Beardface's stats
- Review count111
- Helpfulness votes16
- First reviewDecember 6, 2009
- Last reviewAugust 31, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.8
Overall rating
4
/
5
Pretty cool!
PostedJuly 25, 2010
I liked it. Nothing mind blowing in this movie, but there was great character development, good action, and good acting. Plus being in a well air conditioned room for a couple of entertaining hours is nice, too. I think Angelina Jolie is the queen of the action movie. While I think it will be difficult to make a sequel to this movie, I like the idea that she plays a character I may want to see again and learn more about in future films.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Truly Magnificent!
PostedJuly 16, 2010
Absolutely brilliant...what a pleasure to watch! An all star cast in a movie worthy of such a cast, a thought provoking story and concept, great action. Probably the best movie of this summer, at least so far. For me, at least, worth the full price of admission during a prime show time.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Very nice!
PostedJuly 14, 2010
Very romantic, very refined, very funny. Marisa Tomei never stops being beautiful to watch on film. (Thanks, by the way, Ms. Tomei, for letting all men believe they could possibly have a shot at you despite what ever flaws we may have as a group or as individuals--that is a very delightful fantasy, indeed!) Jonah Hill and John C. Reilly do what they do best--J. Hill takes it up a notch by adding a creepiness that is captivating. Well worth the price of admission.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
A good time, even though I missed some of it.
PostedJuly 13, 2010
I went to go see this movie after working a 12 hour night shift. Sadly, I kept falling asleep, because every time I woke up I saw something funny. I did see most of the film, and am planning to see it it again. What I did see was awesome, and this film was made for 3D (so I was glad I paid the extra couple of bucks).
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Genre: Action Movie
PostedJuly 13, 2010
You have to admire a movie that goes straight into an action sequence, briefly reveals its name, and then continues with the action; in fact, within the first 2 minutes of the film you know exactly what you paid for and what it was you came to the movies to see. Had the previous Predator movies not existed, and if the Aliens movies didn't exist, this would've been one of the most original and pleasurable action films of all time. But those movies do exist, so it isn't as exciting as it otherwise would be. Even still, it's done very well. Alice Braga is the new princess of action movies--beautiful, exquisite, subtle, intelligent, strong willed, and believably tough--no amount of dirt or heavy equipment has the capacity to undermine the elegance of her feminine ascetic appeal, and yet it is still in the forefront of mind that she might actually be a dangerous and formidable person; I like her a lot. Adrian Brody, Topher Grace, Louis Ozawa Changchien, and Walton Goggins all deserve some props as well for making their characters seem real and believable in a fantasy world. After seeing the movie I left with an overwhelming sense that I've seen this all before, but I'm still very glad I got to see it this time.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
2
/
5
What a shame.
PostedJuly 1, 2010
If you notice, reader, I used a period at the end of my review title instead of an exclamation mark. This is because the movie is so flat in really can't get me excited to put it down.
What a shame (I'm shaking my head back and forth as I write)...what a shame.
What a shame (I'm shaking my head back and forth as I write)...what a shame.
Since the movie as a whole doesn't interest me (I too enjoyed the cartoon Avatar the Last Airbender cartoon series), let me highlight the stuff that interests me (most, but not all, of which will likely be a downer for most readers).
I read a critique of the movie by a man who was a member of some Asian organization which supports the accurate and/or positive portrayal of Asians in media. He commented that it was inappropriate that the movie and the cartoon were based on Asian and Inuit characters, yet all the main actors (including Aang) are white except the "bad" guys, the fillers/inconsequential characters sometimes the extras. I'd like to add to that--as I am a 37 y/o black man myself. Also, I'd like to make some non race-based critiques of this film.
1) The entire series is based on a sense of Buddhism and Hinduism, even though it doesn't directly say so. If all the other characters in the movie were white, an asian Aang I don't think is too much to ask. Many little boys of different races can be heroes; and the boy who plays Aang wasn't that impressive either acting or martial arts wise (at least on camera). What's more, someone bothered to make the southern water nation folks all Inuit except the main characters and their grandmother--how'd that happen? And why?
2) The token black guy who replaces the old asian monk mentor to Aang doesn't make me want to bring my nephews to see this movie. Hey Nickelodean (as if you are reading this), the entire A.T.L.A. cartoon series doesn't have a single black character in it, yet "somehow" I liked it. Hey, this isn't a matter of damned if you do, damned if you don't. This is simply a matter of my capacity to have some perspective--not much of South East Asia has a lot of black folks, and it's okay for people to have their own cultures and customs. As blacks, we'd like to be recognized as being more to history than American slaves--even in America, we've done a lot more than that. Tokens will insult us more than leaving us out, as it is like throwing pennies to those you thought were bums--we ain't that poor, and what you're tossing us ain't worth much even if we were.
3) Shaun Toub should have been forced to bulk up (i.e. lean muscle mass) and then wear a fat suit as Iroh--he was a delightful addition to the cast, but if you know the story, my suggestion would've added to what the story is now, and would be very important later.
4)Dev Patel was a great addition to the cast--how was he ever a second choice? And if all the maintain characters are white, then why not the bad guys, too?
5)Stars Wars and Harry Potter movies exists. Knowing this, you then also know you don't have to make a movie short to maintain audience attention, you just have to make it good. In fact, you could make 3 to 4 movies (to deal with is story material) that are 3-6 hours long each, cut them in half, and make people pay for it. Less editing, more character development (the humor, the fun, the love, the pain, the motives), more series details and general authenticity, and more money for the filmmakers--everybody wins. As it stands, this movie was too short to address everything that it attempted to do (or better yet, should have attempted to do), and I found myself yawning anyway.
6)Why does marketing nowadays use some of the best parts or the movie in the commercials--if that is all the movie offers, why'd you spoil my surprise or offer something that often isn't in the final cut? What a let down.
7) It is clear, if you are paying attention to the movie, that people are being killed right in front of the audiences eyes. If you can take the liberty to do that in the film, then take the liberty to add more details even the kids cartoon was willing to do (so that the film is more exciting).
8)Aasif Mandi, get some acting lessons from the guys from Full Metal Jacket. "Wipe that stupid smile off your face, Gomer Pile!" Dude, you were smiling the whole time, even when your character was plotting the deaths of various persons and spirits; not sinister smiles, not military war saavy plotting smiles, but goofy Daily Show smiles. Learn about micro expressions in psychology (read "Blink" or watch "Lie to Me" for starters).
1) The entire series is based on a sense of Buddhism and Hinduism, even though it doesn't directly say so. If all the other characters in the movie were white, an asian Aang I don't think is too much to ask. Many little boys of different races can be heroes; and the boy who plays Aang wasn't that impressive either acting or martial arts wise (at least on camera). What's more, someone bothered to make the southern water nation folks all Inuit except the main characters and their grandmother--how'd that happen? And why?
2) The token black guy who replaces the old asian monk mentor to Aang doesn't make me want to bring my nephews to see this movie. Hey Nickelodean (as if you are reading this), the entire A.T.L.A. cartoon series doesn't have a single black character in it, yet "somehow" I liked it. Hey, this isn't a matter of damned if you do, damned if you don't. This is simply a matter of my capacity to have some perspective--not much of South East Asia has a lot of black folks, and it's okay for people to have their own cultures and customs. As blacks, we'd like to be recognized as being more to history than American slaves--even in America, we've done a lot more than that. Tokens will insult us more than leaving us out, as it is like throwing pennies to those you thought were bums--we ain't that poor, and what you're tossing us ain't worth much even if we were.
3) Shaun Toub should have been forced to bulk up (i.e. lean muscle mass) and then wear a fat suit as Iroh--he was a delightful addition to the cast, but if you know the story, my suggestion would've added to what the story is now, and would be very important later.
4)Dev Patel was a great addition to the cast--how was he ever a second choice? And if all the maintain characters are white, then why not the bad guys, too?
5)Stars Wars and Harry Potter movies exists. Knowing this, you then also know you don't have to make a movie short to maintain audience attention, you just have to make it good. In fact, you could make 3 to 4 movies (to deal with is story material) that are 3-6 hours long each, cut them in half, and make people pay for it. Less editing, more character development (the humor, the fun, the love, the pain, the motives), more series details and general authenticity, and more money for the filmmakers--everybody wins. As it stands, this movie was too short to address everything that it attempted to do (or better yet, should have attempted to do), and I found myself yawning anyway.
6)Why does marketing nowadays use some of the best parts or the movie in the commercials--if that is all the movie offers, why'd you spoil my surprise or offer something that often isn't in the final cut? What a let down.
7) It is clear, if you are paying attention to the movie, that people are being killed right in front of the audiences eyes. If you can take the liberty to do that in the film, then take the liberty to add more details even the kids cartoon was willing to do (so that the film is more exciting).
8)Aasif Mandi, get some acting lessons from the guys from Full Metal Jacket. "Wipe that stupid smile off your face, Gomer Pile!" Dude, you were smiling the whole time, even when your character was plotting the deaths of various persons and spirits; not sinister smiles, not military war saavy plotting smiles, but goofy Daily Show smiles. Learn about micro expressions in psychology (read "Blink" or watch "Lie to Me" for starters).
I've written all of that, and yet here is what I realize: a) I'm not going to stop you, reader, if you really have been anticipating seeing this film; b) I am tired now, and I don't feel anything more or less after writing this entry; c) there will be, or at least ought to be, sequels that will be made that are necessary to complete this series--and I'll probably go see them; and d) I have yet to be thankful I took another user/critics review to heart and didn't see the film in 3D, saving me money and even more disappointment.
What a shame.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Awesome sequel
PostedJune 11, 2010
The only reason for anyone to ever say any of the other karate kid films are better is because Ralph Machio and Mr. Migagi (sorry for the name brutalizations) are deep into the American psyche and it is hard to beat the original films of anything. Even still, Jackie Chan and Will Smith's kid give the originals a run for their money in this film, and it has all the inspiration, authenticity, humor, warmth, and action of the first films. Truly a film worth the price of admission.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
(: )) (: )) (: )) (: ))
PostedJune 11, 2010
I don't want my words to ruin the experience. Just go see the flick and be happy. (: )) !!!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
One day the smart ones will be wise
PostedJune 10, 2010
Awesome flick. Simultaneously beautiful and repulsive; disturbing and comforting. Well acted, emotion stirring, entertaining, thought provoking, and with good use of CGI/special effects. Hopefully one day people will stop doing so many things in the name of good, and, instead, learn what is good and do that. I'm sad so few users thought this was a good movie.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
Robin Hood--the Prequel
PostedMay 14, 2010
Well acted, believable plot. But it seems like a compilation of movies and stories I've seen and heard before--that is, stories about medieval England other than Robin Hood. The movie provides enough character development for us to appreciate the motivations of the characters, but then its over. I feel like they'll make another movie to complement this one, but I feel shorted on this movie.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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