DrLaser's stats
- Review count280
- Helpfulness votes157
- First reviewMarch 15, 2008
- Last reviewAugust 14, 2013
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
Overall rating
4
/
5
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World - charming art house film
PostedJune 26, 2012
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
3
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
Steve Carell and Keira Knightley step out of character for this unusual light love story that could only happen if the world were to end. Unlike every other apocolyptic film, this one has a sense of humor and sees the irony in life and how we settle for choices from fear of being left alone only to be left alone. Its not another commercial comedy, its intellectual candy and quite sweet. Its quiet subtle quality may not be what some will expect, but its an interesting story of how two unlikely people could live across a hall and never meet until something dramatic would become the catalyst that reboots their lives and makes the improbable probable. Watch for Carell's wife at the start of the film...its his wife in real life! And watch for the small part with the actor who plays his dad.
Pros unique
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter 3D - cheesey fun altered history
PostedJune 25, 2012
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
4
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
With the most original title since Snakes on a Plane, this film relies on your basic knowledge of the life of Lincoln and your better knowledge of vampires and spins a tale of an axe wielding president with a mission to save the nation. There's nothing tongue in cheek here. Its a serious vampire slaying flick in the purest tradition salted with lots of tidbits from altered history. Its actually well done and fun. Some of it is over the top ridiculous as you should expect, but give it a chance. Its quite unique and the action and 3D are good. If you're a history buff or simply passed Eighth Grade History, you'll know the characters before they are formally introduced and enjoy the way the plot reworks reality. Its clever. Its stupid. Its fun!
Pros well paced
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - a journey of discovery
PostedJune 19, 2012
Dialogue
5
/
5
Special Effects
2
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
5
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5
Story
5
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5
Camerawork
5
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5
This Brit gem with its all star cast of seniors tells the story of a hotel in India newly remade into a retirement home. The young man who dreams to make it succeed for him so he can win over his girlfriend. The mother who won't let go. The unhappy civil service couple who lost everything. The gay jurist seeking a lost love. The bigoted elderly lady who goes for a cheap hip replacement. The widow who lived in her husband's shadow. They meet on their journey there,bond, and grow. Its all beautifully told in that very sophisticated British manner against the vivid and colorful background of India. Top notch actors in a grown up story. See it!
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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1of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
The Dictator - funny, not his finest, and quite twisted and very wrong
PostedJune 17, 2012
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
4
/
5
Acting
4
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
Sasha Baron Cohen is a very sick man, as we all know, and his sense of humor may be too much for those who have a strong sense of morality, but when he is on a roll, his is quite funny. This satirical riff on an oil rich tyrant is both a sledge hammer and subtle, paradox or not. The story revolves around an attempt on his life that leaves him alive but unrecognizable, and his attempt to get back into power while taken in by Anna Faris, a radical shop owner in Brooklyn. The misogyny, racism, and brutality are all turned on their heads by Cohen into a laugh riot. Even the music is funny. Its clever while at the same time moronic.
Don't bother going if you are easily offended, because offense is the goal here, but if you love Cohen you'll enjoy this one.
Pros well paced
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
3
/
5
That's My Boy - funny but forgettable
PostedJune 15, 2012
Dialogue
3
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
3
/
5
Acting
3
/
5
Story
3
/
5
Camerawork
4
/
5
Adam Sandler has given us another one of his comedies best loved by his loyal fans. Others will find serious issue with his raunchy sense of humor, gross sight gags, and misogyny. While not his finest work, some of the scenes are laugh riots. Andy Samburg makes for a good choice to play his estranged son, but his true comedic talent never really have a chance to spread it wings here. Susan Saradon and Vanilla Ice both shine in their roles along with Tony Orlando. Many of Sandler's usual characters show up in one scene or another as a treat to those who have followed all his better films like Waterboy. Sandler has made and can make better films than this. This is more of a light summer movie, funny and forgettable.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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3of 4voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Moonrise Kingdom - very Wes Anderson and priceless!
PostedJune 12, 2012
Dialogue
5
/
5
Special Effects
3
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
If you enjoyed "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" you will be very at home here watching this precious gem of a quirky tale of young love. Taking place in the mid 60's in a strongly stylized age of innocence at a summer camp on a tiny northeastern island about to be hit by a hurricane, an all star cast are clearly having a great time both acting and being part of the strong visuals in this one of a kind film. The two young actors in the leading roles are wonderful. Its smart. Its tight. Its fun. Its tender. And its well written and directed. Part fairy tale, part comedy, and all Wes Anderson, this one is a keeper! Loved it!!!
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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2of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Prometheus 3D - perhaps too ambitious for its own good
PostedJune 9, 2012
Dialogue
2
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
2
/
5
Story
3
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
In mythology Prometheus brought fire to mankind and was punished by the gods. Ridley Scott seems to have wanted to tell the back story behind his 30 year ago film Alien, and tell us a tale of how humankind was descended from a mother race of aliens. Yet his script asks far more questions than it answers. In fact, the story has so many holes on so many levels, that you will probably need to see it several times just to be able to "get" what he is saying... maybe. You walk away with the same feeling you get when you are watching the type of horror movie where you want to yell at the characters on screen for walking right into a trap that should be obvious. Scott has some very interesting concepts that could easily have been developed in a more succinct manner. Instead it feels clumsy, illogical, and somewhat predictable. Yet having prefaced with all of this, it is still a Ridley Scott film and worth seeing, as he is still a master of his craft. This is clearly not of the same level as was Blade Runner.or Alien. But it does give you insight into what his vision was when he made Alien and who the people were who flew in the spacecraft that they first found. See it for this, but don't expect a classic.
Cons bad acting, too complex
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Men in Black 3D - great summer fun
PostedJune 6, 2012
Dialogue
5
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Though not as well constructed as The Avengers, MIB 3 is pretty darn good for a summer movie. The plot rests on space not being the final frontier, time is! And like Marty McFly, Agent J (Will Smith) must go back in time to meet his mentor Agent K's (Tommy Lee Jones) younger version (superbly played by Josh Brolin) and change events to preserve the future.
Its definitely different than the previous two and Will Smith is beginning to show his age, but its got all the classic elements that make these films so entertaining and a few new characters to keep you interested.
The best part is the surprise ending that really pulls on your heart strings and gives you a great deal of insight into the back story. Destined to be a classic, go out and see it in 3D!
Pros well paced, great actors
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
2
/
5
What To Expect When You're Expecting - more than this!!!!!
PostedJune 4, 2012
Dialogue
2
/
5
Special Effects
1
/
5
Art Direction
1
/
5
Acting
1
/
5
Story
1
/
5
Camerawork
3
/
5
With the feel of a low budget made for TV movie, this film wastes some good talent on an adaptation of a guide book made into a series of vignettes dealing with pregnancy. Frankly, the best laugh of the movie comes during the credits as a slapstick sight gag, way too late to redeem the otherwise lackluster script. Each story line is totally predictable and tired. The acting is weak and the comedy tired. Its hard to believe they actually got so many big names to embarrass themselves here. I expected more and got less. Wait for it to come to TV.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
The Avengers - every bit as good as you hoped!
PostedMay 22, 2012
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
5
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
After years of slowly building up a series of superhero films, Marvel's Avengers finally comes to life in an over the top extravaganza worthy of all the waiting. Even with all the separate huge personalities, the sum here is actually greater than any one of them. This is a team effort in every sense of the word. Its the perfect balance of action and comedic relief with plenty of heart. And when its funny, its unexpected and great. All the small pieces in small scenes throughout the film tie together smartly later in the film.
You should probably know by now that in all the films in this series, you really should stay to the end for the extra scene. And then, after that one, stick around until the very bitter end after ALL the credits for one more scene! Remember this word....shwarma! Gotta love it!
Pros great action
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