[this is my review for 12/9/12 i forgot to post it due to studying for finals and it just slipped my mind, and I will be back on track today].
My Review-
While I'm supposed to be studying for finals I am doing this so this will be short and sweet. Out of all the marlon Brando movies I have see which have mostly been The Godfather this is one of his best, along with Karl Maldon, which this is the first movie I have seen from him, with him playing the voice of reason for Brando's character it worked out perfectly. This classic seems to have truly held its own for so long and I hope it continues to do so.
Starring- Stephen Spinella, Jack Plotnick, Wings Hauser, Roxane Mesquidam
Run Time- 1 hr. 25 min.
Critics Review- "Rubber" has anthropomorphic, head-scratching fun with its gory B-movie trappings, silly music cues, self-referential comedy and deliberately off-kilter acting."- Robert Abele "Los Angeles Times"
I'm first going to start off this review with the opening quote from the movie which had me hooked once the scene was over. Hopefully it will have you hooked as well. Not to mention its like the actor is breaking the fourth wall talking to the audience briefly with giving anything way what the movie is going to be about.
"In the Steven Spielberg movie E.T., why is the alien brown? No reason. In Love Story. why do the
two characters fall madly in love with each other? No Reason. In Oliver Stone's JFK, why is the president suddenly assassinated by some stranger? No Reason... I could go on for hours with more examples. The list is endless. You probably never gave it a thought, but all great films. without exception, contain an important element of no reason. And you know why? Because life itself is filled with no reason...Why do some people love sausages and other people hate sausages? No fucking reason."
There is actually no reason to why everything that happens in this movie. Which made it freaking awesome. Like why is there a tire that all of a sudden starts killing people? No reason. Ever since those opening lines above I was into this movie, come on is a movie about a killer tire, its possibly the weirdest and best concept at the same time. One top of that the tire "Robert" has psychic powers which is cool for a movie that is already out there. What I loved even more about the movie is that there was a group of people watching it has it unfolded and I loved their input on certain scenes or how they would react when something really awesome or sudden happened. This was a very enjoyable movie because it clearly states that most of this is happening for no reason. Also the concept about a killer tire is pretty damn original and its ridiculous and awesome at the exact same time. People who love B-movies or movies that are ridiculous for the hell of it will love this movie. I could watch this movie over and over again and not get tired of it. It was just that awesome, I suggest that if you have been on the fence about this movie, just watch it I'm hoping it will not disappoint you, I did not disappoint me, I am glad that I waited to watch this movie for my list this year and got to review it. So all in all go check this movie out; cool concept, the acting is great for the B-movie feel and it was some pretty cool music.
Starring- Glenn Erland Trosterud, Otto Jespersen, Tomas Alf Larsen, Johanna Morch
Run Time- 1 hr. 43 min.
Critics Review- "The film is shot with handheld cameras in the standard mockumentary style, but the content is often hilarious, especially when the trolls show up."- Michael Wilmington "Chicago Reader"
Since this movie was almost like a mockumentary it was done really well, and by adding trolls into the mix was just awesome. With it being a foreign film and the first one I have seen from Norway it was pretty awesome, I loved how the trolls looked, who ever did the especial effects did a great job. it was a great mix of the comedy and adding just a little bit of the horror aspect, while keeping it a funny movie like it was supposed to be. The handheld footage was used well unlike some movies that can make people nauseous this one did not do that, it was not shaking a lot and it was very steady when it came to a lot of scenes in the movie. I read that they used a lot of unknown actors and some comedians from Norway and with them not doing much acting everyone did a really good job acting in the movie. There were some parts of the movie I felt were really funny and some parts that were done just right not to over do it because in my opinion they did not want to over do it. There was never really a dull moment in this film, it was slow at times but then it would automatically pick right back up into something awesome. This is one movie I would like to enjoy watching again. If you were ever interested in watching this movie check it out it is streaming on Netflix. The special effects are really good, the story line is awesome, so all around its a fun movie.
Starring- Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet, Jodi Foster, John C. Reilly
Run Time- 1 hr. 20 min.
Critics Review- "The astonishing Waltz steals the picture, possibly because he's one with a rational perspective (despite his telephonic obsessiveness): He see the whole exercise as pointless. Ultimately, so do we."- John Anderson "Newsday"
I do not see how this was a good movie, it has a high rating from both critics and the audience, but I found it very boring and having it take place in an apartment the whole movie was a bad idea. I mean if the movie was entertaining I would understand and I may have liked the movie a little more, but I did not find it entertaining I just wanted to end. I'm starting to think maybe it is because I feel like shit I just wanted to end or may it was just that bad. I agree and disagree with the critic above, Reilly and Waltz were the best parts of the movie, its surprising that a movie full of Academy Awards Winners and nominee's that the movie did not do that well in my opinion. I would say skip this movie its not worth it, only for Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly it is and that is about it.
Starring- Lon Chaney Jr., Warren William, Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Ralph Bellamy, Bela Lugosi, Patric Knowles, Maria Ouspenskaya
Run Time- 1 hr. 9 min.
Critics Review- "A film of sometimes uncertain greatness that is nonetheless the most entertaining and effective Universal monster movie since Bride of Frankenstein."- Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy"
For the Universal Monsters that I have seen which is now all three; Dracula, Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein and now The Wolf Man, I would have to say that I enjoyed this one a little bit for than the other two monsters but it was not better than The Bride of Frankenstein. One think that I really liked about this movie and more now because it is rarely done now a days is the in camera make-up. I thought when Chaney Jr. changed into The Wolf Man, his transformation was really cool becuase it was mostly done while filming too place and back then they did not have computers to do it so I appereciated a little more when it comes to these types of films. Since the movie was made in the 1940s and was a Universal Monster movie the acting was so-so like some of the other monster films, but I liked the main character more in this one than the others, since he was more afraid of what he was becoming or what he would do he made himself more likable and I wanted something good to come out at the end for him. I thought it was pretty cool how they put Bela Lugosi in the film as the other Wolf Man who would eventually turn Larry Talbot into the now iconic wolf man. Even though this movie was really short they got right to the point and did not waste anytime when it came to Talbot becoming the Wolf Man or getting bitten which I really liked. I think they used gypsies as part of the story line, maybe because people were afraid of them back then because they were pretty creepy in the movie especially the woman gypsy she creeped me out a little. This one classic movie that should be seen and I would love to watch it again, I do not know about the 2010 remake though.
Starring- Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Brian Cox, Seymour Cassel, Luke Wilson
Run Time- 1 hr. 33 min.
Critics Review- "The director treats eccentricity with compassionate respect: no winking, no nudges to even like the boy. The filmmaking, meanwhile, is beautifully disciplined."- Lisa Schwarzbaum "Entertainment Weekly"
At first, I was not really enjoying this movie. It was then I realized that Schwartzman's character was meant to be hated and we did not want anything good happen to him since he was a jackass. However I did like the movie, because it was directed by Wes Anderson and almost all the movies I have seen by him I have either loved them or really liked them. It seems like when Anderson makes a movie, he has a reason for every detail in a scene or with the selection of the music that goes into the movie, because it will go with it so well and not be over done or out of place. It goes the same for doing certain things or with certain characters they will have a purpose later on in the movie. There were some parts of the movie that were kind of annoying and I thought that a better actress could have been chosen other than Williams, who I am not too sure since I cannot think of anyone at this moment. However Bill Murray was my favorite in this movie like most of his movies I see I liked him and out of the films he has done with Anderson I liked him a lot more in this one and The Royal Tennabaums. I did like how this was kind of a new take on a love triangle type story, even though the girl did not want either of them, I liked how they had elaborate ways of messing with each other. Even though this had many good things about this movie, I still do not believe this was the best best one from him, I think that his later films were better than this one. I think it is because he may have learned a little more from film making or he learned that what his audience liked and did not like, but that's just my opinion.
Writer(s)- Robert Lees, John Grant, Fredric I. Rinaldo
Starring- Bud Abbot, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert, Frank Ferguson
Run Time- 1 hr. 23 min.
Critics Review- "This is the best of the boys' efforts, allowing them to go for the nyuks yet never diminishing the standing of the classic Universal Studios monsters that figure in its plot."- Matt Brunson
I have always heard that this movie was funny, because it was the duo Abbott and Costello plus Universal's famous monsters and it was a good match, even thought this was my first time watching a Abbott and Costello film. From start to finish this film was funny non stop. I think due to the amazing chemistry and comedic timing of Abbott and Costello, especially Costello. It was really cool to see The Wolfman, Frankestein's monster and Dracula all in one movie, and also a comedy at that especially with Lugosi doing comedy as Dracula worked perfectly. This was the original movie to put Horror icons together and it worked so well I do not know what went wrong when other people tried to do the same thing years later. I like the plot of how Dracula wanted Wilbur's brain (Costello) because he was not to bright and if Frankenstein had it he would not be has brute has he used to be and would obey Dracula which was his plan all along. Which kind sucks because Wilbur was so awesome in the movie and he made me laugh the most in the movie. Since I do believe the movie is supposed to be a spoof of the monster movies, I liked how it was done, even though I did not like Dracula that much or Frankenstein it was still amazing to see them in this movie made me enjoy them even more. I think it was perfect to make it a comedy and not too much of a horror since they were making fun of themselves and not taking things to seriously. I think if it took itself to seriously and had not been a comedy it would have not been that good, and now I can say that this can go on my list of favorite horror comedies maybe towards the top of the list, and I would love to watch more movies from this duo since they were really big during their time and they also have met more movies monsters and I would love to see how that all worked out. The little side bits made the movie even funnier such as Costello mimicking certain people, or when he would get into trouble unexpectedly and try to get out of it on his own even though he could not. This is one funny movie that should be put on any list to watch since it is a classic and should stay that way. I know I loved it and I hope other people who watch it they love it as well.
