Week 1 Film Reviews

I am going to try to post Film reviews for each film that I see on a weekly basis. This may seem that there are more film blogs on here than other topics, but the fact is is that I do watch a good amount of films, and Sports and Music aren't as easy to comment on. After saying that, I will attempt to keep the topics as even as possible.

On to the films:

The Time Traveler’s Wife

Release Date: 2009

Director: Robert Schwentke

Genre: Romance

Main Cast: Eric Bana (as Henry DeTamble) and Rachel McAdams (as Claire Abshire)

Based On: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audre Niffenegger

IMDB Rating: 7.1

My Rating: 8.2

Length: 107 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $39million/$101million

Being a male and generally lacking the amount of estrogen that most females have to enjoy most romances, there are few romance-dominant films that I enjoy. By few I mean four to five off the top of my head. This film, as noted by my rating, impressed me very much and moved into that rare catagory. I am slightly a science fiction genre person, as the impossible and illogical always interest me. Thus, the theme of uncontrolled time travel proved intriguing in this film. Both Bana and his counterpart McAdams performed solid acting pieces as their separation and commitment to each other were put through trials of different kinds. Bana, playing DeTamble, had no control over his time-warping, which made for interesting situations when he arrived naked in a different point in the timeline. The poise and maturity of Henry's daughter in the film, played by Tattum McCann, also impressed me, as she understood the gravity of time-travelling at such a young age, as well as handled the death of her father better than most adults. This film is a definite must see, no matter what your stereotypical "preferred" genre may be.

The Butterfly Effect

Release Date: 2004

Director: Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber

Genre: Thriller

Main Cast: Ashton Kutcher (as Evan) and Amy Smart (as Kayleigh)

IMDB Rating: 7.8

My Rating: 6.3

Length: 113 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $12 million/$96 million

This review will not be liked by my good friend Sarah Taylor. I was not a huge fan of this film. My film tastes generally hinge around the quality and my perception of the ending of the plot. This stipulation hurt my liking of this film in a few ways. Depending on what version of the film you view, there are 4 alternate endings that go with their respective versions. The directors of the film creating this many different endings hurt the reputation of the film, in my opinion. Creating that many endings implies lack of confidence in one good one. I also did not like the main ending of the film, how Evan decides that fate is best without him ever living. However, the plot of this film does have good progression and keeps the viewer interested in how the final path of the universe that Evan follows will play out. Overall a decent film, but not one that I will rave over.

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

Release Date: 2009
Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Genre: Action
Main Cast: Kristen Kreuk (as Chun-Li) and Neal McDonough (as Bison)
Based On: The Street Fighter series of video games
IMDB Rating: 3.8
My Rating: 3.9
Length: 96 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $50 million/$13 million

I don't really have much to say about this film besides the fact that it was flat-out bad. The name in itself and the fact that it was based off of a video game should have been enough of a turn-off, but I believe in chances. This film will not get a second one. About the only positive to the film was an attractive female detective in Moon Bloodgood and glimpses of decent hand-to-hand action fighting. Poor acting all-around combined with wannabe unrealistic sci-fi graphics and action combined for a waste of 96 minutes. Stay away from this film, unless you want to save money on sleeping pills.

Frequency 

Release Date: 2000

Director: Gregory Hoblit

Genre: Thriller

Main Cast: Dennis Quaid (as Frank Sullivan) and James Caviezel (as John Sullivan)

IMDB Rating: 7.3

My Rating: 6.4

Length: 118 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $31 million/$68 million



This film was an above average film that did a good job of playing it safe by not doing anything extraordinary with the plot. It featured a solid performance by Dennis Quaid, per usual, as well as an impressive acting job by his son in the film, James Caviezel. Their father-son connection in the film is its best selling point, as the dialogue between the two men over radio spanning 30 years seems intense and heartfelt. It is the only way in the plot of the film that the two can connect as adults. Like most time travel films, the plot is rather intricate, with sections of altering the future and dealing with the consequences. The plot is also somewhat predictable as it progresses, in my opinion, and the altered ending seems like the directors tried to make everyone happy without considering the logicality and unrealistic themes it presented. A solid film, nevertheless.

Da Vinci Code

Release Date: 2006
Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Adventure
Main Cast: Tom Hanks (as Robert Langdon) Audry Tautou (as Sophie Neveu) Ian McKellen (as Sir Leigh Teabing)
Based On: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
IMDB Rating: 6.4
My Rating: 7.4
Length: 149 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $125 million/$758 million

Another well-directed and acted film, this movie heavily resembles the National Treasure series, with a more religious background and plot. I did not agree with some of the ideas and "findings" that Langdon and Teabing uncovered in their hunts, however, I feel that the director did a good job at presenting these findings in a mysterious treasure hunt sort of way, a good way of keeping the audience's attention and interest. The historical evidence that the film gave dating back to the times of Jesus was also very informative and interesting to me. Hanks and McKellen both had typical outstanding performances, ones that continue to cement their legacies as two of the best of their generation. The ending, similar again to the National Treasure series, gives the feeling of wanting them to find more secrets and uncover more evidence, it is a hard film to bring to an end.

Déjà Vu

Release Date: 2006
Director: Tony Scott
Genre: Thriller
Main Cast: Denzel Washington (as Agent Doug Carlin) Paula Patton (as Claire Kuchever) and James Caviezel (as Carroll Oerstadt)
IMDB Rating: 7.0
My Rating: 7.8
Length: 126 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $75 million/$181 million

The plot of this film is possibly the most complex of the films in this week's review. The quality of the film is also an almost guaranteed above average with the acting of the legendary Mr. Washington on board. His plans to go back in time and stop the bombing of a boat with mass casualties is altered by his affection for one of the victims played by Paula Patton and also by the protagonist bomber, James Caviezel. Thanks to a good use of a time machine intrument in the film, Carlin (Washington) is able to go back and alter the past. The problems with resolving paradoxes that most time travel film have were averted by the futuristic Carlin dying to save the ship, and the past Carlin living on with Patton's character Claire. This film was very well performed and directed overall, and is a definite good watch and a good addition to a film collection as well.

How Do You Know

Release Date: 2010
Director: James L. Brooks
Genre: Comedy
Main Cast: Reese Witherspoon (as Lisa Jorgenson) Paul Rudd (as George Madison) and Owen Wilson (as Matty Reynolds)
IMDB Rating: 5.2
My Rating: 4.7
Length: 121 minutes
Budget/Gross Revenue: $120 million/$29 million

I am thankful that the admittance fee to watch this film was $0.00. I am still deciding if it was worth even that. The problem with this film was not that it was poorly done, the problem was that it was not done well. Reese/Lisa's indecisiveness throughout the film, coupled with a plot that went little-to-nowhere resulted in a less-than-satisfactory film that left you wondering if the director put much time into the plot, and whether he actually wanted it to seem like something happened in the film. Rudd's character and acting in the film were one of the few bright spots, as he found his world and relationships falling apart around him, and still managed work through them with little stress that resulted in a progressing relationship with Lisa. Again, one of the few.

The Number 23

Release Date: 2006

Director: Joel Schumacher

Genre: Thriller

Main Cast: Jim Carrey (as Walter Sparrow / Det. Fingerling) and Virginia Madsen (as Agatha Pink-Sparrow / Fabrizia)

 IMDB Rating: 6.2

My Rating: 8.3

Length: 98 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $30 million/$78 million

I was both overly surprised and impressed with this film as a whole. Jim Carrey does an incredible acting perfomance in one of the few serious roles of his career. The emotion that he puts into his acting is just as evident, if not more than the comedy productions he does. The plot of this film does not come close to disappointing either, as Carrey/Walter Sparrow reads a novel that portrays his life and the previous life he vaguely remembers. After unravelling the clues to the story and his past, Carrey discovers the unlikely truth that changes his and his families lives forever. The plot of the film does an excellent job of staying suspenseful and on track. The ending of the film, however, is what truly sets it apart from other thrillers. I appreciate when endings to films aren't always exactly what the audience would want, but when the decisions of the characters a morally sound and in conjunction with the plot. Carrey's character does just that, making a life-lesson for his son to do the right thing, especially when other lives and futures are at stake.

Out Cold

Release Date: 2001

Director: Brendan and Emmett Malloy

Genre: Comedy

Main Cast: Jason London (as Rick Rambis) A.J. Cook (as Jenny) and Lee Majors (as John Majors)

IMDB Rating: 5.9

My Rating: 5.6

Length: 89 minutes

Budget/Gross Revenue: $11 Million

Full of cheap laughs, wipeouts, and bad romances, Out Cold is a typical cheap comedy that makes for an easy watch. Typical in that stupid things are done by characters, few consequences result, and everyone goes home feeling happy. While an average movie, it was obvious by the budget an acting that it didn't take much to make, nor was there a good deep plot or stellar acting. If your intentions are for easy laughs and a quick simple ride down the mountain while avoiding authorities, Out Cold wins. Otherwise...

Thanks for viewing Week 1's reviews. Questions or comments are welcomed below. Until next week...

-Jarid Holliday