A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

I like movies that enter new boundaries. Movies that are original and different on many levels. A.I. is one of them. The film moves slowly, but held my interest the whole time. I liked their depiction of the future; very creative. The plot took some unexpected turns which I never expected, although at times (especially towards the end) I would have rather they followed a different route.

I didn't think the ending was very good, but at least it wasn't a big letdown like the one in "Contact".

Rating: C+

Oldboy (Oldeuboi) (2003)

Much better than Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance. In fact, the storytelling was rather tight for most of the film. Reminded me of S.F.W. and other films where something really bad happens to somebody for no apparent reason, leaving them to figure out why. Fight scenes were tightly choreographed. His hammer inflicts a fair amount of damage. 

Not thrilled with the ending. Like "Sympathy", it leaves the viewer a bit depressed. Also, I thought the tongue scene was unnecessary.

Rating: C+

King of Devil's Island (Kongen av Bastøy) (2010)

Based on a true story about a boys penitentiary island in Norway. Very well made.

Rating: B-

No Country For Old Men (2007)

The Coen Brothers deliver a disjointed film that could have been great. The period and set location are spot on. Performances are great, from the lead characters, all the way down to the one-scene extras. Some of my favorite lines were delivered from gas station and hotel attendants.

The film moves at a disturbing pace, with flashes of violence coming at you in regular intervals. My complaint is that things started to get fuzzy the last quarter of the film. Scenes which were implied should have been shown, and others were simply ignored. It was as if the director opted to rip several chapters at random from the book and pretend as if everything was ok. It wasn't.


This, combined with a lackluster ending—chalk full of loose ends—will leave the viewer feeling robbed of a satisfying movie experience. Don't tease us with greatness and then under deliver.

Rating: C+

Salvador (1986)

An early Olive Stone film. James Woods, grittier than ever, plays a drunken journalist covering the mayhem in El Salvador around the Reagan era. Oliver puts his personal political agenda all over the film, as usual, but don't be surprised if you end up siding with him when it's over.

It's a very aggressive film, not holding back on anything. The violence is in your face, the gore factor is high. Mass open grave sites, bullets to the head, nuns being raped, torture, and mutilation. Not the kind of flick you want to show at a party. (at least not one I want to be invited to) If you can deal with all that, there's a good movie underneath it all.

Rating: C+

Bounce (2000)

A mix between "Return to Me", "28 Days", and "Sliding Doors". Kept me entertained. 

Rating: C

The Real Dirt On Farmer John (2005)

An interesting documentary about a man, a family, a farm, and agriculture in America. I really enjoyed it. Nice job editing the many different sources of footage into a cohesive narrative. The type of film that could inspire positive change in each viewer, and thereby the community as a whole.

Rating: B-