TheMovieRhino's stats
- Review count647
- Helpfulness votes412
- First reviewNovember 16, 2008
- Last reviewMay 26, 2012
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.9
Overall rating
2
/
5
A re-hash of better movies - that's the ugly truth
PostedJuly 26, 2009
Coulda, woulda, shoulda been so much more. Nothing original here. There are some chuckles and a few laughs, combined with just-okay, ho-hum acting from Heigl & Butler. Truth is - you would be smart to save some money and rent it later or see it at the dollar theater. Just not that special....and it could have been. To be honest - I did not expect much and it squeaked over my very low expectations ....still not far enough over to recommend it. A lot of wasted opportunity and that is the ugly truth. 10 minutes of mirth and 86 minutes of your standard man vs woman interplay.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Orphanastically Eerie & Suspenseful - See it
PostedJuly 25, 2009
I was expecting something "plastic and hokey". What I saw was "classic and spooky"....and well done ....considering the modern horror movie genre. Not as good as "Drag Me To H*ll" but a close second. Decent acting and exceptionally great acting from Isabelle Fuhrman (think about it - an 11 yr old actress playing a 33 year old Russian nut-case that is portraying herself as a 9 year old Russian orphan prodigy ....but is really a psychotic murdering arsonist....whew!). She nails it! Creepy & well-done! Nice twists & turns with a surprise ending!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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1of 3voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
The Merry Gentleman is a Merry Good Movie!
PostedJuly 19, 2009
An enjoyable and engaging movie from the opening frame to "the fork in the road" ambiguous ending. Kudos to the directorial debut from Michael Keaton. Add to that a great story, excellent pacing and dialogue, perfect editing, above average cinematography and high caliber acting from everyone....especially Keaton and newcomer Macdonald. A great "small movie" that cleans the palette after gorging on explosions, mutants, robots, aliens and gratuitous nudity in this summer movie season. Subtle, layered, multi-dimensional film without pretension. Slides into TheMovieRhino's TOP 10 for 2009....at the mid-year point. See it!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Great Movie! Departure from the usual summer fluff
PostedJuly 19, 2009
An unusual, original, well-told, gorgeous cinematic treat. Beautiful cinematography and great musical score. The plot, pacing and acting are all superb. No weak spots here. The 131 minutes fly by. We are sad it is over at the end only because we know the next movie we will watch will not come close to the extraordinary experience we have just had watching this movie! Top 10 for 2009! Please catch it in a theater. Worth seeking out. Mesmerizing!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Harry Potter's Growing Up & So Are His Movies....
PostedJuly 17, 2009
I have never read any Harry Potter book....so my review is strictly based on the movie itself and the previous Harry Potter movies. That caveat out of the way I can say that I really enjoyed the atmospherics in this movie. Loved the cinematography, special effects and CGI. They were seamless, not over-used & not a distraction to the story. The veteran actors are at their peak and the young primary stars are maturing as actors - they hold their own. Perhaps it is because I've not read the books - but this is the first HP movie that really impressed me. I'm looking forward to the next one! Only complaint is the slurring English dialect which is sometimes impossible to discern - especially in the first 30 minute of the film.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
2
/
5
I Did Not Love "I Love You, Beth Cooper"
PostedJuly 12, 2009
Director Chris Columbus has done a nice job an several big-time movies in the past but his quality touch is missing in this film. The last 30 minutes of the movie are much better than the first 72 minutes. This is when the "moral" of the story gains clarity. The tone changes - from the typical high school graduation comedy movie romp with s*x, booze, parties, bullies, nerds, cheerleaders and bad driving - to a reason for the #1 nerd to respect the #1 bimbo cheerleader and vice versa. Just not enough substance, humor or chemistry to recommend this movie. Many 13 to 18 year olds will find a few chuckles but the rest of us will be better off investing our time and money elsewhere.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
The Hurt Locker will Trip Your Trigger - See it!
PostedJuly 12, 2009
This is the best war movie in a long, long time. No politics here....just the drama and tension that are at the heart of every battle - in every war. Kudos to female director Bigelow. She captures perfectly the nuances and interplay of men in the most intense combat. Quite the accomplishment! This movie blends a documentary and dramatic style and does it very well. You will find yourself holding your breath, unable to flinch....and then realize that you are squeezing, a bit too tightly, your arm rest....or your date's hand. A great movie! See it in a theater for full impact.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
1
/
5
Bruno is Brutal - Leave Your Sensitivities Home...
PostedJuly 11, 2009
....and maybe your sensibilities too. Bruno is simply a movie that uses an over-the-top character as an excuse to string together a series of pornographic vignettes designed to shock and makes us "laugh" in spite of our better common sense. No way it is an "R" movie. It is adult only XXX! Be prepared to run home right after to take a shower. You will need to wash off the grimy film that this movie will slather your mind and soul with. Interesting how the very nature of this movie should have the ultimate effect of inspiring everyone that sees it to never emulate Sacha Baron Cohen....or any of the ridiculous and offensive characters he manufactures on screen. Need I say - "Skip it"?
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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3of 4voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
2
/
5
A Tale of Two Movies - Okay to Skip Cheri....
PostedJuly 6, 2009
Cheri is a tale of two movies. I liked the first half of it's over-long 100 minutes. The story of aging courtesans in turn of the century Europe holds a lot of promise ....especially as we are introduced to the retired and retiring "women of the evening" played well by Pfeiffer, Bates and others. The costumes and gorgeous countryside are fun to take in. The movie begins to fall apart when we are introduced to Cheri played by Rupert Friend. He is pale and sickly looking throughout - not the least bit attractive. The film further tumbles downhill with an over-emphasis on the angst-riddled relationship between "NuNu" and Cheri. Having never felt fully invested in them I simply lost interest. You can skip this one.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
This Woody Allen Movie Works....or Whatever....
PostedJuly 5, 2009
The default neurotic condition of man, ever-present in all Woody Allen movies, holds sway in this new flick as well. I enjoyed the breaking down of the 4th wall barrier and Larry David's negative analytical rants as he stared at us through the camera and the big screen. I sometimes felt like a Bizzarro world shrink and that was OK. We laughed often....usually a chuckle....with a decent measure of guffaws thrown in. Welcome back to the colonies Woody! Thank you for being you (and we know you would not take that compliment purely for what it is....but that's OK ....whatever works).
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.