I'm gonna be blunt about this, many people out there really won't enjoy this movie and the main reason for that is because of Gus Van Sant's style of lingering on and on with a single shot for several minutes. Now to me, this film was art, from beginning to end. I could tell right from the opening scene that I was going to be in for a very emotional journey and by the time it ended, I was in total shock. I can't even think of any other movie to compare this thing to, it's just so UNlike a movie in itself. I really felt more like I was just dreaming of someone else's hiking misadventure. It's a very unusual experience but honestly, Gerry is not for everyone.
Reviews
5 Reviews
Equilibrium
(2002)
Not a Matrix rip-off...
10 August 2005
It seems to be a common statement with some viewers, that Equilibrium is just another one of those action films that was strategically made to look and feel much like "The Matrix" (both visually and in it's overall storyline) but I disagree. Yes, while there may be some similarities, I tend to think that Equilibrium as a film in it's entirety is wholly different. If anything, the movie actually reminded me more of a cross between George Lucas' THX-1138 & Fahrenheit 451 (obviously!) But what is absolutely excellent about this movie is Wimmer's introduction of the "Gun-Kata" fighting style. Christian Bale does a great job as the lead and carries a very distinct presence with his character althroughout. The sets are amazing, the sound is amazing and the cinematography is top-notch. If you're a fan of truly dramatic action films that don't follow predictable stereotypes and aren't loaded with careless plot-holes, then see this movie. I really am disappointed that it never got an American theatrical release...
Returner
(2002)
The special effects and the ending make it worthwhile...
10 August 2005
This is definitely worth seeing if you're into Japanese action/sci-fi films, there are a lot of cool CGI moments and some pretty slick fighting/gun-play as well. One of the main drawbacks is that the overall style of Returner almost feels like a culminated homage to many of America's popular action/sci-fi films (there are scenes in here that almost seem to be pulled right out of The Matrix, Mission Impossible 2, etc.) and at times, this factor comes off as kinda "hokey" and leaves you unimpressed due to a lack of originality. But, with the subject of "original style" aside, it does carry a pretty entertaining storyline and even completes with a cool shock ending.
(Note: I rented it on DVD and personally decided that it was way more fitting to view it in Japanese with the English subtitles on because the English voice-over track was just a little too annoying and badly timed in spots.)
(Note: I rented it on DVD and personally decided that it was way more fitting to view it in Japanese with the English subtitles on because the English voice-over track was just a little too annoying and badly timed in spots.)
The Fantastic Four
(1994)
Watch it if you wanna laugh
23 July 2005
Yeah, it's pretty hilarious. If you can get your hands on a copy of this flop (and believe me, it'll probably be a bootleg), get together some friends and a bowl of popcorn and spend time chuckling at every other lame quirk and cheap line that occurs as the minutes pass. The acting is lower than soap-opera performance level, the effects, sets and props all look generic and along the quality lines of a 70's television series and the storyline/dialogue is so childish and bubbly that you'll just be rolling your eyes with each new scene's introduction. I'm not even sure if loyal fans of the comic would be too accepting to this mess, even if they did get a chance to see it. But hey, it's still entertaining...
The Neverhood
(1996 Video Game)
Greatest video game ever made
22 July 2005
No one does zany, abnormally creative artwork quite like Doug Tenapel and his crew, and this piece is living proof. If you can find this amazing PC game anywhere (like eBay, seeing as it is so rare) you really should buy it. I've never seen claymation taken to such a great extent before! It's not a big-budget production and it doesn't have a very common look and feel to it like most other games might (seeing as how it takes you through the adventure in a first-person, puzzle-solving perspective format) but it is fun, intelligent, hilarious and insanely innovative like no video game has ever been before (not forgetting the awesomely offbeat soundtrack by musical genius Terry Taylor.) The only reason I even chose to stop and give this title a comment on this site in the first place is because it's so much more like a movie than a game anyway...
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