Change Your Image
seger_now
Reviews
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Absolutely fantastic!
I have never had so much fun watching a film as 'Master and Commander'. It is authentic, thrilling, full of life and adventure, and filled with wonderful performances by all of the cast members. Russell Crowe proves once again he is one of our best male actors, and Paul Bettany deserves a supporting Oscar for his crisp portrayal of the intellectual ship surgeon Maturin. As a bonus, the musical score and soundtrack to this film is astounding.
It may not win Best Picture at this year's academy awards, but director Peter Weir deserves another Oscar nomination--only this time, he must win. It is the only fitting reward for crafting such a magnificent film.
Gallipoli (1981)
An engrossing movie with one of the best endings in cinema.
'Gallipoli' is the story of two young sprinters who join the war effort in Turkey during World War I. There have been countless war films in cinema history covering the different wars, the horrors of war, etc. What is unique about this story is its probing of two young friends and their journey into the military effort--unlike other war films, which deal directly with the war, 90% of this film follows the journey of these two young men before they transfer over to the war. The special quality of this is that the viewer gets to know these two protagonists very well and their humble lives in Australia--which makes the tragic ending all the more devastating. The last 20 or 30 minutes of the film is spent at the Gallipoli peninsula, inside the war trenches. The generals vainly send men running toward the enemy and they are swiftly slaughtered. These scenes demonstrate the horrible truth of war, that healthy young men with lives ahead of them are destroyed forever in a single, pointless instance.
The final minute of the film is truly heartbreaking, as a tragedy occurs between the two young friends. The very last shot of the film is stunning, as a horrible image is frozen on screen. Director Weir could have fallen into the sentimentality trap, but he was smart: the tragedy occurs, and the moment it does, the movie ends RIGHT THERE, leaving you with a haunting final image.
A landmark war film, highly recommended.
28 Days Later... (2002)
Personally, the most horrifying movie I've ever seen.
*28 Days Later* was the most horrifying movie I've ever seen. No, I'm not exaggerating. No, I'm not being too easy on it. I am being honest--the simple fact is, no other movie has ever terrified me quite like this one. This film isn't jump-out-of-your-seat scary (although there are a couple of surprise "Boo!" parts), rather it is burrowing-under-you-skin frightening.
I thought the acting was perfect, the writing smart, the story horrifying (and somewhat plausible, despite the unlikely nature that a virus would change someone that fast) and the direction raw and crisp.
I often complain about the crappy world we live in, but when seeing a world as depicted through this movie, it renews your gratefulness of the status quo. Things could be a lot worse.
Kudos to Danny, Alex, and company for a job well done!
Law & Order (1990)
The pinnacle of television drama.
I began watching "Law & Order" about three years ago, long after the series had been established as a success. I have watched no other television program as avidly as this one.
"Law & Order" is perhaps the finest of the television crime dramas. Each episode begins with the discovery of a victim, then continues with the police investigation until the middle of the program. Then, the focus switches to the prosecutors, who must use the evidence gathered by the police and form a case that will land the suspect a guilty verdict.
The series is so great because it is well-filmed, well directed and acted. The show takes a fresh, real-life style to the situations and characters. Additionally, many of the episodes feature stories that have very intelligent and controversial ideas at the core (for example, one episode dealt with 4th amendment violations by the detectives - which really hindered the prosecution's ability to build a case, and another episode dealt with the validity of the death penalty).
The drama in this program is fantastic. The viewer feels the struggles and conflicts of the detectives and the prosecutors in their efforts. The drama increases in the courtroom scenes, where the witnesses are brutally interrogated by the prosecution and defense. The drama climaxes during the closing arguments of the prosecutor (Mr. McCoy, played by Sam Waterston) and the subsequent verdict. The endings usually end with a twist or a powerful comment by one of the characters.
All in all, a magnificent program.
The Matrix (1999)
Magnificently spectacular!
"The Matrix" must definitely be the best action film ever - at least in my opinion.
In terms of eye candy, "The Matrix" is like a chocolate sundae. Even if you watch it with the sound on mute, the film looks absolutely amazing. It is drenched in such superlative cyberpunk atmosphere, with slick cinematography, sets, and costume design. The direction by the Watchowski's is full of vision.
Additionally, the action scenes themselves are so over-the-top. No action film before has filmed action sequences this way: frequent slow-motion, off-the-wall (literally) choreography mixture of martial arts and gunplay. The lobby scene toward the end of the film is perhaps the best action sequence of any film, period.
The story is also competent, with many mind-blowing moments.
This film will definitely be a cult classic. I hope the sequels are as good (but it seems like it will be difficult to top the original!
10/10
Citizen Kane (1941)
Fantastic.
I don't have any clear, rational reason why I think this is a great movie - I simply love it. Good enough reason for myself.
Being an adolescent, you'd expect me to love a more modern film and hate ones like "Citizen Kane," now 61 years old. But there's just something about this film that I love. Perhaps it's the great direction, great acting, and many classic scenes. Orson Welles was the best.
There is a certain quality inherent in these old 1930's and 1940's classics. The combination of a real focus on acting, as well as a certain attraction for the old black-and-white color of filming - in essence, a feeling of datedness - that makes these films such a joy to experience. "Citizen Kane" is my favorite among these classics.
Such classic scenes in the movie include the opening "Rosebud" death scene of Mr. Kane, the proceeding reel-clip on his life, as well as the ending. But there is much more within the film.
All in all, a film for the ages. 10/10