Reviews by Xanadon't

One of those movies I really enjoyed while watching, though tomorrow Ill have no idea why. Nothing will stand out and Ill have very little to use as a basis for recommendation. And yet... Something really appealed to me here and Im pretty sure its the quiet sense of kindness that permeates the film; the way the characters are presented, the way the story unfolds. Call me sentimental but its refreshing to see a quirky, darkly comedic drama that sticks up for its loser characters. The writing and direction somehow captures a sense of fun, innocence, and absurdity despite the more sinister or destructive motives and behaviors at play. All along we root for the main characters redemption and in the end, by luck, we arent disappointed.

I really didnt expect much from this movie, but quickly realized theres a talented film crew steering this project. By the end The Sentinel easily became one of my very favorite 70s horror pics. Cristina Rains is pure beauty with more acting chops than you might guess. The less is more approach to effects and scares works incredibly well here, and the story is sure to keep you absorbed and guessing all the way through. The Sentinel takes a turn for the bizarre in the way that the best Satanic cult stories do. Highly entertaining, sufficiently creepy, and one the most purely enjoyable horror films Ive seen in a long while. If youre a fan of the genre with a fondness for pretty brunettes you simply cannot miss this one.

Hugely entertaining and wicked smart, The Incredibles is not only among my favorite animated films of all time, but also one of the very best films of 2004, regardless of genre. Kids will enjoy this one, though its 115 minute runtime should be the first clue that this movie was made with adults in mind. The Incredibles plays with tons of different movie cliches and stock characters, striking the perfect comedic or suspenseful note every time. It also breathes new life into familiar moments of family drama in a way most other productions fail. The animation is top notch here, on full display in the form of explosions, angry ocean waters, and lightning fast action sequences, but also in the film's quiet, domestic moments. One particular scene is a total tip of the hat to Return of the Jedi; just icing on the best cake in the bakery. Watch this one, whether with your kid, girlfriend, or on your own. You're sure to have a good time.

The Secret in Their Eyes is a masterfully crafted film about some very big ideas, namely about the value of human life, how we measure that value, who determines that value, and how it is best fulfilled. Of course we are not beat over the head with this message, nor does the director make obvious statements regarding his position (because as I said, it's MASTERFULLY crafted) but when we find ourselves moved by this film (and you truly will, over and over again) it usually has to do with this theme. We are presented with two different but not seperate story archs that take place in Argentina at two different times (1974 and 2000-ish). One story follows the brutal, unsolved rape/murder of a 23 year-old woman, her investigation, and the grief of her adoring and devoted widower. The other, and ultimately central, story is a love story that deals with the unfufilled romance between an accomplished, albeit young, judge and an integritous investigator assigned to the aforemention murder case. Twenty-five years later, now retired, he is compelled to write a novel about the case, but in order to do so must once again sift through so many unanswered questions. This movie covers incredible amounts of ground emotionally (not to mention temporally) with such seemingly impossible efficiency. Moments of pure hilarity are cozied up next to scenes of tragedy and achingly vivid brutality, which are weaved seemlessly through moments of unadulterated heartache, which then give way to a beckoning potential for profound transformation and happiness. Doors are closed and opened, closed and opened--on camera, in the hearts of the characters, and in our minds as we try to guess at the answers to the murder case. This movie is so different from anything I've seen in long time and so much is handled so well in this film that I can't even begin to give it the recommendation I'd like to here. It truly deserves a thoughtful audience so please, reader include yourself among them.

For better or worse, Dumb and Dumber IS the definition of a 90's classic comedy. I for one, love it, and you won't find me apologizing one bit. It's outrageous, inane, and yes, utterly stupid at times. But I think even the most cynical would be forced to agree that it is not without it's certain charms. One of the things that makes this movie so succussful as a comedy is that it goes all out for the laugh with such committment and sincerity. Carey and Daniels seem to really push each other, neither one wanting to be upstaged. If this was a comedic battle between two lesser talents this would spell a nightmare for the audience. But luckily these are two very gifted actors so in the end the audience benefits greatly from it all. And for those who say this movie is lacking in plot/story, they're only partially right. There IS a fair amount of heart to this film, buried beneath the jokes, mostly to do with the friendship between Harry and Lloyd and the challenges that friendship faces. Think what you will about this one, but I say Dumb and Dumber brightens the landscape of American Comedy.

To me this was the biggest surprise of the last couple years as far as genre works go. I still kinda can't believe Im recommending this film, but here goes: Everyone in this movie turns in a strong performance. The script is solid. Better than solid. Especially for a horror film. I really cared about the characters in this movie, so I really felt like there was a lot at stake, all the way through. And I never thought Id wanted see a little girl on film die as much as I did here. Forget what preconceptions you may have and give this movie a watch.

Bloody, campy, nazi-zombie killing fun. This movie isn't spectaular but it's tightly made, surprisingly professional and just a good, mindless time. You can do much worse than Dead Snow.

Probably the most polarizing movie to come out last year. People either hated this movie or loved it. If you havent seen it yet, rent it, turn out all the lights, turn the sound up to movie theatre volume and give it your full attention. I was sold on this movie thru and thru. I think the film makers did danm near everything really, really well. The girl gives a fantastic performance precisely because at no point does it feel like she performing. She is so natural, and so devoid of self-consciousness in front of this hand-held camera, its unreal. It's like its never occurred to her that audiences are going to watch this someday. I wasnt bored at all while watching this. Rather, I felt like a privledged viewer, excited to see what happens next. The film wisely relies on subtlety, and strikes a eerie, menacing tone. It creeped my sh#t out.

A British horror piece about a couples romantic secluded get away gone horribly wrong. Eden Lake tells a larger story about youth and violence, the nature of danger and how our actions or choices can unwittingly set things in violent motion. This is a brutal film highlighted with some strong performances, and validates our darker notions about everything thats wrong with society. Not a must see, but very good. Besides, the English do nearly everything better than we do.

Chan-wook Park, known best for the stunning, nearly perfect revenge film, Oldboy, returns with Thirst, another strong, even brilliant effort. Thirst is a vampire story, but really a morality tale. A Catholic Priest is infected with vampire-ism thru a blood transfusion. As a priest he is accustomed to staving off worldly desires, but finds himself truly tested by his new Vampire urges. A very thoughtful film, tragic, stoic, and downright creepy at times, with just the right dose of sometimes silly, sometimes bizarre, sometimes morbid humor. The sound editing is also notable in the way it adds to the cringe effect at times, partly aided by the fact that music is used sparingly. Definately watch this one!