kentrel
Lifetime Total
5+
Lifetime Trivia
1+
IMDb Member
22 years
Reviews
I Am Bruce Lee (2012)
A terrible documentary
Please just go out and get a well reviewed biography instead. Fighting Spirit by Bruce Howard is my favourite, but get a few for a more complete picture.
This documentary is done in the style of those "Review of the Year" type shows where they have multiple Z list celebrities who give their two-cents, that nobody cares about. They have no expert opinion, and have nothing to add other than fanboy enthusiasm. The whole way through there's a cheesy soundtrack, just in case you get bored. There are lots of clips of the Z list celebrities throwing punches, because that's what you want to see in a Bruce Lee documentary, other people punching.
His wife, and Dan Inosanto are interviewed, and come across well, but informative sources are few and far between. Shannon Lee is engaging, but she was 4 when her father died - her input is limited.
If you bought the Enter the Dragon Special Edition DVD you've probably seen most of the footage in this documentary. Better watch it there, than here interspersed with irritating actors and MMA fighters.
Just so you're aware of the kinds of useless people they have in this documentary. If they stripped out these nobodies and kept it down to the core group of experts, they might have had something passable.
This documentary is done in the style of those "Review of the Year" type shows where they have multiple Z list celebrities who give their two-cents, that nobody cares about. They have no expert opinion, and have nothing to add other than fanboy enthusiasm. The whole way through there's a cheesy soundtrack, just in case you get bored. There are lots of clips of the Z list celebrities throwing punches, because that's what you want to see in a Bruce Lee documentary, other people punching.
His wife, and Dan Inosanto are interviewed, and come across well, but informative sources are few and far between. Shannon Lee is engaging, but she was 4 when her father died - her input is limited.
If you bought the Enter the Dragon Special Edition DVD you've probably seen most of the footage in this documentary. Better watch it there, than here interspersed with irritating actors and MMA fighters.
Just so you're aware of the kinds of useless people they have in this documentary. If they stripped out these nobodies and kept it down to the core group of experts, they might have had something passable.
- Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas (Taboo? More like Tab-who?)
- Mickey Rourke (Played a wrestler in a movie)
- Paul Rodriguez (Professional skateboarder)
- Ed O'Neill (Played Al Bundy in a sitcom)
- Dana White (UFC dude)
- Lots more fanboys wearing Bruce lee t-shirts.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Keep your spirit up during the terrible first half, it'll pay off in the fantastic second
The problem Star Wars has always had is with the screenplay, and this is no different. The first half is filled with cringe-filled dialogue and one-liners, and when Jar Jar Binks appeared early on my own thoughts echoed Han Solo's: "I have a bad feeling about this". However, Jar Jar's appearance is brief though it will have you burying your face in your hands until its over.
Though the special effects are impressive they tend to get in the way and are at times distracting. Luckily the chemistry between Anakin and Obi-Wan works very well, though it still doesn't come close to the charming relationship that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had in Episode 1. The build up of Anakin's and Padme's relationship is the major thing that slows this movie down, and its hard to care about them at all. While Obi-Wan is investigating the creation of a clone army this subplot intrudes which is frustrating since we already know the outcome. Unfortunately its important to the plot and the future of Luke and Leia so we must grin and bear the melodrama. The action later moves to Corruscant where CLONES really begins to pick up.
From that point onwards the bad dialogue (for the most part) is left behind and the fantastic action begins.
From the introduction to Count Dooku, the suspiciously familiar Gladiator battle, the Jedi Battle, and especially the final battle between Yoda and Dooku, which works fantastically, will leave you impressed.
The problems with this movie are mainly pertaining to the plot and dialogue, however as many Star Wars fans know, it was never the dialogue that made Star Wars - it were the space battles, wonderful locations and the climatic Jedi duals and when these eventually make their appearance it will make you remember why you loved Star Wars in the first place.
Though the special effects are impressive they tend to get in the way and are at times distracting. Luckily the chemistry between Anakin and Obi-Wan works very well, though it still doesn't come close to the charming relationship that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had in Episode 1. The build up of Anakin's and Padme's relationship is the major thing that slows this movie down, and its hard to care about them at all. While Obi-Wan is investigating the creation of a clone army this subplot intrudes which is frustrating since we already know the outcome. Unfortunately its important to the plot and the future of Luke and Leia so we must grin and bear the melodrama. The action later moves to Corruscant where CLONES really begins to pick up.
From that point onwards the bad dialogue (for the most part) is left behind and the fantastic action begins.
From the introduction to Count Dooku, the suspiciously familiar Gladiator battle, the Jedi Battle, and especially the final battle between Yoda and Dooku, which works fantastically, will leave you impressed.
The problems with this movie are mainly pertaining to the plot and dialogue, however as many Star Wars fans know, it was never the dialogue that made Star Wars - it were the space battles, wonderful locations and the climatic Jedi duals and when these eventually make their appearance it will make you remember why you loved Star Wars in the first place.
The 51st State (2001)
Bad direction, bad acting, bad dialogue, bad movie
Interesting premise, Catchy title. Bad movie.
The idea of Samuel L. Jackson in a kilt is so brilliant it catches your attention instantly.
However, the premise is let down by terrible over the top cartoon characters, and atrocious dialog. The only good thing about this movie is Samuel L. Jackson, shouting and kicking ass, as only he can do best. But you still get the impression that he is embarrassed by this role.
It's no surprise that this is by a first time screenwriter. What is a surprise is that it got made at all, with the state the script was in.
The direction tries to be sharp, fast paced, and exciting, like Guy Ritchie's Lock Stock, and Snatch but ends up blurry and fake. Some of the sweeping shots are so out of place they make you want to lurch.
The plot holes are endless. A chemical that when mixed with stomach chemicals causes a reaction which results in the person who consumed it to explode like a firework? Hmmmm...pull the other one.
If you're British or anyway familiar with British people you'll recognise how stupid they are made to look. This is probably unintended since its written by a Brit, but the way the British are portrayed in the 51st State isn't very much different as to how the Irish were portrayed in Far and Away.
Sam Jackson and especially Robert Carlyle should have known better. Carlyle recently announced this would be the last big movie he would do for a while, and Jackson failed to turn up at its Liverpool premiere. Says it all really.
The idea of Samuel L. Jackson in a kilt is so brilliant it catches your attention instantly.
However, the premise is let down by terrible over the top cartoon characters, and atrocious dialog. The only good thing about this movie is Samuel L. Jackson, shouting and kicking ass, as only he can do best. But you still get the impression that he is embarrassed by this role.
It's no surprise that this is by a first time screenwriter. What is a surprise is that it got made at all, with the state the script was in.
The direction tries to be sharp, fast paced, and exciting, like Guy Ritchie's Lock Stock, and Snatch but ends up blurry and fake. Some of the sweeping shots are so out of place they make you want to lurch.
The plot holes are endless. A chemical that when mixed with stomach chemicals causes a reaction which results in the person who consumed it to explode like a firework? Hmmmm...pull the other one.
If you're British or anyway familiar with British people you'll recognise how stupid they are made to look. This is probably unintended since its written by a Brit, but the way the British are portrayed in the 51st State isn't very much different as to how the Irish were portrayed in Far and Away.
Sam Jackson and especially Robert Carlyle should have known better. Carlyle recently announced this would be the last big movie he would do for a while, and Jackson failed to turn up at its Liverpool premiere. Says it all really.