LITTLE CHILDREN
Not only do I have a change to the 10 best films of 2006...There is a change to the top 5 of 2006. LITTLE CHILDREN moves into the top 5. I made the change on the top 10 on a previous post. LITTLE CHILDREN staring Kate Winslet is similar to 2000's AMERICAN BEAUTY. Taking place in suburbia of any-town USA the movie follows a housewife, played by Winslet, in a lifeless marriage who plays a cat and mouse flirting game with a local stay at home dad. The film works on many levels; it's comical while being serious enough so almost anyone can relate to the real life situations presented in the film. LITTLE CHILDREN receives a "9".
Winslet was nominated for best actress for her role. It was her 5th nomination and 5th loss. She will be nominated again and will eventually win.
There is also a change to the ten worst list of 2006...LET"S GO TO PRISON was such a bad film that I'm not going to waste time explaining what the film is about or why it was so bad. I made the change on the ten worst of 2006 post.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Not Your Dad's Zombie Movie
28 WEEKS LATER
Four years ago 28 DAYS LATER redefined the zombie movie genre. In the history of horror films zombies have always been blood thirsty, mindless beings that can only be killed by cutting off their head or damaging their brain. In 28 DAYS LATER and 28 WEEKS LATER the zombies have these same qualities, however, there is one big difference. The zombies in these two films are fast! They run fast, they act fast, they eat people fast and they must be dealt with fast. In older zombie flicks such as DAWN OF THE DEAD and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD the zombies are slow. They see a victim and slowly move in for the kill. When watching these films I was never impressed with the heroes and heroins when they escaped the clutches of the slow zombies. It's not very impressive when one can "out walk" the being trying to eat you.
The zombies in the "28" films are fast because the human bodies that they inhibit came in contact with the "rage virus". The rage virus turns humans into zombies that can easily convert a human into a zombie by simply biting them or spitting blood on them. The rage virus destroyed London in the first film and converted the city into a ghost town. The second film takes place roughly 6 months...28 weeks later. The virus is contained and survivors are beginning to slowly return to London under the watchful eye of American troops who have been stationed to provide security for the deserted city.
The screenplay focuses on 2 children who return to the city to live with their father who survived the zombie attacks that took place 28 weeks earlier. The two children long for memories of their dead mother who was killed in the zombie attacks. They escape the secure area and make their way to their old home. While there they unwittingly set in motion a series of events that cause the "rage virus" to return. Soon they are running from zombies as well as American troops who are ordered to kill everyone and everything in attempt to keep the virus in check.
The viewer can't escape the political tone of these films. Bashing America has been the taste of the month in films that has lasted for about 10 years. The movie aims to bash the American troops in the film. I looked at them as heroes. personally I have no problem with troops killing people if it means saving the Earth and mankind. Much like the terrorists that American troops are fighting in Iraq and around the world...Zombies can't be dealt with. They need to be exterminated.
Both films get a "6" and are better viewed back to back...Instead of 4 years apart.
Four years ago 28 DAYS LATER redefined the zombie movie genre. In the history of horror films zombies have always been blood thirsty, mindless beings that can only be killed by cutting off their head or damaging their brain. In 28 DAYS LATER and 28 WEEKS LATER the zombies have these same qualities, however, there is one big difference. The zombies in these two films are fast! They run fast, they act fast, they eat people fast and they must be dealt with fast. In older zombie flicks such as DAWN OF THE DEAD and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD the zombies are slow. They see a victim and slowly move in for the kill. When watching these films I was never impressed with the heroes and heroins when they escaped the clutches of the slow zombies. It's not very impressive when one can "out walk" the being trying to eat you.
The zombies in the "28" films are fast because the human bodies that they inhibit came in contact with the "rage virus". The rage virus turns humans into zombies that can easily convert a human into a zombie by simply biting them or spitting blood on them. The rage virus destroyed London in the first film and converted the city into a ghost town. The second film takes place roughly 6 months...28 weeks later. The virus is contained and survivors are beginning to slowly return to London under the watchful eye of American troops who have been stationed to provide security for the deserted city.
The screenplay focuses on 2 children who return to the city to live with their father who survived the zombie attacks that took place 28 weeks earlier. The two children long for memories of their dead mother who was killed in the zombie attacks. They escape the secure area and make their way to their old home. While there they unwittingly set in motion a series of events that cause the "rage virus" to return. Soon they are running from zombies as well as American troops who are ordered to kill everyone and everything in attempt to keep the virus in check.
The viewer can't escape the political tone of these films. Bashing America has been the taste of the month in films that has lasted for about 10 years. The movie aims to bash the American troops in the film. I looked at them as heroes. personally I have no problem with troops killing people if it means saving the Earth and mankind. Much like the terrorists that American troops are fighting in Iraq and around the world...Zombies can't be dealt with. They need to be exterminated.
Both films get a "6" and are better viewed back to back...Instead of 4 years apart.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
What a Tangled Web
SPIDER-MAN 3
The third edition of the Spider-Man trilogy made my "Top 10 Most Disappointing Films That I Couldn't Wait To See" list. Being that this list didn't exist before watching Spider-Man 3 (SP3), the movie belongs at the top of the list.
The action sequences in the 2 previous Spidey movies were awesome. Obviously CGI affects were used. For whatever reason in SP3 the action sequences seemed cartoonish. As a giant construction crane crashes into and through a sky-scrapper causing a damsel in distress to nearly fall 60 stories to her death before Spider-Man saves the day looked ridiculous.
The villains were weak and under developed. What made Sandman become a giant sand-monster one minute but the next minute he was regular size? The Venom villain didn't show up in the film until the last half hour. For the record...the word "venom" wasn't used in the movie. I assume the name "Venom" is explained in the comic book.
Kirsten Dunst's portrayal as Mary-Jane was annoying. Partial blame can be given to the screenplay. However, there's nothing worse that seeing a good looking or semi-good looking lead actress mope for nearly 2 and a half hours on screen. Dunst's performance made it to my "Top 10 Most Annoying Characters" list. Once again this list didn't exist before watching SP3.
The following is a list of the plot lines in SP3:
The third edition of the Spider-Man trilogy made my "Top 10 Most Disappointing Films That I Couldn't Wait To See" list. Being that this list didn't exist before watching Spider-Man 3 (SP3), the movie belongs at the top of the list.
The action sequences in the 2 previous Spidey movies were awesome. Obviously CGI affects were used. For whatever reason in SP3 the action sequences seemed cartoonish. As a giant construction crane crashes into and through a sky-scrapper causing a damsel in distress to nearly fall 60 stories to her death before Spider-Man saves the day looked ridiculous.
The villains were weak and under developed. What made Sandman become a giant sand-monster one minute but the next minute he was regular size? The Venom villain didn't show up in the film until the last half hour. For the record...the word "venom" wasn't used in the movie. I assume the name "Venom" is explained in the comic book.
Kirsten Dunst's portrayal as Mary-Jane was annoying. Partial blame can be given to the screenplay. However, there's nothing worse that seeing a good looking or semi-good looking lead actress mope for nearly 2 and a half hours on screen. Dunst's performance made it to my "Top 10 Most Annoying Characters" list. Once again this list didn't exist before watching SP3.
The following is a list of the plot lines in SP3:
- Peter Parker's identity crisis
- Mary-Jane's jealousy
- The return of the Green Goblin
- Sandman
- Peter trying to figure out the perfect moment to propose to Mary-Jane
- A rival photographer trying to steel Peter's job at the news paper
- The rivals jealousy of Spider-Man
- Venom
There are way too many story lines. The film is nearly 2 and a half hours long. One villain would have been enough. Will there be a 4th installment? After #2 I couldn't wait to see #3. I could care less about a possible 4th installment. Spider-Man 3 receives a "5".
TOP 5 Tobey Maguire Movies
1. Spider-Man 2
2. Ride With the Devil
3. Spider-Man
4. The Ice Storm
5. The Cider House Rules
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