DVD Reviews => The "Marathon" reviews => Topic started by: DJ Doena on January 24, 2010, 08:22:58 PM
Title: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 24, 2010, 08:22:58 PM
You might have noticed that the old year (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,5167.0.html) is over, so I'm starting a new diary. But I will only review movies I haven't reviewed before - unless my opinion has changed drastically.
And since I was a bit lazy over the last few weeks, I have to review a number of movies now.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 24, 2010, 08:40:40 PM
January, 1st
You've Got Mail (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/)
Director: Nora Ephron
Tom Hanks ... Joe Fox Meg Ryan ... Kathleen Kelly Greg Kinnear ... Frank Navasky Parker Posey ... Patricia Eden Jean Stapleton ... Birdie Conrad Steve Zahn ... George Pappas
Synopsis: Joe Fox is one of the owners of the "Fox Books Superstore" chain and he sells cheap books. And now he wants to open a new store in New York. Kathleen Kelly owns the children book store "Shop Around the Corner" in close proximity to the new superstore. When they are Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox they can't stand each other. When they are Shopgirl and NY152 they are close online friends. The question is what happens when these world collide.
My Opinion: I like this movie, it's a sweet little romance where Meg Ryan plays the role she always plays and Tom Hanks shows his romantic side once more. I have to say I like it even better than its "predecessor" Sleepless in Seattle. That is a nice movie, too, but when I have the choice between these two, I choose this one. And even though I don't really like The Godfather I like the running gag references to it.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: Rogmeister on January 24, 2010, 08:50:41 PM
I like both this movie and Sleepless In Seattle too...but I probably also prefer this one. I think one reason is that Sleepless is more dramatic while You've Got Mail is more of a comedy throughout. Also, Tom & Meg really don't see each other during most of the earlier film...though I do love Rita Wilson's bit in the earlier film and consider that a highlight. You've Got Mail was on a cable channel yesterday and it's one of those films that, whenever it's on, I just turn it on and watch the rest of it from whereever I pick up on it.
But I still haven't seen Joe Vs. The Volcano... :laugh:
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 24, 2010, 09:02:42 PM
January, 2nd
Die Hard (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/)
Director: John McTiernan
Bruce Willis ... Officer John McClane Bonnie Bedelia ... Holly Gennaro McClane Reginald VelJohnson ... Sgt. Al Powell Paul Gleason ... Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson William Atherton ... Richard Thornburg Alan Rickman ... Hans Gruber
Synopsis: John McClane is a NY police detective who visits his wife for Christmas. She works as an executive in a company in L.A. and they celebrate not only Christmasbut also the new offices: the Nakatomi Tower. But it isn't a party until someone crashes it. In this case Hans Gruber and his gang, a pretending terrorist but actual thief who wants the 650 million Dollars in bearer bonds in the Nakatomi safe. What he didn't expect was "Roy".
My Opinion: Still a great piece of action cinema. John was one of the first heroes who actually bleed during their lone gunman action but there aren't many people who can keep up with his cool badass attitude. Of course Alan Rickman was also brilliant as the villain and if you ask me he was the best opponent John ever had. Or as Barney put it in How I Met Your Mother: "Charming international bandit. In the end, he dies hard. He's the title character."
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 24, 2010, 09:27:06 PM
Tobey Maguire ... Spider-Man / Peter Parker Kirsten Dunst ... Mary Jane Watson James Franco ... Harry Osborn Alfred Molina ... Doc Ock / Dr. Otto Octavius Rosemary Harris ... May Parker J.K. Simmons ... J. Jonah Jameson Ted Raimi ... Hoffman Bruce Campbell ... Snooty Usher
Synopsis: Spider-Man is still the hero of the day but Peter Parker has ever bigger problems to manage these two sides of his life and it's often Peter's life that loses. Which means he loses his jobs, his grades at the university are dropping and the worst: Mary Jane is disappointed of him. And then an experiment of Dr. Octavius's goes horribly wrong and turns him into an obsessed maniac.
My Opinion: I like this movie a tiny bit more than the first - which is saying much because I really love the first part. All the fights against Doc Ock are great but what's really great is, that he isn't a villain through and through and has the capacity to see his error and redeems himself at the end. It's really sad that after these two great movies the third failed due to executive meddling.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 24, 2010, 09:49:13 PM
January, 3rd
How to Lose a Guy - in 10 Days (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251127/)
Director: Donald Petrie
Kate Hudson ... Andie Matthew McConaughey ... Ben Kathryn Hahn ... Michelle Annie Parisse ... Jeannie Adam Goldberg ... Tony Thomas Lennon ... Thayer Michael Michele ... Spears Shalom Harlow ... Green
Synopsis: Andie is a columnist with the Composure magazine and she usually writes the "How To" articles but she has bigger plans. She wants to write about politics and the economy. Ben works in an advertisement agency and usually creates campaigns for sports companies. But he has bigger plans. He wants to score the deal with the DeLauers who are the biggest fish when it comes to diamond jewellery. Ben gets it when he manages to make a woman really fall in love with him until the presentation. Andie gets her wish granted if she can write an article about what women do wrong with guys: "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days". Guess who'll run into each other.
My Opinion: This romcom gets its appeal from the absolutely opposite intentions of its protagonists. She does everything to drive him crazy and he puts up with it. But it also works because they have chemistry together. I also like their performance of "You're so vain" at the end, especially because neither can really sing (at least the characters can't). Rationally neither is really in the position to be mad at the other but in that moment they're just pissed off and it makes for a great scene.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 24, 2010, 10:10:48 PM
Richard Gere ... Edward Lewis Julia Roberts ... Vivian Ward Jason Alexander ... Philip Stuckey Alex Hyde-White ... David Morse Hector Elizondo ... Barney Thompson
Synopsis: He's a successful business man. He buys companies, fillets them and sells the pieces at a profit. She hasn't even finished high school and works now as a hooker on Hollywood Boulevard. Their lives cross paths because he can't drive stick. But it's just a business arrangement. She's his companion for one week and that's it. As if life was that easy...
My Opinion: Hollywood fairy tale at its best. ;) Julia Roberts was only 22 when she made this and she looked gorgeous in it, especially in the cocktail dress. But my favourite character in this movie is the hotel manager Mr. Thompson. The way he treats her and verbally sails around the cliffs and when he helps her - it's really great, particularly because he has no reason to help her.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 24, 2010, 10:30:20 PM
January, 10th
Blind Fury (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096945/)
Director: Phillip Noyce
Rutger Hauer ... Nick Parker Terry O'Quinn ... Frank Devereaux Brandon Call ... Billy Devereaux Noble Willingham ... MacCready Lisa Blount ... Annie Winchester Meg Foster ... Lynn Devereaux
Synopsis: Nick Parker was blinded during the Vietnam War but he's come to live with it. The locals have taught him to compensate it and even how to use a sword. After many years he tries to contact an old army friend of his but Frank is in deep trouble. He owes people money and they force him to create designer drugs. When he doesn't want to cooperate they kill his wife and try to take his son. But they didn't anticipate that blind man showing up.
My Opinion: I always liked this movie. The acting isn't exactly the best but I like the relationship between Nick and Billy; their bantering in the beginning and their friendship in the end. I also like all the fights because it looks different from what a seeing man would do.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 24, 2010, 10:50:32 PM
John Travolta ... James Kirstie Alley ... Mollie George Segal ... Albert Abe Vigoda ... Grandpa Bruce Willis ... Mikey (voice)
Synopsis: Mollie is in love with a married man who promised her to get divorced (which he doesn't of course) and one day she gets pregnant. Nine months later a lunatic cab driver brings her to the hospital where her son Mikey is born. The crazy cab driver becomes her babysitter ... and more. And even though he cannot express himself verbally, Mikey has an opinion about everything in this world and he will "tell" us it.
My Opinion: It's a very funny movie, mainly of course due to Bruce Willis's voice-over of Mikey but John Travolta and Kirstey Alley are a lot fun, too. I bet the shootings were very exhausting (working with a number of small children and all) but the end product doesn't show it - if you exclude Mollie's birth-giving scenes. ;)
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 25, 2010, 01:43:04 PM
Curly Sue (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101635/)
Director: John Hughes
James Belushi ... Bill Dancer Kelly Lynch ... Grey Ellison Alisan Porter ... Curly Sue John Getz ... Walker McCormick Fred Dalton Thompson ... Bernard Oxbar
Synopsis: Bill and his "adopted" daughter Curly Sue are two hoboes who fight their way through life with minor cons. But with their latest scam they hit the jackpot. The lawyer Grey Ellison takes them into her home, gives them food and clothes. But how long will this work?
My Opinion: And another favourite comedy of the harmless kind of mine. All the scenes with Curly Sue are so funny, when she sings "Star-Spangled Banner" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFwzM9E5G88) or when they play Poker or when they teach Grey the high art of conning. Too bad, Alisan Porter doesn't act anymore. But her new career ain't bad either:
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 25, 2010, 02:19:50 PM
January, 13th
Dave (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106673/)
Director: Ivan Reitman
Kevin Kline ... Dave Kovic / Bill Mitchell Sigourney Weaver ... Ellen Mitchell Frank Langella ... Bob Alexander Kevin Dunn ... Alan Reed Ving Rhames ... Duane Stevenson Ben Kingsley ... Vice-President Nance Charles Grodin ... Murray Blum
Synopsis: Dave Kovic is a simple man who works in an agency that gives people jobs. But he also looks exactly like the President of the United States. One day the Secret Service hires him for a public appearance because the real President Bill Mitchell has "more important" things to do. But when Mitchell falls into a coma due to a stroke the chief advisor Bob Alexander engages Dave to play the President for real.
My Opinion: This is a great fun flick about American politics with all its aspects (like the budget, running campaigns and so on) and Dave pretending to be the President and getting used to the job. I liked all the characters in their roles, from the First Lady to the bodyguard and of course the villain of the piece - Bob Alexander (Skeletor in Masters of the Universe) but the scenes between Dave and Ellen I like the most because then it shows how different a man Dave is from Bill.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 25, 2010, 02:39:31 PM
January, 15th
Superman (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078346/)
Director: Richard Donner
Marlon Brando ... Jor-El Gene Hackman ... Lex Luthor Christopher Reeve ... Superman / Clark Kent Ned Beatty ... Otis Jackie Cooper ... Perry White Glenn Ford ... Jonathan Kent Margot Kidder ... Lois Lane Valerie Perrine ... Eve Teschmacher Terence Stamp ... General Zod Phyllis Thaxter ... Martha Kent Susannah York ... Lara Jeff East ... Young Clark Kent Marc McClure ... Jimmy Olsen Sarah Douglas ... Ursa
Synopsis: Shortly before the destruction of the planet Krypton Jor-El and his wife Lara send their infant son, Kal-El, to Earth. There he grows up as Clark Kent. He looks like one of them but he isn't one of them. Earth's yellow sun and his dense molecular structure give him powers no Human possesses. As a Human he's Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter; as a Kryptonian he's Superman, saviour of the Human race.
My Opinion: I am a bit torn about this movie. I really like the entire beginning with Jor-El and when his father dies and when he learns in the Fortress. But when he's the reporter Clark Kent I don't really like his persona. I know that it's THE myth and that he has been portrayed this way in the comics but I've gotten too used to a much more "normal" Clark like he was portrayed by Dean Cain in Lois & Clark or Tom Welling in Smallville. I'm also not too comfortable with the scenes Lex is in because then the movie drifts too much into a comic style. I know I shouldn't hold that against it - it's derived from a comic after all - but I've got other expectations from comic movies after watching the new X-Men and Spider-Man and especially Batman movies. But it is still a good movie one can enjoy if one accepts its origins.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 25, 2010, 03:11:50 PM
January, 16th
The Negotiator (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120768/)
Director: F. Gary Gray
Samuel L. Jackson ... Lt. Danny Roman Kevin Spacey ... Lt. Chris Sabian David Morse ... Cmdr. Adam Beck Ron Rifkin ... Cmdr. Grant Frost John Spencer ... Chief Al Travis J.T. Walsh ... Insp. Terence Niebaum Siobhan Fallon ... Maggie Paul Giamatti ... Rudy Timmons
Synopsis: Danny Roman is a negotiator for hostage situations for the police and he's one of the best there is. One day he gets framed for stealing money from the police pension fund and it looks like he's going to prison for it. He sees no other choice than taking hostages himself, to force the issue and to find out what really happened and who was involved. His negotiator is Chris Sabian from the other side of the city and he's also very good at what he does.
My Opinion: A fascinating thriller with an excellent cast. I'm not a big fan of thrillers but this is a movie I watch regularly. It's very powerful and still has its funny moments - like the scene where we get introduced to Chris Sabian. I also like the selection of hostages and how they contribute to the case.
(click to show/hide)
An interesting thing about these kinds of movies is that - despite them ending in a happy end - they don't actually have a real happy end, because if you think it through he still will be charged of taking hostages, destroying a federal building and other stuff. Even if he gets only a slap on the hand, it's unlikely that he's ever going to work as a cop again. But I think that falls in the category of Fridge Logic (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FridgeLogic).
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 25, 2010, 03:39:41 PM
Die Hard 2 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099423/)
Director: Renny Harlin
Bruce Willis ... Lt. John McClane Bonnie Bedelia ... Holly McClane William Atherton ... Richard Thornburg William Sadler ... Col. Stuart Reginald VelJohnson ... Sgt. Al Powell Franco Nero ... Gen. Ramon Esperanza John Amos ... Maj. Grant Dennis Franz ... Capt. Carmine Lorenzo Fred Dalton Thompson ... Trudeau Tom Bower ... Marvin
Synopsis: "The same shit happens to the same guy twice." Another Christmas and Holly is flying in to Washington D.C. where her husband is waiting for her. But a flight designated FM-1 is also scheduled to land - and this flight has an important "passenger": General Esperanza, a despot and drug lord and he has friends at the airport. And they have no intentions of getting the General be handed over to the justice system. What they didn't expect was the hero of the Nakatomi Tower.
My Opinion: I like this movie nearly as much as the first one. It hasn't as good a villain as the first one had, but it's still a great action movie with a cool story, an awesome body count and a lot of exploding buildings and planes and even more swearing. What's not to like? ;)
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: Najemikon on January 25, 2010, 06:38:49 PM
Hollywood fairy tale at its best. ;) Julia Roberts was only 22 when she made this and she looked gorgeous in it, especially in the cocktail dress. But my favourite character in this movie is the hotel manager Mr. Thompson. The way he treats her and verbally sails around the cliffs and when he helps her - it's really great, particularly because he has no reason to help her.
I actually like Pretty Woman. Maybe some critics have a point about it glamourising prostitution, but I say :tease: to them! Still, I've said it before, Karsten, and I'll say it again... go back a little bit further and you'll find dozens of great "Hollywood fairytales" like Pretty Woman. :P
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 26, 2010, 01:31:44 PM
The Fugitive (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106977/)
Director: Andrew Davis
Harrison Ford ... Dr. Richard Kimble Tommy Lee Jones ... Samuel Gerard Julianne Moore ... Dr. Anne Eastman Joe Pantoliano ... Cosmo Renfro Andreas Katsulas ... Sykes Jeroen Krabbé ... Dr. Charles Nichols Tom Wood ... Newman
Synopsis: Dr. Richard Kimble has been found guilty of murdering his wife. But he claims to be innocent and when his prison bus collides with a train he gets the chance to escape. But now he has Deputy Samuel Gerard from the U.S. Marshals Service on his tail. Can he stay out of prison long enough to find the killer of his wife?
My Opinion: I've never seen a single of the series this movie is based upon but I already like it on its own. Tommy Lee Jones is a great hunter but Harrison Ford is the better hunted. ;) I like all the action sequences and all the running (lots of running!) but the movie doesn't forget the actual story and I liked all these small pieces like when he helped that boy in the hospital. I also liked the scenes where it appeared as if they were close to him just to reveal that he wasn't the target.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 26, 2010, 01:51:26 PM
January, 17th
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114781/)
Director: Geoff Murphy
Steven Seagal ... Casey Ryback Eric Bogosian ... Travis Dane Everett McGill ... Marcus Penn Katherine Heigl ... Sarah Ryback Morris Chestnut ... Bobby Zachs Andy Romano ... Admiral Bates Royce D. Applegate ... Ryback's Cook Nick Mancuso ... Tom Breaker Kurtwood Smith ... General Stanley Cooper
Synopsis: Casey and his niece Sarah are travelling by train across the United States. But aboard this train are also a crazy lunatic and a group of mercenaries who take over a highly secret and highly dangerous satellite that can destroy the entire west coast by causing earthquakes below the San Andreas Fault. Casey is the only one who can stop them before they kill millions.
My Opinion: Steven Seagal is no Bruce Willis but I still enjoy his action movies a lot. He kills ruthlessly and has cool knife-fighting skills. The general plot is pretty much a slightly adjusted template copy of Under Siege but I don't really care. It's just fun to watch. This time was also the first time that the name Katherine Heigl rang a bell.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 26, 2010, 02:32:17 PM
Under Siege (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105690/)
Director: Andrew Davis
Steven Seagal ... Casey Ryback Tommy Lee Jones ... William Stranix Gary Busey ... Cmdr. Krill Erika Eleniak ... Jordan Tate Colm Meaney ... Doumer Patrick O'Neal ... Capt. Adams Andy Romano ... Adm. Bates Nick Mancuso ... Tom Breaker Glenn Morshower ... Ens. Taylor
Synopsis: The destroyer U.S.S. Missouri embarks on its last journey from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco where she will be decommissioned. Manned only with a skeleton crew the crew prepares for the captain's birthday party - including the cook, Casey Ryback. But the party takes an unexpected turn and the ship is suddenly in the hands of mercenaries who want to get their hands on the nuclear warheads from the ship's arsenal. The only people who can stop them is "just a cook" - and a stripper.
My Opinion: I love this movie. I know it's cheesy but Casey and Jordan work very well together and Stranix and Krill are really cool bastards. And then there's of course the jumping-out-of-a-cake scene. ;) It's a nice action movie but there's one scene that upvalues the movie for me and that is the last scene of the movie where Ryback pays his last respects to the captain - in full dress uniform.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 26, 2010, 04:45:12 PM
January, 24th
Hero (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104412/)
Director: Stephen Frears
Dustin Hoffman ... Bernie Laplante Geena Davis ... Gale Gayley Andy Garcia ... John Bubber Joan Cusack ... Evelyn Tom Arnold ... Chick James Madio ... Joey
Synopsis: Bernie's life philosophy is to stay below the radar, to keep a low profile. Unfortunately that didn't help him when he was caught selling stolen goods for which he most likely will go to prison. But before that happens, a plane crashes right before his nose. And Bernie - reluctantly defying his own nature - helps to save all the passengers. Then he snatches a purse and disappears into the night. And suddenly the whole world is looking for the Angel of Flight 104...
My Opinion: This is a comedy that doesn't follow the usual plot pattern. Bernie isn't a nice, charming guy at the end; he's the same old grumpy character as in the beginning with all his flaws and merits. Actually, the character that changed the most throughout the movie was Gale. Too bad she quit her job the moment she was emotionally ready to be a different reporter than she was before.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 26, 2010, 06:00:02 PM
The Girl Next Door (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265208/)
Director: Luke Greenfield
Emile Hirsch ... Matthew Kidman Elisha Cuthbert ... Danielle Timothy Olyphant ... Kelly James Remar ... Hugo Posh Chris Marquette ... Eli Paul Dano ... Klitz Amanda Swisten ... April Sung Hi Lee ... Ferrari
Synopsis: Matthew is the model student at his high school: He's class president, wants to go into politics and has already gotten into Georgetown University. Then he meets his new neighbour: Danielle. She's very different from any girl he's ever met. But he has yet to learn how different she really is. And she has the talent to bring out a side of him he didn't even knew he had.
My Opinion: I simply bought the movie because 24's Elisha Cuthbert starred in it. On the surface it's just another romcom but due to Danielle's background it's not that usual. And even though he makes the genre-typical blunder and affronts her, it doesn't happen at the usual point in the story and then the movie isn't over either. I also liked the surprising end and also Timothy Olyphant as the "villain" who isn't that bad after all. The juice was worth the squeeze.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 30, 2010, 11:44:54 AM
January, 29th
The Proposal (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1041829/)
Director: Anne Fletcher
Sandra Bullock ... Margaret Tate Ryan Reynolds ... Andrew Paxton Mary Steenburgen ... Grace Paxton Craig T. Nelson ... Joe Paxton Betty White ... Grandma Annie Denis O'Hare ... Mr. Gilbertson Malin Akerman ... Gertrude
Synopsis: Margaret Tate is a successful yet hated editor-in-chief in a New York book publishing house. Her assistant Andrew puts up with her because he wants to become an editor one day but she keeps him on a short leash. Margaret is not American, she's Canadian and suddenly she has a problem: Her visa has been invalidated and she's about to be deported. Her only chance is to marry Andrew who unwillingly agrees to the sham. What looked like a simple business proposal in the beginning becomes harder when she meets his actual family...
My Opinion: Sandra Bullock isn't the youngest anymore but I think she's aged very gracefully. I like this movie. It hasn't that much haha-funny moments where you have to laugh out loud but it has a certain charm that makes you smile a lot when you watch it. And just like with Men in Trees it wins much of its comedy elements from a putting a big city girl into nowhere land. I also watched the alternate ending and I am glad that they didn't use it. The movie ending was certainly better.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: addicted2dvd on January 30, 2010, 01:02:08 PM
I am hoping to get The Proposal on my next order! You all know I love me some Sandra Bullock!
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: Najemikon on January 30, 2010, 01:05:27 PM
I'm looking forward to you reviewing All About Steve. I have a feeling you will give literally the only positive review in the universe! :tease:
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: addicted2dvd on January 30, 2010, 01:12:36 PM
:laugh: I don't know about that Jon... the trailer didn't look that promising... though I do still want to see it for myself. But I think that one will be seen on On-Demand!
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 30, 2010, 06:00:29 PM
January, 30th
While You Were Sleeping (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114924/)
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Sandra Bullock ... Lucy Eleanor Moderatz Bill Pullman ... Jack Callaghan Peter Gallagher ... Peter Callaghan Peter Boyle ... Ox Callaghan Jack Warden ... Saul Michael Rispoli ... Joe 'Joey' Fusco, Jr.
Synopsis: Lucy works in a ticket box on the 'L' in Chicago and while he doesn't notice her, she has noticed and fallen in love with him. And when he's tossed on the tracks one day she saves him. But it's only then when the real trouble starts. She is mistaken as his fiancé and since he's in a coma he can't clear up this mess and for now she's just going along with it. But while she pretends to be engaged with the comatose Peter, she's slowly falling in love with his brother, Jack.
My Opinion: Even though I was aware of the general plot of this movie (I've seen it many times before) I didn't notice the many parallels between this and The Proposal until now. But if at all, it would be a neg for The Proposal, not for this one, since it was here first and there are also quite a few differences. In order to not having to praise Sandra again (though I could go on for hours if I wanted to ;)) let me say a few words about Bill Pullman. I like his characters. There, you had your few words... No, really, I only know him from romances and not so serious movies like Spaceballs and Independence Day but I really like him in these movies and I like him here; he's way better for Lucy than his brother.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: addicted2dvd on January 30, 2010, 06:10:44 PM
One I enjoyed a lot! :thumbup:
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 30, 2010, 07:09:39 PM
Speed (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111257/)
Director: Jan de Bont
Keanu Reeves ... Officer Jack Traven Dennis Hopper ... Howard Payne Sandra Bullock ... Annie Porter Joe Morton ... Capt. McMahon Jeff Daniels ... Det. Harold 'Harry' Temple Alan Ruck ... Stephens
Synopsis: Jack and Harry work with the L.A. Police Bomb Squad and they just managed to save 13 people from a rigged elevator. They believe the bomber to be dead until he calls again. Now he has mined the bus 2525 which will explode as soon as it drives faster than 50 miles per hour and then falls under that speed limit. While Harry tries to find the bomber, Jack tries to rescue the passengers - among them Annie Porter, who drives the bus.
My Opinion: A cool piece of action cinema with a lot of car stunts (and a flying bus!). It's watch-worthy based alone on the sheer amount of things, cars, planes and subways that get destroyed over the course of this movie.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: addicted2dvd on January 30, 2010, 07:22:17 PM
Someone is on a Sandra Bullock kick! :thumbup:
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on January 30, 2010, 07:39:41 PM
Brandon Routh ... Clark Kent / Superman Kate Bosworth ... Lois Lane Kevin Spacey ... Lex Luthor James Marsden ... Richard White Parker Posey ... Kitty Kowalski Frank Langella ... Perry White Sam Huntington ... Jimmy Olsen Kal Penn ... Stanford
Synopsis: Nobody has seen or heard from Superman in five years. In the meantime Lois Lane has become a mommy and she's written the Pulitzer-winning article "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman". But now Clark is back from what is left of Krypton and he's needed right now again: Lex Luthor has stolen Kryptionian crystals from the Fortress and wants to build a new continent - at the expense of that small island called North America.
My Opinion: It took me some time to really get used to that movie. Mainly because I was mad at Bryan Singer for abandoning the X-Men project which resulted in The Last Stand. But now with a few years distance, I like this movie. Some elements are still very comic-like, like Lex's behaviour at some points of the story but that is fully outweighed by the moments he's truly evil. I also like Brandon Routh's portrayal of Clark/Superman. While Christopher Reeve's Clark was a bit of a douchebag that I didn't like very much, they chose to do it differently here. He's just a nobody who lingers in the background and isn't noticed by anybody but Jimmy. Lois couldn't care less about him in any way - which makes it believable that she doesn't see Superman in him. For me that works. Speaking of realism (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PvwtS0htyk) (;)): The one scene I didn't buy was when Superman lifted that island out into space while he still had a piece of Kryptonite stuck in his side and was exposed to the other K in the island. If Lex can beat him up just because he's around it, he should have never been able to lift that weight. So much for in-universe consistency (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MagicAIsMagicA)...
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: Najemikon on February 13, 2010, 01:54:17 PM
Nice to see some love for this movie. :thumbup:
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: Jimmy on February 14, 2010, 07:35:38 PM
While Christopher Reeve's Clark was a bit of a douchebag that I didn't like very much, they chose to do it differently here.
But the Superman in the original comic his, so the Christopher Reeves' interpretation was perfectly acurate to the comic book character. Read the old comic books and you will see easilly that Superman had a blast with his Clark Kent persona with the way he play with Lois lane, Jimmy Olsen and all the citizens of Metropolis...
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on February 14, 2010, 08:07:43 PM
While Christopher Reeve's Clark was a bit of a douchebag that I didn't like very much, they chose to do it differently here.
But the Superman in the original comic his, so the Christopher Reeves' interpretation was perfectly acurate to the comic book character. Read the old comic books and you will see easilly that Superman had a blast with his Clark Kent persona with the way he play with Lois lane, Jimmy Olsen and all the citizens of Metropolis...
That may be so but I wasn't raised with Superman comics - or any "western" comic for that matter. And I was really introduced to the Superman character through Dean Cain and later Tom Welling. And both portray him as a normal man (who has something to hide) and not as a whimp.
And I like that better.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: Tom on February 14, 2010, 08:40:50 PM
I agree with Karsten. Although I also enjoy Christopher Reeve's performance of Clark Kent, I always liked the Lois & Clark approach much better. To cite Dean Cain's Clark: "Superman is what I can do, Clark is who I am."
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: Najemikon on February 14, 2010, 10:01:47 PM
I agree with Karsten. Although I also enjoy Christopher Reeve's performance of Clark Kent, I always liked the Lois & Clark approach much better. To cite Dean Cain's Clark: "Superman is what I can do, Clark is who I am."
We have discussed this before, but the comics and films take the opposite angle. Superman is like a demi-God and so takes the disguise of Clark Kent to fit in with mere humans. That's a popular thing in various myths and stories too, that the Gods have human forms. Come to think of it, they're often idiots that everyone else disregards as well. :laugh:
While I do prefer this version, it's good that it can be treated so differently. I think the comics chop and change regularly anyway.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on February 28, 2010, 07:23:12 PM
February, 22th
Men in Black (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119654/)
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Tommy Lee Jones ... Kay Will Smith ... N.Y.P.D Ofcr. James Darrel Edwards III / Jay Linda Fiorentino ... Laurel Vincent D'Onofrio ... Edgar Rip Torn ... Chief Zed Tony Shalhoub ... Jack Jeebs
Synopsis: Officer James Edwards is a normal NYPD cop until he meets a guy who has two pair of eyelids (one of them are gills) and when he learns that the guy who fences stolen watches also fences alien weapons. After he passed a test, James Edwards ceases to exist. He becomes J, a Man in Black, working for the most secret organization on the face of this planet. And his very first mission is to help give birth to a squid. Ah yes, and his second mission is to save the Earth.
My Opinion: Remember the times when 90 minutes for a movie were standard? Now it feels short. The advantage is that it has no lengths; there is not one point where this movie is boring. It is packed with jokes and gags regarding alien visitors and Tommy Lee and Will make a great team because they are so different. I also loved Linda as the coroner. I only know her from two movies (this and Dogma) and I'd love to see her in more. In both movies she has this nice dry sense of humour.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on March 12, 2010, 04:52:28 PM
March, 11th
10 Things I Hate About You (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147800/)
Director: Gil Junger
Heath Ledger ... Patrick Verona Julia Stiles ... Kat Stratford Joseph Gordon-Levitt ... Cameron James Larisa Oleynik ... Bianca Stratford David Krumholtz ... Michael Andrew Keegan ... Joey Donner Larry Miller ... Walter Stratford
Synopsis: Cameron has a strong crush on Bianca but he's not the only contender for her attention. His opponent Joey is not only a model but also financially well equipped. To make matters worse Bianca is only allowed to go on a date if her older sister Kat has one, too. And Kat has no intentions to date in the near future and she's also not the most uncomplicated person. Cameron needs to find someone who isn't afraid of the challenge and that's were Patrick Verona comes into play.
My Opinion: It's a nice, modern day adaption of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and Heath (RIP) and Julia make a great couple. They have to because even though this is a movie about a triangle and a couple only the couple really works. Especially Cameron and Bianca pale in comparison, Cameron even more so than Bianca who has at least a few good scenes with her sister and the Prom scene. But it's still very watchable and has a cool soundtrack.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on March 25, 2010, 01:00:59 PM
Bill Murray ... Dr. Peter Venkman Dan Aykroyd ... Dr. Raymond Stantz Sigourney Weaver ... Dana Barrett Harold Ramis ... Dr. Egon Spengler Rick Moranis ... Louis Tully Annie Potts ... Janine Melnitz William Atherton ... Walter Peck Ernie Hudson ... Winston Zeddmore
Synopsis: Peter, Ray and Egon are scientists in the widest sense of the word. They studied psychology and parapsychology and their experiments are on the fringe of actual science. Their life changes drastically when the university fires them and the Sumerian God called Gozer tries to enter this world via Dana Barrett's fridge.
My Opinion: It's still a very funny movie and I still enjoy all the physical jokes in it, e.g. when they get slimed on or when they destroy a ball room with their proton packs or when Ray thinks of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. But I have to say that I was a bit disappointed by the quality of the Blu-ray. Especially in front of dark backgrounds you can see a lot of grain. They either didn't clean up the picture at all or they didn't do a very good job at it.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on March 31, 2010, 12:09:28 PM
March, 31st
WALL·E (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/)
Director: Andrew Stanton
Ben Burtt ... WALL·E / M-O (voice) Elissa Knight ... EVE (voice) Jeff Garlin ... Captain McCrea (voice) Fred Willard ... Shelby Forthright - BnL CEO MacInTalk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlainTalk) ... AUTO (voice) John Ratzenberger ... John (voice) Kathy Najimy ... Mary (voice) Sigourney Weaver ... Ship's Computer (voice)
Synopsis: WALL·E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter - Earth Class) is a robot that presses trash into cubes and piles them. It - he - has done it for the last 700 years and seems to be the only functioning robot left on Earth. The Humans left even more than 700 years ago. But then a search drone called EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator) lands there to check if Earth has became inhabitable again. It - she - finds proof for that and returns to the last Humans out in space. And WALL·E, having fallen in love with her, begins his biggest adventure and follows her.
My Opinion:E.T. meets Number 5. ;) The big eye trick always works. It's fascinating how this movie manages to communicate so much without having the characters to say anything. I also love all these "product placement" jokes that aren't in-your-face. Like when WALL·E has recharged, he makes the same sound a Mac does when it's booted up. Or EVE looking like a modern day Apple product. But I also loved "Also sprach Zarathustra" (2001) or AUTO (HAL 9000 anyone?). Then I watched the bonus material and laughed again about the short movie BURN·E and the way it interwove with WALL·E.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on April 01, 2010, 08:57:10 AM
The Hangover (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119646/)
Director: Todd Phillips
Bradley Cooper ... Phil Wenneck Ed Helms ... Stu Price Zach Galifianakis ... Alan Garner Justin Bartha ... Doug Billings Heather Graham ... Jade
Synopsis: Doug is about to marry and he, his friends and his wife's brother want to enjoy their bachelor party in Vegas. Only that they can't remember any of it the day after. And even worse: Doug has disappeared. But instead they have a tiger, a baby, a police car and a lot of trouble. What the hell is going on here?
My Opinion: The viewer is as puzzled as these three guys. The movie is a single row of WTF?! moments (especially when you see it for the first time) and the characters are all very "eccentric" on their own, especially Alan (the bride's brother). I had a lot of fun watching it again.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on April 08, 2010, 10:55:06 PM
April, 6th
King Ralph (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102216/)
Director: David S. Ward
John Goodman ... Ralph Hampton Gainesworth Jones Peter O'Toole ... Sir Cedric Charles Willingham John Hurt ... Lord Percival Graves Camille Coduri ... Miranda Green Richard Griffiths ... Duncan Phipps Leslie Phillips ... Gordon Halliwell
Synopsis: After the entire Royal Family has been wiped out, England needs a new king and they find him - in America. Ralph is not what one would call born to be a representative of a nation but he has to do since there's no one else - or is there? The parliament could decide to end the Windham line and re-establish the Stuarts as the royal line again. And Lord Graves - the next in line - does everything in his might to make this happen.
My Opinion: After watching so many Doctor Who episodes I wanted to watch the movie where I saw Jackie Tyler (Camille Coduri) for the first time again. It's not that good a movie but I still enjoy it very much mainly because it's true what Cedric says in the end: Ralph is a good and decent man and he does what is right. This movie has many funny scenes and still manages to not really mock the British monarchy.
Afterwards, I listened to this quite a few times:
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: addicted2dvd on April 08, 2010, 10:58:53 PM
I always enjoyed King Ralph myself. Not a great movie... but definitely entertaining. I haven't watched it in a while though.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: Najemikon on April 09, 2010, 12:34:08 AM
Karsten, are you trying to be an honourary Brit or something? Watching Doctor Who and can probably recite Rule Britannia too! Brilliant. :laugh:
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: DJ Doena on April 14, 2010, 10:48:41 PM
April, 14th
Saving Private Ryan (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Tom Hanks ... Capt. John H. Miller Tom Sizemore ... Sgt. Mike Horvath Edward Burns ... Pvt. Richard Reiben Barry Pepper ... Pvt. Daniel Jackson Adam Goldberg ... Pvt. Stanley Mellish Vin Diesel ... Pvt. Adrian Caparzo Giovanni Ribisi ... T-5 Medic Irwin Wade Jeremy Davies ... Cpl. Timothy P. Upham Matt Damon ... Pvt. James Francis Ryan Nathan Fillion ... Pvt. James Frederick 'Minnesota' Ryan
Synopsis: Normandy, June, 1944. Captain Miller and his men have just survived the landing of the allied forces in France when they get another mission: To find Private Ryan who is with the 101st Airborne and has landed somewhere in the middle of the ongoing battles. Private Ryan has lost his three brothers in this war and it was decided that at least one of the Ryan brothers should return home alive. But he is not an easy man to find.
My Opinion: A very impressive movie. What makes this movie watch-worthy for me are not the big battle scenes. Those I watch with a rather analytical eye and am somewhat disconnected. What gets to me are the scenes in between, when they just sit somewhere and talk, or when Miller silently cries after the fight at the radar station, or in the end when Ryan asks if he has been a good person.
I haven't seen this movie in quite some time (It's not a movie one puts in lightly) and I noticed how many faces have become familiar since then: Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nathan Fillion (I had to look twice to recognise him!) and even Jeremy Davies (Daniel Faraday in LOST) - that last one I didn't even recognise, he just looked familiar until I looked him up.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: Achim on April 16, 2010, 06:02:49 AM
I haven't seen this movie in quite some time (It's not a movie one puts in lightly)
I watched this in the cinema when it camed out (in Singapore, actually) and it had a very stong impact on me at the time. Not sure why that was then, but I have not dared to watch the film again since then, remembering what strong emotions it created in me.
Title: Re: DJ Doena's movie watchings 2010
Post by: karmesinrot on April 16, 2010, 10:21:17 PM
I haven't seen this movie in quite some time (It's not a movie one puts in lightly) and I noticed how many faces have become familiar since then: Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nathan Fillion (I had to look twice to recognise him!) and even Jeremy Davies (Daniel Faraday in LOST) - that last one I didn't even recognise, he just looked familiar until I looked him up.
Just watched this movie again recently and was suprised to see Nathan Fillion.. he pops up everywhere! I think Saving Private Ryan is a modern classic - it has just the right amount of emotion, drama and the odd slightly more lighthearted moment as well. This has actually put me in the mood to watch it now :P