Claudia

All reviews - Movies (198) - TV Shows (5) - DVDs (1) - Books (2) - Music (16) - Games (7)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Posted : 2 weeks, 5 days ago on 26 April 2008 10:31 (A review of Forgetting Sarah Marshall)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall has proven to be one of the funniest movies that I have seen, and will surely not be forgotten. Judd Apatow has succeeded yet again with his new comedy which is very much a romance/disaster movie.

Jason Segel is Peter Bretter, who within the first couple of minutes of this film has been dumped by his girlfriend, Sarah Marshall. The two work together on a TV show, 'Crime Scene'. Sarah being the lead star of the series, with her boyfriend Peter being responsible for the dodgy sound effects on the show. This has always left Peter out of the spotlight, with Sarah being known everywhere as the star of the show. So when Sarah comes home one day to find peter wearing nothing but a towel and reveals that she doesn't want to be with him anymore, you can imagine that Peter doesn't find this very good news. In-fact, he drops his towel and sits confused and paranoid thinking about life without Sarah Marshall.

So Peter, left broken hearted, seeks out advice from his brother, Brian. To Brian it seems that the best thing for Peter to do is go away on a holiday and escape everything that is reminding Peter or Sarah Marshall. But who does Peter find there at the Hawaiian resort, none other than the very person that he had been trying to escape, Sarah Marshall.

As you can imagine, every situation in this is turned comical. Whether it be laughing for the circumstances of what is happening to Peter, or at the uproarious themes and references from other characters, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a film that can guarantee you laughs.

As well as being a Judd Apatow picture, director Nicholas Stoller also contributes hugely to this film's success. But mostly the credit goes to the multi-talented Jason Segel. Not only did he have the lead role in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but he also wrote the script which is the basis of this film's entertainment. He is a true star and I admire what he has put into this film, a great comedian and incredible actor. Kristen Bell as Sarah Marshall also gave an exceptional performance, giving the viewer a clear view of her character and feelings towards Sarah Marshall. Mila Kunis and Russell Brand were also admirable with their performances, Russell Brand in particular providing many entertaining scenes. Bill Hader, Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd were also hilarious and largely contributed to this film even with their smaller roles.

Overall Forgetting Sarah Marshall is an intriguing and extremely entertaining flick somewhat similar to movies like Knocked Up or Good luck Chuck. If this sounds like your thing, then I strongly recommend that you see this for a laugh and some enjoyment.

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Hitman

Posted : 3 weeks, 2 days ago on 23 April 2008 01:33 (A review of Hitman)

"Because that suitcase perfectly holds my Blazer Sniper Rifle, two .45s and a gag for irritating, talkative little girls like yourself. You want me to stop and get it out?"

Hitman was a movie that I had no real set expectations for. All I knew was the fact that it's a video game adaptation and that it is basically a agent/killing type of movie. That's it. I found it to be a stylish and entertaining movie, but it certainly could have been better.

Timothy Olyphant has the title role of the 'Hitman', also known as Agent 47. He has no real name and very few memories of how he came to the profession that he is in. The plot I am told is not based on the storyline used in the game, so I'm guessing that the only real similarity between the two would be the characters and their main background. The plot I found quite confusing at times, it was detailed and perplexing.. but at the same time riveting and interesting to watch. It had its ups and downs, and scenes that I felt didn't quite need to be in there. I found myself wondering certain things even at the end of the film when all should have been explained, but the fact that it left me still wondering and mystified was a good thing in a way.

To me the dialogue was one of this movie's downfalls. Sometimes there's a sudden clever or amusing remark, but at other times I felt that it certainly could have been improved. The setting and action scenes were excellent and stylish, if only the other aspects of this film could match the action scenes, which I must add were superbly directed by Xavier Gens.

Timothy Olyphant was an exceptional choice as the lead character in Hitman. His performance was riveting in itself; he kind of created an iconic side to his character and a softer side aswell. Just his facial expression defines the character. Olga Kurylenko wasn't terrible to say the least. I didn't expect an amazing performance from her, but she certainly showed that she is capable of roles such as hers. The cast were mostly great choices; I can't narrow down to the ones that could have been chosen differently.

Compared to other video game adaptations, Hitman has certainly made it's mark on not being one of the worst. If you are a fan of the 'Bourne' series, then this will be worth a try. They both have the same kind of plot and similar direction. Hitman was enthralling and had a gripping plot, although there were some things that could have made Hitman a whole lot better.

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1408

Posted : 1 month ago on 16 April 2008 02:33 (A review of 1408)

1408 was a movie that I had set high expectations for, and found that only some aspects of this film were satisfactory for me. Others were just disappointing and substandard compared to other films I have seen in the same genre. As far as these types of movies go, 1408 wasn't quite as disappointing as others I have seen.. but still not quite satisfactory in every level.

I am by no means saying that this film was not entertaining for me, in fact it was quite an entertaining film to watch, and I don't by any means feel as if I have wasted my time seeing it. But my expectations were set high and it's as if my standard for thrillers has gone higher as I see more and broaden what I have seen. Comparing this to something of a much lower standard makes 1408 seem not quite so bad, but compared to some extraordinary thrillers that I have seen, 1408 comes low on the list.

John Cusack was probably the best thing about this film. His performance was astonishing and truly amazing in every way. He gave a unique and brilliant performance, expressing every emotion extremely well and making me; the viewer, connected with the character. Samuel L. Jackson had a significantly smaller part than I would have expected, but was still a key character. He was well above average, but nothing amazing.

Overall I think that 1408 is a decent thriller that is certainly worth a look, but it doesn't come close to a masterpiece.

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Zodiac

Posted : 1 month ago on 9 April 2008 06:55 (A review of Zodiac)

"I Need to know who he is. I need to stand there, I need to look him in the eye and I need to know that it's him."

Zodiac has proven to be one of the most astonishing and remarkable films I have seen in a long time, and certainly has made a spot on my favourite thrillers of all time. From start to finish, Zodiac is a chilling and fearsome movie that delivers chills and thrills throughout it's entire length, and manages to keep a mysterious and unanticipated ending.

Zodiac, based on true events, focuses on the serial killer in the San Francisco Bay area who called himself 'Zodiac'. Set in mostly in the '70s, this film captures the dark and unwelcoming events during the Zodiac's murders and case which still remains unsolved today. We can see from all points of view in this film, from witnessing the murders to the investigators and reporters somehow becoming obsessive with the case, and it's not long before the viewers soon become as captivated as the characters.

This film manages to maintain a high level of interest even throughout it's whole length of two and a half hours. It's not very often that I sit down and watch a movie and become as awestruck and mesmerized as I did in Zodiac, so that is certainly saying something. For me it was a film where it was impossible to take my eyes off of the screen, and although some (yet very little) parts were disturbing, I was still just as enthralled. Without my high interest in this film, I can understand that towards the end it might not have been quite as appreciated. As well as interest, you will need to pay attention to discover clues and find out how the case is progressing; otherwise I can guarantee that in the end you will be confused and therefore not value the overall film.

For me the cast were also brilliant and for the most of them, perfect for their chosen characters. Jake Gyllenhaal was incredible and gave a truly outstanding performance for his role, as did both Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. Zodiac has certainly made me appreciate these actors a lot more. Another honourable mention would have to go to Brian Cox; great actor, amazing performance.

Overall Zodiac is a film worth watching for movie lovers of all genres. Although this sits tight under thriller/mystery, this is a movie that should be seen by all; therefore I strongly recommend it.

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Balls of Fury

Posted : 1 month ago on 9 April 2008 06:54 (A review of Balls of Fury)

Balls of Fury came across to me as the average 'comedy' these days, delivering very few laughs and a pretty crappy dialogue. I admit at times it was fun to watch, but to me it seemed a lot like a spoof rather than actually an original movie.

The idea of basing a movie about ping pong is a clever one though, and I think it'd be safe to say that it's the first real ping pong movie. I'm just disappointed that it didn't turn out as good as it could have been; even though I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, I feel as though this could have been turned into something far better. The plot was unexplainable.. it kept the sequence right, but I was left wondering how the heck it even started out and how it got to a certain point in the movie. As I have said, the dialogue was just absurd and quite meaningless. I noticed a lot of incidences where a certain line was supposed to be hilarious, but ended up being something that I'd be puzzled by and wondering why it could be considered entertaining. It would have been interesting seeing it in the cinema to see if anyone thought parts were stupid.. or it was just me.

Dan Fogler was mildly entertaining, but compared to others.. you could say that he gave a pretty good performance as the lead character. Christopher Walken wasn't too bad, I guess he was what I'd expect from him in a flick like this. Maggie Q was neither exceptional or completely unbearable... she was just sort of... there. Her lines meant almost nothing coming out of her mouth, so most of the time she was ignorable. I'm still trying to work out if that's such a bad thing.

Overall Balls of Fury wasn't nearly as entertaining as the good comedy movies out there, but considering the stuff that people are coming out with these days... it could be thought of as average.

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The Hunted

Posted : 1 month, 2 weeks ago on 1 April 2008 12:59 (A review of The Hunted)

The Hunted was to me an unimpressive film that I feel like I almost wasted my time seeing. Even with one of my fave actors, Belicio Del Toro, that doesn't change the fact that the overall movie was extremely disappointing.

The plot was dull and completely explained, probably the thing I hated the most about this flick was the way that it almost felt like it skipped a few minutes going from each scene. One minute one of the characters is in a certain place and the next they suddenly appear somewhere completely different. Another thing is that this film is in no way realistic with some of the events that occur. I found my self constantly thinking 'How did that happen?', 'How did he get there?', 'Why didn't this happen?' etc. I wasn't expecting complete realism but I think they could have at least considered the obvious ones.

Benicio Del Toro gave a truly electrifying and brilliant performance though, he saved this film from a much lower rating. Tommy Lee Jones looked extremely awkward for his role, for me it just didn't work. Connie Nielsen was worse than average, another role I wouldn't have expected.

Please try and avoid this if you can, I have warned you. But if you're looking for an action flick with absolutely no real plot and some pretty shameful moments for some otherwise great actors.. go for this.

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Vincent review

Posted : 1 month, 2 weeks ago on 27 March 2008 03:01 (A review of Vincent)

Vincent, an early Tim Burton short film, is absolutely brilliant and astonishing to watch. Being a huge Burton fan, I completely loved the unique Tim Burton style to it, each of his films he really makes his own, and Vincent is something that would be easily recognisable as one of his films.

This short (about 6 mins) film shows a young boy named Vincent Malloy, who dreams of being Vincent Price. It's an obsession really, and for something as simple and unique to be made into a short film as brilliant as Vincent is... well, that kind of talent could only come from the genius Tim Burton.

I really loved the stylised narration from Vincent Price himself, and just from having a quick look at the words you can tell that it fits in brilliantly with the animation. I will say it again - I absolutely adore this short film, and I give two thumbs up to Tim Burton for creating such a masterpiece so early in his filmmaking career. It's hard to compare it to his more recent feature length films, and I myself can't pick favourites from his work. They are all so unique and amazing in their own ways, and Vincent is no different.

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Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger

Posted : 1 month, 2 weeks ago on 27 March 2008 12:51 (A review of Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger)

Yet another film that I knew almost nothing about when walking into the cinema to see this. I had only taken a quick glance at the synopsis at the cinema.. so basically, upon seeing this you don't have to know much about it to enjoy the film. So yes, I was pleasantly surprised when walking out from seeing this, it truly was an astonishing film that came through with many different emotions.

Esther Blueburger is a 13-year old student, who attends a private school. She doesn't have much luck making friends, well.. no luck at all really. That's only up until she meets a public school student, Sunni. Despite their differences they begin to get along with each other, and form a unique friendship. From there the story unfolds and we witness Esther going through many challenges at that time in her life. It's a very emotional movie, towards the end it becomes very sad, but there are some lighter sides to the movie as well.

There were some very talented young actors in this, including Keisha Castle-Hughes and Danielle Catanzariti. They were simply amazing. The rest of the cast were average, but Toni Collette gave a great performance.

A movie that should keep you entertained and satisfied. If you do get the chance, you should really see this.

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Michael Clayton

Posted : 1 month, 3 weeks ago on 20 March 2008 12:55 (A review of Michael Clayton)

"There's no play here. There's no angle. There's no champagne room. I'm not a miracle worker, I'm a janitor. The math on this is simple. The smaller the mess the easier it is for me to clean up."

Michael Clayton is an appealing, slow at times, but generally satisfying thriller. My words of advise if you plan to see this is not to expect a fast-paced action thriller of any kind, this is really something quite the opposite. It's still kept in the 'thriller/mystery' genre, but by no means has the action that some viewers might be looking for. Instead it takes a slower pace and it focused on politics and lawyers, though not a great deal of understanding is needed. In order for this overall film to leave the viewer satisfied, you have to understand the ending and pay close attention throughout the film. Even for me there are some questions still in my mind that are unanswered, but I know that some people will watch this and not pay attention for some of the movie, and then be left almost clueless at the end. I for one really appreciated this style of film, and although it's not normally a type of film that I would choose to watch, I am still glad that I have seen it.

George Clooney showed some amazing talent in Michael Clayton, it was great to see him in a role such as this. Tilda Swinton for me did not live up to the 'Best Supporting Actress' Oscar that she received, to me most of her performance was nothing that contributed a lot to the film. Tom Wilkinson, however, was exceptional and gave a great performance.

This was a brilliant film that I definitely enjoyed watching, it was extremely interesting and well acted in most cases. Though, having said that, this film isn't for everyone. If it sounds like something you might like, or you're just curious, then I recommend that you see this for yourself.

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Public Enemies

Posted : 1 month, 3 weeks ago on 20 March 2008 12:22 (A review of Public Enemies)

Firstly, I have NOT seen this. I just wanted to express my excitement for this films release.

It is going to be amazing, awesome and perfect in every possible way. No, I can't guarantee that, but I have a strong feeling that this will become one of my fave Johnny Depp films. The cast is brilliant, so many of my fave actors are to star in this film. Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Channing Tatum, Marion Cotillard, Giovanni Ribisi, David Wenham... just... WOW! With a cast like that there's no denying that this has the potential to be a truly outstanding film. And to be directed by the one and only Michael Mann.. what a legend he is. Another great reason that I am looking forward to this flick.

So yes.. that is my shortened excitement for this film in words. I could go on for hours.. but, it will have to stop there. I can't wait for it's release, and I sure hope that it will live up to my expectations. Still a long while to go now though....

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