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Reviews
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
This movie was nothing but a cliché. It was terrible.
This movie was a super duper cliché, predictable and obvious. It seemed to be going by the typical cinematic formula. A young kid suffers, and is the underdog that we (as the audience) all root for--he is an honest kid with a heart of gold who must go through tragedy after tragedy---and at the end of the movie--he finds love and millions of dollars. How can we even "feel" for these characters when we never even get to know them (besides the fact that they've been through so much). So at the end it doesn't matter one way or another whether he lives or dies. WHy? because I didn't really care for any of them. Why? because we never go to know them. There was no depth to these people , and to this movie. It didn't touch my heart, it didn't move me. It seemed to be more about the way it looked (cinematography, editing, etc). Therefore, it was more flash than anything profound. And too many scenes were trying too hard---they were trying to be "cutesy", for example, the toilet scene with the little kid when he's covered in feces---sorry, but I did not find it funny or cute. Actually, didn't evoke anything for me--but I could tell the movie desperately wanted the audiences to laugh out loud. Also, the chili pepper scene (when the little kid get's it thrown in his privates) again, not funny or cute, just kinda like "whatever"-an if anything, it annoyed me because I could tell the movie was trying too hard. Plus, the whole "black an white" thing where there's the "bad evil" characters--an the "good" characters is just nonsense--life is gray, not black an white. The whole "WHo wants to be a millionaire" thing is just a gimmick Danny Boyle used to catch the attention of people--and use it an fairytale way. The premise is very far fetched. The whole movie is contrived. It's very 'on the surface'. If u want to see a real movie--with a third world topic--check out, "City of God". Believe me you will see the difference between a good movie and a bad one.
Black Tar Heroin: The Dark End of the Street (2000)
A must see
I've seen a lot of documentary's about drugs, prostitution, and all sorts of things, but this one was the hardest to watch so far, it was just heartbreaking. I can't get it out of my mind. It just kinda sticks with you. It is sad, but it is an important film everyone should see. We see a side of life that many are never exposed too, and will never see--only through a documentary like this one. This documentary went deep, it never held back--it showed us the stark reality that some people have to live while others are busy eating their popcorn in the comfort of their warm houses. This documentary is a must see. It will affect you somehow.
Wild Tigers I Have Known (2006)
At first I was angry, then I realized it was damn good
I just watched this movie recently, and at first (while I was watching it ) I got angry and said to myself, "I can't believe I wasted my money on this". I was getting very annoyed about that. But I figured, if I had already spent my money I might as well finish it. Boy, am I glad I did. After I finished watching this movie- I realized I couldn't get it out of my head. It made me feel like going out an taking photographs. I guess it inspired something creative in me. It really does have that dream like quality but not in a good way, more like in that ugly way you feel in childhood. This movie was really good at making me feel that. I remember feeling that isolation, awkwardness. It just hit it right in the mark, the feelings it evokes. FOr anyone who has ever felt depressed, confused, ostracized during childhood---well, this movie is the closest that I have seen at really touching on those emotions, just the overall feel. I would say this movie is about a feeling. It evokes a feeling in you that you recognize all too well. And it makes you feel grateful that those childhood years are finally over. So overall, yes, I did really enjoy this movie. It's funny because I rented three movies,, and I was sure I was going to love the other two,, this one I had no idea because I had never even heard about it before--I just saw the title and it caught my eyes,,but it turns out I enjoyed this one more than the others.
Girlhood (2003)
Good movie
I was captivated by these peoples lives. We got to hear there stories, meet there families, and also the staff at the correctional facility's. I wish more movies were like this. This is real life. These are real people. Not all documentary's are good, but I was happily surprised by this one. It was sad, yes, but I also think it is something everyone should see. People struggle, it is hard to survive, some people make it, others don't. I also really enjoyed the commentary on the DVD. I could've watched more bonus features, etc. on this movie since I liked it so much. I kind of wish it was longer, although it did end at an appropriate time, I was just so deep into there lives. Oh, and Megan really is charismatic.
Dark Days (2000)
watch Union Square instead
I had wanted to see this for quite a while, specially after hearing all the hype. I was excited as I was about to view it, but only came out with disappointment after watching it. I couldn't feel a connection with any of these people (and it's not because they were homeless, I was on the streets myself) but it was just hard to really be moved here, it seemed to just trail along, and wasn't all that interesting. I enjoyed Union Square a whole lot more. You would think he could've made more with this subject, ppl living underground should be more than this documentary. I wanted to feel something for these people, but it just wasn't there.
The Aggressives (2005)
my summary
I did enjoy this documentary but felt that they did not go deep enough, I wanted more from it. I wanted to see more of the underbelly, more of the life, more of what we don;t see, and maybe more with the girlfriends,etc. Also, they didn't spend enough time with Flo. They spend more time with some, and less with others. The snippets of them at the clubs and showing the fashion show competitions and the "femmes" was interesting. I wish the documentary would have been longer. And maybe going back to see how everyone was doing would have been pretty neat too. Also, more on the DVD special features would have been nice. But overall, I did enjoy this documentary.
Union Square (2003)
very good
I really enjoyed this documentary, I liked that it was straight to the point, matter of fact, not a lot of fat in it. I got involved in everyones story. I felt bad for the guy who wanted to go to detox but then he ended up on the streets again (the one who the director said that the last time he saw him he had lost like 30 pounds. It was interesting to see how articulate some of them are, but they just got stuck in a rut. Each one was different. Other suffered from low self esteem (like the guy who had lost 30 pounds when he was last seen. And looking at them in the cold, wow, it just looked so cold, I don't know how they survive out there in that cold. This was a solid, good documentary.
Sonny (2002)
I love this movie!
I love this movie. It shows how hard it is to change what you know and feel comfortable in due to the fact that you didn't have a proper upbringing. It is painful, you see Sonny and the other character played by Mena Suvari trying desperately to change but finding it so hard to do so. I love the scene where Sonny goes out with the "normal" kids and wants to be like them and tries to be like them, he's so close yet so far. That was heartbreaking, how that scene ends. The other heartbreaking scene was the one with Mena suvari and Sonny in the rain. They are two good people who just don't know how to survive in any other way. They are like children in adult bodies. I loved it.
Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000)
entertaining but too stereotypical
Why do movies about strippers have to be so stereotypical? Strippers are women, an there are happy strippers out there, strippers with loving families, not every stripper has to be on drugs or be abused, or is stupid. After all that work the actors an director put in, I am real shocked that that is all they came up with, I expected more. Not every cliché in the book .... I thought Daryl Hannah's acting in this movie sucked, and Jennifer Tilly was too over the top ... I did like Sandra Oh's acting, and I also liked Charlotte ayanna's acting. ... It was an entertaining movie, and I liked the dancing scenes, specially the scene when jasmine first comes out an dances, she has a nice butt too. Really good body ... I thought the documentary that Dary Hannah was involved in was very good, I was sad when it was over so soon, it left me wanting more, the strippers in the documentary where not 1 dimensional like in the movie, some where strong, others were heartbreaking, others were happy, there was more sides to them than in the movie characters.