Kayewer's stats
- Review count10
- Helpfulness votes0
- First reviewNovember 21, 2009
- Last reviewMarch 30, 2013
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
Kayewer's Reviews
Overall rating
4
/
5
The "Oz" That Refreshes
PostedMarch 30, 2013
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
3
/
5
Story
3
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
I don't normally go to see these types of "how did the character become that way?" movies, but this was a satisfying look at what happened before Judy Garland crash landed in Oz. I would not take young kids to see it (the flying monkeys were amped-up scary), but I wasn't bored and my fellow audience members were also enjoying it. The special effects contest to come up with the most awesome stuff is getting stale for me, and I found some of the camerawork dizzying; however, characters were well done and believable. The best character is actually the china girl rather than Oz himself, who comes off as a few accolades short of a hero in his own mind but redeems himself anyway. Worthwhile.
Pros well paced
Cons effect heavy
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Something New Yet Familiar
PostedDecember 15, 2012
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
I've never read any of the books, so these movies are my key to Tolkien, and they continue to be amazing and (according to fans) accurate. The 3D version was rich with depth and color, and it wasn't played up with cheap effects, relying instead on imagery and well-crafted scenes to make it work.
I did find a few scenes were too long, and possibly this film could have shaved ten minutes or so, but all the performances were stellar (special kudos to Sir Christopher Lee, making a return as Saruman, bouncing off Ian McKellan's Gandalf at an elven roundtable meeting). I'll see it twice.
Pros great story, great actors, good 3d usage
Cons too long
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Fine in 3D or 2D
PostedDecember 4, 2012
Dialogue
5
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
My theatre could not get the 3D to synch properly, so they gave us free passes and presented the normal 2D version, but I don't think that the lack of depth or effects detracted from the production. The dancing, scenery and costumes were all beautiful, with soft colors being the most popular. The dancers were highly talented; in particular watch for a young man in one of the trio dances who is just at the age where he is hitting his stride physically and can do some spectacular leaps and turns. The in-house audience watching the performance came to life the most during the second half, so there is a lack of applause that seems strange for such an uplifting ballet. I think older children (over five) will like this version, because it isn't particularly sugar plum and sweet oriented enough for younger kids.
Pros dancing
Cons 3d
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
"Hitch" Onto This Classic
PostedSeptember 20, 2012
Dialogue
5
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Some old movies don't find a modern audience, but Hitchcock knew how to make timeless classics, so even if "The Birds" is old in terms of dated clothes and such, it still mesmerizes the modern moviegoer. In a theatre the threatening sounds of our world's feathered friends as they attack the California coastal town of Bodega Bay are immersingly disturbing, and the big screen brings the terror to the experience that no home gear can replicate. The actors are intelligent and their dialogue witty and not campy. The special effects were good for their time, and Hitch, always the great editor, held your attention at each attack and left you wondering how they did it. The ending has always been the subject of debate (no spoilers here), but you'll be glad you saw this, and I think it should be essential classic viewing.
Pros well paced, great story, great actors, good effects
Cons ending
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Next Best Thing to Broadway
PostedMay 24, 2012
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
I would never say don't go to the theatre for the full "Phantom" experience, but this is the way to have that same experience in front of you anytime. Great cast and acting, great performance venue. I didn't like the movie (cinematic version) much, but I liked this.
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Wagner Might Approve
PostedMay 19, 2012
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
For a high-tech production, Lepage finally put the machine to good use with 3D effects depicting the forest of Siegfried's home, leaving out mechanical distractions. And for fans of this part of the trilogy, we have a Woodbird! Great effect.
Jay Hunter Morris is a presence to enjoy both on- and offstage (great intermission interview). Deborah Voigt is fitting into her role well, and the supporting cast sings with conviction. Some more intricate character direction is missing (mostly noted in the forging scene), and subtitles are a bit short and liberal. I'm not totally warmed to this interpretation, but this one proved its mettle.
Pros great story, great actors, better effects
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Great for Wagnerites and Newbies
PostedMay 12, 2012
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
This film is a great introduction to how opera comes to life, as well as how an immense production like Robert Lepage's "Ring" cycle was developed. The documentary offers a well-rounded look at designer Lepage, who comes up with an idea for presenting Wagner's quartet of operas, develops a heavy mechanized set and shows the others how to work with, act and sing with (and on) it.
Entertaining, funny and occasionally scary when the actors have uncomfortable moments around the set dubbed "the machine," this is a look at real people doing what they enjoy. Opera fans will love getting personal with the stars and learning about the backstage magic. A great look at worlds few ever see up close like this.
Pros great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Spielberg Knows Horses
PostedDecember 28, 2011
I have two friends who won't see this movie; one abhors war scenes in movies, and the other doesn't like to see animals in distress. I think Spielberg did an outstanding job of telling the horse Joey's story without going to extremes which would normally scare some people away. The war sequences are brief and not at all like "Saving Private Ryan" (no intensity or gratuitous gore), and Joey's trials and tribulations are certainly sad but not anything you wouldn't find in other family fare. The horse seems to understand what he must do to survive, and viewers can feel his sadness and desperation as well as his triumph and wisdom. We often see faces in this film, and each tells a lot without explanation. I would recommend it to everybody, and I might just have to drag those friends of mine into the theatre as well.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Pinkerton and Puppets
PostedJune 18, 2011
The Met's new vision of a classic production is enjoyable as a film. All the performers are perfectly voiced for their roles. Marcello Giordani as Pinkerton is the polar opposite of his turn as Calaf in Turandot. The minimal sets (comprised mostly of sliding screens) focused the story on the characters and the tragedy that affects all of them.
The most intriguing part of the production is Butterfly's child, normally played by a youngster who it is hoped will conform to simply being present onstage. Instead we are treated to an extraordinary child puppet, brought to life by three animators whose faces, just visible under black veils, brilliantly convey childlike wonder and emotions into their "performer."
Add stirring arias and visual effects by other black-clad performers who produce birds in flight and lanterns to illuminate the night sky, and this is a production which should be available for viewing always.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Sequel-Itis
PostedNovember 21, 2009
Great movie and a fine follow-up to Twilight. Taylor Lautner sure is one cool wolf. The wolves were exciting, and who doesn't like buff bodies without shirts?
My only issue is the ending was formulated more like a television mid-season cliffhanger. The fans will be back, but I'm worried that first-timers will leave only half satisfied. The producers might want to avoid making the endings seem like soaps.
Definitely a worthy movie and one worth every cent of its success.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.