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Reviews
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Will you love it or hate it?
After speaking to others who've seen this movie and reading some of the reviews posted here, it seems this is a classic love/hate movie. I'm in the first category, although I can understand why people don't like Punch Drunk Love. It can seem pretentious and it is fairly slow paced but I reckon if you're open to it, Punch-drunk love will suck you in.
Probably what I loved most about the film was the use of sound such as when a quiet, introspective scene is suddenly shattered by a massive event or when a mess of music and sound is used to make us feel Barry's discomfort and distraction.
Adam Sandler is great as the introverted weirdo Barry Egan. Although much was made of Punch-drunk Love being a big change for him, I thought the role was actually fairly similar to his characters in the Waterboy and Little Nicky ... just that the characters weirdness comes across as dramatically pathetic rather than comedic.
Definately worth a look ... its not that long after all!
Take Away (2003)
A sad day for Australian movies
Alright, so not every Australian movie is all that good. Yes, maybe there have actually been very few with much merit. Take Away however is an absolute bomb, qualifying as one of the worst movies I've ever seen. I wanted to like it. I figured I'd give it a fair go. I've even met one of the screen writers Dave O'neil so I feel kind of a traitor giving this movie a bad review, but... The plot is fairly thin (I won't bother relating it... read the synopsis), which I can forgive: there are plenty of movies that can cover that up with a few decent jokes. Unfortunately, Take Away's jokes cover its plot up like a $2 prostitute's skirt. Probably the only laughs that came from the 6 other people in the cinema was at the poor acting and dialogue. Take Away goes down like a week old Dim sim ... You might understand that joke if you see the film but the joke's not worth it.
Die Another Day (2002)
Austin Powers 4: Die Another Day
Be warned: SPOILERS lie within
Let me say first off that I did enjoy this movie - I had a grin on my face right the way through. However, I recognize that this is a terrible movie that I enjoyed more for its flaws than for its successes, wallowing in its crapulence. Die Another Day came across more as Austin powers 4 than James Bond 21 in that it seemed to me more of a parody of the phenomenon than a true extension of it.
James Bond movies have always possessed aspects that are cheesy, irritating and predictable (Mike Myers wouldn't have been able to make three hit movies otherwise) but these over-the-top aspects could be accepted for what they were. Die Another Day however simply had way too many corny one liners and clumsy double entendres to be taken seriously. It has a plot more predictable than any other 007 I've seen - anyone surprised by the fact that Miranda Frost was a crook needs to have their head checked. It also displayed some of the lamest bad guys ever committed to celluloid, what were the filmmakers thinking when they thought an electrical armor suit would be cool - it looks like a leftover costume-piece from Robocop. The special effects used in Die Another Day are some of the worst yet: alternating between obviously blue/green screen shots, terrible CG and poor use of models - there was a roar of laughter in the cinema when the rocket sled thing went over the cliff it looked so bad.
The number of references to earlier Bond movies was bizarre because it's something that hasn't really been done before and didn't seem to fit. While they might have fitted into to a film touted as being the last in the Bond saga and thus a homage to what has gone before there has been no indication that Die Another Day is the final expedition for 007 and considering the continued commercial success of the franchise, I can't see any studio wanting to terminate the series.
My final criticism lies with those responsible for allowing Madonna to become even remotely involved with this movie - the theme is terrible and is beautifully crowned by her cringe worthy cameo.