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themegster88
Reviews
SPF-18 (2017)
Baffling Movie
So, the worst films (for me) are films that have everything going for them, people who generally know what they're doing, yet push something mediocre out. It's the most frustrating experience.
This camera-work is so strange, there are so many unflattering angles of these 'attractive' people. How difficult is it to line up a shot well? The had a good camera, lighting, and the sets weren't bad so why does this movie look so terrible, and why is there so much shaky cam?
The characters are all so one-note, nothing is really explained, the main couple go from madly in love to mutually breaking up, to both of them finding a new love and no one bats an eye, how would all this couple swapping work in real life? No jealousy, no betrayal, no, apparently. Because that would have made this film interesting. No one reacts to all the madness happening, and it kills the plot
All these beautiful people shack up in a mansion and all work out what they want to do and have their dreams come true, the brunette girl gets offered a fashion line at the same time as the guy gets a surf team, as if. Life doesn't work like that, sorry kids.
The director clearly has Hollwood connections (or good blackmail skills) to get Keanu Reeves and Pamela Anderson in, so why were they so terribly used? You could take them both out and it wouldn't affect the plot at all. All the young actors were just terrible, especially the singer guy, I don't even remember any of their names and I just finished watching it. That's how boring and generic they all were. Oh, and the dialogue was something copied from an Instagram #inspirationaquotes page. Spare me the pretension and put all this money to good use, please.
There was awesome music, nice sets and thought clearly put into this, such a shame it was so misguided.
But hey, I made it all the way though, and could laugh at it, so it's not entirely unredeemable.
Across the Universe (2007)
One Trip I Won't Be Repeating
Taymor is without a doubt a visionary. Her film is like a lavish visual experience, and the cinematography is astounding. You feel like you're on the strangest drug trip of your life. But sadly, what this film has in look, it lacks in everything else.
The story concerns two 70's era lovers Jude and Lucy. This story had potential, too bad it becomes a clichéd, tired look at a vibrant time. I thought Jim Sturgess' performance was fine, my real problem lay with Evan Rachel Wood. Her performance was flat, wooden and her character was a walking 2D construction. There was nothing likable about her character - disaster for a film that relies on its two leads.
The love story never veers off run-of-the-mill. There are too many secondary characters named after Beatles songs that its hard to identify with any of them. The sub-plots are, however, more interesting than the central guy-loves-girl plot. Joe Anderson is trying hard to keep the film together. Halfway though, the film starts losing it, and never recovers.
There has been some attempt to 'change up' the songs, but you can't improve on perfection, and many of the songs fall down with the plot. The actors are trying, and they are good renditions, but nothing more. Some of the songs seem to drag the plot along. Several times in the film, the 'hidden' Beatles messages get anxious and far too overt. Taymor assumes that the viewer is less knowledgeable than the filmmakers, and it gets too much.
This film treats the viewer to some visual beauty, but overall lacks in everything else, and sadly, a pretty picture does not make a film.
What Happens in Vegas (2008)
Not Worth $13
The poster says 'get lucky' - sadly I didn't with this film. The premise is simple: drunken people get married in Vegas, but can't get annulled for some 'crazy' reason. ALA: Friends, Laws Of Atraction and many more. Diaz and Kutcher are both lacking something in this film. Diaz (again) relies on shaking her booty and being the same ditzy character that she is in so many of her films, but I felt this lacked the pizazz of her earlier films, such as The Sweetest Thing and Charlies Angels. Kutcher falls into the same 'pretty boy' trap of being a roguishly attractive man, and this role (and film) are almost identical to his 2003's Just Married - but this film is worse. The film was just off in so many places, displaced laughs, ongoing jokes that aren't funny, and the compulsory 15 minutes of immature escalating pranks. Most of the 'laughs' are in the trailer. What Happens In Vegas... takes its time getting to the conclusion, too much time, for a normal ending. At least this film knows what it is, and it doesn't reach for the stars. It is a simple romcom, but not a memorable one, and one you will have seen a few times before. Save your $13, and check out What Happens in Vegas... on DVD.
Saw II (2005)
Doesn't live up to expectations...
The first Saw was a smart, gory thriller. You really got to know the two main characters and the twist had me totally shocked. I was expecting this from Saw 2, but was deeply disappointed.
This film goes back to pure gore. It is just a remotely clever slasher flick damages you gag and gasp, but doesn't make a great thriller movie. The film just makes me cringe, and you don't get to know any of the characters locked in the house well at all. The actings fine, the deaths are clever, but it is nowhere up to the standard the first Saw set, you feel somewhat detached from the characters, and this didn't make me feel sympathetic when they died.
John was a wuss, and left plot holes big enough for another Saw movie. All of the dialouge felt a little thin between the two.
Since the audience was so shocked by the first twist, they decided to DOUBLE UP, so they had two 'great' twists that are amazingly obvious from the start. It was no where near as shocking as the first, and I found that they were just so obvious.
If you like stupid slasher flicks, this is the film for you. If you like grizzly dark thrillers, then rent Saw or Seven instead.
Hercules (1997)
Very Good!
Call me bias against Disney, but I really enjoyed this film.
The main reason I like it? Megra and Hades, the 'villians' are a new type of character, sarcastic, brash and so damn funny the two characters are amazing. I really like the new heroine, Megra is so cool. "I'm a big strong girl, I tie my own sandals and everything." She has one of the best songs in the movie, but all the songs are really brilliant! This is an under-rated movie. I LOVE IT! I would recommend it to anyone, so what if it's not quite representative of the 'real' story, it's Disney! Hope you enjoy it too!