Movie Reviews

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Movie Reviews

I love watching movies, and making reviews.
I use my Netflix account to watch them all (:
Since I started running track, I dont have as much time on my hands,
but I still like to get in as many movies as I can.

I will review movies old and new
(okay, most will probably be older because
going to the movie theater is so expensive now!)
Feel free to read them and comment.

I encourage anyone to review any movies
you have recently seen and post it here,
even if I have already reviewed it, second opinions never hurt.
(but I beg you, please keep it literate
and provide a good amount of information about the movie!
And please NO SPOILERS, unless warned)

Post if you have a Netflix account
and we can try to watch some movies together!

Key:
red - movies out now
underlined - recommended
italicized - reviews coming soon
blue - TV shows

Reviews:
Nightmare on Elm Street
11:14
True Grit
Lean on Me
Oceans Eleven
Oceans Twelve
Oceans Thirteen
The Tourist
iCarly
The Buried Life
Shake It Up
Psych
Fight Club
Public Enemies

Date Night
The House Bunny
Ed Wood
Lord of the Flies - 60s
Lord of the Flies - 90s
The Kings Speech
The Inormant!
Liar Liar
Hitch
Young Frankenstein
Dirty Dancing
The Nanny
Good Will Hunting
Crash
Orphan

My Life as a Dog
Black Snake Moan
Suckerpunch
the Prestige
The Sting

 

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Nightmare on Elm Street - 1980's
★★★★★
Notable actors: Johnny Depp

This was a really good movie that i enjoyed a lot, a classic must-see horror film. There were tons of turns and spins, surprises, and creepy guys with claws. For those who dont know, its about a teenage girl who starts having nightmares about a man who had once been burned to death. She fights off sleep, trying to avoid brutal murder from her haunting dreams, and watches as people around her slowly gets killed off. Its no doubt a ride from beginning to end, and I didnt find one time that i felt boredom creep up on me. There was a good amount of gore and frightening images, so those of you who just ate dinner and dont have a strong stomache, Id keep away for a while. Also, all of you should know that i am in love with Johnny Depp (who plays Glen), and he was absolutely gorgeous as a teenager. (:

Just a note: remember that this was an 80s film and if you find anything that seems cliche in here (I did not, but that may be just because I dont watch much horror films) well, it wasnt back then. Its still a classic horror movie, and I recommend you see it.

 

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11:14 - 2005
★★★★
Notable actors: Patrick Swayze

I watched this movie a while ago, but its still holds a good memory in my head, as it was pretty original and i havent seen many like it. Its a dark kind of drama that takes the stories of about 5 people, almost all strangers, and intertwines them all so that they all intersect at the precise moment of 11:14. Theres pretty good acting for the most part and quite interesting to watch. The comedy is definitely on the dark side and there is some gore in it, so watch out! Some of the situations are believable, but some of the things the characters do and the situation that unfolds is somewhat far-fetched and kind of silly.

 

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True Grit - 2011
★★★★
Notable actors: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon

This is actually the re-make of the old '69 movie True Grit. It was a western type movie, so guns, horses, the lot. There have been many mixed reviews that ive heard on this one. I went to see this with a friend expecting much more of a ride. I know she didnt like it (thought it was really boring) and it wasnt as action-y as i thought it would be. Its not really the movie for 2 teenagers looking for some fun and excitement. From a more professional/analytical view of the film, i suppose it was pretty good, good storyline, really good acting, and quite comedical. There was some good action in it, it just went a bit too slow for the average teens attention span. One thing that bothered me a bit was all the mumbling from Jeff Bridges, besides that the cast and set was excellent. The storyline was very good, about a girl, Mattie Ross, age 14, looking for someone to go after Tom Chaney, who killed her father. There are good twists and shooting, clever banter, and i kind of strangely enjoyed the ending. I think that if i had been in a different situation and not with a friend i probably might have liked it more, so im cutting it some slack and giving it a bit of extra credit.

 

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Lean on Me - 1989
★★★★★
Notable actors: Morgan Freeman

I really really liked this movie and found it really entertaining and in some ways, touching. Its about a "tough-talking" principal, Joe Clark (Freeman), who returns to his old high school and finds it almost in ruins. Graffiti, drugs, fights, this school has everything. He goes in and is absolutely determined to turn this school around, students, teachers, and all, and hes willing to go to extreme measures to do so. Its very good and definitely something i would recommend. Its truly inspiring, and amazingly, based on a true story! Its very easy to develop a sort of connection between yourself and the characters, especially Freeman, so charming! Morgan Freeman was excellent for the role, and i thought he was phenomenal in it.

 

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Oceans Eleven - 2001
★★★★★
Notable actors: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle

This all-star cast makes up a really good movie filled with action, comedy, and twisty story lines. This is one that you should really pay attention too. There are small, snide jokes slipped in there that I imagine not everyone always hears, and trust me, you want to hear them all. very funny! The story line is fantastic, one you must pay attention to. Its about a man named Danny Ocean (Clooney) and his crew, 11 in total, going on a grand heist on a high class casino. Its very good, and though there are a number of people to keep track of, its worth it.

 

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Oceans Twelve - 2004
★★★1/2
Notable actors: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bruce Willis (smaller part), Vincent Cassel

The cast is back again -- with one more player. I didnt particularly like this sequel; the plot wasnt as clever and though there were definitely some very funny parts and ironic situations, the storyline just didnt catch with me as the first did. Nonetheless, it isnt a bad movie as they set out once again, to repay the threatening Benedict all the money, plus interest, they stole from him. They move to Europe and end up accepting a challenge of who-is-the-better-thief against another competing french professional.

 

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Oceans Thirteen - 2007
★★★★
Notable Actors: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Al Pacino, Vincent Cassel, Oprah Winfrey (small part)

This is the last installment of the Oceans movies, back with a bang. Reuben Tishkoff, whos been through it all, sticking it out with the lot of them through thick and thin, has been conned out of his wits by his ruthless business partner after trying to legitimize himself. He falls into a coma-like state and is bed ridden, so Ocean and his crew is back and seeking revenge for their old friend. As always, the acting is superb (how could it not be with this superstar cast?!) and this time, the plot, though it can be hard to follow for the short-attention-spanners, is excellent as well. The last of the crime comedy is a hit.

 

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The Tourist - 2011
★★★★
Notable Actors: Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp

"It all started when I met a woman" - this is what Johnny Depp as Frank, the tourist, says in one of his commercials. (Doesnt it always start when you meet a woman?) Well, he met a woman named Elise (Jolie), who is being watched by Scotland Yard because she might possibly be involved with an Alexander Pearce, who they have been searching for forever. She was given explicit directions to find someone who resembled him, and that person just happened to be Frank. Great action, writing, and a bit of comedy make this movie good, though I wasnt so impressed with Jolies acting. Some parts of the movie could have been a bit better than it had been, and there were a few questions I was left with afterwords, though minor.

 

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iCarly
★★★★
Notable Actors: Miranda Cosgrove

This is a TV show which I think is only found on Nick, in the afternoon. Its sort of audience target is young teenagers, just so you know. Its about 3 young teens who host a popular webshow every week, called iCarly. They include the show in some way in every episode, but its mainly abuot their lives. The main star is a girl named Carly (Cosgrove, who you may have recognized from the other popular TeenNick show Drake & Josh) and her brother Spencer (Jerry Trainor) and her two friends: Sam (Jennette McCurdy) and Freddy (Nathan Kress). They get into all kinds of wacky situations together and there are some really funny jokes in just about every episode. It doesnt quite measure up to Drake & Josh (which was made by the same guy), but its definitely close. One thing that bugs me most about the show is Miranda Cosgroves acting, which really isnt the best. She should have stopped after School of Rock.

 

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The Buried Life
★★★★★
Notable Actors: N/A

This TV show is played on MTV. Its about 4 guys, Dave, Ben, Jonnie, and Duncan, and they have set out on a mission to do 100 things that they want to do before they die. In the beginning, they made a list. A long list. It was a list of the top 100 things they wanted to do before they die, and now theyre out to complete it. In every episode they tackle thing by thing, one at a time (usually), whether its to deliver a baby, tell a joke on late night, sneak into the Playboy mansion, or streak a soccer stadium. Its really fun, and actually kind of inspiring in some ways. There are plenty of jokes along the way, and aside from being funny and really really hot, they are also pretty deep. Every time they stop in some place new, they go up to one random person and ask them what they really want to do before they go. They always help the person out, whether its locating an estranged daughter/son, or buying a computer for a really poor school. Its a very good show, and I recommend it to everyone.

 

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Shake It Up
★★★1/2
Notable Actors: N/A

Shake It Up is a somewhat new Disneychanel show. Its about two young girls, Cici and Rocky, and they both dance on a Chicago television show called Shake It Up. It has some decent comedy and they get into some wacky situations. This is a pretty good show for kids I supposed but no one probably older than 8-10. Anyone younger might enjoy it. The songs they play on this show are really good, and the dancing isnt too bad. One thing that bothers me in it (though younger audience might not even notice this) is that they dress like theyre all rich but its supposed to be about a single mom living paycheck to paycheck. It sort of seems like it encourages kids to dress more like that, even if youre on a tight budget, when kids really shouldnt be taught to wear that stuff. Disney has to start making some better shows because nowadays, thats what all the children are looking up to, and theyre not always setting the best example.

 

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Psych
★★★★★
Notable Actors: James Roday, Dule Hill

This show is a really fantastic comedy that I enjoy alot. It plays on USA Network, usually pretty late at night though, but once it starts throwing out new episodes, promos and ads are played for the new season all the time. Its about a psychic detective named Shawn Spencer (James Roday), an out-of-the-box, charming charasmatic, and his partner, Gus (Hill). Shawns been trained by his father, who was an ex-cop, to do all sorts of things. With the best photographic memory everrrr and his charming wit, he lands himself a job as a consultant often working for the Santa Barbara Plice Department. This show is excellent, with many hilarious jokes, screaming, and of course, murrrrderrrrr! There are many recurring lines in the show to listen for, like "Gus dont be a...(insert funny comment here)" and there is also a pineapple hidden in just about every episode to look for. This easily landed a spot in my "Most Favorite TV Shows List" and will probably stay there for a very long time. Ive trained myself to find almost every hidden pineapple in ever show wink

 

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Fight Club - 1999
★★★★★
Notable Actors: Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham-Carter, Edward Norton

This is a movie I could watch over and over and over again, and theres not many movies I could say that about. Its made well, with a superb script and even better acting. This will be kind of hard to give a summary abuot since I dont want to give too much away, but its sort of a deep, almost psychological thriller about an (interestingly, unnamed) insomniac (Norton). There are nights that he never goes to sleep and he knows its unhealthy, so he starts going to support groups for many different things, which ends up helping. There he meets Marla (Bonham-Carter) who does the same therapudic schedule hes on. Eventually, he turns out not being able to sleep again. Thats when he meets Mr. Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), a soap carver out looking for a ride... just like him. They start "Fight Club", a therapudic place where men can beat eachother up and feel better about themselves, or get beaten up and feel better afterwards. It goes world-wide and our insomniac starts having some trouble keeping Durden under control. As the story goes on it gets better and better, but I think Ive already said too much :& I highly reccomend it to anyone and everyone (who can handle these type R rated movies) because its really just fantastic. The acting is phenomenal, as Carter is always good, and I was actually really happy with Pitt this time. This is a movie must-see. Cannot stress that enough. Watch it.

 

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Public Enemies - 2009
★★★1/2
Notable Actors: Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, James Russo, David Wenham

This movie almost deserved 4 stars, but just didnt quite make it. Johnny Depp plays John Gillinger this time, a profession bank robber. Hes got the cops constantly after him, and it takes alot to catch him. He does his best to be that comedicly charming man everyone wants, but it just doesnt quite touch on this one. He meets a woman, Billie (Cotillard) at a restaurant/bar and I guess is "instantly" in love. At first, he lies to her about his identity (as every good theif should) but not long after that he tells her who he really is, saying he doesnt want to lie to her, and she doesnt act the least bit shocked. Its sort of like, wow, Im actually on a date with public enemie number one?! ...Just another night out on the town I guess... So yeah, there are a few parts in there that just dont quite make sense, one pretty surprising twist shows up in the plot (dont worry, I wont give it away), but its kind of out of the blue and how the heck did that happen. There is also LOTS of shooting and some pretty nasty gore in some parts, so bewarned. So with some faults, the movie was overall good, but not Johnny Depp at his best. On a last interesting note: most of the events in this movie are true events that took place. Johnny Depp even fires a gun out of the same window John Dillinger shoots out of and *(minor) SPOILER*: Dillinger escapes from jail the same way it is portrayed in the movie, with all the doors, guards and fake wooden gun (: