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A History of Violence (2005)
Absolutely sucks
I,m sorry folks....I love Viggo Mortensen's performances and also admire William Hurt and Ed Harris. But, this movie as awful...and the full theater in which I watched this littering of celluloid...all who exited the theater sounded out the same conclusion..lousy and not worth the money they paid to see it. Tha film is LOUSY. Not on the actor's abilities, but on the script and direction. Its bloody, and painfully slow. Underacted with a script that even the best actors, past andpresent, would not be able to save. It drags on and on, then you get a close up and personal view of violent gun shots hitting their mark, then slides back down to BORING!! It does this throughout the movie. Thes story is just plain stupid and uninteresting. The only possible saving grace of the movie...for the females anyway, is the gratuitous butt shot of Viggo. There is no chemistry between Viggo and his leading lady. Its totally predictable from the first few scenes where this was headed,and it did nothing but get worse the longer it played. Don't get me wrong..I wasn't expecting Lord of the Rings, a movie that is totally incompatible....but it doesn't even come anyway near the types of powerful performances that I have seen Viggo give. It was a total loss of money and time, and not even worth the $7 I forked out for the movie. Either the director or the screen play writer managed to get get some good actors and stick them in a movie that could only be saved by a rewrite, as in major overhaul. I am sure that the glowing reviews I see are being sent by people who blindly feel if Viggo is in it, it has to be outstanding. Well, I am a die-hard Viggo fan myself, but I cannot tell a lie....this was one of the most boring and anticlimactic waste of a movie with a good cast, I have seen in a while. Don't waste your time or money on this one.....its BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deux frères (2004)
See some awesome film work which had to be some difficulties considering they are tigers
WOW!!!! OK, I will confess up front that I am prejudiced. I am a wildlife artist with a lifetime love of tigers and have even had the awesome opportunity to play with 3 10-week old tiger brothers. I loved this movie, not just for the obvious reasons of being a tiger loving artist that loves all animal films anyway. This movie was making a statement regarding how these beautiful creatures are being hunted to extinction!
How sad to have to hunt down and kill an animal to prove your manhood or to use them for mistaken ancient beliefs where their bodyparts are used for medicine. Granted they aren't harmless, but men continue to encroach on the wild areas all over the world without thought of the animals and ecosystems, of the beauty they destroy.
No, I'm not an overzealous environmentalist belonging to Greenpeace or PETA, though they have the right idea...just a little too far left for me. Still, looking at the awesome, beautiful world God has given us, its sad to see animals hunted to extinction for no reason other than to show everyone that you can pull a trigger. Ooooooooooo, big amount of talent for that.
This movie, besides its message of the dwindling numbers of tigers left in the wild and why they are endangered, was an absolute joy. How some of these shots of the tigers, as they grew, were obtained, I have no idea. But it was great, in fact, I love it, the tigers got billing over the human actors!
It's the story of 2 tiger cubs that are captured when a hunter kills their father and they become separated from their mother. They then become separated from each other, one going to a hunter and eventually ending up in a circus run by people that seem to think animal cruelty is the only way to train an animal. The other winds up in a family with a loving little boy, but eventually outgrows his welcome and ends up in a private zoo, also being mistreated. The tigers meet again, when for some sick idea of sport, the 2 tigers are set against each other in a fight to the death. Then the brothers recognize each other. I won't ruin it for you. Just know that it does have a good ending!
I was impressed that there is a tag at the end of the movie, one that is quite true. In the early 1900's there were over 100,000 tigers in the wild, now there are less than 400-200. Three species are already extinct. See the information from a website:
Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris tigris Siberian (Amurian) Tiger Panthera tigris altaica Sumatran Tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae Indo-Chinese Tiger Panthera tigris corbetti South China Tiger Panthera tigris amoyensis Javan Tiger Panthera tigris sondaica extinct since early 1980's
Bali Tiger Panthera tigris balica extinct since the 1940's
Caspian Tiger Panthera tigris virgata extinct since the early 1970's
Watch the movie, it will warm your heart, make you smile and perhaps even shed a tear. If you would like to help save tigers, in the wild or aid the ones that needlessly wind up in rescue organizations. Thank God for them! People seem to think it would be cool to have a tiger, or other big cat, for a pet, then seem surprised that they grow into 500-700+ pound meat eaters! I own several house cats...these smaller guys have a whole lot in common with their 'big' brothers and I have the scars to prove it. (Not that they are mean, I just get in the way of their racetrack sometimes)
Still, tigers are wild animals and not meant to be pets! If nothing else, even if you have raised one, they don't know their own strength...just ask Roy Horn of Siefried and Roy fame. I doubt that tiger meant any harm to Roy, but the tiger sensed Roy was in danger and tried to carry him to safety the same way she would carry a cub...by the scruff of the neck.
That being said...don't try to raise one, but please try to help the ones in rescue shelters that desperately need the funds to care for these tigers that can't be released back into the wild. Or help the remaining few in the wild.
The Alamo (2004)
The truth of the very real men of valor that sacrificed themselves for the freedom of Texas!
I had heard so many people saying how lousy this movie was...I waited to see it when it hit pay-per-view. I don't know where those people got their ideas about the history of the Alamo. I thought there were fine portrayals by everyone involved in this movie. I truly enjoyed it. Since I am a born and bred Texan, and a proud one at that...but aren't all Texans? Watch this movie and realize the sacrifice that was made at this place that is the shrine of Texas history and you will know why we have such pride in our state and the blood that bought it.
Hey, there are only 2 kinds of people..Texans and the ones that wish they were:) That being said...
This movie showed the true tale of some 180 men that knew the score, knew how outnumbered they were, but knew what was at stake. In the style of the true heroes that they were they defended a mission turned fort called the Alamo, Spanish for dogwood. In fact the Alamo now lies in the middle of downtown San Antonio. I only wish the movie had put more emphasis on Santa Anna's slaughter at Goliad of Col. Fannin and his 300 fellow Texian fighters.
I thought the movie was well acted and quite realistic. These brave men held the Mexican army, of some 5000, for 13 days. Pretty staggering odds 185 to 5000! Yet they were still able to persevere those 13 days in the spring of 1836. Their deaths were not in vain. They were able to hold off the Mexican army long enough to give Sam Houston the time he needed to prepare for the onslaught. Another person that reviewed this movie, quite well I would say...except for the last paragraph...
"The filmmakers get a little nutty in the final act, which tacks on a 'Pearl Harbor' climax that has the film going beyond the Alamo just so it can climax on an American victory. This type of silly ending isn't warranted, and needlessly draws out the film way past its expiration date. The story of 'The Alamo' should've just stayed at the Alamo, and let the history books tell the rest of the story"
I believe it is only right to inform the people that aren't blessed enough to be in Texas....we lost the fight...but we won the war! The battle took place at an area now called San Jacinto, which lies just to the east of Houston. That battle indeed lasted only 18 minutes...and out of the several hundred troops belonging to Santa Anna that died that day, only 6 Texans died! I believe that 'the rest of the story' as Paul Harvey likes to say it, had to be acknowledged. Especially since Sam Houston was being shown leading his army and being unable to respond to the plea for help that came from Travis at the Alamo.
I feel pride in the fact that a bunch of rag tag men from all walks of life, backgrounds, education and race stood together in a fight for Texas' freedom. Travis who was well educated to Crockett who was a larger than life legend, a senator and a woodsman from Tennessee. From the slaves who stood and fought to the Hispanics that also risked their lives...like Juan Seguin who delivered Travis' letter for aid to Sam Houston. What a great honor to these heroes, ordinary people put into am extraordinary situation. But then, that truly is what any hero is. Truly.....Remember the Alamo!
Find a little known song by Marty Robbins called 'The Ballad of the Alamo' that played in John Wayne's version of the Alamo. Hey, I was raised on this stuff. Nothing against this version of the story either, its fantastic. Also on the soundtrack is a rendition of DeGuello, the music that the Mexican army plays...meaning 'no quarter'. It is a hauntingly beautiful melody considering its meaning.
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
I guess you believe that pigs fly too, right?
This alleged documentary seems to be lacking in the most important issue.....that would be a little thing known as the truth! But don't take my word, you can get the straight facts from the world news NBC, or you can just be the stupid sheep that this movie apparently believes you to be. This movie has no business in the general theater if it is the 'documentary' it claims, and it lies, to be. Maybe mr. moore should instead be on his knees thanking God, if he believes..which I doubt, that he lives in a country that allows him to show this tripe in the first place. Leave this garbage to the artsy theaters that deal with this, not major movie theater chains. Frankly, I thank God everyday for President Bush, to have a President that believes in God and the good in this nation. Oh, but thats not popular...instead the left wing sheep would prefer a president that uses the white house as his own private house of ill repute, duh. Why don't you check the true facts, and not the blatant lies, the positive things that were deliberately left out, and things taken out of context. Don't be the fool this film maker wants you to be.
The Stepford Wives (2004)
Save your money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Being a film buff, I have viewed many movies over the years. This one is definitely in the running for the top ten worst movies in history! I cannot believe I blew $8.50 for this tripe! And you would think that with the heavy hitters in the cast that they could have saved this. NOT!!! I have seen my share of dark comedies from 'Arsenic and Old Lace' to the present. In those movies you knew when it was supposed to be funny. Sitting in this packed audience, you could tell no one was sure if something was supposed to be viewed as being funny or not. For a book that bordered on suspense/science fiction...this movie turned it upside down and into something that only resembled the book and the 1st movie by the name and the robot-like women. I heard enough grumbling as I walked out the theater to know that just about everyone thought this was a BAD movie and not worth the price of the movie ticket or gas to get there. Go see 'Garfield'...it is more intellectually appealing than this mess.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Disappointing! Just don't skip the books in lieu of the movie!!!
I was really disappointed with this outing, though I realize I may be prejudiced because this was my favorite book of the series. I knew that having a new director would give a different look, I just don't think it was necessarily a good thing. There were some major things left out that could be confusing to anyone not familiar with the books. For instance in regards to the marauders map...they never explain just who Prongs, Wormtail, Padfoot or Mooney are. There may be something wrong that I know this at my age without having to reference the book...but I love these stories and its disappointing to see them tweeked on the big screen. There is also Harry's patronis taking the shape of a stag...that is never explained either. Further they didn't explain a lot about what an animagious is. Like I said, I know the books so well...maybe that is why I didn't care as much about this rendition. See the movie......but please....read the books! They are so much fun!!!!!! And if tackling a long book keeps you from wanting to read it, then get the audio books. A English actor, Jim Dale, reads them with voice inflections for each character...they are wonderful!
Home on the Range (2004)
Walt must be spinning in his grave!
Throughout my life I was raised on the beautiful animation from the 'wonderful world of Disney'. Even as an adult I continued to love the stories and wonderful animation that set Disney apart from the rest. But the recent years have seen a huge decline not only in the animation department, but in storyline as well. It now seems, with this movie in particular, to be caught in an avalanche of lousy animation, overused puns and cheap innuendo. It may amuse a 5 year old, but for anyone that ever appreciated the quality that was once a Disney trademark will be sorely disappointed! I had hopes with the beauty and quality of movies such as 'The Little Mermaid', 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Aladdin', but those apparently were the last gasps of any beauty in artistic and story quality! This one must surely have sent Walt Disney spinning in his grave to see how the current regime has cheapened everything he worked so hard to build! The likes of 'Snow White', 'Pinnochio, 'Bambi' and those like it are apparently gone for good! How sad to see such a grand art form bite the dust! Shame on the animators of this one!
Hidalgo (2004)
NO dull moments
I was very impressed, not only as a great follow up for Viggo Mortensen from the Fellowship, but to learn more about the character he portrayed. I learned more than I had know before regarding Hopkins involvement in saving the mustangs. I already knew about the massacre at Wounded Knee. The film is exciting, interesting and fun in parts, but I loved the devotion of owner to horse that was expressed. Watch out Viggo...you may have to continue playing the hero now after this and the trilogy of the 'Lord of the Rings' instead of your usual, though well played, rats. I don't think its fair to compare this one to 'Seabiscuit', another fabulous movie. I realize its another 'little horse that could', and that is a good message to all of us, after all..the hobbit Frodo was another little one that did great things. I think this movie stands on its own just as 'Seabiscuit' did!