TheMovieRhino's stats
- Review count647
- Helpfulness votes412
- First reviewNovember 16, 2008
- Last reviewMay 26, 2012
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.9
Overall rating
1
/
5
Lacks "Spirit" - Read the original instead
PostedDecember 25, 2008
Wow! Somebody should have killed this movie as they began to see what a "dog" it was going to be under Frank Miller's "sin-citiest" obsessive and unfocused control. Loved Sin City and loved 300.....but here the same old Miller tricks do not work. What makes this extra disappointing is that I love Eisner's original comic book Spirit. Always have. Like Denny Colt - Eisner just may crawl up out of his grave to put a pounding on Frank Miller. He should. Bad dialogue, bad editing, bad pacing, bad acting, bad directing, bad writing....and worst of all....flat out boring. Shame on you Frank Miller for letting this be your homage to one of the great ones - Will Eisner. Skip it.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Clint Eastwood nails the title character - see it!
PostedDecember 25, 2008
Vintage Clint Eastwood. At his best in this surprising holiday gem. Not for under 17's (maybe under 21's). Impossible not to extrapolate and see this as a "Dirty Harry in retirement" movie. That said this movie stands on it's own and Eastwood fleshes out the main character in far more detail than he ever did with Dirty Harry. The weakest part of the movie was in the majority of the acting by the supporting cast. No fear here though as Eastwood's strong performance and direction carry the day. May Clint Eastwood "live long and prosper" and continue to make movies like this. Don't miss it.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
2
/
5
A Dark Sad Tale and Messed Up Too!
PostedDecember 22, 2008
Would have given this dark and twisted movie just one star if not for the amazing acting by Will Smith. He once again proves that he is in the upper echelon of American actors. Rosario Dawson is amazing as well. The problem for me is the story itself. The story is dark, depressing and twisted. If you leave this movie feeling that the main character has made some kind of noble sacrifice then the movie has toyed with your mind and spirit and "messed you up a bit". Suicide for any reason is ultimately the most selfish thing a person can do and the act itself is akin to "spitting on God". While the acting here is top-notch it is not worth the potential confusion and propaganda. This is not a Christmas movie. It is a horror movie.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
-2points
0of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
2
/
5
No to Yes Man
PostedDecember 21, 2008
I love Jim Carrey. I love that old Jim Carrey from his Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, Dumb and Dumber & Mask days. Who is this new watered down Jim Carrey? There are maybe 10 minutes total in this movie that are worthy of our expectations and most of the rest is predictable, watered down "glock". It's hard to understand - when you have the modern movie comic that most would deem to be the best physical broad comedy actor in the world over the last 12 years - why his best talents are so little used? Carrey has the opportunity to be his generation's Keaton, Lewis, Sellers or Martin but he is frittering it away.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Ember squeaks by with a "see it" review
PostedDecember 20, 2008
Most will like City of Ember okay but it surely could have been much more than that. The child actor leads were good and Murray was superb but Robbins and Landau were under-used and should have been woven in with meatier roles. The whole movie, for me, was like that. Some parts were really good followed with a lag, weak imagery and inconsistent dialogue and editing. Overall - a decent effort but you could skip the theater viewing and rent it later and not lose anything. Many children will be bored and fidgety even with it's short 95-minute length.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
An A+ All-American Family Movie
PostedDecember 20, 2008
Really thought I would be bored by what I anticipated to be a 2-dimensional "young girl" movie.....but what a pleasant surprise. This movie is perfectly well-done for the genre. Abigail Breslin once again demonstrates some great acting chops and she is surrounded by a tone-perfect supporting cast. I especially enjoyed Joan Cusak's work. Even if you are not a young girl or young woman you will enjoy this movie for the 91 minute investment. See it. It will make you feel good again like eating a fresh slice of your favorite mom-baked apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Yummy.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
A Tasty Stew of a Movie
PostedDecember 19, 2008
Original story, compelling message, gorgeous animation, quality voice actors.....stir it all together and what do you end up with? In the case of "The Tale of Despereaux" you have a tasty stew of a movie that just misses that 5 star "perfect movie" status. It is either missing something in the recipe or, more likely, it has too many ingredients which "muddy it up a bit". In the end I believe the story could have been told more straightforward and achieved a better end. Remove the "vegetable man" and don't luxuriate in the details of the 3 cities and just tell the tale of the heroic main character and you end up with a better movie. Picky, picky but it's how this soup tasted to me. Bon appetit!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
1
/
5
Eye Wanted More Than This....
PostedDecember 18, 2008
Felt like I've seen this movie before. It did not feel "real" even though that is what it wanted to imply ("...this could happen in the new e-age"). It was painfully too long. I usually find something, even in bad movies, that can hold my attention....not this time. Felt my sleep center kicking in a couple of times and had to fight it off for fear of dropping my head into my popcorn bag. Not good for an "action thriller". Skip it and rent any Bond or Bourne movie in it's place. You will thank me later.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Enjoy the Storm - see the Thunder
PostedDecember 18, 2008
What a weird, funny, unusual and original movie. Everyone plays against type. While the movie really makes little sense it held my attention as each weird new scene grabbed me again and again. This movie gets a 5th star from me just because of it's sheer guts. It ain't perfect (what is anyway?) but it was fascinating and I never could quite guess what was coming behind the next corner! Perhaps a bit long and the editing could have been tighter - but worth the investment of movie ticket money & time. See it or rent it. Let the chaos rain over you for 107 minutes.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
1
/
5
You Don't Go and See the Zohan
PostedDecember 18, 2008
I generally like Adam Sandler...but not this time. I had high hopes for this movie based on the various trailers. The best parts of the movie can be seen in the trailers. The potential of the movie is nestled away in the premise and is never explored fully, in comedy or drama. Instead Sandler decides to go in a direction that allows crude language, sex jokes and bathroom humor to prevail. Too bad that he goes down this path, really using it as a crutch & filler, when a lot of potential funny stuff was simply not explored. Sad & dirty. Not worth the ticket price or the 113 minutes. Stay home and rent The Wedding Singer.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.