Tom's Random Reviews

[Tom]

Title: Mean Girls
Year: 2004
Director: Mark Waters
Rating: PG
Length: 96 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 3, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Lindsay Lohan
Rachel McAdams
Tina Fey
Tim Meadows
Amy Poehler

Plot:
Raised in the African bush country by her zoologist parents, Cady (Lindsay Lohan) thinks she knows all about the "survival of the fittest." But the law of the jungle takes on a whole new meaning when the home-schooled 15-year-old enters public high school for the first time. Trying to find her place among the jocks, mathletes and other subcultures, Cady crosses paths with the meanest species of all - the Queen Bee, aka the cool and calculating Regina (Rachel McAdams), the leader of the school's most fashionable clique, The Plastics. When Cady falls for Regina'a ex-boyfriend, though, the Queen Bee is stung - and she schemes to ruin Cady's social future. Cady's own claws soon come out as she leaps into a hilarious "Girl World" war that has the whole school runnig for cover. Co-starring and written by Saturday Night Live's Tina Fey, Mean Girls is "Viciously Funny!"

Awards:

BMI Film & TV Music Awards	2005	Won	BMI Film Music Award	Rolfe Kent
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Young Actress	Lindsay Lohan
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Won	Best Female Performance	Lindsay Lohan
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Won	Best On-Screen Team	Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Villain	Rachel McAdams
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Won	Breakthrough Female Performance	Rachel McAdams
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Won	Choice Breakout Movie Star - Female	Lindsay Lohan
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Breakout Movie Star - Female	Rachel McAdams
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Breakout Movie Star - Male	Jonathan Bennett
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Movie - Comedy
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Won	Choice Movie Actress - Comedy	Lindsay Lohan
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Movie Actress - Comedy	Rachel McAdams
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Won	Choice Movie Blush	Lindsay Lohan
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Movie Blush	Rachel McAdams
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Movie Chemistry	Lindsay Lohan, Jonathan Bennett
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Movie Fight/Action Sequence
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Movie Hissy Fit	Rachel McAdams
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Movie Liar	Lindsay Lohan
Teen Choice Awards	2004	Nominated	Choice Movie Sleazebag	Rachel McAdams
Writers Guild of America Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Adapted Screenplay	Tina Fey

Extras:
Closed Captioned
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Outtakes
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

I have been meaning to rewatch this one for a while now. After watching "The Time Traveler's Wife" I noticed, that Rachel McAdams also had a big role in "Mean Girls" I felt now is the right time to watch it.
This is an above average High School comedy. There are also a lot of familiar faces. Tina Fey of course. Also "Lily" from Veronica Mars is here playing a dumb blonde. And of course hot Lizzy Caplan, who I first knew from the really short-lived "The Pitts".

Rating:

[Tom]

Title: Batman Begins
Year: 2005
Director: Christopher Nolan
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 134 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: Arabic, English, German, Hebrew, Icelandic

Stars:
Christian Bale
Michael Caine
Liam Neeson
Katie Holmes
Gary Oldman

Plot:
In 'BATMAN BEGINS', acclaimed director Christopher Nolan explores the origins of the legendary DARK KNIGHT. In the wake of his parents' murders, disillusioned heir BRUCE WAYNE (CHRISTIAN BALE) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. With the help of his trusted butler ALFRED (MICHAEL CAINE), detective JIM GORDON (GARY OLDMAN) and his ally LUCIUS FOX (MORGAN FREEMAN), Wayne returns to GOTHAM CITY and unleashes his alter ego: BATMAN, a masked crusader who uses strength, intellect and an array of high-tech weaponry to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

Awards:

Academy Award	2005	Nominated	Best Cinematography	Wally Pfister
American Society of Cinematographers Awards	2006	Nominated	Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases	Wally Pfister
Art Directors Guild Production Design Awards	2006	Nominated	Feature Film – Period or Fantasy Film
ASCAP Awards	2006	Won	Top Box Office Films	James Newton-Howard, Hans Zimmer, Ramin Djawadi (additional music)
BAFTA	2005	Nominated	Achievement In Special Visual Effects	Janek Sirrs, Dan Glass, Chris Corbould, Paul Franklin
BAFTA	2005	Nominated	Production Design	Nathan Crowley
BAFTA	2005	Nominated	Sound	David Evans, Stefan Henrix, Peter Lindsay
British Society of Cinematographers Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Cinematography Award	Wally Pfister
Costume Designers Guild Awards	2006	Nominated	Excellence in Costume Design for Film – Fantasy	Lindy Hemming
Empire Magazine Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Actor	Christian Bale
Empire Magazine Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Director	Christopher Nolan
Empire Magazine Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Thriller
Golden Raspberry Awards	2005	Nominated	Worst Supporting Actress	Katie Holmes
Hugo Award	2006	Nominated	Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
MTV Movie Awards	2006	Won	Best Hero	Christian Bale
MTV Movie Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Movie
MTV Movie Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Villain	Cillian Murphy
Online Film Critics Society Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Original Score	James Newton-Howard, Hans Zimmer
Saturn	2005	Won	Best Actor	Christian Bale
Saturn	2005	Nominated	Best Costume	Lindy Hemming
Saturn	2005	Nominated	Best Director	Christopher Nolan
Saturn	2005	Won	Best Fantasy Film
Saturn	2005	Nominated	Best Music	James Newton-Howard, Hans Zimmer
Saturn	2005	Nominated	Best Special Effects	Janek Sirrs, Dan Glass, Chris Corbould, Paul J. Franklin
Saturn	2005	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor	Liam Neeson
Saturn	2005	Nominated	Best Supporting Actress	Katie Holmes
Saturn	2005	Won	Best Writing	Christopher Nolan, David Goyer
Scream Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Comic-to-Screen Adaption
Scream Awards	2006	Won	Best Director	Christopher Nolan
Scream Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Fantasy Movie
Scream Awards	2006	Won	Best Scream-Play	David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan
Scream Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Sequel
Scream Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Superhero	Christian Bale
Scream Awards	2006	Nominated	Most Heroic Performance	Christian Bale
Scream Awards	2006	Nominated	Most Vile Villian	Cillian Murphy
Scream Awards	2006	Nominated	The "Holy Sh%t!" / "Jump-from-your-Seat" Award	"The Train Sequence"-Scene
Scream Awards	2006	Won	The Ultimate Scream
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Summer Movie
Teen Choice Awards	2006	Nominated	Movies - Choice Sleazebag	Cillian Murphy
Visual Effects Society Awards	2006	Nominated	Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Motion Picture	Alex Wuttke, Pete Bebb, Dayne Cowan, Imery Watson (For the Gotham City monorail chase)
World Soundtrack Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Original Soundtrack of the Year	James Newton-Howard, Hans Zimmer

Extras:
DVD-ROM Content
Featurettes
Photo Gallery
Production Notes
Scene Access
Trailers
US-Comic-Buch mit 3 Batman-Stories

My Thoughts:

This movie moved the franchise in the right direction. I like the "realistic" approach this movie takes with Batman. Though I never warmed up to the villains in this movie. I don't like Scaregrow, and I really didn't like Liam Neeson's character. He is the cause that the movie slowed down too much in some places. Especially in the beginning. Also his masterplan to destroy Gotham City is ridiculous.
High points in this movie are for me all scenes with Morgan Freeman's Fox or Gary Oldman's Gordon.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

I also really enjoyed Morgan Freeman as Fox.

[Tom]

Title: Rachel Getting Married
Year: 2008
Director: Jonathan Demme
Rating: 15
Length: 113 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian: Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Spanish: Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Subtitles: Commentary, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Hindi, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish

Stars:
Sebastian Stan
Roslyn Ruff
Anne Hathaway
Bill Irwin
Anna Deavere Smith

Plot:
When Kym (Anne Hathaway) returns to the Buchman family home for the wedding of her sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt), she brings a long history of personal crisis, family conflict and tragedy along with her. The wedding couple's abundant party of friends and relations have gathered for a joyful weekend of feasting, music and love, but Kym – with her biting one-liners and flair for bombshell drama – is a catalyst for long-simmering tensions in the family dynamic. Filled with the rich and eclectic characters that remain a hallmark of Jonathan Demme's films, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED paints a heartfelt, perceptive and sometimes hilarious family portrait.

Awards:

Academy Award	2008	Nominated	Best Actress	Anne Hathaway
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Acting Ensemble	Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger, Anna Deavere Smith, Bill Irwin, Mather Zickel, Anisa George
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2009	Won	Best Actress	Anne Hathaway
Golden Globe	2008	Nominated	Actress in a Leading Role - Drama	Anne Hathaway
National Board of Review Awards, USA	2008	Won	Best Actress	Anne Hathaway
Satellite Awards	2008	Nominated	Best Actress – Drama	Anne Hathaway
Satellite Awards	2008	Won	Best Actress in a Supporting Role	Rosemarie DeWitt
Screen Actors Guild Award	2008	Nominated	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role	Anne Hathaway

Extras:
BD-Live
Bonus Trailers
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Interviews
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

First of all, I don't like the camera work. It is shaky hand-held throughout. I am sick of those. I know they are going for a more "realistic" feel, but for me movie-makers going this route are just too cheap to use a steady-cam or a dolly setup. "Shaky-cam" just lets you never forget, that you are watching a movie. I can understand it when there is supposed to be a documentary crew there (like in "The Office") and the characters acknowledge there is someone standing there with a camera.
Also the family drama was just not for me. It was like watching a reality show, where we have to watch some uninteresting people doing their stuff.
Anne Hathaway was great though. But even she could not save this movie for me.

Rating:

[Emma]

Rachel Getting Married, is one of those films that I found boring and had I not been watching it with someone who was really into it... Id have turned it off.

[Tom]

Rachel Getting Married, is one of those films that I found boring and had I not been watching it with someone who was really into it... Id have turned it off.

After the first ten minutes I almost turned it off, but as I paid good money for the Blu-ray and as Matthias has been raving about this movie, I wanted to give it a chance.

[Jon]

...and as Matthias has been raving about this movie, I wanted to give it a chance.

 


I jest. I was actually intrigued by Matthias' comments and liked the clips, so I've got it on my rental list at least...

[Tom]

Title: Matilda
Year: 1996
Director: Danny DeVito
Rating: PG
Length: 94 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish

Stars:
Mara Wilson
Danny DeVito
Rhea Perlman
Embeth Davidtz
Pam Ferris

Plot:
From the best-selling author Roald Dahl and the unique vision of Danny DeVito comes Matilda, a modern day fairy tale that mixes hilarious humour with the magical message of love. Matilda Special Edition is packed with brand new special features for lots of fun and entertainment!

'Mrs. Doubtfire's' Mara Wilson stars as Matilda, a super-smart little girl who's woefully misunderstood by her parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman), her brother, and an evil school principal. But with the help of a brave best friend and a wonderful teacher, Matilda discovers she doesn't have to get mad to get even.

Awards:

Satellite Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor – Comedy or Musical	Danny DeVito
Saturn	1996	Nominated	Best Younger Actor	Mara Wilson
Young Artist Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress	Mara Wilson
Young Artist Awards	1997	Nominated	Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress	Kira Spencer Hesser
YoungStar Awards	1997	Won	Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film	Mara Wilson

Extras:
DVD-ROM Content
Featurettes
Interactive Game
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

A very enjoyable movie. Mara Wilson (who I know from the remake of "Miracle on 34th Street") did a really good job in the title role. Also Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman are great as the neglectful parents of Matilda. Embeth Davidtz as Miss Honey reminded me of Geena Davis in Stuart Little.

Rating:

[Jon]

Honestly, no word of a lie, I think Matilda is one of the very best children's films of all time, or at the very least of recent times. I don't think anyone has quite captured Roald Dahl's wonderful style as well as Danny Devito. The screwed up fairytale, genuinely scary villains, awful and outrageous things happening to cute children that cause nightmares for the nanny state political correctness mob, plus a healthy dose of sentimentality; I bloody love it!

"I'm big, you're little; you're wrong, I'm right!"

I especially appreciate it's message to love books and learning and not watch so much telly. I know there's irony in that statement, but sod it.

[Tom]

I especially appreciate it's message to love books and learning and not watch so much telly. I know there's irony in that statement, but sod it.

I had a similar thought while watching the movie. Here I was sitting in front of my television and the movie was telling me to rather read a book. But then I thought that at least I am watching a good movie while the characters were watching some kind of stupid game show hosted by Jon Lovitz. 

[goodguy]

Rachel Getting Married

After the first ten minutes I almost turned it off, but as I paid good money for the Blu-ray and as Matthias has been raving about this movie, I wanted to give it a chance.

Sorry. It should be clear by now from a number of similar cases that me raving about it probably means you won't like it.

[Tom]

It should be clear by now from a number of similar cases that me raving about it probably means you won't like it.

I didn't want to say it 

[Tom]

Title: Billy Madison
Year: 1995
Director: Tamra Davis
Rating: FSK-6
Length: 86 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2-Channel Stereo, German: Dolby Digital 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Swedish

Stars:
Adam Sandler
Darren McGavin
Bridgette Wilson
Bradley Whitford
Josh Mostel

Plot:
He's the heir to the Madison Hotel millions but in order to win his father's respect, and his Fortune 500 company, grown-up, goof-off Billy must repeat all 12 grades of school - in just 24 weeks! Comedy Superstar Adam Sandler stars with beautiful Bridgette Wilson in this laugh-a-minute hit where the subject is always fun! Featuring songs by Electric Light Orchestra, The Jackson 5, The Cars, Culture Club, The Ramones and Styx.

Awards:

MTV Movie Awards

1995

Nominated

Best Comedic Performance

Adam Sandler

Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

I thought I'd check out this movie again if it really is as bad as Pete recently wrote, or closer to what I remember it being. For me it is still about the same as when I saw it years ago. It had a few good parts and bad parts. I have never enjoyed the juvenile beginning, and I never enjoyed the stupid end. But I enjoy the middle part of the movie. I always thought it a fun idea to have Billy repeat all twelve school years, with two weeks for each grade. He really did fit into elementary school. And the high school part started interested. Sadly the movie then chose to go into another direction which prematurely stopped the high school part. It would have been much more interesting to follow him through high school and him trying to fit in there.
As for the love interest: She is really hot, but her falling in love with him just did happen much too fast. One minute she couldn't stand him. The next time she is seducing him. The school trip scene is what supposedly changed her view of him. But it would have been better if it would have only been a starting point from where she gradually gets to know him better, instead of her making a move on him the very next day.
Overall I am glad it wasn't as bad as I had feared I would think of the movie this time around.

Rating:

[karmesinrot]

We used to watch either Happy Gilmore or Billy Madison nearly every Friday in school and I always thought Billy was the funnier of the two 

[Jon]

That's not a great ad for Happy Gilmore...