Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

I really enjoyed Herzog’s other documentary about the bears, but this one felt more like a bland PBS special. I found some parts interesting—daily life in Antarctica and the people who work there. But much of the film dragged on with extended shots of blah with a an obnoxious soundtrack to boot. Not his best work.

Rating: C-

Crash (2004)

Great mixture of mini race-related stories and characters that provoke much needed thought and introspection on the subject. The link between these stories is highly improbable, but that won't prevent you from enjoying the film.

Reminded me a lot of Magnolia in it's style and direction. Magnolia was a much better film however.

Rating: B-

The Salton Sea (2002)

My appreciation for Val Kilmer continues to grow after seeing performances like this. He's a truly underrated actor. This is a smart, moody drug/thriller/drama with a few tricks up its sleeve. I loved it.

Rating: B

Committed (2000)

I love nutty romances. Reminded me of "Home Fries", possibly because Luke Wilson stars in both, but more so because they are both quirky love stories. I figure if I ever fall in love, it's going to be under weird circumstances, so I'm a sucker for seeing it happen on screen.

Did I mention Heather Graham stars in this too? I love (lust, whatever) Heather Graham. I can vouch for the fact that she's as hot in real life as she is in person, because I ran into her at Sundance. She's drop dead gorgeous. But enough about Rollergirl.

This movie is about Heather being SUPER devoted to her new husband, and going to great lengths to keep the marriage together. It's got some fun cameos and side characters. It gets a little hokey at times, but just let yourself go along for the ride. The only thing that really bothered me is how close she tailed her husband in her car without him ever noticing. I need realism when someone is being followed.

Rating: B-

Salt (2010)

A pretty good action flick, with genuine heart pounding sequences. The plot keeps you guessing without being too complicated to follow. It's a fun summer popcorn movie.

Rating: C+

Predator (1987)

I watched this for my 3rd time I think, this time on Blu-Ray. I guess they did as much as they could with the picture quality, as it wasn't the usual crisp Blu-Ray image.

The movie itself holds up fairly well over time. You can't help but chuckle at Arnold's classic 2 or 3 word catchphrases. Plus, it's the only movie featuring two US governors as action heroes.

Rating: C+

Valkyrie (2008)

I had a hard time getting excited to see this, but eventually I relented. It's a solid historical drama with fine acting and direction.

Rating: C+

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Pretty hard hitting stuff for its time. Seriously, you don’t see many little girls getting shot point blank while holding an ice cream cone back then. Yes, the cheese factor runs high, but the intensity of the police station assault make up for it. Just a strange film from a just-starting-out John Carpenter. Enjoyed it.

Rating: C+

Super Size Me (2004)

AWESOME!!!

I'm not kidding when I say that this movie might actually change your life. Seriously, I'm a fairly healthy person who gets a little exercise and loves fruits and vegetables, but after watching this film, I plan to make my diet even healthier, cutting out more of the harmful stuff I didn't realize was so harmful. Not bad for a movie.

The film is tons of fun to watch, especially for a documentary. The DVD extras are great, and you should check every last one out. The "food in a jar" segment is the best, so save that for last.

Rating: B+

The Counterfeiters (Die Fälscher) (2007)

Very well made historical drama based on a true story of a professional Jewish counterfeiter who gets imprisoned in a concentration camp and how he survives. Just the right balance between some very heavy themes and some lighter moments. This should be at the top of your foreign films to see list.

Rating: B+

Casino Royale (2006)

I've been continuously let down by the Bond franchise for some time now. Big explosions, big plot holes, and big boobs do not make for a good movie. Apparently I wasn't the only one complaining, because the stiffs holding the keys to 007 finally got their shit together and recruited some real writers and a solid director.

The result is a fantastic action/thriller with a Bond who doesn't have to ham it up to hold the audience's attention. Technically, this is an R rated movie, so be prepared for some high quality action and violence. Let's hope this trend continues.

Rating: B

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (1982)

I saw one of the earlier cuts of this film ages ago, and I wasn't impressed. But with so many people praising it over the years, I figured it was time to give it another shot. Perhaps my young sensibilities hadn't matured enough to appreciate this dark noir.

Turns out I was right the first time. Terrible character development. I seriously didn't care about anyone in the movie. Deplorable editing. The camera pans for eons across a ridiculous cityscape of "the future". They could have cut out a good 30 minutes of fluff and used that time to actually tell a story instead.

In Blade Runner's vision of the future, it appears Asian Vampires have taken control of the universe, as it's dark 24/7 and the city has turned into one giant China Town. Space travel is a cinch, however everyone still uses Commodore 64 technology. I have more computing power with my cell phone than they have in that entire city.

Maybe I'm missing the underlying social commentary. But who really gives two craps about underlying social commentaries when all you really want is to be entertained? Thank goodness Ridley Scott redeemed himself in his later years. One of the most over-hyped films of all time.

Rating: F

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

Enjoyed it, although it slows down quite a bit in some parts. Does a great job of showing the before and after of ocean battles, not just the action sequences like some movies. Since there wasn't a pirate theme to the movie, more time was spent on plot and character development than on looting and greasy sailors saying arghhh.

Surprisingly violent for a PG-13 movie, but I think they were given some lenience by a Peter Weir friendly MPAA. They tend to bend the rules for popular directors.

Rating: B-

Amores Perros (2000)

A Mexican film about love, loss, dogs, and death. It's quite the story, with intertwining plots that become fully developed throughout the movie. Violent, but also tender and deep. One of the best foreign films I've seen in a while.

Rating: B+

Munich (2005)

A gripping, well made film that could have used a bit more editing and focus. I'm glad I saw the film and learned more about what happened that day. The DVD was surprisingly barren. They should have at least included a short documentary or something.

Rating: C+

Storytelling (2001)

I saw Welcome to the Dollhouse from Todd Solondz a long time ago, and more recently, Happiness - so this was my third go round. I thought I knew what I was getting into.

I didn't. He crossed new lines and boundaries I didn't think could be crossed. That's not actually a good thing in this case. I realize I'm not making much sense, but I'm not really trying to. I'd pass on this one.

Rating: D+

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo Hu Cang Long) (2000)

Visually stunning. Ang Lee directs, and does a great job of bringing his martial arts vision to the screen. I've enjoyed his work in such films as "The Ice Palace", and "Ride With the Devil" in the past, and I enjoyed this film as well. The fighting sequences were excellent. Story-wise, a bit hokey, but overall, good.

Rating: C+

Somewhere (2010)

Like all Sofia Coppola films, this one was somewhat depressing and lonely. It certainly takes the glamor out of being a young Hollywood star. It succeeds in showing the aimlessness and isolation that can occur from living that lifestyle. It’s the exact opposite of the E! Network.

Rating: C-

Surrogates (2009)

Along the same lines as the movie Gamer, but less realistic, if that's even possible. I couldn't buy into the plot from the get go, so the rest of the film didn't hold much weight. At least with Gamer people used surrogates or "avatars" in a recreational capacity. It's unrealistic to think that people would turn over their entire lives to these things, let alone 99% of the population.

Rating: D

Georgia Rule (2007)

I was trapped on a plane to Germany! I know, I know. It's no excuse for watching Ms. Lohan flit about onscreen like a drunken bat, but I was bored. And my laptop battery was dead. Complete garbage.

Rating: F