lawbuntz Reviews

Dennis (2007)

nice work! Dennis is Huge!!

[8/10 · 23 December 2009]

Mainstream film banks on action explosions sex and graphics.

This film is not gratuitous in any way. It is honest and humble.

This small film from 2007 is an artistic piece in my opinion.

The beauty of this short film is in its subtleties...

The brilliance in this film is in its silence. in what is not said.

this film would not have worked without the amazing physique of the protagonist.

I also came across this short via youtube...oh lovely youtube. I can't believe that youtube is outlawed in some countries (ie. China)...thank goodness there are internet proxies that you can use to circumvent the "censorship".

Back to the film: the timing and editing is very well done. Great director. Nice performances.

The reason I did not give this a 10 is that I am from a mainstream film background...I base my opinions of Hollywood blockbusters like the majority of dumbasses in the world.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008–2009)

A Great Show with unexpected Excellent acting and writing

[9/10 · 14 May 2009]

allow me to preface this with that fact that I watch a LOT of mainstream TV.

My fave shows are: Dexter, 24, Secret Life Teenager, The Ultimate Fighter, Little Britain, and Kyle XY.

I love the idea of time travel. I love intelligent and complex plots such as that of Usual Suspects.

What is a good show without good writing and superb actors?? This Terminator for TV series named after the Mother of the boy who becomes mankind's beacon of salvation is surprisingly good.

It had a rocky start, but by about the middle of the first season, this show got really good.

The show (like many others) cannot be fully appreciated episode to episode, but best as a whole.

Some of the acting is SUPERB. Sarah Conner played by Lena Headey is extremely beautiful in my opinion. She plays the part of troubled soul so well and so consistently. Her soft side is so enthralling throughout her portrayal of a hardened soldier. Her love for her son is compelling and moving. I almost pray for her to smile. (haha OK, it's just a TV show, I know I know...haha). Her stunt doubles pull of great fight scenes.

Summer Glau has such a unique look. I loved her character from The 4400 and this terminator role threw me for a loop, but she plays it off well. She does well in playing a cold robot that is potentially lust-worthy...bringing back the faint aroma of Weird Science...

Thomas Dekker has certainly grown as an actor in the role of John Connor, maturing apparently in his life and craft parallel to his character arc....a very interesting arc that is the crux of the Terminator story...how does a boy come to terms with the fact that he is in fact to become a Messianic archetype within a few years?? How do you deal with that knowledge and pressure? Brian Austin Greene is a "man's man" who plays a soldier so well. It is exciting to watch him reveal his combat and tactical expertise.

Garret Dillahunt is a unique actor who I also first met in The 4400 TV show. I cannot say his portrayals of a practically bulletproof robot are bulletproof, but he is interesting nonetheless.

Shirley Manson...first time I've seen her. She plays a very compelling character. Her lovely accent and prim look add volumes to her character's depth.

Richard T. Jones has really stepped into the light in his role as a righteous FBI agent. He is believable and allows us viewers to ask, "would I have done what he did in this situation?" For fans of the Terminator movies, after seeing Terminator 3, I was quite certain that the Terminator well had run dry...but this TV series has rekindled my hope in John Connor and I have grown to adore Lena Headey as his Matriarch.

Because of this show, I may even watch Terminator 4: Salvation?? what? Batman playing John Connor?? this is gonna be good!! (since when does a Welshman who got his start next to Mr. Bean play mankind's leader in the fight against the machines??)

Septem8er Tapes (2004)

why this film is great

[10/10 · 4 August 2006]

This is the first time I am giving a 10/10 on IMDb. As every opinionist, mine is biased. But I consider myself a connoisseur of mainstream film and have fed on a healthy diet of indie film as well. I can probably remember about 900 movies that I have watched. I am a professional in training.

This film deserves at least an 8/10-- at least! I see the 5.7/10 average right now and it screams that someone does not like the film makers. I hope my 10/10 jumps the avg a little. I can see how someone may not like that these film makers tried to "cash in" on this episode of suffering, but their product really delivers.

I knew the film was a Mockumentary from the start and it still held me riveted (right word?). The action sequences were very very intense. The pacing of the movie was wonderfully orchestrated...good work producers, excellent editing work. I was very impressed with the editing techniques and post-production...fabulous for a mid-budget indie film...The lead actor really impressed me also.

George's acting was "always on" and he took a great risk in doing this film. Wali and the director say right out that they did not get along with George near the end, and that is understandable. I am even more impressed that they still stuck with their casting choice because they must have foreseen the "fiery" anti-chemistry that would arise. everyone took a chance...I believe they did risk bodily harm too.

Camera work was either very lucky or very very skillful. I'm sure the editors have much to be lauded for in that arena too. The imagery was great even tho tiny hand-held everyday consumer cams were supposedly used for a small portion of shots.

The entertainment of any art form often lies in suspension of belief/disbelief...in trickery, this film was done by a "smooth criminal" smooth operators... intelligent artists.

Whether the producers or directors are good or bad, that is for God to judge. we're film critics. the everyday audience.

3-Iron (2004)

not bad

[7/10 · 6 June 2005]

In order to rave about this film, one must be easily impressionable. However, to simply have enjoyed it, one must be slightly dulled to life itself as I am.

This movie was very original. It is my 5th Korean film...which I know should not be a genre as it is obviously an inaccurate usage. I read the other comments about how this director is excellent. I have to agree that this film showed heavy experience.

It was only halfway thru the film when I realized there was almost no dialog..thats my spoiler...this, I presume, is a testament to great acting, directing, and especially editing.

Reading the other story about how this movie was practically done from conception to natural silver screen birth in about two months?? is quite impressive. However, we must take into consideration that this screen writer has many established connections and, as I recently found out, worshipers....

I liked the subdued acting the best. The flirting of the protagonist with "mystic" practices at times was cheesy to me. I interpreted his meditations and "walking tricks" as schizophrenic acts in order to have them make sense to me. In that way, the character had a savant style attractiveness vaguely reminiscent of Dustin Hoffman's character opposite Cruise.

I never watch a movie twice within 3 years. If it's really good, I will re-watch a movie after 5 years. I would not watch this movie again unless at least 7 years have passed.

The Buried Secret of M. Night Shyamalan (2004 TV Movie)

I was entertained

[8/10 · 4 May 2005]

No one will read this I know cuz there are so many comments...that fact alone shows that this fake documentary has fulfilled its purpose. I enjoyed the show because it was creative and seemingly put sooo much effort into something so meaningless. It's cool to see how people waste their time and money. I really wish the acting was more edgy../.more real instead of being typical drama stuff. I liked the interlacing of the real street interviews and the fake. To me, it was amazing that Johnny Depp and Adrian Brody played along...but I guess Night asked them to do him a favor...and I would do that for my buddy too. That should show that Night was the mastermind behind this. I really wish the average rating for this show would go up - it deserves at least a 5/10 for effort..at least

Casablanca (1942)

I cant believe this jewel was made so long ago

[9/10 · 1 March 2005]

I was born 37 years after the debut of this film and I love it. That says it is a masterpiece. It tells a story so wonderfully. There is wit, humor, intrigue, politics, great characters, fine acting, a beautiful woman, and fine editing. It is a story of hope and good will.

It makes one want to be a part of the time period and the setting. It is a very intelligent film using tactful techniques to reveal character traits. And best yet, it has a difficult to guess ending.

It is clean entertainment and you forget that it is in black and white because the story and characters and one song are so wonderful.

I was skeptical about watching this film at first, held on to it for 6 months before actually watching it, and I'm glad I got the film because it's now a favorite.

Before Sunrise (1995)

wow what can I say

[1 March 2005]

this movie is in my list of top 15 that I've seen in my 25 years of life. It has a truly magical combination of sincere actors doing fantastic uninhibited acting, superb editing, seamless directing, succulent lighting, severe romance, suspenseful character revelations, voyeuristic feel, and original concepts.

This movie is "balls deep" as my wild friends would say. This means the production really went out on a limb to try to film something so simple and complex at the same time in the hope that it would succeed. In my book, it has satisfied and stimulated.

It is better than Pizza hut stuffed crust in NY

Casshern (2004)

stunning anime brought to life

[1 March 2005]

although the story has many un-original concepts, the visuals of this production are incomparable. The fascinatingly artistic renderings of still pans of the camera across one or two unmoving characters sitting in chairs speaks strongly of the director's genius.

The film is long and I believe best watched in 2 sittings so as to absorb everything. I have no doubt that this film was a deep and intensive labor or love. I agree 95% with what the previous "stardog champion" said with my only difference being the lack of original story. However, it is possible that I have simply watched too many films and am too demanding of the industry.

Production value of this film was of surprisingly high quality. I don't remember seeing the actors before in any film before, but they all performed superbly. This movie is undoubtedly one to be watched at least once.

Battle Royale II (2003)

great commentary on international wars

[7/10 · 1 March 2005]

although due to this being a sequel, it has lost some novelty...the issues arising from this film are stunning. I feel the director is a great worker and these young Japanese actors and actresses do a fine job. Some over-acting at times...but mostly believable portrayals. Some "corniness" over-dramatization and excessive repetitive violence dulls the senses...but no one says you have to watch the film twice...or in its entirety at that. Kitano makes another appearance...this enigmatic actor is "everywhere" wow...although his part is very small here,...Catch him in "Brother" and "Sonatine". The killing off of the students occurs very rapidly in this film focusing more on a few key characters/students which was a nice idea. I missed the idea of different weapons for each student.

The Third Wheel (2002)

sticky bum

[5/10 · 1 March 2005]

I admit this movie is not worth more than 3 US dollars per person to view, however, a previous comment by another IMDb user mentions two scenes being stupid.

The first criticized scene involved a coin being thrown from a very tall building and accidentally breaking a parked car's windshield. The IMDb user said that this was "some coin". The scene is a classic "exaggeration humor" scene that plays on the ideas of altruism gone wrong (the context within which the coin it tossed) and on the idea of a small object accelerating during free-fall due to gravity (9.8meters/sec sq). The movie did over-exaggerate the speed of the coin for it to be able to have enough momentum (mass x velocity) to break a stationary windshield. An quarter could come close to the mass of a small caliber bullet...very small yes...and with enough speed, a bullet of such caliber could shatter a windshield...especially a windshield that is not new or has defects in it's structure which may or may not be obvious. So, ignoring "terminal velocity" of the quarter by ignoring air resistance that would vary throughout free fall along with the potential flipping of the said quarter, if tossed from a high enough building, the windshield could definitely have shattered as it did. Ignoring these facts, this was simply a silly joke, an excerpt of one example of one form of "silly humor". It's possible that the IMDb use who made the previous comment is from a different culture where silliness is dumb. Cameos rock too.

Code 46 (2003)

What an intelligent portrayal

[7/10 · 8 October 2004]

I was blown away by the portrayal of a multicultural community of the future. Languages and races all melded together into one global culture. This film is so coy in displaying its intelligence.

Being an average linguist, I loved the usage of Spanish, arabic, mandarin and more mixed in with English. Enough to entice, little enough to avoid viewer confusion. The backdrops of the scenes looked so natural yet foreign.

I was surprised by the sensuality displayed in the latter part of the film...not being used to seeing Robbins in such scenes. the main actress carries a curious beauty and attractiveness throughout her performance.

I was slightly disturbed by the code 46 violation, but not enough to say that this was not a fascinating experience. 7/10

Monster (2003)

how if felt watching this film

[6 February 2004]

I went into the theatre without an idea of what the film was aside from the fact that I'd heard theron would look "ugly"....I'd just told my gf that if an actress purposely looks ugly, the film must be good since it's worth is more likely carried on dramatic performance. It is become cliche in hollywood in recent years...the truth of that statement...but I didn't think it would be as true as I realized it to be.

I was deeply moved and for moments disturbed by this film. Certain scenes made me seriously contemplate getting up and leaving the theatre. But I am glad that I stayed because theron's portrayal of "a dying soul" was breathtaking.