K-PAX - Kevin Spacey plays a mysterious man who sort of 'appears' out of nowhere in the middle of some station. He claims to be from some distant planet but also has knowledge to prove it. Put into a 'clinic,' he continues revealing pearls of wisdom to the other patients. Prophetlike in his manner in relating to others, he attracts the attention of Dr. Powell, played by Jeff Bridges. The doctor is the one who does some detective work, kind of like in Arlington Road. Jeff Bridges does his solid part without detracting from the center of attention by portraying the usual skeptical doctor who begins to have second thoughts. I like this movie very much for its quite original story and not to say the least, Kevin Spacey's great acting.
A Beautiful Mind - Russel Crowe is a physicist or scientist(close enough isn't it?), I forgot, who gets into a prestigious university despite his lack of social 'finesse.' Somehow he meets and gets married to a beautiful woman (Jennifer Connelly) and continues on with life working at a high-security government-related office. Somewhere down the line, he gets involved in 'special work' that keeps accumulating until he 'snaps.' This was gripping, I went along with the plot only to be surprised, like Dr. Nash and his wife were in the flick, about a world that lay hidden in the psyche of a brilliant mind. Based on a true story.
Ocean's Eleven - Sort of an action flick where timing is key. I've been told it was a remake of a much older one, which I've never seen. It's another burglary flick with enough hi-tech to keep the audience entertained. The collection of actors is amazing and so is their scheme to rob 3 joints at the same time.
Shallow Hal - The title sums up how the man is. But upon realizing it isn't 'getting' him anywhere, he manages to talk to the Tony Robbins and gets a renewed look at life and most importantly, women. The discrepancy between what Hal sees and what those around him know is funny but illustrative on how blind love, if you may, can be.
Orange County - This was one hilarious flick. Some of the themes were quite typical of 'dude' flicks, but then there were also other things in the story that prevented it from deprecating itself to the usual stuff. Quite a few things are going on at the same time and they either collide or coallesce to produce some hilarious scenes. Sure this may not be the movie of the year, but by the same token, it wasn't meant to be that way. It's to let the watcher kick back and have some good laughs. Viewers under 40 who aren't too square may enjoy it. Particular attention should be paid to Lance, played by Jack Black. He's a 'souped-up' typical dude in a flick like this, but he's laugh riot.
Changing Lanes - This was a gripping flick that takes place over a few days time. The suspense is derived from the need for the main character(Ben Affleck) to make a decision within a time frame that does not disrupt the way business is done at his father-in-law's law firm. Samuel L. Jackson is one upset man who tries to pretend he's mature enough to face tough decisions while silently waiting for problems to stir him up. A simple story with a few somewhat unexpected turns when you think you begin to see it. The action and invisible tension seemed to have helped this movie. 4/12/02
Showtime - Another hilarious flick. Sure, I sometimes wonder if Robert DeNiro has done one too many cop movies. But then, I dig his stuff so it has kept a high ranking so far. Murphy offers his fair share of mirth. This is not as funny but kind of reminds me of another hilarious flick I saw long time ago called Midnight Run, also with DeNiro but with Charles Grodin. I can see this again. 4/1/02
The Time Machine - A professor is obsessed in finding the key to bringing his other-half back from death. He succeeds in making such a contraption that gets him into more trouble than he asked for. He goes back and into the future, even though it looks rather primitive. The moral of the story: Hi-tech gadgets cannot make up for one's shortcomings (ie. If you promised to get flowers, get the damn flowers no matter what). It's fun. I'd watch it again to see Samantha Mumba.
Panic Room - I was in the theater when the fire alarm went off. Twenty minutes into the flick, the audience slowly flowed outside without panicking at all. I thought the interruption ruined my experience; however, the story remained pretty tense throughout. Simple story and a little surprise at the end. I thought the daughter in the movie was a boy. 4/2/02
The Count of Monte Cristo - A movie about betrayal and revenge. It was almost as I'd anticipated. except the almost fantastic lengths that the role played by James Caviezel went. It also feels good to see him succeed and get his fair share. Based on a French novel, the story covers a span of of over 10 years. Besides Dagmara Dominczyk, the grandeur that wealth can buy is worth the watch.
Blade II - One nasty flick. I was enticed by the ads and happened to be near a theater so I checked it out. I hadn't seen the original Blade, but this kind of made me curious about what went on in the first part. Some blood but mostly instantaneous slicing and dicing that keeps a fast pace for most of the time. This is not something you'd take a child to see. Effects are worth noting.
The Royal Tenenbaums - I heard it was a comedy and I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it was short-lived at the theaters. I was lucky to find it at discount theater. The movie was shot like it was done over 20 years ago. Kind of nostalgic(for some), the locations are limited and it isn't a flick where tons of dough was spent in order to make it more live, maybe because it's the people in this family we are really interested in. Quite freaky in some ways, but pretty hilarious in others. The story seems to move too fast to let the characters develop, but somehow things fall into place. Although not the usual kind of humor, it was enough for me to place it high in my list. Not for anyone.
The Rookie - A school teacher who coaches the worst team in the league make a deal with the kids. If they do well, he give himself another shot at the big leagues that he once had to pass up for injury. Based on the story of a real person, played by Dennis Quaid, going through the emotions of regret and hope. A heartwarming story especially recommended for kids in the ruts. 4/15/02
Ice Age - A heart-warming movie for kids and peaceful adults. I first saw the trailer close to a year before. I wonder what took so long to get it showing. The graphics are not great but acceptable and more than enough if one keeps in mind that this isn't a science-fiction action movie. 4/5/02
Unfaithful - Honestly, I saw this only because of Diane Lane, not because I'm into sad stories like what takes place here. She plays a housewife who kind of gets a bit bored with the 'usual' thing when she meets a young 'literary' kind of French dude. I will not go into details because I recommend this. What I can say is that at the beginning, she is made to look like a usual housewife who must have 'once' been nice-looking. As the story progresses one can notice that she really begins to look 'younger' and to regain the 'vibrance' she must have had originally(I mean the character). It's not just the way she's made to dress, it's her acting that provides that transition. I can see this again. 5/16/02
Spider-Man - This is a quick-paced, fun movie with some neat stunts and graphics. Besides Willem Defoe, most of the cast are fairly unknown. I wouldn't be surprised however, if they wouldn't remain that way for long. This is a another hero flick, no doubt, but it was well-made and quite entertaining. As anticipated, it doesn't quite end like a standalone movie because it implies troubles in the horizon with newer villains. 5/9/02
Undercover Brother - I liked this mainly because it was reminiscent of the typical 'black' look of the 70s. Although funny, I wonder if younger folks would be able to relate to the icons and honestly speaking, the stereotypes of days gone that are poked fun on. White folks are also poked fun on. I'd watch it just to see Denise Richards. 6/3/02
Bad Company - I watched it because of Anthony Hopkins. He plays a CIA officer who 'scouts' a man who's identical to a former colleague who died during a clandestine mission. Actually the deceased and the replacement are twins who parted soon after birth. It's sort of predictable, but hey, I like Anthony and he did his part as he should. 6/7/02
The Bourne Identity - This flick had me physically and mentally on the edge of my seat. Other than Matt Damon, most characters that were seemingly nondescript actually made this a good flick built on a solid plot, not on glitz. Characters were developed as much as necessary, not too soon nor too late, without going overboard nor detracting from the main story. I can see this again. 6/17/02
Minority Report - The audience is given an orientation as to the 'what and how' of a system that tracks down and (hopefully) catches offenders before tragedy strikes. Cruise is in charge of it and before he knows it(kind of), he's been implicated in a crime. Since it hasn't taken place, he sets out to get to the bottom of this. A lot of high-tech gadgets thrown in with furniture slightly avantguarde relative to what we find today, with a touch of messiness create an unreal yet down-to-earth atmosphere that is not overly squeeky clean or fake. A few things were unexpected, and some were 'fit-in' too easily towards the end. Though a different story, I felt the theme of 'family' and gloomy undertones similar to A.I.. 6/24/02
Attack of the Clones - Plenty of time and money was put in making this. The graphics was endeniably neat. Although young Annakin was supposed to be somewhat 'different,' I felt the overall effect was kind of undermined. The role was either underdeveloped or not fully explained to the actor. I kind of imagine the excitement and awe I got was the same as the one I experienced watching Star Wars as a kid. However, to me it feels like a souped-up science-fiction turned into a movie with live actors. I imagine the full desired effect may be hard to attain without seeing all of the episodes in the right sequence together. I recommend this flick just to check out Natalie Portman. 7/3/02
MIB-II - Folks who saw the original have already been familiarized with most of the funky gadgets. I was expecting newer and freakier things and some were. The car was unreal but neat; the aliens played roles that guaranteed we'd be at least a bit taken aback. The feisty little pug returns. Since it was a comedy, I wasn't expecting an unpredictable ending nor overexplanation; however, the story got wrapped up a bit too soon when I would have liked a bit more follow-through on the what the 'light' really was. 7/9/02
Road to Perdition - I walked into the theater already having some idea as to what it was about. I also heard all the stuff that seemed to glorify it. Well, it's true that it's about gangsters in the 1930s and that Michael Sullivan(Tom Hanks) is not only faced with the dilemma of his child being a witness to some heinous crime, but that he himself was involved in it. The movie begins with a somewhat solemn yet austere atmosphere that seemed to have pervaded families around that time. Sure, there are developments as the story goes, but there's more to it. As if the movie begins with characters in 'still life,' the stillness starts to become fluid towards the end. The story is simple, yet the emotions and interactions between father and son cannot be understated or put into words. My telling this cannot spoil the movie significantly because the core that makes this movie worthwhile is not something that can be explained without seeing it for yourself. It's true, it's good. About 1 hour 55 minutes. 7/15/02
K-19: The Widowmaker - The time 1961, when the 'Arms Race' was raging between the Soviet Union and the US. Liam Neeson is in charge of the first nuclear powered submarine in the Soviet Navy. Harrison Ford steps in as the new commander of the boat and crew including the former captain as his first officer just before it sets 'sail' to perform some 'tests.' For the most part, it's a typical sub flick but what stands out is the portrayal and clash between a stricly business bureaucrat and the human side of Russian camaraderie. Ford seems to represent the former with a rather hard shell to crack, while Neeson is respectful of authority but also puts in his time to relate to his men. Based on a true story that was kept secret, for obvious reasons, until Glasnost and what not dawned around 1988. I saw the special on this on Discovery channel and it further compelled me to see this gripping story. FYI, the scenes of the men suffering radioactive exposure isn't as bad as how it was explained in the documentary. Many viewers might be expecting further development of Ford's character; however, given the limited information, maybe the cultural tendencies and/or national pride, this may be as far as 'fair portrayal' can go without going overboard. Not for kids. 7/29/02
XXX - Contrary to what the name would suggest, this is a PG-13 flick and it has nothing to do with the Pittsburgh - Dallas game of 1996. Although espionage movies seem to be on the rise as of late, this is one flick that is hard to beat. I can see this again; however, I do not wish to spoil it for anyone who's looking for one fun package. Also worth noting is the end of the flick. People tend to start walking out as soon as they 'get the hint' that it's over. Well don't! The graphics shown then is just as, if not more, neat than all the stunts and scenes throughout the body. 8/9/02
City by the Sea - Another cop flick with DeNiro. Due to its predictability, I will not divulge the details. Despite what was already mentioned, it was still a pleasure to see his acting shine through. What cannot be overstated was the recurring theme of how difficult it can be to relate to one's family members. 9/6/02
Red Dragon - The 3rd movie of the series that started with Silence of the Lambs; however, this story takes place before the others. Hannibal, part 2, was quite a graphic shocker but this one returns to a format closer to the first one. There're nonetheless some gnarly scenes that I wouldn't want teenagers to be watching. 10/10/02
White Oleander - Supposedly a movie for women, which turns out to be quite heavy. Many viewers may not have shared similar experiences; however, it offers a glimpse of the dark side of growing up that many of us forget over time but which may not remember fondly and how complicated the whole business of family and growing up is. Not recommended for anybody. 10/12/02
The Transporter - I went to the theater not expecting anything from this flick. I went to see the stunts. It is true that it does not have much of a plot, but I was pleasantly surprised with the neat stunts performed. The woman is very cute. 10/12/02
The Ring - I was aware of the original movie in Japan, but was not interested then. What made me see it was the fact that a movie that did well in Japan was remade in the US. I thought there must be something convincing enough for that to become reality. Believe it or not, it's a PG-13 flick which is pretty scary. The original movie was based on the first book of a trilogy by Koji Suzuki. The others were titled "Rasen" and "Loop." 10/19/02
Formula 51 - I just had to see Samuel L. Jackson. It's a comedy which has a few twists but has a fairly simple plot. What really surprised me was that Jackson was performing a fraction of the cussing. It can be a good example for those who wish to imitate one of those British accents. 10/26/02
I-Spy 
- Another spy flick but more of a comedy. Murphy is funny and the other guy tries his best. There are some funky high-tech things but it doesn't save the movie from being another one in the pile. Noteworthy is the editing blunder one can notice when the 2 are holed up in the sewer system of Hungary. Pay attention to Murphy's tie as time progresses only to notice it's back on nicely. 11/12/02
Chamber of Secrets - I had never read any of the books. Last year when talk about the first one was all over town, I myself went to check it out. I was surprised, pleasantly. This time, again, only difference being that I was expecting a good flick and got more than that. The movie is very well made, entertaining and provides scares that cannot be anticipated from a movie that 'seems' like it was for kids. Like in the first flick, a trip has to be taken into the dark woods. Now, the basic stuff is about the same; however, the well-written story really shines through to still produce a plot that cannot be fully predicted. Due to its length, about 2 hours and 45 minutes, parents with children too young to maintain concentration are urged to wait for the DVD. Please let us adults enjoy without you critters running around. I can see this again. 11/21/02
Die Another Day - The 15-minute introduction offers a summary of what happens when things do not go as planned by James Bond and crew. He loses his job and is bent on recovering the 'honour' of doing what he has done better than anyone else in the business. Pretty exciting overall, but during the flick I managed to wonder how some of the 'evildoers' got funds for their operation and what country or countries were accomplice(s). I left wanting to know more about Miranda Frost's real background. 11/30/02
Equilibrium - I'd like to see this again. This was not advertised much, if at all, but the simple synopsis made me check it out. It starts by reminding me of the classic Fahrenheit 451 and adds elements of Matrix. Sort of predictable, but surprisingly refreshing. No movie spoilers for folks who'll only see it once. What is unique is the martial art form using firearms. It's so unreal it's amazing. 12/6/02
Analyze That - I haven't seen a funny DeNiro flick since Showtime. This one's much better, a lot more cussing, almost but not as much as in Midnight Run. A must see for non-native English-speakers who wish to improve on their slang. Some unexpected turns, but generally a simple story. Do not forget to keep watching after the 'end' sign. 12/9/02
The Two Towers - The story begins with a slight rehash from when Gandalf fell into the pit. The objective has not changed; however, the different circumstances that separated the 'fellowship' leads each party through their own choices to hopefully achieve a concerted effort. This has been well-made and fits nicely after seeing the 1st part. It has been publicized that all 3 parts were filmed together, making it easier for the creators to finely tune each. The only gripe I have is that there wasn't enough of Liv Tyler to drool over. 12/21/02
Nemesis - Fortunately and unfortunately, I did not see the previous one titled Insurrection. This one certainly satisfies my expectations as a Next Generation fan. So what's going on here? The Romulans seemed to have cloned Jean-Luc Picard, in the effort to replace him at a future date. The plan got scrapped, but the clone lived on to unleash his pent-up wrath. I've never seen the Enterprise get as battered as in this flick.
About Schmidt - Jack plays a man who just retires and finds himself wondering what to do for the rest of his life. People hoping to see a comedy might be disappointed because it isn't a laugh riot; it does offer its interpretation of growing old. There are some moments that warrant laughter but I will not spoil it for you. 1/4/03
Adaptation - A story about a screenwriter writing about a writer. Predictable things seem to be put specifically to throw the audience off when the unpredictable occur. The development of the main character went overboard to produce a sleepy beginning where his extreme indecisiveness was irritating. Other than that it was a rather unique one. 1/12/03
25th Hour - Edward Norton plays an ex-drug dealer who faces his last day before going to jail. I got lost a few times when the time frame switches to and fro but not problematic. It covers the emotions experienced by the one who departs and those who are being left behind. A heavy story without the usual clutter. Rosario Dawson is amazing. I need to see this one again. 1/25/03
The Recruit - A man gets recruited before finishing his last year at a prestigious school. He did not expect to be recruited by the CIA, but was thrilled to get involved in a world he believed his late father to have been in. Not exactly predicatable but I wouldn't want to spoil it either. 2/1/03
Shanghai Knights - The story takes place in the early 1900s, I think. Since I wasn't expecting much, I was pleasantly surprised a little. Owen Wilson sounds the same in almost every flick I've seen, but I somehow cannot hate him. Maybe it's his offbeat joviality. Jackie Chan performs as usual, but frankly, I haven't seen many of his movies but was bored with the usual but creative martial arts stunts. At a glance I thought the villain was Alec Baldwin, like in The Shadow. Most notable was the woman playing the part of Jackie Chan's younger sister. I did not notice any editing glitches in the visual, but did notice anacronisms like why would people riding on an automobile for the first time mention the vocabulary 'brake.' Anyway, there are quite a few terms used that probably came to being only within the last 20 years. 2/7/03
DareDevil - I just couldn't resist a movie with Jennifer Garner in tight leather. Like most 'action' heroes, this seems to be based on one of those comics. The first 20 minutes is acutally a flashback, after which the audience is returned to the 'present.' Like all heroes, there is a factor of ultra-humanness that helps him/her do what they do best. It's when they 'miss' that misfortune strikes. The few words Colin Farrell utters are heavily accented while Michael Clarke Duncan plays the 'Kingpin.' A few of the stunts are pretty amazing because he doesn't have strings like Spiderman. 2/14/03
Old School - I wanted a laugh riot and that's what I got. I was crying in laughter. A group of working men decide to start a fraternity or party house (what's the difference?). I will not deny that it was ridiculous enough that it was hilarious. Notable is the fact that this was the first time I heard pretty much the full length of Metallica's Master of Puppets in any movie. 2/21/03
The Life of David Gale - A brilliant college professor cum anti-Death Penalty activist gets jailed for raping and maliciously killing his fellow co-worker/activist. The story starts where a reporter at a major station is asked to interview the death row inmate David Gale less than a week before his execution in the state of Texas. She's given 3 opportunities of 2 hours each to find out all she needs to write the story. This is one heavy flick I wouldn't want children to be watching. 3/2/03
Bringing Down the House - This starts out like the usual Steve Martin flick where we get to see how he portrays a typical white guy who's sort of in the middle of the spectrum between conservative and liberal. We have all seen the parts in the ads which make us go to see it and in fact most, if not all, of it takes place in the first half. Things really begin to coagulate in the second half where he realizes something that the part played by Queen Latifa does not know. One undeniable factor in making this fun is the inclusion of Eugene Levy. 3/15/03
Cradle 2 the Grave - I'm not a big fan of expressions utilizing numbers to simplify or to make a message 'cool.' Interestingly, this action movie is pretty well-made. Sure, the villain is typical and those that are being victimized tend to be stuck between a rock and an even harder place. It's certainly not a movie I'd want to watch again, but for the first time it is fairly entertaining. I cannot spoil it for you. But wait! there's more! The sister in the flick is real fine. 3/27/03
The Core - This movie sucked. I see all kinds of flicks and I haven't fallen asleep watching one since The Last Emperor. Isn't it any good? Well, the latter part was like a usual flick, but I felt the first 30 minutes were a gruelling test of concentration. I even forgot I had seen it! I faintly began remembering when I saw posters advertized in Japan. Don't bother. Whoever made this movie could use a good drill into the core of their brain to help get it started. 3/?/03
X-Men 2 - The X-men and Brotherhood kind of unite to defend themselves from a human but formidable military man bent on eradicating all mutants from the face of the earth. I understand that their leather uniforms are supposed to be comfortable for them to move around, but come on! It could have been a little tighter, at least for Jean Grey. There's more 'info' on how Wolverine came to be. 5/6/03
azumi - A Japanese flick, apparently based on a cartoon, that might never be available in the US. Isolated in the mountains from the rest of the world, there are 10 teenagers who've been adopted and trained to be assassins by a Sekigahara veteran, Gessai Obata, played by Yoshio Harada. The one and only girl in the group of SHIKAKUs is Azumi, played by Aya Ueto, who also happens to be the fastest and most formidable of the band. Their mission was to one day leave the mountain and wipe out the 3 remaining Toyotomi loyalists, suspected of conspiring to overthrow the then new Tokugawa shogunate. Beside some of the unreal moves, camera angle and hairdos, it's a pretty entertaining flick. Although there are a few 'loppings,' the Japanese movie industry rated it as PG-12(?). There is plenty of blood splattering to kick its rating in the US to R. 5/17/03
Taxi 3 - The 3rd of a series made in France. A police detective and a taxi driver friend work together to track down a band of bank robbers who dress in Santa costumes. I was reading the subtitles in Japanese as I tried to retrain my ear and was able to pick up a few 'merd's here and there. Actually pretty dumb but hilarious at the same time. Maybe it's just me. 6/5/03
Matrix Reloaded - I was disappointed, maybe because I had already seen about 3 movie trailer versions. The action is without a doubt amazing but I felt the movie ended like a cliffhanger. Yeah, we know there's a 3rd part, but I was expecting some kind of 'development' that would please us viewers while leaving a hint as to what lay ahead. I did not get the strong impact as when I saw the first one. Another downside was that I was not invited to that first party held at Zion. The story was already pretty complicated, seeing the first one should be a prerequisite for this one. Monica Belluci is a must see. Also, the 'Keymaker' looked like a Japanese liquor shop owner. 6/08/03
The Italian Job - For the exception of Perfect Storm, most Walberg flicks turn out alright. A band of professional thieves get away with lots of gold bricks in the city of Venice. As most of you who've seen the ads on TV, you know someone(Norton) betrays the group. The rest of the story deals with how they get back the booty. Charlize Theron, the sister from South AfriKa looks nice. Fun to watch. 6/24/03
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