U-W Movies

Who’s in it

Milla Jovovich, Cameron Bright, William Fitchner

Should you see this movie?

Milla is pretty to look at in her cool, tight fitting, colorful outfits, and this movie had some cool techie visualizations of what this future world may look like, but overall, it was a POS movie. The acting was horrendous, the action so outrageously unbelieveable, and the plot so simple but yet got so mixed up that you can’t believe you are only 50 minutes in when it seems like hours. Milla is one of a small race of dying people and an extremeist trying to protect her breed, similar to a vampire. She ends up protecting a young boy with her life, who is the cure. But why she feels so strongly, who knows, and how many more roles can this creepy little kid with the blank stare portray. They are all the same, and I am tired of the both of them.

Who’s in it

No one you know by name, which is good for this movie

What was good

The insight you got from many other perspectives. The feelings of invulnerability, doubt, denial, and just seeing the reactions and confusing about what happened from those people. They barely found out what had happened before their plane had been hijacked. The terrorists hit fast and hard, knowing that we had become complacent as a nation. Their part wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t hollywood, in fact the final scenes for the members of flight 93 show the fear but the strength the possessed in numbers, and it made you proud to be an American. The other part of the movie that stuck with me, is the how the men looked who took over the plane. They blended in, these weren’t big bearded men with turbans like their wanted photos showed, but men who fit right in the public. That is scary.

What sucked

I didn’t think anything sucked, how could it. Based on a real life story. But I would say this. If you feel like you need more time, don’t see this movie, it is powerful and emotional. If it is all still too new, wait because this will bring it to the surface.

Who should go see this

I am biased when I think everyone should see this. Sarah was very unsure, and I thought just the opposite. These people were altruistic because they saved other lives in America, but to honor their families, you need to see this and what they went through. Honor their memories, and even though their identities aren’t highlighted, you get a good idea that terror isn’t picky, and it affects everyone. Powerful movie.

Who’s in it

John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn

Should you see this movie?

I hated this movie. I really like Travolta in general, but this was terrible, he just treats women like crap and quickly becomes a redneck after coming from the big city. I didn’t care about the subject content, mechanical bull riding, the male competition over women and stubborness, or how anyone acted towards one another, cheating, lying, games all in a bar setting. It wasn’t funny, but it wasn’t stupid, I just did not enjoy this and although I don’t think everyone would agree with me, I think most would.

Who’s in it

Kevin Costner, Joan Allen, Erika Christensen, Keri Russell, Alicia Witt, Evan Rachel Wood

What was good

Kevin Costner as the aging drunk ex-baseball player (don’t worry, they don’t dwell on this over common casting) and Joan Allen as the neurotic mother who one day wakes up and her husband is gone. She assumes that he has run off to Sweden with his secretary and she is broken. I have always thought Allen was a very good actress, and Costner although you never really get pulled into his character, it is a natural fit for him. I really liked the messed up relationships between all of the characters in the movie, each of the girls and their love interests, Allen and Costner, Keri Russell and Allen, it was all so messed up it was funny. Plus the ending has a great big emotional twist that I would never have expected, such a small sub plot that is running throughout the background of the movie turns everyone’s world upside down, I like that.

What sucked

The fact that this movie is about messed up people. I imagine the average person would hate this movie. The relationships are unnatural, but the circumstances are unnatural so I don’t dwell on that. Would Allen and Costner get so close so quick after the father left, maybe. She needed someone to fill a void, to be there for her bitching, and to help even her emotions out around the girls who also need support. Most of the characters minus the girls are people you love to hate, they are devious, especially Costner’s production manager at his radio show.

Who should go see this

Kevin Costner doesn’t have a typical movie anymore, so you wouldn’t go to see this movie for that reason. I would say that if you like dysfunctional families, this is just for you. They are believable, human, lost, mixed up, and so neurotic it’s hilarious. I would say if you have a touch of a twisted sense of humor, you may like this. I wouldn’t let my parents see this, and I wouldn’t watch this on a Friday night, but I would watch this as a married couple and say, “Let’s never be like that.” I imagine it may be something like “The Family Stone” if I ever get to see that.

Who’s in it

Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman

What was good

Everything obviously, check my rating. This movie is great on many levels, it was true to the story, it was a great translation to the movie genre, and it was very entertaining with a powerful message. Set in England in the future, in an England where people are ruled by why is implied to be a dictator and they don’t know how, one man in a mask sets out to make them remember freedom, to remember unopressed rule.

What sucked

For Christine who I went to see this with, it was a little slow to start. I knew what was going to happen, so I enjoyed the story buildup, and I didn’t think it was slow, but it isn’t always fast paced action and fight scenes. They concentrate on the story, which is so rare in movies today. A great literary work by Alan Moore, this is not about why the man in the mask as much as it is about symbol and his actions. Armed with only knives, this movie is about statements and not seeking out a fight. I will say the movie got quite bloody, especially at the end, so while parts of this movie can definitely be for an older child, it is like a light switch how violent parts can suddenly get. True to the story, of course.

Who should go see this

Everyone who has read the book. I wouldn’t recommend my parents to see this, but I think anyone from 20-30 could see this and enjoy it, there is a weird twisted romance that slowly develops, and you get to see some amazing knife play made by the Wachowski’s (Matrix). A nice use of effects that never once makes you think “Neo”, oh yeah, and the blow up Big Ben and Parliament in London, and that just kicks butt in a big way.

Who’s in it

Joaquin Pheonix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dallas Roberts

What was good

Everything obviously, check my rating. A sad story, but liberating in a way, about Johnny Cash’s life, and what he endured, and inflicted, and everything along the way. From humble beginnings and an emotionally abusive father, to drugs and addictions, to true love and peace from the past, this movie covers a lot of ground.

What sucked

Nothing. I felt bad for Cash, but he did have problems that were self inflicted. I did feel embarrassed for him too. But that is a great movie, to make your viewers feel such strong emotions. Reese was great, I know nothing about June Carter, but she was so cute and southern, and truly a saving angel for Cash. The women tend to do that in these movies. It is just a great movie.

Who should go see this

Everyone. This is America history. You may think Cash is country, but not in the modern sense of the word, and I really got into some of the music beyond the June Carter written “Ring of Fire”. You’ll laugh, cry, feel some great things, and be entertained the whole time, although it is always hard to watch someone destroy themselves, Cash does come out of it and continue to be successful.

Who’s in it

Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy

What was good

Beckinsale as a kick butt werewolf hunter. The first 30 minutes of the movie before everything gets so muddled in backstabbing and back story.

What sucked

I knew I don’t tend to like vampire movies too much, and this wasn’t all that gory like the Blade movies could be. But, although this movie had some new things I had never seen before in this genre, I just got tired of the overblown action scenes with people flying around when being punched, and the growling at each other as a Lykin or Vampire, and the fact that most of the movie revolved around a new breed made from the two species, really, I could care less.

Who should go see this

If you like vampires or if you want to see Beckinsale as a vampire who hardly bites anyone, but runs around in skin tight leather and is vulnerable and convincing in her strange role all at once.

Starring Debra Messing, Dermot Mulroney, Amy Adams, and Jack Davenport, the movie’s title is pretty self explanatory. Kat(Messing) wants to make her ex-fiance jealous at her little sister’s wedding, so she hires a male escort to pose as her gorgeous boyfriend Nick (Dermot).

Of course, desperate and vulnerable Kat falls for the strong confident “I have a great answer for everything” Nick. But for the first half she is still unsure if she wants her old fling back (Jeffrey coincidentally) or go with Nick. Soon enough, she finds out her little sister and Jeffrey were sleeping together, that is why he broke off their engagement. Then the flood gates break loose.

I like Dermot. He has done some mildly interesting stuff in his short career. But Messing does nothing for me. She doesn’t seem just like Grace from “Will & Grace”, but isn’t an actress that would solely draw you into the theater. Not particularly funny, nor particularly memorable, this has a whisper of the feel of every Julia Roberts movie ever made from “Pretty Woman” to “Runaway Bride” and it doesn’t help that Messing also has red hair. Unless you can rent this for free, this isn’t even a very good love story, I would pass on it.