Now I love the Harry Potter books and the movies...but I am not a crazed fan, the type who follow Rowling's social media or login in to Pottermore daily. This movie is made for those folks.
FB#1 was an ok wizard romp that I mostly remember for leaving me worrying more about what became of the band of orphans left stranded at the conclusion than the fate of its top characters. Now, this movie crams what would have been a 700 page novel into a 2+ hour film for an overriding plot (and, as it happens, is actually a stopgap for what will be the third film in this side franchise) that could have been easily wrapped within 45 minutes were it not for huge detours and multiple subplots of characters we the viewers are expected to care about just because they are all in the Potterverse.
Lots and lots of dialogue explaining things because, well...things, lotsa Johnny Depp being menacingly evil, lotsa cute CGI animals to keep the kids awake, lotsa mumbly wizard talk. I will give Rowling and the producers credit for the PG-level
handling of Dumbledore & Grendelwald's prior love affair
--but it still doesn't add up to much. On the whole, meh.
It's been a long time since I've seen a movie where the director (and cinematographer) has such complete control of the mise en scene. This is where the movie excels more than anything. It is breathtaking. But, yeah, I wonder what we can come away with regarding Cleo.
After watching this now, I think it has less impact for me right now due to the current administration in the US, just because the activities of Nixon and his cronys seem almost quaint in comparison from what we know so far.
Ok so it's a parody film. I finished watching The Blair Witch Project just days earlier, and having it fresh in my mind really contributed a lot to enjoying this mishmosh. Apparently an L.A. film school had a competition to make the best BWP parody, and these were the winners---5 short parodies bridged by a weird hybrid MTV/QVC TV channel known ad nauseum repeatedly as "The Woods" (sorta a cross of Run Lola Run and The Evil Dead), epitomized by strange blackout horror-movie themed gags, rather than one pile of crap. Smart move--there's no BWP segment that overstays its welcome, execpt for Pauly Shore's dumb, plotless 10 minutes . It is actually fun to see the different perspectives of which beats of the original film that are chosen to be parodied--and how many of the same jokes are used by each. Is it it stupid? Yes mostly. There are some very smart (but ultimately very interior) jokes about film school elitism, American films and the L.A. scene. But consider the fact that these were all made in 2000, before YouTube gave so much more freedom for any goofball to make their own cheap shit spoof movie as these filmmakers do. There's a huge amount of love and "let's make a movie" can do attitude that can be seen here. It's a bit like watching one of those fan Supercuts of the Star Wars films. At least, there is a minimum of cheap sex jokes or gross humor--there is a bit of originality in the writing (sometimes) and real comedic acting (sometimes). But more than anything else, it is worth your time to view the "Willie Witch Project" segment--where three very "street" black guys go on their own expedition into The Woods for the sole dream of making millions of bucks as "those white guys" did, and it is as friggin hilarious as anything that I have seen on Key And Peele or Dave Chappelle's show--making me wonder whatever happened to these guys who don't even get a listing on this film's IMDB page.
So, it's available through vudu.com (and likely elsewhere) for free. If you have 1 hour and 25 minutes or so to spare (mind changing substance ingestion recommended), you should check it out.
Had no idea what this was about, glad that I did see it, although it's last half hour was mighty creaky in some respects. Skillwithaquill's review elsewhere in these comments might be right, although I haven't seen the movie they are referencing. Madison Wolfe is a charmer like Reese Witherspoon or Alicia Silverstone--I would love to see her in more movies.
This definitely required a darkened room and a relatively high sound volume to be fully appreciated. I watched with neither and didn't "feel" the chills. I'm glad they made it though, and they made it well.
Better than it has any right to be. It took awhile, but it finally had me at the moment a character performs a "spontaneous" rewrite of certain popular song at a karaoke bar.
In some ways better than the novel, but it's what you would ultimately expect from a Spielberg picture anyway (apart from a goofy but fantastic tribute to Stanley Kubrick midway in).
Not as bad as The Emoji Movie (the nadir of Sony Pictures Animation thus far), only for the fact Domnhall Gleason puts a lot more into his role as the villian Peter McGregor than any one else would or should.
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is kinda meh, but my kid loved it. Yes, it's cute with some ha-ha moments, but repetitive and low-bar setting
with a plot point already used in Incredibles 2, which my kid figured out within moments!
The pre-lude and post-lude teasers for upcoming Cartoon Network productions were half-hearted and brazen.
This was like a lesser The Simpsons Movie, a movie that knows fully well that you could have watched the same thing at home in a 3-4 episode arc for free (or in this case, with your basic cable monthly fee).
First film I have ever turned off and gave up on 20 minutes in. There are amusingly bad comedies, and there are just boringly bad comedies. This was the latter. What a low blow for Wiig, McKinnon, Wilson and Galifnanikis. The script couldn't make up its mind how smart these characters were supposed to be, and gave us no reason to care about them either.
As before with this franchise, some brilliant and at times frenetic CGI animation, silly gags and a bit of heart put into a somewhat mechanical plot. Nothing offensive here, the kids will laugh their asses off like they did at the screening I attended.
Amazingly horrible--I mean, Manos:The Hands Of Fate and Plan 9 From Outer Space levels of horrible. Amazon Prime should be embarrassed to have this available for streaming. MST3K/Rifftrax could not improve upon this flick's basement-level of ineptitude. It's like a Sid & Marty Krofft production for depressives.
This is the best cinematic fairy tale since The Princess Bride. Fantastic cinematography and special effects, and the acting is not bad at all. Best damned dragon I have seen since Game Of Thrones.
Poorly directed, awful script, nutty plotting and casting, vying to be a low rent Exorcist or Carrie and succeeds at it, thanks to the auspices of the City Of Atlanta. Great midnight movie, seriously don't miss it!
Batshit crazy Mexican ripoff of Kiki's Delivery Service. Instead of a talking cat, the heroine has three singing snails and a ferret as companions. If you can rent it for free, do so!
Comments 1 - 25 of 188
Movie comment on Shazam!
Agrimorfee
Shazam! v. Captain Marvel was an intellectual property lawsuit between DC & Marvel some time ago, hence the separation between these names.Movie comment on Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Agrimorfee
Now I love the Harry Potter books and the movies...but I am not a crazed fan, the type who follow Rowling's social media or login in to Pottermore daily. This movie is made for those folks.FB#1 was an ok wizard romp that I mostly remember for leaving me worrying more about what became of the band of orphans left stranded at the conclusion than the fate of its top characters. Now, this movie crams what would have been a 700 page novel into a 2+ hour film for an overriding plot (and, as it happens, is actually a stopgap for what will be the third film in this side franchise) that could have been easily wrapped within 45 minutes were it not for huge detours and multiple subplots of characters we the viewers are expected to care about just because they are all in the Potterverse.
Lots and lots of dialogue explaining things because, well...things, lotsa Johnny Depp being menacingly evil, lotsa cute CGI animals to keep the kids awake, lotsa mumbly wizard talk. I will give Rowling and the producers credit for the PG-level
Movie comment on We Are What We Are
Agrimorfee
Mmm, you'll never eat a bowl of beef stew the same way again.Movie comment on The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
Agrimorfee
siskoid, your review needs spoiler tagsMovie comment on Roma
Agrimorfee
It's been a long time since I've seen a movie where the director (and cinematographer) has such complete control of the mise en scene. This is where the movie excels more than anything. It is breathtaking. But, yeah, I wonder what we can come away with regarding Cleo.Movie comment on All the President's Men
Agrimorfee
After watching this now, I think it has less impact for me right now due to the current administration in the US, just because the activities of Nixon and his cronys seem almost quaint in comparison from what we know so far.Movie comment on The Other Side of the Wind
Agrimorfee
Netflix now has the entire flick, suggest that previous commenters view it. ICM needs to add the companion doc "They'll Love Me When I'm Dead"Movie comment on The Bogus Witch Project
Agrimorfee
Ok so it's a parody film. I finished watching The Blair Witch Project just days earlier, and having it fresh in my mind really contributed a lot to enjoying this mishmosh. Apparently an L.A. film school had a competition to make the best BWP parody, and these were the winners---5 short parodies bridged by a weird hybrid MTV/QVC TV channel known ad nauseum repeatedly as "The Woods" (sorta a cross of Run Lola Run and The Evil Dead), epitomized by strange blackout horror-movie themed gags, rather than one pile of crap. Smart move--there's no BWP segment that overstays its welcome, execpt for Pauly Shore's dumb, plotless 10 minutes . It is actually fun to see the different perspectives of which beats of the original film that are chosen to be parodied--and how many of the same jokes are used by each. Is it it stupid? Yes mostly. There are some very smart (but ultimately very interior) jokes about film school elitism, American films and the L.A. scene. But consider the fact that these were all made in 2000, before YouTube gave so much more freedom for any goofball to make their own cheap shit spoof movie as these filmmakers do. There's a huge amount of love and "let's make a movie" can do attitude that can be seen here. It's a bit like watching one of those fan Supercuts of the Star Wars films. At least, there is a minimum of cheap sex jokes or gross humor--there is a bit of originality in the writing (sometimes) and real comedic acting (sometimes). But more than anything else, it is worth your time to view the "Willie Witch Project" segment--where three very "street" black guys go on their own expedition into The Woods for the sole dream of making millions of bucks as "those white guys" did, and it is as friggin hilarious as anything that I have seen on Key And Peele or Dave Chappelle's show--making me wonder whatever happened to these guys who don't even get a listing on this film's IMDB page.So, it's available through vudu.com (and likely elsewhere) for free. If you have 1 hour and 25 minutes or so to spare (mind changing substance ingestion recommended), you should check it out.
Movie comment on I Kill Giants
Agrimorfee
Had no idea what this was about, glad that I did see it, although it's last half hour was mighty creaky in some respects. Skillwithaquill's review elsewhere in these comments might be right, although I haven't seen the movie they are referencing. Madison Wolfe is a charmer like Reese Witherspoon or Alicia Silverstone--I would love to see her in more movies.Movie comment on The Blair Witch Project
Agrimorfee
This definitely required a darkened room and a relatively high sound volume to be fully appreciated. I watched with neither and didn't "feel" the chills. I'm glad they made it though, and they made it well.Movie comment on Smallfoot
Agrimorfee
Better than it has any right to be. It took awhile, but it finally had me at the moment a character performs a "spontaneous" rewrite of certain popular song at a karaoke bar.Movie comment on Ready Player One
Agrimorfee
In some ways better than the novel, but it's what you would ultimately expect from a Spielberg picture anyway (apart from a goofy but fantastic tribute to Stanley Kubrick midway in).Movie comment on Blood: The Last Vampire
Agrimorfee
I definitely need to see the anime. This movie almost screams out loud, "Get the anime, we didn't even try!"Movie comment on Peter Rabbit
Agrimorfee
Not as bad as The Emoji Movie (the nadir of Sony Pictures Animation thus far), only for the fact Domnhall Gleason puts a lot more into his role as the villian Peter McGregor than any one else would or should.Movie comment on Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny
Agrimorfee
OMFG.Movie comment on Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
Agrimorfee
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is kinda meh, but my kid loved it. Yes, it's cute with some ha-ha moments, but repetitive and low-bar settingThis was like a lesser The Simpsons Movie, a movie that knows fully well that you could have watched the same thing at home in a 3-4 episode arc for free (or in this case, with your basic cable monthly fee).
Movie comment on Masterminds
Agrimorfee
First film I have ever turned off and gave up on 20 minutes in. There are amusingly bad comedies, and there are just boringly bad comedies. This was the latter. What a low blow for Wiig, McKinnon, Wilson and Galifnanikis. The script couldn't make up its mind how smart these characters were supposed to be, and gave us no reason to care about them either.Movie comment on Duma
Agrimorfee
Good for the entire family. Almost Disneyish.Movie comment on Jamón Jamón
Agrimorfee
Ejole!!Movie comment on Skyscraper
Agrimorfee
Thoroughly enjoyable action pic. The Rock is Parent Of The Year.Movie comment on Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
Agrimorfee
As before with this franchise, some brilliant and at times frenetic CGI animation, silly gags and a bit of heart put into a somewhat mechanical plot. Nothing offensive here, the kids will laugh their asses off like they did at the screening I attended.Movie comment on The Wonderful Land of Oz
Agrimorfee
Amazingly horrible--I mean, Manos:The Hands Of Fate and Plan 9 From Outer Space levels of horrible. Amazon Prime should be embarrassed to have this available for streaming. MST3K/Rifftrax could not improve upon this flick's basement-level of ineptitude. It's like a Sid & Marty Krofft production for depressives.Movie comment on On - drakon
Agrimorfee
This is the best cinematic fairy tale since The Princess Bride. Fantastic cinematography and special effects, and the acting is not bad at all. Best damned dragon I have seen since Game Of Thrones.Movie comment on Stridulum
Agrimorfee
Poorly directed, awful script, nutty plotting and casting, vying to be a low rent Exorcist or Carrie and succeeds at it, thanks to the auspices of the City Of Atlanta. Great midnight movie, seriously don't miss it!Movie comment on Caroline and the Magic Potion
Agrimorfee
Batshit crazy Mexican ripoff of Kiki's Delivery Service. Instead of a talking cat, the heroine has three singing snails and a ferret as companions. If you can rent it for free, do so!Showing items 1 – 25 of 188