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blackdevil450
Reviews
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Didm't do much to me
Adding a little bit of a background story and a few more characters to Alice's adventures didn't do as much as i thought it would for the story. Truthfully i wanted to love this movie, I'm a huge Tim Burton/ Johnny Depp fan. But this just didn't do it for me. I came out of the theater wondering if it were just the mediocre script or the director who had failed to meet my expectations. The best part of this movie is probably Johnny Depps portrayal of the mad hatter who truly is mad. However, Mia Wasikowska presents Alice in a dull manner that had me checking my watch every ten or fifteen minutes. Overall this film isn't awful, but at the same time its no masterpiece, for an interesting film to look at I suppose this would be an alright choice, however if you want a great story and compelling acting, you might want to check out something else, because this isn't the movie you're looking for.
Dreamkiller (2010)
It made me think
I went to The Beverly Center to see "Hurt Locker" when I was stopped by a team of young people promoting a new thriller "Dreamkiller", an independently produced psychological thriller.
I was intrigued by the poster (particularly the fear of failure) and they gave me a hard sale so I gave it a shot. This is not a big budget movie and it felt a bit slow in the beginning but about 10 min. in, the story became very intriguing and unpredictable and once it grabbed me I had to watch it 'till the end. In short, I was entertained.
On my way out I saw a group of people near a table in the lobby next to the Dreamkiller poster. I approached them and told the young girl (who happened to be the director) that I enjoyed the movie. We spoke for a while and I learned that the movie was allegedly made for much less than I imagined.
When she told me the actual number I couldn't hide my disbelief. This is NOT a Blair Which or such a movie with shaky camera and available light but a real production so I told her that I don't think that would be possible to which she responded "we didn't know it was impossible so we did it".
By the time I got home the general theme and questions that the movie arose started to nip at me. Even more so now, related to the people behind it.
I always aspired to create a feature film. I wrote my screenplay over 40 years ago and had been working on putting it together ever since. I got close a few times but it never truly came together, mainly due to the lack of financing. A few times I had almost enough money but was afraid to do it and needed more. And now, after all these years I look at these kids and wonder
I get it. "Dreamkiller"! My fear killed my dream. Or did it, maybe it's not too late. Maybe I'll send my script to them. With the money I had available they would have made three movies.
This movie has nothing to envy to big budget movies. I give it a 10 because anyone can make a movie with money, but very few with talent and will.
Shutter Island (2010)
Good is the enemy of great
I was really excited to see this movie, and in many ways it did deliver. The acting was excellent on all accounts as was the directing and cinematography.
My main 'beef' is with the twist at the end which is virtually impossible to predict because of the POV the story chooses to take. I get the point the twist is making, but I felt cheated because virtually anything could have happened (a cameo by Elvis, a trip to the moon...) and it would have been explained. If it weren't for the scene in the cave, I think I would have felt better about the ending
Overall it was good, but not great.
Avatar (2009)
Nothing new... Visuals will only be new for so long
Well, I just saw Avatar last Sunday, finally after so many weeks and press.
My opinion: you've seen this story a hundred times, but never like this. Finally 3D is what it's supposed to be, an instrument at the service of the movie. You'll enjoy the visual experience, no doubt.
As for the story, some of the "inspirations" are so huge and so obvious that mentioning two or three of them would REALLY ruin the movie for you, and I'm not willing to do that. Lots of mysticism and ecology, if you like that stuff. If you're 15 or so, you'll have a great time thinking that it's the first time somebody makes something like this. If you're an experienced movie watcher, better leave your skepticism at the door, bring lots of pop corn and enjoy with the usual action-flick-with-moral-and-loads-of-clichés.
I liked it, however: "the movie that re-invents movies"??? No way. It's been 30+ years since Star Wars and everyone knows about it. I don't foresee people knowing about Avatar 15 years from now...