DrLaser's stats
- Review count280
- Helpfulness votes157
- First reviewMarch 15, 2008
- Last reviewAugust 14, 2013
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
Overall rating
4
/
5
Trouble With The Curve - Clint vs. Moneyball
PostedOctober 12, 2012
Dialogue
4
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5
Special Effects
4
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5
Art Direction
5
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5
Acting
5
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5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Even as an old man refusing to accept his limitations and anything modern, Clint still knows how to act like few others, and is well suited playing Amy Adams' distant Dad. Its a sweet interesting father daughter baseball film. The story is about a crotchety Dad with a good heart trying to repair the mistakes he has made in trying to raise a daughter on his own after the death of his wife. Clint plays a scout losing his sight. Amy plays an intense lawyer who would much prefer being with her Dad in a baseball stadium if he would only let her. Enter Justin Timberlake as the love interest and the chemistry is ready to bond. The acting is good although the story is on the light side and always predictable. Though not a classic, its well worth seeing.
Pros great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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0points
1of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Taken 2 - Great action, ok story, Liam rocks!
PostedOctober 8, 2012
Dialogue
4
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5
Special Effects
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
Although the premise is nowhere as strong as in Taken, its the action and sheer screen presence of Liam Neeson that makes this well worth seeing. Much of the surprise and innovation of the first movie are impossible to duplicate, but the action and excitement of the concept are still very much there in every fast paced, well edited scene. The movie is a clear set up for a third sequel probably already in the works, and as soon as it debuts I will see it even if it will be totally predictable at that point. Its that much fun to see Liam as an action star. And Luc Besson is the master of this genre.
Even when you know exactly where a scene is taking you, its like a familiar roller coaster ride and just as exciting. If you have seen the first film, this one will not disappoint.
Pros well paced, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Looper - intellectual action sci fi
PostedOctober 2, 2012
Dialogue
5
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5
Special Effects
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
In an attempt to change the future, Bruce Willis must travel back in time to alter the past and confront his younger self (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) where he is a hit man. But in the past he worked for a mob from the future who use the past as a convenient dumping grounds for those they need executed, and eventually they even send back these very hit men once they grow older in order to clean up the loose ends. But Willis needs to find the top leader of the mob and kill him in the past while he is still a child if he wants to save his wife back in the future. Its a riddle tied up in a mystery inside an enigma.
Aside from all the obvious time loop antics, there are some real ethical dilemmas that shape the story. Is it right to do something wrong if it will result in a greater right? Where does rationalization end and justification begin? Its not your usual killer robot from the future hunting down a human. Its an older and wiser version of yourself come back to save your life when you do not agree with him at all. Is he right? Are you right? Is anyone right? And which version of you is worthy?
Emily Blunt brings the loops in time to some sense of meaning as a mother living on a farm who finds herself drawn into the center of the struggle. Jeff Daniels plays the local mob chief sent back from the future.
There are a few slow scenes and the plot demands your attention with all its twists and turn. And you've got to love the special effects guy who made the prosthetics for Joseph Gordon-Levitt's nose to bend like Bruce Willis's.
Its not for everyone, and its on the violent dark sad side. But its thought provoking and that alone is a rare thing.
Pros great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Drdd - more graphic novel instead of Stallone's comic book version
PostedSeptember 26, 2012
Dialogue
3
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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
4
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5
Camerawork
5
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5
Although Karl Urban looks a lot like Stallone under the Dredd helmet, his version of the character is without the 90's kitch or tongue in cheek catch phrases. Instead, this is a single day in the life of a single minded Judge who is also jury and most notably executioner. The story takes place in the megacity in the dark and grim far future in a single megatower apartment building. Dredd and his psychic trainee Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) are locked inside by the drug lord in a multistory battle to the death. The twist here is Anderson and her ability to get into someone's head. She's quite the scene stealer.
Although it starts off slowly, it accelerates into a non-stop action adventure film pumped up with enough adrenaline and testosterone to make Stallone jealous. Be aware, its very graphically violent and the effective 3D only makes it more so.
No, its not a classic, but it is far truer to the Judge Dredd stories than Stallone's was. If you're a fan of the series, you'll enjoy this.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Arbitrage - trading on one's integrity
PostedSeptember 23, 2012
Dialogue
5
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5
Special Effects
4
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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
Richard Gere plays a mogul on the verge of selling his empire when a series of unpredictable events send his life into a dangerous tailspin. His house of cards is in danger of collapse, but this is a movie of gray and not black and white. The cast and performances truly make this story superb. Its not another Madoff tale, yet it resonates through the story. Stuart Margolin as his attorney and Tim Roth as the detective are simply perfect in their roles. And let's not forget Susan Sarandon, who elevates a minor role into a great performance. First time director Jarecki has quite a future in front of him. Though not riveting or classic, this is a serious adult story of our times well worth viewing.
Pros well paced, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
The Possession - Terror based on story instead of effects
PostedSeptember 11, 2012
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
Sam Raimi has produced a nice variation of an exorcist film. Rapper Matisyahu is the exorcist in his first screen role and does quite well in the part. Kyra Sedgwick and Jeffrey Dean Morgan ( a Javier Bardem clone) play the divorsed parents of a girl who becomes possessed by a dibbuk. Natasha Calis plays the daughter (EM) who morphs slowly into a victim. There is little by way of special effects or the usual formulas. This is strictly old school. Its a refreshing change. Its nothing special, but its a solid horror film with some decent acting and worth seeing.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Expendables 2 - new and improved killing machine
PostedSeptember 4, 2012
Dialogue
3
/
5
Special Effects
4
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5
Art Direction
4
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5
Acting
3
/
5
Story
4
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5
Camerawork
4
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5
Sylvester Stallone has managed to assemble almost every 80s action hero into one non stop action filled tongue in cheek homage to their collective past glory. Its definitely not to be taken seriously, yet its amazing to watch refugees from an elder care facility kick some serious butt while making fun of themselves at every opportunity. Its crazy kitchy killing machines are so ridiculous that they never cease to amaze. Stallone still looks good if a bit more worn for the wear, but Arnie needs some serious plastic surgery if he plans to continue making films. Watch for Chuck Norris's scene stealing. Just about every catch phrase any of these guys have ever used is repurposed into a punch line,.
This is a big improvement over the first film. Its actually easy to watch as long as you don't take it seriously!
Pros well paced
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Beasts of the Southern Wild - unique tale of the delta through a child's eyes
PostedAugust 26, 2012
Dialogue
4
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5
Art Direction
4
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5
Acting
4
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5
Camerawork
4
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5
Somewhere in the delta outside the levees there is an isolated island community called the Bathtub where civilization is on hold and education takes a backseat to drinking. Told through the eyes of a child named Hushpuppy who lives with her dying father in a shack and believes the tales her teacher tells of fierce ancient Aurochs ( but really potbelly pigs in make up) returning after the waters rise to consume the world. Its a unique story of a lost world of people holding on to a
Cajun culture that might alienate many on the other side of the levee.
Cajun culture that might alienate many on the other side of the levee.
This Sundance production was clearly shot on film on as low a budget as was possible and yet it manages to go where mainstream cinema dares not. Its a love it or hate it kind of film that will only play in art houses for a short while. If you're looking for something completely different, this is it. But be warned, its not a happy tale.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3
/
5
Ruby Sparks - cute but lacking that real spoark
PostedAugust 22, 2012
Dialogue
3
/
5
Art Direction
3
/
5
Acting
3
/
5
Story
3
/
5
Camerawork
3
/
5
This Pygmalion tale has the earmarks of a indie film without the meat. Its a writing exercise that never finds its mark or potential however cute it might be. The lead actress is also the screen writer which may be part of the issue here. She's cast her real life boyfriend as her screen boyfriend, another issue that is not helpful. There are good ideas but no follow through. Its like a Woody Allen film that just misses. But since the writer and lead actess is Zoe Kazan, grand daughter of the legendary Elia Kazan, it has attracted a powerful cast of actors in lesser roles like Elliot Gould, Annette Bening, and Antonio Banderas. Its not horrible but it is best suited for a college crowd at a midnight showing.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
The Bourne Legacy - bourne again
PostedAugust 12, 2012
Dialogue
3
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
4
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5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
There's just too much money still in this franchise for the producers to end it, and so Jeremy Renner is stepping in to replace Matt Damon. And actually, he's quite good, although the directing now under the control of Tony Gilroy spends too much of the first half of the movie trying to explain the new premise of why they are still making Bourne films after Damon has left the building. Try to deal with the first slow half so you can enjoy the rest of the film which goes back to the action so typical in these films. Rachel Weisz is a refreshing added touch as a scientist who becomes the target of the spy agency when things go bad, and of course, the girl Renner must protect as well as his ally in making his get away. Sure its formulaic and predictable, but its still fun.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.