Tag Archives: review

Movie Review: Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Letter Grade:
(?)

A-
The Good:

Tarantino's style shines.


The Bad:

Tarantino's first real foray into Grindhouse cinema, making it his goriest film to this point.

Cast & Crew:

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writers: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah

Rated R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexual content

[Originally published 10/11/2003]

There’s really not much to explain about the plot of Kill Bill. Assassins, played by Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Vivaca A. Fox, and Lucy Liu, and led by David Carradine as Bill, do quite a number on “The Bride” (Uma Thurman) on her wedding day. They beat the *&#$ out of her and leave her with a bullet in her head. Four years later The Bride wakes up from a coma and sets out to kill all of them. That’s really all you need to know. (more…)








Movie Review: The Rundown

Letter Grade:
(?)

B
The Good:

The Rock picks up the action star mantle well, and without the horrible CGI of The Mummy this time.
Walken is Walken.


The Bad:

Seann William Scott is still playing Stifler.
Walken is Walken.

Cast & Crew:

Director: Peter Berg
Writers: R.J. Stewart, R.J. Stewart, James Vanderbilt
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Christopher Walken

Rated PG-13 for adventure violence and some crude dialogue

[Originally published 9/27/2003.]

The Rundown was an enjoyable movie. It won’t be winning any Oscars, but it was a very good action movie. The fights are well choreographed, and don’t come off as just another kick, kick, punch, punch fight from any of a hundred movies. Though I have no doubt that had it been real life every single character would have broken both legs several times over by the time the movie was over. (more…)








Movie Review: Anything Else

Letter Grade:
(?)

A-
The Good:

DeVito and Ricci fit well.
Nice to see Allen give up the lead role in favor of a supporting role.


The Bad:

Jason Biggs' character seems misused/poorly written.

Cast & Crew:

Director: Woody Allen
Writer: Woody Allen
Stars: Woody Allen, Jason Biggs, Christina Ricci

Rated R for a scene of drug use and some sexual references

[Originally published 9/19/2003. Please don’t hurt me for the second sentence.]

I REALLY enjoyed Anything Else. I haven’t seen any of Allen’s old stuff, but I’ve seen the newer stuff (Small Time Crooks, Jade Scorpion, and Hollywood Ending) and this was much better than any of them. Allen has a much smaller role in this one than the others, and I think he really stood up much better as a supporting character than a lead. His quirkiness, I think, works better sprinkled throughout the film than as the main course. Also in a supporting role, I thought DeVito did very well. He was entirely believable as the agent that’s pitiful enough that you really would feel bad for dumping him. (more…)








Movie Review: Punch-Drunk Love

Letter Grade:
(?)

A
The Good:

Excellent acting from Sandler, a real breakthrough performance.
Good supporting cast.
Great writing and sense of style from Anderson.


The Bad:

Some will find the quirky style annoying instead of endearing.

Cast & Crew:

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson
Stars: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Rated R for strong language including a scene of sexual dialogue

[This review originally posted 11/02/2002 on another site]

Saw Punch-Drunk Love tonight, and absolutely loved it. P.T. Anderson just has an amazing ability to steep his films in his own quirky (for lack of a better word) style without it feeling at all forced. Heck, just having Sandler along for the ride and not having the project turn out to be your typical Sandler flick takes some talent. (Not that I’ve got anything against Sandler’s movies, just bought Mr. Deeds as a matter of fact.) Not everyone will like it though, it’s not really a mainstream film. If you enjoy art-house films, or you weren’t totally turned off by Anderson’s previous effort, Magnolia, then I’d definitely suggest giving it a shot.

Punch-Drunk Love on Amazon.com