JakeStevens

Under discussion:

Iron Man  (2008)

As far as the new wave of comic book adaptations go, this is admittedly one of the better ones. But for crying out loud...really? Did we need this movie? Again, I'll admit that Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark is perfectly cast, Jeff Bridges pulls in a fine performance as Obadiah Stane and most surprisingly, Jon Favreau manages to make this otherwise-by-the-numbers film palatable (you've got your very noticible "acts" and your very literal "arch villain"). OK, OK, OK, it is a very entertaining film. But it's a very dim beacon in a sea of recent superhero/comic adaptation movies...and I mean a SEA (in the last 10 years, what do we have? Sin City, 300, Daredevil, Elektra, Ghostrider, Constantine, Monkeybone, Cat Woman, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, From Hell, Ghost World, Mystery Men, Art School Confidential, Man-Thing, The Punisher, Bulletproof Monk, A History Of Violence,  Road To Perdition, Josie And The Pussycats, ANOTHER Superman, ANOTHER Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TWO Incredible Hulks, TWO Batmans, TWO Fantastic Fours, V For Vendetta, TWO Hellboys, THREE Spider-mans, THREE X-Mens, FOUR Blades...I'm sure I'm missing some and you and I both know there are plenty more to come). Again, I ask: Did we need this film? Or better yet...did we need some of those other films? It's impact is softened thanks to the plethora of pap it has to contend with. Am I being overly harsh? Perhaps. Aren't most films "adaptations" of novels or biographies or short stories or other such previously released reading material? Yes. I suppose I'll let you be the judge of that...but if you're looking for an entertaining film about a comic book hero's origins expertly-but-typically made, look no further.

Under discussion:

The Freshman  (1990)

As stated below (in the All Movie Guide Review), this film is at times funny, other times sloppy, but Brando and Broderick hold the film together with their fine performances. I can't recall another film where I've seen Bruno Kirby with such a large role, and he's surprisingly good (and funny). Definitely worth a watch, particularly if you're a Brando or Broderick fan.

Under discussion:

Lake Placid  (1999)

I remember seeing this film for the first time, with no expectations (perhaps with even slightly lowered expectations) surrounded by my closest friends...and having the time of my life. We were genuinely freaked out at the somewhat cheap thrills and belly laughing at the witty repartee between the characters. On this umpteenth viewing, it still hasn't lost any of it's charm or, most surprisingly, it's thrills. I would HIGHLY recommend watching this film with good friends (and beers) for a fun filled evening in.

Under discussion:

Marty  (1955)

Ernest Borgnine sort of reminds me of one of my father's relatives, so just in appearance alone I felt a connection to his character, let alone the fact that, for a film from the mid-fifties, Mr. Borgnine's performance has a genuine hint of sadness not seen in films of this kind for another decade or more. To wit, it doesn't seem like he's "acting" like he is miserably lonely, he really looks miserably lonely, and when he meets Clara, he's practically jumping out of his skin with excitement and joy, much like a "real" person would had they felt a strong connection to someone of the opposite sex. It's strongly anchored in the anachronisms of its time, but in a film like this (SET in the mid-fifties), it is easily overlooked, and some might even appreciate that fact, since the story itself is timeless. One of the most attractive traits of this film, for me personally, is the central theme of acceptance and tolerance: It doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts. And if other people can't accept that, well that's their problem. My only gripe is it's 50's-television feel in the cinematography department (at one point losing focus very noticably for several seconds before cross-fading into another scene) and the song tacked onto the end is pretty damned cheesy, again, giving it a 50's-sitcom feel. But that's where my criticisms end - many kudos to Mr. Borgnine for such a heartfelt performance, and I believe his Best Actor Oscar win is deserved, even against the likes of James Dean in "East of Eden". Some might argue that fact, but that's for another place, another time...

Under discussion:

There Will Be Blood  (2007)

I don't even know where to start. This is an expertly written film - the dialogue is chock full of subtext, an expertly directed film - the cinematography is breathtaking, an expertly scored film - the music goes places you would never expect, and most importantly, an expertly acted film - Daniel Day-Lewis IS Daniel Plainview. In all regards, you need to see this film, especially if you enjoy Kubrickian mastery of form, and P.T. Anderson has that in spades. My biggest question after seeing this...should this have won the Best Picture Oscar? "No Country For Old Men" was stunning, but so was this. It's a tough call, and I'm glad I'm the one who didn't have to make it, because both of those films are fantastic works of art. Do youself a favor and WATCH THIS MOVIE!

Under discussion:

The Pledge  (2001)

...but I keep coming back to this film. I've probably seen it 10 or 15 times now, and I believe it's because the direction, the script and Nicholson's acting are all top notch. This is a subtle, grim character study - no explosions, car chases or other cliches inherent in your typical police story, so it's no surprise it's didn't do well at the box office. It's slow paced and heavily reliant on your PAYING ATTENTION to small details, including dialogue and knowing glances courtesy of a slowly unraveling Mr. Nicholson, and if you've seen other Nicholson films, you know no one unravels quite like him. If you like your stories complex, dark and expertly made, this is the film for you.

Under discussion:

Juno  (2007)

After the first five minutes, I was dreading the remainder of this film. It seemed to be too "hip" for its own good, but thankfully, I was wrong. Oh, it's certainly "hip" - it's "hipness" is piled on real thick, which extends into the soundtrack (which I actually wasn't wild about), and the hipest of the hip remains Juno herself, played expertly by Ellen Page. If you think about it, who else could have possibly played Juno than Ellen Page? It's the remaining cast that anchors this film in reality, particularly Juno's father (J.K. Simmons) who delivers his lines with the perfect blend of sarcasm and pathos; you definitely "see where she gets it from". I'm going to be honest: (SPOILER ALERT!!!) I didn't care for the way they handled Mark's (Jason Bateman) dismissal (the "your shirt looks stupid" line just seemed petty and unnecessary, and I thought, in a way, HE was right for wanting to leave his wife: she was overbearing and pushy. It's sad to me that he was the bread-winner WITHOUT having to wear a suit and tie and yet still emasculated by his wife for wanting to be "in a band", even though music more than paid the bills for them. Friggin' trophy wives (END OF SPOILER). My cousin's husband didn't care for the film because he felt that it supported teenage pregnancy, but obviously he's an idiot: You see, at the end of the film, the pain (both physical and emotional) she has to go through and the price she pays for her mistake. And several times in the film, she's heard swearing off sex. All in all, a funny, smart film, and I'll certainly be watching it again to pick up the nuances of the performances.

Under discussion:

Alex in Wonder  (2001)

Even though this IS one of the better next-to-zero-budget films I've watched, there are several major elements that kept this from being a much better film. The soundtrack was distracting - the film is supposed to take place in the early 70's, and there are a scant few snippets of music from the era, but the majority of the tunes sounded like new pop tunes by contemporary artists, and not terribly good ones at that. I think the script needed a little more doctoring as some of the dialogue was REALLY cheesy, but other parts of the script were touching. I would assume Angela Gots was chosen because of her dancing background, but apart from a few not-very-well-choreographed dance sequences, I think a better actress could have benefited this film immensely. Like I said, not a bad film, it just could have been better.

Under discussion:

Edmond  (2005)

I can't say I really enjoyed this film all that much. The dialogue seems stilted and suffocating and the direction is fairly boring. The lighting crew was top-notch it seems, but obviously, that isn't enough to hold a film together or even make it better. William H. Macy is pretty entertaining, but some of the lines just don't "feel" right coming out of his mouth. There's some surprising performances pulled out of Bai Ling, Joe Mantagna and Julia Stiles, but again, these cameo roles are little gasps of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant film.

Under discussion:

A Midsummer Night's Dream  (1999)

I'm EXTREMELY torn about this film. On the one hand, they stay MOSTLY true to the text of Shakespeare, and the locales are decidedly gorgeous. Kudos. But the 20th Century Fox DVD I watched on my Plasma TV is non-anamorphic, so it was very grainy, leaving much to be desired considering the lush 19th century Italian backdrop. I'd LOVE to see this film on Blu Ray as I'm sure the colors would jump off the screen the way they were meant to. On the other hand, the wealth of talent that makes up this cast is extrordinary, and it's obvious most of the actors have a grasp on The Bard's tongue-twisting double entendres, but as I've said in other reviews, it's the absence of a proper accent that began to take me out of the film. For instance, Kevin Kline (a Shakespearean veteran) has the acting chops down pat and he's a joy to watch, but ARG! Why the mid-western American accent? The same for David Strathairn, Stanley Tucci, Calista Flockhart and Michelle Pfeiffer - all put in fantastic performances...and they all sound like they live next door to me. Hmfph. All that being said, it's one of Shakespeare's more difficult productions to adapt, and director Michael Hoffman gave it a pretty good shot, even if the final product is flawed. I hope to see a Blu Ray version soon...perhaps it's raise the rating a notch.

Under discussion:

Police Academy  (1984)

Oh, man. I grew up with these characters. As a child, I even went so far as to attempt to "novelize" the film (ala Bantam) and narrate it with verbatim dialogue from the film itself. Those transcripts have long been lost to the ravages of time, but this pricelessly tasteless film survives. I STILL quote from this film (and some of its sequels) to this day, and who doesn't love the cast assembled here? It's a completely brain-dead comedy, but at least we can emphasize the "comedy" part of that equation with certainty. On this 986th (or so) viewing, I watched it with the 20th Anniversary Cast Commentary, and the actors had me laughing AGAIN! What chemistry that had, and STILL have! I must admit, though, that the whisperings of yet another sequel leave me feeling cold, Even though some of the other films had great moments, THIS is where it all started, and you've got to appreciate it for what it is - a runaway comedic hit that resonated with audiences back then and still holds up now.

Under discussion:

Ratcatcher  (1998)

I can't believe that Lynne Ramsay had never made a feature length film before this - its subject matter is handled with such care and the cinematography so carefully framed that she seems like a seasoned pro (or, at least, better than some actual seasoned pros). It's gritty yet beautiful, slightly surreal, passionate yet not nostalgic or sentimental. I will definitely be watching this again.

Under discussion:

The Bat  (1959)

Not one of Vincent Price's best, but as always, it's a pleasure to see him in just about ANYTHING. Crane Wilbur's direction is pedestrian at best, and the film plays as, well, a stage play. I hear the 30's version is the superior version, but again, Price's presence is the main draw here. I have the Good Times DVD which, I believe, is one of the only widescreen transfers of this film, and it's sadly a very bad and blurry transfer. As this is most definitely a "cult" film, I doubt we'll see a Special Edition or HD Transfer of this film anytime soon, so I'll have to settle for this for the time being.

Under discussion:

Lady and the Tramp  (1955)

While it is obvious the Disney crew put a lot of care into making this, their first widescreen animated feature, it's the striking racial stereotypes that brought down the rating of this film for me (and they damn well fit every single one you can imagine in there, save for Native American and surprisingly, African American). Not that the homogenized, straight-to-video sequel can even hold a candle to this masterpiece, I can see why some parents might opt to have their young ones view that one instead of this one. There is a wonderful amount of creativity and dedication evident in the final project, and a quaintness to the theme due to its dated look and style. It's been decades since I've seen this film, but it was nice to dust it off and take a trip down memory lane.

Under discussion:

Terminator 2: Judgment Day  (1991)

So, yeah, I've watched this film in part or in whole perhaps 15 or 20 times, and it STILL manages to capture my attention every time. Everyone involved (Schwarzenegger, Cameron, Hamilton, Furlong, Patrick, Morton) was at the top of their game at the time, and I just watched the Blu Ray version of the film, and the SFX STILL hold up (except for some obvious stunt doubles). I especially like how you can either watch T1 for more back story, or if you're the casual viewer, this one stands on its own and offers a cohesive and entertaining story. If you haven't seen this yet, I would highly suggest getting out from the rock under which you live and viewing not only this film, but the first film for more robust viewing experience.