Film reviews, entertainment news, and insight.
Archive for November, 2009
Star Trek (2009)
Nov 28th
Rated: PG-13 | Review date: 28-Nov-2009
J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek is the breakout action hit of 2009 that aimed to bring new life into an old favorite. So does it deliver, or is it just another piece of Hollywood big-budget over-the-top action garbage? Well, contrary to what only a handful of naysayers may think, Star Trek certainly delivers. While I personally watched the series as a child, I did not follow it religiously. Even so, the story in this film was easy to get into and all of the classic characters brought back some memories. The cast is just pure gold, and each More >
Copying Beethoven (2006)
Nov 28th
Rated: PG-13 | Review date: 28-Nov-2009 | 50th Review!
I was quite excited to find there was a new movie based on my favorite classical composer. My interests were further aroused when I found the movie starred one of my favorite actresses, Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds). Copying Beethoven is a fictitious tale of the last year of Ludwig van Beethoven’s life as he works with a young copyist and aspiring composer named Anna (Kruger). Ed Harris plays the egotistical and genius Beethoven as his deafness worsens and his overall health declines. Anna becomes Beethoven’s muse and confidant, and the two end up More >
Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The (1974)
Nov 22nd
Rated: R | Review date: 22-Nov-2009
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is synonymous with the horror genre. Many hold it solely responsible for reinventing the genre as a whole, just as Hitchcock’s Psycho did in the decade prior. Thirty-five years later the film’s reputation still precedes it, and few films have come close to achieving its level of notoriety. Being so unfortunate as to not have grown up during such a profound era for such raw and innovative film-making, I’m sure my experience could never measure up to viewing this piece at its initial release. Even so, after watching More >
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Nov 21st
Rated: R | Review date: 21-Nov-2009
Quentin Tarantino returns at full force with Inglourious Basterds, the epic war drama follow-up to Death Proof. Although this film takes a different direction than we’re used to seeing with Mr. Tarantino, everything in Inglourious Bastards is pure Q.T. From the subtle homages and generous graphic violence to the strong dialogue, this film takes all of Quentin’s best features and sets them in a different and historic time-period.
Before we dive into this work of art, let’s get one thing out of the way right off the bat: this is a fantasy film. Please read my rant on More >
Obsessed (2009)
Nov 19th
Rated: PG-13 | Review date: 19-Nov-2009
TV director Steve Shill takes a stab at feature films with Obsessed, starring Beyoncé Knowles, Idris Elba, and Ali Larter. The story follows a successful man named Darek (Elba) and his wife (Knowles) along with their new child. Darek gains the attention of a new (and quite attractive) temp worker (Larter) and her infatuation unfolds. The writing, by David Loughery (Passenger 57), is mainly what drags this film down. It’s full of clichés and bad dialog that just felt a bit forced. For me, the standout of this film was Ms. Knowles. Beyoncé boasts the More >