guys that doesn't make any sense either!

The CGI is good, the action sequences are different than Marvel. And like any DC film as of this point, the characters are fragmented, shallow, no backstories.

There is a lot of killing in this movie, you could say comedic killing hence the PG-13 rating. It's a good weekend movie, but I don't know if it's movie theater worthy.

All the Bright Places (2020)

A refresh on a Non Original Formula

[8/10 · 7 May 2020]

I like the story, broken teenagers meet each other and try to fix one another. The interesting part of this film is the mental issues that some of the main characters have. Specially since they give you clues of what it might be, they don't come out and say it. They give you the clues, but they want you, even implore you, to diagnose him, to see the signs in him and maybe help someone else. Yes, Help is out there!

The Rules of Attraction (2002)

Watch It at Your Own Risk

[1/10 · 13 October 2003]

This is by far the worst movie i have ever seen in my life. I was waiting for something to happen and it never did. The movie goes on and on but it doesn't go anywhere. Please stay away from this film. I have to say that I like the camera work and the acting was okay. But the plot is a total fiasco that just seems to go around loops. Do I hate the film? Hate is almost a compliment. Yes, the movie has a lot of topless girls; yes, it seems that all the characters in the film do some kind of drug and yes they seem to be in college...but from what I noticed they were more preoccupied about getting wasted and have sex than anything else. Is college life like this? Of course not, but in a sense is part of the college life, but is not the entire story. Watch at your own risk.

The Killer (1989)

I CAN'T BELIEVE IS ON THE TOP 250!!!!

[3/10 · 12 July 2003]

I guess I have start by saying that this movie should have being categorized as a sci-fi movie since I can't believe that a person can take so many bullets and still be standing and shooting back. I mean, I saw this in Scarface but even then the guy was really messed up on cocaine. The movie was so badly done that I can't believe it made it to the top 250. The acting was way over done, and the ending just made me laugh. I shouldn't have laugh but I wasn't emotionally connected to the movie. Stupid things happen when you are full of rage. Also, the film was so over played that I didn't get the meaning of the ending, and just left me with more questions that what I would expect of a film like this. I usually have a few conclusions after endings like this but I can't think of any for this film. The direction of the film was really well done; well I think is the only think well done in the movie. If you like gun shooting with bullets that don't really affect anybody (well just the bad guys) then this movie is definitely for you.

**SPOILERS**

They had to shoot his freaking eyes to stop him

**END OF SPOILERS**

Well, I guess I've said enough….I can't believe this film is in the rank!!!!

Opera (1987)

RUN AWAY from this horrible movie!!

[2/10 · 27 June 2003]

What can I say about the worst film I have ever seen? Well let's start by saying what was good about it, I definitely like the camera shots, especially when it came to the killings, I thought they were kind of cool and very original shoots (specially the key hole one). Now let's start the massacre. The movie had an interesting plot that fail as soon as you start watching the film, the acting was bad and it was definitely obvious who was the killer, I wanted them to trick me, to lie to me, but NO, it was just too obvious that I had to lower two points in my ranking just for that. About the plot, well I have to say that it was okay, they had a pretty good idea combining Macbeth with The Phantom of the Opera but it seems they fail to connect the two and it was just a disaster in motion. I don't have to say anything about the music because most people agree that the soundtrack was bad. But let me stop here because if I keep going I will never stop.

I personally didn't like it and I don't understand why would anybody recommend this film, I guess cause of the murders (which were pretty cool) but besides that the movie was predictable. Also, the girl didn't have that sense of survival that you see in GOOD thrillers and her survival just felt like luck. It was really shallow and I kept thinking, ‘I would have run this way' or ‘I would have done this differently' or ‘that was really stupid!' So please see this movie if you want to see what a bad film should look like, but seriously take the movie that is next to it in the rental store, in my opinion it would be way better than this.

2009: Lost Memories (2002)

I do not agree

[4/10 · 24 June 2003]

Am I'm the only one that can see that this movie is not all that? Besides the acting, which I thought it was good. The story has so many inconsistency that I can't see why would a person would want to see something as corny as this. I see the connections that the characters have towards each respected country but towards the end I just keep saying ‘so what!'. The camera shots where great but the action….well if you call a lot of gun shots action, then, I guess this movie has a lot of action. I didn't like the plot and even though they tried to dramatize it a little bit at the end it doesn't compensate and it will leave instead of ‘wanting more', ‘wanting something'. There is nothing special on this film, even the logic of time traveling doesn't make sense, I ask, how come an ancient civilization discover the power of time travel? But I guess superstition is stronger than logic. But since its sci-fi, I can't go into much detail because at the end it's just not real even though some sci-fi films seem more believable than this. But I guess I wasn't emotionally connected to this film as some of my fellow reviewers. But take my word for it, you are not missing much.

The Last House on the Left (1972)

Parents Worst Nightmare

[7/10 · 18 June 2003]

Well the movie was okay, but there were still some down parts that got me annoyed through the entire film. These were the music and the police men. Which, the only reason that i could understand their presence in this film would be to soften the blow of the images but instead they made the movie almost a joke and the by the end of the film it just felt like a really bad dental flows commercial. The images are shocking and if you look at this movie with subtitles and without the audio off, I'll bet the movie will be more shocking than what it already is. Also, the film looks very well done...for a college film. Nevertheless, taking apart all this down sides, i understood what the director wanted the message to get across, and I won't doubt that this could be the worst nightmare that any parent could have. I still think that the movie was good and the imagines will definitely stay with you for a while but I don't see any reason why a person would see this more than once. A great cult classic, but not for me.

Also, If you are an over protecting parent, do not see this film but if you are going to watch it anyway, then also watch 'The Virgin Suicides' ;). The two extreme will balance your head pretty nicely.

Raising Victor Vargas (2002)

A Glimpse on the Life of Teenagers Living in the Lower East Side

[8/10 · 21 April 2003]

This movie was really entertaining. It was drama, but also a sense of humor to it, not because it wanted to be funny but because some things that they did, that I've heard from friends and from own experiences, does happen. The film covered a wide variety of social issues starting from the harassment of girls in upper Manhattan up to the raising of children by their grandparents. I also like the films cause of its characters, not because they were well played (which they were), but because they were unique and real. This is a coming of age movie not only for the children but also for adults, and what I mean is that even adults can learn from children to understand and trust them once in while. As much as I like the film, I couldn't come out and praise the camera work. I don't know if the directed wanted to be artistic or that he didn't have enough cameras to work with, but the close shoots were not the high points of this movie.

Also, what is wrong with the rating, I thought that the movie was great. I heard people saying, that ‘the movie doesn't go anywhere', but that's not the point that the movie is trying to make, if you are the characters age and living in a neighborhood like the one in the movie, you would feel like your life doesn't go anywhere too. The film wants to show a glimpse of what the world is, if you live in these types of neighborhoods. So I guess, I could understand if you didn't like the film and that was because you don't leave in Lower East Side, but as an overall the movie was good. So people be honest and STOP MESSING UP THE RATINGS, the movie is not as bad as to have a 3. I would have gave it an 9 but cause of the camera work, I'm gave it an 8/10.

Seven Samurai (1954)

What Movies Are Made Of

[10/10 · 13 April 2003]

This film was great but I don't have to repeat what most people have already said. I found that everything on this film was flawless even the weather. The movie was great and I just have to feel sorry for certain movie viewers that will not see this film because it's black and white or just because is in subtitles. This types of viewers, in my opinion, are missing one of the best films out there.

Sexy Beast (2000)

Great Film, But Watch it and Decide by Yourself,

[8/10 · 12 April 2003]

This movie is great. I liked the thrill of it all. The camera work and the plot were fantastic. Also, the actors where great. It was thrilling; at the beginning of the film you wouldn't see this cause they are trying to develop the characters a little bit. Great movie, see if you can you won't regret it. I've being reading the reviews about this film and I can't agree with them, the movie was really entertainment. I just had problems passing through the first 15 minutes but after that it was worth it. But the main problem that I had with this film was that I had problems with the accents, I'm not saying that the movie is understandable but sometimes they start talking really fast and I missed a couple of important words. Anyway, the film was great and it's on my top list of gangster movies, really amazing to watch. Take the time and see it, some reviews might go on forever saying how bad it was but that's only one point of view, see this film and see if you like it or not, I did and I'm not regretting it.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Too Corny for Even a 22 year old kid

[7/10 · 29 March 2003]

Harry Potter…..what can I say about this movie? Well let's start by pointing out that the movie had better graphics than the first movie. The acting was questionable for some of the kids (including Harry Potter) but not for the adults. I guess is because I'm from New York, I just don't buy the perfect image that HP is presenting; I guess that's why people call it fiction. The kid is too proper, to innocent to be raise with such bad parents, I just don't buy it, it seems like a lie. I have to admit that I read the book, and I found the book so much better than the movie but not in the sense that most people are criticizing it. The movie portraits the book as perfect as it could, I just think that HP was meant to be read instead of being see. Imagination is always different for most personal and by looking at the movie you are just exposing the point of view of a few people. This is what I consider a true children's movie, I don't think I should be making a big deal out of how HP's acting or lack off, since children don't care about that, but they did over act a little bit. I just found the film a little too corny for even a 22 year old kid.

Whisper of the Heart (1995)

Really Nice, Slow Film

[8/10 · 29 March 2003]

I found this film to be a really nice peace of work, something that I would expect from Miyazaki. I've being a great fan of his work whether he produce, wrote, or directed them. This film did not disappoint me at all, the story was emotionally moving and true to the times. We don't find a rich person or a real heroin for that matter, she is just a regular kid that is try to find out what she wants to be and do for the rest of her life. The search of true love and the emotional rollercoaster that happens when you are in school is all there, it seems everybody in the movie is in love with a person that doesn't have the same feelings for them. The movie is slow, but this is only to show u the life of the main character and how she grows to become a better person or just maturing. In all, the film was great and really nice to sit down and watch it in a quite day. The film is more mellow out than the rest of his other movies, but if you really think about it, the character goes into an adventure that mostly everybody faces sooner or later. See it if you have the chance, you won't regret it.

Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Watch at you Own Risk

[7/10 · 11 March 2003]

The movie was okay, lots of blood. I wonder if the snipers only shot on the head, or could the shot to another vital organ like the heart or the neck? Anyway, everything is casual; acting, plot, make-up. The only thing that I found really well was the location, but not the special effects that they did on it. Also Ed Harris did a great performance, one of the best characters in the film. Besides all this, the movie is okay, but they could have done a lot better. So if you have the opportunity don't take it, see something else. In my opinion, calling this film the best of 2001 is a little over the top. The movie is not bad, but is not good either, its just okay nothing great and nothing worst.

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

Think

[9/10 · 8 March 2003]

This documentary was great. It made me reflect on a lot of things that have happened in the history of the United States. There are a lot of things wrong with this country, and people really are sometimes too lazy to see it or just to do something about it. You will see why, if you just watch this documentary. I mean, why have a gun? People say it's for protection, and I say, from what? We pay a lot of taxes just for security, shouldn't we be secure enough? Other people say that we have the right because the law gives us the right to do so, and that accidents are not accidents until a certain point. If a boy hit his sister with a belt, you wouldn't punish your kid while he is holding the belt would you? The first reaction of a parent would be to take the belt away from the kid, and then the rest would vary from parent to parent. But its always the same reaction: the weapon shouldn't be in the hands of the aggressor while he is being punished. Now, everyone says that Americans have a very violent past, shouldn't we take the weapons from the violent children of this country (and I don't mean ‘children' literally)? If a law says that I have the right to do something, that doesn't mean that I have to do it. The film has a way of showing this without apologizing, things are messed up and something has to be done about it.

I definitely like this documentary for a lot of reasons, but the main one was because when the news came out of the little girl that was shot and killed by another kid of the same age, I felt unease and I didn't know how the kid should be punished for this. But in reality, I didn't look into the bigger picture, that is, how did he ever get a gun? Why wasn't there an adult to supervise the kid? Where were the parents? Oh, he only has a mother? The mother has to travel to another town to work all day in two jobs and when she comes home it's already too late at night, and she barely sees her kid. Why was she working so far in the first place? It just keeps going and going. It just doesn't end with the kid; it's a higher and more complicated problem that has to do with the disintegration of the family and the limited opportunities that a person with economic problems has to go through. I didn't know this, and I, at the time, was just blaming the kid because that's what the media is primarily interesting in. I didn't get the whole picture because that was not important in this society; the hottest news sells faster, without going into depth about it.

I can't deny that this movie made me reflect on a lot of things and made my opinions about certain things stronger. One of then being that it's actually hard to find a celebrity to take responsibilities for his or her actions. People usually blame, accuse or make fun of some celebrities that are guilty of some crime or some incident, but I found that there is no lower being than the one that doesn't take the responsibilities for his or her own actions.

So please see this film if you have the chance. I don't think anybody would regret it, and besides the worst thing that this film would make you do is ‘to think.' I understand that the shots of this film would not appeal to a lot of people, but ‘think' about the meaning of the film as opposed to its artistic value. I have to say this because that was the first thing that popped-out as I watched this movie was, `I'm going to move to Canada.' What I mean is, if a movie shows you and makes you feel that Canada is a better place to live and to raise your kids in, then there is something really wrong here.

The Merchant of Four Seasons (1972)

An Okay Film

[7/10 · 2 March 2003]

What kind I say about this movie. well for starters, I thought that this film was okay, not the greatest not worst. I said this cause I thought that the script was great and original, really different and refreshing. Now I wouldn't say that it's the greatest film that I've seeing cause of the acting. The actors that played each role, seems that they played them without emotions, as if they took the life out of them. When the wife laughed or cried, this didn't look real to me for some reason, that's just an example, but sincerely all the characters didn't act real at all. I wish I could say more positive things about this film so you guys can see it at least once but how can I do that since I know that I'm not going to see this movie again. I rented this film from the library of my school, without hearing anything about the film itself or the director. I took a chance because the story that was describe on the back sounded really interesting and it really was.

Farewell My Concubine (1993)

Really Good Piece of Cinema

[8/10 · 1 March 2003]

I found this movie long and but interesting. The acting was really good and a great script. The film itself is a classic that everybody should see. But this is not a film for everybody and I guess you really have to be in the mood to watch it. I would say rent the movie and see it whenever you think you are ready to sit for almost 3 hours and enjoy a great piece of film.

The Tao of Steve (2000)

Left me Wanting for More

[7/10 · 27 February 2003]

This was an okay movie, it was witty and it had some funny parts, but I didn't found it hilarious, just kind of appealing. One of the things that I like most about the film was the great scenery, the place that the movie took place had some amazing shots, and the director took great advantage of it. The characters were just acting the role of themselves which was great since you don't really need to much acting to play you, so in a away they seem real. Nevertheless, the character that I thought was really well played was Sid, I actually wanted to go out with her. Anyway, the movie seemed to go on and on about the whole religious idea of getting girls, which technically was the whole point of the movie, but sometimes it seemed that you were getting hit on the head with it. I have mix feelings about this film since I liked it but it won't be something that I want to see again. This is the type of films that you won't learn anything if you see it more than once, but everybody has a different taste. So if you find this movie on your local library, it wouldn't hurt to give it a try, that's what I did. Oh yeah another thing, the film had great language, which some people might think that it's a great film just because of the dialogue. Never pay attention to this, since big words do not equal great movies.

The Transporter (2002)

Some Might like It some Might not, I didn't

[4/10 · 24 February 2003]

I didn't like the film. The fighting sequences were really good and the girl was really cute. But after this, the movie had an okay plot, and the characters where a little insipid for anybodies taste. Now if you are an action junky and want to see some cool action and fighting stunts go and watch this film, believe me you won't regret it. On the other hand, if you are looking for something that was done with more than two neurons see something else.

Titus (1999)

Great Film

[9/10 · 23 February 2003]

I can't say that I've read all the Shakespeare's play out there, but I do love to see the way that some people turn his work into movies. I have to say that I love this film, the camera work, the way the soliloquies were done, everything was great. Some people might be turn off by the dialogue but in my opinion, if you are going to do Shakespeare, you better do it with the original script (or as close as possible) and that's how they did this film. They didn't hide anything worth hiding. If you want to see a movie that shows the chaos of revenge look no further. What can I say to convince you people that this was a great movie but you should now what you like and if don't like to see or read Shakespeare then you won't like this film, is as simple as that, so don't hate the film cause u don't like Shakespeare, but if I had to recommend a film to a non-Shakespeare-fan then this would be it.

The Majestic (2001)

Unexpectedly Enjoyable

[8/10 · 15 February 2003]

I have no complaints what so ever about this film. It was really enjoyable to watch even though it did run a little long, nevertheless even now I wouldn't know what to cut or erase. The pace was just right and it never went to fast or to slow. Everybody was great, especially Jim Carey. It took me a while not to picture him as Ace Ventura or the guy from The Mask, but as the movie went along, he became the character and he played it well. The acting is great and at the end of watching this feel it will leave you with a feel-good-about-life sensation.

Darkness Falls (2003)

Nothing to See, Just Move On

[14 February 2003]

The movie wasn't really that bad, but don't see it if you want to get scare. The characters were a little superficial and I guess they could have done better but they didn't. Nevertheless, the movie had its suspenseful parts, which to my surprise; they were the ones that weren't scary at all. I saw this movie in the theaters, which really helps with the jumps and thrills. In itself, this movie is not something that you would want to rent since most of the thrills will not work as much. If you couldn't catch it in the theaters then forget about it, is not worth it. Some of the scary parts were kind of funny, which was an relieve for the one liners that they kept saying (This was supposes to be the comedy relieve of the movie, and the punch lines seems to not hit the spot). When will people learn that a horror movie will work better if they are not funny parts in it? In overall, don't bother its really not that scary and you could always find something better, but at the end I did enjoy the graphics.

The Thing (1982)

Nice Sci-Fi Horror Movie

[7/10 · 22 November 2002]

This was a very interesting movie. The movie had a lot of great moments and also it got really enthralling. The thing was really well done (for the time that they actually filmed this) and pretty disgusting if you ask me, but I guess that was the look that the directors wanted, something that could be almost unbearable to see. The monsters seem to come out of some other movies like Alien but it wasn't the same thing. The only thing that the movie could have done better was the performance of Russell, I don't think he is a bad actor, I just thought that the character that he portrait did have a resemblance to the character that he played on ‘Escape From New York and L.A.' and so on, but that was the only fault that I found. The film it's different and unique and worth the time of anybody, except those people that like scary gory movies :).

Apt Pupil (1998)

Worth Anybodies Time

[7/10 · 21 November 2002]

This film was interesting. I like the way the way the pupil was turning into his teacher, like if evil could be some kind of contagious sicknesses that if you stay close enough of the source, eventually you will succumb to it. The acting was good, and I like the way that the characters were develop, how the young kid became more and more evil as the movie went along was this movie its finest performance. The story was different and I guess as close to a classic as you can get….but not quite. Even though, the acting of the main characters is something to look forward to, the movie does have some parts or characters that could have being better, but in its sense that's just a minor detail. If you can, see this movie just for the acting you won't be disappointed.

The Believer (2001)

See It If You Can

[9/10 · 20 November 2002]

This was a great movie, I wasn't expecting much but wow it surprises me. The plot was strong but settled and the acting was perfect. The movie was also strong too, and sometimes difficult to watch since in a sense you couldn't believe that a person with any religious background could be so confused about his own religion to the point of hating their followers to death. If you can, please see this movie just for the acting or for the story, either way you won't regret it.

Fargo (1996)

Okay but too Overrated

[7/10 · 20 November 2002]

Fargo was an okay film, but I will not recommend to see it twice. The acting was so believable enough that I thought that they were actually from Minnesota. On the other hand, the film is kind of predictable and you might know what kind of ending it will have just by watching half of the movie. Also, the only character that I cared about through the entire film was Marge (the policewoman) the other characters I didn't care whether they died or not, I guess that says a lot about the film. Also, I think they should have cut a few parts of the movie since they don't have anything to do with the main story; but I suppose they put it there just to be funny. I'm totally surprised that this film went up all the way to 76 in the rankings. I have to say that the plot was different and if you want to see a really good rental and its winter time do rent this, it will feel like it happened right next door, but you won't be missing much if you don't.