Tag: review

Finally, after a couple of weeks of less than appealing movies appearing in the theatres, along comes The Grudge. It is October, the Holloween month, so therefore at least one scary movie should show up on screen to frighten audiences.

Firstly, I can’t really watch scary movies, because I am either hiding my eyes behind my fingers missing all the scary action or averting my gaze. I don’t like the sudden jolt of the scare, and I won’t be able to go to sleep comfortably at night. So, The Grudge scared me even though we caught a matinee. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to sleep alone in my house if we caught it later that night, even so I ended up sleeping on the couch with the lights and TV on, which was even more scarier because my couch is a at the foot of my stairs, and I could imagine the Grudge ghost coming down them. Yikes!

Overall, it wasn’t that great of a scary movie. Again The X-Files already have done an episode similar to this one. A haunted house, which is usually the scene of my favorite ghost stories, manifests the evil done in it, so that residents experience it in all to physical ways. The plot is usual. The scares are alright. The non-linear story telling somewhat confusing, but useful in telling two different tales at the same time. The Grudge follows all ghost story conventions.

Questions for those who have seen it. Why is the dead wife the malevolent spirit? Wouldn’t she be trying to seek justice rather than inflicting the pain on others as was inflicted upon her? Did Sarah Michelle Gellar bite it in the end? Was the pathologist also a ghost? What happened to the other detective? The policemen on the scene? The realtor? Did they meet a grisly end? Hmmm?

3 of 5 stars.

There are PG rated movies that, while mainly catering to the preteen audience, can appeal to parents or the occasional adult who may catch it. Some of the enjoyable ones lately have featured pre-superstar, Lindsay Lohan. (Don’t believe me. Check out Parent Trap or Freaky Friday. They’re light and fun and don’t subject there older audience to mind numbingly dumb situations.) Unfortunately, First Daughter is not one. As a 33 year old male, this movie was not targeted to me, but I thought it would have at least offered something interesting. I was wrong. Even my mother, who actually saw Princess Diaries 2, thought it sucked. In the nearly empty theatre, even the older teen girls (16+ they drove) didn’t necessarily enjoy it. Although, one of them clapped when the big kiss came, but probably more from emotion than in approval of the movie.

Now I enjoy all movies I have gone to. The good. The bad. And the ugly. What little joy could be found in Katie Holmes. Though not a particularly intriguing part, she did give a performance that I liked. Bittersweetness she conveyed with those big, brown eyes. She should try to act in better movies. Another surprising thing is that the movie was filled with some recognizable actors, Micheal Keaton, that girl from ID4 who was Jeff Goldblum’s character’s estranged wife, and Lela Rochon. It was even directed by Forest Whitiker! Ghost Dog directing a preteen movie! Ghost Dog! How did this movie with this type of talent end up being bad to watch?

1 of 5 stars.

Another weekend and another movie. This time it was the Chinese epic, Hero. If you loved Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, then this one is for you. A blend of martial arts, Chinese history and a star-crossed love story, Hero goes for all. I rather liked it, but why are these things so melodramatic.

4 of 5 stars.

On Monday, I caught Zack Braff’s Garden State at the local cineplex. I knew it to be a small, personal, independent-minded film, but I also thought it was supposed to be a comedy. Not much to laugh at, but then it wasn’t supposed to be a true comedy. It was another small, personal independent film. Like they all are. I haven’t seen one like since the great indy film boom of the early 90s. As an indy film, it is mediocre at best. I think I have seen it before. Anyway, the only thing of note that I left with from the movie is that George Lucas needs to apologize to Natalie Portman for sticking her in that wooden role of Princess Amidala. He needs to be punched in the nose. Can someone do it?

3 of 5 stars.

Two movies from this past weekend…

First up, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Brought to us by those guys who made Dude, Where’s My Car? It’s not as funny, but is more overtly pro-pot. In fact, there was more pot being smoked in this than the latter, which was infamous for being a pothead flick without anyone smoking pot except the dog. If I had been high, when I saw this I would not have laughed too much.

2 of 5 stars.

Next, Alien v. Predator. Not too much of the battle taken place between them both. Really short film. The plot sucked. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. It would also seem that the predators suck as much as humans in fighting the aliens. Not as bad ass as I had thought.

3 of 5 stars.