brenleyman Reviews

Hitman (I) (2007)

Best Video Game Movie to date

[10/10 · 5 December 2007]

I did not have very high hopes for this film. However, after seeing it, I must say that I am impressed. Having never played Hit-man or any of its subsequent sequels, I don't know what the video game's storyline is like. The film's storyline is a somewhat weak point, with no elaboration into the the main characters past or any real back story whatsoever. What the films lacks in story, it makes up for in action packed sequences. This film has plenty of action, from gun fights to sword duels to jumping out of high buildings. Acting is okay, nothing real special. Gore and blood is a big part of the movie as well, with many scenes of people being shot and blood splattering all over the place, particularly later in the film. I give it a 10/10 for being a good action flick and showing up the Resident Evil franchise.

Memento (2000)

A film that works toward the middle

[10/10 · 2 December 2006]

This film is rather unique in that it starts at the end, then flashbacks to the beginning, and works its way to the middle. I have never seen a film that did this before. Aside from the storyline, the film has many great highlights. Good performances from Guy Pearce, Carrie Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano. Special effects are decent, though could be improved in some spots. Best parts are during the middle(of the movie running) when he talks about Sammy Jankis, and at the end of the movie, he finds out he's Sammy Jankis. Then there's the moments leading up to it, where Natalie(Carrie Anne Moss) tricks him into beating the crap out of Dodd. Anyways, great movie, go see it.

Jaws 2 (1978)

One of the better sequels

[9/10 · 20 August 2006]

In the world of sequels, it is extremely hard to get a good review, because everyone assumes sequels and remakes automatically suck. In this film, this is not the case. I will admit, although it is nowheres near as good as the original, take a look at some other sequels. Weekend at Bernie's 2, and of the Ernest films(though I respect the man for his enthusiasm of the outdoors, may his soul rest in peace.), etc. There have been some bad sequels out there, but I don't count this in with them. There is an entirely original plot line, the reprisal of the characters in not too shabby, and the special effects are stunning, especially the electrocution of the shark at the end. Overall, this is not a bad sequel. Though, I must say I don't care for the similarity of the ending to the original, where he keeps telling the shark to do things with its mouth. That last part sounded kind of creepy, so i'm cutting it off here. Good sequel. 9/10.

Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986–1991)

More evidence that people smoked outrageous amounts of crack in the 80's

[9/10 · 25 July 2006]

No offense to any of the fans, but I only find this show enjoyable through the aid of mind altering drugs. Episodes prove to be pointless and the movie was probably the only true highlight of Paul Reubens career, other than when he did the character in the Cheech and Chong movies, which also go funny with a side of crack. I am fairly convinced Paul Reubens did this role after he did some lines. Have you ever noticed how his nostrils are flared out a little bit? There's some food for thought. Anyhow it was a pretty good show once you got past the silly stuff. Interesting characters as well. 9/10, and I don't know why.

The A-Team (1983–1987)

I pity the fool who don't like the A team.

[10/10 · 13 July 2006]

A very awesome show from a very awesome decade. A time when drug cartels were all the rave, and having AK-47s in the back of a van was something essential for L.A. life. I must comment that the acting was great, and MacGuyver style ingenuity in some of the episodes is brilliant. Peppard was great of John "Hannibal" Smith, and I must say it was sad to hear about his death in 1994. It would've been a lot cooler to hear about him dying in a car chase through L.A.

Another call of wonder to Dwight Shultz, for doing a wonderful Murdock. Just the right amount of crazy for a really good show. Thumbs up to Dirk Benedict for a wonderful "Face", and lastly, A round of applause of Mr. T's B.A. "Baracus".

All in all, wonderful show. 10/10

Doctor Who (2005–2022)

Britain's best Sci Fi

[10/10 · 16 June 2006]

I love pop culture, but I was a little apprehensive when I first heard about this. Then, I seen an episode, and I LOVE IT! I was a little upset when I found out that Christopher Eccelson would no longer be playing Doctor Who. He was probably the best one they've had. He fits the character so well. It's sad to see him go. I really don't think that the new guy is going to pull off the doctor as well as Eccelson.

I think everyone can overlook the cheesy effects in some spots and the creatures, such as the darleks. The story lines and characters can more than make up for that. I'm currently waiting for season two and I will review that as well, in case, for any reason, quality goes down.

Anyways, I think everyone should try to see one episode. I did, and I have been loving it ever since. Well written, well casted, and well produced, this show is worth the hour of viewing. Doctor Who gets a 10/10

Friday (1995)

This is a classic stoner flick for the nineties

[10/10 · 10 April 2006]

Nothing' gets funnier than watching Friday on a pot binge. This movie is great. it was a favorite of mine a long time ago, and it still is a favorite film of mine. A great cast of characters, some funny situations, and a lot of profane joking around make this a great stoner flick for anyone to watch. Just watching' this takes me back to the good old' days when nobody worried too much about nothing'. My favorite parts are when Smokey needs to use a bathroom, and he has to go outback of his house, and Ezal catches him, then comes out and yells , "Hey! Smokey's back here taking' a s**t!". That makes me crack the f**k up. Then there's the infamous meeting with "Janet Jackson" a.k.a. the Fat, Bald chick. Another funny scene is when they are standing outside at night and they see the convertible slowly going along, then they both look at each other and go , "Drive-by!" That is just funny to me. Anyhow, go see it and laugh your ass off.

Office Space (1999)

Office Space: Helping get rid of a bad case of the Modnays

[10/10 · 19 March 2006]

I do not work in an office, but I am a student who learns in an office like environment. I can really relate to this film on many levels. I can often relate with Pete, Michael, and Samir, having horrible bosses and getting shafted at every corner. I find Peter's attitude after the hypnotherapist dies in front of him. That mindset is just fabulous, and compliments the hatred of other employees quite well. I especially enjoy the meeting with the consultants. That knocks me on my ass every time. The scene where they destroy the printer in the field reflects quite well on the frustration with computer hardware. Many things that are often found in the counter culture. I give this film a 10/10 for being the best "If works makes you go ape$#!*" film of all time.

ADDITIONAL INFO: You can get a version of Milton stapler @ www.thinkgeek.com

Corpse Bride (2005)

Corpse Bride

[10/10 · 6 February 2006]

I recently received this as a DVD for an early Valentine's Day gift. I watched it today, and thought it was great. It is up there with The Nightmare Before Christmas(1992) as a technical masterpiece. The major standpoint is Burton's return to stop motion, only this time around, there are a few minor computer effects. Great musical numbers from such characters as the Corpse Bride, Bonejangles, and the Widow and Maggot. Interesting storyline and lively characters make the grim and strict atmosphere more enjoyable and loose. Good voice acting and transition throughout. Very few gray areas, and a few laughs as well. Overall, a good picture from Burton. 10/10.

King Kong (2005)

Look for it at the Oscars this year

[10/10 · 2 January 2006]

I have seen some good films in my years. Some of my favorites go out through the decades. 60's are for Hitchcock films like Vertigo, Psycho, Rear Window, The Birds, etc. 1970's are for cut-rate films, of those are The Warriors, and Death Wish. 1980's are for a mixed group. Ghostbusters, Back to School, and Beverly Hills Cop. 1990's is strictly for Jurrasic Park, the #11 top grossing film of all time. For this decade, I pick King Kong. It is a good mix of everything. The drama of Kong's death off the Empire State Building, the horror of the brutality of the skull island natives, the mystery of what the natives fear so much, the comedy of the interaction between Ann and Kong on Skull Island, and the action as Kong breaks loose of his chains, and rampages through New York. I wouldn't be too surprised if I see Kong nominated for best picture, but i'm not saying anything sure yet. Go see this movie, and have a blast.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Visual Masterpiece that is rivaled by few

[10/10 · 26 November 2005]

I recently seen the televised version of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and it was astonishing. It is a well done film, that hits the life long question: Are we alone in the universe? The acting was moderate, with the break down of the Neary family being too subtle for any sort of break down. Cinematography was award winning, and it did so for good reason. Excellent camera angles, and great positioning made this movie very appealing. The absolute best part was the visual effects. Never in the history of films will Close Encounters of the Third Kind be matched by any computer effects film, ever! Visually stunning, and absolutely breathtaking, this film was ahead of it's time. I give this film a 10/10.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Not saying it's bad, but a whole lot of plot holes!

[7/10 · 20 November 2005]

I just seen this movie at a matinée performance, and I did like it, but a fair warning, there is a great deal of plot holes. The beginning starts with the dream from the beginning of the book, then, whoosh!, right to leaving for the world cup, at the world cup, WHOOSH, the death eaters tearing apart the camp, Whoosh again, to hogwarts and the tournament. After all that, it smooths out. It has great character build, but it could've been better. Great animatronics, and great CG animation. Acting could've been better, and some scenes were wishy washy, but it did rather well for the movie it was. Quite comical when the Mad eye Moody turned Draco into a ferret. Yule Ball was good, and the great hall kinda looked like that ice hotel from Die Another Day. 7/10.

Halloween II (1981)

A very good sequel, or a continuation if you prefer

[10/10 · 29 October 2005]

I think this is the best sequel and has a lot of merit. We are of course introduced to many secrets, such as why Michael Myers is so interested in killing Laurie Strode. It picks up right where the other one left off, with Loomis chasing after Myers, and Laurie being taken to the hospital. Michael finds her soon after, and stalks her through the hospital. My favorite part was when Michael was walking through the parking lot, and the trademark music is playing. The end was fabulous, with Loomis blowing up the anesthetic room, and severely wounding Michael. This film is definitely worth seeing, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a good scare.

The Amityville Horror (2005)

Amityville was trying to shoot for the stars

[8/10 · 26 October 2005]

I have seen the original, and some of the remakes, and the old version takes a better look at the actual events the Lutz family claims to have happened in the house. I always come to the same conclusion, I have to visit 112 Ocean Drive to know the truth(The ACTUAL address of the real amityville house.) This film is a good compliment to the old version. It starts with the fateful night that started a world known urban legend that is caught between the real and the surreal. We are introduced to Ronald "Butch" Defeo, sitting in his basement, hearing a voice telling him to "Katch 'em & Kill 'em". He gives in, grabs a rifle, loads up, and "goes hunting". He kills his parents, brothers, and his sisters, telling one that he loves her, before he pops one into her.

We are then taken one year into the future, where George and Kathy Lutz have bought the house. After they move in, they begin to see things that are beyond belief(I was scared s**tless from the first bathroom scene where the boy sees the Indian who was tortured to death.) After a while, strange things begin happening, in which the Lutz's oldest son, Billy, is blamed. The daughter claims to see the ghost of Jodie Defeo(Note: The original version said Jodie was a pig, and not a little girl.) George Lutz slowly slips into insanity, where he can never keep the windows shut, or the house warm. He migrates to the basement, and starts building things(An extra room, and COFFINS!) Kathy sees that all is not at peace in the house, and asks a priest to bless the house so the past spirits can move on. After only 5 minutes in the house, he is chased out. After 28 days, Kathy discovers the secrets of the house.

NOTE: This next part is a spoiler of some history, and may not be entirely accurate.

The house was built in the 1600's, being an Indian mission, where indians could be converted to Christianity. It was started be Reverend Jeremiah Katchem, who proceeded to torture and kill the indians. He killed himself, hoping to keep his soul on the ground forever. Katchem's spirit was joined by those of tormented indians. We fast-forward to the previous owners, the Defeo family. Ronald Defeo killed his family after 28 days in the house(coincidence?) He claimed to have seen horrible things, and heard voices, telling him to butcher his family. The weird feelings eventually caused him to migrate to the basement, where the horrible things and voices pestered him to the point where he killed his family. The soul of Jodie Defeo joins the house.

Kathy, with this new knowledge, rushes home to get her family out. She gets home to find her husband, ready to slaughter his family like Ronnie Defeo had done. They are chased through the house, which proceeds to lock them in, and they are forced to escape through the roof. Goerge is eventually subdued, as Kathy, and her children proceed to leave the house and everything in it.

This movie, as I stated earlier, was a great compliment to the original film, and had a lot of ground to cover. It is, of all things, inaccurate to the book the original was based off of. George Lutz is portrayed well, and the use of original Defeo investigation interviews is fabulous. 8/10.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

It's the guide. It contains everything you need to know to survive in the universe.

[9/10 · 12 October 2005]

I recommend this film to the sci fi junkie or anyone who likes thought provoking films, or anyone who has read Douglas Adams exceptional novel. I personally loved The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but I read the book, so I got something most people didn't. I loved the last part of the film, with the large, factory floor on the Planet Making Planet, Magrathea. The only flaws were areas where the script was foggy about things in the book. Other than that, the movie was very well done, and I recommend people go see it. I have bought the DVD and have watched it over and over again. I may have to buy a PSP and get a UMD version of the film. Well, that's all I have to say about this movie. Make your own suggestions.

Sin City (2005)

Sin City is a perfect adaptation of graphic novels and does a fabulous job of matching faces with characters

[10/10 · 24 September 2005]

It has been a while since I have seen a movie that made me think, "God, I hope Hollywood doesn't lose it's luster." Of course, Hollywood has been letting us down a lot recently. Sin City is a brilliant film, and has done a great job of adapting the graphic novels. The best part of the film, quality wise, is the casting. Mickey Rourke looks exactly like Marv from the novels, as does Clive Owen as Dwight. The characters are also well acted out, and the several scenes of comic-book style filming give the already comic book atmosphere a very good feel. There were parts of the film that reminded me of when I read spiderman when I was eight years old, and not much does that. The action is superb, with lots of gun fighting, hand to hand combat, and severely violent action that seems damn near impossible *spoiler-Hartigan ripping yellow bastards nuts off*. My favorite characters were Hartigan, Marv, and Dwight. Hartigan, portrayed by Bruce Willis (The Kid, The Sixth Sense) acts out the tortured mind of the detective trying to protect Nancy Callahan from Roark/Yellow Bastard. Marv, portrayed by Rourke, is in search of the people responsible for killing Goldie, a prostitute looking for protection. Dwight, played by Clive Owen, is trying to prevent the dissolving of a pact between the whores of Old Town, and the Basin City police. Besides great acting, excellent casting, great plot lines, and non-stop action, the only thing left is the film's atmosphere. Shot in black and white, with the occasional splash of color (SPOILER: Dwight's drive to the Pits)creates the excellent comic book feel that many book adaptation movies strive to attain. With all that said, Sin City is a great film with hardly anything wrong but a few sections of dialogue. I give Sin City a 10 out of 10, and I would recommend it to anyone who is strong enough to watch the scenes of violence that turn bloody.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

'Chocolate Factory' may not have an ever-lasting gobstopper

[7/10 · 12 July 2005]

Don't get me wrong. I liked 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' since I was a kid, but this film won't quite be what I expect from a book movie. There have been great movies based on books. War of the Worlds 1953, the Harry Potter films (the more recent being the best), Lord of the Rings trilogy just to name a few. I think the film will do OK.

There are bright spots in the film. The films accuracy to the book can't be denied. The factory looks spectacular. The cast is right, but there is something a little off in this recipe for book film fame. I have it! Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. He said in an interview that he imagined a kids show host and a game show host as a single being. He may be a little off on his portrayal. I think he's more like a stoner in an extremely tripped out hallucination's. His performance has a long way to go if he wants to compete with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.

This film will do well at the box office, probably take #1 in the first week. I give it 7/10.

War of the Worlds (2005)

War of the Worlds annihilates with its special effects and amazing twists

[9/10 · 12 July 2005]

I can probably feel confident in saying I am one of the most open-minded reviewers in the country. I went into 'War of the Worlds' a little fearful it would flop. I was happy to feel proved wrong as I got what I wanted from a book movie: accuracy and special effects.

While this version is not what it could have been, I take into account what many reviewers shut out of there minds when they start: appreciation for what the filmmakers were trying to do. I entirely understand what Spielberg tried to do in the film. Let me see if I can explain some stuff. This will probably have spoilers.

When Ray Farrier, Cruise's character, sees a ship emerge from underground, he acts as I would expect someone who has seen a gigantic machine to act. Then Farrier turns from run away survivor, to all American hero, and for a reason a few of the reviewers may have forgotten: Farrier's family is split up. His ex-wife is god nows where, his son ran off with the military to fight the alien machines, his daughter is taken by the aliens, and he is left in the wake of every attack. I would want to get everyone together so I could maintain some sort of sanity in a troubled time. I hope my explanation has helped reviewers.

Now, back to my review. First off, the effects were great. I have never seen such good computer effects from a film. The ships, probes, and aliens are perfect. Accuracy is top notch. While it is not completely accurate, things have gotten better. The ships have 3 visible legs. The ships have impenetrable shields. The heat rays kill everything in sight. Just like in the book.

More spoilers. In the film, wherever the aliens go, there are red root things all over. My theory: the aliens created the planet earth. They caused the big bang, put organisms on it, and planted their ships. I think the ships resemble the harvester machines from the matrix, which helps support the theory. Earth was the martians farming planet. The reason for the attack was that the planet was right for picking, and they attacked people to reduce resistance. But, they never considered that our atmosphere, the micro organisms in the air, could kill them. They probably didn't know about the viruses and diseases on the planet. Of course, the novel strongly opposes the theory, as it says that the martians hated how good humans had it, and wanted Earth for themselves.

Final thought: The movie was a blast, a perfect summer blockbuster, and a great attempt at epic status. While many may scold my review of this film, I will remind you this: My review is my opinion, and so are their reviews.