tommy-79 Reviews

Hostel (2005)

Horror-riffic

[1/10 · 9 January 2006]

Don't want to be preachy, or prudish. I don't think I'm either of those, but this movie is really nothing more than a gore-fest with a lot of nudity. The nudity was fine, cute girls and all that. But, it's essentially a torture and gross-out movie.

Probably was more disturbed at the number of young kids at the show. Yeah, yeah, I know, kids are kids. But at the least, enforce the Under-17 rule. At the AMC 30 in Warrenville, IL, there were quite a few under 17 kids (and like 10-15 y/o's) that were there. It's pretty easy to get in, there is no one at the movie area itself to check the age. So, if you have a ticket to another movie, you can get in.

All in all though, really not very scary, didn't actually think it was very well made either. See it for yourself and compare it to producer Quentin Tarentino's Kill Bill series...those movies features about as much gore and violence, but far better made.

As Steve Colbert says, "Eli Roth, you're on warning".

And I'd add, "AMC 30, you're on warning too for letting in lots of unescorted young kids".

Good luck, you may like it. I thought it pretty much sucked.

Bewitched (2005)

Nicole Kidman plays....Forrest Gump

[4/10 · 26 June 2005]

I really wanted to like this movie, I like Niicole Kidman, and left feeling more bad for her than thinking that she was horribly miscast. Which she was.

The first 30 minutes of the movie she plays Samantha as though she's "low functioning", possibly mentally handicapped. Think Forrest Gump, with "witchy powers".

Will Farrell, and his buddies from the Jon Stewart show help out a little bit to staunch the mess, but all in all, the Friday night packed house movie crowd, who really wanted to laugh it up, seemed to leave fairly disappointed.

Nora and friends..."Bewitched" wasn't a treatise on woman's values, and Samantha reflected the woman's roles of the times. Learn the lesson from Elizabeth Montgomery who took the sometimes two dimensional roles women had in those times, and added class and comedic talent. Turning this lightweight comedy show into a "I am witch woman, hear me roar" message movie. I felt the subtext of being preached at in a low-key way pretty annoying, to say the least.

I'll let you the reader guess where the "Brief Nudity" shows up. :-)

A plausible good rental, let's open up a few more screens for something like...well, most anything.

Nicole, we're rooting for you. Do that Aussie movie with Russell Crowe, you two might just be movie magic.

Tom

Greenfingers (2000)

A very pleasant surprise of a movie

[10/10 · 3 February 2005]

A very well done movie, with everybody turning in a fine performance. Clive Owen was quite good, but David Kelly is simply marvelous. However odd as you may think the story is, you'll be drawn in by this movie almost immediately.

Gardening is pretty much a national sport in England, so perhaps the movie makes more sense to the Brits than us in the states, but don't be fooled by the story premise about a bunch of gardening inmates. It's just a plain enjoyable story that comes highly recommended.

It's based on a series of true events, which just makes the movie all the more delightful.

Go out and rent it, you'll enjoy it.

Spider (2002)

Great Psychological Thriller

[10/10 · 5 June 2004]

This is a bit of a departure for David Cronenberg in some ways, it seemed to be more grounded in a more "daily realism" mode as opposed to some of the more

reality-fantasy movies of the past. Yet, in many ways, that makes this movie all the more intense, because there is little of the fantasy to keep it at an arm's length.

It's a great thriller, in the style of a "Momento". Very stylish in it's way, and a fine understated soundtrack by Howard Shore.

The DVD has a set of 3 featurettes with Cronenberg and cast commenting on

the movie. Don't skip these, you'll enjoy the additional perspective they provide. Cronenberg also provides an audio track commentary for the movie itself.

I really enjoyed this movie. The best description would be Mobius Strip, and that will make sense after you watch this fine film.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Alien Autopsy Meets Jesus Christ Superstar

[16 March 2004]

I went to see this movie on Ash Wednesday, the day it was released. It was the 1PM showing, at a fairly packed theatre. Mostly a middle-aged crowd, seats filled with a variety of folks, many with popcorn and soda...seemingly ready for a day watching the Christians get thrown to the lions.

Of course, that's just a guess. I would imagine that the "early adopter" viewers had some spiritual level of interest; you could surmise that from the number of charcoal crosses on the foreheads of numerous viewers. I certainly had an ecclesiastical curiosity as well, sating my early Lutheran upbringing in some way along with the hope of finding some sort of spiritual nugget.

So let me go out on a limb here...did you wonder how many people came as gawkers and Christian ambulance chasers? Not meaning to be cynical, but there was a certain element to this film that was present in other cinematic and video viewing events, ala "The Titanic" and video clips of the Rodney King beating. You KNOW what is going to happen, you've got a pretty good idea that it's going to involve some level of suffering, yet you're there to to see it. Why is that?

This leads us into the movie. Put the popcorn down, rivet yourself into your seat, and let the cinema verite begin...

Technically, it's a well done movie. The cinematography by Caleb Deschanel is excellent, the music by John Debney is superb, and the costuming seemingly realistic. Hats off to the dialogue coaches and developers for fine work providing what sounds to be a realistic linguistic background.

Not being a film director, I'm sometimes unsure what power the hand of the director holds. To me, it seemed like the direction of the film was to present an in-your-face, up close and personal view of a beating. An meditative movie with a singular plot line and laser focus on the minutiae of pain and violence.

Sure enough, we get to see the emotional valleys that the surrounding characters in Christ's life descend to as they take in this horror show. Mary especially, how can you not feel this woman's pain and sorrow for her son. Joseph the father, if I recall from scripture, was not alive at the time. But this really belabors the obvious: you know the characters of the crucifixion, and probably can guess at their feelings.

So Occam's razor cuts all of this away to ostensibly the reason you are seeing this movie: To view the crucifixion. Hopefully, you are either enriched, moved, incited, spiritually blissed out, or repeating the mantra "We're not worthy". You want to get something for participating in this spiritually justified voyeurism.

And that's the part of the movie that moved this viewer the very least. I didn't really feel touched in a spiritual way. Probably because I felt like the higher message to be gained was sullied by the Gibson-esqe approach of "You think that's bad, then look at this". It's Christ sprinkled with William Wallace and Benjamin Martin directed by Martin Riggs.

An interesting Koan to ponder is this: What makes an extraordinarily graphic senseless beating a work of art?

Concert for George (2003 Video)

A Real Gem That Captures A Special Night

[10/10 · 5 October 2003]

I saw this movie with my wife, who is really the big Beatles fan. She loved the movie, and I did as well.

The tunes are so well done, you know that George himself was humming along with them in Heaven. Photography is great, and the documentary aspect of the movie really unfolds into a bigger event that makes you feel that you are as much a part of the event as the musical stars themselves.

This is really a well done movie, and one that captures the essence of a special moment. The event itself brings magic, or perhaps shows us, the magic of George's music.

If you enjoyed the Beatles, you'll love the movie. If you like great music, you'll love the movie. And if you like George Harrison, you'll just get queued up waiting for the DVD release.

Enjoy, and treat yourself to the big screen surround sound version of this gem.

eXistenZ (1999)

Another intriguing Cronenberg movie

[30 December 1999]

This is not a Matrix clone, you should really have a clue about David Cronenberg to enjoy this movie. The Matrix is a pretty new bike with training wheels that spoon feeds you virtual reality, Existenz is a beat-up Huffy that grabs you by the scruff of your neck and shoves your face into VR. You decide how you want it.

It's a thought-provoking movie, and should have you wondering about how deep your friends or kids (or yourself) would let themselves become immersed in their Dreamcast machines or computers. If the millenium has you thinking about the next decade or century, then rent the movie. Keep your brain running while you watch it, and you'll no doubt be stimulated in some fashion.

Technically...fine acting, special effects that will make you squirm, and a thoughtful story. Cronenberg fans should not be disappointed. If you're new to Cronenberg, remember this is not a typical "Hollywood" movie, but it's a fine movie nonetheless. Don't watch it if you're expecting the Matrix.

Dogma (1999)

Laugh and use your brain at the same time

[10/10 · 17 November 1999]

Excellent movie. As a Kevin Smith fan, I wasn't disappointed. In general, I thought this was really a fine movie. Definitely has some good thoughts about "organized" religion, lots of laughs, and great performances from ALL actors involved.

Great job, Kevin!

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Great special effects, fun, but something missing

[7/10 · 22 May 1999]

I couldn't be classified as a Star Wars nut, probably have seen the first 3 two or three times over the years. So, I just went without too high a level of expectations.

It's a pretty movie to look at, lots of good special effects. Go read "The age of spiritual machines" by Ray Kurzweil if you want to think twice about the world of droid/robots and people...lots of robots in this movie.

Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor were fine as Jedi master/apprentice, and they are the depth as far the cast of the movie goes. Jake Lloyd was fun as Little Anakin, Natalie Portman reminded me much more of Princess Vespa from Spaceballs than a queen. Somehow Samuel L. Jackson wandered onto the set by mistake and ended up an executive Jedi (Lucas must have lost a bet or something).

Maybe Lucas really is missing the influence of Joseph Campbell (check out some of his writings if you want a great read and wonderful set of stories...Lucus did) to develop the mythology and legacy of the picture. There's an odd nod to a big Bible story (don't want to give it away)...see if you get it. Beyond that, not too much going in the good vs. evil, path of the hero department.

On another level, it's another movie with tons of guns and bloodless deaths. Sort of 'Saving Private Ryan' meets 'Starship Troopers', without the gore. (On a side note: Lots of cute creatures to lure the young kids in with, then lots of violence. Not too sure of this formula; seems like something the tobacco industry would do)

All in all, a fun movie though. Just not at the same level as the first three, IMHO. Not sure if I'd take young kids to this; the 10:45PM showing I went to was packed with them.