Having just been to Spain and hearing about the illegal immigrant problems and the poverty, watching this movie made everything so surreal and depressing. But I really enjoyed it and thought it was beautifully sad.
I can't seem to remember how to write about movies, and I feel like I can write too much and spoil the movie, so I will briefly write something. Javier Bardem's character has a lot on his hands; he has two children, a difficult wife that doesn't live with him, and he helps run a somewhat illegal business of selling fake goods with illegals. We sympathize for him not only because of his stenuous duties, but because of the way he takes care of business. Oh and also he has a medical condition. As the movie progresses, we see things getting better and things unraveling. The movie does great to accentuate the pain and the bittersweet moments in the character's life. The only thing I found strange about the movie was a minor plot point that provided a few scary and chilling moments, and it almost gave me nightmares as I was trying to sleep. It was reminiscent of the Japanese version of "The Eye." The movie probably would have survived without it, but it was an interesting, if non-realistic, addition to the movie. It added to the sadness I felt, and I love feeling sad in Inarritu's movies.
Three and a half stars.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Thoughts after watching some comedies.
Some movies just suck and some movies are just stupid, but I think the difference is important. A movie that sucks is trying to make something good, but is just horrible and fails at life. A movie that is stupid, doesn't try to be good, it's just trying to get out there for it's target audience and doesn't try to get anything more. A movie that suck, may try to do something new and maybe in their mind, creative and unique, but it's just a way to please himself in his writing skills and it's just really stupid and really sucks.
Movies I saw recently:
Step Brothers - Stupid
Zack and Miri Make a Porno - SUCKS
I Love You Man - Love it!
Movies I saw recently:
Step Brothers - Stupid
Zack and Miri Make a Porno - SUCKS
I Love You Man - Love it!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Every once in awhile...
So working at a video store is a blessing and a curse. I feel the need to watch every movie to form a real opinion and be able to give recommendations to the HUNDREDS (tens) of people that ask me day by day. This drone has made me not pay attention to most English-spoken movies, especially ones that I know did not get good reviews or do not gain my interest straight away. Even when I come across a movie I like in the smallest way, I will forget about it when people ask me for recommendations. I am just good at hating, I suppose. Haters gonna hate. But, sometimes I'll watch something so lovely and entrancing, that my world changes a little and I can't really stop thinking about it for awhile. I really quite liked Greenberg without really letting reviews get to me. So, that's all I can remember of the past three months. THREE MONTHS (or more). But OMG, I just saw The Secret in Their Eyes, and it changed my world!!!
It made me linger on the sad thought that North Americans can never make such a romantic and beautifully unfolded story as the makers of that movie did. I had the same feeling with The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Maybe the Academy voters really know how to catch them, but it seems like the only way for me to access these movies is the Academy Awards... I'm just not out there enough I guess. I thought The Road was pretty good though. I know we're trying and there are many respectable North American filmmakers, but I feel like the story writing techniques of Europeans and now, Latin Americans... it's on a level that very few North Americans can reach. I feel like it could be a media thing. I don't know... I'm just RAMBLING. But man... that movie. Love it!
It made me linger on the sad thought that North Americans can never make such a romantic and beautifully unfolded story as the makers of that movie did. I had the same feeling with The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Maybe the Academy voters really know how to catch them, but it seems like the only way for me to access these movies is the Academy Awards... I'm just not out there enough I guess. I thought The Road was pretty good though. I know we're trying and there are many respectable North American filmmakers, but I feel like the story writing techniques of Europeans and now, Latin Americans... it's on a level that very few North Americans can reach. I feel like it could be a media thing. I don't know... I'm just RAMBLING. But man... that movie. Love it!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Runaways, more like sleepaways.
I wanted to tweet about this, but it would've been more than 140 characters. So, let's see if I can expand my ideas here.
Whatever interest I had (a lot) in the Runaways (the band), was quickly lost as I found the fault not necessarily the movie, but just their story. I'm sure it was really fascinating during that time to have an all girl rock band start from one girl's idea, but perhaps it was the movie's fault that the story didn't portray this enough. It did not make me want to know more or care at all.
Making a biopic may be hard these days, where documentaries seem like the easy way out, but seeming like you're making a biopic just because you found a great young adult cast and milking them for performances seems like a really self-absorbed fantasy, Joan Jett. Perhaps I am wrongly accusing her, but she is an executive producer.
Anyways, the main problem I had with this movie was that there wasn't anything extravagant about the characters or about the band that seem remotely interesting and worth a movie about. I am all for girl power and stuff, but focusing more on Cheri Currie kind of made it worst. Of course she was young and naive, but why should I care about her false dreams. The whole movie seemed like a dull note of band dynamics that happens to most bands during rock 'n' roll and in general. The performances were fine, but not anything great. The movie even had more interest in itself by recording them singing the songs, which were not very good (although I don't know what the originals sound like, but rock should get me pumped up not sleepy). Mix in some artsy shots and mood music, and this just another biopic. It sort of felt like Across the Universe. Ugh.
Two stars out of four.
Whatever interest I had (a lot) in the Runaways (the band), was quickly lost as I found the fault not necessarily the movie, but just their story. I'm sure it was really fascinating during that time to have an all girl rock band start from one girl's idea, but perhaps it was the movie's fault that the story didn't portray this enough. It did not make me want to know more or care at all.
Making a biopic may be hard these days, where documentaries seem like the easy way out, but seeming like you're making a biopic just because you found a great young adult cast and milking them for performances seems like a really self-absorbed fantasy, Joan Jett. Perhaps I am wrongly accusing her, but she is an executive producer.
Anyways, the main problem I had with this movie was that there wasn't anything extravagant about the characters or about the band that seem remotely interesting and worth a movie about. I am all for girl power and stuff, but focusing more on Cheri Currie kind of made it worst. Of course she was young and naive, but why should I care about her false dreams. The whole movie seemed like a dull note of band dynamics that happens to most bands during rock 'n' roll and in general. The performances were fine, but not anything great. The movie even had more interest in itself by recording them singing the songs, which were not very good (although I don't know what the originals sound like, but rock should get me pumped up not sleepy). Mix in some artsy shots and mood music, and this just another biopic. It sort of felt like Across the Universe. Ugh.
Two stars out of four.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Anvil thoughts and rambles
I saw on Rotten Tomatoes, that Lips (singer of Anvil) and Robb (drummer of Anvil) revealed their top 5 movies, and first on that list? Anvil! The Story of Anvil. It makes complete sense, because Lips and Robb are completely vulnerable in this movie. They expose themselves of who they are and only hope for attention and praise in return. I'm not sure if it happened, but all the audience can do is hope for them, because they are really doing whatever they can to make it. And they have done so for the past 30 years.
As a metal band, their time is probably gone to get the exposure, respect, and money that they deserve, want and need. They are still rocking it out, hoping for that major label contract, hoping for the manager to guide them through tours, and hoping for that large fan-base that will support them across countries. Perhaps these dreams are unrealistic and misguided, but it is the only thing they can set their sights on in the long run. They don't know what else to do, because they've done almost everything else and they can't really make it. Perhaps they need a better publicist, but at this point they don't know how to get one nor have the right funds for one. But would that even help? Metal isn't what it was before, and they are simply old. They have a loyal fan-base right now, but they seem to be there for nostalgia. We want them to succeed, but everything does not seem to be in the right conditions. The band, though stable as far as the two core members, it struggles and is internally unstable.
As Robb and Lips both agree, Robb is set. And it's really heartwarming to see Lips and his relationship so deep and profound for the sake of the band and their shared dreams. But Lips is the core of this story. He is the sore thumb of his family, of all his siblings who chose an "artsy" career path. He even looks quite different from his siblings, and his wife and son. He's struggled with acceptance his whole life, starting from his father. His words are articulate, and his feelings are real. There's nothing not to like about this guy's passion. He lives for it, and suffers from it. The movie's overall somber, because the self infliction that it will never become real for him, even though we wish it. And that's the story, but it exposes so much more as well about human character and music industries. It inspires and informs. It is good.
The director and screened interviews don't push anything at you, instead give you information for your own processing. I didn't spoil the whole thing because there is so much more... You should watch it.
Four out of Four.
As a metal band, their time is probably gone to get the exposure, respect, and money that they deserve, want and need. They are still rocking it out, hoping for that major label contract, hoping for the manager to guide them through tours, and hoping for that large fan-base that will support them across countries. Perhaps these dreams are unrealistic and misguided, but it is the only thing they can set their sights on in the long run. They don't know what else to do, because they've done almost everything else and they can't really make it. Perhaps they need a better publicist, but at this point they don't know how to get one nor have the right funds for one. But would that even help? Metal isn't what it was before, and they are simply old. They have a loyal fan-base right now, but they seem to be there for nostalgia. We want them to succeed, but everything does not seem to be in the right conditions. The band, though stable as far as the two core members, it struggles and is internally unstable.
As Robb and Lips both agree, Robb is set. And it's really heartwarming to see Lips and his relationship so deep and profound for the sake of the band and their shared dreams. But Lips is the core of this story. He is the sore thumb of his family, of all his siblings who chose an "artsy" career path. He even looks quite different from his siblings, and his wife and son. He's struggled with acceptance his whole life, starting from his father. His words are articulate, and his feelings are real. There's nothing not to like about this guy's passion. He lives for it, and suffers from it. The movie's overall somber, because the self infliction that it will never become real for him, even though we wish it. And that's the story, but it exposes so much more as well about human character and music industries. It inspires and informs. It is good.
The director and screened interviews don't push anything at you, instead give you information for your own processing. I didn't spoil the whole thing because there is so much more... You should watch it.
Four out of Four.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Rawwwrrr.
How to Train Your Dragon: my really simplistic and half-assed review.
This movie delightfully surprises, but doesn't underwhelm nor overwhelm with its message and moral. Despite it's unique core story, it doesn't quite match up to the emotional intricacies of a Pixar movie, but with its increasing awareness of detail and storytelling, it may just catch up.
The story starts with a voice-over and a swooping view over an island inhabited by Vikings. Their pests are dragons that steal their food, and the age old tradition is this continuing war between Vikings and dragons. Hiccup is the boy behind the weapons department, and his dad is the man behind the army. The story goes from there. You can imagine it yourself with these somewhat stock characters. Add an animal, and there you go. Charming story. The highlights of this movie isn't this base story, but the interactions between Hiccup and the dragons. This includes his lessons with the man who looks over him, Gobber, and the other younglings of the island. However, it also brings some downfalls of the writing of the story. It uses cliche dialogue between cliche characters. It uses old comedic jokes and lines. Of course the dragon that he catches is the only cute dragon. The others are funny looking. The graphics are really great though. It doesn't hold out in any of the scenes that it does, and the flow of the story I enjoyed. The overall logic is nicely executed, even with the other plot deficiencies.
I give it 3 out of 4.
Other notes by me: Gerard Butler's voice is distracting. How come all the kids don't have accents? We're missing some female characters! Breast plates.
This movie delightfully surprises, but doesn't underwhelm nor overwhelm with its message and moral. Despite it's unique core story, it doesn't quite match up to the emotional intricacies of a Pixar movie, but with its increasing awareness of detail and storytelling, it may just catch up.
The story starts with a voice-over and a swooping view over an island inhabited by Vikings. Their pests are dragons that steal their food, and the age old tradition is this continuing war between Vikings and dragons. Hiccup is the boy behind the weapons department, and his dad is the man behind the army. The story goes from there. You can imagine it yourself with these somewhat stock characters. Add an animal, and there you go. Charming story. The highlights of this movie isn't this base story, but the interactions between Hiccup and the dragons. This includes his lessons with the man who looks over him, Gobber, and the other younglings of the island. However, it also brings some downfalls of the writing of the story. It uses cliche dialogue between cliche characters. It uses old comedic jokes and lines. Of course the dragon that he catches is the only cute dragon. The others are funny looking. The graphics are really great though. It doesn't hold out in any of the scenes that it does, and the flow of the story I enjoyed. The overall logic is nicely executed, even with the other plot deficiencies.
I give it 3 out of 4.
Other notes by me: Gerard Butler's voice is distracting. How come all the kids don't have accents? We're missing some female characters! Breast plates.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Lame sidenote.
So it's kind of really hard to rate movies out of 4, but I'm lazy to change it. I think I just went with it because of what I saw on my cable box and Ebert's reviews that I read. Its problematic because I often re-read and process my thoughts so much that I am always in the in-between... I'm so stingy, but I'll stick with it anyways.
HEHEHEHEHEHEHE
HEHEHEHEHEHEHE
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