As a fan of the World War II genre, this high budget, well cast film directed by a Hollywood elite was good cat nip for me. I can see why the concept didn’t fly as high as it could have though, it is a downer sell from the onset. How do you pitch a film based on a failed coup attempt. “Titanic” could have certainly failed with its inevitable ending, but the fictional love-against-odds story easily superseded the demise of the ship, and well, one of the leads went on to live a rich life and most of the a-holes get their comeuppance. They attempted similar narratives within the “Pearl Harbor” story, with pathetic results. I can’t say exactly why “The Great Escape” or “Sophie Scholl” eluded the inevitable injustice that mark their final acts. Well, I have notions: “Sophia Scholl” is Germany’s most celebrated martyr who did not necessarily fail, and “The Great Escape” is so much fun that you don’t mind watching McQueen ride his Bonneville into a barb fence. If anything, this film serves as a well-crafted homage to the German underground resistance, which is rare material and reminds us that many just and defiant people lived and served in the Third Reich.
30 Aug 2009 • 9:05 am 0
Coraline (3/5)
Staying true to the lesson learned from my previous Little Brother date (Transformers 2), I made sure we watched a well made film with a good premise and moral. To my wonderful surprise the film told a rich, fantastic, complicated family story and is one of my Little’s favorite films now. Tried to watch it in 3D at home and the results were a bit lacking–the room has to be really dark and the screen should be a good size. Wished I had seen this in the theater.
28 Aug 2009 • 7:32 am 0
Duplicity (3/5)
24 Aug 2009 • 6:45 pm 0
Things We Lost In The Fire (1/5)
19 Aug 2009 • 8:43 am 0
Synecdoche, New York (2/5)
8 Aug 2009 • 9:32 am 0
The Breakfast Club (4/5)
A classic, indeed, but I can’t call this a perfect film anymore. I am not convinced that the Princess and the Criminal hook-up by the last scene–he confronts her with some of the most offensive statements possible and ten minutes later she breaks into the office so they can make-out. Oh ya, the Jock does a floor routine and shatters a glass door by screaming at it.
• 7:30 am 0
Knowing (2/5)
Somehow, someway, Nic Cage puts butts in seats. He is a guilty pleasure, I must admit, and his camp-faux-acting is as irresistible as Canoe Reeve. Like all good trash, they do require a descent script to chew through though–”Ghost Rider” and “Constantine” were pleasureless dreck (perhaps I needed more drink). And really, giving these films an honest review and score is like grading a staple–no not that kind of staple, the kind you use to bind paper together.
6 Aug 2009 • 2:14 pm 0
Pretty In Pink (2/5)
Hadn’t seen this film in probably twenty years and don’t expect to see it for a hundred-twenty more. My least favorite of the Hughes/Ringwald films. At least it has a parent who isn’t a total idiot as is the base of nearly every other Hughes’ script, the Dad is just down on his luck this go around. And whoever said they like who she ends up with in the end has some explaining to do. Duckie 4ever.
5 Aug 2009 • 8:48 am 0
Night At The Museum (2/5)
2 Aug 2009 • 8:59 am 1
Transformers 2: Rise Of The Fallen (0/5)
As a Big Brother you are occasionally called upon to see pure shite films, case in point. If he were my own son I don’t think I would have subjected him (and me) to this; I usually let him pick the film he wants to see, but after this turd I am going to rethink this approach. Michael Bay hates women, intellect, logic, joy, la la la. I gave him twenty dollars this weekend. Drat.
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