velzie_love

Contains Spoilers Had I not been with a friend who dearly wished to see the movie, I probably would have walked out - because as entertaining as the pure BS was, by the end of the movie I'd had Enough. The whole thing centers around "Slim," (a name that, by pure ridiculousness, appears to be one Lopez thought up herself), and her struggle to protect herself and her child from her abusive husband. And as the trailers indicate, Slim becomes fed up and takes revenge into her own hands. Now this entire concept in itself is terrible enough by itself, but first off - the movie is entirely unproportional. Five minutes are dedicated to illustrating how Slim and Mitch met, married, bought a house, had a daughter, etc. These few minutes are centered mainly around the "hints" that the guy might be mean and/or nuts - his pager goes off during the birth of the child, he pressures some random guy into selling his house, blah blah. Two minutes goes to Slim just "stumbling" onto the fact that he's cheating. This scene is by far the worst in the movie; as throughout the film, the acting is terrible and COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC. It's full of stupid villian-he-man cliches, like "I have more needs cause I'm a man," and more blah blah. Then the whole majority of the movie is Slim and daughter Gracie - who, by the way, has the most terrible dialouge of all the characters - running around trying to escape the evil husband. Two minutes goes to Slim training in "self-defense," and four minutes of her suddenly out-smarting and out-fighting her husband. Then BOOM, everything's okay.

To add to the list of grievances: she never ages. The movie has to span at least eight years, and the only thing about Slim that changes is her hairstyle. There's a semblance of a good cast - Wyle and Lewis have proven to be decent actors, but did they stop reading scripts before they agree to sign on? Their measley appearences throughout the movie just frustrate the audience.

Good news is: the screenplay is not the worst part of the movie. Although the dialouge, plot, and character development is definitely horrible, the music is even worse. You're watching car chases, husband rampages, and corny soul-searching moments all set to either loud, irritating techno music or the worst movie score I've ever heard.

There's actually even better news, and that's that the filmmakers did a decent job. The directing, cinematography, editing, design - they were all decent, especially for being a popular movie. Costume design looked a little like Lopez also did it herself, but it could be worse. I honestly think that the filmmakers did the best job they could, considering what they had to work with. It's my opinion that this really should never have been given the green light in the first place.

The whole concept of the movie is awful. A victimized little wifey finds justification for trying to kill her whacko husband, because "self defense is not murder." Never mind having a moral statement, the movie doesn't need it -- it has the amazing, career-just-won't-die-no-matter-how-bad-her-movies-or-how-tight-her-wardrobe J Lo! But imagine that, she's not Enough to save her terribly UNREALISTIC and downright laughable little movie, not by a long shot.

D-

I admit, the movie was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. But as a normal person - one not swept up and infatuated with "Spider-man," I have advice for the few with a little common sense and sanity left: You must, at all times, remember that this is an adaption of a comic book. Otherwise, you will be drowned to death in cheese. Basically, that's all it is - a pummeling of your senses with endless tacky one-liners, predictable plot twists, and absolutely terrible costume design. But somehow, it works. I don't think it will ever be on my list of favorites, but you have to give credit where it's due, I suppose, because it could be worse. When you disregard the notion that maybe you *shouldn't* try to transfer a comic book feel into a motion picture, the film-making techniques provide for a decent movie.

Just remember two things: 1) the cheesiness will suffocate you if you're taking the movie too seriously, and 2) Chill. It's only a movie, not a gift from God to the movie viewers of America.

Alright, now this isn't really about the movie (if that's what you wish to call it), it's about all you who've written comments about it:

What is wrong with you? ALL of you! Do you *really* think you understand this? Are you that stupid? Granted, there are some things that are a semblance of a storyline, and a few obvious facts that we know from the movie and/or book. BUT - I am telling you, all of you pretentious know-it-alls are wrong, you do NOT have all the answers to this film. It's actually quite obvious that there ARE NO answers, no true and definite meaning. Theories, yes, there are plenty, but if there was really a blatant point, right-and-wrong definitions, then why would you all be arguing about it? Why is there no one accepted idea?

This is a film that redefines our ideas and preconcieved notions about movies. It stretches our limits, and honestly, it stretched mine. The lack of editing, the nonexistant plot, the ending... I was screaming at the television when it was over. But I can't say it was bad - it was original, beautiful, intense, and geniunely thought-provoking. You have to give Kubrick credit, he did what no other director could possibly accomplish.

BUT don't fool yourself. There is not a definite and accepted explanation of this movie, so don't look to hard for one, and PLEASE - do not insult others' intelligence because they don't "know" all about it like you. It's petty, and only makes you look closed-minded and arrogant.

I didn't find myself to be particularly touched by this film. Frankly, I thought it tried just a little too hard to be happy and touching, and instead, the ending was laughable and the audience walks away feeling as if they've been beaten over the head with the "cutesy stick" way too often. It's true, the movie is set up that you're laughing at disabled people, when a good movie about this same subject would take you so much deeper into the joys and pains of these individuals. The not well-developed love between 'Carla' and 'Danny' is also "cutesy," and not a portrayed like a real reflection of any type of true love. And the acting - how hard is it to pretend to be retarded? The actors were convincing, but I gave the same caliber performance in 8th grade when my friends and I would set up our parents' video cameras and act like mentals (And don't look down at me, you know you did the same thing too).

Overall: Nothing too deep, interesting, or generally stimulating. I watched it on TNT at 2 o'clock in the morning - and that's where it belongs.

Pearl Harbor was NOT a terribly wonderful movie - I left the theater feeling that the film didn't achieve what it was going for. Had it not been paid for by my history class (since going to see it was a field trip), I probably would have felt it was a waste of money.

Granted, the movie probably does have quite a few inaccuracies, as does any history-based film, BUT - I give the movie 2 thumbs up for introducing the idea the Americans in charge knew the attack was coming. I don't care what people's junior high textbooks said, FDR KNEW that we were going to be attacked at Pearl Harbor and LET IT HAPPEN (purely for the purposes of getting the country to unite and want to go to war). I'm very glad that this movie touched on that idea at least somewhat...

The only real complaints is that the movie didn't use it's time well. After the first 40 minutes of bombing, your only concern is how much your butt is starting to hurt. And the "romance"/love triangle was only disturbing, distracting, and downright laughable.. certainly don't see this movie for that aspect.

I say, if you're into rather lame action/war movies (and you have a LOT of time on your hands), go ahead and see it, it fits into its genre nicely. And I've definitely seen worse movies this year.

Believe me, hardly anything about this movie is "typical." I find it hard to describe in words the awe that American Beauty inspires, and writing a review to give it the full praise it deserves is futile -- but I'll attempt to contradict some lame criticism. Say for a moment that you don't take into consideration the storyline - this film stands out in its visual beauty alone. The cinematography is.. beyond outstanding. The music is haunting, Thomas Newman could not have done a better job. And the acting: Kevin Spacey and Annette Benning at their very best, unbeatable. But very the magic of this movie is the way that screenplay writer Alan Ball weaves the dynamic characters and "been done" events with wit and incredibly deep insight, an a way that totally redefines "beauty." He and Sam Mendes are a team that we will not soon forget. For those who haven't seen the movie, I cannot give a stronger recommendation for it.

Goodness, there seems to be a LOT of praise for this movie. I must not have seen the same one as all of you.

I didn't read any of the books, and I was lost and confused throughout this film. I'll admit, the beginning was honestly not too bad, and the art direction was creative and believably "magical." But once they arrived at the school, it all went downhill. The events became hard to follow; for example, whatever game that Harry and his peers played, it was NOT well explained, and I'm sitting in the theater wondering, "what is the point?" And again, at the end when the three friends go off to do... well, whatever the point was. I didn't understand WHY they were doing anything they did - it all seemed very unsupported. But again, I'll admit that might be my fault, because towards the end (heck, even the middle), I found myself fighting to pay attention. I don't see how everyone else sat through this droning bore. And what the hell is with everyone saying the special effects are great? They're not even decent. In fact, the scene with the monster in the bathroom -- that was TERRIBLE. The whole second half of the movie was dominated by "special effects," and it killed any of the "magic" the first half almost had.

Oh - and did anyone else find it strange that they celebrate CHRISTmas at a school for WITCHCRAFT? or is it just me again? I guess I just don't get what everyone sees in Harry Potter...