Riczhang's Year 3 Reviews

[Impact]

Actually 48-Walking was worse.

[riczhang]

August:

2-4 August:

Fable: 8/10

Well thought out, intriguing story, and well executed. Liam Hemsworth’s acting was bland however, and unremarkable. Overall, the acting was pretty good, and the score was impressive as well.

9-11 August:

Vampires of Moscow: 0/10

Don’t even go. It’s worse than Twilight in every sense, at least Twilight’s budget was big enough to provide decent effects.

Into the Breach: 9/10

The subject matter of the film may not be attractive to many film goers, but this film is made, and planned out that makes it a much better bio-pic than Lloyd’s Iron Lady. Mellissa Leo is excellent as Ferraro, however the make-up doesn’t pull of the early 70s look, and her performance pales against the likes of Streep’s Thatcher, and Mirren’s Elizabeth II.

16-18 August:

The Pink Panther the Movie: 2/10

This franchise just refuses to die doesn’t it?

Truth and Love: 8/10

Tatum and Hathaway both bring their A-Game, and along with director Michael Sucsy created and heartfelt, touching piece of film.

1910: 6/10

Acting’s quite bland, and the setting gets boring after a while. This film is definitely aimed at more mature audiences as some of the jokes are ones that a younger audience won’t get, but for me it was a funny, fun movie. Plenty of jokes but no substance.

23-25 August:

Chuck Norris and Liam Neeson vs. The Loch Ness Monster: 0/10

Not sure what I saw.

River of Death: 8.5/10

Definitely one of the better Murder movies of the year. Acting was pretty good, but the ending felt a little bit lacking. Narration felt self-indulgent as well.

El Libertador: 10/10

Emotionally charge, and Masterful, full of gorgeous cinematography, and amazing acting, the only problem with the film was subtitles.

30 August – 2 September:

Lizards: 0/10

Stupid premise, incompetent execution, and it’s not even scary.

[4815162342]

Better subtitles than it being dubbed. Most dubbings are pretty bad. The only exception I've found is Disney's dubs of Miyazaki's animated films which are superb. But otherwise thanks for the 10.As for Leo and Makeup, good thing I'm not aiming for Best Makeup with Into the Breach.

Edited July 8, 2012 by 4815162342

[riczhang]

Better subtitles than it being dubbed. Most dubbings are pretty bad. The only exception I've found is Disney's dubs of Miyazaki's animated films which are superb.

I agree, I just find sometimes that I haven't had a chance to read all the subtitles before they disappear especially in fast dialogue exchanges.EDIT: Are you talking about The Last Airbender or El Libertador? Edited July 8, 2012 by riczhang

[4815162342]

El Libertador.Anyways very quick pace here, but keep it up.

[Blankments]

I personally don't like John Woo, and having asian actors makes the dialogue hard to understand as they all have thick accents. Probably should've explained that better. I felt that by choosing asian actors you essentially made the entire move practically un-understandable without subtitles or dubbing.

Oh, okay, gotcha. I feel as though I tried to pick mostly Asian-Americans to combat that, but I do understand the John Woo hate. *stares at M:I:II*

Chuck Norris and Liam Neeson vs. The Loch Ness Monster: 0/10

Not sure what I saw.

[riczhang]

September:

6-8 September:

The Drowsy Chaperone: 8/10

The singing was great, and the acting was great, and no one sounded like Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia. All is well.

13-15 September:

The Ice Bridge: 2.5/10

Tries too hard to be Gladiator, but ends up more like 10 000 B.C.

Invasion of the Plant Men: 7/10

Plot is simple, and title is just odd, but give it a chance, it’s genuinely funny, and despite my sci-fi fatigue I still found myself thoroughly enjoying it. Segal can put another check in the success column.

20-22 September:

The Poet: 7/10

See it if you want a good thriller, but not much else.

Adventures of the Squid: 8/10

While Adventures tries too hard to be the next finding Nemo and fails, the result is still a thoroughly funny, enjoyable, and fun animation. Story’s simple enough that even the younger kids can understand, but not to the point of stupid simple.

Bigfoot: 0/10

Nothing to see here. Next.

28-29 September:

The Summer Story: 10/10

Nolan hits it out of the park once again. This film probably has the most problems out of any film that will receive a 10 this year, but the rest of the film makes up for these problems, some of which are actually of substantial size. Mood is excellent, and the cast is top notch. The idea of an adventure inside his own head bears similarities to this year’s June animation, Bobby, but is taken in such a different, and often much better way that it bears little resemblance in the end. The extreme language at times felt a bit excessive and instead of conveying the mood properly, gave me the impression that Nolan was simply taking his own anger out on the dialogue instead. The narration throughout the film, and at the end of the film, is probably the least self-indulgent out of all the films I’ve seen this year, but often it is still just a little tiny bit that way. Blake Lively, who plays Andrea, also displays surprising acting prowess, and this performance, while not a huge role, is a big step up from her Gossip Girl days.

The 13^th Night III: The Masked Man Revealed: 0/10

The first was bad enough, and they went on to make a second. But a third is really stepping too far for this franchise.

Edited July 8, 2012 by riczhang

[Impact]

So just one film got reviewed?

[riczhang]

So just one film got reviewed?

I'm posting the rest soon, the formatting got messed up, so I had to go redo the rest of them. Hopefully in 5 minutes the rest will be up.

[Blankments]

YES. A movie of mine was positively reviewed! (AKA higher than 7)Also, since I haven't asked for a detailed one yet, I'll go with Lietmotif.

[riczhang]

YES. A movie of mine was positively reviewed! (AKA higher than 7)

Also, since I haven't asked for a detailed one yet, I'll go with Lietmotif.

Uh....... I can tell you that Lietmotif will get trashed. I actually have the short version written.

Lietmotif:

A music film that tries too hard to be like "Control [2007]" but instead the director looses control [pun intended] of his talent and instead ends up with a "Country Strong".

[riczhang]

YES. A movie of mine was positively reviewed! (AKA higher than 7)Also, since I haven't asked for a detailed one yet, I'll go with Lietmotif.

And I'd classify anything higher than 6 as positive... so you have 2 I believe.

[Blankments]

Uh....... I can tell you that Lietmotif will get trashed. I actually have the short version written.

Lietmotif:

A music film that tries too hard to be like "Control [2007]" but instead the director looses control [pun intended] of his talent and instead ends up with a "Country Strong".

Oh... okay then. Then I'll just pass on a long version. *picked Lietmotif since it was the only original I had left.*

[riczhang]

Oh... okay then. Then I'll just pass on a long version. *picked Lietmotif since it was the only original I had left.*

I can write a long version for Gregor, which is actually being praised over in my corner.

[Blankments]

I can write a long version for Gregor, which is actually being praised over in my corner.

Oh, okay then, do that.

[riczhang]

October:

4-6 October:

Z-Day: 3/10

Stupid story, and stupid Robert Pattison. Halle Berry, and Matt Damon make a bloody good effort to save the film, but fail.

Go-Go Girls: 2/10

Go only if you’re desperate to see Burlesque again.

A Million Little Pieces: 8/10

Definitely nowhere near Scorsese’s best, but unlike many other directors, being nowhere near your best with Scorsese still equals a good film. Daniel Day-Lewis nails his part as always (was there ever, any doubt?) The story is pretty excellent too.

11-13 October:

Fatal Rendezvous: 9/10

Action packed, well scripted, and well acted, this film feels out of place as an October release.

Gregor the Overlander: 8/10

Adapted from a childhood favourite of mine, the film stayed true to the essence of the original source material in a way that almost made me tear up in nostalgia. Joel Courtney [also in A Wrinkle in Time for year 3] knocks another performance out of the park, and is the keystone that holds the entire movie, which is riddle with bad CGI [53 million budget], and often annoying cinematography.

Perhaps it really is nostalgia, but descending once again into a world that is well created enough considering the budget, there’s something special about large mutated animals, and an underground culture that reveres someone with the last name of “Sandwich.”

The film is really a display of the fact that a film which would traditionally be super effects heavy, doesn’t really need effects to be a successful, and touching film, but better effects of the film would’ve enhanced the experience.

The run time felt a bit long, and as a result some scenes such as the entry into Underland, and the introduction sequence where Gregor is still on the surface or “Overland” feels too long, and too fleshed out. If those had been shortened the film would’ve as a whole gotten into the action faster, and had a more engaging, and better pacing.

Kids, whether or not they’ve read the book should still find the movies just as enjoyable if not more than I did. The plus to this is that the film is well scripted enough, that even those who haven’t read the series can understand it just as clearly as fans of the books.

18-20 October:

Red Skin: 9.5/10

Red Skin is a return to form for Clint Eastwood, as he goes back to what he does best; directing gritty westerns. In a movie that matches some of Eastwood, and the Coens best blow for blow, it was truly a pleasure to watch on screen.

Biggest problem, Eastwood’s acting. Eastwood is getting old now, and even though he fits the character he’s portraying, his acting skills are no longer at his prime, and as a result the film does suffer a little. Word of advice, Clint, you should stay behind the camera in all of your future movies.

The film as a whole, is definitely closer to Unforgiven, but not quite there, than a film like A First Full of Dollars, and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly however, that is not to say that the latter two films aren’t as good as Red Skin, because they are, and better. The western itself is different really from most Eastwood westerns, but they still carry the same amount of charisma, and charm that all Eastwood westerns do.

Technically, the film is good, and it is welcoming to see some of those wide countryside shots that are very rare in films of today, and was definitely a welcome addition to the film.

25-27 October:

Silence!: 4/10

Better than most of the horror films we’ve seen this year, it’s still pretty bad. At least it’s scary. Should do well due to Halloween. The nudity was excessive, and absolutely unneeded.

Edited July 9, 2012 by riczhang

[Impact]

Better than most of the horror films we’ve seen this year, it’s still pretty bad. At least it’s scary. Should do well due to Halloween. The nudity was excessive, and absolutely unneeded.

Well most horror films do that I believe so yeah

[Blankments]

Gregor the Overlander: 8/10

... which is riddle with bad CGI [53 million budget], and often annoying cinematography. [Longer Version forthcoming]

Yeah, I went The Hunger Games cheap route. If the film does really well (at least $250 million domestic,) the sequel will have a significant budget increase.

Looking forward to the long review!

Edited July 8, 2012 by Blankments

[riczhang]

Yeah, I went The Hunger Games cheap route. If the film does really well (at least $250 million domestic,) the sequel will have a significant budget increase.

Looking forward to the long review!

I'm writing it after I finish the three sentences that currently constitute Black as Night's long review.

[riczhang]

November:

1-3 November:

Bartimaeus and the Golem’s Eye: 7/10

Technically impressive, and it tells the story without losing too much of the novel’s original plot and intent, but not much else.

Small Town Store: 6.5/10

Funny? Check. Good Acting? Check. Good Story? Don’t Check.

Election 2000: 7/10

Explains very in-depth without being confusing. Accomplishes everything a documentary should do, but nothing at all more, not even a little.

Jennifer: The Untold Story of My Life: 7/10

The premise in interesting, and the story is good, but the execution is lacking. However, it still makes for a quirky weird movie, in a good way.

8-10 November:

Frosty the Snowman: 8.5/10

After both Hansel and Gretel, and Green Eggs and Ham were re-worked this year, and for the most part not in a good way, I was afraid to see another animation based on a classic. However I was pleasantly surprised to see that filmmakers apparently can still make classic stories without butchering them. Definitely worth a see even if the animation isn’t the best.

La Follia di Gesualdo: 8.5/10

The key to this film’s success is that they’ve chosen a little known person’s life to adapt, yet everyone would assume to be interesting upon learning just the basics about him. This allows them to take creative licence as Gesualdo isn’t famous, because quoting Meryl Streep, “The fate of the well known is to be misunderstood.” This is as the audience and public haven’t decided that they already know everything about him, so this allows for his life has been spun into a fascinating, and possibly quite often not factual tale that takes us through the mind, and life of someone so evidently well, insane. Subtitles once again are a bit of a problem.

Black as Night: 10/10

Black as Night was always going to be judged, being PTA’s follow up to his great masterpiece that is There will Be Blood. While, the film doesn’t touch on the sheer mastery of TWBB, it comes close enough that it too creates a bloody amazing movie.

The 40 minute long introduction may seem like pretentious filmmaking to some, and to others it may just seem way too long. However, I felt that the prologue really set the tone, and personally it drew me in so quickly that the 40 minutes seemed more like 20 or less. It really is integral in my opinion in the unravelling of the complex character that is Leonard/Charles. Plus, the gorgeous cinematography, and sharp scripts in the film are a big plus which only seek to enhance the experience I’ve had.

Skipping all the way to the end, the ending was perfect however, that last panorama shot was definitely a little bit pretentious, and certainly unneeded, however having it in there didn’t bother me at all, and this is me picking at the little points to figure out just the little problems that would’ve taken this film to the level of There Will Be Blood.

The story itself is masterfully created, and the acting is brilliant, however Leonardo DiCaprio was easily probably one of the worst of the cast, but not bad, he’s great, and all but still he pales compared to the rest of the cast. Perhaps the casting of someone else such as Hardy would’ve made the film better, but DiCaprio himself still serves the character of Leonard, and he serves him very well. This may partly be because Leonard is a very difficult character to portray where his every move can be taken in either good or bad, and he has to be the hero that we kind of somewhat want to root for, but can’t fully commit ourselves to rooting for him. This nature of his character is something that Dicaprio doesn’t quite pull off, but makes such a good attempt at it that our minds can fill in the gaps where Dicaprio doesn’t.

The only other problem I really had was that the film at 179 minutes is a bit long, and some parts felt like they could’ve been condensed even if by just a minute or even half a minute here and there, which could’ve shortened the film in actuality by maybe only 10 minutes, but it would’ve felt a lot shorter when viewing the film itself.

But overall it is a valuable sit, and if you can stomach the run time it is a huge reward especially with the final twist that one can only ever find, and expect of a PTA production. As a result you get a story that transcends its original meaning to become one of yin and yang, and touches the heart and mind of every member of the audience, or so I would hope.

15-17 November:

Red Rabbit: 7/10

Pretty good, but not spectacular. Acting is generally good, and Chirs Pine does an amazing job as Ryan. However, despite all that, the film could’ve been fleshed out a little more, and at 135 minutes it is long, but could’ve benefited from maybe even just 5 minutes more of run time.

Assassins: 2/10

If you want to see an action flick, go see the week’s other release Red Rabbit. This one has nothing, except the fact that it was filmed in IMAX. (And shame that they didn’t even achieve a fraction of IMAX’s potential)

22-24 November:

CHERUB 1.0: 7.5/10

It can’t help but feel like half of a novel, which it is, but still offers enough of a story, and enough bangs, to make it an enjoyable spy movie for all. The premise is probably the strongest point of the entire film, which at points does drag on slightly, and could’ve benefited from a few less scenes.

Fifty Shades of Gray: 0/10

Don’t see this, unless you like watered down Porn, or Twilight.

27 November – 1 December:

Planeswalkers: A New World: 8/10

A film that puts more stalk into how it looks, and sounds rather than substance features amazing visuals, and a killer score, but falls flat on creating a story that doesn’t feel like it’s been told a thousand times before. However, the cast itself is talented, outside of Worthington, and in and out of itself is a reason to see this film. (Especially for Oldman). Once again, why is there narration? Could this not have been explained in a smartly placed piece of Dialogue a la Genesis, or through showing it on screen, in a cleverly animated, or choreographed introductory sequence?

The Bride, The Groom, and The Priest: 6/10

Despite a promising cast, and creative talent, this film trips over its own two feet in an attempt to set itself apart from the rest of the comedic fare this year, but still manages to be highly entertaining, and funny on the way there. The cast with their well timed delivery of lines is the biggest, and in my opinion the only reason to see this movie.

Thane of the Flies: 7/10

Weird premise, and the spaceship is definitely uncalled for, but Branagh and the cast manage to create something understandable, intelligent, and watchable out of what I was sure to be a huge mess. Could’ve been clearer, and less heavy handed on the mystical elements in the film. The acting is top notch, especially the chemistry and interaction between Oldman and Swinton.

Love in Poitiers: 9/10

Poitiers is a charming film that is well made, and above all well thought out, and acted. Meryl Streep, and Glenn Close are the stars of the show, with their fascinating, and riveting portrayals of Eleanor of Aquitaine, and her best friend. This film manages through ha a series of well mapped out and scripted exchanges, and events, manages to unearth an Eleanor that’s extremely rich, and complex as we see Eleanor from all sides, and see just how talented she was to have become the most powerful woman in the entire world when she was alive.