WhenUPlayTheGameOfThrones Reviews

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)

"...a movie that was so obviously cheaply thrown together..."

[3/10 · 5 August 2008]

I have a best friend who is obsessed with The Mummy movies (or at least was) when we were younger. I saw the first one maybe when I was nine and the second at the same age. They never stood out to me as much as a "good" movie but they were enjoyable. Going to see this movie, I knew it was going to be bad. I mean, The Mummy 3? If you are a fan of the series or not, I wouldn't suggest going to see this movie.

Basically, its about the same characters as the first two although the wife is now played by a different actress who puts on an awful English accent. Their son, as seen in The Mummy Returns, returns for this sequel although he is suddenly about college age and his parents don't seem to be aging at all. Weird, right? Now to the plot: It's about some Chinese emperor that enslaved the people of China and made them build this big wall; The Great Wall of China. He tried to cheat death by calling on a witch who cursed him and his army and turned them all into mummies when all she should of done was just made them go poof and disappear. The movie then jumps to the present (or 1930s) and the main character's son finds the Chinese emperor and the emperor is later re-awakened and tries to find a way to enslave the people of China once more by reaching the pool of eternal life that will give him ultimate power (um, how?). The characters from the other two movies, of course, are the only ones that try to stop this mummy from succeeding with his plan. Now, if that doesn't sound like an Oscar-worthy exciting plot...it's because it isn't.

There were a few things I liked about the movie besides the opening and closing credits. There actually were some funny scenes that did make me laugh out loud. But the scenes that made me laugh even harder were the awful scenes that were SUPPOSED to be serious. The movie itself didn't seem as bad when the opening began to it quickly fell into a movie that was so obviously cheaply thrown together with little character development and a love story that was more simple than a "love-at-first-sight" scene.

Now, onto the things I didn't like. The new actress that took over for whatever-her-name-is isn't very good. Her accent sounded forced and just didn't fit with the rest of the feel of the movie. The son, who magically turned into a grown man was alright and I didn't really feel much for his relationship with his father (even when they had an emotional scene...wait, WAS it supposed to be emotional?). This new Asian girl that is the most randomly placed character in any film I have ever seen was a horrible short at a twist and a love story with the main dude's son. Their love story seemed to have been contrived of two words and one kiss. Okay so, my main problem with the movie was how awfully put together it was. The mummy itself wasn't as good as the original and the story wasn't all that interesting. Leading to an "epic" climax...it sort of falls flat. Also, was there a moral? Or even a relevant theme by the end of the movie? Was it something to do with father-son relations? Immortality? Or not waking mummies? I really don't know.

My favorite part of the film: Yes, this isn't a part but whatever. That apparently drinking from a pool of eternal life means that you can turn into a dragon.

Lost: Walkabout (2004) Season 1, Episode 4

Arguably the greatest Locke moment

[9/10 · 14 April 2008]

I love Locke. Everything about him. His character is dark and mysterious the first couple of episodes and I remember watching back when and wanting to see his flashback. This is the episode where we finally learn more about Locke's past and why he is the way he is. It really does pay off and the use of flashbacks is incredible at the very end. Also, the one "scene" with the monster is awesome. If you are watching the show on DVD, you need to see this episode.

The episode opens with wild boars raiding the fuselage left on the beach with the survivors and Jack decides the fuselage must be burned. After four days of being on the island, the survivors realize their food supply is running out and Locke reveals he is a hunter and suggests that they hunt for food. Kate, Micheal, and Locke set out to hunt the boar. Sayid gives Kate the transceiver and asks that while she is away hunting, she tries to receive a signal. Micheal is injured while they are hunting and Locke is thrown off his feet, after a strange encounter with numbness in his legs he tells Kate and Micheal to head back to the beach and they do so, leaving Locke to hunt by himself. Along the way, Kate climbs a tree to get a signal for the transceiver but drops it when she hears the monster and sees the trees begin to move. The monster is revealed to be heading for Locke, and instead of running, Locke holds his ground, falling to the ground as the monster (not shown) slowly moves close to his face.Back on the beach the survivors are cleaning up the remainders of the plane and Claire decides to lead a ceremony for the deceased. Boone suggests to Jack that he talk to Rose who has been distant since they crashed. Rose tells Jack that her husband, who was in the tail section of the plane when it crashed, is still alive, she has faith. Sayid is mad when Kate and Micheal return with a broken transceiver and Kate tells Jack about Locke (thinking he is dead). Jack looses focus when he sees a man walk out of the jungle in a suite, he runs after, Kate following, only to find Locke covered in blood holding a dead boar. That night, Claire holds a memorial service for the dead passengers using information she found in their passports, wallets, and luggage. Charlie takes a hit of heroin before attending; his stash is running low. Jack is not among the group. Michael who is standing next to Locke asks him if he saw anything out there, Locke simply replies "no". Locke stares at a wheelchair slowly burning in the flames.

In the flashbacks throughout the episode, it is Locke working at an office building during lunch hour. His manager, Randy, is taunting him when he finds out that Locke plans to go on an Australian walkabout saying that Locke can't do those things in his condition. At home in his studio apartment, Locke is talking to a woman named Helen on the phone and tells her of his walkabout opportunity. He invites her to go to the walkabout, but she declines and says that she does not meet customers. She then tells Locke that continuing the conversation will mean charging for another hour, but that he "can't afford it". He says he doesn't care about the money, but she hangs up on him. Locke angrily hangs up his phone. In a flashback, Locke is in Australia talking to one of the leaders on the walkabout. He refuses to let Locke come because of his condition, saying it's too big of a risk for the insurance company. As the man gets up to leave, Locke pulls away and is shockingly revealed to be in a wheelchair. In a flashback two minutes after the crash, Locke is lying on his back in the sand. He wiggles his toes, then slowly and clumsily stands up when Jack asks him for help with the man under the wreckage.

I love pretty much everything about this episode. This is one of the earlier episodes that truly does require a second viewing. The first time I saw it, I didn't think the episode was anything special until the very end when it was revealed Locke was in a wheelchair. When you re-watch it, it is one of the first examples of how obvious "Lost" can be about its twists but yet no one seems to catch them while they watch. I cry every time Locke is screaming after the bus when it leaves him. My heart just breaks for him. I also love the repeating of "Don't tell me what I can't do," (and again when Jack says it). The "scene" with the monster and Locke doesn't really come into play until later but it truly is an awesome scene and Locke happens to be the first character to ever see the monster (not that we do or anything).

On the downside, I know that the wheelchair was used for symbolism. But knowing Locke's character, he should have let the others use the wheelchair to move debris and water bottles in later episodes instead of letting it burn. I also hate Jack and his scene with Rose. I love Rose, but I absolutely hate how Jack never has faith in anyone, how could you look at that woman and seriously tell her that her husband is dead? Let her be, its not like she's hurting anyone by thinking so.

My favorite part of the episode: When it is finally revealed that Locke was in a wheelchair. I cry every time.

Lost: Pilot: Part 1 (2004) Season 1, Episode 1

Sit back and prepare for an amazing journey

[10/10 · 4 December 2007]

The first season is my second favorite season so far. This season alone is one of the best examples of realistic nature in a television program. Each episode probably has some of "Lost's" greatest moments. This season is pretty much the basis for the entire series alone. Each character will be explored in extreme depth through the use of flashbacks (one episode following the journey of one character). Although the first two episodes (and the last one) don't focus on one character alone, they are still some of the best episodes "Lost" will ever produce.

Before you watch this show, sit back and relax. You are about to be taken on one of the most amazing and unique experiences of your life. By stretching your brain and your imagination, "Lost" is one show you will never forget. This episode really is brilliant in the way that it is different than most television shows' pilots and many other "Lost" episodes to come. This episode doesn't start you on the usual direction the show's episodes take you in. If you plan on watching on DVD, it's kind of obvious that you shouldn't skip this one.

The episode opens with Jack Sheperd awakening in the jungle to find that he is one of forty eight victims all involved in the plane crash of Oceanic Flight 815. Jack almost automatically takes the role of the "hero" by doing CPR on Rose and protecting the eight month pregnant Claire. After the surviving passengers cope with being stranded on an island, they wait for rescue. The quietness of the camp is then disturbed by roaring and crashing trees out in the jungle, startling the survivors of the crash.

Jack, Kate, and Charlie set out to send a distress call using the plane's transceiver. While they make there way into the jungle and find the front piece of the plane perched against trees, they head inside it. They find the pilot, almost unconscious and ask questions about the crash finding out that they were more than 1,000 miles off course. The pilot is then snatched from the top window and Charlie, Kate, and Jack all run for their lives. The noise stops, and the three find each other. Minutes later to they see the mangled, bloodied, body of the pilot suspended in the tree tops.

There really is so much to like about this episode. The first shot is magically done. The silence in the jungle and the dilating of Jack's pupil. It's very well done. Of course, the whole "aftermath" of the plane crash is great. From the man being sucked into the engine, to the wing almost falling onto Claire. With Boone running around looking for pens well added humor silently slips into a dramatic and hard to watch scene. It all seemed to open like a movie. This made "Lost" stand out right from the beginning as the first episode focused more on action and story rather then characters. The whole scene between Kate and Jack is great. The acting and terror in Kate's face as is wonderfully done (with subtle hints as to her origins). After the first season, this is definitely an episode worth looking back at. All the little hints to the character's different backgrounds is brilliantly and nonchalantly done.

The one thing I had a problem with was how fast the survivors began to cope with what had happened. I'd be crying, personally. And they all seemed to make it out with minimal cuts and scrapes.

My favorite part of the episode: The connection between Jack's story about counting away fear and Kate's actual counting away of fear. Her acting is brilliant and it sends shivers down my spine every time I see it.

Lost: Pilot: Part 2 (2004) Season 1, Episode 2

The second part of the series premiere

[10/10 · 4 December 2007]

This is really the episode where finally things kick off. The only "important" thing that happens in the episode before is when they hear the monster in the forest. This episode starts to pile questions on you, starts Kate's story, the French Woman's significance, Charlie's story, and finally the polar bears.

This episode revolves around Kate, Charlie, Shannon, Boone, Sayid, and Sawyer's trip to get the transceiver working. Jack, Kate, and Charlie head back to the beach and we discover that Charlie was retrieving drugs he lost in the toilet during the flight when he was in the bathroom in the previous episode. Walt finds handcuffs on the beach and shows Micheal. This leads Sawyer to believe that Sayid is an Iraqi terrorist. Sayid fixes the transceiver but it doesn't have much battery life. During this, it is revealed that Sayid was a communications officer with the Iraqi republican guard in the Gulf War. Sawyer decides to join the group that is going to try to retrieve a better signal by reaching higher ground on the island. Along the way, they are attacked by a polar bear which Sawyer shoots and kills and later explains that he got the gun off of a dead U.S. marshal. Kate takes the gun from Sawyer and it is revealed in a flashback that she was the marshal's prisoner.

Back at the beach, the marshal wakes up and is looking for Kate. Inland, the group reaches the top of a mountain and listens to a French transmission on the transceiver that's blocking access to them communicating to the outside. Shannon translates it: "I'm alone now, on the island alone. Please someone come. The others are dead. It killed them. It killed them all." The group gives each other meaningful looks before Charlie says "Guys, where are we?".

I absolutely love this episode. It was probably the episode that really got me interested. Granted, you have to wait for the French transmission to be explained for another nine episodes. The flashbacks in the first episode never really reveal anything too important or startling but when you see them with this episode, it all becomes clear. I love the little things this episode does to foreshadow episodes to come (Sawyer reading the letter). I love the realism of everyone blaming and suspecting the most obvious people to be the prisoner that was on the plane, its so realistic. The irony is also well done when Kate finally gets the gun. It's when of those "ARGH!" moments.

But on the downside, I hate how everyone seems to know and like Charlie's band. Granted, there is a deleted scene where Shannon says she hated them. But that really should have been shown in the episode. Also, Shannon could have totally translated the signal wrong, they just sort of believe everything she said. And I'll repeat again, the characters seem very calm after a plane crash.

My favorite part of the episode: Watching the plane crash from Kate's point of view. She was the only one that stayed awake through most of it.

Lost: Tabula Rasa (2004) Season 1, Episode 3

The first Kate episode

[8/10 · 4 December 2007]

The anticipation for this episode really was hitting me hard. I wanted to know what Kate did, I wanted to know why she was on the plane. Obviously she did something horrible enough to make the marshal, even in severe pain, ask for her. The episode definitely didn't give me any of that, just some character development and the end to the marshal and Kate storyline. Kate is one of the most annoying characters on "Lost", not because she is a criminal, it's because she always needs to go everywhere with everyone and always has a secret. Frankly, it gets old.

First, on the island story. This episode revolves around Kate Austen. Transitioning from "Pilot: Part 2" it starts with Jack tending to the marshal and finally learning of Kate's origins. The group returns from the hike and decides not to let the others know about the French signal in worry that it will cause panic. They fight about who should keep the gun and decide on giving it to Kate who then tells Jack secretly about the transmission. When Walt asks Locke about backgammon (in which Locke is playing) Locke explains the origins and then reveals a secret about the island to Walt. Micheal confronts Walt about Locke and tells him to stay away from the man and Walt responds telling Micheal that Locke told him a miracle happened to him on the island.

The marshal is being kept in a tent to slowly die. The marshal tells Jack that he wants to speak to Kate alone. Kate enters the tent and Hurley tells Jack that Kate had a gun with her. They see Kate leave the tent and hear a gunshot behind her. Sawyer walks out behind Kate and says that he did what had to be done but the cried continue. Sawyer shot him in the chest missing his heart. Jack throws Sawyer out of the tent. Locke creates a dog whistle and finds Vincent (the dog) who had ran away earlier. He tells Micheal to give it to Walt as a way of bonding. Kate offers to tell Jack about herself and he dismisses it saying that their pasts don't matter here considering they are all dead to the world anyway. Micheal then gives the dog to Walt and Locke watches darkly from afar.

This isn't my favorite episode of "Lost" seeing as though it comes right after the Pilot which, in my opinion, is fantastic. I do like Locke's explanation of the black and white pieces in backgammon which are theorized by fans to come into play in later episodes. Kate's flashback is somewhat interesting and can hold its own as a separate story behind the island's story. I absolutely love Locke's mystery in this episode and his "secret" which is revealed in the next episode.

On the downside, this episode, for me, doesn't revolve around Kate like it should. It revolves around Locke and Sawyer. By the end, the episode just makes me wonder what Locke's secret is and not feeling bad for Kate. Also, I don't feel bad for Sawyer when he doesn't kill the guy. You can see it in his eyes, that he's upset. I also don't really like the happiness at the end of the episode, it sort of seems out of place and a little strange for me.

My favorite part of the episode: When you think Sawyer shot the marshal and killed him, only for it to be revealed that he isn't dead. My heart fell the first time I saw it.

Enchanted (2007)

I thought it was going to be better

[5/10 · 4 December 2007]

Let me start with the introduction. Seeing the oh-so-not-interesting trailer I had no expectations nor intent in seeing this movie. I thought it looked cliché, unoriginal, and totally not funny. Maybe thats how I should have went into seeing this movie? Well, my choice in seeing this came from my aunt, uncle, and two cousins saying it was hilarious and an overall good movie. My thoughts had changed and I was going to see "Enchanted".

Mostly everyone has seen the trailers/previews for this movie so they know whats going down when they hit the movie theater (if you don't I almost don't feel sorry for you). Basically put, its an old Disney fairytale that meets live action. The cliché princess Giselle is banished down a well by the evil queen who oddly resembles that of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. So pretty much she needs to find her prince and somehow survive in the strange world that doesn't work the way she is used too. Can she do it? The movie focuses around one thing, taking every Disney idea and clashing it with well thought out comedy to create a slow moving kids movie that will more than likely will appeal to adults rather than what it aims for. The character of Giselle is extremely lovable as well as all the fairy tale characters but the Manhattan characters seem somewhat dull and uninteresting. The opening scene in the movie almost tries to hard to be funny and the song is just over done to the max. It was nice at first, but oh my god can you say dragged?! The main problem with this movie is that it doesn't know what audience it is aiming for. The kid behind me kept saying "Mommy, I don't want to be here." The movie needed to make up its mind halfway through and never does. With the pattern of good lined scenes being ruined in the previews, this movie has no spunk when its finally shown to you. Every single line was out before the movie so I didn't chuckle once. Another major problem I had with the movie is the moral. There seemed to be one at the midway point but then it just dissolved and seemed to dismiss itself. I mean, is it don't love someone until you know them? Be yourself? I'm not quite sure. The relationship between the daughter (so forgettable I don't even remember her name) and Giselle seemed rushed and just there to make the movie "heartfelt." We saw them together maybe once...and Giselle never even taught her that dreams do come true. I hate to be coming down on a kids movie, but I wouldn't feel as bad if it was aimed where it was supposed to be. Like I said, maybe I should have seen it thinking it was going to be horrible...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

"Buffy" grabs you from the beginning and stabs a space in your heart forever.

[10/10 · 12 November 2007]

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is the television series based off the below average Hollywood movie "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". In every generation there is a chosen one... she alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer and her name is Buffy Summers. At the age of sixteen she and her mother move to the town of Sunnydale. Buffy wants to be a normal girl and leave her slayer life behind after it causes her to be expelled from her previous school. Little does she know that Sunnydale is above pure evil and things will be even worse at Sunnydale High. Joined with Willow Rosenberg and Alexander "Xander" Harris, and her watcher Giles, Buffy fights the challenges of High School and saves the world...a lot.

The first time I saw Buffy I was blown away. When this show came out, nothing had the same effect as this show, it was totally and surprisingly different. The snappy and quick dialog keeps each episode moving at an extremely fast pass and each cracking joke keeps you wanting more. Every character that is a part of Buffy is lovable. The writing and ideas for the show are incredible and can leave you sitting in your seat speechless by the end.

Sarah Michelle Gellar gives a slam dunk performance as Buffy Summers. Her pure woman power attitude is exactly what the original movie was missing and her loving energy is what keeps you held in.Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris is the comic relief character and boy does he not disappoint. Alyson Hannigan, the lovable and sweet Willow Rosenberg. All these characters and more just keep you in love with the show.

I would definitely recommend Buffy to anyone and everyone. The show is exceptional. The acting is awesome and the characters are exactly what everyone needs.

Buffy gets a standing ovation from my fan crowd!