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Reviews
X2 (2003)
Better than Matrix Reloaded
I really liked the first X-Men movie because it was intelligent and explored issues such as discrimination and racism. It also had excellent performances from Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Ian McKellan (Magneto). And who else other than Patrick Stewart could play Prof. Xavier?
That said, I loved X2: X-Men United! It improved on all aspects of the first and threw in more characters! Nightcrawler is just too cool for words and Jean Grey's powers really start to expand! The movie has a well-written script, great action and special effects, and unique and interesting characters! This is a thoroughly enjoyable movie, so go watch it!
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Highly disappointed...
The Matrix Reloaded doesn't even come close to the level of excellence achieved by its predecessor. It feels as if a different director made Reloaded because the meaningful dialogue, strong story, and the unique and likable characters are missing. Reloaded simply tries to imitate the greatness of the first Matrix, but fails miserably. It's obvious that Reloaded and Revolutions could have been one movie because while the first Matrix is fast-paced, Reloaded drags on and on. It moves along more slowly than Gangs of New York which is still a great film. Every scene, whether it's dialogue or fighting, feels extended and much too long. The first Matrix was deep and meaningful while Reloaded is pseudo-intelligent and pretentious. Younger fans of movies like The Fast and the Furious may enjoy the action scenes, but people looking for more should look elsewhere. The musical score is also very poor even though Don Davis returned to score it. The freeway scene is probably the only good scene in the entire film. The rooftop scene with all the Smiths could have been good, but I just don't feel comfortable or impressed watching CG characters fight (the later parts of the scene). CG characters should not replace human ones - don't the Wachowski brothers follow their own philosophy? X2 is a far better sequel than Matrix Reloaded. Definitely see that first as it improves on the first X-Men which was a great movie.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Most Overrated Film of 2001!
As a graduate film student, I watch hundreds of movies a year. By now, I can tell a good film from a bad one. A Beautiful Mind, as with most of Ron Howard's movies, is somewhere in between. It has some satisfying moments, but just doesn't make it all the way to home base. It's definitely an admirable effort and I did enjoy the film, but I thought it was lacking in dialogue, plot, visual appeal, and imagination. After watching A Beautiful Mind steal the Golden Globe, and quite possibly the Oscar, for Best Film from The Lord of the Rings, I have a new disliking for this mediocre film. Anyone who has seen The Insider, also starring Russell Crowe in a drama about a real-life person, should know that it is a far more superior film in every aspect. Go out and rent it now and you'll see that Michael Mann knows what he is doing. And no recent film has better dialogue than The Insider. Getting back to ABM, the performances by Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly are pleasing, but Russell's character just seems to be an overly quirky and confused version of his character in The Insider. And will somebody tell me how Jennifer Connelly has managed to look the same for the past 10 years! Now that's impressive. I keep hearing critics comment on how ABM does such a wonderful job in getting the audience inside the mind of a genius and schizophrenic. How do they do it? Special effects. I was not impressed by this, with the exception of the code-breaking scene. And the entire movie is about a character that I don't really like. What caused his schizophrenia? In the movie, it is apparently John F. Nash's inflated ego. He refuses to go to classes with "mere mortals" losing their ability to be creative. He drives himself crazy because he wants to be more important than he really is. And no one even mentioned his bisexuality and divorce from his wife... Well, if you loved this movie, that's great. It's a relatively good film, much better than some of the trash that comes out these days. And I don't believe in criticizing films. Film, to me, is a wonderful and powerful art medium. I fully realize how difficult it is to make a good film and how there are an overwhelmingly large number of challenges and obstacles to juggle with when doing so. The only reason I'm writing this is because of the surprisingly high-regard people have for this movie. It's not that great, and it better not win the Oscar even though that haunting prospect seems very likely. I should also add that I have a lot of respect for John F. Nash, Jr. and all of his accomplishments. It's just that this film doesn't accomplish as much.
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
The worst movie I have ever seen in my life!
Having seen all of the other movies in the theater, I went to see Jeepers Creepers this weekend because the trailer looked mildly interesting. The beginning of the movie was a bit slow and completely unbelievable, but not terrible. As the movie progressed, things went downhill from there very quickly! The dialogue was ridiculous and clichéd, as were the characters and the plot. I couldn't believe anything that was happening and everyone in the audience including myself was burst out in laughter and disbelief many times because of the sheer absurdity of what we were watching. I can't believe anyone would make a film that is so incredibly horrible. Sitting through that movie was torture, except for the hilarity that came from the ridiculous moments. It makes no sense, has a horrible ending, and makes me want to cry, scream, and tear my skin off just thinking about it. There is nothing original in the movie except for the unbelievable amount of absurdity woven into the film. Please, at all costs, avoid ever watching this movie!!!
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Great action, great cast, great movie!!!
I have never seen the Charlie's Angels TV show, but this movie rocked! From beginning to end, the action is intense and the comedy is hilarious. The cast is full of good actors and actresses who put their talent and athletic ability to use! The numerous action scenes were Matrix-esque, but in a GOOD way! Go see Charlie's Angels!
Frequency (2000)
Frequency is the first good movie of the year.
The plot in Frequency is hard to believe, but the movie's twists, action, and dramatic moments cover up its uncertainties. The idea of how the past affects the future is not original, but the rest of the film is.
When I first saw the preview for Frequency, I thought that the idea of a son talking to a his deceased father over a radio was original and interesting. I didn't think, however, that the film would be very good. I was wrong though. The movie is packed with action, mystery, twists, and emotion. The love between the father and son is so real, as are the characters themselves.
Frequency uses remarkable use of film's ability to stretch out moments of time and intercut between different events. And as far as timing goes, this movie has stopwatch-precision. As a result, it can produce tears, outbursts of laughter, or dropping jaws in the audience.
I think the ending of the movie could be improved, but I still highly recommend seeing this film. As long as you don't worry too much about the plausibility of the time-lapse details, you'll enjoy it. After all, it's entertainment in its finest form.