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1seriousmoviefan
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- Review count4
- Helpfulness votes0
- First reviewMarch 8, 2009
- Last reviewJanuary 2, 2012
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
1seriousmoviefan's Reviews
Overall rating
4
/
5
Delightlfully different
PostedJanuary 2, 2012
1seriousmoviefan
from Kansas City
As movies let technology rule the day more and more, it was refreshing to see a film that showcases the actors. Films like Avatar lend credibility to the very real fact that it is entirely possible to make a movie entirely with CGI - a movie with only motion capture and voice work behind the scenes. The Artist puts the actors entirely up front and captures a range of emotions you would be hard-pressed to match with any computer generated character. It was also fun to see the numerous character actors that played supporting roles, some only for single scenes.
It is not appealing to everyone as it is almost exclusively silent save the musical score. Indeed, unwrap your Twizzlers before it starts as there is almost ZERO opportunity to make any noises of your own. Interestingly enough, an older (60's or so) couple walked out of our showing of The Artist about ten minutes into it. Seems even those that might fully appreciate it oftentimes don't. Meanwhile a gaggle of old (70+) ladies chatted through a recent showing of Drive when we were there - go figure.
I have yet to see the perfect movie in my lifetime so no five stars here, but it most definitely earns a solid four plus.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
In a thus-far weak movie season...
PostedDecember 26, 2011
1seriousmoviefan
from Kansas City
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol stands out as one of the better movies this holiday season and generally for the year. Better than an 80% rating that four stars might indicate, but not quite the 100% that five stars represent. Give it a 92% and lean towards the five.
Lots of action of course, a good protagonist, and largely believable plot line. Several parts are reminiscent of the James Bond films (locations, cars, and fashion/babes), while our heroes are just that - a larger team rather than a single gentleman with eye candy as a companion. As a result, you get a surprisingly good mix of humor (Simon Pegg of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead provides a lot of it), angst, anger, etc. It is a range of emotions that is shared with the audience and almost impossible to capture with any one character by themselves. It works very well in this movie.
Many movies can be judged by how many bathroom breaks you can take during the film: You eventually need to part company with that jumbo drink you guzzled while waiting for the film to start, so you pick what looks to be a lull. You can generally anticipate slow parts of the movie used for plot development, gratuitous romance, boring subplots, etc. There weren't any good bathroom breaks in this one, so make sure you visit the loo just before the previews. You will be very glad you did.
(and when somebody introduces toilets instead of thumbs or stars for ratings - 0 toilets being the best - remember who came up with it :)
Finally, I would note that we saw this in a digital IMAX theater, but it was not the true IMAX 70mm experience. Indeed, it was in a smaller theater and the screen seemed only slightly taller and closer than a standard movie screen. The sound was great and picture excellent, but too many of the "IMAX" theaters do not offer that fully immersive experience that the filmmakers originally intended. The upcoming Batman film prologue (six minutes long) was screened before Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol only in "true" IMAX theaters, not even one of which is to be found in Kansas City - ironically the headquarters of the massive AMC theater chain. Instead you would have to drive three hours to Omaha(!) or Des Moines(!!) to enjoy the full IMAX experience. That was really the only disappointing part of this particular screening - it was $5 more per ticket than we probably needed to spend for a minimal visual difference.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
2
/
5
As funny as watching somebody get hit by a car
PostedApril 10, 2009
1seriousmoviefan
from Kansas City
The trailer basically wrings every last funny line out of what is an otherwise sad movie about somebody with a true mental illness who never redeems himself . One scene puts our "hero" in a room with his nemesis on the police force. The officer's coworker hides in a closet to listen as his friend is expected to humiliate Seth's character. Only partway in he emerges from the closet to say, "I expected it to be funny, but it is just plain sad." Almost certainly an inside joke by the writer/director, as it describes this movie perfectly.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Not for everybody - what great movie is?
PostedMarch 8, 2009
1seriousmoviefan
from Kansas City
A movie for those that read - and enjoyed - the graphic novel, as well as people looking for something a little more cerebral in their movie fare. If you are looking for "BAM! POW! CRUNCH!" or wear a costume to premieres, sit this one out. Gratuitous sex scene, different cataclysm, and slightly different "rebirth" of Rorschach were only mild disappointments. The newsstand sub-story is rumored to appear in an extended rerelease and/or DVD version. There is graphic violence for sure, but that is one license a comic is more likely to take. The bottom line? An excellent movie all around but not one that will appeal to everybody. A simple, straightforward superhero/action movie it most definitely isn't. And that is exactly what makes it great.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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