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Zhan Ke films take place mostly contemporary China and tend to focus on the daily and often monotonous life of the average citizen. He strives for a preponderance of ordinariness through the use of diminutive shots and dull color tones.
The narrative traces one man's search for is wife paralleled by one woman's search for her husband. Ultimately, the two protagonists confront and accept the reality that their relationship had likely died so long ...
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Meh
It wasn't fantastic. Honestly, the original Disney version was better. Tim Burton tried too hard to make it a kids movie but at the same time make it as creepy as the rest of his movies. It was an awkward mix. The cinematography was brilliant and beautiful. If you see it definitely see it in 3D because its so much better that way ...
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Heady Slice of War
In keeping with his other projects, the hyper-awareness of this latest Tarantino installment aptly instills the audience with that postmodern of cues: "What are we watching?" IB is a revisionist history of war cinema, though it is a more close study of the Western, Apache head-hunting, Mexan stand-offs and all. Succintly divided into chapters, the movie is decidedly less than its parts. Slick action and riveting suspense dominate certain portions, while others rely on mood and remarkable cinematic tableaus to override the trademark self-reflexive banter that QT has official driven to ...
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Sherlock Holmes
The time is 1891, and the place is still London, but Ritchie can't be bothered with period details, especially dialogue. Noticing that the villainous Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) has scratched bloody messages all over his filthy prison cell, Holmes quips, "Love what you've done with the place." Holmes scholars will cry their eyes out over this update from hell. Rachel McAdams is mere window dressing as a mystery woman from Holmes' past. In place of romance, we get cheesy computer effects (that collapsing bridge — please). Ritchie is all about the ...
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It was a brilliantly orchestrated cinematic experience (despite doubts)
I have to admit something before i start this review: i fell asleep during the first part of the film. The introduction of the humans going into space was by far too long, the script has absolutely no weight behind it (even taking into account its a blockbuster) and i did seem to think there was no redemption from the 30 minutes or so of what was just hellish and felt like it was written by a computer calculated to write your 2* sci fi thriller. chain smoking sigorney weaver waking ...
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Grating with a Payoff
Some lines and exchanges in this inveighing tour de force are legitimate laughs well-delivered. But no matter how good some of these scenes are, it made me wish I was seeing them on the stage. The film never really becomes a film, which questions the very conceit of bringing great plays to film. Too much of the directing is stage directing and I found the compulsive blocking and reordering of actors, sitting, then standing, then sitting again in other permutations, distracting and not kind to the medium. The constant refilling of ...
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A Great First
Much of what we appreciate in other Scorsese films is right here, in his first major release. The only thing missing is Pesci. In fact, it is the three Pesci movies (Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino) that are essentially the same story retold, and that story is Mean Streets. The neighborhood boys move on from small-time shake downs to the Big Time - a Lufthansa heist, perhaps, or a Vegas casino. With higher stakes come higher tensions. Will friendship and fraternal bonds withstand the violent stress and greed? In comparison, Mean ...
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Avatar
If there is an award for cutting edge technology in a film then it should go to Avatar. If there is an award for special effects then it should go to Avatar. If there is an award for the best looking movie, best visuals, then it should go to Avatar. If there is an award for best movie then Avatar shouldn't be in the top 10. Why? Because a best movie has to offer more than just good looks.
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Funny Enough
Mae West and W.C. Fields team up, as far as the marquee is concerned. In terms of actually scenes, they do most of their damage on divided fronts. The newlyweds, each of dubious past, set up shop in the corrupt "Wild West" town of Greasewood, where Fields is immediately appointed sheriff and West is hit on by anything with one eye or more. Fields shows great talent and experience in playing an entirely loathsome windbag, betraying an uncannily dexterous knack for slapstick and comedic timing. West glows, bringing warmth and benevolence ...
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Open Range
This is one of the finest westerns ever made. I've watched it several times and never tire of the quality dialogue, quality acting, (Duvall and Costner at the very top of their games), and brilliant yet realistic gun fight at the end.
Yes the start and end borrow a little from "My Darling Clementine" but the rest is all original and all quality. "Unforgiven" received high praise but relies on a somewhat extraordinary gun fight ...
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