27 Word Reviews

The Deer Hunter has tense scenes and brilliant acting particularity from De Niro and Walken. The metaphor of Russian Roulette equating to Vietnam overshadows the subject matter.

Prisoner of Azkaban sends the Harry Potter franchise into a darker, more serious atmosphere. Great addition of actors, awesome (non over the top) action and twists. Dementors! 

Can’t Stop shows how important a laugh is to Conan. Behind the scenes footage is fascinating because Conan doesn’t hold back. His demeanor is entertaining and miserable.

Halloween doesn’t rely on blood but rather simplicity in the interesting characters and strong suspense. Having Loomis describe Michael early on builds Micheal’s  presence as absolute evil.

Resurrection teaches us that watching kung fu will help you master kung fu. Also you text coherently under extreme adversity. Characters are boring. Myers is mainly robotic.

BTTF 2 really lets the characters shine as well as cool Nike’s to hoverboards that don’t work on water unless you have power. Great throwbacks to 1.

Friday the 13th is a bonfire story within a bonfire story. One by one the counselors are dropped by a silent POV killer. Some kills are scary.

3 out of 5

Serenity is a darker version of Firefly. It is still has the excellent characters and action sequences. Reavers aren’t as terrifying but still vicious. Mal is awesome.

5 out of 5 

No matter what you think of Day of the Dead…the zombies look and act pretty damn good. Can’t say the same about the humans. Screw Bub.

WALL-E proves that slapstick humor will always be funny and entertaining. WALL-E is a character worth rooting for. The lack of attention in humans also seems realistic.

“I’m in your face!” The Fast and the Furious is both fast and furious. The racing is exciting…and fast. The over the top characters are engaging.

“I got thrown out of a window, man!” Murphy is witty and funny but not believable as an action lead. A banana in the tailpipe is killer.

H2O doesn’t rely on gore until the awesome final confrontation. Loud music beats are overused but still effective. Adult and teenage characters seem realistic. “Comb your hair.”

The Shining builds isolation and tension, like no other film. Nicholson is terrifying in appearance and actions. The film will leave you thinking for a long time.

(500) Days of Summer gets it right. There is no bad guy in the break up because Tom and Summer follow their hearts. Great story, great soundtrack.

I’ve never seen a film where someone so casually tries to kill himself with semi comedic consequences. Cusack is charming but the film is over the top.

Drag Me to Hell stylistically screams Sam Raimi and in that sense is entertaining. The story is intriguing but the protagonist isn’t very likeable. Poor kitty cat.

3 out of 5

Blood Simple is a great film that has some of the greatest suspense. Getz is a bit dull while Walsh is unpredictable and deadly as Loren Visser.

4 out of 5

Man on Wire is an engaging doc about a fascinating man. Petit’s line of work is exciting and will give you acrophobia. The drama reconstructions do work. 

I can’t believe a film credited to Stallone and Cameron came out like this. Horrible looking action and lame love story. At least it’s over. “Mission… accomplished.”

“Some motherfuckers are always trying to ice-skate uphill.”…WHAT? Blade sets a template for the serious comic book film with comical scenes at times. Snipes is intense. 

Batman Begins sets the tone Batman was created for with action and story. Bale is a great Bruce Wayne, Dawes is too preachy. Some camp, not SCHUMACHER.

Goodfellas is a brilliantly written and acted film. Liotta is a great protagonist to view the story through. Pesci is frightening, De Niro is awesome. Great soundtrack.

“No, baby, you’re money.” Swingers may have asshole characters but they are incredibly entertaining. Vaughn is really quick and quotable. Livingston and Favreau are tragically very comedic.

Ghostbusters 2 is definitely New York heavy. The characters are excellent. Moranis is king. MacNicol is hilarious as Janosz. The alternative Ghostbusters songs weren’t that good. Slimer!

Trick ‘r Treat is an entertaining horror film with lots of surprises. Dylan Baker is hilarious. Some shots drag and the last story predictable. Kids are scary. 

Parker and Stone really know how to write a great musical. The film feels like an episode but with less restriction. Memorable lines and a smart message.

An Education introduces witty characters like the bright jenny and the enamoring David. Unfortunately by the 3^rd act the film is more conventional. Great actors. Poor Graham.  

Jackie Brown is a witty, funny, surprising crime drama. Jackson plays a scary unpredictable villain. Forster plays a major part although reserved.  “Kiss my ass, fuck wad!”

Full Metal Jacket starts very strong with Ermey as a drill sergeant but falls with lesser characters. Feels too routine.” I AM in a world of shit!”

Atreyu is so cool. The NeverEnding Story is a creative fantasy that intertwines well with a childs unhappiness in school and at home. Falkor is a pimp.

Animal Kingdom has a great representation of a confused teenager with lots of choices. Weaver plays an alarmingly level headed mother. ‘Pope’ is truly terrifying. Great Flick.

Toy Story 2 brings back the now established characters from 1 while introducing new ones. Al is a great obsessive villain. Great dialogue and climax. BALDING WOODY.

Rocky is one of the best characters in all of film. He’s an inspirational and a great character. Every character is developed. “Ain’t gonna be no rematch.”

Battle Royale is a bloody action film with a great concept. Teenage characters are unpredictable and some are frightening. The film lacks some subtlety. Stay in school.

Watchmen has a gritty comic book look to it. The characters are all great with Rorschach and Comedian in particular.  The climax is convoluted. Some great music.

Once Bitten is a teen vampire comedy. Carrey is clueless and likeable, Hutton is a great foil. Side characters are entertaining, great dance number, strange shower scene.

88 Minutes. That’s how long it takes to ruin everything. It’s comedic but not in the same intention as the original. Kunis is boring. Shatner is Shatner.

1 out of 5

Amadeus twists history in a very interesting way. We see a brutal one-sided rivalry. Abraham plays an obsessed Salieri who you feel sympathetic for. Greatest laugh ever.

Permanent Midnight reaches the line of drugs and chaos but never crosses it. Stiller is witty as Stahl but tame in some moments. “I’m fucking a JEW!”

Inglourious Basterds doesn’t predominately star Brad Pitt. Laurent and Waltz are just as major. The film has great scenes of action and suspenseful dialogue. “Nein nein nein!”

“Just think; next time I shoot someone, I could be arrested.” Naked Gun is a classic film with memorable dialogue, gags, and characters and a great finale.

First of all, Seann William Scott is insanely annoying in Cop Out. Willis and Morgan have no chemistry or decent dialogue. Pollack and Brody were more interesting. 

Spartacus is longer than it needs to be. Douglas and Olivier portray interesting opposites. Great cinematography and exciting action sequences. Emotions felt real, some didn’t. “I’m Spartacus!”

Mickey Rourke plays a heartbreaking and still optimistic has been wrestler. The handheld camera work makes the film look like a documentary. Great performances and amazing story.

The Blues Brothers thrives on hilarious random and absurd moments like the whole Carrie Fisher subplot. Some scenes drag on too long. “I hate Illinois Nazis.” RAWHIDE!

Does this film have holes? Yep. Still good? Yep. Franco and Pinto are just present. Neither too involved. Lithgow is heartfelt. Felton is hilarious. Apes were awesome.

Life after Death fails in every way as a film sequel to the television show. Popular characters are either not there or horribly underused. Cameron Kane sucks.

Kids has the most realistic acting I’ve seen portraying actual teenagers. It looks like a documentary. Telly and Casper are reprehensible but fascinating.  Telly looks like McLOVIN!

5 out of 5