Zularian

Member since 7/7/2007, last signed in 4 days ago.

Send a message

Add to contacts

Invite to a group

Personal statement:

I am interested in screenwriting, directing and editing. At present I am trying to put together very small, no-budget projects to try and learn as I go.

[more]

Zularian's movie tags

Talk

The Dark Knight

A little positivity
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"The past few reviews or comments I have left here have been a bit on the negative side so I thought I would try and write a little something about one of the recent movies I have enjoyed. Although I did not have low expectations for The Dark Knight (2008) It did prove to be a much different film than I had expected to see. While I had been expecting a rather large and impressive opening to the film, something that demonstrated the technological savvy and physical prowess of the hero Christopher Nolan chose a very different kind of opening. Using a minimal sound design that emphasizes the busts and pops of weapons firing the very tame actions of this opening sequence are made menacing and exciting. In fact the opening is oddly reminiscent of The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) which is in an entirely different neighborhood than they typical comic book movie. In a similar manner the casting of this film is somewhat unusual. Obviously the most noted and, I think, most impressive of the pe ... " [More]

The Matrix Reloaded

Stating the Obvious
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"I am sure most everyone has already thought this but since I have not read anything, anywhere that mentions this little tidbit I thought I would do so here. The first film ends with Neo leaping inside of Agent Smith (after coming back from the dead inside the Matrix) and ripping him apart. The other agents then proceed to run away in fear. The film closes with Neo making the phone call to someone that causes the code of the Matrix to freeze and Neo then flies away. I mention all of this because when this film begins we very quickly have Neo repeating one of his incredible fight scenes against three agents at once. Now I ask you, if they fled from him at the end of the first film -- and he is capable of flight and going inside of the agents and causing them to explode -- why on Earth would he then go back to the long, drawn-out fights? This movie is quite bad. I would say terrible but in comparison to the end of this trilogy this film is better so I am trying to keep the order stra ... " [More]

In Bruges

Today's PSA
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"For anyone who has seen the trailer for In Bruges and thinks, "This looks like a silly little mob movie," I am here to help. The best way to convey to you the nature of this film is to say that it is really two films. One is shown in the trailer, lots of cursing, silly scenes and dialog and so on. The other is a moody little art film that wants to make you stop and think. What it wants you to stop and think about not even the filmmaker knows so what you end up with is a very uneven movie that has bits of very strange and outrageous dialog and action in between long stretches of canals and gothic buildings that should evoke....something. Hopefully you are now armed with more than the information from the trailer. Be strong. " [More]

Mr. Brooks

Back to Mr. Costner
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"I'll admit it, I like Kevin Costner. There, I've done it. I stuck my head in the lion's mouth and disarmed my would-be attackers. Let's move on. I saw a clip from Mr. Brooks when I was last at the video store and it reminded me how much I enjoyed the film. For those of you who have only seen the Talented Mr. Ripleyesque trailer that was made for Mr. Brooks I now invite you to take another look. First off the concept of the film is pretty unique. The basic premise of the film is that there is a successful business man who just happens to be a serial killer. The unique twist is that his killing is treated as an addiction in this film, something that the killer himself wishes to stop doing and seeks help for. Admittedly this is not brand-spanking new material, but the way it is handled by the filmmakers is. Mr Brooks is an engaging movie because from the very beginning some unusual conventions are employed to tell this story (for on an alter ego played by William Hurt with not a small ... " [More]

Blade

The one that changed things
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"I make no claims to having inside information or being a film historian. I want to mention this upfront in case some reads this post and thinks, "this fool is completely wrong." The small purpose of this post is to say a word or two about a film that, if memory serves me correctly, is largely responsible for the comic book movies being made today. Yesterday I found myself in a very familiar mood. I wanted to watch a movie that was fun, action-packed and fairly violent. I find these movies to be particularly rewarding after I have been taxing my brain a bit. So since the instant viewing of Netflix is not yet what it should be I was forced to venture to Blockbuster and do the nasty. Only I had to settle for a lesser nasty because the one I wanted was not there. I came home with Blade 3 which I just discovered Spout does not have a link for. This should tell you everything you need to know. I had wanted to rent Blade 2 but apparently their one copy was lost or stolen and the store see ... " [More]

I Am Legend

Validation
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"So I should start by saying I have no idea if what I am about to reference is actually "true". That is, my information comes from the Internet, which we all know is full of utter nonsense and lies. That being said I came across a link today that brought a smile to my face. Of all places it is on the Cracked website. Here is the link: http://www.cracked.com/article _16258_5-awesome-movies-ruined -by-last-minute-changes.html What I found interesting has to do with the first film mentioned, I Am Legend. Quite honestly I was more than just a little appalled when I finally got around to seeing this movie. I tend not to go to the theaters anymore unless a film really demands to be seen on the big screen. This is certainly a big screen kind of movie but it just did not look all that good to me. So I waited. About a month ago I finally rented the movie and when I saw it I was simply amazed at how terrible it was. I do not put much stock into critics or how much movies gross at the box o ... " [More]

Tin Cup

Non-review review #6
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"Today I would like to say a few words about a movie that is very dear to me, Tin Cup. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this movie let me try and give you a sense of it. Tin Cup is a sports movie (golf) starring Kevin Costner and Rene Russo. The movie is about a man who is a very talented golf player who likes to take big risks and has consequently never had much of a career. All of this changes when he meets a woman he wants to impress (who is dating his former college gold partner who is now a professional golfer). He decides the best way to impress her is to get into the US Open and win it and therefore prove his worth. I don't usually like to outline stories because I feel like even the greatest stories ever told can be reduced to utter silliness. That being said I think it is important to have a sense of what you are getting into with this movie before you begin watching. Why is this? For one because it is Kevin Costner. It seems he bothers many people. I think he bothe ... " [More]

Southland Tales

Non-review review #5
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"I recognize that these keep being negative reviews and I vow to stop that trend...after this one. I'd like to say a few words about Southland Tales. I think the amount of press this film received probably has given most people a fair sense of what it is and what it is not. I just wanted to add my little thoughts here in case there were some people, like myself, who were still wondering. First and most importantly, if you watched Donnie Darko and thought that it was clever, or witty or even worse -- really good science fiction, you don't need to read anymore. Personally my reaction to both of these films was very similar. The movie ended and I was baffled. With Donnie Darko I was sure the fault was mine. I must have missed the point somehow, the brilliance was too great and it went over my head. So I watched it again and then with the director's commentary and the very sad truth came to me. I did get it that first time. So like Donnie Darko, Southland Tales wants to be a science fic ... " [More]

Lust, Caution

Non-review review #4
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"I'd like to say a few words about Ang Lee's latest film, Lust, Caution. For anyone who has seen Mr. Lee's films that came before The Ice storm this will seem like yet another odd contribution from this talented filmmaker. If you are not familiar with his earliest films I would highly recommend watching them. They are small, quirky little movies that are very human and moving. Lust, Caution is none of these things which is odd because it should be. Instead it is a rather large, disconnected movie that skips around in time (I think) to try and make a rather bland story more engrossing movie. The acting is superb and although the running time is quite long (two and a half hours I believe) the film has a steady pace that keeps the movie from dragging. Which is to say this movie has a number of things going for it. What the film does not have, as far as I am concerned, is a story worth telling. This is yet another movie where if a person were to sum up the story to you in a sentence or ... " [More]

Citizen Kane

Non-review review #3
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"I am feeling a bit grumpy at the moment so I am going to revisit the subject of my first post -- that of a director pilfering through their own material. There are a number of excellent examples of this but I am going to limit myself to two directors. The reason for this is that both of these men, Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smith have had a very large impact on me. My current career path has been shaped largely by these directors which is why their transgressions pain me so. First, Mr. Smith. Once upon a time there was a directory who made a crappy (production-wise) little movie called Clerks. It is not a pretty movie nor is it an interesting-looking film. Clerks has very few merits except the fact that it is quite funny and original and it somehow manages to convey the joy and exuberence of it's creator. There is a quality to Clerks, a "I just wanted to make a movie" attitude that is infectious. This film feels to me to emboy the very spirit of Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane ... " [More]

Children of Men

Non-review review number 2
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. [What do you think?]
"This movie is exacatly what it said it was going to be, it's a chase movie with a terribly creepy villan. I cannot say there is much more to it than that. It's a western of sorts which for me is not really a big selling point. There is really nothing shocking or new about this movie. The "highly discussed" aspects of this film, in particular the dog that was not a stunt dog, were some of the more disappointing moments in movie-watching history for me (look up how much was written about this dog and how the scene was done and then rewatch the movie...) Which is why when I watched it the other day I just felt baffled. It is not fair to blame No Country for the expecations I had for it. It was, as I said, everything it said it was going to be. I can't really point my finger at critics or those who give out awards because after Brokeback Mountain they have proven they cannot be trusted. I know that the fault lies with me, but what can I do? I had hoped, in vain, that this film would be ... " [More]

No Country for Old Men

The Proposition

A non-review review
By Zularian in Zularian Blog
Was this review helpful? [Be the first to tell us!]
"I would be telling a lie if I claimed to be a fan of westerns. I think I have seen my share although there are a great many classic westerns that I have not seen nor do I plan to see. Why is this? I think my expectations as to what a western should be are not in line with what most westerns are and this usually leads to a lackluster viewing experience. All that being said I have seen a few that have made a lasting impression on me and oddly enough most of these films were released in recent years. The film -- The Proposition – for example, was an experience, much like 3:10 to Yuma that caught me completely by surprise. I suppose all of this is a very roundabout way of saying that I don’t expect much from westerns and that coming across one that moves me is a special occasion. This is why I am writing now. 3:10 to Yuma is what I call a man’s man kind of movie. It’s the kind of movie that I cannot imagine many women watching and enjoying. In part this is becau ... " [More]