lotrah745's stats
- Review count98
- Helpfulness votes32
- First reviewSeptember 12, 2011
- Last reviewAugust 19, 2013
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
Overall rating
4
/
5
Surprising Monsters
PostedAugust 19, 2013
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
I know I shouldn't be surprised about this movie being good, but after the last sequel/prequel Pixar did I wasn't sure if this would be good or not. It was original and creative. It had brilliant art direction and beautiful animation. I had an enjoyable time to all of the references to Monsters Inc., but it did stand out by itself, as well. A family-friendly that you adults will enjoy, as well. It's funny. It's heartfelt. It actually has great dialogue with wise words for kids, and adults. I believe this is the best animation I have seen this year, and we will see if it will contend next year for the Oscars. The voice actors are strong and affecting, especially John Goodman and Billy Crystal. A fun time with a good heartfelt message.
Pros well paced, great story
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
The Butler
PostedAugust 18, 2013
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
The Butler cleverly wraps multiple story lines spanning about eighty years. It brings the civil rights movement through a fresh view, as it is not only about that. It is about Cecil Gaines and his relationships with the various United States' presidents and, ultimately, his son. It never shows you too much, and the story takes several decades to finally complete, which might be realistic in most of our lives. Forest Whitaker is subtle, yet loud in his performance as a white house butler. Acting, all-around, is very good. Oprah was good, but I only saw greatness in one or two scenes, personally. An emotional-uplifting movie that has it's flaws, but is good nonetheless.
Pros great story
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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-1point
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Overall rating
4
/
5
The Way Way Forward
PostedAugust 3, 2013
Dialogue
5
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
3
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
Duncan is the average, awkward fourteen-year-old, but he's not average. He has problems, as does everyone, and as he travels with his "family" to his mother's boyfriend's house he confronts those problems with a little help from the water park manager, Owen.
I related to Duncan, even though we are different. You understood his character and where he was coming from. You follow him on an emotional roller coaster, parallel to his summer. He remained locked up, like the movie, but as you watch longer and longer you discover what's inside.
The characters is what you end up really enjoying about this movie and what happens to them. I found delight in seeing Steve Carell in a "jerk" role, he was very different from what he usually plays, and I relished it. (I am anticipating Foxcatcher, where he plays a paranoid schizophrenic).
Not a necessary view, but it is still a reminiscent, fun time at the theater. When it comes out on DVD, you should, definitely, take a gander of The Way Way Back.
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Fruitvale Station
PostedAugust 2, 2013
Dialogue
5
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Oscar Grant III was shot on January 1, 2009 celebrating New Year's at Fruitvale Station by a police officer. This movie is based on a true story, and most of the facts are included; some things were added, but for story purposes.
The introduction is the actual footage of Grant being shot. The rest of the movie goes throughout his final day of life on this earth. The audience knows the conclusion, they know what happens at the end. Which makes this movie even more impressive. This movie almost had me in tears, which is still a feat(I haven't been this close to crying in a while), by the end. It is simply heartbreaking.
Ryan Coogler's direction and writing is superb, and this movie wouldn't have been this good without him. Michael B. Jordan's performance, as Grant, is spectacular in showing Grant's multi-layer character, and does him justice. Watch this movie! Everyone should see this movie.
The introduction is the actual footage of Grant being shot. The rest of the movie goes throughout his final day of life on this earth. The audience knows the conclusion, they know what happens at the end. Which makes this movie even more impressive. This movie almost had me in tears, which is still a feat(I haven't been this close to crying in a while), by the end. It is simply heartbreaking.
Ryan Coogler's direction and writing is superb, and this movie wouldn't have been this good without him. Michael B. Jordan's performance, as Grant, is spectacular in showing Grant's multi-layer character, and does him justice. Watch this movie! Everyone should see this movie.
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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-2points
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Overall rating
4
/
5
The Wolverine
PostedJuly 28, 2013
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
Is it a curse to live forever? In this world…it is. I can only imagine how agonizing it would be for the wolverine to live with what he’s done and seen, through the ages. He’s been through multiple wars, seen loved ones die, killed many people, and is scarred for his never-ending life from them. The Wolverine is separate, but tied to the existing x-men movies. It does a good job showing an original take of an x-men movie. Fans will enjoy it.
I felt like this movie was very intertwined and knew where it was going; although, sometimes, cliche. It was wrapped tightly; each scene felt connected to the next. Very well-done scenes, action and emotionally-tense scenes. They introduced the characters cleverly and brilliantly.
I did dig the aura of this movie, in general, and the multiple atmospheres of the Japanese culture. It looked very striking, for an action movie.
Pros great story, great actors, looked good for action movie
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
Red 2
PostedJuly 22, 2013
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
2
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
2
/
5
Camerawork
3
/
5
Red 2 does what Red did, and not much more. One of my pet peeves if a movie is unoriginal, and doesn't try to be different. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy some funny lines and scenes, but they abuse those moments sometimes. They cannot rely on only those scenes and moments to make it an entertaining movie, it has to have a good plot. Half the movie I was confused of what was going on in the story line. I feel like there was no legitimate villains, as all of them were written without a back story and were portrayed as evil because they shot someone. Yeah, that's evil, but, seriously, couldn't you be more creative for a villain? I was waiting for the movie to end, which is never good. Was it enjoyable in the end? Yeah..I suppose. If you enjoyed the first one, you will probably approve of this one. I just needed something fresh and different. (I do really like John Malkovich in these movies, though).
Cons slow
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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-2points
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Overall rating
4
/
5
Pacific Rock
PostedJuly 20, 2013
Dialogue
3
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
3
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
I'm not going to lie, I had an awesome time watching this movie. Could it have been better in the story? Well, yeah.. Was it cheesy at points? Yeah. But, am I, seriously, going to complain about that? No, it was an awesome movie, with spectacular visual effects of gigantic robots destroying gigantic monsters. I've heard plenty of mixed reviews on this movie, but, honestly, I would say this one of the better movies of the summer, for sure, blockbuster movies. Guillermo Del Toro is such a brilliant director, and I would say he is one of the better directors working today. He directed in such a simple, yet subtle way, that he made me feel like a kid watching "that cool new movie", without me even knowing it. Now, some say that the acting isn't very good at all, well, it isn't amazing I will tell you that. But, it didn't bother me, at all. But, no one is complaining about Idris Elba's performance; watch out for a future-oscar, potentially. If you come for the entertainment, you will get it.
Pros well paced, entertaining, great visual effects
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Overall rating
3
/
5
The Lost Ranger
PostedJuly 15, 2013
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
2
/
5
Acting
3
/
5
Story
2
/
5
Camerawork
2
/
5
As I have said before, I will never rate lower than a three on this website, unless it is truly awful. I thought this movie, in general, was lost; it never knew what it was, and, although created by the Pirates team, it was relying on the Pirates' movies' success to flourish, which really annoys me. I ask, usually, for a movie to be original and creative in one way or another, whether it be the directing style, writing, art direction, cinematography, etc. I just want to see something different, for the most part, there are a few exceptions, both good and bad. Overall, I thought that they should have not relied on Johnny Depp's cliche character and the Pirates' success for The Lone Ranger. (I like Johnny Depp, I would just like him to play different roles.)
Cons perturbed script
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
White House Up
PostedJune 30, 2013
Dialogue
3
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
3
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
John Cale, Cale, is primarily caring for his daughter and tries to be her hero. He doesn't have a perfect past, but no one does. In the midst of a crisis, Cale, single-handedly, basically, takes out all of the threatening mercenaries with the help of the President of the United States. Which, obviously, is very unrealistic, but am I really going to complain? No, all movies are probably unrealistic in one way or another. The humor was of an acquired taste and was pretty corny. Some dialogue was pretty cliche as well, but what do you expect of a movie like this? I realize, that this movie and Olympus Has Fallen are very, very similar, and I don't want to compare them, but I liked this movie more, I think. The acting was fine, except for a couple annoying scenes. I mean, there were great actors in this movie, I am just not sure the writing was the best in the dialogue department. I also wonder if Roland Emmerich's direction was headed in the right direction in a couple parts of the movie. Was it enjoyable and entertaining?...Yeah, it was. I'm not going to pick here and there on a movie like this. It won't become an Independence Day movie and it won't be a classic, either. It is just a fun, action-packed ride. Depending on who you are, I would consider watching this movie. If you think it looks good, you probably will enjoy it for what it is. I am going to give this movie a weak 7. (Based on a grading scale from 0-10, and a weak, solid, or strong attached to each number).
Pros great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
4
/
5
World War Zombie
PostedJune 21, 2013
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
The movie opens with a somewhat, failed attempt to introduce and develop the characters fast, which wasn't a big deal at all. It then leads into an enthralling introduction of the "zombies" and the pandemonium that follows. You follow Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) and his family. Gerry does not know what is going on, but he only has one instinct, survival, for him and his family. It's mainly this reason that you care about and respect his character. I actually cared about the characters in this movie, primarily Brad Pitt's character, but, nonetheless, I cared for them. This is a very entertaining movie, with the combination of likable characters and unforgettable sequences of near-death experiences with the infected. This is one of the most thrilling and enjoyable zombie movies in a long time. I, undoubtedly, recommend this movie. At first glance, I thought the movie looked cliche and unoriginal from its trailer, but it surprised me quite a bit. I am in anticipation of a hopeful sequel; which is definitely a possibility.
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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0points
1of 2voted this as helpful.