Monthly Archives: January 2008

Movie Reviews

Movie Review – Cloverfield

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Cloverfield

Directed by Matt Reeves

Starring Michael Stahl-David, T.J. Miller, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Vogel, and Odette Yustman.

Backstory

Like a lot of people, my first exposure to Cloverfield was that trailer in front of Transformers that made us all go “What the hell was that?” I didn’t follow much of the viral websites or idle internet speculation, but once I learned it was about a giant monster, I was there. I do so love giant monster movies. So I took some anti-nausea pills and went to the theatre!

Plot

So Rob got this new job in Japan and his brother and all his friends are throwing him this massive good-bye party. Also there is Beth. Beth and Rob have been, like, friends forever, and they just slept together, and they’re all angst-filled as to where their relationship is right now. Beth winds up leaving in a huff. And then, this giant monster attacks New York and all Hell breaks loose. When Rob gets a desperate phone call from Beth, Rob decides to head into the heart of the battle to rescue her. He’s accompanied by his best friend Hud, who films the whole thing on his video camera, and a ragtag group of party-goers. I’m sure you know the whole gimmick by now…the film is made up of Hud’s footage.

What I Liked

Of course, the images of the monster haven’t been released yet. And when I did see it, I thought it was…beautiful! It’s a great monster. It’s dark and scary when it needs to be, and there’s some great jokes to break the tension. “My God, YOU know Superman? That’s amazing! Are you aware of Garfield?” And that’s a SPECTACULAR piece of original music during the end credits.

What I Didn’t Like

Like a lot of giant monster movies, it actually gets really slow when the giant monster isn’t doing damage. And I get this hunch that it’ll fall apart the more and more you watch it.

Final Assessment

A worthy addition to the giant monster movie genre.

3 Nibs

Movie Reviews

Movie Review – I Am Legend

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I Am Legend

Directed by Francis Lawrence

Starring Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson, and Willow Smith.

Backstory

I’ll admit, I was all kind of “meh” towards I Am Legend. Nothing about it really caught my eye. But then, some of the reviews were quite positive, and a couple of my friends were all like, “IT’S THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE!” So I thought I’d check it out.

Plot

Cancer is cured, thanks to a genetically-altered version of measles that targets and destroys cancer cells. Three years later, the virus has mutated, and turned 90% of Earth’s population into vampire-like monsters. These vampire-things promptly snack on what’s left of humanity, and before long, there’s only one man left: Dr. Robert Neville, one of the army scientists charged with finding a cure. Now, as possibly the last man on Earth, Neville spends his days in a deserted New York, continuing his research for a cure, and spending his nights hiding from the monsters. Will he find a cure? Is he truly the last man on Earth?

What I Liked

This was really good. Will Smith puts in a great performance. The special effects are really good, digitally removing everyone from New York to make it look deserted. The action scenes are all top-notch, and there actually are some truly scary moments.

What I Didn’t Like

Not much, really. Some of the mutant dogs looked a little too computer animated, but that’s about it.

Final Assessment

Really, really good, but I disagree that it’s the greatest movie ever made.

3 Nibs

Movie Reviews

Movie Review – Sweeny Todd

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Sweeny Todd

Directed by Tim Burton

Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Laura Michelle Kelly.

Backstory

Nothing says Christmas like a bouncy musical about a serial killer! But seriously, I’m a huge fan of Tim Burton’s, so I just knew I had to run out to the theatre and see his latest opus. And plus, with the musical getting a bit of a resurgence of late, I figured I should go see one on the big screen.

Plot

Benjamin Barker is a bitter man. For you see, the wicked Judge Turpin coveted Barker’s lovely wife Lucy. So, Turpin had Barker arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, and shipped him off to an Australian penal colony. Now, many years later, Barker has returned to London. Barker’s wife drank a vile of poison after Turpin raped her, and now Turpin is setting his eyes on Barker’s daughter, who is now a grown woman. Barker begins to plot his revenge. Adopting the new identity of “Sweeny Todd,” he hatches his plan. He’ll go back to his old profession of barbering, and become the best in London. And then, when Turpin comes in for a shave, Todd will slit Turpin’s throat! But then, this plot goes awry, and Todd decides to just start killing anyone. Todd’s accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, decides the best way to dispose of the bodies is to grind them up, cook up the meat in her meat pies, and sell them in her pie shop. With a tale of vengeance this twisted, you know it’s only going to end tragically.

What I Liked

This is actually a pretty scary movie. Definitely the bloodiest musical ever. However, the musical numbers are fantastic. There’s this one where Mrs. Lovett sings of her and Sweeny Todd living “happily ever after,” and it’s actually really funny given the context. Everyone can sing, in case you were worried about that. And drunk children rock.

What I Didn’t Like

I’m having trouble thinking of something that I didn’t like. Probably that Sweeny Todd just spends a lot of time just looking intense.

Final Assessment

Tim Burton’s given us a classic.

4 Nibs