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Reviews
Rent (2005)
great great great!!!!!!
I sooo love this, wasn't sure how it would translate to film.
Soo happy that the renaissance of Musical Cinema is continuing.
Granted there were downsides, but I felt the same about those parts in the stage version. Namely 'Over the Moon' I think this song just slows the whole show/film down.
My favourite song 'Tango Maureen' I thought was excellent. Just sooo good, if you loved the stage show I think you will love the film. Unfortunately it got very limited release in Australia, so if you're Australian go see it NOW, cause it's gonna be gone soon.
Rosario Dawson was fantastic, as were the original cast members. I also loved Joanne. Just a great musical film.
Although the bon jovi film clip style filming for 'Living in America' i thought was appalling. We were laughin all the way through it. Seriously who the hell let that go through unedited.
Elvis (2005)
very disappointed Elvis fan
I thought this would be a fantastic min i series, decent cast, and John Rhys Meyers kinda looks the role.
Soooo disappointed.
I mean John Rhys Meyers, i know he won an award for it and all that, but he was not very good IMHO. It got to the point where my sister and I had to stop watching. The story was fine, and the ideas worked, but the main performance was just appalling, and the lip syncing was even worse.
No the door is definitely still open for a decent Elvis movie or min series.
Serenity (2005)
absolutely unbelievably fantastic
This film is brilliant.
Whether this is your first introduction to the work of Joss Whedon, or you are and avid Buffy, Angel and/or Firefly fan, you will enjoy this.
From start to finish it is go go go. The character development is so spot on. So many concepts fit into one film. Being a firefly fan and knowing the background I was concerned about how easily this information was going to be passed to a new audience.
There were a few characters I wish were developed more. Largely because I knew them from Firefly. It didn't, however, detract fro the film in any way.
True drama, true comedy, true sci if, even a true western. So much can be said about this film.
If you can, just for the enjoyment of it, have a look at Firfly first but this is in no way essential.
All the actors deliver every part fantastically. Except maybe David Krumhotlz as Mr. Universe. I liked the concept but it wasn't delivered well.
Chiwetel Ejiofor was excellent as the Operative.
All the crew of Serenity were great. I think some people maybe disliked Summer Glau as River, but I thought she worked really well.
This is definitely one of the top five films to see this year.
Joss Whedon is a genius
We Can Be Heroes (2005)
A++++++ fantastic
This is a great show. I just laugh and laugh each episode i watch.
Then I laugh and laugh when trying to relate to to others who haven't watched it before.
And the thing about it is, you can't helping finding a bit of truth in every character. It's such a good take on Australian society and the kinds of people we choose to honour.
It's fantastic to see that, where everything else being produced in Australia is garbage, there are still occasional gems such as this and Kath and Kim.
I hope this is a sign of even better things to come.
Chris Lilly is a legend
Abre los ojos (1997)
Forget Vanilla Sky see this
After hunting and hunting, then giving up, I finally got to see this film.
It is truly excellent, whether you have seen Vanilla Sky or not, see this.
Vanilla sky bored me to tears, I nearly turned it off before things started to get interesting. (last third of the film) This film is intriguing all the way through. All the actors are good, unlike VS.
those, like me, who don't think much of Penelope Cruz, should see this too, she isn't too bad in it.
A++++++
Just see it.
Collateral (2004)
Really not bad, put loses it a bit
Well despite my dislike for Tom Cruise, I have to say this film was much better than I expected.
Seeing it on DVD for the first time, and therefore knowing something about what the film was about, I loved the fact that I was wondering if indeed i had the right film at the beginning.
It starts of fairly nicely, easy going. Then comes fare #2 for the night.
That's when the action starts.
I loved the concepts, and how it was shot.
Unfortunately, it does not maintain your interest as the film goes on. Had they left out the 4th witness, and there the long drawn out club shooting spree scene, it would have been OK.
All in all it's a film worth seeing, but not one for the collection.
South Pacific (2001)
couldn't keep watching
Uh... I can only think of one movie musical that I think should be touched. The others for one reason or another should be left alone.
This is no exception. The ideals and the style of this musical does not lend itself well to being made into a modern day filmed musical.
I just started watching it, and from the laughable performance of 'There is nothing like a dame', to and completely non-poignant moment that was 'Some Enchanted Evening' (the point where I stopped watching) just make this a sad self-indulgent farce.
Glenn Close is the only who I have seen that convincingly performs both that part and the songs.
The racial stereotypes for a "happy happy, joy joy" musical where men are men and "japs" are "japs" belongs in the 40's and 50's and possibly the 60's.
The original South Pacific is fine, because it belongs to a different era.
While this was a Telemovie, it will still draw comparison to recent film musicals. With the likes of 'Chicago' the upcoming 'Rent' films I think this telemovie a major step backward.
There are plenty of musicals that could be made into films, so why do this one??
War of the Worlds (2005)
Wow!!! I wasn't expecting this
I am writing this literally minutes after leaving the cinema.
I am a sucker for sci-fi. I had to see it and was expecting to bag the hell out of it all the way through. Having been a bit jaded by Spielberg's work of late, and not at all a Tom Cruise fan, I really wasn't expecting much from this film.
But Spielberg clearly still has the knack, he just hasn't used it in a while.
This film was GREAT!!!!!! It's seriously frightening, and keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through. Given that we are 107 years on from the book, it is still reasonably faithful to the themes. Tom Cruise is playing himself as usual but it fits in with this film. Dakota is great.
This is an exciting film, I highly recommend it.
Batman Begins (2005)
Ordinary Ordinary Film
This film has an excellent Supporting Cast that work as hard as ever to support two very poor leads.
While I wouldn't rate this as the worst of the Batman Movies (Batman & Robin has that honour) it is definitely somewhere just above or level with Batman Forever.
Christian Bale, was a fantastic Bruce Wayne, but a TERRIBLE Batman. If the duality of the character can't be pulled of convincingly you don't you are on the back-foot from the beginning. Not as bad as George Clooney (but hey even Adam West was better than GC). Katie Holmes was unconvincing.
You can expect the usual stellar performances from Liam Neeson, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. Gary Oldman was wasted, I believe. His role just wasn't important enough.
Too much CG, and not dark enough for my liking. Tim Burton is still the king of the Batman Films.
I really wanted to like this film, but left thinking, well nothing really. There are same great one liners in it, that keep the film from getting boring. But I would wait for DVD.
You Can't Stop the Murders (2003)
Fantastic Film
This is a really refreshing film given the height of junk my country has been spewing onto the silver screen of late.
An Australian film with a script and story that doesn't seem like it has gone directly out of the scribble pad and onto the screen. It's funny, dark. The best film made here since Muriel's Wedding. I had hoped it would be the beginning of better things for our industry, but alas it would seem it is just a diamond in the rough.
The only thing I have against it is the lack of technical depth with the filming. NOT EVERY Australian FILM HAS TO HAVE EVERY SCENE WITH MAXIMUM LIGHTING. Try having a bit of variety with the look.
Definitely one for the DVD collection. Yay SBS Independent, and yay Miramax (if FFC won't fund good films, at least there are companies that will) Loved It!!!!!!!!!!!
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Didn't Hate it, Didn't Love it
Well what can I say, Emmy Rossum was fantastic, as was Miranda Richardson.
This is more a filmed version of the stage show rather than an adpatation. So if you loved the stage show you will love this film.
Didn't really like the Phantom or Rauoul.
I think the major flaw in this film was the need for serious editing. Andrew LLoyd Webber probably shouldn't have produced or co-written the script as, I assume, this was the reason for many of the musical inclusion that the film could have done without.
The second half was much better than the first, and an interval would have really helped.
Compared to other LLoyd Webber film adaptations, It pales in comparison to Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar.
OK so what did I like about it..
The sets were fantastic, and there seemed to be elements of Moulin Rouge in the way it was filmed. I would have been interested to see what Warner Bros. would have done with the film had they gone ahead with the production.
I am glad I saw it, but it's not going to make my DVD collection unless it ends up in a discount bin.
Psycho Beach Party (2000)
What is wrong with most of these people!!!
I have no idea what people were expecting whe they saw this movie. But it was great!!!!!!!!!
I do not think it was ever SUPPOSED to be taken seriously. Everyone in this film is fantastic. I was even surprised to see Kimberley Davies put in a good performance.
This will definately become one of those cult films that people will discover years from now, and love. Above all things, it shows us that cinema does not have to be serious to be good.
Anyone who loves to watch 60's beach movies because of how bad they are. Anyone who likes schlock teenage horror flicks, old and new. Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for its content not just S.M. Gellar's content. You will love this.
8.5/10
8 Mile (2002)
Great Film, except for Brittany Murphy (well duh!)
Not as hard hitting as I had expected, this film is incredibly entertaining. Eminem is fantastic. Don't get caught up in the whole, well he's playing himself thing. He is great. Kim Basinger is also fantastic, I think it is her best performance. Who would have though that she could play trailer park trash that well? That was rhetorical.
I have watched it a few times since, and still am not sick of it. The rap battles are fantastic. Even if you're not an Eminem fan, I suggest seeing this film.
Like I always say, every film has it's downfall. And in this film, like most films she is in, the downfall is Britanny Murphy. She is well... irritating.
The Abyss (1989)
Wow, thought it was great. Then I saw the Extended Edition, now I think it's Fantastic
For those who have access to the extended edition of this film, give it a go. It will probably make you like the standard edition less though.
The standard edition is a great adventure about trying to stop an underwater nuclear holocaust. Riveting stuff, one of James Cameron's Best. Back in the eighties, when it was ok for a mainstream movie to view the military as the "villains", for want of a better word, without it being banned.
Chicago (2002)
10/10 despite miscasting of Renee Zellwegger
Wow, this is an amazing piece of work. Having seen the stage show, and waited for a film version to come out, i am not disappointed.
The opening just made it better, Catherine Zeta Jones takes ownership of the film with the opening number.
Renee Zelwegger worked hard, but was completely out shone by both Catherina Zeta Jone and Queen Latifah, who were both fantastic.
Richard Gere wasn't what I expected, but grew on me the second and third time I saw this film.
The musical numbers, were staged brilliantly. I cannot praise this movie enough.
Alas every movie has some downsides. Having bought and watched the DVD and hearing that the film, particularly the music numbers, were supposed to be in Roxie's imagination, I think they failed here. Further disappointment is this concept being the main reasons they cut the song 'Class' from the film, Queen Latifah deserved an extra number.
But a FANTASTIC film all the same.