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lensta71
Reviews
PEN15 (2019)
Cringeworthy fun
Lordy be, there's so much I want to unsee, but I'm glad I saw it. There were moments I jumped out of the recliner to beg these girls to stop. Laughed so loud my neighbors could hear. And cried. And I'm only through the 1st 5 episodes.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
It was honest to the comic book
First I want to say my thoughts are with those victims in Colorodo. The film could never live up to the tragedy. The story started slow and dark and pretty much stayed that way throughout. Cat Woman was great. Bane was up to the task as well. This will be no spoiler because everyone knows Batman will eventually fight Bane in this movie. I would watch the movie again for that scene alone. It hurt me to watch it. The rest of the movie didn't match that ferocity, and this is why I'm scoring it a six out of ten. Funny thing is, the characters - Anne Hathaway's Cat Woman, brutal Bane, and Bale's Batman - did their jobs and presented us seriously flawed characters, reminiscent of all the comics I've ever read with them in it, and brought it to the screen. Maybe America doesn't want to see this. Maybe it's Colorado aftermath. I couldn't convince my friends of giving it a seven, why should I try to convince you?
Empty (2011)
Original
The movie Empty is far too flawed to be considered great, considering a well financed production could have made it great, and thus one must at least warrant this attempt at B-movie Scifi as an original success. The lead couple were attractive enough to please the eye, and the plot had quite a few 'I know what's going to happen next' moments that usually turned out different somehow. The filming was amateur, yet the acting was decent. The two main characters spent a lot of time talking on the phone to family that you will never see. The bad people weren't scary enough. Despite all the flaws I could continue with, the movie was engaging, it gradually lifted the uncertainty of the plot as the movie progressed, and the ending was profoundly believable. I give Empty a five out of ten only because it could have been a seven had they sold the script to a better production company.
The Warrior's Way (2010)
All this negativity for a masterpiece? (not much of a spoiler)
This isn't a ninja movie; only half of one. Kate Bosworth steals the other half of the show with her old-west-gal portrayal. For the unobservant few who somehow missed it, the barely-in-her-teens girl was shot and forced to watch her father, brother, and mother murdered, in that order. She spent the remainder of her life plotting revenge upon the Colonel. To her rescue, comes the 'greatest swordsman in the history of the world - ever'. She also receives help from the other city carnies, a throwback to Clockwork Orange. The city bands together and must fight off a gang of cowboy thugs, reminiscent of Tombstone's Clantons, led by the Colonel. The swordsman of few words teaches the obsessed cowgirl to wield a blade and builds a closeness between them. The visuals and effects: great. The blood: great. Cleavage: great. Kate Bosworth is awesome and has to be the most underrated actresses on the streets. The ninja on ninja action was great, as was the cowboy on ninja. The cinematography was interesting, using sunsets, thunderstorms, snow and ice, and bamboo fields as settings, among others. The closeups and sky views, especially during swordplay, were magnificent. The only complaint I could possibly make was the cheap looking old west carnival set. It sort of looked like a closed down carnival covered in dirt. Well, it's better than a romcom, and better physical brutality than any of your summer blockbusters. You should want to watch this movie just to see Kate Bosworth sporting a country twang. It's worth your two hours spent and then some.
Devil (2010)
M Night found a good one with Devil
This movie made a point of keeping the viewer guessing. It went from a mystery with good character development - the detective was definitely someone you would want investigating a murder case, and the five victims were all memorable in their own right - to a horror story with many suspense scenes added in to keep your attention. The movie ended satisfactorily with the signature twist. I didn't see it coming, and that is rare for this genre of movie. 9 out of 10 is usually reserved for those movies that carry with you for awhile. Devil may not fit that bill, however, I can't wait for the next movie to sneak up on me and knock me around for over an hour as this one did. It may be a long wait.
Youth in Revolt (2009)
Dry and random throughout
This being a good thing. When the movie wasn't sneaking up on you with quick and original situational comedy, Michael Cera's alter ego persona to Nick Twist kept taking Nick on unexpected adventures to get in the bed of Sheenie, the love interest.
Without giving away any of the story, I will say the movie moved along at an almost, uncomfortable pace, venturing towards slow. This did allow for the director to slip in the magically, odd comedy. Most of the plot is totally unpredictable and will keep you interested throughout. The guest appearances of Justin Long, Ray Liota, Steve Buscemi, and Fred Willard do not take away from the movie's flow and only adds charm to this artistic comedy adventure. Portia Doubleday is cute enough playing Sheenie to where more leading roles should be coming her way.
The movie was not laugh-out-loud funny throughout and deserving of only 6 out of 10.
Up in the Air (2009)
This one's for single guys
There are all sorts of reasons why guys stay single, and this movie will provide you with one of those. Clooney is good. He's more than just female eye candy. There's an air of reserved confidence he's mastered and portrays well on screen. Anna Kendrick...well, not so good. She's more than great in everything else I've seen her in, and this performance may only be a hiccup for her. Oddly enough, it may be Vera Farmiga's excellent work in the supporting female role that overshadows Kendrick.
Overall, this movie hits home. It could hit you even harder if you're a single male. The movie dives deep into the day-to-day activities of Clooney's character, Ryan Bingham. Even given the name of the movie, you'll never guess what the story will be, and it twists enough to stay interesting.
To sum it up, although being great in its own right for today, Up in the Air may not stick with you for a lifetime, therefore, scores only a 7 out of 10. Otherwise, it hit me in the gut like no movie has in awhile.