Spanglish (script) "It's an incredible time in cinema, the "Scooby-Doo" sequel ruling the box office this past weekend aside. In the next year alone, we'll have new films by Cameron Crowe, Wes Anderson, Alexander Payne and David O. Russell. These guys are some of the most fascinating voices in modern American Cinema. As if there was any doubt, you need to add to this incredible group the fantastic James L. Brooks. Very few stories have touched me like this screenplay has..." (full review)
Haven (script) "It is basically an edgy, suspenseful ensemble character drama set on Grand Cayman Island. The script is an interesting portrait of life in the fast lane and the suspense that goes along with it. Script goes on to show that life isn't that perfect on Grand Cayman. This kid knows his shit. The Script incorporates a lot of flashback and flash forward techniques, which make the drama more interesting. Should make for an interesting gritty film..." (full review)
The Alamo "It never does quite get around to giving us a point of view about all this, aside from the requisite yelling of "Remember the Alamo" and promoting Texas as a secular religion. If cinematically it's a mess, politically, it's a muddle. Ultimately, the only people that anyone can really feel sorry for as far as being forced to give up their lives, are the Mexican soldiers, the non-officers, that is. Torn between their admiration for Crockett (he was that famous in his own lifetime), and fear of what will happen to them if they don't follow orders, they were just so many pawns, or, as Santa Ana thought, fodder for his dreams of empire. Yet I seriously doubt seriously that the makers of THE ALAMO intended that as a reason for wasting so much time and money..." (full review)
Kill Bill Volume 2 "There are differences between the two though. While the first film was mainly action and light dialogue, the second is heavy on the exposition and lighter on the action. Then again, there WAS a lot of action in the first, but the difference is noticeable. However, the focus on the storyline increases a lot, and Carradine's and Thurman's characters are really expounded on..." (full review)
Walking Tall "A remake of the 1973 "hicksploitation" classic, the new "Walking Tall" loses the Buford Pusser storyline (hell, ANY storyline for that manner) and replaces it with The Rock, obvious PG-13 neutering, and action sequences that look like a cross between "Roadhouse" and "Smackdown!" Running an equally relieving and disappointing 75 minutes, "Tall" is a fairly worthless entry in the vigilante genre..." (full review)
"Make no mistake; despite being based on a true-story and being touted as The Rock°Øs first attempt into serious acting, Walking Tall is a mindless action flick. Weak plot, flashy visual style and charming smiles are the tool of the trade and they are used ad nausea. The sad statement is that it is easier to care for some of the characters of The Rock°Øs other brainless action outings than in this one..." (full review)
"There is something about vigilante justice that many of us find appealing. Justice where little things like civil rights and lawyers never get in the way of the bad guy getting what he has coming to him. Having that justice dealt out by a guy as appealing and charismatic as the Rock is a bonus. This guy is a star and while his acting range is limited to monosyllabic action roles, he makes the most of each those roles and I can't wait to see him in another one..." (full review)
"Fans of The Rock will most likely enjoy this movie, if only because he shows up. Yet Walking Tall does little to hold the attention of those who might see the movie for more then just Dwayne. While it's definitely a step in the right direction for The Rock's career, it's a far cry from the Schwarzenegger/Stallone flicks of old that people are hoping The Rock will one day reach..." (full review)
Hellboy "All in all the passion, hard work, and dedication really show in this lovable film. Though it may have its flaws from a technical standpoint here or there as some critics are saying, the sheer love and devotion put in by everyone grabs you and pulls you along for the ride. Entertainment at its best!..." (full review)
"As obscure comic book adaptations go, Guillermo Del Toro's "Hellboy" enjoys the luxuries of having great characters and strong relationships to build a narrative on. Unfortunately, the film falls into great trouble once those relationships are tossed aside for a CGI finale that stops the film dead. As Hellboy would so eloquently put it, "Oh cr**!"..." (full review)
"Guillermo Del Toro has created one 'hell' of a fun action flick. If you don't like action flicks or can't seem to suspend a little bit of belief in your movie going, then Hellboy is definitely not for you. This film was made for fans of the comic and for comic fans in general. Even if your Hellboy knowledge is limited (as mine was) going in, know and accept that you will be a fan when you leave your seat. It is not known if this film will be in that first class of comic based films or not. I hope it is successful on at least a greater scale than its peers. In an Internet fanboy world where films like this are hyped to the hilt, Hellboy is one of those that delivers and has the distinction of being the first flick I have seen in a long time that I have to see again. Don't miss it!..." (full review)
The Prince and Me "Another frickin' princess movie aimed at tweens, "The Prince and Me" actually manages to find a little talent behind the camera: director Martha Coolidge. Cliches are everywhere, yet this sweet movie has a healthy amount of charm, and (gasp!) an enjoyable performance from Julia Stiles..." (full review)
"I find it somewhat fascinating that to this day the film that most women I know believe is the ultimate romantic fantasy is Pretty Woman. Not that I don't like the film, it has it's charm, but it's a film about a prostitute who gets picked up by a rich guy for sex. Yes they end up falling in love and living happily ever after but again I must point out the prostitution thing. This is not an ideal fantasy..." (full review)
"The Prince & Me is also curiously low on energy. Veteran director Martha Coolidge (Valley Girl, Rambling Rose) keeps a sluggish pace (even the action-packed lawnmower race sequence barely registers interest), and allows the film to just kind of lumber along until a choppy ending arrives. Stiles is charming enough on her own, though, and she may be enough to please the movie's target audience: young girls who hope that someday their prince will come..." (full review)
Home on the Range "The last (at least for a little while) 2-D animated film from Walt Disney Productions, "Home on the Range" will provide a money's worth of Disney-fied conventions and good looking animation. But "Range" does reek of the Mouse House trying to coast on past successes, and it's a shame that the format has to end on this rather unspectacular note..." (full review) "A smart and lively adventure set on the fringes of America's frontier that temporarily places Disney's 2-D animation station back in the saddle. Home succeeds simply by returning to basics..." (full review) "Like the underrated The Emperor's New Groove, Home On The Range shares many of the virtues associated with classic Warner Bros. animation: manic energy, inspired characters and character design, a smart script equally pitched at squirmy children and parents, and deftly executed verbal and physical comedy..." (full review)
