RWells09 Reviews

Bad News Bears (2005)

Who are they making this for?

[3/10 · 20 July 2005]

I just want to know exactly who Mr. Linklater was trying to appeal to in this movie. Not only is the kids' sport genre tired, they are geared primarily for children most of the time. But with Billy Bob Thorton (who I thought was hilarious in "Bad Santa"), one would guess they are trying to bring in the older audiences.

The movie feels like it has split personalities. There is a ton of swearing and adult humor that would definitely NOT appeal to parents of younger children, but many of the jokes just weren't funny to me because they were aimed at the younger children.

The movie is not terrible, but its not good either. It is simply a forgettable movie, which is a shame because I think Richard Linklater is a great director and Billy Bob Thorton seems like a natural when it comes to comedic timing.

Fantastic Four (I) (2005)

Worst Comic-to-Movie I've Seen

[2/10 · 7 July 2005]

Wow... bad bad bad... I went into this movie wanting to like it, but skeptical as well. I didn't want to over-hype it. I couldn't have imagined it being any worse. The entire screenplay has to be one of the MOST contrived pieces of writing ever written. Why was EVERYONE on the same bridge? The Thing saves a guy, but causes a massive accident, and it just so happens that the other three, having not seen Ben Grimm since he transformed, are in the taxi on the bridge and just assume that it was their good friend Ben that caused it??? And then Mr. Fantastic says to the Invisible Woman, "You're the only one that can get past." But the second she arrives on the other side of the police blockade, Mr. Fantastic and The Human Torch are there with her! After the quick and boring action on the bridge, they are instantly portrayed as heroes, and are accepted as such. Except by the Thing's wife, who's also on the bridge and then takes off her wedding ring and walks off crying.

The plot holes are bigger than Ben Grimm's pants!! Most of the movie just deals with them trying to find out how to fix themselves and get back to normal, and it's pretty boring while they do it. There is no character development and no action... and they say that the special effects could not have been made before this year, well.. they sure didn't look that good to me. If you want a special effects bonanza, go watch War of the Worlds. If you want a good story focusing on the characters rather than plot points, go watch Batman Begins.

Whatever you do, don't waste your money on this movie... and send a message to Hollywood that comic book movies must be done properly, that they can't just throw one together and make a ton of cash off it.