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True Grit, a review by Dragonfire

True Grit - 2010

I haven't liked a lot of westerns, though I haven't watched that in years.  I have liked the few newer ones that I've seen.  Anyway, after seeing the trailers for True Grit, I decided I wanted to see it.  I might have seen the John Wayne version before, but I couldn't remember if I did.  After seeing the new version, I saw the previous version.  Both movies are really good.  Also today, I bought the book.  I wasn't planning to, but I came across it in Walmart and I decided to get it.  Both versions of the movies are very similar, though there are a few differences here and there. 

The plot is very entertaining.  The story is sort of a revenge story, but it isn't just a revenge story.  Mattie wants justice for her father, not just revenge.  Time is taken early in the movie to set up everything and introduce the characters.  It doesn't take long for more to start happening.  The movie really isn't that violent, but one or two scenes are very violent, with one even being a tad gory.  Rattlesnakes also turn up at one point..I really could have done without that scene. 

While things look a bit more dirty and bleak in this version of the movie, the cinematography is gorgeous.  The sort of bleak look fits perfectly with what is going on.  There are a few hauntingly beautiful moments in the movie. 

The characters are wonderful and complex.  Mattie is one of the best characters I've seen in a movie in a long time. She is a very determined young woman who can talk her way through just about any situation.  She handles some kind of trade deal so well that the poor man looks ready to cry when he figures out she wants to trade again.  Cogburn is a marshal, though he does use some questionable methods.  He isn't a villain, but he isn't completely a hero type character either.  He is quick to shoot and likes to drink.  In fact he drinks so much, he falls of his horse at one point.  He seems incompetent at times, but he has moments that are brilliant.  When he decides on something, he doesn't stop.  He is not a man to cross.  Jeff Bridges is amazing in the part.  Matt Damon does really well as La Boeuf, the Texas Ranger who tends to clash with Cogburn.  Josh Brolin isn't in as much of the movie, but he is really good too.

I loved True Grit and I could see myself adding the movie to my collection.  I may even see it in the theater again.

I did get a review posted on Epinions.

True Grit

By the way, my mom and step dad have also seen this one.  They really like westerns, and have seen the one with John Wayne a lot of times.  My mom fully expected not to like this one...she felt they ruined 3:10 to Yuma in the remake.  Anyway, both of them loved the movie too and my mom actually wants to see it again in the theater.  She has only done that like 4 times total.

(From True Grit - 2010 on January 4th, 2011)

Dragon Wars, a review by KinkyCyborg

Dragon Wars



Title:Dragon Wars
Year: 2007
Director: Hyung Rae Shim
Rating: PG-13
Length: 90 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish

Stars:
Jason Behr
Amanda Brooks
Robert Forster
Craig Robinson
Aimee Garcia

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Bonus Trailers
Featurettes
Gallery
Storyboard Comparisons
Closed Captioned


Leapin' lizards!

I would have been much happier if they had of just made this a simple story about dormant dragons coming out of the woodwork to wreak havoc on the world. Instead they wrapped that basic premise tightly into a story about Korean mythology and legend. The result what somewhat cheesy and hokey. 

In some instances the CGI was brilliant and in others embarrassing. I loved the warring between the dragon hordes and man's technology in the big city and wished for longer sustained battles.

The giant, bumbling, turtle like reptiles with the rocket launchers were nifty and the air to air combat between the flying lizards and the gunships was thrilling!

I give high marks for originality in this one but what should have been a straight forward check your brain at the door fantasy/action flick was tainted by the director who tried to turn it into a story which usually results in a flawed equation.


KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on November 21st, 2010)

"Stargate SG-1" Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: On a planet that is protected by the nordic god Thor, Teal'c gets imprisoned in a labyrinth because of his Goa'uld larva - and Jack with him. Sam and Daniel try to find them, while Jack and Teal'c try to escape from the labyrinth and the thing that has dwelt there cince centuries.

My Opinion: I liked the episode in general, Darth Vader's James Earl Jones's voice gave the Unas the right sound. But even when I saw the episode for the first time I had my doubts of whether it was the right decision to destroy Thor's Hammer. The team makes a lot of gut decisions without even thinking about long-time consequences. Here they've just endangered the security an an entire population.

Synopsis:My Opinion: This episode was tragicomical. On the one hand there was this lonely, old man who hasn't seen a human being for 50 years. On the other hand was it funny to see how embarrassed they all were when he ran around naked. I really liked it when Dr. Littlefield convince Daniel that some prices are too high to be paid for the gain of new knowledge.

Synopsis: Teal'c wants to return to Chulak, with or without SG-1. Teal'c has to admit that he has left his family behind. His son Rya'c has reached the age for the Prim'ta: he will recieve his first Goa'uld larva. Teal'c wants to prevent exactly this. But he is regarded as Shol'va (traitor), who has betrayed his god.

My Opinion: The first appearance of Tony Amendola in his role as master Bra'tac. I liked the man from the beginning. In this episode you realize for the first time what Teal'c has given up when he switched sides. Until now one could believe that he was single and has only left his belief behind.

Synopsis: Jack, Sam and Teal'c return from ann off-world mission on which Daniel died. The funeral service takes place in the Stargate room. All three of them know that Daniel is dead but they can't really accept it. And Daniel has to think about the fate of Omoroca.

My Opinion: Nice funeral. One could have thought that Michael Shanks has left the show. But Daniel's part in this episode was rather boring, especially with that repeated question "What fate Omoroca?".

Synopsis: In a mayan temple a sarcophagus with egyptian hieroglyphs is found and shortly after the inhabitant of that sarcophagus breaks out. Then she is on the way to the Stargate.

My Opinion: The women fight while the men can only think about the one thing. It was fun to watch and I liked it a lot. I found the remark interesting, that Hathor is both child and wife of Ra's. That's not an uncommon concept among ancient gods. Hera also was Zeus's daughter and wife.

(From "Stargate SG-1" Marathon on March 1st, 2008)