Movie Reviews & More
United 93 (2006)
Who’s in it
No one you know by name, which is good for this movie
What was good
The insight you got from many other perspectives. The feelings of invulnerability, doubt, denial, and just seeing the reactions and confusing about what happened from those people. They barely found out what had happened before their plane had been hijacked. The terrorists hit fast and hard, knowing that we had become complacent as a nation. Their part wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t hollywood, in fact the final scenes for the members of flight 93 show the fear but the strength the possessed in numbers, and it made you proud to be an American. The other part of the movie that stuck with me, is the how the men looked who took over the plane. They blended in, these weren’t big bearded men with turbans like their wanted photos showed, but men who fit right in the public. That is scary.
What sucked
I didn’t think anything sucked, how could it. Based on a real life story. But I would say this. If you feel like you need more time, don’t see this movie, it is powerful and emotional. If it is all still too new, wait because this will bring it to the surface.
Who should go see this
I am biased when I think everyone should see this. Sarah was very unsure, and I thought just the opposite. These people were altruistic because they saved other lives in America, but to honor their families, you need to see this and what they went through. Honor their memories, and even though their identities aren’t highlighted, you get a good idea that terror isn’t picky, and it affects everyone. Powerful movie.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest (2006)
Who’s in it
Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly, Orlando Bloom, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy
Should you see this movie?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Best movie of the summer hands down, and that was shown in the box office numbers. This movie is everything a summer blockbuster should be today. Great use of special effects mixed with a new visual idea, great story that keep you spinning, interesting characters, and fun fun fun. Depp returns in this movie, more peculiar than ever, on the quest for the heart of Davey Jones played by Bill Nighy. Jones and his crew are men that are escaping death, serving 100 years with his crew as the sea takes over their bodies. Jones has tentacles coming from his face and the rest of them range from sharks to crabs in features and form. Combined with a huge angry octopus called “The Crakin”, this movie achieves new levels of visual entertainment by the Lucas team. Oh, and there is a cliffhanger, so, if you haven’t seen this, you must before the next one comes out, see it twice as a matter of fact because you will pick up on more things the second time around.
Shattered Glass (2003)
Who’s in it
Hayden Christensen, Peter Saarsgard, Rosario Dawson, Steve Zahn
Should you see this movie?
I think so. This was suprisingly entertaining and for the first half of the movie, the best acting job Hayden has ever done. It’s a true story about a writer who “cooks” all of these stories, or fabricates them, and has everyone fooled. He goes to great lengths to make up all of his sources and lies, and uses the system of checks and balances so he can advance his career. Saarsgard, like usual, is very good, and the movie is engaging, but towards the end the regular “Anakin” whine starts to come out and you want to turn it off. But don’t, it is a good one.
Superman Returns (2006)
Who’s in it
Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Parker Posey, James Marsden, Frank Langella, Kate Bosworth
Should you see this movie?
Yes. If you liked the older movies, then you may not like this, but I think this is a much more modern version of Superman, closer to how he should be, using today’s technology to make him happen. It is violent, it’s engaging, and it’s a story that really shows how alienated Superman feels in a human society. These are my gripes, however. Bosworth, worst casting ever possible as Lois Lane. Too young, terrible acting, completely unbelieveable. That is it. I will comment that I watched all of the old movies before I saw this one. I thought that Christopher Reeve played a better Clark Kent, and Brandon Routh, although a little young, played a tremendous Superman. But the flying scenes, the plot, the idea behind the whole movie was very awesome and I hope that it kicks off a whole series of successful movies directed by Bryan Singer. He is a great director, a true artist whole is dedicated to what he does and I am really glad he took over the project. See it and figure out what you think, but like Batman, it helps erase the late movies that left such a bad taste in people’s mouths.
Team America (2004)
Who’s in it
Voices: Trey Parker, Matt Stone
Should you see this movie?
I think you’ll know if you have an interest to see this movie. If you know who those names are, and what you will see when you get involved in anything they do, you go prepared and are still shocked. I will give this to them, an all puppet animated feature that tackles world politics, only they could pull it off. It was a decently entertaining movie that I wouldn’t probably watch again with over the top puppet sex and violence, but it was something else to see the amount of work that went into it, and is a nice progression for these guys, they keep trying to push the bar.
Zoolander (2001)
Who’s in it
Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Milla Jovovich, Christine Taylor, Jon Voight, Jerry Stiller, David Duchovny
Should you see this movie?
I would say, probably not. Now, that said, I only heard terrible things about this movie from people that don’t have the same movie tastes as me, but I think Sarah and I both found this movie funny because of who we are with. We saw most of this movie in Cleveland with my college friends, and it was so off the wall stupid that I found it funny. It has a ton of good actors in it, so you would hope that the idea would be successful, an inside look into the world of male modeling. No, seriously, just that by itself is funny, and the movie does a good job of mocking a possible simplicity of male model intelligence. Use your best judgement, not for everyone.
You, Me, and Dupree (2006)
Who’s in it
Owen Wilson, Matt Dillon, Kate Hudson, Michael Douglas, Seth Rogen
Should you see this movie?
No, this one sucked more than you could imagine. It was half awkward “Meet the Parents” humor and half pity humor, and that sort of thing hardly ever works for me. I thought this movie might be worth .50 cents, but it wasn’t. Dupree is a loser friend who is a free spirit and can’t find his way and is into all sorts of weird stuff. The movie just drags on as this person hates this person, and then someone else doesn’t like someone else and the other people are friends, and on and on. Not funny, you sit there wondering what else you could be doing, skip this one with all you can.
