DrLaser's stats
- Review count280
- Helpfulness votes157
- First reviewMarch 15, 2008
- Last reviewAugust 14, 2013
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
Overall rating
5
/
5
42 -scores a Homer
PostedMay 7, 2013
Dialogue
5
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5
Art Direction
5
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5
Acting
5
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5
Story
5
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5
Camerawork
5
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5
42 is the story of Jackie Robinson, who had to have the courage to not fight back in order to achieve a greater good. It tells the story of how his quiet strength changed the views of those around him. It is also the story of the man who hired him and how he too had the courage of his convictions.
The story is as inspirational as Robinson was himself. Although it only covers a year of his life, it was the year that changed baseball, and sports in general. The directing is spot on and the acting is good.
My favorite scene is when shortstop Pee Wee Reese puts his arm around Robinson at first base so the entire stadium knows exactly where he stands. Simple, subtle, and ever so significant. There's a lot of scenes like this. Harrison Ford rises to the role of the crusty owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey. Chadwick Boseman did a nice job as Robinson, and John McGinley does a surprisingly good job as sportscaster Red Barber.
This film reminded me of the baseball movies from the 1940s like The Pride of the Yankees. Its that good.
Pros great story
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Mud - Excellent!!!!
PostedApril 30, 2013
Dialogue
5
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5
Art Direction
5
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5
Acting
5
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5
Story
5
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5
Camerawork
5
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5
Mud is one of those rare small movies that exceeds your expectations. Two young boys find a boat left abandoned after a flood, suspended in a tree. To their surprise there is a man living in it, Mud (Matthew McConaughey). As they befriend him, they find themselves in the middle of a complex and dangerous story of love and death. Its intelligent and exciting. The acting is superb as is the story.
The two young boys are simply great in their roles as is McConaughey. Reese Witherspoon plays his love interest. Sam Shepard and Michael Shannon fill out this excellent cast.
This is a gritty tale of life on the river. But the values here are universal. Its "Stand By Me" meets "Huck Finn". The directing is spot on with brilliant pacing. I give Mud a big thumbs up!
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
The Company You Keep - terrorists of a different era - interesting
PostedApril 23, 2013
Dialogue
4
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5
Acting
4
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5
Story
4
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5
An act of terrorism can have a price beyond the now. This is a story of the way an act from one's youth affects the rest of their lives, in this case 30 years later. Redford has managed to put together a cast of fine actors, most of whom are only in brief roles, but that's all they need. Although he is too old for this role, it still works. He tells the story of idealistic student radicals from the 60's and how they have had to live underground ever since until one of them decides she has had enough. Its skillfully directed and acted. Shia LeBeouf plays the annoying investigative reporter who relentlessly digs to uncover the story.
This is not an action adventure. Nor is it like the way we experience terrorism today. Its an intellectual study of the values of the Viet Nam era and the small group of protesters who went to extremes. If you lived through the era you'll find much here that is familiar. Perhaps a little too predictable, but a well acted thoughtful study.
Pros great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
1
/
5
Scary Movie V - A Dissapointment
PostedApril 17, 2013
I rarely write a really bad review, but this movie has earned it. Although all the elements are here for a good satire, this one misses by a mile. The funniest (and that is an exaggeration) moments are in the previews, so don't expect something more. Its just a lame script, with poor directing here. There are some funny ideas here, but no belly laughs like in the previous movies. It just felt worn out. I'm not blaming the actors. They just had nothing to work with. Skip this if there's ANYTHING else playing...anywhere!
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
The Place Beyond The Pines - powerful tale of guilt
PostedApril 10, 2013
Dialogue
4
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5
Art Direction
4
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5
Acting
5
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5
Story
4
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5
Set in Schenectady, NY, the film takes its title from the meaning of the city's name in the Mohawk language. This is a story of how sons and fathers live through and with their guilt. The previews do a huge injustice, leaving you to believe that the story is about a bank robbery. That's a small element of just one of the three chapters of this film. The real story here is how two fathers whose lives come together for a moment affect the lives of their sons and how the guilt leaves its scars on all of them.
Directed by Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine), this is far more of an art house film than a mainstream movie. Although there are elements here that bloat the story, and the last chapter felt somewhat flawed, this is a smart powerful film that appeals to the intellect. The acting is quite good. Its is anything but predictable and never follows a simple story line.
Although it was a little long, this is an excellent film with a unique vision.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
GI Joe: Retaliation - just ok, heavy on action, light on story
PostedApril 7, 2013
Dialogue
2
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5
Special Effects
4
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5
Art Direction
4
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5
Acting
3
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5
Story
2
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5
Camerawork
3
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5
The original GI Joe movie had a lot going on. This doesn't and suffers from it. The story is less complex, with fewer back stories. Its a middling action film. Don't spend extra money on the 3D or IMAX. The camera doesn't really do anything to justify any extra visual effects, so if you go just see it on a normal screen, but make sure its a big screen and get a big popcorn. I miss the original cast, especially Joseph Gordon Levitt. The Rock is fine as is Bruce Willis, but I was hoping for more. There's nothing inspiring here. Its ok for what it is. This is more of a summer vacation movie than a blockbuster. Its clearly a set up for the next installment. So think of it as a middle child. In all honesty, many in the audience applauded when it ended, but not me.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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-1point
1of 3voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
2
/
5
Admission - mediocre and disappointing
PostedMarch 27, 2013
Dialogue
2
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5
Acting
1
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5
Story
1
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5
Its a cute enough premise to have carried a movie, but here the only admission is that its a weak story weighed down by a poor script with wasted actors. Does that sum it up? It should. Although Tina Fey can be a wonderful comedic writer and actor, you wouldn't know it from this film. It feels as though she is attempting to stretch and has fallen short. In contrast, Lilly Tomlin is surprisingly good in her small role.
The story itself is quite unsatisfying in that it sets you up and then lets you down again and again. Every time it presents an opportunity to connect the dots, it chooses instead to rip them apart and leave you wondering if the writer had a clue. Its one of those films filled with awkward moments that lead nowhere. Save yourself the money. It will be on basic cable soon enough where you can change the channel.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
The Call - Riveting suspense!!!
PostedMarch 20, 2013
Dialogue
5
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5
Art Direction
5
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5
Acting
5
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5
Story
4
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5
Camerawork
5
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5
The Call is the story of a 911 operator (Halle Berry) who receives a distress call from a woman reporting a home invasion. She takes it personally when things go bad and has to be reassigned. But fate brings her back to the call desk and the tension ramps up.
This is a classic thriller. It has all the right elements to keep you on the edge of your seat from the beginning of the film right up to the end. People in the theater actually screamed and jumped! The tension is quite real. Its downright scary. Too scary for the fainthearted and definitely not for young kids. This is an adult thriller about abduction and fear, and the guilt that comes from taking your job too seriously when things go wrong and someone gets hurt.
The last scene is a little improbable, but its not important. You'll need a stiff drink after watching it. If you're a fan of intense thrillers, this is definitely for you!
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Oz The Great and Powerful - in a word - wonderful
PostedMarch 12, 2013
Dialogue
4
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5
Special Effects
5
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5
Art Direction
5
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5
Acting
4
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5
Story
5
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5
Camerawork
5
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5
Lets just begin with, I liked it. This is not a musical like the classic film. Its a prequel that ties nicely into it using the wizardry of technology and carnival magic. Although quite different, the story line seeks out parallels that make the journey familiar and satisfying.
For those who want this to be more like the old film with Dorothy Gale, its not. No ruby slippers or musical production numbers. But remember when the original film came out, it bombed. It was ridiculed. So, before you go negative, give it some time. There's plenty here to come to appreciate. The special effects are excellent. The new characters like the China Girl and the monkey Finley are fine additions. The use of black and white in the beginning and color in Oz as an homage to the original film are simply perfect. Sam Raimi's directing and timing are spot on.
Even if you are not blown away on your first viewing, this film is clearly destined to become a classic. Don't worry, you'll get to see it every year when it hits cable especially around the holidays. And one day, you'll be sitting with the family talking about how it grew on you.
This is probably one of the best family films in years. Sure, there are things that didn't quite resonate with me on the first viewing, but I'll just bet a few years down the road, I'll be looking forward to seeing it again and again. Why? Because of the wonderful things he does!
Pros great story
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
21 & Over - so wrong and so right!
PostedMarch 7, 2013
Dialogue
4
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5
Special Effects
4
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5
Art Direction
4
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5
Acting
4
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5
Story
4
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5
Camerawork
4
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5
In cards, 21 is called Black Jack. Its a winning hand and in life, 21 is the age when you can go into a bar and drink. In this story of three pals celebrating that birthday, drink they do! It all starts with two High School pals unexpectedly showing up on the college campus of their friend to take him out for drinks on his 21st birthday. But Jeff Chang (always referred to by his full name) has a really strict really scary dad who has scheduled a job interview first thing the next morning. Need I say more? With this set up, you just know you're heading for a plot like The Hangover for a younger crowd. Lets just say Jeff Chang is not one who knows his limits. Some of what happens is pretty wrong and twisted and extremely funny.
The story centers around trying to get Jeff Chang back to his room so he can make it to his job interview. This turns out to be far more difficult than it might sound. And as each new plot twist happens, his two pals start to realize that Jeff Chang's life is not what they thought it was.
This is definitely NOT a family film! But when its on a roll, its a hoot!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.