grrrrarrggghhh Reviews

Casanova (2005)

Unique approach

[8/10 · 13 April 2009]

This is the second Casanova movie to come out in 2005. It's hard to say which one is better, because although they have the same main character, the approach is very different.

Here, Casanova is portrayed as a man constantly in love. A hopeless romantic, one could say. The evolution of the character is handled beautifully: in the beginning of the movie he's just a young boy, trying to find himself, developing slowly into a confident man, to the end, when he's a bitter old man, who stopped dreaming.

The direction is certainly memorable, shocking in some places, but the true asset of this movie is David Tennant. He's a spectacular actor, and (being an avid Doctor Who fan) I expected to watch this movie and say: "Look, there's the Doctor.", but he just detached himself from any previous role and he just was Casanova. I really ended up loving this movie because of his beautiful portrayal.

There's of course Peter O'Toole who was just as brilliant, in portraying old Casanova. Also, this is the first movie I've seen with two actors playing the same part -young and old- in which I could see the same character. Sure, O'Toole's Casanova is bitter and old, but you can see Tennant's Casanova developing into that person.

It's a movie definitely worth seeing. If you can't find the DVD, maybe you'll be lucky and catch it on BBC.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

I'm not sure if I liked it or not

[6/10 · 1 September 2008]

I saw this movie while on vacation in England. Being my first full movie 3d, I may be biased, but dammit, I enjoyed every minute of it. Why the 6 grade, then? I enjoyed it, but that doesn't mean I don't realize it wasn't a good movie. However, it was entertaining. The story was far from being interesting, nor the script was special in any way. I wasn't expecting them to end up by mistake in the center of the earth. I thought I would see some preparations and a real journey. Instead, what I got, was an "Accident to the Center of the Earth 3D". And just don't get me started on the extremely funny for me, tragic for the characters scene where they bury the kid's dad. It was simply pathetic. The acting was mediocre, and without Brendan Fraser I think the movie would have been a flop. A big one. Brendan isn't a great actor, but he does his job most of the time. Or maybe I just like him. But whatever the case, he has something that makes you smile. Let's leave it to that. Anita Briem, on the other hand, was downright awful. I realize that her only role was to look good and to be the "love interest". Whatever. I just didn't like her and her accent annoyed me. Josh Hutcherson was decent. I didn't love him, but didn't bother me at all.

After the criticism, the question is: Why did I enjoy the movie? It had its good parts. I loved the visuals. Brendan was funny. It was 3D. I was on vacation. (It really could be a reason. I really doubt I would have liked it if it weren't 3D and I would have watched it on my DVD player) Overall, I think it's worth the money. It's really enjoyable, especially with your family. See it, be entertained, consider it one of your guilty pleasures.

300 (2006)

That's some funky $h!t!

[1/10 · 23 December 2007]

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much when I first saw the trailer for 300, so I began watching it, I thought, quite prepared for what was to come. How wrong was I! First of all: this movie lacked any historical truth. I know many of the fans defend it, as being a comic-book movie. Whatever. Never heard of the comic, so I wouldn't know. Apart from this, the costumes were, least to say, pathetic. I can't imagine how anyone on this earth could believe that the Spartans, or Persians, or whomever in the movie would go to war with nothing more than a sword, a shield, a cape and...their underwear. No armor whatsoever.(and I must add that in --hystory-- (not comic related,I know) they are remembered for what? Their complex armor!!) The acting was mediocre to dreadful, possibly because no one could act with such a lame story and a dumb dialog. The characters were poorly to not at all psychologically characterized. (but then again, who needs to know a character when they go to war in underwear? I believe the IQ is quite obvious). And let's not forget Xerxes. What on EARTH?!?!?! He just gave me the creeps. Why did he need all those chains and earrings and...rings...and... etc? The visuals - could have been good, but not appropriate. The...monsters - or were they people? I can't say. But to me, they looked tragically like the orcs from The Lord of the Rings. People, if you must plagiarize...just plagiarize a less famous movie! Overall: Bad movie, bad acting, no historical truth, no costumes, useless visuals, no originality. Watching it and seeing its success...made me lose my faith in the human race.