Beardface's stats
- Review count111
- Helpfulness votes16
- First reviewDecember 6, 2009
- Last reviewAugust 31, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.8
Overall rating
3
/
5
Good, but probably for older kids.
PostedJuly 12, 2011
I went to see this movie because some user reviews indicated they were opposed to the violence in the film. I rather enjoyed it myself, and am a bit surprised that such negative responses exist given that all of the trailers and commercials I've ever seen indicated that it would be exactly the film that it was. In fact, to me it was better because the story was so well conceptualized. But to be fair to those same critics, there were plenty of scenes wherein there is talk of killing, images of exploded or compacted cars revealing a car's death, and lots of guns and missiles. So parents beware--if your kids are rather young, but also perceptive, maybe they will get that cars get killed and tortured in this movie, and it may be good to avoid this film, particularly if they are caring and sensitive children. I'd take my nephews to see this film (ages 3 and 9) readily, but I get why some people wouldn't. Even still, I thought the action was great, the animation superb, jokes were in there that was clearly for the mature audience (that were not offensive or racy around kids), and morality lessons that are decent for children to learn are present as well. All in all, a good film.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
2
/
5
A sweet movie, but pointless.
PostedJuly 12, 2011
Cute humor but not a comedy.
Dramatic elements that have rather limited emotional impact.
Pertinent to the times, but not enlightening.
I am not sure what the point of this movie is, as there is no topic or concept in this movie that is explored or accentuated enough to seem valuable. A 2 star rating for a pleasant enough experience, but not one I recommend for the movie going audience; it is something to watch on video/dvd that won't bore you when you are at home without much to do. Larry Crowne clearly gets educated, but you never believe he grows. Julia Roberts' character gets a divorce, but you don't care (ironic, given the objective of her college coarse); to be honest, she seems like she needs an AA meeting that never comes up. A black man wins $500,000 dollars on Wheel of Fortune and only is able to participate in a perpetual yard sale that somehow doesn't annoy the neighbors or require he have some sort of business license that is checked on regularly by the police. A "gang" of scooter enthusiasts are applauded without heckling by a motorcycle gang and are able to snap their fingers like a broadway musical gang on a college campus without being hit with water balloon--is the world really that accepting of such wimpy silliness. George Takai is currently intimidating to anyone, at all, any where, at any time? Really? I kept nodding off at the beginning of the movie, almost wish I did fall asleep now that I am writing about it.
Dramatic elements that have rather limited emotional impact.
Pertinent to the times, but not enlightening.
I am not sure what the point of this movie is, as there is no topic or concept in this movie that is explored or accentuated enough to seem valuable. A 2 star rating for a pleasant enough experience, but not one I recommend for the movie going audience; it is something to watch on video/dvd that won't bore you when you are at home without much to do. Larry Crowne clearly gets educated, but you never believe he grows. Julia Roberts' character gets a divorce, but you don't care (ironic, given the objective of her college coarse); to be honest, she seems like she needs an AA meeting that never comes up. A black man wins $500,000 dollars on Wheel of Fortune and only is able to participate in a perpetual yard sale that somehow doesn't annoy the neighbors or require he have some sort of business license that is checked on regularly by the police. A "gang" of scooter enthusiasts are applauded without heckling by a motorcycle gang and are able to snap their fingers like a broadway musical gang on a college campus without being hit with water balloon--is the world really that accepting of such wimpy silliness. George Takai is currently intimidating to anyone, at all, any where, at any time? Really? I kept nodding off at the beginning of the movie, almost wish I did fall asleep now that I am writing about it.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Awesome!!!
PostedJuly 9, 2011
I smiled as I was walking out of the theatre, realized I forgot my keys and my wallet, went back and got them, and kept smiling. Unquestionably, this film was a lot of fun.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
A surprisingly delightful film
PostedJune 29, 2011
This film makes Jim Carry feel as though he truly has matured as an actor and a comedian. It is very believable. It is warm and fun. It was really a nice family film. Jim Carry wasn't needless over the top like he can be sometimes, and there were moments where he brought true depth to his character. That is not to mention that the penguins (which were either well trained or incredibly well done CGI) were magnificent to behold. Had my coworker not recommended this film, I would have missed it. I am very glad I didn't.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
Good Popcorn Flick.
PostedJune 29, 2011
Various moments of humor, but some of the themes of the humor were a bit over the top and over emphasized. I think that what I had a problem with was that there were too many comedians and/or too many people trying to be funny; it lacked balance. The humor felt forced or artificial, not undeniable or organic. Jason Segal, or his character, seemed the most like an actual teacher who found himself in funny situations or saying truly funny things. Cameron Diaz being raunchy was funny at times, but the humor in it got old kind of quick--show me some skin if you are going to flap you mouth that much about how sexual you are. Justin Timberlake was a dork (yes the role was written that way, but he really helped make it stupid). Lucy Punch would have been funnier if she were more subtle. When I think about it, all this was a matter of vision and direction--clearly Jake Kasdan was lacking on both. I paid $6.00 to see this film and feel it was probably better to watch it in the theatre because I'd likely keep finding distractions if I'd watched it at home.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Awesome Movie + a sexier chick!
PostedJune 29, 2011
Great story, great action, great humor, great drama. Competes and probably beats X Men for best of genre movie of the summer. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is easily as good looking ,if not better looking, than Megan Fox; and, she is more alluring with the British accent. What's more, she is a better distraction from the action I went to see than Megan Fox was--a very unnecessary distraction, but nice nonetheless. (Too many stories of Megan Fox being ungrateful--at least ungrateful enough--for the truly unnecessary affiliation she has with Transformers, to both her fans & her bosses, makes me glad she's gone). CGI with John Kennedy was too fake, but that was one of the few and rare problems I had with this movie. Another is that Frances McDormand, John Turturro, and Tyrese Gibson are not given starring billing when John Malkovich and Patrick Dempsey are. Places where CGI and reality were clearly distinct were still easily overlooked as the story, and the events therein, made it either make sense on seem irrelevant. Definitely was better than the second Transformers movie and rivals, if not surpasses, the first. Respect for finding multiple ways for honoring Lenard Nimoy--in many actual and symbolic ways his presence allowed the passing of the torch of what it means to be science fiction from the past to the present. Props to Hugo Weaving for being such a brilliant actor and willing to take roles throughout the science fiction and fantasy film universe that give the characters he plays (and ultimately the movies he is in) the aura of dignity, nobility, and legitimacy that makes the experience worthwhile. Kudos to the writers for finding ways to make the dialogue of the Transformers make the very different looking robots feel very familiar and similar to the cartoons I enjoyed growing up. Peter Cullen, your voice is probably most responsible for igniting that nostalgia, and I truly thank you. Thank you Michael Bay for making an enjoyable film experience wherein I remember to respect and be grateful for the men and women in uniform. Thank you also for showing some discretion with the violence but not really holding back from its presence, power, and relevance to the film. In so many ways, this movie was very psychologically satiating.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
A good movie but...
PostedJune 17, 2011
A good effort. I enjoyed the CGI and visuals. I'll want to see the next movie if they can afford to make another one. But...
The main villain was too easily defeated.
I left the movie wondering if Superman, Batman, and the rest of the Justice League were either to busy&distracted or just too disinterested to recognize that a creature that could both destroy the planet as well as the universe had come to Earth. And I wondered what was so great about the ingenuity of Hal Jordan (which was his greatest asset) in this situation that really would have made his efforts work in his battle with Parallax.
I left the movie wondering if Superman, Batman, and the rest of the Justice League were either to busy&distracted or just too disinterested to recognize that a creature that could both destroy the planet as well as the universe had come to Earth. And I wondered what was so great about the ingenuity of Hal Jordan (which was his greatest asset) in this situation that really would have made his efforts work in his battle with Parallax.
The movie was too short. Another 30mins to an 1.5 hours could have allowed the exploration of development of Hal Jordan just as a person or him as a Green Lantern. The actors and the visuals were awesome and could have supported this. It takes time to learn to build constructs, especially complex ones, with the power ring--no since of growth in the character seems to be present here. Plus I was interested more in the stories off the planet Earth than the ones on it; this was introduced and even made important, just not made the focus of the film--which was distracting.
The love interest was off. Felt too much like writers wanted to force something inauthentic.
The cliffhanger seemed unnecessary. It didn't make me want to see the next movie, should it come to market, more. It just left me with an annoying "why?"
I am giving this film 4 star instead of 3 because I was impressed with the guts it takes to even approach a movie with this broad of a scope--even with overly pervasive use of CGI, attempting to make something like this with live action seems incredibly difficult to do. It's not that I was really disappointed, but I did want a lot more than what this film ultimately gave.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
This was almost a good movie.
PostedJune 11, 2011
I really enjoyed the air conditioning @ the movie theatre, and this movie was just substantial enough to make me stay awake so that I could continue to enjoy the cool air (as opposed to being kicked out for snoring). So not being particularly impressed by this movie wasn't that much of a loss. For whatever reason my mind blanked out that this was a J. J. Abrams film--I solely focused on the fact that Steven Spielberg was involved. Like many other J. J. Abrams' projects, I felt this flick had so many elements to potentially make it great, but those element were handled by a director with mediocre talent and vision. It is like watching the movie version of Puffy Daddy (or P. Diddy) music--do you want to hear the original Led Zepplin "Kashmir", or do you want to hear the club version Sean Combs released. It reminded me of ET, only ET is massive and brutal instead of cute and cuddly. It reminded me of Stargate SG1, except Stargate SG1 was more interesting in it's details of the replicating metal materials. It reminded me of watching "Goonies", although "Goonies" had a more plausible since of adventure. It reminded me of "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind"...you probably get the drift. This movie seemed to little more than a movie that celebrated movies while trying to feel original and classic on its own; it tried hard, with good acting, a cool alien monster, lots of explosions, and a cute story within a story, but it doesn't quite succeed. Almost a good movie...almost!
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
INCREDIBLE!!!
PostedJune 3, 2011
The storytelling, the acting, and the character development.
The special effects and costuming.
The cameos and the naming of characters.
The integration of history and fiction.
The respect the writers, directors, editors, and actors had for the material.
The capacity to translate to real life psycho/social/economic dilemmas and perspectives.
The length of the film, even.
All of it was just superb and outstanding.
The special effects and costuming.
The cameos and the naming of characters.
The integration of history and fiction.
The respect the writers, directors, editors, and actors had for the material.
The capacity to translate to real life psycho/social/economic dilemmas and perspectives.
The length of the film, even.
All of it was just superb and outstanding.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Worth watching
PostedMay 31, 2011
Barring the pseudo religious overtones, this was a fun and refreshing movie. Nice to see more movies of American Blacks wherein all levels of socioeconomic classes are represented.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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