Secret Window (2004)

 

Typical suspense build-up with jump scares. I didn't buy the second half with the multiple personalities. 

Rating: D

The Grudge (2004)

 

It gets the job done with a lot of jump cuts. Lacking a coherent plot though. 

Rating: C-

The Brother From Another Planet (1984)

 

Early work from John Sayles, who went on to direct Lone Star, The Secret of Roan Inish, and Eight Men Out. The film is about a black man from another planet who lands in Harlem. Solid acting.

Rating: C+

The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de Motocicleta) (2004)

 

A Che road trip story. I liked the scenery, culture, and diversity throughout the movie.

Rating: C+

The Best Two Years (2004)

 

A Mormon missionary movie that may appeal to its core LDS audience, but that's about it. 

Rating: C-

Fulltime Killer (Chuen Zik Saat Sau) (2001)

 

While the story was convoluted at times, the camera work and action sequences were top notch. Ripe for a Hollywood remake. 

Rating: C

The Forgotten (2004)

 

Too many plot holes in a messy script. 

Rating: D

Big Trouble (2002)

 

A great cast with a legendary director in a moderately funny movie. 

Rating: C

From Hell (2001)

 

The Hughes Brothers take on Jack the Ripper. Too dark and evil for me.

Rating: D

Slackers (2002)

 

An Immature script with a few laughs. 

Rating: C-

Vanilla Sky (2001)

 

Tom Cruise acts the hell out of this confusing script. 

Rating: C

Six-String Samurai (1998)

 

A Slamdance winner with a cool video box cover. Tricked! Low budget everything. The script was a hodgepodge of convoluted scenes and poor acting. 

Rating: F

One Hour Photo (2002)

 

I only like Robin Williams in serious roles. This stylish thriller centers around a CREEPY guy who takes his job’s customer service responsibility way too far. 

Rating: C+

Tape Heads (1988)

 

An early Cusack stinker. He's teamed up with Tim Robbins in what can only be imagined as a low budget Airheads.

Rating: F

O (2001)

 

Another depressing film based on Shakespeare’s work. 

Rating: F+

Just Like Heaven (2005)

 

You'll need to suspend reality and give in to your metaphysical side in order to enjoy this film, but if you can, then it's a light-hearted romantic comedy with several funny performances. 

Rating: C

Windtalkers (2002)

 

John Woo directs this over-budget stinker. There is a sprinkle of Navajo code stuff, but it’s mostly endless monologues and battle scenes. 

Rating: D

Out To Sea (1997)

 

Absolutely forgettable and unfunny. 

Rating: F+

Ladder 49 (2004)

 

It's no Backdraft. A series of flashbacks tell the story of a fireman who's caught in a roaring fire. Overly dramatic and anti-climatic. 

Rating: D+

Heist (2001)

 

A convoluted plot that overdosed on twists.Pretty far fetched.

Rating: C-

Reign Of Fire (2002)

 

Pretty good dragon action.

Rating: C+

Hugo Pool (1997)

 

Robert Downey Jr.’s foray behind the camera was a manic mess. A mismatch of connected scenes. 

Rating: D

Walking Tall (2004)

 

What you expect. The Rock beats the living hell out of all the bad guys with a big piece of wood. (not his boner)

Rating: C

Hitch (2005)

 

Mostly funny even if it was weighed down with some unrealistic scenes and overtly cheesy lines.

Rating: C+

Club Dread (2004)

 

While Super Troopers went on to inspire Reno 911, this movie seems to have been inspired by the horrible I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Mildly funny with a few great one liners. 

Rating: D+

The Wolfman (2010)

 

Dark, moody, hairy, and violent. Citizens are systematically maimed, shredded, and beheaded. Not for the squeamish. Story? Meh. It's Spooky Monster Writing 101 here, but with better special effects. 

Rating: C-

Imelda (2003)

 

I found this documentary interesting, but not very entertaining. A slow expose on the infamous Filipino First Lady.

Rating: C-

Taking Lives (2004)

 

A completely implausible script weighted down further by poor acting. Shame to see both Keifer and Ethan Hawk wasting their talent in this stinker. 

Rating: F

Extract (2009)

 

Plays like a bland network sitcom. The obnoxious neighbor was my favorite part. I expected more from Mike Judge.

Rating: D+

Bewitched (2005)

 

Ferrell is very funny in a mediocre reboot. Weak ending.

Rating: C-

Primer (2004)

 

Another confusing and poorly executed time travel film.

Rating: D-

Outlander (2008)

Vikings, dragons, and sci-fi in a film with higher production value than you might expect.

Rating: C

 

Second Skin (2008)

 

An in depth look behind the video game screen at those who devote loads of time to massive multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG's) The documentary shows the positive and negative effects these games can have on people.

An interesting look into something many of us know little about.

Rating: C

Suspect Zero (2004)

A serial killer who kills other serial killers. Did the Dexter series steal their idea? If so, I’m glad. Great concept that didn’t live up to its potential.

Rating: C

Biker Boyz (2003)

 

Mindless fluff. Impressive cast considering. 

Rating: C

State Of Play (2009)

 

A fair political thriller. Russell Crowe was slumming it. 

Rating: C

Land Of The Lost (2009)

 

Amusing, even if there wasn’t much depth in the story department. 

Rating: C

Junebug (2005)

 

A Southern character showcase without much of a plot to hold them together. Largely unfulfilling.

Rating: C-

Spartan (2004)

 

David Mamet dropped the ball on this one. The timing was off. Things didn't flow. Great plot, but poor execution. 

Rating: C-

A Sound Of Thunder (2005)

 

An amateurish mess that makes Jumanji look like an Oscar contender. Fake looking visual effects and a weak.

Rating: D-

A Very Long Engagement (Un Long Dimanche de Fiançailles) (2004)

 

A second pairing between Audrey Tautou and Jean-Pierre Jeunet from Amelie with very good results. The plot is a bit complex, with many characters (including Jodie Foster?!?!?), but rest assured, everything will come together in the end, leaving you with a warm feeling inside, and perhaps a single tear rolling down your cheek.

Rating: B-

Peter Pan (2003)

 

A dumbed down Neverland story. Barely held my attention.

Rating: D-

Spring Breakdown (2009)

 

Great cast, terrible script. Rachel Drach should not be writing comedy. There were a few giggles here and there, but odds are it was improvised. Was this thing straight to video? It should have been.

Rating: D-

The Brothers Grimm (2005)

 

A hodgepodge of mismatched ideas, baffling characters, and bizarre scenes that make zero sense. Terrible plot, bad acting, and artificial looking sets. What were they thinking?

Rating: F

Scratch (2001)

 

A DJ and Turntablism doc. The history of scratching and its progression.

Rating: C

Batman Begins (2005)

 

Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale pull the superhero genre out of the muck with a film for adults. Characters are developed slowly. Batman’s backstory is portrayed in a series of flashbacks. Gadgets, abilities, villains, and everything else had at least some foundation in science

Rating: B

The Guru (2002)

 

I didn’t hate this Bollywood bandwagoner. Heather Graham was hot as always. 

Rating: C-

Lantana (2001)

 

Something I picked from the older release wall at Blockbuster because I had a free rental credit. Quite forgettable. 

Rating: D+

The Machinist (2004)

 

I respect Brad Anderson as a director and can understand why an actor might go to great lengths for a role in one of his films, but not this one. Christian Bale's sacrifice was wasted on a dreary mess filled with unsympathetic characters. 

Rating: D-

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

I would have never watched this had it not been for the guys at the group home I worked at wanting to see it. Barely held my attention. I had to dish out their meds several times during the film. I considered giving myself some just to get through the movie.

Rating: F