damoviecritic Reviews

Green Zone (2010)

A forgettable climax hurts an otherwise great movie

[7/10 · 13 March 2010]

The Green Zone, the latest film by Bourne director Paul Greengrass, plunges the audience into a fairly gritty and realistic portrayal of the Iraq War. The film opens with Roy Miller, played by Matt Damon, an army officer whose unit is hunting for Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction in the year 2003. In the opening minutes, his unit once again turns up empty handed. The movie then shifts its focus Miller's encounter and pursuit of former Saddam general Al-Rawi and a conspiracy involving high ranking Pentagon official Clark Poundstone, played by Greg Kinnear.

More than anything, the marketing of Green Zone attempts to create a connection to the Bourne Movies, which is very misleading. Matt Damon isn't on the run from the government in the film, nor is he a super soldier. What ties the two films together is the presentation and directorial style of both. Both involve frantic, hand-held camera work, and star Matt Damon dealing with government corruption. Unlike the Bourne movies, Green Zone draws its inspiration from reality: you very much feel like the events portrayed could've actually happened.

The first two thirds of Green Zone are of very high quality. The film moves at a fast clip, drawing you in with its frenetic camera work, realistic dialogue and superb, understated acting. Its plot is complex and political without becoming confusing. It's such a strong first portion than you find yourself wondering if the climax can match it. And in fact it can't. The final act of the film quickly devolves into a mildly entertaining action movie, the careful plotting that made the rest of the movie so good is quickly discarded for spontaneous revelations and character decisions that lack weight. The climax of film, unlike the Bourne Supremacy, is completely forgettable. In the end, The Green Zone is an entertaining popcorn movie that further highlights the directorial strength of Paul Greengrass. B-

The Ruins (2008)

Mediocre and Anticlimactic

[4/10 · 4 April 2008]

I definitely wouldn't recommend seeing this movie in the theater. It is really boring mainly because it is so cliché. I kept expecting to be clued in onto exaclty why things were happening the way they were. Instead, he movie was very uninteresting. It was not poorly made. The acting was serviceable, as was the atmesphere and the special effects. Nothing horrible. The whole thing just seemed mediocre. It certainly had its gross, gory moments, but the rest of the time it seemed like your typical, bland pg-13 horror flick. The fact that the exposition was many times more time consuming and really far better made than the throw away climax is really just an indicator that the director didn't really care. I wouldn't even recommend as a scary date movie, because the whole thing is more gross than anything else.

4/10. It could've been better if I had known why there were killer plants in the first place. It would've made a better book.

Death Sentence (2007)

I don't agree with the critics on this one

[8/10 · 1 September 2007]

I usually agree with the mainstream critics about movies, for the most part. However, this movie, like the 1st Saw film, is a major exception. If you are looking for a best picture candidate, you will not find it here. However, it is a very entertaining, engrossing movie that will probably not appeal to the squeamish. The movie fits right into the Parent Revenge mold quite well. The oldest son is killed by gang. Dad avenges death. Gang fights back. Dad goes crazy and kills gang members, before the whole thing culminates in a final shootout full of graphic carnage. If you are looking for an insane action movie, this isn't quite it. In particular, the first half is very deliberate in trying to convey Bacon as a real guy, trying to avoid violence, but ultimately succumbing to it. I found this journey that he takes to be quite believe, up until a scene near the end in a hospital in which he turns into Rambo. Rather than being moving, it is slightly laughable. Then the movie turns into a straightforward, albeit very well shot, action flick full of gore and carnage. Many critics bashed the film for it's hypocrisy in having the movie condemn violence while later depicting it in stylish, perversely entertaining detail. However, I think this was justified by a gang leaders quote at near the end of the film. "Look at you," he says to Bacon. "You've turned into one of us." The man is right. The gang leaders have slit throats and shot heads. But so has Bacon. He is a lesser of two evils to be sure, but an evil none the less. While this may be a cheap attempt by the director the make the film more serious, it does work. It is true that Bacon has transformed into a kind of monster. I give great credit to Bacon's performance, along with almost ever other actor. If a dark, violent, disturbing movie is what you are in the mood for this weekend, skip Halloween, and go see this.

The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

I liked a lot of it at least...

[5/10 · 18 August 2007]

Wow, talk about a movie screwing itself up by going too far. To start off, I have seen Cannibal Halocaust, the Saw movies, Hostel, and all of the other graphic horror staples. However, this one is definitely gunning for first place in terms of realistic violence.

The movie starts off very well. There is an opening scene with pickaxe slaughter. An idyllic American family is introduced. The creep factor and tension builds. It was all going pretty well, until the mutants set the father on fire. This was shown in gruesome, graphic detail, complete with screaming and skin melting. Then, a pair of mutants breaks into the family's trailer. The start off by raping the 15-16 year old daughter. This is shown in fairly gruesome, repulsive detail. Then, one of the mutants finds the family parrots. He then bites one's head off gruesomely on screen, and then tips the body allowing the blood to flow into his mouth. The older daughter of about 20 walks in. The mutant holds a gun to this daughter's baby and threatens to shoot him. He then pulls up her shirt and fondle's her breast. Believe me, it is not arousing in the least. The girl's mother is then shot, and the older girl who was previously molested was shot in the head. The baby is then stolen by the mutants.

After that, the remaining family members attempt to recover their stolen baby. Much carnage by the way of pickaxe ensues. The movie ends with the oldest family member returning triumphantly with the baby. The end of their ordeal has come. All has well. or is it? If the description of the family invasion scene does not sound like something that will bother you, then go ahead and check out the flick. It is pretty good. However, I did not realize the amount of violence I was getting into. Therefore, these horrific acts of violence detracted from the film immensely. It crossed a boundary with me. If you can easily stomach graphic violence, then go ahead. It's not a bad film. But if you are revolted by the descriptions, you might want to pass this one up.

Scrubs (2001–2010)

Well, if you enjoy your humor written by a perverted 3rd grader...

[2/10 · 14 July 2007]

Wow. I have seen about 6 or 7 episodes, and it baffles me that this series is on it's 5th season. It could be that this latest season is just bad. But man, is it bad. Every now and again you find yourself laughing, but usually is is accompanied by humor that is not only obscene and poorly written, but actually detract from the jokes. Poop Jokes, exam jokes, sex jokes, gay jokes and more fly around with reckless abandon. I don't get it. I suppose if you were drunk or 12 years old you might find this stuff funny. But that's only because you are not cabable of picking up subtler humor that can be even more dirty and even more funny. I guess there is only one way to tell if you would like scrubs:

"dude, you can't dance. The only reason you can dance in public if your white is if your gay." (the gay co-worker rollerskates by, dancing)

If you didn't find yourself rolling you eyes at that last joke, and actually found it funny, then I guess you are young enough or immature enough to enjoy the show.

The Proposition (2005)

Just as good as any of the Oscar nominees this year

[9/10 · 5 February 2007]

The Proposition is a bloody tale of vengeance in the Austrilian outback. The opening scene has an excellent shootout, filling your head with the sounds of a realistic gunfight. Then, when the two younger brothers are captured, and the younger's nose is broken, the sound of dripping blood seems all to realistic, causing your stomach to churn. However, if that hasn't convinced you that you are in for an experience of a movie, then captain Staley's monolouge will do just that. The final scene is great. The acting is great. The cinematography is great. Everything about the film seems to be almost perfect, save for an underutilized Guy Peirce, and some slow scenes with the captain and his wife. The movie is not for everybody. The gore if the film may certainly turn off the squamish. A boy is flogged, men are shot and decapitated graphicly, a woman almost raped, and the landscape painted is an unforgiving one. It does slow down at times, and is likely to bore some of the younger or more impatient viewers. However, I think that many when they watch it will be caught up in the storytelling and scenery, to enraptured to notice the films flaws. At least on the first viewing.

Python (2000 TV Movie)

bad but in a hilarious way...

[2/10 · 5 February 2007]

Python is not a film that can be fairly rated based on normal film standards. Instead it must be rated on what are called "party standards." Party standards represent how much fun you would have watching this film at a crazy party. From the opening Lesbian scene (my name is Roberta), to Kenny the Closer's attempt at an affiar, Python is an absolute blast to watch with friends. Unfortunately, I must rate it based on normal movie standards. The acting is below Uwe Boll standards. The special effects are far below Uwe standards. The whole movie is something that would've come out of Uwe Bolls butt on a bad day. The attempts at comedy are much funnier than intended. The attempts at horror are funnier than intending. The attempts at drama aren't there. The whole movie is bad, bad, bad. But go ahead. Rent it with a bunch of your friends. Just prepare yourself for a film that has a better chance of killing you with excessive laughter than Borat.

Gangs of New York (2002)

just as horrific as anything Orwell ever created

[8/10 · 5 February 2007]

When I first Say Gangs of New York, the film caused me to be sickened at so many levels. The treatment of women was disturbing. The treatment of the immigrants was disturbing. The horror and the poverty of that time and place was conveyed on such a visceral level. The battle scene in particul needs a mention.

The battle in its self is one that is quite different than the LOTR battles often depicted. Rather, we see a chaotic battlefield in which all one can do is slash at anything nearby that moves. The fact that Martian decided to use the techno music, while it might not've added much, it was made very well to fit the mood. Must of all, the sight of the kids watching the battle was something that made me realize how such kids might carry on the cycle of violence.

So much praise has been reaped on Daniel Lewis, so I don't think I can add much. However, I will dutifully acknowledge that watching him chew up the scenery was the high point of the movie.

The movie's length served the movie well, I thought. Even subplots like the election that might not've added much to the movie did help create the mood.

the movie did have a few things the I didn't care for. The whole thing with Bill having a crystal eye was confusing and slightly unrealistic. Diaz's character really only served as a love interest. Worst of all, the ending was not nearly as climactic as the rest of the movie had led up to. All and all though, trulely a masterpiece of modern cinema.

Alone in the Dark (2005)

Light years ahead of House of the Dead at least...

[4/10 · 5 February 2007]

Before House of the Dead came out, Uwe Boll was nobody. After the film came out, he was a nobody who had directed one of the worst films of the last 1ast 10 years. The film was full of awful special effects, music, acting, directing, production values, and just about everything else. It was so bad, it was laughable. Because, of this, I personally expected Alone in the Dark to be even worse. I even wanted to really hate it. But the fact is, he did an alright job with this one. The acting is all right. the story is kinda bad. The cinematography is pretty good. The music is pretty good. In every area, it seems like Uwe improved upon the first of the "suckiness trilogy." The fact is though, this movie is pretty much on par with Doom, which was also better than expected. The film is poor, to be certain, but don't expect it to be as unintintually hilarious as House Of the Dead. Who knows. Maybe you will come out like me, merely in awe that Uwe can Doom on a third of the budget.

Alien 3 (1992)

A lot like the first one

[8/10 · 9 January 2006]

I am one of the people who doesn't dislike this film because it is different, but because it wasn't different enough. Oh no, there is an alien behind you. Look out, it is picking you off one by one. I really didn't think it even tried to do something else. I would've preferred Alien 4 to this one if that one wasn't campy. However, if you liked the first Alien the best out of all the movies, you will probably enjoy this film more than I did. I just kinda enjoyed the combat of Aliens more than the thriller movies. However, Alien was one of the first to do this, so it is a testament to the timelessness of it's concept which we younger viewers take for granted.