Beardface's stats
- Review count111
- Helpfulness votes16
- First reviewDecember 6, 2009
- Last reviewAugust 31, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.8
Overall rating
4
/
5
Pleasantly surprising dark horse of a movie.
PostedApril 9, 2011
Putting aside the multiple references to crude and even abusive sexual behaviors (although those were "masterfully" done), this was a surprising good flick. I'd give it 5 stars if it wasn't quite so homophilic and creep friendly, but hey, society asks for it. Despite this, and even at times because of it, the film was funny! But it was also star studded and well acted. The scenery and special effects concepts were really well done. And it was a really nicely executed way of taking lightly science fiction and fantasy stories; so well done, in fact, that it will honorably be placed among what it was making fun of. I thought I'd just be wasting my time watching this movie, and now I am so glad I didn't miss it on the big screen.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
I thought it was funny, but not for kids.
PostedApril 9, 2011
The animation was good, and it seems that while slight flaws still exists, they are getting better and better at melding real actors with animated ones.
The story was okay; nothing enlightening, nothing really new or unique, nothing really memorable. I suppose, that is, except in its declaration that Easter can officially now not be about Jesus, or for that matter, even the welcoming of the change of seasons (or the newest and rebirth that comes with it). Instead, much like Christmas and Santa Claus, Easter can be about marketing, particularly the marketing of candy, for which Hersey, Peeps, and Jelly Belly's will be as eternally grateful for as Macy's.
Did I enjoy this movie? Sure. But there is no way that the humor in this movie had any serious focus on entertaining small children. Not that it wasn't funny, but references to the Knight Rider, or the weirdness of Hollywood, CA., or the use of Chelsea Handler as a serious business woman, or the nastiness of fecal matter (despite how pretty it looks or sweet it may taste), or a bunny being hit by a car, or the concept of a socioeconomic caste system being used in the underbelly of a cute and endearing tradition of mainstream society, or the idea that many parents use their children--in the same manner they use their belonging--as a symbol of status and prowess, or the implied sexuality of a teenager may outweigh the cuteness of a bunny, or the idea that the any every way fictional character that Russell Brand was playing would not be able to help himself but look upon the actual Russell Brand with awe, or the use of various vehicles to make an analogy between Easter and Christmas all seem to be over the heads of the young children who seem to be organically drawn to this film--at the very least, those whose were in attendance along side of me in the theater. I didn't know whether to feel sad for the parents and the kids for being mislead that this might be a family film, or if I should congratulate marketing for making a film that would readily draw the family crowd in, yet through word of mouth (good or bad for that matter) peek the curiosity of non parents. To all I'll say the following--I enjoyed myself, but my humor is often weird and crass. Parents: don't be misled by the visuals. Non parents: don't be misled by the idea Russell Brand is in it. Buyer beware!
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Well done; I really enjoyed this film.
PostedMarch 22, 2011
Well acted, well developed story. This movie even ended well (which seems to be difficult for a lot of good movies to do these days; in fact, in a way it ended well twice). Well worth the price of a regular admission ticket.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Refreshingly light and witty.
PostedMarch 21, 2011
It was just fun. Nothing spectacular, but the movie doesn't promise that. The movie delivers on the warmth and humor that is promises--kind of like "Snakes on a Plane", you know what you are going to get when you go into "Cedar Rapids" and you're not disappointed. Kudos to the writers and the actor for showing a good example of suburban, salt of the earth, Black men who are just working hard to make a living and whose closest affiliation to "the streets" is an HBO program. Kudos on also making a prostitute feel like a human being of worthy of being treated as such. Kudos on making me feel the value of community. Kudos on making assumptions that people can know the meaning of hints and innuendo without having to spell it out (you can laugh at both what is on screen as well as the fact that you know you are picking up on things that some audience members aren't, which is awesome!). Kudos on making drug use and backhanded dealings seem like problems that can and do affect any community or any type of individual. Understated in its marketing and delivery, this was a well done movie.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
Cute but kind of empty popcorn flick.
PostedMarch 21, 2011
Kind of dry, limited humor. Enjoyable cameo appearance by the queen of alien movies. Fun but nothing outstanding or remarkable in this movie. If you can go to the matinee or wait for the video, then you'll have a lot less chance of being disappointed.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
There needs to be a class on how to end a movie.
PostedMarch 13, 2011
I thought this was a well envisioned reinvention of a classic tale. They even actually made me believe that there might be Black men in England during the Middle Ages who might actually have a legitimate rationale for being there (outside of Hollywood's need to provide my people with tokens in the movies; kudos for finding actors with African accents and a strong aura of knightliness). Consequently, I could overlook the out of place American accents and the pseudo period costuming, especially since this was made up for with characters well acted with multiple, complex, and competing dualities of goodness and darkness within them. I could overlook the occasional over selling of the idea that this person or that person "just might be" the wolf, especially since by the end of the film it is clear that they had me fooled well. I could overlook the less than what could have been a highly climatic last fight sequence, if for no other reason than they were consistent with their rules of their fantasy world. But a cheesy dialogue between lovers at the end of the film with a limited sense of loss or gain underscores all the other mistakes and/or shortcomings. And this was a good movie! I tend to go to matinees, but I would pay the full price of admission and be satisfied so that I could watch this flick. (Even as I write this I am considering doing just that in order to see the movie again, because it was such a fun time). Just someone, please, PLEASE start making writers, directors, and editors have better conclusions to some of these movies so that people like myself can leave the movie feeling thoroughly satiated with climatic bliss.
(: )) (: )) (: )).
(: )) (: )) (: )).
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Not really sure what to think.
PostedMarch 12, 2011
Was the movie well acted?
--Yes.
Was the movie visually and acoustically stimulating?
--Yes.
So I'm asking myself: What is the problem? It could be that since I saw Skyline and felt disappointed I may have hoped that this would be a better version of that movie. While it was better acted here, Skyline's aliens (and the interactions between human and alien) were more fun to watch.
--Yes.
Was the movie visually and acoustically stimulating?
--Yes.
So I'm asking myself: What is the problem? It could be that since I saw Skyline and felt disappointed I may have hoped that this would be a better version of that movie. While it was better acted here, Skyline's aliens (and the interactions between human and alien) were more fun to watch.
But maybe that's it--this was a war movie about a war that didn't exist. So you see lots of people (and aliens for that matter) getting killed, but the realism is so great that the entertainment is lost. War isn't entertaining. People dying isn't entertaining. How the war is fought might be or how people die might be, and there were some impressive acts of heroism and ingenuity. Even still, a fake war doesn't teach you much about real life or history. A fake war can only give you limited insights as to what it means to be a soldier or to be a civilian in a war ravaged area. So if I don't learn something, want is the point of experiencing the mayhem?
Maybe I felt this movie was lacking because the movie shows a one dimensional view of life: the aliens saw we had resources they wanted and instead of bothering to ask for it or barter for it or just take it without mass extermination, they came a started a war in which humanity fought back. But with that it is hard to clearly draw an analogy to current or past events.
I want to see some insight or some perspective or something period that is unique or existentially relevant. However, all I get is a reinforcement of the idea that life is only about surviving and protecting your own; darwinism may be the only thing there may be to encountering an extraterrestrial alien, and we may not be perceived as the fittest by that alien species. I guess there is the lesson that if I don't give up I may not only save myself, but be able to help those around me who may or may not realize they may benefit from my effort. I guess that moral is something you get out of this film.
I hate knocking a movie that it so many ways was done well. I just can't get passed the limited and strained education, as well as the limited entertainment, this movie provides. Amazingly, I still think this movie is worth seeing, but I was happy I went to the cheapest matinee to do so myself.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Very entertaining, but I was left wanting more.
PostedMarch 6, 2011
Movies like this one probably spoil me, because what is presented is great, but I know that with just a little be more it could be magnificent. This movie aspires to greatness, but like the end of the movie, it just doesn't quite reach that destination. Well acted, well conceptualized; it reminded me of the Truman Show in that the final scene just lacks the climax that you want to reach and have satisfied before the movie ends. That said, it is well worth the price of a regular admission ticket. And such disappointment is worth experiencing if you get this level of entertainment from a movie such as this.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
Beautiful Animation, but a little boring
PostedMarch 6, 2011
Visually speaking, animation, and even animation action sequences, would be difficult to be better than what is presented here. The artists and animators were outstanding, and the snake villain was absolutely outstanding. But the movie seems long. Maybe it's the lack of strong humor, or the lack of a deep story, or too long breaks between action scenes, or the lack of captivating music, but the movie lacks a certain level of intensity that would take this from a mediocre movie to one of the greats.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Very Fun Time
PostedMarch 4, 2011
This movie put a smile on my face. It was almost tongue in cheek cheesy, but it really worked for an entertaining time. No oscar awards here. No social redeeming value here. Just a stupidly wicked awesome blow them up while laughing thrill ride of a flick.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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0of 0voted this as helpful.