AEX Sara Reviews

Daredevil (2003)

Super hero or pro wrestler? You make the call

[3 March 2003]

I went to see this movie because it was the only one showing during the time I could see one that night. I went into it with very low expectations, but apparently not low enough. I think this movie could have been much, much better if they had chosen a better actor for Daredevil. I actually tend to like Ben Affleck in most films, but usually they are the films where he plays "every man." As a superhero, he is absolutely pathetic. His facial expressions (i.e. flared nostrils and one-sided smile) reminded me more of pro-wrestler posturing than a superhero. Affleck should also never, ever, ever be allowed to play a blind man again. His way of acting the part was to cross his eyes halfway and close them a little bit. At one point in the movie, I was laughing so hard at his crossed eyes that I almost had to leave the theater. Fortunately for Affleck, he had good actors surrounding him. Garner was good as Elektra, Duncan was great as Fisk, and Farrell was spectacular as Bullseye. He was so over the top funny that he made the movie. Unlike Affleck, Farrell really seemed to be a superhero (or villain).

I really don't feel the need to waste any more of my time commenting on this pathetic movie. I just thought others should know how bad it is before they waste money and time on it like I did.

The Life of David Gale (2003)

Someone please flip the switch and get me out of the theater!

[24 February 2003]

****************WARNING: SPOILERS INCLUDED****************

Let me begin by saying that I'm a HUGE Kevin Spacey fan. I have seen and liked almost everything he's been in. It appears that this would be the major exception. You would think that this would be a movie where the viewer would really feel for the characters, but you don't. I wasn't quite sure who I was supposed to feel sorry for. Although the characters are supposed to be three dimensional, they come off as pathetic caricatures. This is an issue driven movie, and there are many more issues than just the death penalty (alcoholism, divorce, rape, dying patients, etc.). The plot is so contrived that I was nearly gagging in the theater and the phrase "plot holes like Swiss Cheese" comes to mind.

For anyone who thinks this movie supports the death penalty, consider the following. Gale makes the governor, who strongly supports the death penalty, look like an idiot during the television interview. And the people (I'm guessing) we're supposed to feel sorry for are the weary abolitionist advocates.

I don't have a strong feeling for or against the death penalty but I do have a strong feeling about this movie. It was confused and contrived and, by the end of it, I was pretty much hoping they'd execute everyone IN the movie so that I could go home and watch something better.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

I did NOT expect to like this movie.

[20 February 2003]

When I rented this movie, I was sure it was going to be just a bunch of hype and I was equally as sure that I would hate it or, at the very least, be bored by it. Having seen Eyes Wide Shut and not being impressed with it, I thought this would be the same way. But a funny thing happened...I really, really liked it. It definitely took me a little while to get used to the style of the film, but it was worth it. Being made in 1971, this movie was totally ahead of its time. Very much worth seeing, even if you have not liked some of Kubrick's other films.

eXistenZ (1999)

Death to this movie!

[1/10 · 28 October 2002]

Let me begin by saying that I absolutely LOVE strange, surreal movies. I also very much like the sci-fi and horror genre. That said, let me also mention that I despise this movie. It was like "The Game" with a sci-fi twist. There was nothing to figure out. One of the taglines was "Where does the game end and reality begin"...well I knew throughout the movie where reality was. Although Cronenburg did catch me off guard once, but only once!! This film was unnecessarily disgusting. So disgusting, in fact, that I almost vomited and was unable to eat for hours after I watched it. The comment that there were strong performances from the actors is just flat out wrong. Jennifer Jason Leigh, while I do like her for some reason, has always been a flat actress. This was a good part for her because she is supposed to be fairly unfeeling anyway. Jude Law is usually good but is nothing more than a caricature in this movie. I very much would like to say what several characters in the movie say...Death to eXistenZ!!!

Push, Nevada (2002)

Cheese-laden, but very entertaining

[4 October 2002]

While I realize that this show is trying to be more than it is, I can't help but be addicted to it. It's definitely missing the mark if it's trying to be Twin Peaks, X-Files, etc., but it's still entertaining! The similarities between Push and Twin Peaks are just too many to be considered a "coincidence." The straight-laced government agent in from out of town, the sultry girl in town, the "inept" town police, the quirkiness of the people of Push, etc. I don't care about winning the million dollars, I just want to know what's going on in the town. And that alone will keep me hooked to this show.

All the Rage (1999)

Just shoot ME...PLEASE!!

[4 September 2002]

Aside from the fact that this movie was obviously gun control propaganda, you just don't care about any of the characters. By the time I got to the end of the movie, I was wishing one of these pathetic characters would just go postal and shoot everyone to put me out of my misery. I can deal with propaganda in the name of good theater, but this is far from it. Prepare to snooze!!

Training Day (2001)

Oh please...

[30 August 2002]

Let me begin by saying that this is definitely a good movie and the performances are excellent. HOWEVER, this is hardly one of the best films of 2001. It is just too typical to really be considered "great." Denzel Washington is a great actor and his performance is very good and very much different from the roles he usually plays. HOWEVER, he did NOT deserve the Oscar for this role. Just because he played the bad guy and not the character that everybody loves, does not mean that he deserves an award. In Monster's Ball, Billy Bob Thornton plays both of those types of characters in the same movie, yet no one even considered him for the award. What a shame...

Signs (2002)

Y'all just don't get it!

[5 August 2002]

In reading the comments posted thus far, I realize that many people just didn't get the point of this movie. *******SPOILERS THROUGHOUT!!!!************

I have read that the memories of the wife are cheesy and gimmicky. Unfortunately, without them, the word "Signs" would have been nothing more than a superficial title. WITH the story of the wife and Graham's re-affirmation of his faith, you have a much deeper meaning. Shyamalan obviously meant for the two stories to be EQUAL to each other. How can it really be gimmicky if it's the whole point of the movie??

I agree with other users here who have said that too many people are focusing on what this movie is not. I must admit that I was expecting something slightly different but I was not at all disappointed. It definitely did not focus as much on the crop circles as I thought it would but it gives a satisfactory explanation for what they are meant for. The camera angles frequently were done so as to cut off the heads of some of the actors...gives a nice eerie feel.

If you're looking for Independence Day, that's not what you'll find. But I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Chances Are (1989)

Fabulous

[10 July 2002]

I happened to catch this movie on tv during a lazy day at home and I just couldn't turn it off. I had never even heard of this movie before I watched it but I now like it so much that I'm going to go out and buy it. Robert Downey Jr. is just so fun to watch in anything, especially a romantic comedy. His performance just keeps your eyes glued to the screen. I thought I had seen every 80's movie made but I somehow missed this wonderful movie. See it!! If you're looking for a warm, romantic comedy, you will not be disappointed!!

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

YA YA!!!

[9/10 · 10 June 2002]

I went to see this movie expecting it to be one of the best "chick flicks" I've ever seen. It truly lived up to my expectations. Some users have commented that it is not in the same league as Thelma and Louise or Fried Green Tomatoes and they're definitely correct...it's better!!! It's a much more light-hearted movie than either of those. It made me laugh throughout 70% of the movie and never made me cry, although it is very touching in parts. See this movie. You will not be disappointed!

Mission to Mars (2000)

This movie should have been called "Touched By An Alien"

[17 April 2002]

I was so utterly disappointed by this movie that I felt the need to comment on it. Yes, the special effects were good but all of the action is included in the trailers. The entire movie was extremely sappy for a sci-fi flick, so much so, that I was making gag gestures in the movie theater. What I don't understand is why all these great actors agreed to be in this awful gag fest!