mikehamilton Reviews

Underworld (2003)

Good Stuff! Great Action! Worth the $$$$

[9/10 · 28 September 2003]

I am a huge fan of vampire flicks.... After reading some of the comments here on IMDB, I had to think twice about seeing this in the theater as opposed to waiting for it to come out on DVD.... LUCKILY, I went to the theater!!! This movie was great - the scenes are incredible, the story is new and exciting for the vampire genre, and the characters are totally cool. I was well impressed with the script, storyline, acting, and cinematography. There were a few flaws or things I wasn't really keen on - a few of the usual vampire attributes were overlooked (but that's not a big deal) and it was a little more gorry/bloody than I like to watch..... But other than that, this was really a fun, excitement-filled film - kept me on the edge of my seat the whole movie.... Definitely Thumbs Up!

A BIG RECOMMEND from me - 9 out of 10 - Will be added to my DVD library as soon as it is released in that format.....

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

Just plain feel good fun!

[9/10 · 7 August 2003]

Okay - so it can be a little predictable - but compared to the poor excuse for films that are out there, this is clearly a stand-out in the crowd! Really fun - somewhat well acted - nice story - feel good movie....

The themes of live your life for yourself and not according to what others want, seek happiness and you will find it, and hang on to friendships despite the inevitable obstacles that arise - are all part of the mix. As well as showing prejudices and how ridiculous they are and how wonderful things can be when those prejudices are torn down... We are all on this planet together - Can't we all just get along?!?! According to Bend It Like Beckham, we can! And by doing so, we all succeed and learn.......

Great little film - 9 out of 10 (more for the good vibes, sweet story, and smile I had when I left the theater!)

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)

Why did they keep filming this trash!??!?!

[4/10 · 19 July 2003]

This was just plain garbage....... so trivial....... so boring..... so NOT funny ....... the first one was at least nuveau and fun with a few good laughs - this one was just so bad I couldn't believe they kept filming! I had to stay and watch how bad they could go with it - and boy they went all the way........ even leaving you with the idea of a possible sequel!!! STOP THE MADNESS!!!

And I'm so sick of the media stereotyping every gay character as a drag-queen, a transexual, a leather s&M lover, or a flaming queen! Why can't they show gays as most are........ normal, everyday people searching like all Americans for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness........... This movie continues the recent onslaught of these stereotypes........

Wake up Hollywood & Washington, blacks, asians, gays, hispanics are all just people and are completely tired of being treated like second class citizens!

The Hours (2002)

Yawn! Yawn! Yawn!

[4/10 · 19 July 2003]

I'm still yawning from the first scenes in the movie... Luckily I saw it at home on DVD - I was able to fall asleep and then rewind to where I thought I fell asleep.......but the sad part was that it was so boring from the first scene to every single one that followed, that it was hard to find where i had fallen asleep since it was all boring enough to knock anyone out! BORING!!!

About Schmidt (2002)

On the Boring Scale, I give it a 9!!! BORING!

[4/10 · 19 July 2003]

Save your 2 hours - you'll never be able to get them back - see something else, clean out the garage, stare at the walls - but save yourself from this most boring film. I'm not sure what anybody sees in this film.

It has nothing to the script worth following. The characters are completely unrealistic and so bland you wonder if the actors even have a pulse....... Very disappointing.......

BORING...........

Changing Lanes (2002)

The writing was bad - but the acting and ending saved it!

[7/10 · 5 July 2003]

This movie was so poorly written that events that would never happen if any of the characters were given the right to act as any human would have.......It felt as if the actors knew the script sucked, but went ahead and acted their hearts out hoping it would make up for the really bad decisions Chap Taylor, the writer, made them say and do! Ben really was great in showing all the emotions that any guy in his position probably would go through given a situation that just gets more and more far fetched as the movie goes on............ Samuel L. Jackson was more than engrossing in his role as the man losing everything in his life and fighting alcoholism at the same time....... Toni Collette is another of the absolutely wonderful actors to come from Down Under and play with the big boys in Hollywood as if she were one of them! I could just feel her angst and sorrow in her position at the law firm and in Banek's life........And although I've only seen Kim Staunton in one other (small) role in Dragonfly, I hope to see her in upcoming films! Her portrayal of Gipson's wife is poignant, moving, and deserving of extreme praise - she also took the script she was given - no matter how ridiculous and made the character work! Sydney Pollack was good - but he played the same thing he always plays, so I don't think he deserves any credit - he shows no emotion and in a movie like this, given the script that he was given, that's all he could have done to save this character - so I wasn't impressed....but the others were SO good, that they overshadowed him and the awful turns and stupid decisions these characters are forced to make by the writer!

I'm not sure how they did this - I've never had a movie work like this for me - normally, I would just say I didn't like it - but these actors were so good that they deserve attention and praise while I must say that I will steer clear of any Chap Taylor written movie in the future!

POSSIBLE SPOILER - NOT REALLY, BUT FIGURED I'D WARN of the possibility****************************

And I won't give anything away - but I will say that the ending did give some redemption to the writing - I was pleasantly surprised with it and really glad how it ends - it's almost as if Taylor saved all the truly human actions in the writing to the end..........

I gave it a 7 out of 10............If it just had been written with more realistic and more true to human response to situations this movie could have been a contender!

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Great Special Effects! Exciting!

[9/10 · 3 July 2003]

Well - of course the story has plenty of flaws.........but that's to be expected - this film is about the special effects and the cyborgs! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole movie.....

As good as the other two, if not better in my opinion.........

Definitely worth seeing in the theatre! And then again on DVD later!

I highly recommend this film - 9 out of 10.

Down with Love (2003)

UP with Down with Love!!!!

[8/10 · 21 May 2003]

Complete Eye Candy! The scenes, the costumes, the cinematography! Everything just grabs the eye................ true the premise is just a silly love story - but it works...... Renee Zelwegger is incredibly cute and bubbly.....David Hyde Pierce is totally entertaining....and Ewan McGregor is just plain fun to watch.....

This movie is not for everyone - but if you loved Moulin Rouge and Chicago (as I did!), this is sure to be completely fun and entertaining! Don't go into it with anything more than just to sit back, laugh, and be visually stunned by color..........and the music is so great! So enjoy!

Also ---------- Be sure to stay through the credits! I got up to leave and had to stand at the door of the theatre to watch the final scenes - really worth the wait!!!

8 of out 10! FUN, FUN, FUN!

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Incredible, Fantastic, Amazing, Fun, Entertaining....

[10/10 · 1 December 2002]

I avoided this movie at all costs in the theater because I am totally not a musical kind of guy........but I ended up renting it one day - and I was completely blown away.......Excellent, Superb, Unbelievably Well Scripted, Well Acted, Incredible Cinematograhpy, Astounding Scenes.......This film exudes romance and love....

This film is based on the Bohemian themes of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and above all else love! Baz stays so true to these themes in this film - any Bohemian should be proud..........

The cast could not have been better chosen! Just incredible - Just Incredible - this film was the most moving and entertaining to come along in decades - maybe EVER........Quickly moved from a "musical" to avoid up to one of the top 5 favorite movies of all time!

Just incredible - Do yourself a favor - don't just rent it - go buy it NOW!!

Jeffrey (1995)

Fun - Interesting - Good, but not great.... Enjoyable...

[7/10 · 15 June 2002]

This film is fun.....I like when the characters talk to the audience - it enhances some films....This was interesting for gay viewers - and also good for straight viewers - I especially enjoyed all of the cameos by famous actors.....I loved Olympia Dukakis and her son and Nathan Lane was fantastic as the typical Catholic priest......

K-PAX (2001)

Prot is just a very good film.......

[8/10 · 14 June 2002]

This film has a lot to it. That's why I like it so much....

The acting is really good. I think that the script writing is well done. It has some really good twists. It's not overly predictable. Kevin Spacey again goes beyond the call and is just totally believable as Prot....... I believe in Prot......

8 out of 10

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

What? No real acting...No real script....not much of anything...

[4/10 · 14 June 2002]

Yawn - Yawn - completely predictable from the moment we hit the play button on the DVD player! Just plain boring....everyone could guess the next scene...everyone could predict the ending....oh and that was 3 minutes into the movie - This is why I actually like the 49 cent movie night at our local Movie Rental.....that's when we rent films like this one - and we were right - But hey....we did watch through to the end - that's why it actually got a 5 and not a 3......Fortunately for the film, there was nothing on any of our other 37 cable movie channels.........

5 out of 10

The Others (2001)

Wow - Unbelievably Good! Incredible Acting! See This! Tonight!

[10/10 · 11 June 2002]

Wow - I'm really tough on films, their directors, the actors, the scripts..... With so many to choose from, only the best are worth my time (and yours too!). This one goes down as one of my all time favorites! Incredibly well acted, scripted, filmed, and plotted! I didn't even guess what happened....I was at the edge of my seat the entire film - I was guessing at all turns of this film as to what was happening! Wow - Wow - You won't know until the last few minutes of the film what is really going on!!!!

Kudos to everyone involved in this film - Nicole Kidman is so believable, that I actually could see that she WAS Grace Stewart - incredible acting! The children are sooooo good that it was chilling! Everyone else fit so well in this film....I'm blown away!

See this movie - see this movie tonight! I love mystery-drama-suspense mixed in with a little "scariness" - This film has it all..... This is not one of those bloody (none in the movie) gory (absolutely no goriness) films - but it is just scary enough to keep you guessing what's happening, what's going to happen next, and it'll keep you looking around the room you're in! Make sure you watch this with the lights very low!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy - Enjoy - Enjoy - I will buy this DVD and watch it many times! Great Flick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)

It's a kid's movie....but entertaining enough for adults...

[6/10 · 28 December 2001]

Come on people....the reviews I've been reading here are as if this movie was supposed to be contending for an academy award! We took our 9 and 5 year old and had a nice afternoon! The film is fun and geared toward children. There's not the Shrek or Monster's Inc. or Osmosis Jones dialog that is aimed at adults, it's just plain fun for kids.

So if you want a nice movie that's clean and safe for your children....take them to this! They'll enjoy it and you'll feel good about taking them to see something funny without all the "adultisms". And besides, we laughed at many of the jokes too.....

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Boring - Boring - Boring - Can you say really, really Boring!

[5/10 · 28 December 2001]

If you're not a kid and/or didn't read the book.....run as far away from this drivel as you can. It is so contrived and boring and long and sad........I know it is hugely popular...but I fell asleep several times as the dialog went on and on in the most ridiculous directions! Just pure nothing this film.

Boring, Boring, Boring............although my kids loved it...they really do love the book and this film - so I have to add that to this review. It just was definitely not my kind of film.......The Lord of the Rings, though........that's another story! That's what you should go see if you like fantasy films and are older than 9!

Love and Death on Long Island (1997)

For some strange quirky reason....I actually liked this film..

[7/10 · 21 November 2001]

Maybe it's because the film is strange and quirky....but when it started I had no idea what it was about or what genre. So in the beginning (when it is a little slow for awhile - stick with it - it improves)....I was reading too much into it, then a friend watching with me said, "It's supposed to be like that!". I went...duhhhh...oh - now I get it.... From then on it was very funny and I really enjoyed it.....good acting, interesting script, quirky characters. Not a bad evening viewing - I gave it 7 out of 10.

Shadow Magic (2000)

Don't be fooled! Nothing like the Great films from China!

[3/10 · 9 November 2001]

This might not have been as horribly bad as it was if not for the absolutely awful acting job done by Raymond Wallace! This guy is so bad it wasn't even funny! His character was needed in the film, but why they chose this guy is beyond me.

If you're looking for some quality Chinese films.....might I suggest "Raise the Red Lantern"...."The Story of Qui Ju"...."Red Sorghum"......

Anything but this! I was surprised at how many people actually rated this highly! Really...the acting by this Wallace loser is so bad it overshadows the other good parts of this film. This was agreed upon by all 6 of us watching this movie last night!

Stay Clear of this piece of garbage........

One Night at McCool's (2001)

One Night at McCool's is One Night Too Many! Awful Flick!

[2/10 · 7 November 2001]

I give this piece of Hollywood trash 1 out 10! Seriously! I mean, I like comedy as much as the next guy. I also can take just plain stupid comedy and actually sit back and laugh with it. But this film had nothing to laugh at OR with.

I like nearly all of the actors in this film. So I thought I'd overlook what many people told me about it (my fault for not listening). I was just mortified at how stupid this script was! Just ridiculous and not even in a funny way. The only funny scenes were in the previews that everyone saw in the theater when seeing other movies or on TV. I was very disappointed and I really would like to know why these otherwise relatively good actors would read this script and then still sign up to be in it! Bad decision on their parts...

*********************MAJOR SPOILER************************

Okay - here's my biggest question on this film.......If the characters are looking back on this story of Jewel (Liv Tyler) after the fact....then how can Paul Reiser have gone to a therapist remembering the past!?!?!?!? He dies in the last scene by being crushed by the dumpster!!!! Can anyone answer me that?!?!?!?!? Major goof on the part of the film makers.....Nobody noticed this?!?!?!?!?!?!

Mrs Dalloway (1997)

B - O - R - I - N - G!!!!!!!!

[4/10 · 22 October 2001]

Can you say "Boring" with a capital B! It's slower than watching grass grow! It's more boring than watching paint dry! You'll sleep right through it.....we all did.....don't do it...you'll regret it!

Music from Another Room (1998)

Awful - Unforgiveably Bad - Unbelievably Horrible!

[2/10 · 6 October 2001]

Awful, awful, awful! And those were the best scenes!

This movie wasn't worth the tape it was put on! It was just unforgiveably bad! The acting was so bad, we ended up laughing through the whole film! The dialog was ridiculous at best!

I wouldn't make my worst enemy to watch this - I'd be accused of cruel and unusual punishment!

Save yourself from this piece of absolute trash!

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Not as shabby as I thought it was going to be!

[7/10 · 1 September 2001]

I say if you were even thinking of going to a film that just plain visual and somewhat entertaining....see this in the theater! I won't tell you that parts of it weren't just corny or over-Hollywood-ish, but it is rather fun and if you don't go into it expecting too much, you may leave thinking that it really wasn't too bad! Like I did....... I thought that the special F/X were great, the costumes were pretty well designed, and the scenery was very enticing to the eye and mind. Granted, the dialog was mostly silly at best, but again, for an entertaining film with interesting effects and a nice twist on the Ape saga, Go see this movie. It may be good on DVD with surround sound speakers on a big TV, but if you don't have that, go see this while still at the theaters. I think that the graphics and visuals will be lost on small screen. I gave it 7 out of 10 - just for shear entertainment of the flick, not anything more than that..... Burton's mind is very creative, too and deserves a lot of credit for this film.

Legally Blonde (2001)

Go See This! It's a lot of laughs!

[8/10 · 19 August 2001]

Well worth the money! We laughed nearly every scene. It was of course predictable, but we were there just to laugh. And we did. Not a whole lot of script action, not a whole lot of academy award acting, not a whole lot of action, period, but it was funny, funny, funny. The people behind us laughed more and louder than we did! The people leaving the movie at the end raved about how much they really enjoyed this film and how much fun it was. Reese was just fantastic! If you loved her in Election (and I totally did) - you'll really, really love her in this funny flick! Enjoy!

Enchanted April (1991)

Highly Enjoyable - 7 out of 10.

[7/10 · 19 August 2001]

This was a very good film. I didn't go into it with very high expectations and was pleasantly surprised by the acting, the script, and the scenery. Miranda Richardson was fantastic and so was Joan Plowright. They stole the show. But the other actors played their parts wonderfully also. Very enjoyable film.

The Gift (2000)

Good Entertainment - Worth the Rental....

[8/10 · 13 August 2001]

This story was pretty good. Although, there are parts that are just too far fetched and a little too "Hollywood". I don't know why directors and writers have to go off the track when making a movie. I just don't understand this. This movie had a lot going for it. The acting was really good, lots of stars, a good script, and an interesting plot. But they did stray a little too much away from the course of the quality film it started out as and eventually ended as.

All in all, it was entertaining and I do recommend it.

The House of Yes (1997)

Cool Flick - But why cast Tori Spelling?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[7/10 · 10 June 2001]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film! It was very entertaining. Lots of fun. The characters were insanely fun. The script was truly comical and the acting was also good. I liked the story line and although it was on the sick side....that's what this film had going in its favor! It was unpredictable and edgy. A nice change! I've been wanting to pick this film up for years since I first saw it on the video store shelf...Boy am I glad I did. We all were very entertained!

But Why?!?!?!? Oh Why!??!?!?! Would ANYONE cast Tori Spelling - in anything?!?!?!?!? This film lost one whole point on my 1 to 10 scale because of her! She's just sooooooo awful that she actually brought the whole film down. She's the reason I hadn't picked the film up for years.... A number of interesting actresses could have been cast in this pivotal part. I think this film would have done much better at the box office if that awful excuse for an actress hadn't been in this otherwise entertaining film. Parker Posey was just priceless in her role as "Jackie-O"! And Josh Hamilton and Freddie Prinze Jr were totally fun in their parts too!

If you just want to have a good laugh and not think about a lot .... this might just be your film! Thumbs up for this production.....