Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
This is a new spy. He’s been busy. If you like any of the quick spitball style reviews below, let him know, and maybe we can bully him into writing us longer looks at the films.
Harry and the gang,
I compiled a quick look at some films I have seen recently. I believe these are from the past four or five months.
Abandon-- This is a new film with Katie Holmes and Benjamin Bratt. It is a suspense thriller I guess, from Stephan Gaghan, who wrote Traffic, though also takes on both the writing and directing duties on this. Katie Holmes' boyfriend disappears and Bratt is the detective on the case. It is your typical suspense film. Decent, with decent reaction from the audience and myself.
Adaptation-- This is the new film from Spike Jonze starring Nick Cage, Meryll Streepe, and many, many costars. I thought the film was awful, and I was really looking forward to it. It was nothing like Being John Malkovich, and wasn't funny in the least. My friends were split three and three with how we liked the film, and the audience felt the same way.
Carolina-- This is your basic romantic comedy starring Julia Stiles and Shirley McClaine. It has some really funny scenes, though basically it is just like every chick flick romantic movie. A girl must decide between two different guys. Good audience reaction though.
Doctor Sleep-- This is a thriller starring Goran Visjnic, from ER. It is your average thriller. There is nothing new. Visjnic plays a psychologist who helps a cop on the case of a murderer. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes straight to video or Showtime. No stars, and not a great film.
The Extremists-- A horrible action/ adventure flick starring Bridget Wilson-Sampras and some others I cannot remember. It is about some athletes who are filming a commercial, and get into some trouble while doing so. Horrible acting and a horrible script. Not so good audience reaction either.
The Friday After Next-- I have never seen any other Friday movies, and really don't want too. I didn't like it, though it did have some funny moments. The audience liked it.
Final Destination II-- It wasn't very good, though the audience seemed to love it. It was exactly like the first film, which I loved, though plagued by bad acting and a cheesy script.
The Guru-- It was ok, with some pretty funny scenes. It is about an Indian who comes to America to be an actor, and ends up auditioning, and getting a part in, though not knowing, a porn film. Heather Grahm is his costar and she teaches him some tricks. He then becomes a sex Guru. Good audience reaction.
The Hunted-- Stars Tommy Lee Jones, Benicio Del Toro, and Connie Nielsen. The audience seemed to love this, but my friend and I didn't. Very badly made, with a decent script though. About Tommy Lee Jones hunting down Benicio Del Toro, one of his old students who he taught to be untouchable. Connie Nielsen is his partner.
Jackass: The movie-- An uncensored version of the show, and just too funny. I have honestly never laughed as hard, or as much as I did while watching this film. Very good audience reaction, and looks like it could be a success. Every fan of the TV show will watch it, though the cut I saw will be hard to get an "R" rating. They will have to cut some out of it.
Phone Booth-- Stars Colin Farrell, directed By Joel Shoemacher. And I have to say I hate Joel Shoemacher, but went into this because of its storyline. A man is held hostage by a killer he can't see while he is in a phone booth. And I loved the movie, as did the audience.
The Tuxedo-- Jackie Chan and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Pretty bad, though it isn't my kind of movie. Decent audience reaction. And I recently saw the trailer, and that is what you will get. I think it looks horrible, but if you like the trailer, then you should like the movie.
You Promised-- but I saw the poster in the movie theatre and it is now called Stealing Harvard starring Tom Green and Jason Lee. Not really that funny. I was expecting better from both Green and Lee. I don't know the audience reaction because there were like 10 people in the theatre. No one showed up which I found odd. My friends liked it though. Green plays the friend of Lee, who is trying to get money for his daughter (I think, or niece) to go to Harvard.
Unleashed--This is a film starring Simon Rex and a king-fu fighting dog. And it has Christopher Walkin, which was the only reason I considered seeing this with my brother. This is the one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Stay far, far away.
Cheers,
Parlgamads
