Change Your Image
SpankyUT
Reviews
Baptists at Our Barbecue (2004)
Not really all that good
Generally, I've found that if you don't hear about a movie prior to seeing it on DVD, there's probably a good reason for it. I hadn't heard about this movie at all until I was in a Blockbuster the other day and saw it on a shelf. Since all the good movies had already been rented out (the ones I wanted to see, anyway), I figured I'd give this one a shot.
It's really not much different than other movies in the genre, such as The Singles Ward or the R.M. If you're into those type movies, you'll probably enjoy this.
However, if you're not a mormon, this movie probably won't appeal to you. There's no way to avoid the overtly religious (mormon) message contained within, and at times it comes across as sappy and cheesy. Ultimately, if you don't fall within the mormon demographic, you're probably better off watching something else.
Admittedly, there were some very funny moments in the film, but I didn't think that it was enough to salvage the movie overall.
The English Patient (1996)
Boy, was I wrong!
I originally saw "The English Patient" in the theaters with my sister. She dragged me kicking and screaming to see it. She told me I'd love it, and that it was a touching movie. Well, she was wrong. I hated it. I found it to be a worthless pile of dog feces on film. I couldn't believe that anyone would make a film so pointless.
So, for the last eight years, I've been dogging on "The English Patient." I'd say things like, "Yeah, Gigli was bad, but it was better than The English Patient."
Then last week, on the insistence of a good friend of mine, I watched "The English Patient" again. Honestly, I didn't have my hopes up, and didn't expect it to be any different than when I first saw it. I'm not too proud to admit that I was way off base. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cinematography was stunning. The story was compelling. The acting was top-notch. I watched it twice in one night.
I don't know what changed between now and when I first saw it, but I'm glad I gave it a second chance.
Gigli (2003)
Well, it could've been worse...
I've seen many bad movies in my day. Going Overboard, for example. Or Ringmaster. How about Leonard Part 6 and Cabin Boy--both leaving me wanting to gouge my eyes out. The Book of Mormon movie; wow, was that ever a crappy movie! The English Patient left me wishing I could have 2 1/2 hours of my life back. All these movies are much, much worse than Gigli.
Don't get me wrong; this movie is terrible, and it really never should've been made. But it does have a few redeeming qualities to it. First, Jennifer Lopez isn't hard to look at. She's not much of an actress, but at least she's not hard on the eyes. Second, Christopher Walken and Al Pacino both did an amazing job, considering what they had to work with (which admittedly wasn't much).
Now, the downside. The dialogue was terribly written. Many times I found myself laughing out loud at how badly the dialogue was written and delivered. The plot doesn't seem to go anywhere. Walken and Pacino didn't really have a reason for being in this movie. J-Lo and Ben had horrible chemistry. The story was incredibly ridiculous and over the top.
Yet, like the train wreck that it was, I could not turn away. It certainly wasn't the worst movie ever, but it deserves to be listed among the worst.
Nuit et brouillard (1956)
This film left quite an impression on me
I too bought this DVD without ever having seen it previously. I read the reviews here about it, and thought it might have some interest for me, as I'm interested in all things concerning WWII.
The film is quite disturbing in it's depiction of the holocaust. After viewing it, I had a hard time moving. I think it's as close to perfect as a documentary can come.
The scenes are quite striking. Seeing the gas chambers, the piles of hair, the bodies. They are now burned into my mind forever.
I believe that this film should be required viewing for everyone. It's very unsettling, but also an important piece of history.
Out of Time (2003)
Not too shabby
I saw "Out of Time" last night, and wasn't disappointed. Granted, it starts out a bit slow, and takes maybe longer than it should've to pick up. But the action was good, the suspense was too. My only complaint was that it was a bit predictable, but it had me on the edge of my seat for portions of the film.
Denzel Washington did a good job with this movie. While it certainly wasn't his best, it wasn't a bad movie. This is a good weekend flick that's fun to watch.
Overall, a fairly competent thriller.
The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey (2003)
Ouch, was this bad!
I saw the previews for this movie, and even though it looked really bad, I thought I'd go check it out anyway. I don't usually listen to critics when seeing a movie, instead choosing to decide for myself.
I'm not a mormon, although I have read the book of mormon several times prior to seeing the movie, so I understood the storyline. However, my worst fears were realized when I actually saw this film. The acting was flat, and unintentionally funny at times. I really had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing once or twice. It felt like the filmmaker was trying to go for a massive cinema experience, but it just didn't work. It didn't flow like I had hoped. Overall, it just felt like a B-movie, and I left the theater wishing I could've gone back in time so that I wouldn't have to see it.
I suppose that people interested in seeing this film will do so, one way or the other, but I'd suggest watching something else instead. Besides, it will inevitably be shown on TV in Salt Lake eventually, and at least you won't have to pay to see it then.