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Reviews
Kick-Ass (2010)
So far, the year's best movie
Without reiterating what others have said, I will only say the following and try to keep this short:
There is a sequence during the last third of "Kick-Ass" that is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! It involves a major character, darkness, lots of enemies, night-vision goggles, a fantastic POV shot, and, eventually, a strobe light attached to a gun. Except for one character, nobody (including the viewer) can see anything or tell what's going on unless someone fires their weapon. This sequence is appropriately fast-paced, exciting, violent, jaw-dropping and a MASTERPIECE!!
See this sequence! See "Kick-Ass"!!
The Island (2005)
original story much better; available at www.dailyscript.com
If you liked this movie or thought there was more to the material than what made it on-screen, then you should visit the website The Daily Script (www.dailyscript.com). They have a copy of Caspian Tredwell-Owen's original screenplay; dated January, 2004. (I will refer to it as the "OS" from now on.) Its first page is missing. :( The OS is darker, more violent, more adult-oriented, more serious and more thoughtful. If Tredwell-Owen's story had stayed intact, then the released movie most likely would have been "Rated R for graphic violence, language, nudity, disturbing images, adult content." WARNING!! Potential spoilers!!! The following is intended only for those who have seen the movie. (If you haven't seen the movie, then, by all means, read the OS first!) One would not believe how many changes were made. The movie seems so diluted in comparison to the OS. The most crucial change of all being why Jordan was created. The story starts out with her being three-months pregnant. Here name here is "Ester Two-Alpha." We meet her sponsor; who has a different profession.
Lincoln didn't ask a bunch of questions to Merrick and Jones; as he did in the movie. However, he was able to make connections on a higher level than any of the other clones. Here, Lincoln is an angrier, more bitter character and more temper-prone. He was nine years old at the beginning of the OS. Not three like in the movie.
McCord is in the OS, but he has only one scene; similar to his first scene with Lincoln in the movie. Lincoln met him under different circumstances than in the movie.
Starkweather Two-Delta, on the other hand, is a much more important character. Similar to the movie, he only has a few scenes. But one remembers them. Lincoln and Starkweather have just one scene together (well, technically, two...). It is the turning point of the story.
Jones is similar to how he was in the movie. But he's not the big source of comic relief that he was there. It's established in the OS that Lincoln considers him to be his best friend. Shortly before the escape, Lincoln finds out how much of a friend he is to Jones. He's known here as "Jones Three-Bravo." A little more time is spent at The Sanger Institute (as it is known in the OS) before Lincoln and Ester escape. We get to know how things work there. How and why it was created. Further, we get to know its role in the outside world legally, politically, ethically and economically.
Almost the entire story takes place in Arizona. Lincoln's and Ester's sponsors lived in Phoenix and Sedona, respectively. While not spelled out explicitly, it's apparent that Starkweather's sponsor lived in Arizona as well.
The Institute consisted of at least 27 floors. All of the clones lived and worked on Level 20 ("Agnate Containment"). Level 27 reveals an absolutely horrifying stage of the agnate life-cycle not covered in the movie. It involved a branch of physics. This part of the story was difficult to read. ("extending sponsorship") As in the movie, the clones had identifying cuffs (known as "ethercuffs") on their wrists. The movie leaves out that each one also had a "crosshatched scar" just above their left eyebrow. At least one person from the outside world called them tattoos.
The clones had "quotas" that they couldn't exceed: protein, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, sodium and pleasure While not a quota, there were strict rules regarding proximity. During the meeting with Lincoln and Merrick, Merrick states "The rules of proximity apply to sexual contact, Lincoln." The clones were known as "residents." TSI employees as "outsiders." The Census Officers, or "Censors," wore white; not black like in the movie. Scheer's uniform had black chevrons to mark his seniority over the others. The clones wore shearlings, polo shirts and slacks. Their colors were not stated. But Lincoln is described as wearing a "white shirt and blue slacks under his shearling" just before escaping.
The entire Institute was sterile.
Lincoln and Jones had office-type jobs in The Department of Population.
The story appears to begin in the year 2084.
Lincoln's pupils would dilate when he was nervous or sensed danger. Starkweather's, too. (This was a plot hole.) Lincoln didn't like Merrick.
Starkweather woke up AFTER he was cut open! At one point, a censor, unknowingly, hits Ester in her stomach.
When Lincoln and Ester successfully escape The Institute, it is in the middle of the night during a dust storm.
For most of the story, Ester thinks that The Island exists.
At one point, Ester wants to return to The Institute.
Bounty hunters are hired to capture Lincoln and Ester.
Lincoln grows facial hair. Ester becomes increasingly sick.
Since Lincoln Six-Echo is the clone of Thomas Lincoln, and Lincoln here is a different character than he was in the movie, their first meeting together was hostile practically from the start. Tom threatens to call security. Lincoln then threatens him with a knife. Drawing blood from his face.
Lincoln returns alone to The Sanger Institute.
Anyway, one gets the idea that there many, many changes made to Caspian Tredwell-Owen's original script. Overall, it's much better than the diluted story that made its way into the movie.
Yet it shares a similar, significant flaw: after Lincoln discovers what's truly going on, it suddenly turns into an action story. The story's middle act lags and is repetitious. There's some downtime, then an encounter with the bounty hunters, some more downtime, another encounter with the bounty hunters, etc. It has its moments, but's as if Tredwell-Owen abandoned his rich premise for a good long time...then, thankfully, returns to it in its last 30 pages. Where things wrap up in a satisfying conclusion.
Batman Begins (2005)
Shockingly Great!!
I first became aware of this movie back in January. After the other 4 movies, I had zero interest in seeing "Batman Begins." But then the positive word-of-mouth and the good/great reviews began mounting. Also, who could resist the cast?! I saw it a few days after it was released.
This movie both blindsided and shocked me with its greatness!! Nothing prepared me for it. It is THE movie of the Summer. The one I've TRULY been waiting for (I thought it was "Revenge of the Sith.").
This is the movie that should've come out in 1989. The Batman movie that fans deserved, but didn't get. (For those of you old enough - remember those long lines back then? How they either wrapped around the theater or were several city blocks long? I do.)
Where to start? There is so much to love about this movie. The following are my comments thinking back on the movie I just saw:
1. It's apparent that a lot of thought, heart and hard work went into every frame.
2. The material was respected and taken seriously. It's a comic-book movie by adults, FOR adults (and unlike "Hulk," it succeeds!).
3. There aren't really any silly one-liners or "Rocky Horror"/crowd-pleasing/sell-out moments (where the audience cheers/claps, etc.). No pop-psychology crap ("Spider-Man" movies).
4. The dialogue and scenes are consistent with the characters and within reason.
5. The spectacular, exciting scenes taking place on a highway, the other a train.
6. I loved the dynamic score during a scene involving Bruce Wayne and his progress within the League of Shadows (you'll know the scene).
7. Killer cast. Christian Bale and Cillian Murphy were both superb and unforgettable.
8. Smaller, quieter moments involving simple, common words. In one of the movie's best scenes, Gordon thanks Batman and his words have WEIGHT. Batman's response has equal weight. And, as far as I'm concerned, the movie earned my emotional reaction to that scene.
9. It's just damn thrilling and exciting seeing Bruce Wayne's transformation into Batman. This is half of the movie's running time right here, and I'm thankful for that. We get to know, understand and like Bruce Wayne/Batman.
This movie is for anyone who loves great cinema. You don't have to be a comic book fan! (I'm not.) Just see it!! It is by far the best Batman movie ever made AND the best comic-book adaptation since "Superman II." (I'm thinking about seeing it again as I type this!)
The Hitchhiker (1983)
brilliant, one-of-a-kind
"The Hitchhiker" was (still is) one hell of a TV series; much better than the junk currently being released in movie theaters. I missed this show when it first aired in the 80's. Luckily, one can find reruns of it on HBO Zone. It's worth seeking out.
For starters, the opening theme is pulsating and gets under your skin. As good is the ending-credits music found only in the 1987 season.
This show was bold, thrilling, imaginative and sexy while at the same time more intelligent and relevant than most TV shows/movies released. Some episodes had nudity and (strong) violence, but it was all at the service of the enormously talented writers and directors. In general, episodes created mood and atmosphere without gore or anything shocking on-screen at all.
Almost any episode of this show is great:
"Killer" and "Homebodies" had story structures similar to M. Night Shyamalan's movies. "Killer" opened with a long, unbroken tracking shot much later popularized in some movies from the mid-90's on up ("Boogie Nights," for example).
"Why Are You Here?" was shot entirely by the actors -- a precursor to the style of film-making found in the movie "The Blair Witch Project," however made 12 years before.
Also great were religious-themed episodes like "W.G.O.D.", about a born-again preacher with a terrible secret, and "True Believer," where a detective confronts his own demons while trying to solve a murder case involving an "infested" convent.
I can't say enough how wonderful this show is. It's sometimes tough to watch, but there are many rewards to be found at the end. Some episodes improved with repeated viewings.
Catch this show on HBO Zone while you still can.
The Powerpuff Girls (1998)
The best cartoon since "Beavis and Butt-head"!!
This is one of the funniest and most original cartoons on right now!!
Very imaginative; with humor that is actually funny, sophisticated, and well-timed. Despite its appearance, TPPG is really more for adults. But there's plenty of hilarious, *clean* humor for kids too. It pays homage to, and spoofs, a bunch of older American and current anime cartoons. "Pet Feud" is one of the greatest episodes. A must-see! Anyways, this show's a real gem!! Check it out!
Magnolia (1999)
disappointing...
I didn't like this movie anywhere near as much as "Boogie Nights." Right of the bat, this movie bored me. The first 15 minutes were tedious and poorly-paced. Then I cringed realizing there were 3 more hours left! The only characters that held my interest were Officer Jim Kurring and Claudia Gator. They were the only reason I watched this to the end; well-written scenes. One could make a potentially great movie with just those two characters alone.
Too long, overly ambitious, with too many characters. "Short Cuts" was much more skilled and successful at this kind of thing. "Magnolia" deals with a bunch of people that don't occupy the same movie. 4/10 (however, the Kurring and Gator scenes get a 10/10)
The Sopranos (1999)
has to be one of the finest TV shows ever made
This show is truly something special. As a rule, I HATE movies and TV shows that have anything to do with mafia and/or gang subject matter. I even have yet to see The Godfather Trilogy. (!) But I was gripped by this show the first minute I saw it. HBO has once again come out with a first-rate series. It is just irresistible. Stellar cast. I have nothing but praise for this show. Rating: perfect 10!
Bulworth (1998)
WOW!!
"Bulworth," along with "The Truman Show," have to be two of the most bizarre SUMMER releases of the decade. Case closed. Even though this film has many flaws (two false endings, a bad ending, a few scenes that didn't make sense), it is still great to watch and quite memorable. One has to admire the gutsy, smart dialogue. As well as many humorous, jaw-dropping, self- consciously outrageous scenes where Warren Beatty badly raps his campaign speeches. Worth renting just for the speeches alone. A reminder of how important the script is to a movie.