Rider of the Land's movie reviews

[Erick Landrider]

It's simple. I see a movie, I give my thoughts, and a rating out of 10.

Your opinions on my reviews are more than welcome on this thread, as if I could keep you from commenting.

I'll start out with the the movies I have seen this summer, not all that too many mind you.

[Erick Landrider]

The Matrix: Reloaded

<span style="color:blue">High point-</span>The Matrix is known, and always will be known for its fight scenes. This film does things never attempted before, finds a way to turn a gun battle into a anti-gravity Japanese (I think) weapon clash, and keep you attentive the whole time. This movie is worth it for the fight scenes alone.

<span style="color:red">Low point-</span>-Two minor things stick out. One, is Morpheus' obsession with fate, which may apply more in a computer program than in actual life. It is fine as character trait, but perhaps overused in the dialogue. Two, the sex scene in Zion (talk about irony) dragged on and ultimatly had no real point to it. But as I said before "minor things" and I am willing to let this go.

<span style="color:green">Rating</span>-9.1

[Erick Landrider]

X-Men 2: X-Men United

<span style="color:blue">High Point-</span>-Again as was the case with the Matrix, the action makes the movie. A good plot, and a suprisingly effective love triangle, are both good features, but when you walk out of the theatre, you're more likly thinking about Wolverine taking out Skykers' men as the mansion is raided. The action is nothing of the "Oh my God" stuff like in Matrix, but it delivers, none the less

<span style="color:red">Low Points</span>-X-men has many characters, which is fine for the person who watched them as kids, but some one who doesn't know what 'anamantium' is coming in to the theatre, I imagine, a good bit of confussion played in there. And the numerous characters means that someone gets stunted camera time. Cyclops suffers from such an effect in this one. It also suffers a bit from predictability, in some scenes and Wolverines' healing ability gets a little tiresome in his final fight scene.

<span style="color:green">Rating</span>-8.7

[Erick Landrider]

Bruce Almighty

<span style="color:blue">High Point</span>-Nothing Brilliant, but perhaps Jim Carrey's best movie, or a close second to Trumna Show. It doesn't suffer from the usual let down going into act three as other of his films have. The humor continues, and goes to shows lessons in life, and how to live. Jim Carrey, while a comedic genious, shows a great pontrayal of a man with power, and how it changes him. Smart humor and life situatons

<span style="color:red">Low point-</span>-No real lows in this aside from some jokes that aren't the best and some things I wouldn't want to watch with my mother.

<span style="color:green">Rating</span>-8.8

[Darth Whaler]

Originally posted by Erick Landrider@Aug 16 2003, 04:27 PM
The humor continues, and goes to shows lessons in life, and how to live.


Absolutely. I thought the messages in this movie were very good.

[Erick Landrider]

Pirates of the Caribbean

<span style="color:blue">High Points-</span>-Yet another in the long line of action driven movies. It keeps you entertained for two-hours. You realize when you walk out that, that is all it does. But also realize that, that is okay. Several action scenes mirror Indiana Jones films, and others of the genre where you're almost to the point of thinking the stunts are to out there, but it stops just before. Along side that, Johhny Depp's performance is original and fun, and the other actors to their share as well.

<span style="color:red">Low Points-</span>Not a sophiticated plot, but what did you expect. The film didn't take itself all that seriously, hell we had two pairs of idiot sailors for comic realief. The action goes on and on, and got a little tiresome at the end. And wasn't it convient how the pirate where going to be sure to cut Orlando Bloom's throat when they only needed a drop or two.

<span style="color:green">Rating-</span>-7.9

[Erick Landrider]

Seabiscuit

<span style="color:blue">High Points-</span>My goodness where do I begin. By far the best movie I have seen all year. A great story of three men and a horse who help and inspire themselves from the most hellish lows of their lives. And don't plan to see it because you think that this is just about three guys who find themselves and find a greating understanding in life see it anyway. The race sequences are edreniline pumping, and spectacular.

<span style="color:red">Low Points-</span>If anything it was minor overues of some cinematic devices (camera angles, quick transitions). I may be a bit more objective the next time around, but that's next time.

<span style="color:green">Rating-</span>9.4

[Darth Whaler]

You pretty much hit the nail on the head with your Pirates review. Just a fun movie all around. It's one of those movies where you just have to enjoy it and not pick it apart for flaws. In my opinion, it was the most enjoyable movie of the summer.

[Erick Landrider]

Like I said, I enjoyed it, but I would just as soon watch anyone of those other films again. I get a feeling that they would still have something were as PotC would lose its effect after the first time.

[Erick Landrider]

Freaky Friday

<span style="color:blue">High Points-</span>Overall a good movie. Several things to laugh at, and the kind of thing you could see with anyone (friends, family, girl friend). It has a sense of teenage confussion, which is brought across by Jamie Lee Curtis' performance, and a stressed out, but under control parent in her daughters body (shoot what is that actress' name?) and a respectable bit of that gushy family values stuff, which touches the soul.

<span style="color:red">Low Points-</span>Nothing really sticks out. It's unberably precidable how things are going to happen (never accept a fortune cookie when your having an argument) and some of the "daughters" actions while in her mothers body are hard to imagine even for that rebelious of a child.

<span style="color:green">Rating-</span>8.3

[bodhisattva yoda]

you're too easy to please. what kind of critic are you?

[Erick Landrider]

^I just don't waste my time with crappy movies (Cradle 2 the Grave, Tomb Raider, Gigli)

[bodhisattva yoda]

you mean, you don't waste your time with the crappIEST movies. the ones you review are hardly the best cinema has to offer. although, i must admit that i liked matrix reloaded a lot more than i wanted to.

[Erick Landrider]

Well, I only saw a handful of movies this summer. I didn't see any of the real 'Oscar Worthy' aside from Seabiscuit. The ones I did see were mostly action oriented, as you can tell.

Just out of curiosity, what do you think is the best the cinema has to offer

[bodhisattva yoda]

as far as recent films go, it's hard to say. i haven't seen anything spectacular in some time. the last great film i remember seeing was city of god. i ordered avalon which is a great film, but it was made like two years ago. you should check out the 'watch these films or die' thread.

[Mann]

Originally posted by bodhisattva yoda@Aug 19 2003, 04:56 PM
you mean, you don't waste your time with the crappIEST movies. the ones you review are hardly the best cinema has to offer. although, i must admit that i liked matrix reloaded a lot more than i wanted to.
AMEN, Matrix Reloaded was a great film.

Seabiscuit is about the only Oscar worthy film so far this year. I mean three big stars, big boxoffice, etc.

[bodhisattva yoda]

i didn't like it. i thought it was cheesy. i don't usually like oscar-y movies though.

[Mann]

Originally posted by bodhisattva yoda@Aug 19 2003, 05:43 PM
i didn't like it. i thought it was cheesy. i don't usually like oscar-y movies though.
like the Royal Tennenbaums? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Erick Landrider]

Cheesy, why because the Horse won.

I'm just putting my honest opinion of these films, I actually think of a rating as I'm walking out of the theatre. Tell you what I'll what a crappy movie and give my review of that (I wonder if Gigli is playing nearby) Will that make you happy. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif

[bodhisattva yoda]

did the royal tenenbaums win any oscars? well, it was an all-star cast and a relatively unoffensive script. that's all you need for an oscar these days. it's still my favorite film though.

and no, it wasn't cheesy because the horse won...it was just cheesy, damnit. just like, melodramtic. and i hated the standard hollywood epic music. i do like tobey mcguire though (and i have to say this, i can't help it: he's vegetarian). also, maybe it was just me, but wasn't it painfully obvious that most of the racetrack audience was optically composited?

you don't have to go out of your way to see an awful movie to please me. just tell me, what was the last disappointing movie you've seen?

[Erick Landrider]

Probably 'Wind Talkers'. I saw it on VHS a couple weeks ago. Nicholas Cage is pretty good, but the script, in terms of the interations with the Navajo characters is pretty stereotypical. The battle scenes are average, and it never really proves any real point (not to mention that the platoon leader was the Russian dude from Armogedon.

Another, now that I think of it, is the Four Feathers. It pails in comparison to the original. It seems more focused on the minor plot twist and in a lot of ways seems like a British, large scale soap-opera. Nothing really impresive in it at all.

[bodhisattva yoda]

see, now you're behaving like a proper critic! there now. doncha feel better?

[Erick Landrider]

YES! NOW I WANT TO SEE MORE CRAPPY MOVIES AND BASH THEM! HA HA HA!!!!!!!! BRING IT ON GIGLI!

Okay maybe not.

[Javen]

Speaking of GiGLI. According to alot of critics, they didn't even se ethe movie. Yet, they bashed it. They wanted Ben and JLo, then get them and they bash them . What a strange world.

Ebert and Roeper gave it two thumbs up. Not that I ever agree with Ebert on anything, but maybe this movie isn't that bad. Let me guess, you didn't se eit either. Nobody has...

[Erick Landrider]

It was a joke dude. I don't Jay Leno saw it either and it was a good part of his monologue.

...and I'm pretty sure that Ebert and Roeper gave it two thumbs down.

[bodhisattva yoda]

i don't know about roeper, but ebert gave it thumbs down. he only defends the movie in that it's not as terrible as the negative hyperbole makes it out to be.

[Mann]

FYI Bodhi,

Royal Tennenbaums won:

Golden Globe Best Actor
AFI Award- Best featured actor
National Society Of Film Critics award for Lead Actor
Was nominated for the most Golden Satellites
Nominated for Best Screenplay Oscar
nominated for WGA Screenplay award.

This had it's due in the spotlight. I also think Gene Hackman gave on of the best comedic performances of all time.

Gigli I heard from a friend is just as bad as it is said to be.

[bodhisattva yoda]

oh.
it's still my favorite film and there's nothing you can say to stop me from loving it!

[Erick Landrider]

^Are you talking about Gigli?!

[bodhisattva yoda]

no! i'm talking about the royal tenebaums!

[Mann]

Originally posted by bodhisattva yoda@Aug 21 2003, 02:51 AM
no! i'm talking about the royal tenebaums!
A really good movie. Luke wilson was the only weak point.

[bodhisattva yoda]

i like luke wilson! perhaps you have a bias against him because he's usually in awful films... but he started his acting career with wes anderson and he belongs in his films, i say!

[Erick Landrider]

Originally posted by bodhisattva yoda@Aug 20 2003, 09:51 PM
no! i'm talking about the royal tenebaums!
Sorry. Mann's last post and then you saying

oh. it's still my favortie movie and there's nothing you can say to stop me from loving it!

That sequence confused me.

[Erick Landrider]

Chicago

<span style="color:blue">High Points</span>-Before I face a hellish chorus of 'it sucked' and 'it made no sense', let me just point out that this film is for Oscar lovers, people who love theatre, essentially people who like classy movies. Chicago is all that. One of the most amazing things is that despite the fact that alll of the main characters are corrupt in one way or another, at the end of the film, it is nearly impossible to truely hate them. They all have such fun with what they do, and never really hurt or destroy one another too badly, although it is plain to be seen. A huge load of fun, smiles, music, and and quick one liners of numerous fashions

<span style="color:red">Low Points</span>-Nothing really. One of Catherine Zeta Jones' dance numbers is quite strange, and by the end of the movie you can almost smell, hear, and see lines that lead into the next songs.

<span style="color:green">Rating</span>-9.4