TheMovieRhino's stats
- Review count647
- Helpfulness votes412
- First reviewNovember 16, 2008
- Last reviewMay 26, 2012
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.9
Overall rating
4
/
5
Big Miracle is Based on a True Story from the ...
PostedFebruary 20, 2012
... the 1980's about a small group of animal activists that gathered resources together to save 3 whales trapped in northern sea ice forming off of Alaska's coast. This is an ideal family film that will likely please anyone with a heart for seeing the little guy succeed over corporate machinery, government bureaucracy and horrible weather! My only beef is the obvious tomfoolery when it comes to trying to paint Ronald Reagen and political conservatives and successful corporate business leaders as 2 dimensional bad guys without a heart. Nice work including actual news footage from the actual event! Kudos for adding that extra detail at the end - that oft times movies based on true news worthy events neglect to include - actual photos of the real people and the actual whales. An icy cold rhino horn up.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
The Woman in Black will transport you to ...
PostedFebruary 20, 2012
... to a dark house filled with trapped souls that want retribution and revenge for what was taken from them. We are allowed to partake in the eerie, macabre discovery of its history and horrors through the eyes of our main character played very well by Harry Potter himself - Daniel Radcliffe. The movie is creepy, dark, scary, etc and it has all the right cobwebs in all the right places BUT I felt a bit disappointed until the final 15 minutes. It is the final act and the end of the movie that made it an easy to recommend horror film. No spoilers here. One old dusty, cobweb laden rhino horn up.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Chronicle is a Morality Tale that Reminds Us....
PostedFebruary 20, 2012
... that great power does not fix everything ... and it often only serves to magnify what is wrong with ourselves and others - our weaknesses, prejudices and proclivities. Another movie filmed in the style of hand held cameras in the hands of the characters who are filming each other. The original component here is that their increasing mental powers allow them to levitate their camera(s) and have the camera capture all of the characters on film - no hiding behind the camera stuff ... at least as the movie progresses. I was surprised by this movie and liked it very much. Chronicle greatly exceeded my expectations. It is not a perfect movie as the dialogue sometimes feels forced and the editing too often relies on the "hand held thing" to skip making the right editing choice. That said - this movie is original in many aspects and it builds in its intensity and suspense. We are drawn into the lives of the 3 protagonists, we often empathize and "feel their excitement and angst as they struggle with their powers and the path they should take. Well done. A glowing, alien rhino horn up!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
A Separation Weaves a Tale as Complex as the ....
PostedFebruary 19, 2012
... woven threads of an expensive Persian rug. The movie feels like an Iranian Coen brothers movie. Everyone is trapped by their own weaknesses and momentary lack of judgement. Each mistake is built upon by another deceit until everything is entwined into a spaghetti-like mess where a clean, easy way out is impossible. The pick-up sticks complexity is made that much more intricately tense by the differences in the Iranian culture, laws and religion. Unusual, layered drama that will keep your attention throughout. A rhino horn up.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Safe House is Safe Bet - See it!
PostedFebruary 14, 2012
There are far too many main stream critics dissing "Safe House"....especially since it turns out to be a very good movie in the action-suspense genre it falls into. It is not a perfect movie and there are times it slowed down too much for too long. That said there are also times that it simply explodes with action, tension and violence. Denzel Washington has mastered the smoldering, malevolent anti-hero and here he takes it to an even higher level of complexity. Ryan Reynolds just gets better and better in every movie he is in. Reynolds deserves more acclaim and recognition that simply his ever increasing pay check per movie might imply. All of the acting is A+. Script and cinematography is also A+. Editing could have been better and gets a C- along with some of the hand held shaky camera style which is over-used. All in all a very worthy effort earning it a rhino horn up.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
The Vow - Based on True Events and ....
PostedFebruary 14, 2012
.... good enough to be above the standard "chick flick" fare that we often are subjected to. The last 30 minutes saved this one for me as the movie allowed all of the characters to become multi-dimensional and I did not see that coming. Well-acted ... although there is the occasional stilted dialogue. Exceeded my expectations. This one gets a rhino horn up and a "safe for manly men to see stamp of approval".
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
We Need To Talk About Kevin is ....
PostedJanuary 30, 2012
..... absolutely not for everyone. You should be prepared that "We Need to Talk About Kevin" is not a black comedy ....it is a film that is sober and takes itself very seriously .... about a very depressing and tough subject. The movie is hard to watch but it is so well done you are virtually forced to watch it and do so intently. Kevin is the psychopathic child of a fairly normal couple and early on we see how unsettling raising Kevin is and will always be. This is like watching a train wreck is slow motion and you cannot look away. Director-writer Ramsay and actress Tilda Swinton should be recognized and get high marks for this film. The technique that Ramsay uses in editing and putting together the timeline of this movie is extraordinary! There is no "feel-good" in this movie and there is no relief from the tension and the expectancy of tragedy either. Be prepared for this or do not see it is my best advice. Go with a desire to see the dissection of a tragic situation and go to appreciate the skills of the director, the actors and the crew. A scarred rhino horn up.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Albert Nobbs Serves Up an Unusual Repast....
PostedJanuary 29, 2012
...and one that will garner many diverse reactions - to be sure. I found Glenn Close's performance to be outstanding and worthy of Oscar buzz. This is not a "happy movie" and is definitely for adults only ....and adults that are eclectic in their movie tastes. I really wanted the movie to have a happy ending for Nobbs and, while there is a hint of happiness for a few of the characters touched by the life of Albert Nobbs .... Nobbs, himself/herself, reaches an untimely end. An interesting character study chocked full of characters and with a political bent that demonizes well-to-do folk while taking a high view of those working class people that serve them. All in all it is worthy of a theater viewing for the amazing job done by Glenn Close and the historical ambiance, cinematography and general narrative. A rhino horn up.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
2
/
5
Man on a Ledge Falls Short and Lands with a Thud!
PostedJanuary 29, 2012
Man on a Ledge starts off with a speck of promise and the seeds of a potentially interesting action/suspense drama. It goes downhill from there as director Leth kills the movie with sloppy editing and lackluster direction. The actors all do an okay job ... they just don't have anything much to work with. A ho-hum musical score, below par dialogue, sub-par editing and average cinematography all add up to a "save your movie money rhino horn down".
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
The Verdict on "The Grey" is Not Black & White....
PostedJanuary 29, 2012
....and makes recommending it a tough decision. In the end it is Liam Neeson's persona and acting that allows this MovieRhino give it a slight rhino horn up. Warning: This is a gritty, often depressing and bleak film with some gory violence thrown in to boot. For adults only. By the end of the movie I was craving some psychological relief....just a thin sliver of sunshine in this stark, frozen landscape ... and (spoiler alert) it simply never comes. You may leave the theater after seeing "The Grey" howling with discontent .... or you may leave with a quiet appreciation for the alien landscape and human tension that writer/director Carnahan has crafted. Either reaction would be very understandable.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.