![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[REVIEWS] Films: Miscellaneous
Jul. 10th, 2011 05:56 am.
The Box (2009)
A disfigured man named Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) informs Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden) Lewis that they have 24 hours to decide if they want to push a button inside a box that will give them a cool million -- but a complete stranger will die at the same time. Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) writes and directs this thriller based on sci-fi writer Richard Matheson's short story.
I think maybe I'll just steer clear of Richard Kelly in the future. I'm unimpressed by his work. I really love Frank Langella and the idea of the movie is good -- I like the original story quite a lot -- but I was just really underwhelmed. [Rating: 1.5 stars]
Insidious (2011)
After moving into a new home, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and his wife Renai (Rose Byrne) confront terrifying tribulations when their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) falls into a coma and his body starts to attract malevolent forces from a mysterious netherworld. But when the family decides to move again, hoping to leave the evil spirits behind, they realize that their problems are just beginning. James Wan (Saw) directs.
I'd heard good things about this movie but I still wasn't expecting too much. I wound up pleasantly surprised! There were definitely moments of cheese, but there were far fewer than usual in modern horror. I was properly creeped out for most of the movie, I never got bored, and the very end was great. I'm glad I watched it but, if I'm totally honest, I kind of wish I'd watched it during the daytime instead of at one in the morning... XD [Rating: 3.5 stars]
Burke and Hare (2010)
Director John Landis rolls out his first feature film in more than a decade with this black comedy based on the true exploits of two 19th-century body snatchers, played by Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis. When Burke and Hare's successful business -- selling corpses to the Edinburgh Medical College for dissection -- is hampered by a supply shortage, the men are forced to take drastic measures. Isla Fisher and Tim Curry also star.
I almost never have high hopes for comedy films because ... I'm just so damn picky about comedy. And John Landis is kind of hit-or-miss for me, so I wasn't expecting much. Maybe I should have, though, because I've never not loved anything I've seen Simon Pegg do. Also, I've seen much less of his work, but I really like Andy Serkis, too. This wound up being delightfully dark comedy. Before the five minute mark, I'd commented to my co-watcher that I'd already snickered more than a half dozen times, and it kept me laughing out loud through the whole thing. Not to mention, Simon Pegg was adorable. Aww, Burke. ♥! [Rating: 4 stars]
The Witches (1990)
A young boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) and his grandmother (Mai Zetterling) go on vacation only to discover their hotel is hosting an international witch convention, where the Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston) is unveiling her master plan to turn all children into mice. Will Luke fall victim to the witches' plot before he can stop them? This adaptation of author Roald Dahl's fantastical children's story co-stars Rowan Atkinson and Brenda Blethyn.
I'm so sad that I didn't see this movie when I was a kid! It would've been one of my favorites. Even now, it's still really fun to watch. Of course, it features Jim Henson puppetry, so naturally it's going to be fun to watch. The ending was really different from the book, and possibly not quite in the spirit of the book, but ... I still liked it. Even though it was significantly happier, which isn't usually my thing. XD [Rating: 3.5 stars]
Little Fockers (2010)
Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has finally won the approval of his intimidating father-in-law, retired CIA agent Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro). But when Greg and wife Pam (Teri Polo) add a pair of rambunctious kids to the mix, the tension between the two men rises to the surface once again. Expect chaos as the couple tries to juggle the demands of raising children in the hilarious third installment of the Meet the Parents story.
If I'm totally honest, I have to admit to a couple chuckles. But mostly I just hope they're done making movies about this family because the second one was the only one worth watching. Probably because Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are the only good thing in the whole series. :( [Rating: 2 stars]
The Box (2009)
A disfigured man named Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) informs Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden) Lewis that they have 24 hours to decide if they want to push a button inside a box that will give them a cool million -- but a complete stranger will die at the same time. Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) writes and directs this thriller based on sci-fi writer Richard Matheson's short story.
I think maybe I'll just steer clear of Richard Kelly in the future. I'm unimpressed by his work. I really love Frank Langella and the idea of the movie is good -- I like the original story quite a lot -- but I was just really underwhelmed. [Rating: 1.5 stars]
Insidious (2011)
After moving into a new home, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and his wife Renai (Rose Byrne) confront terrifying tribulations when their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) falls into a coma and his body starts to attract malevolent forces from a mysterious netherworld. But when the family decides to move again, hoping to leave the evil spirits behind, they realize that their problems are just beginning. James Wan (Saw) directs.
I'd heard good things about this movie but I still wasn't expecting too much. I wound up pleasantly surprised! There were definitely moments of cheese, but there were far fewer than usual in modern horror. I was properly creeped out for most of the movie, I never got bored, and the very end was great. I'm glad I watched it but, if I'm totally honest, I kind of wish I'd watched it during the daytime instead of at one in the morning... XD [Rating: 3.5 stars]
Burke and Hare (2010)
Director John Landis rolls out his first feature film in more than a decade with this black comedy based on the true exploits of two 19th-century body snatchers, played by Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis. When Burke and Hare's successful business -- selling corpses to the Edinburgh Medical College for dissection -- is hampered by a supply shortage, the men are forced to take drastic measures. Isla Fisher and Tim Curry also star.
I almost never have high hopes for comedy films because ... I'm just so damn picky about comedy. And John Landis is kind of hit-or-miss for me, so I wasn't expecting much. Maybe I should have, though, because I've never not loved anything I've seen Simon Pegg do. Also, I've seen much less of his work, but I really like Andy Serkis, too. This wound up being delightfully dark comedy. Before the five minute mark, I'd commented to my co-watcher that I'd already snickered more than a half dozen times, and it kept me laughing out loud through the whole thing. Not to mention, Simon Pegg was adorable. Aww, Burke. ♥! [Rating: 4 stars]
The Witches (1990)
A young boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) and his grandmother (Mai Zetterling) go on vacation only to discover their hotel is hosting an international witch convention, where the Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston) is unveiling her master plan to turn all children into mice. Will Luke fall victim to the witches' plot before he can stop them? This adaptation of author Roald Dahl's fantastical children's story co-stars Rowan Atkinson and Brenda Blethyn.
I'm so sad that I didn't see this movie when I was a kid! It would've been one of my favorites. Even now, it's still really fun to watch. Of course, it features Jim Henson puppetry, so naturally it's going to be fun to watch. The ending was really different from the book, and possibly not quite in the spirit of the book, but ... I still liked it. Even though it was significantly happier, which isn't usually my thing. XD [Rating: 3.5 stars]
Little Fockers (2010)
Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has finally won the approval of his intimidating father-in-law, retired CIA agent Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro). But when Greg and wife Pam (Teri Polo) add a pair of rambunctious kids to the mix, the tension between the two men rises to the surface once again. Expect chaos as the couple tries to juggle the demands of raising children in the hilarious third installment of the Meet the Parents story.
If I'm totally honest, I have to admit to a couple chuckles. But mostly I just hope they're done making movies about this family because the second one was the only one worth watching. Probably because Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are the only good thing in the whole series. :( [Rating: 2 stars]
