TheMovieRhino's stats
- Review count647
- Helpfulness votes412
- First reviewNovember 16, 2008
- Last reviewMay 26, 2012
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.9
Overall rating
5
/
5
You will be taken by "Taken" - see it!
PostedJanuary 31, 2009
We all know how good an actor Liam Neeson is but I had no idea that he could hold his own in a Jack Bauer/Jason Bourne-type of role. Proof that the best action/suspense movies start with a quality actor "stirred" into a well-written story, good plot and dialogue, decent cinematography ....seasoned with snappy pacing and coherent editing. Viola....this is the movie "Taken". I was squeezing my wife's hand throughout most of this movie due to the suspense and crisp editing. Neeson was perfect in this role and we can only hope that someone finds a way to do a sequel where his character does "the impossible" one more time! Kudos to all involved.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
FYI - TGIF - See JVCD - It's an A+ 92 minutes!
PostedJanuary 31, 2009
I love a quality independent original well-told movie....and in JCVD we have just such a "creature". It has been very frustrating waiting and hoping for JCVD to get to a movie house in Arizona. Where has it been & why have we not seen it here before now? Kudos to Andrea Beesley-Brown - the "Midnite Movie Mamacita" - & part owner of Chandler Cinemas for ending our frustration. What a joy this movie is as Van Damme uses himself as both the canvas and the brush to paint an original and unique tale of the "ultimate movie action hero" vs. his "Clark Kent real-life" persona. I liked everything about this fascinating flick that spews Van Damme "out of hiding" and back into our movie world with a "high kick" that lands square. Welcome back JCVD!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Micky Rourke IS an Indian Hitman....
PostedJanuary 29, 2009
Take Micky Rourke, Hal Holbrook, Diane Lane, Thomas Jane & Rosario Dawson and "stir" them into any movie and, chances are pretty good, it would be worth a look. Rourke perfectly "channels" this Indian hitman and brings some amazing "extra-dimensionality" to the role. Fresh from "The Wrestler" Rourke immediately demonstrates that his renaissance is no fluke....this cat can act! Rourke can convey as much dialogue with his face, his eyes, mouth and hands - without speaking - than the great Sir Lawrence Olivier could with his most ornate Shakespearean oratory. I can't wait to see what Rourke does next! See this violent, earthy movie if you are over 17 and get the genre. It could be a cult hit.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
A Perfect Shave & Haircut - See it!
PostedJanuary 28, 2009
The masterful Johnny Depp & the fancifully twisted vision of Tim Burton once again come together to create and original and enjoyable musical macabre. One just needs to appreciate the risk-taking of the artists involved in this movie....and then sit back and take in the experience of watching a "serial killer musical dark comedy"....and ask yourself - "who would dare try such a thing?" Not only do Depp & Burton try but they do it....and do it splendidly. For over 17's only due to the violence that is intertwined with song and dark humor. Don't miss it! An instant classic.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
A Vampire/Werewolf Slave Revolt w a Dash of Lust!
PostedJanuary 28, 2009
I enjoyed this atmospheric tale of Lycans revolting against their vampire masters. As long as you "buy in" to the mythology and you generally enjoy the genre my bet is you will "sink your teeth into" & like - maybe even go ga-ga for - this violent and lustful horror movie with a "twist" of Romeo & Juliet thrown in for "good measure". Bill Nighy must have had a blast playing the supremely evil and cold-hearted king of the vampires. He does a great job in this "over-the-top" role. If you are over 17 and liked the previous Underworld flicks then I think you will bloody well like this one too!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
300 scores 100 in my book! See this original epic!
PostedJanuary 18, 2009
Here is hoping that Zack Snyder and his cadre of writers, special effects people and actors continue to produce movies that are this original and entertaining. No doubt that 300 is a "guy movie" (generally speaking) but it is such a "superior guy movie". Loved every minute of this "battle and blood" saga and the visuals were gorgeous. I kept "visually framing" the movie in my mind's eye hoping to be able to carry the image with me as part of a visual memory scrapbook. I rarely buy blu-ray DVDs but I will buy 300 in this format so that I can view it in HD from time to time.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Last Chance Harvey is a Sure Bet - See it!
PostedJanuary 18, 2009
This a movie for adults over 30. Despite the PG-13 rating I doubt if any under 30's will "get it" or find it very compelling. You need a bit of the "tire tread of life" sticking on you to fully appreciate this flick ...or so I believe. My bride of 31 years and I got it. Emma Thompson is in that stratosphere of actresses where she is flying with the likes of Kate Winslet and just a few others. This was a tough role for the male lead and I just did not believe Hoffman as much as I did Thompson and thus his contribution was only sufficient. Overall a top-notch movie about love that will find it's way given patience and time. Take a "chance" on Harvey. You will be glad you did.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
An Exciting Movie and You Will Learn Something Too
PostedJanuary 17, 2009
Director Zwick throws one long and Craig catches it perfectly for the touchdown. Schrieber does a good job of blocking and all of the players do a nice job of filling in the holes and weakspots. Enough already with the football metaphors. Just know that this is an excellent movie that will keep you riveted. In the end you will have one more puzzle piece found regarding your understanding of the depravity and heroism that germinated from WWII. Craig really expands his acting chops here (no "Bond-iness). All of the actors were "submerged" in their characters and were organic and believable. Beautiful cinematography! Another of many recent great WWII flicks - See it!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
A movie for little kids and dog lovers
PostedJanuary 17, 2009
This kid-flick tries to aim for the heart right away using 2 sure-fire "gimmicks" - sad-eyed dogs and big-hearted orphans. That underlying emotional "plaster" works in this movie and along with the myriad automated hand-built doggie devices they build to occupy the dog's "dog days" the movie holds the attention of adults reasonably well. I chuckled (& groaned) several times. Mostly this movie works for the kiddies (under 12's) and passionate dog lovers that do not mind the nuclear level of anthropomorphic puppies. Harmless and will work well as a rental or purchase for video babysitting.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Bloody Good in 3D - Within the Genre
PostedJanuary 17, 2009
So much shlock and garbage in the horror movie "world" these days. That said - It's really hard to tell how much that is influencing my "go and see it" review. I have always liked a well-filmed, well-acted, well-scripted horror flick. They are so "bloody rare". This movie is in the "vein" of so many "shock & slasher" movies of recent years but I enjoyed the 3D effects, the cinematography, the acting - for the most part, the "gore & guts effects" and I liked the "keep you guessing" ending. If you have a general idea about what you are going to see I think you will like this "maniac miner with a pick axe" movie. Be sure you are over 18 and know the genre you are getting into. With that caveat I say - see it.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.