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Reviews
Miami Vice (2006)
Miami Vice 2006 On Steroids and Cocaine.Kick A**
I remember hearing about a film version of Miami Vice being created by one of the great filmmakers of the past 25 years who is none other than Michael Mann. After hearing mixed reviews from the average movie-goer and the critics I became skeptical about going to see this so I didn't bother going to the theater to see this. After 4 months after the release word was Mann had created a " Director's Revision Cut" of the film 2 months after the Theatrical Release. When i heard about this i decided to buy it. Worth every penny. I enjoyed it greatly. I loved the cinematography which some hated, the soundtrack was excellent, its plot was great primarily based on "Smugglers Blues" from the original series first season. The acting was first rate. But i can understand why people hated this film. The trailer is misleading to a Michael Bay Bad Boys piece of crap that does great in the box office. Miami Vice is an acquirred taste. The viewer needs to be paying attention to everything, have a concept of vision and have a good taste in movies.
For those wishing to watch take my word its great film, highly under rated and deserves more. When it comes to versions i would just watch the Unrated Cut. It seems many Vice fans agree. Go see it.
Casino Royale (2006)
Welcome to the Layer Cake son.
The best James Bond film since Goldfinger. Im not a big Bond guy but I really enjoyed the original 3. Dr.No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger. But I must say this was absolutely the best Bond film I've seen in a long time. The story was superb. Daniel Craig is the best Bond since Connery, and its actually realistic.
Written first by Paul Haggis. This script is excellent. Right from the beginning when we see the two kills that promote Bond to 00 status i though wow finally a good opening sequence for a Bond film. It also contains some inside jokes or taking shots at the previous films like all the cliché moments. When Bond goes to order a Vodka Martini the bartender asks "How do you want it".I heard somebody in the audience go "Shaken not s.." but before he could finish Bond responds "Does it look like I give a damn". Everybody was laughing at that idiot. And when Bond is captured by the main villain the villain enters Bonds holding cell while hes strapped to a bottomless chair, naked and the villain says "Its not that complicated to torture a man" I felt that referenced to the other films which deal in lasers,timers and sharp objects. Instead Le Chiffre prefers the rug beater. I will say no further except it must have been painful.
I was surprised to see people petitioning Daniel Craig a great British actor who's been in greats such as "Layer Cake" and "Enduring Love". I think after Bond fans saw Royale they probably realized what some actors are capable of. He is simply the best since Connery. His performance was marvelous especially when he says his one liners or Bond-ish phrases he doesn't over do it like all the other Bonds except Connery. He is simply speaking like Bond as a human being would speak and not saying with a stupid grin thinking "What I just said was clever". Hopefully Craig being the great actor that he is and this film is going to do wonders for his career can do at least two more Bond films.
The only reason i cant watch the Roger Moore Bond films and anything after that was because they were simply ridiculous. The plots were terrible. Acting very campy and the dialogue is cliché. People already know what hes going to say before he speaks. The villains diabolical plots or schemes are far fetched, impossible and silly. However this is about an accountant for terrorists who needs money to pay off a terrorist organization due to a failed attack on a proto type of a plane. Bonds mission is to clean him out of all his money and take him in to MI6 as witness against these organizations. Very simple. Not too many twists. No diabolical plot. Just an excellent spy film. For those reading WATCH CASINO ROYALE!!THIS COULD BE THE BEST POPCORN MOVIE/BOND FILM OUT THERE.IN CRAIG WE TRUST!!! don_logan
Reservoir Dogs (2006)
Its A Good Game, Fans Wont Be Disappointed
****For those who haven't the film please STOP Reading**** This game when first hearing of it thought it was going to be another play the film kinda of game. But it isn't. This just explains some of things that the characters discussed in the classic film. Such questions that are answered include what happened to Mr.Blue, did Mr.Pink get away with the diamonds, how did Mr. Blonde get out and with the cop and much more. For people who'd want a little more clarity and would like to play as all of the Dogs this is the perfect opportunity.
As the tech stuff goes the game play is fine, easy to control and what not but what ticks me off are the movie sequences in between the chapters. They look a little fuzzy and the characters don't look or sound similar to the original actors with the exception of Mr. Blonde.The graphics are fine nothing bothered me about it except comparing the look of the characters to the actors. I recognized Jack Mcgee's(Chief Riley on Rescue Me) voice portraying Mr.White who doesn't even sound close to Harvey Keitel's. In the game you could do cool stuff during the missions like when you try to run from the cops you can use by standers or cops as hostages and order cops to surrender or he/she gets it kinda deal and every character has a signature move which when you apply it on a cop or by stander, the camera pans up and to the right or to the left like the scene in the movie where Mr.Blonde cuts the cop's ear off.I also found the levels done in cars stupid. I thought those were pointless and made the game more like GTA rather than Max Payne kind game.
To sum up its a good game, plenty of shooting,blood and fun.Fans will enjoy it but might be ticked off by its lack of realism towards the film. I wonder if the answers provided where Tarantino's idea. When they developed the game they also had his script to rip stuff off from. Anyway if you have never seen the movie please watch it and then play the game it will seem a lot more fun and cooler if you are a new fan to Reservoir Dogs. Go out and buy it its $30 if you don't want to take the risk then just rent it. --don_logan--
Brotherhood (2006)
An exceptional series that will surpass "The Sopranos"
After watching the series when it aired its Pilot episode i was completely taken by how different it is to other shows on prime time which lack as good of writing as Brotherhood.The acting is superb in the series most of all Jason Issacs who really was one reason I decided to tune in to the Pilot.However the show isn't just about the mob but how its main character Tommy Caffee runs The Hill a little town in Providence Rhode Island.Jason Clarke is incredible in the series who i see getting more work because if his great performance in the series.With Nip/Tuck going down the tubes as well as The Sopranos this show will receive the credit it deserves with its exceptional writing,gritty style and authentic dialogue it will only be a matter of time until Brotherhoo becomes the next best show on Television
The Departed (2006)
Best Movie Of The Year Hands Down
Martin Scorcese's The Departed is by far one of the best films hes done in a long time.Gangs Of New York was a great movie I just thought it was going to be better.The Aviator wasn't as good as this film either.The Departed is every bit as good as Goodfellas.I read somewhere that Robert De Niro was going to play Jack Nicholsons character and if that went along the film wouldn't be as good as it is now.Jack Nicholson is going to be nominated for his portrayal of Frank Costello.He plays it crazy and ruthless at the same time.He is hands down the best actor of the year.Leo Dicaprio and Matt Damon give easily the best performances of their careers.They shine on the screen and show audiences what good acting is.The supporting actors Mark Wahlberg,Martin Sheen,Alec Baldwin,Ray Winstone also left me with memorable moments when they were on screen.Wahlberg acts as good as in Boogie Nights and Ray Winstone gives an exceptional performance as Mr. French as he did in Sexy Beast which will always be Winstones best.Martin Sheen stood out in this film and was brilliant as well as Baldwin who left with a lasting impression and should have had a bit more screen time because he played his character so well.
In The Departed Scorsese and his quality of directing met eye to eye with his classic Goodfellas.Every shot every scene has his signature.I love his choice of music for the film as well. The Rolling Stones,Pink Floyd,Dropkick Murphys and tons more memorable pieces of music gave The Departed a great sense of style which Scorses wasn't able to do in Gangs Of New York or The Aviator.William Monohan's adaptation of the Asian film Infernal Affairs was great it took its basic plot of spys on both sides and that is it the rest was from his own creation and the dialogue is fantastic and very authentic and real to where the film takes place.One of the best written movies in my opinion ever since Micael Manns Heat.
In the end I see The Departed winning Best Picture because there hasn't been a film of this caliber in many years ever since 2000.Martin Scorsese will be nominated but i doubt he will win and get ripped off once again considering the amount of racial slurs and slang which is part of The Departed's realism which is also featured in Goodfellas is one of the reasons Scorsese will get ripped off again.The violence will also be apart of it because the Academy just cant stomach it. Best adapted screenplay definitely The Departed will win.In the actor category Jack Nicholson will definitely win I've haven't seen an actor so devoted and loyal to a character ever since Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote.Leo Dicaprio and Matt Damon should also be nominated for best actor however Nicholson will get the nomination due to his age and time in the business of film.
-Don Logan
The Illusionist (2006)
Finally A Good Movie In Theatres
The Illusionist is a mesmerizing tale of Eisenhiem the Illusionist(Edward Norton) who's past love Sophie(Jessica Biel) meet again during one of Eisenhiems performances.However she is already engaged to the speculated woman beating heir to the throne of Vienna and can never be with Iesenhiem again.However Eisenhiem has plan to bring them together.While planning they're escape Inspector Ouhl(Giamatti) sees the two together in Vienna and immediately reports this to the Prince and assigns Ouhl with the task of following the two and if possible arrest Eisenhiem. When night falls the Prince kills Sophie in a drunken rage.Eisenhiem filled with vengeance decides to astonish the town by putting his plan into action.
I truly enjoyed watching this film and would like to watch it again.I sense that the film will be nominated for a number Oscars due to the fact that many movies have been very disappointing this year.Edward Norton who i haven't seen for quite some time is brilliant in this film and perhaps will be mentioned in the best actor category.Paul Giammati who has deserved an Oscar for Sideways could being going for the same category as well.And the film it self could be up for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.I stand strongly by this film and hope that others see it.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
This Movie Sucked!Not even close to Anchorman or Old School
After reading the Herald and its review that this movie was better than Anchorman I had to go see it.After the first maybe seven minutes when they introduce the horrible,overextended moronic "Grace" scene I didn't even smirk.After that scene the film just kept getting dumber and dumber to the point where I tried to sleep but the film was just so annoying I couldn't even go to sleep.Will Ferrell did a great a job at his character but he wasn't funny.Sacha Baron Cohen as Jean Girard who is probably the only character that mad laugh once in the movie with his line "Now it is time the Matador dances with the Blind Shoe Maker". that was pretty funny.John C. Reilly sucked also.He should have Shaked N'Baked himself out of this movie.They should have gotten Steve Carrell to do the role but hes too good for this movie.Reilly should stick to P.T Anderson films like Boogie Nights and Magnolia where he belongs.Gary Cole wasn't funny at all either though he gave a brilliant performance as Reese Bobby.Overall this movie was a huge disappointment and a horrible film.I'm hoping Will Ferrell and SNL Writer Adam Mckay come up with something better for their next comedy collaboration.
The Shield (2002)
Best Cop Show on Cable Television.
"The Shield" is one of those cop shows that come along very rarely.I remember watching the Pilot when it premiered and for those who have seen this episode know its easily on the top five best episodes of the series.The Pilot's ending is exactly what got me hooked to the series and i have been a fan ever since.The show is very well written and not one episode has ever sucked which is very rare for a series to accomplish after five years.Its characters are all interesting i never want to change the channel or skip forward an episode when a sub-plot is featured and every character is acted extremely well.Michael Chiklis won an Emmy after the 1st season and he deserved.This was a different cop that was on television.The Shield is one of the few shows that also has actual realism to the show that its actually believable and not like other shows.I love the look of the Shield.Instead of some high tech Police Station "The Barn" was once a church and looks claustrophobic and nauseating.Its camera work is something that adds to the shows realism as well as the TV-MA rating which gives this show the freedom to be more violent,profane and sexual which without wouldn't leave as much effect on the viewer as it does with it.I mean imagine "The Sopranos" with out profanity and violence I wouldn't believe that this was the mafia.That being said if you like smart written,cool looking well acted series' than go check out "The Shield" on FX Tuesdays @10pm
Hannibal (2001)
Deserved Oscars,Scarier than Silence of the Lambs,Great Casting
Plot:Based on the novel Hannibal starts off ten years after Silence with Lecter still on the loose and Clarice an established agent in the FBI. After screwing up on the job Clarice played in the sequel by Julianne Moore is forced to take a case dealing with Hannibal Lecter. This case is brought up by Hannibal's fourth victim the very wealth and disfigured Mason Verger played disturbingly by Gary Oldman who has put out a 3 million dollar reward for anything leading to the capture of Hannibal Lecter.Hannibal who escaped to Buenos Aires in Silence now lives in Florence(not surprising he did mention Florence in Silence) and is recognized by a detective who plans to capture Lecter for the reward.However not knowing what hes dealing with is killed in the process and tells Hannibal about Mason Verger.While questioning the detective his cellphone rings and after ten years Clarice and Hannibal make contact. Now after conversing Hannibal decides to go back to the U.S and play cat and mouse with Clarice after she is temporarily discharged after District Attorney Paul Krendler plants evidence that Clarice has made contact with Lecter and is later found.Finding out what Krendler has done Lecter follows him to his beach house and drugs him. When Lecter asks Clarice to meet at Union Station Masons henchmen follow and capture Lecter in front of Clarice. Hannibal being captured and Mason ready to make him suffer backfires when Clarice goes to free Lecter and succeeds but gets shot in the process. Leaving Hannibal to save her and takes her to Paul Krendlers beach house where Lecter has planned dinner.Yum!Clarice who wakes up dizzy elegantly dressed calls the police and heads down to dinner with a heavily sedated Krendler and Lecter preparing dinner.Later we find out whats the main course is Krendlers brain. After dinner Lecter cleans up in the kitchen and Clarice decides to knock out Lecter with a candle stick Lecter overpowers her and gets her caught in the refrigerator door. As he kisses her she cunningly hand cuffs him with her and Lecter simply grabs a meat cleaver and asks "above or below the wrist".We see Hannibal strike down the cleaver but we later find out he cut off his own hand. In the end Hannibal escapes and is on a plane. Review:This was a great movie. Anthony Hopkins was scarier than in Silence because now he is out in the open and not in cell. Though Jodie Foster didn't return for the sequel Julianne Moore did just fine with her accent and tough attitude considering she isn't a trainee anymore.Some great performances by its supporting cast such as Gary Oldman as Mason who seems very disturbing and psychotic. And Ray Liotta playing Krendler a real a**hole.I heard that Jonathan Demme would direct this but Ridley Scott is obviously the better choice he kept SOTL's original style but gave it more life with his camera work in Italy and making Clarices workspace look more creepier than ever and Hannibal's new look with the clothes and not the jumpsuit.Written by two great writers David Mamet(Glenngarry Glenn Ross,Spartan,Wag the Dog) and Steven Zallian(Schindler's List) this film succeeds in every way possible with no faults. Id recommend it to fans of Silence and people interested in seeing a great film.
Heat (1995)
Should have won many Oscars, Michael Mann's Best Film
Heat.My #4 on my top ten.Behind the Godfather Part II,Blade Runner, and Fight Club. This could be the best film of 1995 and didn't even get nominated for one award. The recipe for this excellent motion picture includes what could be the best on screen collaboration of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. A great ensemble of supporting actors and the great script and direction of former TV Producer Michael Mann. Heat is film about a crew of stick up men which include De Niro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore and Albert Treja. After taking down an armored car the crews newest addition Waingro had screwed up De Niro's original plan turning a perfect heist into a sloppy job. When De Niro tries to kill Waingro, Waingro escapes and goes missing for the first half of the film. Enter Pacinos character a dedicated Robbery Homicide Detective who now takes a case to take down De Niro and his crew. This is just the first ten minutes of this stunning film. The rest is filled with tons of great performances, great plot, and its visually stunning cinematography. This should have won Best Picture as well as director actor screenwriter editor cinematographer and supporting actor. Heat is a film that reminds me why I love Films so much and how great movies can get.
Superman Returns (2006)
Most Boring Comic Book Movie since X3!
When I read certain reviews about Superman Returns being good I thought this could be as good as MI:3.And after wathcing X3 which was supposed to be made by Byran Singer I thought if he gave up x men to do superman he must have done a hell of a job with this. O he did a job alright. To begin, the movie is like 2 hours and 45 minutes. no to mention the really stupid happy ending which would never end. And plus Lex Luthors big scheme is to sink the U.S. didn't he try to that with California in the first Superman. To me the movie was just dull and really silly. I mean for those who've seen it how silly was that whole plot twist with Supermans 5 year old son killing a guy with a piano. I mean come on. This cant be the same guy who made the Usual Suspects and the first two X-Men. I just wanted it to end at the part where he passes out and falls in the middle of Central Park. If it ended there at least I've would have praised the ending but it just kept going on for another twenty minutes. I was going to walk out but I said what the hell I've been here for two hours and a half how worse can this get. Well it did get worse. The only plus I can give this movie is Kevin Spaceys extraordinary performance as Lex Luthor though it isn't worth watching this crap.Ill never trust critics again. Ebert and Roepert can take those two big thumbs up and stick it up their asses.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Biggest disappointment ever!
This was the most anticipated film of the summer for me and just watching the first few minutes I realized that this was going to suck.The plot was awful the action scenes were cheezy and stupid. I mean perhaps it could be because of Brett Ratner considering that hes such a hack. And the Juggernaut wasn't even used for anything and hes one of the best characters in the comics.Why did they even bother with Archangel? Hes on the screen for like 5 minutes. This piece of crap is nothing compared to X2 or X men.What was Phoenix doing that whole time in that big stupid fight. I mean in the comic she swallows a planet and here she does nothing. I hope the Wolverine spin off does the comic some justice I just looked it up and its a prequel with saber tooth. I hope its good. WHO EVER READS THIS PLEASE Don't EVEN RENT IT, WATCH IT ON TV OR EVEN SEE IT ON AN AIRPLANE! DckaRD