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arguably the greatest of the spaghetti westerns , this epic features a compelling story , memorable performances , breathtaking landscapes , and a haunting score .	the_good_the_bad_and_the_ugly	13308	[ "the visuals are eye-popping , the score -lrb- by ennio morricone -rrb- magnificent , the civil war set-pieces both stunning and haunting . if you 're going to end a trilogy , this is the way to do it .", "it still looks a treat and a bold and largely successful attempt to recast the traditions of the genre in a new , sometimes critical , almost operatic way .", "re-released movies are forever claiming to be iconic , but few can hold the title as easily as sergio leone 's the good , the bad and the ugly .", "the new length gives a clearer view of the civil war context : a nightmare of panic as the south flees before the union 's advance .", "amid the endless homages and the sheer adoration meted out to sergio leone 's ambitious , pricier finale to his spaghetti western trilogy , it 's easy to forget just how damn good the film is .", "sergio leone 's masterpiece is as enduring as the scorched desert in which it is filmed . also receives props for most effective use of whistling ever .", "leone also endows the film with a clever visual style . his sense of scale is especially inspired .", "the third in the clint eastwood series of italo westerns , the good , the bad and the ugly is exactly that -- a curious amalgam of the visually striking , the dramatically feeble and the offensively sadistic .", "the definitive spaghetti western .", "though ordained from the beginning , the three-way showdown that climaxes the film is tense and thoroughly astonishing .", "the point is not what happens in the movie but how it happens , a curious blend of partly humorous , partly dramatic , partly elegiac legend .", "one of the most compelling validations of the western genre 's most elemental touchstones .", "... has a self-conscious panache that 's years ahead of its time .", "this is a great movie , whatever strange estuary of the western river it occupies .", "though the restoration is n't substantial , any excuse will do to revisit the moment when a young clint eastwood became a star and in the process helped reinvent the western .", "leone 's blockbuster is balanced on the razor 's edge between popular entertainment and art film . it took classic american themes and turned them inside out .", "an improbable masterpiece -- a bizarre mixture of grandly operatic visuals , grim brutality and sordid violence that keeps wrenching you from one extreme to the other .", "of all the great films of the 1960s , the good , the bad and the ugly is one of a fistful that can be truly appreciated only on the big screen .", "may lose some of its jolt on the small screen , but this flick features some of clint eastwood 's and sergio leone 's finest moments .", "both epic and intimate : the sun-baked panoramas of the west -lrb- actually spain -rrb- and the gigantic battles of north against south have a counterpoint in the dramas that play out between the three men .", "profound", "-lsb- leone -rsb- weighs every movement carefully ; every footstep , every squeeze of the trigger , screams epic . everything is important and nothing is insignificant .", "an extravagantly plotted epic propelled by waves of free-flowing emotion and a palpable love for the american past", "art it is , summoned out of the imagination of leone and painted on the wide screen so vividly that we forget what marginal productions these films were .", "the uncut new print reclaims the widescreen majesty of tonino delli colli 's cinematography , allowing you to see every iconic wart and furrow on every bad guy 's face .", "it 's great to see a great director 's film as he intended it , with rich color and restored sound .", "all told , and in giant widescreen , it 's only blood-red adolescent fun , but it blooms like douglas sirk with a gatling gun compared to the teenage demographic 's current fare .", "there are two kinds of people , my friend . those who love sergio leone 's the good , the bad , and the ugly , and those who resist the machismo and gallows humor of what is arguably the definitive spaghetti western .", "the most ambitious of eastwood 's collaborations with leone", "sergio leone 's epic looks good , almost great , restored to its original running time .", "a beautiful film , directed with supreme confidence and passion - and lots of action .", "sergio leone 's grandiose 1966 western epic is nothing less than a masterclass in movie storytelling , a dynamic testament to the sheer , invigorating uniqueness of cinema .", "you do n't really need me to review the good , the bad , and the ugly for you , do you ?", "town streets stretch wider than eight-lane freeways , gargoyle-faced henchmen lurk behind every tumbleweed , and ennio morricone 's majestic electric coyote score rules over all .", "... while the film is seriously overlong , there are enough elements here to hold the interest of even the most impatient viewer .", "arguably one of the greatest westerns of all time .", "sergio leone 's baroque western might be his greatest ... watch how clint eastwood amazingly acts with just his teeth and those squinty eyes .", "clearly the work of a master filmmaker whose style has never grown stale .", "there are many features that contribute to the good , the bad , and the ugly 's belated renown , and none as idiosyncratic as ennio morricone 's score .", "sergio leone 's dramatic directing style is powerful and well delivered , even by today 's standards .", "its parody of genre conventions resonates with scope and power .", "the sublime film music , now-iconic situations -lrb- like the climactic ghost town shootout -rrb- , and sure visual style add up to a pitch-perfect genre pic that ongoingly influences generations of hip filmmakers . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the fellas in leone 's films are seething cesspools of hatred and frustration whose only satisfaction-however fleeting-is found in pursuit and acquisition of money", "a unique vision of the american west as place of desolation and ruin on a truly epic scale .", "leone 's liberal use of widescreen shots in conjunction with extreme close-ups gives the movie an epic quality that is matched in scope by a skeletal narrative structure that breathes with a poker-faced mood , tone , and personality .", "potent italian-western shoot - 'em up/war drama .", "the defining spaghetti western pits a charismatic clint eastwood against partner and nemesis eli wallach and perpetual enemy lee van cleef .", "leone created a phenomenal film but also created some of the most memorable shots in film history . the extreme close-ups are still impressive to this day .", "all three arrive at the cache at the same time . who gets it ? director leone does n't seem to care very much , and after 161 minutes of mayhem , audiences are n't likely to either .", "it demonstrates that a film can be exciting and funny and epic in scope while still retaining the peculiar vision of an artiste compelled to capture his obsessions with a techniscope lens .", "the film runs about two hours and forty-five minutes , but is absolutely absorbing , and goes by quickly and smoothly .", "morricone 's soundtrack is one the most powerful in the history cinema and it alone is the reason why this film should be so highly appreciated .", "the movie that solidified eastwood 's iconography . leone 's dazzling techniscope cinematics far surpass the familiar plot .", "sergio leone sure is a great director . he has a unique visual style , combining gorgeous establishing shots of western landscape and tense close-ups .", "long , funny , and featuring one of ennio morricone 's greatest scores , the good , the bad , and the ugly is a sheer pleasure to watch .", "pure spaghetti western perfection ." ]
though predictable and possibly too sweet , MOV is charming , well-acted , and smarter than typical rom-com fare .	brown_sugar	10880	[ "hip-hop is simply the newest tool for the same tired script of childhood friends who go down different paths only to realize they are each others ' destiny .", "watching the characters go through the paces of their unconvincing jobs is like flipping through the pages of gq -lrb- or architectural digest -rrb- to admire all of the perfect models .", "guy gets girl , guy loses girl , audience falls asleep .", "predictable and cloying , though MOV is so earnest in its yearning for the days before rap went nihilistic that it summons more spirit and bite than your average formulaic romantic quadrangle .", "all in all , MOV is a satisfying well-made romantic comedy that 's both charming and well acted . it will guarantee to have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face .", "there are times when you wish that the movie had worked a little harder to conceal its contrivances , but MOV turns out to be a sweet and enjoyable fantasy .", "mos def -lrb- playing an up-and-coming star -rrb- shows expert comedic timing and charisma , especially when paired with queen latifah .", "diggs and lathan are among the chief reasons MOV is such a sweet and sexy film .", "bland if amiable .", "hip-hop romantic comedy is predictable -- and remarkably charming .", "... understands that a generation defines its music as much as the music defines a generation .", "there 's something unintentionally comic in the film 's drumbeat about authenticity , given the stale plot and pornographic way the film revels in swank apartments , clothes and parties .", "stereotypes are eschewed in favor of well-drawn characters , and the hip-hop backdrop is integral to the story rather than a marketing scheme to sell the soundtrack .", "manages to deliver the familiar boy-meets-girl story in a fresh way .", "how sweet it is to see a romantic comedy with characters who act and talk like adults .", "too much about MOV is carried out with utmost decorum , as if writer-director rick famuyiwa were bringing hip-hop home to meet the parents .", "a smart , sassy and exceptionally charming romantic comedy .", "not sweet enough to liven up its predictable story and will leave even fans of hip-hop sorely disappointed .", "most of it feels fresh , and the writers incorporate hip-hop in a way i have n't seen in a narrative .", "MOV needed a little more flavor .", "`` MOV '' admirably aspires to be more than another `` best man '' clone by weaving a theme throughout this funny film .", "all of the filmmakers ' calculations ca n't rescue MOV from the curse of blandness .", "a lot more dimensional and complex than its sunny disposition would lead you to believe .", "it 's predictable , but it jumps through the expected hoops with style and even some depth .", "its likable , easy rhythms are appealing , especially for anyone attuned to the birth and growth of this style of music .", "what really breaks this movie out of the romantic-comedy rut is the setting in which it 's told .", "as satisfying as it is sleek , and famuyiwa inspires carefully nuanced portrayals from his cast .", "sustains the charm of an early 60 's new york romance .", "glossy , funny , touching and cute .", "MOV boasts plenty of good , non-sappy romance , plus laugh out loud comedy .", "given the talent and the twist , it 's as fresh as the classic tracy-hepburn comedies .", "people are unlikely to leave MOV with the words ` original ' or ` surprising ' on their lips , but they are likely to leave with a good-sized smile .", "makes the sweet case that sincerity strikes the biggest romantic sparks .", "little more than a knock-off of both when harry met sally and love & basketball -- and a rather lethargic one at that .", "an agreeably charming , brightly performed romantic comedy .", "a romantic comedy , yes , but one with characters who think and talk about their goals , and are working on hard decisions .", "a crumb of psychology would have helped .", "lathan and diggs have considerable personal charm , and their screen rapport makes the old story seem new .", "the obligatory break-ups and hook-ups do n't seem to have much emotional impact on the characters .", "the movie 's attention to cultural context really does separate it from anything that came before , including the winning , but finally irrelevant , when harry met sally ...", "it has so many tropes that a teenager could construct a plot line just by connecting the dots .", "taye diggs never overdoes dre 's intensity or integrity ; he 's an understated leading man who is all the more likable because of it . but it 's sanaa lathan as sidney who won my heart here .", "you do n't have to know about music to appreciate the film 's easygoing blend of comedy and romance .", "despite crisp photography and the director 's gift for building a scene , the film does n't click until the third act .", "takes every convention of the romantic comedy genre and turns it on its ear .", "this cheery , down-to-earth film is warm with the cozy feeling of relaxing around old friends .", "this plodding romantic comedy about two friends falling in love has little of the punchy wit and storytelling dexterity that makes hip-hop a worthy source of inspiration .", "lathan and diggs make an immensely likable couple , and the supporting cast strikes all the right notes .", "makes the same mistake as the music industry it criticizes , becoming so slick and watered-down it almost loses what made you love it in the first place .", "all of these characters seem genuine , not the sorts of stereotypes you see in most romantic comedies .", "the movie plays cute more than smart , but it 's far from dumb -- and marks yet another baby step forward in the growing sophistication of african-american film .", "it 's an amiable enough movie , a romantic-comedy with a great soundtrack and an idea or two in its head .", "as the two leads , lathan and diggs are charming and have chemistry both as friends and lovers .", "lathan and diggs carry the film with their charisma , and both exhibit sharp comic timing that makes the more hackneyed elements of the film easier to digest .", "famuyiwa 's feature deals with its subject matter in a tasteful , intelligent manner , rather than forcing us to endure every plot contrivance that the cliché-riddled genre can offer .", "i like this movie a lot . it 's probably the sweetest , corniest movie about hip-hop music you 're ever going to see .", "their love fails to resonate as anything more than a shared musical passion .", "synthetic and rather bland -- more like ` brown nutrasweet . '", "sidney may profess her love for hip-hop - over and over again in voiceover - but the movie fails to make us feel that love .", "yo , it 's the days of our lives meets electric boogaloo .", "famuyiwa has a made a quaint little film that achieves what it sets out to do ; entertain the audience for an hour and a half .", "it offers few surprises but does contain enough charm to overcome that and warrant a passing grade .", "you could do worse than watch beautiful people making kissy-face with each other .", "while it 's genuinely cool to hear characters talk about early rap records -lrb- sugar hill gang , etc. -rrb- , the constant referencing of hip-hop arcana can alienate even the savviest audiences .", "it 's rare that a movie can be as intelligent as this one is in every regard except its storyline ; everything that 's good is ultimately scuttled by a plot that 's just too boring and obvious .", "fine performances from diggs and lathan give life to an otherwise rehashed love story , but musician mos def steals the show .", "MOV manages to take hip-hop 's well-established history and make it digestible for audiences not necessarily tied directly into the core of that culture .", "the spirit of the old school echoes strongly throughout the film and parallels the purity of the passions and personalities of the paramours .", "MOV takes an old tale and tells it in a fresh , modern way . the music 's pretty good , too .", "true to its title , this hip-hop when harry met sally is plenty sweet , but is that what we really want from a film set in the world of rap music ?", "hip-hop rarely comes alive as its own fire-breathing entity in this picture .", "the plot is romantic comedy boilerplate from start to finish .", "hip-hop has a history , and it 's a metaphor for this love story .", "MOV is nothing you have n't seen before , but if you 're into the whole new york-based romantic comedy thing , you 'll probably find it a blast .", "MOV signals director rick famuyiwa 's emergence as an articulate , grown-up voice in african-american cinema ." ]
alfonso cuarón adapts frances hodgson burnett 's novel with a keen sense of magic realism , vividly recreating the world of childhood as seen through the characters .	1061812-little_princess	18116	[ "a delightfully enchanting family fantasy , a MOV has all the earmarks of a classic .", "-lsb- best character was -rsb- indian manservant who almost never spoke ... powerful eyes .", "it 's not only suitable for consumption by those over age 10 , it 's actually enjoyable .", "no es una película . es un trozo de magia esparcido sobre el celuloide .", "enchanting drama based on a children 's classic .", "this is a magical film .", "from the exquisite costumes to the remarkable set design to the superb performances , this fairy tale comes to life in a way that makes you despair at its ending . but though end it must , its spirit of imagination and its magic of abiding love lingers on .", "enchanting family fare .", "a MOV exquisitely re-creates the ephemeral world of childhood , an enchanted kingdom where everything , even make-believe , seems possible .", "cuaron 's version of magic realism consists of seeing incredibly fanciful sets and situations in precise detail .", "the 1939 shirley temple version of this book came closer to capturing sara 's vitality .", "there are moments in a MOV when you may just want to clap from pleasure .", "a MOV is a delightful film . bring your children , or just bring yourself .", "mexican director alfonso cuaron gives the film a nice feel for a new york girls ' school of the time -lrb- though actually the novel was set in an english girls ' school -rrb- .", "an exemplary version of frances hodgson burnett 's novel .", "an astonishing work of studio artifice , a MOV is that rarest of creations , a children 's film that plays equally well to kids and adults .", "wonderful movie of a lonely girl 's triumph .", "the film uses studio resources to create an entrancing world both in new york and in the heroine 's fantasies about india .", "soppy and girlish in the extreme , this should keep even the tiniest viewer rapt , while all too many adults may fall victim to an inexplicable bout of eye-watering long before the closing credits .", "cuaron finds the perfect style for this trusted formula ; what could have been routine kids ' stuff flourishes with his sure feeling for space , light and colour .", "this new version of frances hodgson burnett 's children 's classic boasts first-rate production values and a political sensitivity befitting the '90s , but it does n't quite capture the magic of the 1939 shirley temple vehicle .", "one of the very best children 's movies of the past quarter-century .", "a truly captivating children 's film that never got its due in the theaters .", "a bright , beautiful and enchantingly childlike vision ." ]
MOV is well-crafted , smart , and often funny , but it 's mostly more cerebral than visceral and features far too many plot twists .	duplicity_2009	770683997	[ "it 's not unfair to say that MOV is michael clayton on laughing gas . what 's remarkable is that both movies pretty much work .", "a stylish , engaging and complex thriller .", "-lsb- tony -rsb- gilroy may have taken his time honing his voice as a filmmaker , but there 's little doubt that he 's got it down to a science at this point .", "MOV is like sitting in a two-hour lecture from a college professor who reads straight from the text and never makes eye contact . do you know there is an audience here ?", "this movie was n't firing on all cylinders despite some of them being great cylinders .", "... plays like a more sophisticated ocean 's eleven , the extra heft coming from its corporate setting .", "click for full review", "` MOV ' is a cleverly charming and sophisticated film about treacherous people .", "it wo n't receive the critical ballyhoo of his previous film , but where gilroy 's ` michael clayton ' lacked imagination and surprise , ` MOV ' is a fun , witty romp .", "when it comes to spy thrillers , tony gilroy knows the game .", "MOV does n't have depth -- but it does have julia roberts , in full hollywood movie-star mode . and for filmgoers with scaled-back expectations , that news may be enough .", "... a movie built around dazzling dialogue , which makes it a rare and precious thing .", "it 's not an elderly movie , it just seems that way .", "this is a sharp-looking movie with a blue-chip cast .", "seductive and playful , this corporate espionage thriller has a breezy attitude that keeps us thoroughly engaged through all of the twists and turns of the plot .", "MOV is one big fogbank of a movie and sounding a horn wo n't help you . prepare to get lost in a mass of pointless murk .", "the movie comes alive almost exclusively in the flashbacks .", "a beautifully shot , well written and impressively acted thriller that 's both suspenseful and emotionally engaging .", "MOV should have been titled venality .", "roberts looks great in her return to leading-lady status after a few years off -- strong , curvy , formidable -- and owen drops the steamy glower he 's adopted of late and almost seems to have a twinkle in his eye this time around .", "the same whip-smart , intellectual ear for dialogue that made michael clayton such an immensely interesting film is back in MOV .", "mr. gilroy has outsmarted himself by pulling too many switches in his narrative . he then fails to recover by coming up with a smash ending that pulls all the scattered pieces together .", "though it has more tricks up its sleeve than you can count , in the end all the sleight of hand amounts to disappointingly little .", "though awkwardly sturctured , ` MOV ' is a smart movie in which droll repartee and smoldering chemistry take the place of cursing and violence .", "is this a fun , flirty romantic comedy ? a farce ? a serious drama about espionage ? when writer/director tony gilroy figures it out , will someone let me know ?", "it eventually falls victim to one or two twists too many , needlessly complicating an already complex plot .", "a fluffy , comedic sequel to closer ... breezy , delightful and bitterly hilarious .", "director tony gilroy deftly mixes comedy with suspense as we see the extreme measures corporations take to steal one another 's secrets and protect their own from theft .", "slick , super-contrived , pretty to look at and totally , completely preposterous .", "neither a conventional spy flick nor a traditional romantic comedy , MOV is a satisfying mix of the two that 's as entertaining as it is thought-provoking", "MOV does indeed bend and buckle under the weight of many a final-reel revelation , though it never entirely collapses .", "the film 's got plenty of spark , with an onscreen couple so full of passion that they ca n't keep their hands off each other -- tom wilkinson and paul giamatti .", "corporate espionage caper in which two government operatives having amorous flings in various global stopovers decide to team up and go private to earn a bundle . star power of julia roberts and clive owen and yummy locations fail to compensate for madly c", "MOV is another one of those flicks where everything is confusing until the very end but gilroy does a great job building the chemistry between roberts and owen .", "parental content review", "the script has so many twists and double-crosses , flashbacks and re-interpretations of events that frankly i just gave up , and followed the action . which was n't quite enough to hold me . a pity .", "essentially formulaic fare . although julia roberts is quite good , the love scenes look exactly like what they are : famous people pretending .", "on the simplest level , MOV is a tribute to the power of performance .", "there are nice moments , just not quite enough of them .", "too convoluted to be romantic , too confusing to be an effective caper and too long to be entertaining .", "unnecessarily pretentious and opaque : give me tony gilroy 's ` michael clayton ' any day .", "a caper without intrigue and a romance without humanity , this disastrously wasteful star vehicle manages quite the feat by both crushing the viewer 's soul and devouring their spirit in two hours flat .", "given the film 's potential for glamour , sex and suspense , there 's no reason for it to be such a drag .", "a stylish , sexy , con-artist caper that finds romance in risk and vice-versa , MOV ... is a movie so dashing and fun , you may not notice how smart it is until you replay it in your head a few times .", "the movie is fun , with plenty of intrigue and suspense that will have audiences clutching at their arm rests .", "a glamorous , diverting escapade that over-30s in particular can enjoy .", "they took the lousy soderbergh/clooney template for ocean 's eleven , twelve and thirteen and intentionally made this stinker .", "MOV , when it comes down to it , is wonderful simplicity .", "smart , droll and dazzling to look at and listen to , writer-director tony gilroy 's effervescent , intricately plotted puzzler proves in every way superior to his 2007 success michael clayton .", "MOV is a double agent , a rollicking romantic comedy too deep undercover as a proudly convoluted caper film .", "`` MOV '' is so heavily back-loaded that it demands the audience take a leap of faith that all narrative debts will be paid off in a third act finale . no such luck .", "in top form , julia roberts and clive owen star in this sexy , witty , elegant romantic thriller made for mature audiences .", "ultra sleek , cool , stylish and smart filmmaking . supremely sophisticated fun - but better pay close attention .", "a light/bright movie that actually illuminates our dull grey lives , reminding us that intrigue can be , well , intriguing . and damn sexy too .", "a snazzy piece of work , tartly acted and cleverly made . trust me .", "MOV is pretty silly when it all works out in the end . this is a wasted opportunity , since so much went into making it look like it was about something .", "-lsb- director tony -rsb- gilroy 's skillful , witty follow-up to his writing-directing debut , michael clayton , -lsb- continues -rsb- to exercise his talent for baiting a narrative and getting viewers to jump to it .", "should settle on the video shelf between intolerable cruelty and mr & mrs. smith .", "at times , gilroy 's leaps verge on gimmick . but the shuffled deck of place and time is intrinsic to the three-card monte rhythms . he keeps us guessing , even as we know he 's gaming us .", "MOV , like all con movies , relies on charm , and there 's plenty to go around .", "a dashing and bright entertainment that aims to please without scraping the floor for your approval", "`` MOV '' is a blast from beginning to end and one of the snappiest films of its type to come along in a while .", "a romance aiming at a tone of jazz-riff larkishness but somewhat undermined in that pursuit by the washboard-stiffness of its main characters .", "a breathlessly enjoyable mind-game ... MOV is giddy fun , something that 's been in short supply at the movies .", "a high-tech romantic thriller set in the little-seen world of corporate espionage , tony gilroy 's second feature is sophisticated adult entertainment which puts the lazy ocean 's films to shame with its clever writing , lively direction and visual panache .", "whatever the onscreen dilemma for clive owen 's ray and julia roberts ' claire , for us , it 's a no-brainer . this slick and persuasive crime thriller has so much chemistry and chutzpah ; we 're hooked from the start", "MOV is a lazy movie about corporate espionage . it 's lazy because its director/writer tony gilroy relies on easy gimmicks and lame conventions to tell his tale . -lsb- he -rsb- uses techniques that might enliven home movies ; they deaden a theatrical one .", "this thriller 's flashback scenes interrupted the story 's flow too much for me . but julia roberts and clive owen are fun to watch .", "it 's a pity ... that james newton howard 's music score is so relentlessly intrusive and that gilroy 's plotting gets so complicated before everything becomes clear in the end .", "once gilroy has the film on track with all passengers aboard and accounted for , you do start wondering if he can keep up the momentum . he does -- although so much contrivance is involved that he often runs the risk of leaving you behind .", "only incidentally a con movie , MOV is actually a subversive , high-wire romance , with the macguffin serving as a metaphorical placeholder for the surging hormonal attraction , trepidation and uncertainty of love 's bloom .", "the story turns flips to keep audiences guessing . unfortunately , indiffer-ence , not fascination , results .", "a battle of wits with smart , capable people on all sides . it is very slick and well-acted by a troupe of pros .", "has the kind of narrative trickery that draws us in , but it 's ultimately up to the actors to keep us interested , and in this regard the film is something of a mixed bag", "writer-director tony gilroy , flush from his michael clayton success , retains that film 's examination of corporate malfeasance yet replaces the sense of dread with a sense of style .", "trust , lust , and double-crust pizzas", "tony gilroy 's dryly jaunty , globetrotting , spy-vs . - spy romp is ... just good enough to make you wish it were better .", "gilroy 's movie does have its moments , most of which come down to the pleasures of its a-list cast , which possess enough talent and presence to stand down a plot so unnecessarily cluttered , it 's a gimmick .", "the globetrotting spy thriller never measures up to being first-rate .", "this film entertains through gameplay , turning suspenseful , comic , then romantic as if in the hands of a master card dealer . but gilroy 's trickeries can be revealed by just slightly encroaching the stage .", "a disappointing exercise in achingly-familiar irritainment .", "who do you really trust ? especially if they happen to be double agents ?", "MOV is an enormously enjoyable hybrid , a romantic comedy set at the center of a caper movie .", "it 's a passably amusing brainteaser .", "for all the glam and swank , the film is essentially a bright , shiny , empty puzzle . the puzzlemaking by writer-director tony gilroy is clever but most frequently an end in itself .", "welcome back my friends to the con that never ends ... MOV simply does n't know when to quit .", "watching MOV brings pleasures all too rare : gorgeous actors speaking smart , funny dialogue in beautiful settings .", "however you describe it , MOV is superior entertainment , the most elegantly pleasurable movie of its kind to come around in a very long time .", "the film 's greatest pleasure is in the snappy dialogue gilroy crafts for the capable duo of roberts and owen ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "you got ta be flawless to tell a story out of sequence . this ai n't no memento . god , julia is getting old .", "MOV features the sort of story screenwriters dream of crafting in order to show off their aptitude .", "the results are mistimed and misshapen , like lubitsch after a vasectomy", "when it comes to sorting out where we stand with someone , we 're all spies . tony gilroy realizes that romance done right involves invigorating risk , and `` MOV '' offers a bracing , beguiling shell game of behavior to complement the light shenanigans .", "the `` trust nobody '' shtick wears old pretty quickly .", "i 'm sure if i saw it a second time , i 'd find the little hints gilroy plants throughout particularly delicious . but why bother ? it did n't exactly grab me by the neck the first time .", "julia roberts and clive owen are reunited for the first time since closer , and they 're a messed up couple again . but this time they 're secret agents , which is cooler .", "you simply have n't had this much fun at the multiplex in a long , long time .", "tony gilroy 's directorial follow up to the phenomenal michael clayton is an impressive addition to his short but impressive filmography .", "a cinematic lark that 's leaden where it should be light ... suffers from lukewarm chemistry between roberts and owen .", "do we even care about these characters enough to worry about their machinations ?", "while the movie is modestly entertaining and tries to take full advantage of the promising coupling of julia roberts and clive owen , it never quite seals the deal .", "gilroy also throws in a reverse chronology taking place in posh foreign locations -lrb- and cleveland ! -rrb- so as to mark the film as his own and conceal any narrative weaknesses .", "it 's good to see an espionage thriller that avoids the clichés of the genre .", "adopts old hollywood mechanics % u2014 - showy marquee stars , swift-witted dialogue , character-dominated plot % u2014 - and relies on an audience willing to be tricked , surprised and challenged .", "gilroy handles it expertly and maintains a light , jaunty tone .", "a perfectly-crafted espionage thriller married to the best throwback rom-com in years .", "for all its bright banter and flashbacky fanciness , MOV boils down to this rudimentary formula : morality and success are functions of beauty .", "much of the fun is all about what 's ` in play ' -- acting -- from the spy and lover roles these characters may or may not be playing and which sides -lrb- personal , professional -rrb- they 're playing for or against , to our assumptions about these stars ' personas .", "gilroy makes the mistake of applying the artful lighting , measured pace and severe sensibility of ` michael clayton ' to screwball caper material .", "has a terrific cast , stylish cinematography and some intrigue , but the suspense and sizzle wane as the intricate plot gradually thickens .", "gilroy keeps it all moving at a steady , stylish pace .", "with MOV -lsb- gilroy is -rsb- developing a nice body of work .", "the zigzagging story needs the crackling speed of , say , ocean 's eleven , but gilroy moves as if he 's afraid to lose his audience going around the turns .", "MOV is a light and airy affair that has far too much fun with zingy one-liners to be concerned with the rather relevant dirty laundry that 's being aired out .", "writer/director tony gilroy 's MOV is a pleasurable puzzle with a vast myriad of possible outcomes .", "they frumped julia roberts up and tore her charisma down . she like the movie had no sparkle . plus there were twenty flashbacks too many . a little simplicity might have helped ` MOV ' .", "at this point in the moviegoing year , it 's probably foolish to ask for more . this is a movie movie -- with a bottle of dom perignon at the end .", "those who like working a rubik 's cube might find MOV appealing . with a lack of charisma , sexual chemistry or sizzle , it left me sadly disappointed .", "while this is fun , trying more for laughs than tension , it is not a film that will live in history , except for one memorable line .", "it 's a complex and at times hard-to-follow script , but it leaves no loose ends and makes perfect sense in the end . even the ending is a legitimate surprise", "it 's pretty fun and entertaining for the most part . however , it gets a little talky and ends with a plot twist that 's perhaps too convoluted and contrived for its own good .", "the artistry is indisputable and , if the clarity gets muddled , the effort to stay afloat in the swamp of spy-gamesmanship does pay off .", "... one of the first truly adult romantic comedies to come down the pike in quite some time . `` MOV '' has been heaped with praise , which may raise expectations unfairly , though .", "a sharp , twisty , and very stylish thriller , this time with romance and a bit of stardust . the result is a top-notch date movie for grown-ups .", "a timely , brisk , and witty combination love story and drama about corporate malfeasance .", "MOV is betrayed by a surfeit of intricacy . its ironic complexities tease the brain without pleasing the heart .", "there 's a lot of doubling going on in the smart , savvy MOV .", "gilroy expertly keeps viewers guessing about who is gaming who .", "gilroy and his stars make it elegant fun to be fooled , but they sure as hell make you work for it .", "everything in MOV may be a scam , but -lsb- director -rsb- gilroy 's talent is the real thing .", "MOV probably improves on second viewing , when one is better acquainted with the basic story . yet the film is not good enough to see twice â '' the catch-22 of all entertaining but muddled movies .", "gilroy 's technique can feel like complication for complication 's sake , but stick with the story and the dramatic rewards are real , or at least the punch line 's pretty clever .", "MOV teams masters of mutual deceit in sizzling make up sex for spies , julia squirming her way through one night stand pretend amnesia with toe rings , and a different kind of screwing of flabby corporate cutthroats in designer suits .", "with its smart writing delivered by an in-synch quartet , savor MOV as the ideal spring gift .", "-lsb- director gilroy 's -rsb- determined to put some smarts into the world of double crosses and double martinis , and bless him for that .", "like the carnal encounter with which it opens , it 's a film that goes through the motions , and while those motions are frequently pleasurable , we , like owen , are ultimately left disappointed .", "a pleasant big-studio diversion , a screwball romance with beautiful movie stars set in gorgeous hotel rooms , deluxe office spaces and corporate jets . it 's smart , it 's for grown-ups and it lets julia roberts laugh , if just once .", "as a caper film , MOV is a fizzle . as a mystery , it 's a cheat .", "i started out loving MOV ; by the end , i wanted to strangle it .", "julia roberts in a luxury hotel room , bantering with a suave leading man ? that works .", "gilroy trusts us to figure out how the pieces of the story fit together , and by the end of the movie , we 're rewarded with a solution that is intellectually , if not emotionally , satisfying .", "for a sexy comedy that tries and fails to recapture the sensual smarts of vintage screwball fare , MOV is regrettably short on sex and comedy .", "this movie is a breeze compared to the lawyerly sturm und drang of michael clayton .", "the term ` thriller ' might be overstating things a bit , although the slow motion battle between wilkinson and giamatti will live on in my memory for years to come .", "an effervescent burst of snappy writing , direction and star chemistry that burns a hole through the screen .", "a slick but somewhat convoluted crime caper , MOV practically glows from all the high-wattage power of its incandescent stars .", "an all 's - fair-in-love-and-espionage movie tailor-made for a pair of glamorous stars .", "aiming for a romantic-caper vibe , MOV zips from one elaborate piece of hugger-mugger to the next . but at a certain point , boredom sets in .", "MOV is more lighthearted ; it 's the pitt/jolie smackdown mr. & mrs. smith without all the gunplay .", "it 's not deep : it 's a wispy-light meringue of a romantic spy-versus-spy comedy . but it is smart . it expects that you 're keeping up with the tricks it 's trying to pull on you .", "MOV ultimately comes off as a breath of fresh air amid a movie season rife with bleak horror films , hopelessly juvenile comedies and bloated superhero epics .", "it might be saying something that i preferred to see -lsb- giamatti and wilkinson -rsb- in action than the two actual leads of the film .", "the story jumps around in time more than an episode of lost . there are so many twists and turns in the plot , i did n't always follow if they even liked each other .", "i 'm probably going to buy MOV on dvd just to re-experience the joy of benjamin franklin slamming his fist into the ground while attacking john adams .", "the picture has a unity of wit and structure that could only have been achieved by a very sharp writer who 's also a gifted filmmaker .", "clever , complex romantic thriller is too twisty for tweens .", "kudos to roberts and owen whose easy chemistry gets you through the plot 's mush . then there 's giamatti and wilkinson , two guys who could play houseplants and blow your mind .", "whip smart storytelling and a fizzy caper delight .", "i ca n't believe i 'm writing this in a dumbed down age at the movies but MOV is a film that 's too smart for its own good .", "this enjoyable , lighthearted movie should not be taken too seriously and is worthy of your admiration .", "a rather pedestrian , hollow cat-and-mouse contest .", "`` MOV '' may not be an award-winner at year 's end , but for adults looking to see something that treats them with genuine respect this weekend , there are few films in wide release that better fit the bill .", "too often -lsb- director gilroy -rsb- returns to his darker , more ponderous instincts -- more like a wink and a sneer -- which has an enervating effect on a film that lives and dies by its fleetness of foot .", "MOV may be too smart for its own good . but how many films can you say that about ?", "MOV is n't quite as clever as it wants to be , but it 's diverting and funny , and it 's always a pleasure to watch a movie that relies on brains as fodder instead of brawn .", "though it waltzes through european capitals and gorgeous hotel suites , it never quite gets the blood pumping . and despite all the husky-voiced pillow-talk about sex and adrenaline , there 's little of either .", "... a crazy spy vs spy tale of intrigue and corporate espionage that works well due mostly to the chemistry of its two leads - clive owen and julia roberts .", "lacks the tension and wow-factor we 've grown accustomed to from slick star vehicles .", "MOV is entertaining , but the complexities of its plot keep it from being really involving . the fun is in watching roberts and owen fencing with dialogue , keeping straight faces , trying to read each other 's minds .", "comedy seems to have liberated gilroy , who directs MOV with the high gloss and fleet-footed hustle of a golden age hollywood craftsman .", "MOV plays as a less-successful comic remake of michael clayton .", "i 'm not certain MOV ultimately rewards the time invested , but it 's a convincing enough spy game stew to slurp slowly . just appreciate the ride , not the destination .", "slick , sneaky , snarky fun - a devilish double-cross" ]
while made from overly familiar ingredients , drew barrymore 's directorial debut has enough charm , energy , and good-natured humor to transcend its many cliches .	whip_it	770785797	[ "unlike most hollywood teen product , here fulfilment comes not from what others think of you but from what you think of yourself . in short , it 's girl power reinvented .", "MOV follows the classic follows the classic tropes of any indie coming-of-age film , big game showdown et al , but does it all so well you 'll be instantly charmed .", "teeming with girl-power spirit , barrymore 's film exudes an all-encompassing benevolence rather than strident one-upmanship . these girls just want to have fun .", "an unexpected pleasure ... goofily enjoyable .", "juliette lewis and her crazy eyes pretty much make any movie better .", "led by ellen page , the movie finds the juno star playing a slightly less cocksure version of the diablo cody creation .", "it does n't reach for an epic scale but is comfortable in its humility , and that makes it all the more stellar ...", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- treats its mostly female cast of characters with respect , and this is -lrb- sadly -rrb- a rare treat in cinema . hannah montana may be this generation 's spice girl , but bliss cavender is the one really waving the ` girl power ' flag .", "what impresses is the girl power spirit often prevalent in barrymore 's work , but also a its sense of optimism and warm heart .", "barrymore is just as determined to land some insightful and unexpected dramatic punches as she is with the inherent physical comedy for which the sport is renowned .", "slight narrative arc notwithstanding , there 's a lot of warmth here .", "a surprisingly energetic , provoking and entertaining coming of age story .", "barrymore has so thoroughly laced MOV with her own lunatic affections for women and the human race in general that it ought to be sold as an antidepressant .", "the feminist coming of age sports dramedy has a sweet and sunny disposition bolstered by a proud independent streak .", "surprisingly satisfying .", "it 's virtually impossible to hate the film , but barrymore 's presence behind the camera suggests more calculation than vision ; like a lot of actors who direct , she tends to the performances , but her style never rises above bland proficiency .", "has verve to spare , not to mention a message ... refreshingly delivered with more blood and sweat than tears .", "it is very difficult to dislike MOV as it does eventually end strongly and it is so well intentioned .", "this undemanding coming-of-age comedy is sharply put together with a bright cast and genuinely infectious energy", "drew barrymore 's directorial debut blasts in some girls who just want to have fun - and you 'll be happy to join them .", "it 's absolutely freaking fantastic .", "an enjoyable treat that 'll have you rolling out of the cinema experiencing a mild sense of déjŕ vu but ultimately feeling rewarded for your investment .", "easily one of the best films of the year , thanks to a superbly written , cliche-dodging script , a fabulous soundtrack and wonderful performances from a terrific ensemble cast .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- hard not to be moved by the irrepressible sense of fun and optimism on display here .", "laced with good-natured hipster kitsch and endearingly goofy girl power , director drew barrymore 's roller-derby dramedy , MOV , is a gas .", "some old material given a delightful new grrrl-power twist .", "it goes to show what a good cast can do with certain types of material .", "barrymore has made a highly promising debut behind the camera and created a first-rate , funny , heart-filled and totally winning entertainment that not only rolls , it rocks .", "actor ellen page can do no wrong . unfortunately director drew barrymore , screenwriter shauna cross , and cinematographer robert d. yeoman can .", "drew barrymore 's feature debut is not a great film but it 's highly enjoyable , a light , amusing , offbeat chick flick about a relatively new milieu -lrb- roller derby -rrb- and new type of screen heroine -- tough , resilient , and cool -- splendidly played by ellen page .", "MOV ended up being a total blast . for her first film as a director , barrymore 's done a bang-up job .", "barrymore 's movie is as bubbly as she is , and its best feature is the atmosphere of all-girl camaraderie that she creates and captures .", "MOV is completely predictable from the first frame . it also is ridiculously , utterly entertaining .", "for a film about a sport that involves lots of pushing , elbowing and bruising , MOV is just too overwhelmingly nice .", "a welcome blast of grade-a girl power .", "MOV , set in the roller-derby subculture of austin , is a sweet coming-of-age comedy , safe , familiar and comforting .", "despite its somewhat contrived formula , MOV feels like a spirited indie that refuses to sell out , demonstrating respect for both its characters and its audience .", "it 's just `` footloose '' goes to the roller derby .", "it takes girl power to the extreme and made me wish i was a roller derby girl . jam packed full of excitement , action , humor and intensity .", "barrymore makes her directorial debut her with an astute eye for the complex emotional passage being experienced beneath bliss 's crash helmet .", "... the stellar performances and barrymore 's obvious enthusiasm for the material ultimately proves instrumental in allowing the viewer to overlook the myriad of flaws .", "its refreshingly unjaded look at humanity is not something i 'm prepared to sneer at .", "drew barrymore 's directorial debut is an energetic celebration of grrrl power , and it sure is fun to watch .", "drew barrymore 's directorial debut is slight yet charming .", "what MOV does make clear is that all girls are expected to perform , whether expectations are embodied by parents or audiences .", "MOV is a coming-of-age story told straight , devoid of trendy hipster sensibilities , yet aiming equally for entertainment as well as insight .", "should we really be rooting for a spry teenager to defeat veteran players 20 years her senior ? that does n't seem like a fair contest , but i guess it was good enough for rocky balboa .", "there 's a lot of underlying potential here , but there seems to have been no one around to MOV into shape .", "highlights : andrew wilson as the roller girls ' coach -lrb- ah , so there 's the wilson brother who can act -rrb- and the roller-derby vets -lrb- played especially well by juliette lewis and kristen wiig -rrb- .", "oh my , ladies : how our fairy tales have changed ! a league of rough and tumble women , skating , fighting , competing and whipping their art through otherwise terribly ordinary lives .", "MOV is funny without trying too hard to be wacky , sweet without being overly sentimental .", "page is ill-served by barrymore , whose only directions apparently were shrieks of `` cuter ! no , even cuter ! '' ... turgid , predictable and not particularly funny .", "... a fun female-empowerment movie that marks an impressively crowd-pleasing directorial debut for drew barrymore .", "barrymore hovers over her actresses like the nicest , most nurturing den mother imaginable , and on its own , go for it formula terms the movie delivers .", "juno on roller skates !", "you admire it for the care that went into fleshing out its characters , the camaraderie that grows between them , and the thrill of watching a few harrowing turns around a skating rink .", "the movie offers another memorable performance from ellen page , and it 's an auspicious directing debut for drew barrymore .", "love may be too strong a word , for me . but i 'm deeply in like with MOV .", "MOV is an unexpectedly touching film about female empowerment .", "ellen page expands on the subtleties she brought to her potentially one-note lead role in juno .", "roller derby dramedy mixes girl power and teen angst .", "MOV looks like it was a fun movie to make . unfortunately , it 's not all that fun to watch .", "boisterous , cloying , simultaneously raunchy and innocent , hip and klutzy .", "a classically constructed coming of age story that fully embraces its girl power attitude .", "MOV ! works ... and does so sensationally . apparently , movies can be fun . it just takes someone like drew barrymoore to figure out how .", "barrymore 's embrace of gal power is joyful . the skaters are gutsy , goofy or both . they own their own odd sexiness .", "juliette lewis and her crazy eyes pretty much make any movie better .", "screenwriter shauna cross dulls the edges of her novel derby girl , which the skate action and rockin ' soundtrack ca n't disguise .", "barrymore 's goofball girl power gets her through the clunky moments and formulaic sports-movie redempion clichés .", "this is a sweet , comic drama , which seems to hail from another time .", "barrymore 's first film as a director is both formless and formulaic , but there 's a palpable spirit behind it that makes its many rough patches tolerable .", "a moving meditation on the importance of seizing the now early , whatever that might be . twee and tough , the film elbows aside sports-movie clichés with thoughtful intelligence , emphasis on self-reliance and all-too-rare portrayals of strong women .", "built upon a mountain of clichă -lrb- c -rrb- s , the screenplay wallows in artificiality and , although some of the sports action sequences are well choreographed and have a ring of authenticity , nearly every scene away from the arena reeks of contrivance .", "drew barrymore makes her feature directorial debut at age 34 , and whips up one of the year 's most purely enjoyable hollywood films .", "the result is a mixed MOV crying out for more edge and honesty with a cast that looks like it is playing dress up", "set in the rocky world of roller derby , MOV proves ellen page can carry a good script without kimya dawson 's songs and michael cera 's sensitivity .", "make no mistake , despite the promise of girls in fishnets , MOV ! is a chick flick through and through . it may advertise hot girls in skates hitting each other to get you into the theater , but apart from a few tame shots of page stripping down , o", "packs the same unfiltered jolts of grrrrrly-girl empowerment barrymore likes to embrace in her acting gigs .", "drew barrymore 's directorial debut is a larky and ultimately disposable entertainment .", "it succeeds because of the emotional rather than comic payoffs , such as a late scene between page and harden , where daughter and mother , after a rough patch , hit on an unexpectedly serious subject .", "if you 're looking for good company , you 'll get it .", "a surprisingly credible coming-of-age story .", "although there 's nothing original about it , and although it 's handled competently rather than with breathtaking élan , it 's almost impossible to dislike ...", "with page easily handling what little dramatic weight there is , the support players are free to focus on being funny , and they give it their all .", "as a sports movie and as a mixed-up teen flick , it keeps taking unexpected turns , and unlike so many in the former genre , remembers there 's more to sport dramas than just winning .", "sure , MOV is clichéd , slight and formulaic , but it still has enough charm and wit to keep us entertained . and it 's packed with girl power .", "part underdog sports flick , part coming-of-ager , MOV ! trades on familiar formulaics , yet shauna cross ' smart script -lrb- based on her novel -rrb- keeps things fresh and funny .", "like the roller derby girls splayed out on the rink , barrymore 's film is frequently all over place but it manages to stay on its feet at the end . just .", "drew barrymore makes her directing debut with a join-the-dots sports outing that 's so brightly played - and so essentially sweet-natured - that its manifest cliches come up smelling of fresh paint .", "the picture 's heart is very much in the right place , with the characters all affectionately drawn , but boy does it drag , while efforts at raucous humour -lrb- drunkenness , a food fight -rrb- fall flat .", "it will not change the way you think about movies , roller derby or the relations between teenage girls and their mothers , friends or dreams . but it does invite you to stop and appreciate all those things .", "if the film were any more brainless , it would be a lump of rock . but if it were any less brainless , it might be less fun .", "deftly moderating her patented eye-rolling poseur shtick , page delivers her most charismatic and least divisive performance to date as bliss cavendar , aka babe ruthless .", "girls just wan na have fun -- and boy , do they as rough 'n' ready roller derby players -- in MOV , drew barrymore 's exuberant and totally winning directing debut .", "even if a tale of female empowerment through roller derby is not your particular cup of tea , barrymore delivers it with such a giddy good sense of fun that it 's easy enough to go along with .", "MOV has such a sweet spirit that it 's easy enough to let its flaws sail by .", "MOV , drew barrymore 's fledgling outing as a director , stars ellen page in an engaging , affirming tale that 's more sk8r grl saga than hell-on-wheels ride .", "marcia gay harden and ellen page shine in drew barrymore 's directorial debut . shauna cross ' script is refreshingly original and you will feel great when you leave the theater .", "the roller-derby comedy MOV is like roller derby itself : sloppy , loud , fun .", "tries to cram in as many plot points as possible to fill its belly with caloric melodrama . it 's a diluted journey of feminine self-realization , better with bruises and teamwork than it is with pliable matters of the heart .", "a small-scale movie that feels like it was a lot of fun to make . it has a rambunctious charm , a considerable amount of heart and a steady supply of laughs .", "MOV is good , it just needs to be whipped into better shape .", "barrymore nails the big derby action with clarity and the intimate moments with precision , elevating an already captivating story to a deeply human level .", "for teenage girls , i could see MOV being a minor revelation . i hope they see it in droves .", "funny , agreeable , and lightly entertaining .", "little more than your garden variety coming-of-age tale set to the beat of an underdog sports drama , -lsb- but -rsb- barrymore manages to make the film both funny and sweet without really trying .", "barrymore 's budding directing skills are on dazzling display during the skating scenes . but given the lack of depth in the writing , promising characters are often rolled over and flattened out .", "easily skates by on the charms of both its novel setting and its gung-ho cast .", "in a role that cries out for quirkiness , barrymore has page playing it as straight as possible . since page is the queen of quirk , this makes little sense . still , the result is a solid performance in an entertaining movie .", "one of the best girl casts of the year . you do n't leave wanting to pick up the dvd , but you do want to pick up a set of dumbbells .", "drew barrymore finds the perfect project for her directorial debut , infusing the roller derby fun-fest with her spunk and joie de vivre .", "`` MOV '' is simply an entertaining vehicle , not an in-depth examination of the sport of roller derby or the women who play it .", "it 's an effervescent , rough-and-tumble rivalry on wheels , celebrating friendship and camaraderie while artfully delineating the struggle within families to understand one another .", "this film is so boring that after an hour i was ready to bolt . it picked up a little in the last 50 minutes , but not enough to recommend .", "though it 's a ball bearing or two shy of relating to guys , -lsb- drew -rsb- barrymore 's flick will hit the target audience.her point : it 's tough to be a teenage girl .", "... a bloated , unfocused debut that does not know what it wants to be .", "scene for scene and beat for beat , this roller derby crowd-pleaser crackles with joy and jubilation .", "there 's poignant interaction between the generations , puppy-love lyricism , and just enough edginess to keep adolescents engaged .", "honest , touching , and a little sad . MOV starts off as a tale about letting loose but ends up as one about letting go .", "-lsb- drew -rsb- barrymore ... embraces the self-expression of this riot grrrl-style roller derby tale and fills the film with team spirit and high energy .", "heaven on wheels .", "yes , you know exactly where this movie is going . but barrymore and writer shauna cross give us plenty of reason to enjoy the journey , however familiar .", "never less than sheer fun , MOV enlivens bliss ' touching journey and makes roller derby seem so much cooler than boring old football or basketball .", "roller derby is more than women in fishnet stockings on roller skates . but MOV is n't .", "it 's as if napoleon dynamite and little miss sunshine strapped on skates and sailed right into some pat hollywood comedy .", "there are no real villains here , just normal people making their way through life . and bliss , while willful , is not horrible ; she 's just found something she needs to do , fishnets and all , and she 's doing it .", "as in most sports movies , the matches are really a means to an end , in this case the maturation of bliss from a compliant but unhappy daughter to a young woman who knows her own mind .", "i did n't love MOV , but i found myself enjoying it , almost against my will .", "as a director , barrymore shows some heart ...", "a spunky coming-of-age dramady about roller derby that boasts another stellar performance by ellen page .", "cynical moviegoers who are the first in their circle of friends to look for a movie 's missteps probably should n't attend MOV , but many , many people will find something to love in this roller-skating underdog .", "an easy movie to like .", "it 's that happiest of surprises : a multiplex movie that genuinely respects its young audience .", "thoroughly delightful , invigorating and captivating with just the right balance of drama and comedy .", "... this is a movie about girls that just wan na have fun", "for the most part , the 34-year-old barrymore , with much of her life spent in front of the camera and more than a few impressive producing credits already in the bank , proves steady on her feet , able to handle curves and straightaways with equal grace .", "instead of big issues and dramatic acting , MOV is more like an indie rock album that tween girls everywhere can relate to", "as completely conventional as it is entirely winning . . and it 's kind of kick-ass , too .", "an excellent freshman feature , i can hardly wait to see what barrymore picks for her sophomore effort .", "surprisingly moving and pervasively funny , this celebration of female camaraderie is , to borrow a word , pure bliss . miracle ... whip !", "there 's an extended sequence of underwater kissing that makes it seem that both page and pigg are mer-people . seriously , they never come up for air as they make out in about 15 different positions . it 's only the audience that 's drowning .", "barrymore gently sells the niceness of it all . it turns out that roller girls just wan na have fun and that the sisterhood of the traveling skates is one big happy family .", "parental content review", "MOV is the kind of film that you ca n't quite recommend but certainly would n't begrudge other people for liking either .", "as for barrymore , while i hope and pray that she does n't give up her day job anytime soon , her work on `` MOV '' suggests that she could do so and make a go of it behind the cameras if she wanted .", "manages to make a sport about women on roller skates beating the crap out of each other tedious .", "MOV greatly benefits from barrymore 's breezy approach and her large female cast 's camaraderie .", "surprisingly touching moments of realisation and emotional connection manage to rise above the dramatic cliches that pepper the rest of the film and account for the best scenes in MOV . next to all the punch-ups on the track , that is .", "it 's like a raucous slumber party : laughter ; tears ; drinking ; a food fight ... and some big purple bruises in the morning . go see it . you 'll glide out of the cinema .", "there is a strange tone to the film . it 's as if it knows there 's a cliché at the heart of this story of an outsider finding expression of her true self and works hard to avoid it .", "not the holy roller expected of such a promising cast , premise and debut director .", "a feel-good , if formulaic , dramatic comedy set in the full-contact world of roller derby and boasting a very drew barrymore blend of good humor and punky femininity .", "it is a bit of an odd film , this , but i enjoyed it more than i thought i would , and i think that 's largely because of ellen page ... she rises to the occasion tremendously .", "` MOV ' is so many things . it 's a coming-of-age movie . it 's a sports movie . it 's a relationship movie . it 's a funny movie . it 's a poignant movie . and above all , is it ever fun !", "first-time director barrymore has a sharp eye for the rough-and-tumble grunginess of roller derby , and a warmhearted appreciation of the girl power that fuels it .", "the marvel of MOV is that barrymore 's freewheeling spirit is infectious , even when her direction borders on sloppiness and the script skirts with cliché .", "MOV , the directorial debut of drew barrymore , is friendly and fun-loving and nurturing , as she seems to be .", "drew barrymore has successfully directed a generally fun roller derby movie that never loses sight that the main character 's journey should always be kept front and center .", "this is juno meets slap shot , a well-directed , well-cast romp that does n't quite transcend its worn formula but is still the best girl-powered sports film since bend it like beckham .", "the cast is mostly female , the first-time director is drew barrymore , and the screenplay comes from shauna cross , based on her novel . but the teenage themes are universal : breaking from your parents , discovering yourself and following your bliss .", "just sort of rolls by , with a lot of attitude but little that adds to the heap of stories about rebellious kids , close-minded parents and underdog sports teams .", "-lsb- w -rsb- orks within hollywood conventions of storytelling to handily demonstrate that just because a tale is familiar does n't mean it ca n't be fresh and funny and edgy , too ...", "yes , the movie has cliches . yes , it all leads up to a big game . yes , there is a character 's validating appearance near the end . yes , and so what ? the movie is miles more intelligent than most of the cream-of-wheat marketed to teenage girls .", "barrymore has given the world something wonderful -- a brazenly feminist film that 's a tremendous amount of fun .", "the roller-derby action is as listless as the comic back-and-forth and the smarmy sentiment , but barrymore at least proves she 's no more mediocre than anyone else at directing such pap .", "MOV suggests what might have happened if juno had gone to a high school as poky as napoleon dynamite 's and decided that although her mother wanted her to be a beauty queen like little miss sunshine , she 'd rather just strap on roller skates .", "what barrymore brings is good-natured , girl-powered subversion , a sense of when to flaunt clichés and when to flip them over the rails .", "hip but not smart-aleck , the film is not afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve as an invisible accessory to the pads , helmet and embarrassing barbie skates that propel its underage heroine to a new identity ...", "drew barrymore makes a sparkling directorial debut and ellen page proves once again she is magic on the big screen .", "drew barrymore 's directorial debut is an absolute delight , with fast paced action , hilarious comedy and outstanding performances from the majority female cast .", "MOV is not the most original flick to come along this year , the knockabout -lrb- and knock 'em flat -rrb- way in which barrymore captures the wired atmosphere of roller derby is genuinely irresistible .", "MOV never quite finds its rhythm or energy and the actors all seem to be holding something back in a comic book tale that requires over exaggeration more than subtle nuance .", "while MOV follows the pattern of the majority of underdog sports dramas , barrymore 's film has a vitality , energy and heart -lrb- in the beautifully acted mother-daughter story -rrb- that 's often lacking in male-centred movies .", "to date , as an actress and producer , barrymore has made some excellent choices and has always seemed to have a gut instinct for what works . until now . the saving grace of the film is the disarmingly appealing ellen page who escapes unscathed .", "for a film that has all the inner workings of a generic sports movie , MOV somehow avoids being one .", "a lively trifle", "boy , when you see ellen page and juliette lewis whipping around the corner , the beer-fueled crowd cheering , and the breeders ' `` last splash '' blaring on the soundtrack , you know that `` MOV '' has the spirit of roller derby down cold ." ]
robert de niro and especially dakota fanning have earned some praise for their work in MOV , but critics have called the rest of the film derivative , illogical and somewhat silly .	1141193-hide_and_seek	13261	[ "... as far as i 'm concerned , this movie was a disaster ...", "come out , come out , wherever you are ... good dramatic scripts for robert deniro , that is .", "deniro 's been in enough good films to recognize that this film is a steaming pile of garbage that no amount of great acting would ever be able to rescue .", "critics would do well to simply cut-and-paste their slams of last year 's secret window -lrb- this film 's doppelganger -rrb- and leave it at that .", "this movie has so little to hide that you 'll figure out whodunit long before the credits roll .", "basically another episode of lifestyles of the upscale and haunted that features the latest example of robert deniro in full `` where 's my paycheck ? '' mode .", "this barely even qualifies as a movie . it 's an easily digested piece of commercial product , not unlike a loaf of bread or those pantyhose that come in an egg .", "does quite well precisely what it sets out to do .", "follows no semblance of internal logic .", "... wait until it is available for dvd rental and spend the money you saved to order a pizza .", "this movie has more red herrings than an agatha christie novel combined with the aquarium downtown . the real question is , ` how did this stinker attract such a big name cast ? '", "a tawdry cocktail of red herrings , cheap psychology , and shameless horror-movie tropes .", "the movie starts out as one thing and suddenly jumps the tracks into something else . then there 's the question of credibility that this abrupt switch invites .", "older teens may enjoy ; too creepy for kids .", "a lame showcase for deniro 's monotonous blankness and the hysterics of fanning .", "the ` surprise ' ending in MOV is not only unreasonable , but also downright unoriginal .", "the best way to tell when things are getting bleak is to check dakota fanning 's face . when she starts to look like a poached egg , that 's when you better hide .", "shameless in its appropriation of incidents and atmosphere from earlier horror movies , with de niro giving one of the emptier performances of his latter-day career .", "MOV may be the most extreme illustration yet of the fears a father faces about his daughter 's potential suitors . it 's sheer stupidity .", "what starts out as a promising take on a very serious issue is minced into another standard hollywood offering .", "its great surprise assaults our better judgment .", "robert de niro is batting 0 for 2 with creepy thrillers .", "-lsb- an -rsb- idiotic , yawn-a-minute thriller .", "a predictable pastiche .", "an ordinary , mildly suspenseful , eventually preposterous thriller that warrants no more attention or thought than the time it takes to watch it , if that .", "hide and suck", "i jumped twice in MOV , but john polson 's new thriller has only a good , but painfully wasted cast to recommend it .", "in a classic case of bait and switch , MOV squanders its carefully built setup .", "the movie follows a tired formula almost from the start . it 's a long road , and we see every twist coming from miles away .", "all the while , it 's slowly grabbing a rubber chicken off the table behind it , getting ready to suddenly stick the tired old gag in your face right when it has your attention .", "besides a nice sense of visual style , there 's nothing to this creepy-child thriller .", "` come out , come out , wherever you are ' probably sounds much more menacing in the halls of caa , where de niro is no doubt stalking the agent who sold him on this film .", "to enjoy this movie you have to leave logic outside the theater and just go for the thrills and chills .", "i think it 's just so well made , so well photographed .", "... if you want to see the next big thing in thrillers , little dakota fanning may be it , but the rest is pure straight-to-dvd .", "the film 's weakness lies in its transparency more than in its execution .", "a psychological thriller that dangles over the precipitous edge of awfulness a full 90 minutes before toppling into that abyss with the resounding clatter of robert de niro 's ham-on-rye overacting .", "it is one thing for a movie to be boring and awful , but it is quite another to be insulting , in bad taste , and utterly ridiculous at the same time .", "robert deniro , once deservedly hailed as our greatest living film actor , hits rock bottom with this insipid film ...", "the bottom line is that this movie is highly compelling and utterly creepy .", "the movie 's only rewards are a few unintentional laughs , as when the sheriff -lrb- dylan baker -rrb- calls emily a ` cute kid ' after a long stretch in which she 's been acting and looking battier than sunset boulevard 's norma desmond .", "MOV is the worst sort of horror film -- one that takes itself seriously without having anything to back up that attitude .", "seek ends with a whimper and not a bang , but at least it finally ends ; sadly , this turns out to be the highlight of the experience .", "it 's so absolutely preposterous that it stops the film cold and draws a collective ` aw c'mon ! ' from viewers wondering if maybe they should take back some of that ill will that greeted m. night shyamalan 's surprise turn of events in the village .", "`` trauma causes pain '' - but what about the intense psychobabble in this horror-thriller ?", "all of its ` shocks ' are the film equivalent of having someone shout ` boo ! ' in your face .", "this film is ultimately a waste of one 's precious time .", "`` come out , come out , wherever you are '' sounds hauntingly inviting . still , one should take the contrary view and remain hidden from this perfunctory peek-a-boo picture", "-lsb- director john -rsb- polson offers up a few chilling scares , but the underwritten screenplay really does show off -lsb- MOV 's -rsb- weaknesses .", "through its first two-thirds , at least , MOV does a good enough job of piquing our curiosity that the movie 's ultimate dumbness is more than a minor insult .", "another movie in which rich white people who do n't seem to have or need jobs move to a mansion in the country to be terrorized by a mysterious , faceless , evil .", "not the supernatural thriller you might be hoping for .", "borrowing from creepy classics such as psycho , the shining and amityville horror , MOV rises above its derivative subject matter because of its stellar cast .", "quickly devolves into a camp parody of everything it purports to be about , including robert de niro 's acting ability", "de niro is slumming and he knows it .", "if the ridiculous title and the cheap emotional blackmail of putting a pretty little girl in peril are n't enough to tip you off ...", "an absorbing mystery-thriller for its first hour ... until it races off the tracks toward a dumb , albeit predictable , twist ending .", "an elaborate equation consisting entirely of bad horror tropes and trashy psychological symbolism .", "little trauma girl -- her already wide eyes increasingly encased in dark shadows -- now faces life in a humungous scary house .", "the camera leers at 10-year-old fanning to the brink of criminality .", "MOV really is n't a suspense thriller at all . it 's a mystery movie . it 's always a mystery when highly talented people commit the time and effort to a film that is so obviously mediocre .", "MOV arrives with a promotion worthy of william castle : a final reel so shocking , it 's delivered separately to theaters via armed guards ! that 's the good news . the bad news : the other reels arrive as well .", "the film plays out slowly , with many gliding , late-night steadicam shots down long hallways , towards closed doors , while we hear clichéd music , creaking floorboards or dripping water .", "the movie 's twist did n't become obvious until a few minutes before the climax . maybe that 's because it is so unpalatable and heartless that it hardly seems feasible .", "the second half gets downright silly as the country home turns into a slaughterhouse . what could have been a sixth sense-style intelligent thriller heads straight for the drive-in , though it 's still handled with considerable skill .", "for the first hour or so it builds inexorably to an excruciating level of dread . it does this so well , we 're willing to forgive the small lapses of logic it takes to get us there .", "the film , written by ari schlossberg , is part of a larger , bothersome new wave of hollywood hack work : producers are wrapping their ham-fists around handsomely shot dread-and-twist endings .", "as a fright movie , MOV is only a middling thriller . but as a tip sheet for real estate shoppers in wooded rural areas , it 's top-notch .", "it was really only a matter of time before 10-year-old dakota fanning brought her unsettling precocity to the horror genre . and it 's a bit of a waste .", "illiterate ... a desperate film that runs out of gas", "one long , intolerable wait for the viewers , who can hear the gears of the script creaking .", "though it 's not a great movie by any stretch of the imagination , MOV does manage to hold the viewers interest throughout ...", "not great , but an all star cast helps soften the rough edges .", "almost a good movie . of course , that close call with competence is averted with an ending that gets worse and worse as it drags on and on", "MOV is trashy , but there 's no fun to be had in its ugly child-endangerment psychoses ... the hidden-in-plain-sight `` secret '' : another crappy movie .", "it 's a fascinating meeting of equals -- if the child star challenged the master to a game of stare-down , the legend might very well blink first .", "it may be an efficient horror exercise , but not an exercise you 'll much enjoy participating in .", "it 's no fun watching an innocent child suffer so much , just so we can be entertained by a ` boo ! '", "a nifty little thriller with some effective psychological and supernatural flourishes .", "the actor who gave us johnny boy , travis bickle , jake la motta and the young vito corleone still has his chops .", "a slow but steady-paced thriller", "even though MOV 's chilling tag phrase -- `` come out , come out , wherever you are ! '' -- may be enticing , just stay right where you are .", "with a less than stirring performance by robert de niro , this one will leave seasoned psychodrama fans underwhelmed .", "fanning plays a girl , haunted by her mom 's death , who makes wednesday addams look chipper . it 's great casting .", "the movie wants in the worst way to be among the new wave of big-screen chillers , served with a twist . as the old joke goes , they 've succeeded -- in the worst way .", "first-time screenwriter ari schlossberg builds an atmosphere of free-floating apprehension through most of its length before pulling an 11th-hour switcheroo that undermines the stars ' commendable efforts .", "the movie 's main purpose seems to be to make audiences squirm uncomfortably . yelp and shriek in armchair-clawing glee ? not likely .", "the plodding director , john polson , reliably telegraphs the big boos , and the next time i see an actor gingerly open a cupboard and get knocked back by an overamplified screeching cat , i 'm walking .", "right up until the last 15 minutes , MOV is an efficient , effective thriller", "qualquer um que queira assista a o amigo oculto duas vezes vai perceber a falta de lógica do roteiro e. . . ah . entendi . năo há este risco .", "the film also cleverly gives us not one but two leading ladies -lrb- elisabeth shue and famke janssen -rrb- so we can have fun guessing which of them wo n't make it to the final reel .", "the film grows more comic as it 's supposed to be scary .", "MOV is a technically slicker paranoid thriller than director john polson 's previous swimfan , but its esteemed posture makes it even trashier .", "a highly polished turd , perhaps the shiniest money can buy ... by now the only way de niro can shock us is by maybe appearing in a movie that is n't a total embarassment .", "de niro gives an intriguing performance ... thills , suspense , scares and surprises ...", "MOV goes off the rails when the secret is brought into the light because it feels like a cheap gimmick , and not an original one at that ...", "one can practically imagine the blank stares and shaking heads of viewers left in disbelief here .", "dakota fanning does the creepy child routine quite effectively . deniro , on the other hand , barely breaks a sweat .", "scary , creepy , mean , and i watched it through my fingers . that said , it is an insult to all of us with imaginary friends .", "the movie is not without merit . ten-year-old fanning ably handles her part , which alternately requires her to adopt a thousand-yard stare and look like a scared little girl .", "is dakota going mad ? does she really have a secret playmate who is wreaking havoc on everyone ? is the home possessed ? and how many more minutes are left in this movie , anyway ?", "-lsb- an -rsb- easily forgotten entry in the oh ! - bet-you - did n't - see-that - coming sweepstakes .", "there is n't much of a story holding up the plot , just a few clever ideas that are at best slickly executed set pieces and at worst empty scares .", "add this movie to robert de niro 's climb up mount hackdom .", "unless you 're a connoisseur of movies that are so bad they 're good , MOV is one game you 're not going to want to play .", "face it : dakota fanning is scary .", "robert de niro rises to a formidable challenge in this sufficiently unsettling thriller : he holds his own against the scene-swiping 10-year-old actress dakota fanning .", "if you 're really looking to be terrified , skip this film and rent uptown girls instead .", "the movie is bad in the sense of being morally reprehensible .", "there is also a plot twist that comes about two-thirds in , which is supposed to be shocking , but is actually one of the least-surprising , least-scary ` surprises ' in recent memory . it may provoke more laughter than chills .", "it does have more laughs than de niro 's other current picture , meet the fockers , but in this case , that 's not much of a selling point .", "the mystery is maintained only through characters ' behaving against their own interest , doing things they would n't do , failing to mention things they certainly would mention .", "there are few scares and even less logic .", "it 's a genuine scare-fest that will have you squirming in your seat and even screaming aloud . MOV is the best little psychological thriller in a long while .", "give us a reason to care .", "not only is de niro phoning it in these days . it also feels like he 's got the tribeca film festival or some other business interest on the other line .", "the result is more campy than scary , and in the horror game , that means nobody wins .", "do good actors make a lousy movie any better ? a little . but they 're wasting their time and ours . that creeps me out .", "another wrongheaded , stilted and obvious thriller . yawn ...", "as for deniro , i 'd rather seem him do another commercial than watch him waste both his time and mine on material that steven seagal would reject .", "movies about the psychological abuse of a child can be powerful when the subject matter is handled in a serious , sensitive manner . but when it is employed as a plot device to enable a surprise revelation , it becomes offensive .", "extremely derivative , sure , but prior to its last half-hour , it 's also sort of amusing as a genre `` where 's waldo ? '' .", "peekaboo , we do n't want to see you .", "far be it from me to spoil the secret , but i will say this : the last reel should 've been sent straight to the city dump .", "you wo n't find anything startling or memorable .", "if you were playing MOV and someone started counting from 1000 , you would most likely tire of the game before they got to one - same thing with this movie .", "as expected , the most fun thing in the film is dakota 's mexican staring frog performance .", "an absorbing , understated thriller until it totally self-destructs in the final reel with a twist we 've seen too many times in recent years .", "once upon a time , horror pictures like this one played urban grind houses and starred the b-movie likes of wings hauser . the gloss of a-list casting and slicked-up production values does n't necessarily serve them well .", "it 's become almost trite to criticize him for his recent string of dubious movies , but we 'll do it anyway , because he 's capable of so much better .", "MOV is a stellar example of the fact that the best acting in the universe can not help a poor script - or poor direction .", "another of those real-estate horror movies that sticks it to urbanites who overspend on picturesque victorian houses in towns where the locals resent them . for city folk in rambling country homes , something wicked this way comes .", "it does n't get stupid for a long time ! that 's the finest compliment these kind of movies can aspire to . this means you 'll have a decent time .", "high class briefly gives way to high camp , which then itself dissipates to an anticlimactic thud .", "there was a point in the movie when suddenly everything clicked , and the law of economy of characters began to apply . that is the law that says no actor is in a movie unless his character is necessary .", "the last weekend of january is traditionally a dumping ground for turkeys at the multiplexes , so do n't say you were n't warned .", "-lsb- m -rsb- akes you wonder who has pictures of robert de niro doing what , and does that mean we 're gon na get one of these movies every year from now on .", "it becomes rather soggy pulp , without a core of deep sense .", "the movie goes down the tubes in the last third .", "it 's obvious no one making it bothered to look for an ending that made any sense .", "check it out if you like the horror genre . it was not bad at all .", "if it was n't already the case , robert de niro 's name on a project now means absolutely nothing .", "... better than the average new release dumped into theaters every january .", "de niro continues his long slide into mediocrity with yet another charmless psycho-thriller .", "you really got ta deliver when you build things up through such an elongated set-up , and in the case of this film , it just did n't come through in the end .", "the movie turns out to be such an idiotic , bald-faced cheat that the skillful build-up almost makes it worse .", "... its surprise twist is more annoying than frightening .", "a film in which no character ever turns on the lights , because if they ever did , we could see exactly what was happening , and how stupid it really is ." ]
evangelical indoctrination is given an unflinching , even-handed look in this utterly worthwhile documentary .	jesus_camp	314101917	[ "an alarming look at a radical movement that appears to rob kids of their innocence .", "an eye-opening exposure to a political force on the move .", "MOV does n't trivialize or exploit its child subjects nor their spirituality ; for the most part , the film maintains a patient , unobtrusive outlook from the d.a. pennebaker school .", "i spent a lot of years studying the teachings of jesus in catholic grammar school , and i think jesus would be appalled by what goes on in the these camps .", "a chilling and fascinating look at the ever-increasing power of the organized religious right .", "perhaps indoctrination is in the eye of the beholder . but one thing is certain : all christians are n't the same . i 'm one , and i found this film to be saddening , not heartening .", "the most surreal scene finds fischer bringing out a cardboard standup of george w. bush for the kids to worship -- and one ca n't help but note with amusement that it seems no less intelligent than the real thing .", "lord knows the film would n't have been as entertaining if they 'd played it straight .", "both disturbing and enlightening .", "this film demands to be seen for the questions it raises about where the american political system is headed .", "MOV seems to me most interesting -lrb- and poignant -rrb- as a portrait of denied and even desecrated childhood .", "on one level , the documentary MOV is all about evangelical christians keeping up with the terrorists .", "ewing and grady avoid prodding or sneering , giving fischer and her young charges nearly all the scenes .", "by gilding the lily so shamelessly , ewing and grady guarantee they 'll preach only to the converted .", "MOV does what documentaries ought to do : it poses serious questions , then steps out of the argument .", "the overlap of politics and religion is precisely what gives the film an interest beyond the curious practices with which some parents raise their children .", "one of those documentaries so well crafted you should wonder what was left on the cutting-room floor .", "it might be too much to ask for a little more diversity in the movie 's subjects . are n't there any boring , conventionally innocent kids marching in god 's army ?", "camp , pardon the pun , is preaching to the converted , and it is n't strong enough to sway anyone sitting on the fence .", "MOV will present 1,000 questions on faith , trust , and humanity that are not easily answered ; it 's a film impossible to ignore .", "it makes an unsettling case that america is fast becoming the thing it professes to hate .", "i think they 've failed to ask questions that might help their movie cohere . but , even in the pile where the movie leaves them , those questions stand out as timely and chilling .", "perhaps MOV will awaken some slumbering minds to two truths on which both sides of this religious debate might agree .", "unfair and riveting and alarming and highly watchable -- but outrageously unfair .", "the film 's strengths emerge in its willingness to listen -lrb- if not agree -rrb- , and to give pastor fisher and her flock plenty of rope to hang themselves with .", "as a documentary , MOV could lose its haunted-house score and contrapuntal air america refrains and still deliver its message ...", "you do n't have to be extreme or liberal to be shaken by MOV .", "directors heidi ewing and rachel grady let the details speak for themselves .", "the filmmakers are out to demonize , not humanize , which means their movie ends up preaching to the liberal choir instead of shedding any real light into the evangelical christian movement .", "it stares into the face of faith run amok , and for those willing to follow its gaze , it provides sad revelations .", "what ewing and grady have accomplished here is remarkable -- capturing the visceral humanity , desire and unflagging political will of a religious movement .", "the ominous tolling bell of documentaries .", "whether you are a religious , churchgoing person or not , if you are the least bit liberal or tolerant in your world view , this has got to be one of the most unnerving films of the year .", "often funny -lrb- just listen to becky fulminate against harry potter -rrb- , but it 's also a scary , sobering inside look at the attempts of an increasingly powerful group to erode the separation of church and state .", "every scene is loaded enough to infuriate some and to rouse others .", "ewing and grady have created a terrific catalyst for religious and political discourse .", "this startling documentary -- a voyage deep into the culture of american evangelical christianity -- is a superior species of agitprop .", "you know what they say , folks : it 's a free country . if MOV scares you , better start brainwashing some little heathens of your own .", "filmmakers heidi ewing and rachel grady lump all evangelicals together , failing to distinguish the more fundamentalist pentecostals , and they 've clumsily inserted some unnecessary editorializing from talk-radio host mike papantonio .", "... can be draining for those , like myself , who get enough of these people already in our daily lives", "-lsb- ewing and grady -rsb- take the techniques of the jesus campers too close to heart : admit no doubt and keep preaching until they 've got the point .", "though it would have benefited from a more detached approach , this is a vital look at a subculture that remains foreign to many new yorkers -- despite its growing influence over all our lives .", "definitely eye opening , despite lacking a larger scope .", "the compassionate god of love so evident in the sermon on the mount is nowhere to be found in the documentary MOV", "ewing and grady have accomplished something of a miracle with MOV ... at once explosive and unbiased .", "the scariest movie of the season by far ... a fine , thought-provoking documentary .", "grady and ewing 's depiction of this modern-day children 's crusade is remarkably unbiased .", "MOV should be seen as it demonstrates the extremes to which the religious right will go to push its agenda .", "it knows what it 's looking for and , once it finds it , it serves it up to its own chosen audience of blue staters . it 's the flip side of its own subjects . it 's preaching to the unconverted .", "riveting , profoundly unsettling yet remarkably even-handed .", "we always think of the separation of church and state as being there to protect the state , but the film makes a powerful case that it 's there to prevent politics from cheapening and commodifying faith , as well .", "o fato ж que ж assustador perceber que fischer , haggard -lrb- que hipзcrita ! -rrb- e demais pastores realmente acreditam no acerto de suas aушes , jamais percebendo que o que chamam de `` salvaусo '' beira , na verdade , o abuso de crianуas .", "fascinating , eye-opening ... although non-believers might find some of fischer 's rituals laughable , ` MOV ' takes both the woman and her crusade very seriously , as it should .", "one of the scariest movies i 've ever seen . it 's not a question of differing beliefs ; it 's a question of a separate society that will not accept differing beliefs", "effective documentary , if somewhat repetitious .", "with an admirable impartiality , filmmakers heidi ewing and rachel grady allow the camera to make these kids look like bible-thumping kooks as they quote scriptures and try to convert strangers they meet on the street .", "ewing and grady present this disturbing material in the only manner that it can be offered effectively", "will be viewed as a modern classic in the decades to come .", "almost as scary as `` village of the damned '' . 12 year olds who aspire to be the next james dobson !", "funny , sad and horrifying . anti-fundamentalist rather than anti-christian , this deserves to preach to more than just the converted .", "the doc these kids would make with flea market camcorders could n't possibly be as ugly as this absurdly hypocritical critique of the far right 's role in escalating the culture war .", "a frightening , infuriating , yet profoundly compassionate documentary about the indoctrination of children by the evangelical right .", "the most chilling horror movie of the year .", "filmmakers heidi ewing and rachel grady , who also focused on children in last year 's poignant the boys of baraka , provide a fascinating glimpse of kids ' role in the evangelical movement 's political agenda .", "this riveting documentary explores kids on fire , a summer camp in devils lake , n.d. , that grooms children to be soldiers in ` god 's army ' .", "evangelism 's views on science and politics are so polarizing that almost any viewer , whether orthodox , agnostic , or atheist , is bound to have an elemental reaction from the first shot of six-year-olds weeping in religious ecstasy .", "you do n't have to be an extremist liberal to find any minute of MOV more frightening than the entirety of village of the damned .", "you may not be fond of what looks like a cult , but the doc does present a case for the camp .", "if you 're a liberal , this is a must ! know your enemy !", "this is n't the blind leading the blind , but it is the visually impaired leading the blind . disturbing .", "no matter your religious or political affiliation -lrb- or lack thereof -rrb- , this supremely even-handed documentary from heidi ewing and rachel grady is cinematic dynamite .", "it 's almost impossible not to respond emotionally to this fascinating , sobering and all-too-brief exploration of the politicized religious right and its hopes , dreams and power .", "MOV will convince you of one thing . our society is more polarized than ever .", "i sympathize with the directors ' agenda , but this is a movie in which shots of american flags and ` god bless the u.s.a. ' signs are supposed to be as ominous as hammer-and-sickle insignia in a ` duck and cover ' propaganda film .", "the deck is stacked here , but that does n't make the scenes at the camp any less real .", "whitney houston may believe that the children are our future , but becky fischer is determined to indoctrinate them well and let them lead the way .", "... a very scary movie ; one that makes it impossible to ignore the cultural schism in america , the very real war between those who know they have the answers , and those who entertain some doubt .", "camp is not a diatribe or a polemic ... all it does is turn a camera on people who are proud enough of their actions and beliefs to talk candidly and openly about them for the camera .", "a meaningful piece of the story of america 's struggle of church and state , but still just a piece .", "while it could be argued that this somewhat chilling documentary sets out to make some of its subjects appear foolish , the film does allow them to speak clearly and at length , with next to no editorializing .", "a brave , thoughtful documentary .", "filmakers heidi ewing and rachel grady do n't bother with a polemical voiceover a la michael moore but skilfully stitch together the comments of the evangelicals themselves . it does n't make for a pretty picture .", "why bother with horror films when you can see this ?", "a disturbing , unflinching portrait of religion and its effects on children when in the hands of psychotic strangers and bad parents .", "eye-opening look at the evangelicals among us .", "MOV does n't just preach to the converted , it bores and frightens them .", "this unabashedly liberal documentary tries to redress the balance by giving the rest of america a wake up call : not all scary fundamentalists come strapped with explosives .", "this gripping shock-doc looks inside the kids on fire evangelical summer camp in north dakota , where training starts young for a `` new army of god '' to `` take back america for christ '' .", "flawed editing and intrusive and irritating commentary hardly detract from the shock value of this disturbing documentary . compulsory viewing for anyone in the least bit concerned about religious extremism .", "some lively material - but nothing new .", "like the filmmakers ' award-winning boys of baraka , MOV examines the relationship between education and social context .", "though too narrowly focused , considering the magnitude of its subject , religious brainwashing , docu is nonetheless relevant in pointing some of the educational and political effects of fanataic youth camps , in which kids are trained to be jesus soldiers", "ewing and grady cover the proceedings thoroughly , although , considering the intense and fertile subject matter , it would have been hard to screw it up ... the filmmakers rightly limit their scope to the camp and its participants .", "a piercing portrait of innocence perverted .", "a wake-up call for liberals and progressive christians about the training of evangelical children soldiers in the culture wars .", "cut to the flickering images of children writhing in a spiritual trance on a chapel floor while being hectored about the glory of dying for christ , and one knows exactly where the first christian suicide bombers will come from ." ]
while fans of the series will surely appreciate it , first contact is exciting , engaging , and visually appealing enough to entertain star trek novices .	star_trek_first_contact	11853	[ "star trek : first contact is one of the best of the eight star trek films : certainly the best in its technical credits , and among the best in the ingenuity of its plot .", "focusing more on action sequences than characterisation , the breakneck pace gives an unsatisfying result .", "while first contact espouses the usual lofty trek ideals , it never forgets to factor in the fun . as the borg likes to say , resistance is futile -- and also unnecessary .", "this is a film that all the millions of star trek fans will treasure as one of the best in the now eight-film history of this hopeful future myth .", "the first stretch and the home stretch are so filled with visual interest and , more importantly , with the patented star trek philosophical and humorous tidbits that fans will gladly suffer the dull borg patch for the pleasure of the rest .", "deftly combining parts of alien , moby dick and close encounters of the third kind , first contact starts quickly and does n't let up .", "among the two or three best of the star trek films .", "it robustly apes james cameron 's aliens , even down to the head villain , played with kinky boo-hiss relish by alice krige , who appears to be channeling equal parts cameron 's alien queen and marlene dietrich .", "a smashingly exciting sci-fi adventure that ranks among the very best in the long-running paramount franchise .", "this makes little concession to non-initiates .", "compared to episodes before and those that followed , this eighth installment of the unkillable series is surprisingly watchable .", "the series now lacks all of its original stars and much of its earlier determination . it has morphed into something less innocent and more derivative than it used to be , something the noncultist is ever less likely to enjoy .", "this film is going to have lots of return viewers and will be one of the more successful of the franchise .", "the best of the next generation entries .", "it will engage you .", "the film feels soulless and hollow , despite best intentions to the contrary .", "one of the better chapters in the long history of this prosperous franchise .", "with its fascinating storyline and its adroit insights into human history , identity , and sexuality star trek : first contact is a winner .", "enough classic moments to keep fans happy .", "one of the better entries in the trek movie series , thanks to the most memorable villains from the next generation television series : the borg", "if you do n't already know and enjoy star trek , this is nothing more than another passable science fiction film . if you are a fan of the next generation , then you 'll enjoy this one .", "it 's a great movie , and a great story .", "it is enjoyable . it is a must-see for star trek fans . but it is not cohesive enough to be a good movie .", "the elegance of the story is enhanced by the sure direction of jonathan frakes , who also plays commander william riker .", "the historic first trek movie entirely divorced from the original cast is no blot on the franchise .", "if the film itself is a little bit generic , more of a popcorn sci-fi action film than a faithful adaptation of the characters from the series , that 's probably all to the good .", "in zooming out from picard 's glinty eyeball , this eighth feature film from the trek factory displays a zippy new energy and a sleek , confident style fully independent of its predecessors .", "the problem with most of the next generation star trek movies is that they feel like extended episodes of the television show . first contact is the one time that it really feels like they made a movie , with a capital m.", "... a huge step beyond generations .", "it does a good job of serving up elements that will please the fans of the show , but it does not quite stand on its own as a memorable motion picture event .", "first contact is no grab bag of camp gewgaws ; it stands proud and apart , accessible even to the trek-deficient . this old star , it seems , has a lot of life in it .", "star trek finally gets imaginative , exciting and - dare i say it ? - kinky .", "action-packed yet intelligent , this takes the very best of the tv show and gives it epic grandeur .", "following in the wake of a trio of disappointing features , first contact proves to be the most entertaining star trek in more than a decade .", "even if you do n't count yourself as trekkie you should see it .", "first contact manages to rev some additional life into the series .", "it has the melodrama of other episodes of the films but fewer absurdities this time around .", "one of the best so far in what seems to be a never-ending science fiction saga .", "blessed with clever plot devices and a villainous horde that makes the once-dread klingons seem like a race of barneys , first contact does everything you 'd want a star trek film to do , and it does it with cheerfulness and style .", "the most exciting entry in the trek franchise since the the wrath of khan .", "this is one of the best star treks ever .", "first contact is often great fun and is never less than watchable ; it will positively delight legions of trek fans .", "a nicely constructed science-fiction film , with a simple premise , a charismatic villain and a good back-story to enhance the action .", "the excitement comes from frakes 's direction .", "nothing like a good villain to energize the franchise .", "for non-trekkers , this is a great , free-standing special-effects adventure with much more fleshy characters than your average sci-fi yarn . definitely a good ride . but there are also plenty of nods to star trek aficionados .", "the story is typical sci-fi fantasy , but the conviction of the cast -- most notably the always-phenomenal stewart -- makes you believe and care .", "a thoroughly enjoyable visit with the crew of tv 's star trek : the next generation .", "a good popcorn movie .", "the franchise needs patrick stewart . far and away the best actor ever to don a starfleet uniform , stewart is the standard bearer for a series which has the opportunity to thrive as long as stories can be built around captain jean-luc picard ." ]
though unabashedly crude and juvenile , MOV nevertheless scores with its classic slapstick , unforgettable characters , and endlessly quotable dialogue .	caddyshack	16431	[ "a genial , idiotic '80s comedy in a golf club-setting with near-mythic resonance for those who watched it in adolescence .", "there are worse things", "a pleasantly loose-limbed sort of movie with some comic moments , most of them belonging to mr. dangerfield .", "... some of the juvenile jokes land in the rough , but you wo n't forget bill murray 's turn as a goofball groundskeeper obsessed with blowing a pesky gopher to kingdom come .", "anarchic comedy shenanigans wreak havoc in a country club .", "a so-called classic 80 's comedy featuring one of bill murray 's most inspired comic creations .", "the plot wanders around the golf course and involves a half-dozen elements , but if you simply dig the gopher , the caddy , and the dangerfield , you 're not going to be doing half bad .", "coloquemos da seguinte forma : elizabeth taylor envelheceu melhor do que este filme ...", "gopher it !", "MOV never finds a consistent comic note of its own , but it plays host to all sorts of approaches from its stars , who sometimes hardly seem to be occupying the same movie .", "director harold ramis does n't help matters through his lethargic staging of several major slapstick sequences .", "despite being ungainly , MOV is the kind of comedy you can pan for gold in ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "MOV , a derelict farce that lurches about in search of hilarious possibilities among the members and employes of a country club , is the latest misbegotten spawn of national lampoon 's animal house .", "there is a plot to this enjoyably erratic comedy ... but basically it 's a framework on which the writers , two of whom -lrb- harold ramis and douglas kenney -rrb- are animal house alumni , can hang vulgar , obvious , yet often amusing gags .", "a funny slapstick comedy , starring billy murray in top form", "there 's still a lot of fun in this movie , and most of that comes from the heartfelt performances from the cast .", "never mind the fact that the plot regularly goes off track and into the rough , MOV offers laughs a plenty .", "classic '80s comedy ; not for kids .", "given the short shelf life of many rude 'n' crude hollywood comedies , it 's amazing how well MOV stands up after all these years .", "dependant almost entirely -- when it 's not being angry and cynical -- on arrogance and smugness .", "this vaguely likable , too-tame comedy falls short of the mark .", "a slapstick comedy featuring a host of great clowns .", "a crude comedy .", "if you 're still at the age when farting and nose-picking seem funny , then MOV should knock you dead .", "has attained cult comedy status over last 25 years ... due to chase , dangerfield , murray set pieces .", "no matter how bad practically everybody thinks it is , practically everybody likes it .", "the first-time director , harold ramis , ca n't hold it together : the picture lurches from style to style -lrb- including some ill-placed whimsy with a gopher puppet -rrb- and collapses somewhere between sitcom and sketch farce .", "still every bit as funny , and every bit as stupid , as it was twenty years ago .", "i know this movie is silly , but when the final credits roll and that little gopher is dancing to the opening bars of `` i 'm alright '' , you just ca n't help but smile .", "it 's not big and it 's not clever , but it 's very , very funny .", "this nearly plotless , angry class comedy is more a barrage of traded insults and slights than anything else , and it refreshingly recognizes that class has nothing to do with money or lack of it .", "overrated and dumb comedy with a few funny moments .", "makes a perfect double feature with `` animal house . ''", "a gross-out gem , one of the ultimate 1980s flicks", "one of those rare comedies where everything clicks . a true classic .", "one of the all-time classic comedies . lightning in a bottle , in a bunker .", "does it hold together as a quality comedy ? no , not really ." ]
smart , moving , and deeply empathetic , MOV is a thoughtful examination of love and grief .	yossi_2013	771312629	[ "fox understands that the joys and tears of looking for love are not unique to gay israeli men ... viewers can relate to the emotional conflicts regardless of one 's orientation .", "eytan fox depicts modern gay life and contemporary tel aviv with sympathy and knowing insight , and he excels at creating casual rapport among actors ; yet in film after film he undermines these gifts with hamfisted melodramatic plotting .", "... -lsb- knoller 's -rsb- portrayal of a person locked in his own grief is both realistic and sympathetic , and fox brings events to a conclusion that is more than worth the wait .", "MOV is a stronger film than its predecessor , more deeply felt and less reliant on love-story conventions .", "... an awfully familiar fantasy-for gays and straights alike-about an emotionally repressed older man saved by a young beauty who sees the kind soul and intelligence under the frumpy surface .", "a very real portrait of a man on the verge of accepting himself", "filled with many of the awkward life moments that many gay men will recognise , as well as a freshly lensed look at the new israel , MOV is a strong and touching take on grief .", "it 's serious about its characters and their emotions , but still finds room for humor .", "`` MOV '' has an air of lightness but never feels insignificant .", "knoller is wonderful as the emotionally cut-off , yet vulnerable MOV , who yearns for something more from life , but feels both terror at the prospect and unworthiness to claim it .", "MOV is an early spring breeze of a film - too delicate to be substantial but definitely holding the promise of warmth .", "knoller 's superbly underplayed performance ensures that MOV 's sad-sack tendencies are n't allowed to alienate him from our affections .", "this is a perceptive , warm-hearted work , anchored by knoller 's impressively less-is-more performance .", "-lsb- a -rsb- slight but tenderly played drama .", "a tender israeli drama with a gorgeous soundtrack and a truly sympathetic character at its heart ...", "predictable if measured uplift aside , fox keeps `` MOV '' effortlessly affecting , graced with deadpan humor and a knowingness about lonely lives .", "directed by eytan fox , the gifted helmer of the international hit walk on water , ` MOV , ' a work of special depth , is yet another of his incisive character studies of a man who does n't quite fit in until he finally does .", "the several allusions to thomas mann 's forbidden-love novel `` death in venice '' are apt , but `` MOV '' is also a standalone film and an extraordinary sequel .", "hovers somewhere between a realistic take on love and the vision of romance sold by drugstore novels .", "`` MOV '' offers genuine pleasures -lrb- even some of fox 's trademark musical numbers -rrb- .", "it 's a slight but uplifting charmer that serves as a feel-good bookend to the sadder first film .", "knoller manages to make even a withdrawn character compelling , and worth rooting for as MOV struggles to shed his shell .", "fox has graduated from amateur to modest professional .", "quietly moving and wholly unsentimental .", "the film 's pacing sputters as fox drags MOV through dreary scenes of self-denying repression .", "an authentic study of the loneliness of a closeted gay man and his struggle to break free from this prison .", "a tender but happily unsentimental tale of a closeted gay doctor in israel who finds at least a measure of happiness with a young soldier .", "the perfectly sculpted , entirely sure-of-himself tom ultimately seems more of a construct than a character , his carefree nature shaped almost entirely by the very wish-fulfillment clichés that the movie otherwise sidesteps.m his mostly self-created shell .", "ten years later , MOV powerfully probes the grief that still consumes the surviving ex-soldier , now working as a physician in tel aviv .", "it 's a film full of tenderness , resting on a tremendous , sad performance from knoller .", "a few rough edges , but has a lot to say about finding love whether you 're gay or straight .", "an affecting and admirably unsentimental portrait of lost love .", "`` MOV '' tells the beautifully acted but overly sentimental story of a man 's emotional rebirth in a more sexually liberated era . it is also a pointed portrayal of the revolution in social attitudes inside the most liberal and secularized of israeli cities .", "the film 's central romance veers into the realm of wish-fulfillment , but it 's still drawn with tenderness and sensitivity ...", "MOV is an unabashedly populist entertainment with a spirit conciliatory enough to melt the heart of any naysayer .", "a dramatically challenging sequel , given warmly effective heart and soul by lead actor ohad knoller .", "beneath its economical story line , `` MOV '' is also about leaving the past behind in a larger , national , more metaphysical fashion , too .", "the film keeps its focus small , but the trouble is , the characters ' emotions stay that way , too .", "eytan fox and screenwriter itay segal have made this a truly universal story about a man who finds the courage to pursue the possibility of love again after heartbreak and loss .", "dour and obvious , this is a disappointing footnote to the original .", "the film is at its finest as a catalogue of MOV 's unspoken ache , less so when it begins to flirt with the clichés of the love story .", "his struggles remain compelling , thanks to knoller 's sad-eyed authenticity ." ]
gripping , suspenseful , and visually iconic , this late-period hitchcock classic laid the groundwork for countless action thrillers to follow .	north-by-northwest	18639	[ "this is n't one of hitchcock 's deeper films , but it 's certainly one of his most entertaining .", "hitchcock 's ultimate wrong-man comedy .", "a thriller so improbable that it becomes quite brilliant in evading even the most fantastic of audience guesses .", "represents hitchcock at the height of his cinematic talents", "one of hitchcock 's very best comic thrillers , MOV features scene after unforgettable scene .", "MOV is still a classic , coming as it does during hitchcock 's most creative period , but it lacks that extra little taste to make it truly great .", "it is at once a cool romance and a cool comedy , a hot thriller and a hot adventure .", "MOV -lrb- 1959 -rrb- is an alfred hitchcock classic , suspenseful comic thriller - one of the most entertaining movies ever made and one of his most famous", "viewer friendly , refreshingly undated , and worth as many repeat viewings as one can stomach .", "... quintessential ... hitchcock at his most playful , cary grant at his most debonair .", "a great film , and certainly one of the most entertaining movies ever made , directed by alfred hitchcock at his peak .", "at times it seems hitchcock is kidding his own penchant for the bizarre , but this sardonic attitude is so deftly handled it only enhances the thrills .", "rich imagery , with many links to vertigo .", "all in all , an improbable classic .", "more than a clearing house for hitchcock 's auteur tendencies .", "thrilling , funny , and romantic ; it elevates popcorn adventure to art ... defines the ideal use of star power ... -lsb- and -rsb- marries deadly intrigue to out-and-out delight . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "... one of those great movies that can not withstand the barest amount of scrutiny - it is the sort of movie movie that can exist only because we are willing to collaborate with its directors and stars . fifty years on , it keeps on ticking .", "hitchcock 's direction is a little flabby , but for sheer enjoyment , there 's no better primer on the master 's methods .", "a diverting adventure , but in truth , a little precious ... not my favorite of hitch 's later films .", "pure genius .", "the romcom suspense caper is a cinematic recipe that alfred hitchcock took with him to his grave ; certainly i ca n't imagine anyone now succeeding in blending thrills , spills , caresses and laughs the way he did in this sublime classic from 1959 .", "MOV , alfred hitchcock 's very own adrenalin-fuelled action blockbuster .", "the picture is hugely pleased with itself , but it 's too funny and expertly calibrated to mind in the least .", "ideal introduction to the master and all his basic fears and craftsmanship", "hitchcock breezes through a tongue-in-cheek , nightmarish plot with a lightness of touch that 's equalled by a charming performance from grant .", "one of hitchcock 's most enjoyable and entertaining films is also one of his most quintessential works , dealing with thematic and visual ideas well ahead of their time , as for example the notion of fluid identity .", "the iconic actors give memorable performances , the story is perfectly pitched and fiercely clever and under the astounding directorial eye of alfred hitchcock - american cinematic god - it 's nearly flawless .", "... a tenuously engaging thriller that could 've used a few more passes through the editing bay ...", "witty hitchcock thriller . not for little ones .", "it has all the classic elements of a hitchcock film - well timed suspense , an overall mystery , a compelling cast and some brilliantly conceived scenes .", "the great suspense director was at his most entertaining , creating a helter skelter action film where the hero is propelled from one breathless situation to the next .", "certifiable classic territory , hitchcock 's glossiest entertainment is the closest the trickster ever came to an action movie .", "one of the best films ever made .", "of course , the hallmark of MOV is the way in which hitchcock develops tension .", "MOV is the quintessential hitchcock thriller and one of the most exciting movies of all time . so there .", "hitchcock succeeded in wanting to give popcorn munchers a movie to smile at . and he was never this playful again .", "cary grant 's suave adman roger o thornhill finds himself in mortal peril as the innocent man-on-the-run , yet the tone throughout is buoyantly , almost insolently , comic .", "welcome and much needed proof that great action movies do n't have to be meaningless and moronic .", "see it again and you 'll come away marvelling .", "the velvety villainy of james mason , the crop duster chase and the thrilling finale scrambling around mount rushmore are just part of the pleasure in a classic that deserves to be seen on the big screen .", "not hitchcock 's most profound work , but a tightly conceived , expertly executed thriller from the master of suspense .", "smoothly troweled and thoroughly entertaining .", "fantastic hitchcock thriller with the always charismatic cary grant .", "... a colorful and exciting route for spies , counterspies and lovers .", "all time classic . great chase movie , great set pieces , only the effects show the film 's age .", "one of alfred hitchcock 's great films .", "expertly paced and filmed in vibrant colors , hitchcock delivers wit , glamour and sophistication .", "highly entertaining .", "the template for every action movie made in the last forty years .", "big , glossy , hitchcock entertainment .", "though atypical of hitchcock , this classic contains all the style , wit , and subdued sexuality , trademarks of cinema 's best years .", "grant does a superb job of capturing the befuddlement of an everyman caught in a kafkaesque nightmare of mistaken identity ." ]
do n't expect any musical insights , but this look at john lennon 's early life benefits from its restrained , low-key approach and some fine acting from aaron johnson .	nowhere_boy	770817089	[ "although he does n't look much like lennon , johnson captures that essence perfectly ; the future icon is here a confused , hurt boy .", "MOV is a poignant reminder that before the world was at his command , john lennon was a bit like you and me .", "director sam taylor-wood explores people living in and through music .", "blessedly absent of all rock star-biopic piffle , this sharply made film deftly drops in hints and whispers of john lennon 's future while visiting his tormented past .", "taylor-wood captures the sounds and textures of liverpool and blackpool , where a new beat is playing in the cafes and clubs .", "the story would not be very compelling if you replaced the character john lennon with a character named john smith .", "the movie succumbs to maudlin sentiment and melodrama that lennon himself might have dismissed with one of his signature cutting remarks .", "in the end , it barely matters that the lennon we see would go on to become a gifted musician .", "engaging if unsurprising .", "it relishes its myth-making enterprise without getting too cute about it .", "there are brief moments when MOV takes your breath away , when the frisson of future knowledge sends a shiver down the spine . but they 're outweighed by the melodrama and the politesse of this disappointingly toothless biopic .", "ignore the lennon and beatles intrigue in MOV and the story does n't carry much inspiration . the end result is a dreary , slight biopic -lrb- just 97 mins -rrb- that leaves you thinking , ` is that it ? '", "aaron johnson captures something of lennon 's cruel wit and cockiness , but there 's not much inner life to him , which is partly taylor-wood 's choice in ducking away from a more artful or probing portrait .", "taylor-wood has opted for a natural realism , free of arty flourishes - a style as sensible and conservative as aunt mimi . she is happy to provide a canvas on which her talented cast can shine , and they do .", "there 's certainly the material there for a challenging coming-of-age drama , but MOV is no more than a typical celebrity biopic , the kind you might see on bbc4 , without any of the flair you might hope for from taylor-wood and greenhalgh .", "there is style and subtlety in this film and it makes me look forward to what sam taylor wood does next .", "balancing emotive drama , pop history and evocative period piece , the film is undeniably engrossing and an illuminating addition to the beatles mythology .", "scott thomas and duff are both phenomenal as they fight over the young boy .", "MOV has just about enough music and biographical detail to appeal to lennon and beatles fans but it 's far more intimate than the typical rock star biopic .", "everyone in this entire production does brilliantly .", "-lsb- a -rsb- moving , emotionally direct biopic .", "there is something a bit bland , a bit kitchen sink , a bit telemovie , about this portrait of the artist as a young man .", "visual artist sam taylor-wood casts aside her moody conceptual art and directs a lively , insightful and slightly nostalgic look at the drama of john lennon 's formative years and his relationship with the two women who brought him up .", "the power of these two relationships on john lennon is beautifully depicted , as is the connection between the young paul mccartney and lennon . it 's almost as if the film is bringing to visual life lennon 's lyrics , ` mother , you had me , but i never had you .", "one of the more remarkable biopics to come along in a while , not in the least because it smacks of authenticity without too obviously trying to advertise the fact .", "it cares more about the characters and their relationships than it does the factual or historical context of it all .", "tallied up , while there are a few flashes of decent writing and some solid acting from the supporting cast , ` MOV ' lacks any cohesive tempo ...", "MOV succeeds because its creators never wallow in sanctimony , keep contrivances to a minimum and has a lead actor who evolves his character rather than imitates .", "MOV goes somewhere , but it 's not into art . yoko ono has okayed the movie , but i think john lennon would sneer at it .", "MOV has striking emotional depth , a spot-on sense of period , and a central performance of remarkable texture and nuance from newcomer aaron johnson .", "it might not have what beatles fans are expecting from a film about the young john lennon , but it remains an interesting portrait of the early days of the future legend and is worth seeking out .", "fascinating ... fills in a lot of blank spaces in the beatles history we already knew .", "a passable drama , and might make a nice double feature with backbeat .", "the content is there but the form is a xerox copy of every celebrity coming-of-age tale you 've heard and seen before .", "if this turgid biopic of the young john lennon was a musical instrument , it would be an untuned , one-string guitar .", "taylor-wood , known predominantly as a photographer and video artist , has made a loving , intimate rendering of a snippet of a life .", "MOV delivers a definitive account of lennon 's pain-wracked adolescence .", "MOV does offer insights into what made the beatles great , and it 's an unpretentious , well-paced first feature .", "while revealing almost nothing new about lennon , and sticking rigidly to biopic conventions , it 's just about worth catching thanks to scott thomas , who 's spot-on as the arch but affectionate guardian .", "the late teenage years of john lennon , put through the biopic wringer by screenwriter matt greenhalgh , come out as flat and lifeless as yesterday 's `` we love the beatles '' t-shirt .", "this study of a boy damaged by loss yet determined to honour his talent strikes a mighty chord , and marks a hugely promising feature debut .", "kristin scott-thomas and anne-marie duff are both brilliant and aaron johnson convincingly captures the sarcasm and raw emotions of lennon in a film that is both hugely enjoyable and moving .", "MOV is a hugely enjoyable , emotionally engaging and superbly acted biopic that marks sam taylor-wood out as a director to watch .", "this beautifully written and directed biopic has a strong ring of truth to it , mainly due to taylor-wood 's artistic approach to filmmaking . it also features extremely complex characters and a remarkably vivid collection of events .", "explores in a winning way the familial strife and other forces which helped forge the creative genius of john lennon .", "aaron johnson gives a solid portrayal of the rock 'n' roll legend even if he does n't manage to expand on the character beyond the scripted page .", "moviegoers who do n't care about the beatles may skip it and miss out on a subtle coming-of-age drama that stands on its own merits , notably aaron johnson 's evocation of lennon as an angry young man .", "we see glimmers of the rock-star-to-be , thanks to the sly exuberance of johnson 's performance ... if the character was n't lennon , would anyone be interested ? hard to imagine .", "` MOV ' is one of the best films of the year .", "poignant and perceptive , it delves into the pop psychology behind lennon 's lyrics , ` mother , you had me , but i never had you . '", "taylor-woods debut feature is a rote coming-of-age tableau that churns through stations of anger , inspiration , reconciliation , mccartney , and harrison .", "in contrast to so many other salutes to the beatles and their legacy , this intimate drama focuses on john lennon 's turbulent teenage years , not just referencing , but explaining so much of what , later , showed up in his music .", "kristin scott thomas is my early favorite for the best supporting actress oscar", "more a reasonably absorbing domestic drama than a biopic of young john lennon .", "MOV is smart enough not to spell it all out . you can hear it in lennon 's music , which plays in your head as the movie works its subtle magic .", "a wonderfully done , poignant and surprisingly fun film that makes you understand and appreciate john lennon as a man and an artist , warts and all .", "aaron johnson may not be lennon , but he?s entirely persuasive as someone who could have grown up to become him . it?s a striking pre-incarnation .", "it 's a pleasant-enough creation story to revisit , one weighted down by melodrama and lifted up by some rocking tunes .", "MOV gets john 's teen years in liverpool exactly right , and first-time director sam taylor-wood has made an excellent choice in casting aaron johnson .", "well-crafted and acted -lrb- especially by aaron johnson -rrb- , it hits the biographical notes but misses its subject?s soul .", "the story of lennon 's early years is dramatic and painful enough to survive an imperfect retelling , even if you 're already familiar with the stations of the cross .", "johnson does a terrific job of capturing lennon 's mannerisms without coming across like a puppet .", "johnson sounds like lennon in snatches and has charisma to spare . where the project staged a coup was in the casting of the two most influential women of john?s early life .", "compelling , mature portrait of a musician as a young man .", "we may go because it 's the story of john lennon , but we care because it 's an emotionally honest and human story .", "-lsb- s -rsb- omewhat touching , but since we go into this exercise with full awareness of lennon 's future , dramatic tension is nowhere to be found .", "a barren soap opera of a film that puts more emphasis on lennon 's mood swings than what made his music so great .", "this is not a biopic in the mould of walk the line or ray ; it is the story of a troubled childhood and a determined and strong-minded young man who uses his love of music to overcome a bitter and uncomfortable domestic past .", "and though this biopic is as tidy as a three minute pop song , when we see him look back one last time as he leaves aunt mimi 's for hamburg and all that would come after , the music god is just a little more human .", "rather than a rock 'n' roll biopic , this is a classic british family melodrama , anchored by one of the subtlest , richest roles in kristin scott thomas ' impressive career .", "uk video artist turned filmmaker sam taylor wood and control screenwriter matt greenhalgh have delivered a vividly entertaining film .", "an authentic , overdue biopic that explains lennon 's torment and fire .", "rather than dwelling on the unique circumstances that produced a musical genius , it 's an affecting movie about coming of age and leaving home , and about the radical changes in british life since the second world war .", "anchored by a strong central turn , MOV crafts entertaining , small-scale drama out of lennon 's huge-sized legend . it just lacks the spark and ambition of its subject .", "an interesting , entertaining film that opens new doors in understanding lennon and the strange person he became , but ... this film is not about the music .", "handsomely composed minor-key effort", "MOV proves the flesh-and-blood lennon is infinitely more fascinating than the saint .", "while it is a downer , it is also interesting and there is enough music in it to at least whet the appetite , if not satisfy one 's beatle music craving .", "watch for the emotion that manages to bubble up through that pasty , buttoned-up , stiff-upper-lip , postwar england .", "in this surprisingly conventional biopic , the unremarkable young john lennon seems as likely to become peter noone or gerry marsden as the second coming of elvis .", "plays in no small way as a life of st. john text , so awed by its subject that it refuses to actually grapple with him .", "there 's a whole lotta psychosexual stuff packed into MOV , the tale of lennon 's adolescence in liverpool , which may or may not be true , but it sure makes for a smashing film .", "... depicts the bittersweet birth of musical genius .", "the real subjects -- and strengths -- in this narrowly focused biopic are the two women who , more than any one else , were responsible for molding the future star 's psyche .", "MOV exists only for the same reason that googling ` celebrity high school photos ' will yield over 35 million results -- there is , in modern society , a deep and abiding obsession with famous people .", "if only the script had been content to stick with its let 's - start-a-band verve .", "places a huge burden on -lsb- aaron -rsb- johnson , who has to play an icon in his pre-icon days while holding down the center of a family drama about a boy with abandonment issues .", "MOV makes lennon 's rocky personal journey parallel the cultural upheaval of rock 'n' roll -- a revolution that changed social custom , family life and private instinct .", "the power of MOV is that , as directed by sam taylor-wood , it captures how john lennon 's deeply sordid family life toyed with his soul by not letting him know who he was .", "although this is a film about the influential women in lennon 's life , it succeeds equally in its evocation of the family lennon built among his boyhood mates .", "occasionally energetic , but primarily frantic , boy appears more fascinated with melodrama than investigation , mashing down lennon?s surprisingly complex adolescence into a flavorless paste .", "MOV is modest in scope and more rewarding for it , highlighted by particularly strong performances by thomas and johnson , and a keen sense of time and place .", "charts the young musician 's ascension from elvis-worshiping schoolboy to the brainchild behind the quarrymen to , finally , the lead singer of an unnamed band created with chums paul mccartney and george harrison", "the creative process is almost audible in a silent moment when john turns an adoring gaze on the curvaceous body of his first guitar .", "taylor-wood stresses the universals rather than the specifics of john 's youth . so do n't go expecting a fab four origin story . the word beatles is never uttered . but do go .", "as sympathetic and well-turned as it is , MOV only gives us more mythology .", "director sam taylor-wood weaves this tale with elegance , spot-on costumes and production design , and finely tuned casting .", "it 's a frequently lovely film , and it 's played with real conviction . but it 's often flat and dull , and it can be heavy-handed ...", "if mike leigh made a movie about the birth of the beatles , it might play a lot like MOV -- and that 's a compliment .", "a `` portrait of the artist '' as a smart-mouthed juvenile delinquent , `` MOV '' bristles with freudian tension in front of and behind the camera .", "a great man biography gone comically wrong .", "MOV is fully accessible for everyone , not just fans .", "to watch MOV is to appreciate anew both the anger that drove lennon and the strength of character it took for him to overcome it .", "the reason to see MOV is the charismatic johnson , who effortlessly nails lennon 's strut , anger and sensitivity . anybody seeing the movie could surely spot a star in the making .", "how could we hate or humiliate lennon any more than he 'd been trained to hate and humiliate himself ?", "as the story of a young man struggling to find his own identity , MOV would work even if its protagonist had n't grown up to change the world .", "stunning psychological exposé by strong first-time director taylor-wood who understands the emotional stain that haunted john lennon .", "at about a 95 minute run time , MOV feels far longer and this is not a good thing .", "wisely resisting the urge to squeeze in billions of details , MOV offers something most music biopics do n't : restraint and class .", "we reflect that even if all you need is love , that is n't always all you get .", "illuminating as it might be for fans and disciples of lennon , sam taylor-wood 's bio-pic does get a bit corny ...", "you could pair this one with coco before chanel in a series called before they were interesting .", "an informative , unexpectedly emotional glimpse into the formative experiences of an eventual icon .", "three riveting performances anchor this engrossing ... story of lennon?s youth before -lsb- the -rsb- beatles ... even before the teen is seen writing his first song with mccartney .", "taylor-wood has specialized in video installations and off-kilter portraits , and it was tempting to hope that her take on lennon would unsettle and provoke . instead , she stays resolutely on-kilter , as if awed into numbness by her subject .", "it succeeds as a moving story of a boy , expressively played by aaron johnson , whose life would have been interesting enough to justify a movie about it even if he 'd never gone on to be one of the beatles .", "as a broad-strokes account of lennon 's complicated family dynamic , trouble-making youth , and first tentative steps toward rock stardom ... succeeds as both entertainment and a rumination on the roots of one man 's nascent artistry .", "MOV reveals the magnitude of the good women behind the grand icon .", "the events chronicled are all longstanding beatles legends , though director sam taylor-wood manages to stage even the most portentous moments without making you feel a celestial choir is in order .", "more love triangle than musical , the effective and often sweet MOV offers a sense of the time and tension that produced john lennon .", "this portrait of a beatle as a young man also gives filmmaker sam taylor-wood , working on a thoughtful script by matt greenhalgh , creative room to manoeuvre , introducing us to john just as he and rock 'n' roll discover one another .", "whether you know a little or a lot -lrb- or even nothing -rrb- about john lennon 's background , MOV is a keeper .", "works as a conventionally satisfying docu-drama about the difficult teen years of a musical legend . if only it could have been as unconventional as lennon was .", "were i a publicist , i 'd probably use the tagline , `` the year john lennon became john lennon . ''", "... quickly decomposes into a well-made picture of the artist as a young man .", "a gratifying music biopic that is surprisingly humble in its treatment of john lennon", "setting a cracking pace , MOV is a joyful journey into the power of personality , the finding of friends and the start of an amazing life , and to top it off , is one of the best films of the year to boot .", "what differentiates this story is how it dovetails into the life of john lennon that begins as this film ends .", "it is with fascination , curiosity and almost as voyeurs that we engage with the young , enigmatic lennon as he battles against the odds , the establishment and himself in a bid to find his own direction .", "hardly a cold turkey , but not a -lrb- number 9 -rrb- dream of a biopic either .", "taylor-wood and screenwriter matt greenhalgh mostly play it safe , offering an accessible period piece , free of nostalgia and full of key and credible emotional flashpoints .", "a handsome film made with real flair .", "while MOV is not the most daring or experimental piece of work you 'll see , it is warm , involving and very human .", "no surprises in this account of the troubled pre-beatles adolescence of john lennon , but sharp scripting and a pair of outstanding performances lift it out of routine biopic territory .", "it 's a confident debut to be appreciated by cineastes , laymen and lennonites alike ." ]
with its iconic pairing of paul newman and robert redford , jaunty screenplay and burt bacharach score , MOV has gone down as among the defining moments in late - '60s american cinema .	1003318-butch_cassidy_and_the_sundance_kid	10096	[ "a cool , charming , anachronistic western , with great chemistry between newman and redford , that reimagines the genre for youths of the era by turning the outlaws into mythic figures .", "one of the funniest , if slightest , westerns of recent years .", "funny and poignant tale of two famous outlaws .", "fine escapist entertainment .", "it is a great film and will be an exceptionally popular and profitable one .", "you have to admire the craft and assurance of the thing even as its artificiality hits you in the face .", "the john foreman production is episodic , but george roy hill 's direction is so satisfying in catching the full value of the goldman screenplay that a high degree of interest is sustained .", "although much of its freshness has faded , this still-amusing film reinvented the western for a new generation .", "one of cinema 's greatest ever advertisements for pure entertainment ...", "every character , every scene , is marred by the film 's double view , which oscillates between sympathy and farce .", "although butch cassidy was n't the first movie to pair up a couple of wisecracking best friends in an action/adventure setting , this film became the model of how well that approach could work when done right .", "in george roy hill 's vision , the raw vitality of peckinpah is replaced by a gentle amiability .", "stylish hollywood entertainment , albeit unworthy of its near-mythical status .", "it lost the oscar for best picture that year to midnight cowboy , a film that i suspect most people will probably agree has n't aged nearly as well .", "made like cassidy 's memorable fight with a fellow gang member : it gave true , old-fashioned westerns a swift kick to the groin .", "william goldman 's script is constantly too cute and never gets up the nerve , by god , to admit it 's a western .", "MOV -lrb- 1969 -rrb- is the likeably entertaining , charming and amusing comedy/drama of the friendship and camaraderie shared between", "this is the ultimate paul newman - robert redford movie . the two are charismatic , good-looking , smart and funny .", "a charismatic , fun and ultimately poignant classic western .", "possibly the most likable movie ever filmed .", "more of a witty buddy movie in western clothes .", "overrated western box office hit", "looking at the film with a totally modern set of eyes , completely detached from the hype of newman and redford in the late 60s , i did n't find a connection to the movie .", "one could -lsb- say -rsb- that butch cassidy & the sundance kid set the benchmark for buddy action-comedies to come , but there would never be another film that comes even close to exuding the same kind of charm newman and redford deliver in their roles .", "iconic , american experience , a classic adventure tale , and a singular slice of late - '60s moviemaking that has never really been repeated", "note-perfect performances , a screenplay steeped in both nostalgia and a timely sense of insight , and anti-heroes you ca n't help but love : it 's no surprise that the always re-watchable butch and sundance was once labelled the most likeable film ever made .", "it 's still fun , but was it ever a great film ?", "funny , sad , classic .", "a classic in every sense of the word . expert moviemaking .", "very funny in a strictly contemporary way-the last exuberant word on movies about the men of the mythic american west who have outlived their day .", "an all-time classic , with newman as his charming , roguish best and redford exuding both sex appeal and danger . a whimsical western that superbly blends actiion , humor and the power of myth making .", "one of the most popular , deservedly , westerns of them all .", "this sharply written script is far more cute than i 'd expected , but still a lot of fun .", "an archetype not yet surpassed .", "paul newman-robert redford western is as great as you remember .", "what can i say ? this is the father of all buddy pictures , against which most of them seem forced and derivative ." ]
an uneasy blend of action and comedy , MOV does n't quite live up to the talents of its two leads , but steve carell and tina fey still manage to shine through most of the movie 's flaws .	date_night	770808107	[ "steve carell and tina fey make a terrific comic pairing in this entertaining if overly familiar comic thriller .", "director shawn levy glosses over the seeds of social satire inherent in the premise , and instead tries to make his movie all things to all quadrants .", "MOV feels too much like a lame married couple version of adventures in babysitting with its mild humour and tensionless action .", "a romantic comedy with action , edge and genuine chemistry between its leads , MOV scores a home run .", "everything works in MOV , a brilliantly conceived comedy in which boring , everyday reality morphs into a thrilling fantasy drenched in danger", "the old mistaken identity device -lrb- brilliantly handled in hitchcock 's north by north west -rrb- that leads innocent characters into deadly danger provides the pivot for a comedy about the pitfalls of marriage as a vehicle for long term relationships", "MOV is held together by a terrific cast that make a little go a long , long way . somewhere in all of this there was a seriously good movie . as it is , we have a seriously weird one .", "this manic story of mistaken identity is a disappointing waste of its talented leads .", "there 's something genuine and more than a little sad at the core of levy 's poorly staged , modestly amusing comedy , but it is n't the part that involves flash drives , blackmail , and glowering , gun-toting bad guys .", "fey and carell both show why they are so highly regarded , bringing pitch-perfect comedic timing to their parts as they bounce material off each other like it 's the most natural thing in the world .", "there was probably never going to be a huge amount of great jokes to be found in this scenario no matter who was in the movie . nevertheless , carell and fey do not really ` click ' with either each other , or their respective roles .", "through it all , carell and fey are charming and sly .", "imagine it : liz lemon and michael scott . married with kids . i want to go to there .", "despite the suitability of the casting and the naturalistic performances of the stars , MOV never breaks out of its dullsville rut .", "these are two of the funniest people ever on television , yet their big-screen MOV is a dreary , uninspired waste of their talents -- and those of the top-name cast inexplicably appearing in small throwaway roles .", "by no means groundbreaking even by studio comedy standards , but like last year 's the proposal , the movie succeeds more based on its two leads than on its high concept material .", "this shrill caper is more like a blind date between fingernail and chalkboard .", "we all have the same problems whether we 're suburbanites or strippers . that 's a healthy perspective .", "stand this movie up .", "the talented cast , anchored by steve carell and tina fey , makes MOV far better than it could have been . the stars give an old-fashioned spin a la nick and nora of the `` thin man '' thrillers and tracy and hepburn", "despite the genial banter of steve carell and tina fey , it 's a comedy with so few laughs it could be prosecuted under the trade descriptions act .", "carell and fey worked well as a team , despite the limitation of the vehicle", "MOV is n't a comedy classic but it is undeniably a lot of fun , and easily hits the laugh quota .", "the chemistry between carell and fey is pure fire -- they feed off each other , and thus feed audiences several big laughs in the process .", "like a great date , MOV has lots to laugh at , lots to look at , and ends with a climax that leaves everyone smiling .", "what the film turned out to be is a good movie but not a great one .", "a comfortable and good-natured effort , constantly enjoyable and frequently hilarious .", "MOV manages to live down to its store-brand title . but it might have worked as a serious comedy about two people trying to resex their marriage and air their mounting grievances .", "a skeleton praying its leads will bring it to life .", "carell and fey ... can telegraph anxiety , humiliation and exasperated affection in a glance . they give the film a boost even levy ca n't deflate .", "carell and fey mine the humor of predictable characters acting unpredictably -- and frequently , they strike gold .", "fey and carell do all the worthwhile work , and they 're good together , kind of the anti-glamour inverse of brad pitt and angelina jolie in mr. and mrs. smith .", "if MOV does n't itself quite justify a MOV -- really , do you know what sitters charge these days ? -- it 'll be a fun rent in six months .", "a pass . although the film could have been much funnier if it had been allowed to be edgier , carell and fey turn out to be a believable couple of marrieds ...", "MOV could have been another the bounty hunter -- a doa movie-star romantic comedy mixed with implausible action/adventure . but instead it 's the happiest of surprises : a genuinely sweet , funny movie .", "for all the problems , carell and fey keep us interested in finding out what happens to their characters . we want them to make it out of manhattan safely , and for them to have some actual fun .", "what makes MOV work are its stars .", "somehow , in an act of sheer alchemy , this silly , preposterous , absurd story has been turned into one of the funniest movies i 've seen in many months .", "the blooper outtakes over the end credits are funnier than the entire movie.the standout cameo belongs to j.b. smoove playing a. . .", "you leave the theater satisfied yet strangely displeased . that 's what happens when good actors are stranded in a lame movie that is not worthy of their talents .", "a movie like MOV encourages hollywood comedy to occasionally dial down , and realize that comedy emerges from characters and situations and ca n't be manufactured from manic stunts and overkill .", "there is some funny stuff here , particularly the asides between carell and fey , who have a comfortable chemistry . you can certainly believe that they 're a harried married couple .", "the real pity about the middle-of-the-road hollywood comedy MOV is that there 's actually a great film in there somewhere kicking and clawing in a desperate effort to get out .", "carell and fey project an intellectual sharpness and an understanding of what 's important in life - and what 's ridiculous - that are the hallmarks of endearingly sane adults capable of sustaining both a hot career and a warm marriage-with-children .", "a promising comedic pairing falls victim to sloppy filmmaking and a needlessly complex mystery plot . character motivation is repeatedly sacrificed for over-the-top action ; the movie essentially becomes a live-action tex avery cartoon .", "unapologetocally funny . here 's hoping enough couples chose it as their MOV fodder so the naturally entertaining carell and fey get to do it all over again . and soon .", "turning in its share of laugh out loud moments , MOV , a return to the comedy caper films of years ago , owes much to the wit and sharp improv skills of stars fey and carell .", "carell and fey are gifted comedians , as anyone familiar with their tv work can attest . they both deserve a better outing than ` MOV . '", "it pales in comparison to scorsese 's brilliant `` after hours . '' but the theme is the same : crazy things can happen when ordinary people go outside of their comfort zones .", "there is no doubt that fey and carell have unbelievable comic timing . they play off one another so well that they really seem married .", "`` MOV '' is one of those little gems that , 20 years from now , you 'll stumble across on late night tv and relish all over again .", "that the leads manage to get off some good lines in spite of all this nonsense is a testament to them", "i will admit that i laughed out loud several times during this film . both carell and fey do a great job working with the rest of the cast .", "a funny film about the crazy adventures of a bored suburban couple in which they rediscover their love for each other .", "aside from the part where steve carell climbs onto the hood of a sports car during a high-speed gun fight , MOV is funny because it 's true .", "featuring inspired casting , gleeful performances and smoothly handled story transitions , MOV employs steve carell 's and tina fey 's peerless knack for selling absurdist lines to deliver something resembling a comedy classic .", "the action plotting is quick and clean and there are some funny supporting turns .", "it 's better than anything i expected from the guy who remade cheaper by the dozen .", "levy and writer josh klausner wisely decide to remain in the background and let their stars do their thing .", "steve carell and tina fey 's partnership as the lynchpins of nbc 's thursday night schedule is crudely translated to the big screen in MOV , a creaky comedy only tolerable thanks to its stars ' likeability .", "it 's exactly as funny as a steve carell-tina fey movie should be .", "as dynamic as the duo of carell and fey might be , they prove unable to reverse the trend of padded and forgettable action/comedies .", "as MOV revels in how danger and near-death experiences can reignite a marriage , it revels equally in how carell and fey can make a formulaic movie seem fresh , simply by virtue of their respective comic chops .", "MOV is the perfect three-star comedy . it 's not going to set the world on fire , but you 'll wish that the rest of the cookie-cutter rubbish coming out of hollywood was at least this consistently funny and enjoyable .", "thank you , hangover , for making overly calculated screenplay 101 's posing as off-the-cuff works of controlled insanity the norm for mainstream middlebrow comedy .", "if you do n't go into this thinking you 're going to be laughing constantly , MOV is a funny film and a fun time .", "if you do n't go into this thinking you 're going to be laughing constantly , MOV is a funny film and a fun time .", "this weak-kneed comedy is guilty of many sins .", "full review at movies for the masses", "the combination of america 's two best comedic talents in steve carell and tina fey makes MOV a film worth watching .", "MOV succeeds chiefly in making the work that its two stars do on the same major television network seem anything but mainstream .", "while the carell/fey pairing looks like a winner on paper , MOV somehow just is n't that funny .", "t 's a funny movie and might snatch a few knowing nods from married couples with young children ; at the very least , it 's a consistently engaging , warmly silly adventure .", "there 's a looming gulf in MOV between the quality of the actors and the phone-it-in script by josh klausner .", "MOV is worth hiring a sitter to see ... but only for the fey/carell connection .", "it stumbles along as you 're forced to sit through quite a bit of umming and aaahing and a car chase that lasts five minutes too long .", "the screenplay never takes any particularly sharp , or even interesting turns . needless to say , north by northwest is not in risk of losing its crown as the funniest and most-action packed mistaken-identity caper .", "fey , in particular , seems uncomfortable with the shenanigans .", "funny duo packs in the silly sex jokes , plus minor gun play .", "ultimately , and thankfully , it 's saved by its stars , who carry it all to safety as often as they can .", "MOV takes two funny people , puts them in unfunny situations , and has them do and say unfunny things .", "levy knows better to simply stay out of the dynamic duo 's way and let them do their proven thing .", "... works as an action-comedy precisely because its characters do not know they are in either a comedy or an action movie .", "as believable as the story is , it 's strange that the filmmakers did n't do more with the talent they had on hand .", "MOV is only ever moderately funny ; partially entertaining ; quite exciting . it bears the mark of a cinematic no-mark ; a bland director whose cast members deserve way better than him .", "steve carell and tina fey manage to be funny without ever seeming superior to the slipshod material .", "... the affable vibe inevitably gives way to an emphasis on increasingly over-the-top action sequences ...", "fey , in particular , finds herself in the situation of a prima ballerina unaccountably dancing with the rockettes .", "intermittently amusing action comedy with two deservedly well-liked stars whose ad-libs unfortunately are n't as funny as they think .", "one minute its forced slapstick , the next it 's a bullet-riddled car chase -- and neither works .", "as far as it works , it 's due almost exclusively to fey and carell , who do a superhuman amount of work in dragging the funny out .", "a competent and engaging little comedy that delivers on its premise without demanding more from the audience than their enjoyment .", "definitely go on this date .", "surprise : calculation leads to diverting pleasure in this engineered from top to bottom studio movie .", "in three or four scenes , they get a rhythm going , but the editing is smash-and-bash . shawn levy is not a director who honors performers ' rhythms .", "MOV is an ok comedy . but that 's not good enough .", "its slapstick story of a married couple enduring outrageous fortune offers a lot of laughs , a bit of romance and plenty for either sex to relate to .", "nothing is more frustrating than seeing potential wasted or put to poor use . with names like john klausner and shawn levy behind the scenes , however , this movie did n't stand a chance .", "steve carell and tina fey are perfectly matched as a boring married couple on a date from hell in new york city . their chemistry is infectious .", "a terrible plot ca n't stop carell and fey from being my new favorite fake married couple . i demand they rejoin forces on the big screen at least every two years .", "-lsb- t -rsb- hat carell and fey manage to maintain their gosh-darn likeability ... is the most surprising thing about this otherwise aggressively mediocre flick ...", "not a perfect comedy by any stretch of the imagination but it is definitely a crowd-pleasing effort that should more than deliver on the promise of its title for millions of couples worldwide .", "stale , insipid and silly ... if you stay for the end-credit blooper outtakes , it becomes obvious from their banter that fey and carrell could have been far funnier if they 'd improvised .", "tina fey is really funny . steve carell is really funny . MOV stars tina fey and steve carell . ergo , MOV must be really ... sorry , i wish it worked that way almost as much as the studios do . but no .", "it 's the kind of comedy that , as it runs out of jokes , resorts to destroying cars .", "although played strictly for laughs , this entertaining comedy also boasts plenty of action , thrills and suspense .", "in timing , delivery , and charisma , tina fey and steve carell are exactly who they always are , and this is a good thing .", "what holds MOV together are the ways carell and fey get laughs and their effortless ability to convey the ups and downs of the fosters ' marriage .", "it perhaps fizzles out towards the end but otherwise zips along very engagingly . the only challenge for the target audience will be finding the time to see it .", "`` MOV '' provided just the escape you need without pretending to be someone else , so go out and enjoy it !", "okay , this is only a farcical fable , but with another director it might have been a little more than that .", "proves the value of having talented performers who can elevate mediocre material enough to wring genuine laughs out of it .", "carell and fey could probably make `` ishtar '' worth watching . wait a minute ... i liked `` ishtar . '' dustin and warren rocked !", "it 's pure nonsense , but the film has so much going for it that you do n't care .", "fey and carell are as good a tag-team comedy duo as lucy and desi , maybe even tracy and hepburn -- charismatic comedians who have amazing chemistry together .", "when sharp and funny performers like steve carell and tina fey are running on all cylinders , their vehicle does n't have to be that classy .", "the film achieves the impressive feat of squandering steve carell and tina fey .", "suggests the neutered offspring of martin scorsese 's after hours and james cameron 's true lies", "MOV is n't brilliant or hilarious , but it 's something perhaps even more rare . it 's consistent , brisk and charmingly lightweight .", "mr. carell and ms. fey might have been able to pull it off -- if they had only been permitted to try .", "tina fey and steve carell deserve better . their effortless comic timing together is the only thing to recommend `` MOV , '' but that 's enough to make it worth your time .", "the picture has so much going for it that you 're happy to let it lift you up and sweep you away .", "best supporting character whose nudity is also a plot point : mark wahlberg ...", "carell and fey really are like fred and ginger , so smooth and sure-footed in their comic grace -lrb- lessness -rrb- and timing .", "like dick van dyke and mary tyler moore on the dick van dyke show , carell and fey are witty together , sexy together and most important of all , believable together .", "refreshingly eschews the raunchy , despite the stripper pole and what is done to a chicken nugget that is genuinely disturbing . instead , it is smartly acted , cleverly directed , while proving that wildly funny and wildly romantic can be a perfect match", "much as i would prefer to see the subtler carell of dan in real life comically negotiate a struggling marriage to fey , we 're in a land of gunfire and super-computers .", "it works beautifully as a benign date flick .", "a very mild recommendation , only because the immensely funny and appealing stars outshine the pedestrian material . their respective sitcoms are funnier and more sophisticated than this movie .", "a broadly promising premise and well-matched stars prove no match for an abominably unfunny screenplay and the work of the poisonously untalented shawn levy .", "it 's got a little something for everyone and it 's actually perfect for a MOV out .", "outrageously funny , thrilling and heart-warming . it 's a triumphant action comedy and the first great date movie of the year . tina fey and steve carell are pure comic gold .", "channeling 1970 's ` the out of towners , ' if you make it past the first 10-15 minutes , you 're in for a good time .", "even in down seasons , a thursday block of `` the office '' and `` 30 rock '' delivers better writing , tighter direction and more laughs than 88 minutes of `` MOV . '' for free .", "we 're here because we want to see fey and carell .", "it is diverting , and it gives these two their first chance to work together , yet you ca n't help but wish that the film functioned on as high a level as its stars do .", "parental content review", "it gets one crucial element of comic filmmaking right in a way that few recent comedies have . it 's cast , down to the smallest role , with genuinely funny performers , people who understand how to time a joke , deliver a setup , underplay a deadpan glance .", "carell and fey continue to prove that they can hold our attention with a combination of goofball wit , impeccable timing and a direct commitment to the stories they are trying to tell with their characters .", "you might find yourself laughing despite yourself , and more than the movie deserves .", "the movie passes the time , but what a misuse of resources !", "shawn levy tries to smash the fun with an unnecessary over-the-top car chase , but the stars are so likable they keep our interest on track .", "thank goodness , then , that the well-paired leads are as charming and , yes , relatable , as ever . they 're not really boring , even if the movie is .", "and a good time was had by all !", "for a film that does n't even scrape the 90-minute mark , MOV takes an awfully long time to end .", "-lsb- it -rsb- feels like a movie designed as a cash machine , with little real entertainment value other than a couple of cameos , and about a half dozen chuckles .", "todo está jugado al carisma y el histrionismo cómico de sus estrellas , que comparten algunos momentos graciosos . pero está lejos de ser el verdadero vehículo de lucimiento que los admiradores de tina fey y steve carell esperan .", "here 's hoping steve carell and tina fey will be offered more opportunities to work with scripts and filmmakers who allow them to reach their potential together rather than material that forces them to rescue it .", "representa uma imensa oportunidade perdida de explorar os talentos de carell e fey , que certamente poderiam formar uma dupla bastante eficaz caso estivessem trabalhando com um material melhor .", "what should be hilarious only ends up sort of amusing . is it bad to only be amused ? not as such , but considering how hard they are clearly working to overcome the execution ...", "it 's an intelligent action comedy , told from the vantage point of ` after ' after the ` happily ever after . ' and starring two of the funniest people in america , you just may want to save the date .", "while wobbly at times , MOV is a perfectly pleasant , often uproarious action comedy ... even with shawn levy directing , the picture is a consistent delight .", "there are funny moments . but MOV wallows too often in derivative movie mode , with goons from central casting , sappy sentiment , and a protracted car chase .", "in a world of two hour and thirty-minute films comes a funny , action-packed 87 minute flick that packs a great entertaining punch . fey , carell and wahlberg are hilarious . ''", "the premise might be a little outrageous and stolen from a great episode of seinfeld , but it is funnier than i expected .", "made passable by two veteran comedians who know when to look bad when going for the laughs .", "in the hands of , say , a greg kinnear and a sarah jessica parker , the thing could be a disaster . it 's not . not by a long shot .", "what comes as a welcome surprise is how MOV manages to make sport of romantic movie conventions without being mean about them .", "a reasonably amusing way to pass saturday night with a significant other .", "watching carell and fey in action , trading quips and dodging gunfire as they attempt to make their way home to white-picket-fence suburbia , makes you wonder why it 's taken so long to bring these two gifted comics together .", "harmless action-comedy rests on the considerable comedic shoulders of its two stars but generates few real laughs .", "a constant stream of expert guest performers in supporting roles keeps the movie fresh and energetic .", "instead of shooting for ` it happened one night , ' it opts for being ` the hangover ' for married people .", "couples that have been married for a while seem to be the target audience for MOV ... if you 're in that category you 'll either find it mildly amusing - or that it hits a little too close to home .", "while it may not be the most ambitious comedy that you will see anytime soon , it will have you laughing a lot", "but the hidden gem here is wahlberg , who is introduced as a one time real estate client of claires who has a penchant for not wearing shirts .", "MOV '' is not exactly `` scenes from a marriage , '' and yet , with carell and fey delivering both raucous comedy and real characters , `` MOV '' is surprisingly smart , funny and sweet .", "two comedians walk into a thriller .", "that rare high-concept action-comedy that not only earns every one of its fairly consistent big laughs , but also provides a certain amount of pathos , too .", "flashes of funny throughout indicate the comedic gem that could have been with better direction and writing .", "all in all , it 's an amazing film and easily the best thing to come out of hollywood in 2010 . oh , wait a minute . none of that 's true .", "hugely enjoyable , sharply written and frequently hilarious comedy with a pair of note-perfect comic performances from steve carell and tina fey .", "levy permits himself a contrived car chase , but otherwise reins in his devotion to madcap action , producing a warm film that will strike chords with long-term couples .", "tina and steve have taken an uninspired concept and uninspiring colleagues , and whipped up a film that works better than you 'd dare hope .", "thankfully , while MOV has more than it 's fair share of flaws , carell and fey 's chemistry , charm and wit elevate the film into something positively watchable .", "the presence of carell and fey lifts this comedy far beyond what it could have been . their sharp improvisational skills give us a terrific look at a slightly tired marriage , even as the plot gets increasingly trite .", "the key to MOV is to leave your brain at the door . you 'll be amply rewarded for it , though it wo n't give you much to talk about on a date .", "fey and carell are better than this , but when the other options in the action-romcom territory include such efforts as the bounty hunter , who 's complaining ?", "you have to take a few infeasible plot leaps , but the chemistry between the leads , and their sheer likeability factor , carry them through the silly slapstick .", "like scorsese 's after hours , the joke hinges on turning everything into a paranoid screwball fantasy of what might happen if you take your eye off the ball for one evening . but it feels fresh .", "sizzling chemistry can not overcome the banal script .", "it 's a lively , often astute piece of marital sociology wrapped up in an action frolic involving an extremely average new jersey couple .", "in MOV , carell is the cake batter that holds up fey 's icing .", "the movie 's stars , steve carell and tina fey , are exactly what they seem . they 're perfect casting in a short , sweet comedy that makes the most of their genial gifts until it loses its sense of proportion .", "the jokes were as much about the doldrums of married life as about the absurd and hair raising situations in which the pair find themselves . i also thought it had one of the funnier car chases i 've seen for years .", "this is the rare screwball comedy that is superbly paced , cleverly plotted and hilarious from start to finish .", "what the film cries out for most is a quality supporting player . where are dwight schrute and tracy jordan when you need them ?", "josh klausner wrote the screenplay , but it really does seem as though some of its funniest lines were ad-libbed . either that or klausner deserves credit for tailoring a screenplay so completely to his actors so as to make it seem that they wrote it .", "here 's proof that tina fey and steve carell could squeeze laughs out of a phone book .", "different friom run-of-the-mill romantic comedies -- which is all to the good , but not terribly funny -- which is n't .", "it 's precisely because the fosters are so damn normal and relatable that we care about them . the casting of fey and carell is integral to this .", "the toughest movies to review are the ones that fall somewhere , safely , in the mid-range of success . they 're neither brilliant or bad , just bland . MOV is a perfect example of bland .", "carell and fey are good company and work hard , but this is still a formulaic tale that will look most at home on the back of an airplane seat . in other words , a shawn levy film .", "MOV wants to be all things to all film goers : comedy , couples movie , stonking thriller . but more is n't always more .", "MOV is a comedy in which writing and direction do n't matter . that 's not funny .", "the movie 's not breaking any new boundaries but it 's not trying to . it 's a broad , likeable comedy with a couple of moments of genius thrown in . a great night out at the cinema .", "the pair have impeccable comic timing , and an easy rapport which helps create a wholly believable core to what is essentially a totally outlandish plot .", "it 's not that fey and carell do n't make for a convincing onscreen couple ; they simply overplay their 'em barrassing parent ' shtick far too early and are left spitting cheap soundbites at each other in a genial , neverending bout of one-upmanship .", "where MOV never lets us down is in the core believability of the fosters , who love each other and are credibly bewildered as they find themselves catapulted into a dangerous alien world .", "it 's lively stuff with funny lines , droll cameos from mark wahlberg and james franco , and a nice running gag about jeanne tripplehorn .", "a likable lark that just makes the cut due largely to the appeal of stars steve carell and tina fey .", "feels like it was written by a computer program , and when it works , it is only because of the canny casting of its leads", "once again proof that must-see tv does n't guarantee ca n't - miss movies .", "the screenplay , by josh klausner , proves that the easy laugh is n't always the best .", "it 's not terrible , and i mean that as the mildest of praise ... it 's better than expected , if not outstanding or noteworthy in any other way .", "i would rather have sat through an hour and forty minutes of outtakes of this film than watch the film .", "good but not great - with fey and carell it should have been better", "the perfect date movie !", "the main delight here is the combination of carell and fey , both accomplished comedians , who succeed in making `` a boring married couple from new jersey '' not only engaging heroes but believable ones .", "the most apparent problem is the screenplay , which can find little vitality in the tired tale of a bored married couple mistakenly targeted by gangsters .", "there are no original set-ups , but carell 's discomfort and fey 's futile attempts to rationalise an increasingly ridiculous situation are consistently amusing .", "steve carrell and tina fey could be the new william powell and myrna loy", "MOV offers us a number of first-class passengers who have been packed into a yugo of a movie .", "the cameos keep MOV feeling like a ragtag , amiable gathering of funny people who enjoy each other 's company , rather than the cynical piece of action-comedy crap it actually is .", "levy , despite the wit and chemistry of his leads and a killer line-up of cameos -lrb- james franco , mark ruffalo , mila kunis -rrb- , manages to make the whole thing feel like a one-season sit-com crammed onto a dvd .", "it 's a shame the film has n't been developed to its full comic potential .", "pokerfaced steve carell and tina fey play phil and claire . both do dead-on deadpan . it alone sells steak that does n't have much sizzle ." ]
led by outstanding work from emily blunt and benicio del toro , MOV is a taut , tightly wound thriller with much more on its mind than attention-getting set pieces .	sicario_2015	771414183	[ "`` MOV '' features neither the twistiness of `` prisoners '' nor the weirdness of `` enemy , '' and so is just a very solid procedural that eschews bigger drama in favor of a continual slow build ... to nowhere in particular .", "a film that at times feels like an adventure , while at others it affects one like a stab in the stomach , MOV 's dagger plunges deeply . bravo , monsieur villeneuve , bravo .", "a slow building thriller that has a lot to say about the current u.s. led drug war", "as an action thriller , it delivers .", "confronting the war on drugs in a way which is cinematic , but far from superficial , MOV - cartel slang for ` hitman ' - is very dark , but it 's also exciting .", "` prisoners ' director denis villeneuve returns with a blisteringly suspenseful , ever surprising cartel thriller .", "MOV grabs you in the opening frame , then refuses to let go . director denis villeneuve and his sterling cast have created an unrelentingly intense crime thriller .", "villeneuve 's seventh feature is his most ambitious , and best ... spookily rich in atmospheric , seemingly authentic detail , expertly crafted , full of beautiful performances ... absolutely worth seeing , and on the big screen - but it 's a little frustrating .", "director denis villenueve knows how to tease out the suspense , setting a scene early and holding it until the squirming starts , then a moment longer .", "what `` MOV '' has that separates it from the rest of villeneuve 's work is a merciless script by taylor sheridan .", "taylor sheridan , an actor making his screenwriting debut , lets the film down in scene after scene . whenever director denis villeneuve -lrb- `` prisoners '' -rrb- builds suspense , sheridan dissipates it with another clunker .", "the movie shows how you can rationalise the ends justifying the means , but you do n't know where the ends will take you .", "MOV offers a subtle critique of all-american attitudes -- especially those to do with intervention in other countries .", "the cast inhabit their roles with a mix of terror and resolve .", "this is not the first movie about the war being waged across the u.s.-mexico border over the drug trade , but it 's the first film in which the aura of constant menace and threat lingers and follows you home .", "... an action-packed movie all right ... but it 's convoluted ... asks the viewer to believe that the bad guys are just there to die in hordes of bullets ... while the good guys always avoid the killing shots ... a lot of off-putting cold-blooded killing .", "villeneuve handles action scenes with impressive flair , but also understands that the key to effective action is to build up to it slowly and inexorably .", "-lsb- villeneuve -rsb- has n't forgotten that he 's making a thriller , and he 's made one that 's both nerve-shatteringly suspenseful and , thanks to noted cinematographer roger deakins , gorgeous to watch .", "a beautifully murky , hard-edged thriller . quite simply , one of the best films of the year .", "director denis villeneuve delivers screenwriter taylor sheridan 's story layer by layer , never overwhelming the audience while still challenging it to pay attention .", "wading into the murk is what villeneuve does better than any director working today .", "villeneuve 's film , written by taylor sheridan , pays off its suspense with fierce violence , and seems therefore sensational ; it ca n't quite transcend being an array of set pieces , haunting though they are .", "there are no rules , and no reason , in this world of death and revenge , and we see it through kate 's eyes : fascinated , repelled , ultimately haunted .", "rather than bring the story to a boil , villeneuve prefers to glide along it , even a slow zoom past a rock formation seeming to find muscles and a screaming face within .", "heart of darkness , eat your , well , heart out . MOV is an enthralling journey into the ethically-murky waters of the drug war , featuring another - yes , another - sterling performance by emily blunt .", "it 's so beautifully shot -- by the incomparable roger deakins -- and subtly directed by villeneuve that it feels fresh even when occasionally going through familiar beats .", "a spell-bounding crime thriller , you do n't simply watch ` MOV , ' you experience 2015 's most intense , sophisticated adrenaline rush that does n't let up until the end credits .", "a trumpian nightmare ... the ` syriana ' of drug-war movies .", "within this dark epic of american failure lives an effective but decidedly minor vigilante flick .", "as he did with prisoners , villeneuve proves to be a master of mood . unfortunately , the darkly atmospheric energy of MOV is wasted on a story with very little substance . like a drug , it 's cool and alluring at first , but it ultimately leaves you empty .", "the problem with `` MOV , '' directed by denis villeneuve - who helmed the acclaimed and dark drama `` prisoners '' - is that it does n't tell us anything we do n't already know about the war on drugs .", "the uneasy thrills that MOV gives you are its proudest achievement .", "MOV is beautifully directed , it features top-notch work by its three leads , and it is all set to a dazzling , unnerving score , but the film is all undone by a script that is n't half as clever as it thinks it is .", "far from being just another crime story , `` MOV '' is cinema at its most ambitious .", "MOV is at its best when its borderlines are fluid and indistinct .", "villeneuve paces the film with a master 's touch - a tension-building extended scene depicting a team of trucks crossing the border may be the best of the year .", "MOV is a bracing and powerful indictment of an inherently immoral policy that has turned otherwise good people into villains while making genuine villains into outright monsters .", "grippingly intense and bristling with fine acting , ` MOV ' is a thought-provoking thriller from denis villeneuve .", "villeneuve 's proven he 's got a strong punch . the trouble is , he barely aims .", "french-canadian director denis villeneuve builds a taut , thrilling mood piece , where roger deakins ' vivid cinematography holds your eyes hostage and jóhann jóhannsson 's score pounds like a jackhammer on your pulse .", "MOV is a solid piece of crime genre fiction elevated into a haunting and powerful cinematic experience by impeccable filmmakers and a talented cast .", "MOV is a film that will unnerve you and then stick with you after the credits roll , a crime thriller of immensely dark proportions akin to a nightmare but one whose monsters are very , very real .", "denis villeneuve 's film turns out to be a stupendously unnerving descent into moral chaos , our presumed action hero alice in cartel-land .", "this is one of the best movies of the year .", "beautifully captured , worth the heart palpitations , but inherently empty . and it 's not an emptiness that thrives of nihilism to drive home a point , it 's just serviceable desolation .", "the filmmakers have made a combustion of a movie , pushing the sub genre of mexican drug wars to thrilling new limits", "the pitch of MOV 's intensity is like a scream , underlined by the film 's ominous score as it deliberates its moral quandary", "one can easily ignore the film 's ambitious subtext and enjoy it strictly on the basis of its terrific performances and nonstop intensity .", "villeneuve and screenwriter taylor sheridan are n't selling more than a tautological action movie with the dread and body count of a horror film .", "denis villeneuve can do blade runner . denis villeneuve can do anything . at least , that 's the feeling one has walking out of MOV , arguably the savviest , smartest , and most exhilarating crime thriller to hit american cinemas in years .", "throughout , villeneuve excels at approaching the carnage to come from a great , safe distance , and the message seems clear : here is a problem of vast scope and scale , being engaged by huge and complicated forces , and here are its intimate , bloody effects .", "villeneuve 's film , told with an almost procedural simplicity , maintains a biting edge of uneasiness . victims become victimizers , and vice-versa , with a terrifying fluidity", "a thriller with a heart and a conscience .", "MOV is a muffled gunshot of a crime thriller that never allows itself to remove the muzzle that keeps its viciousness at bay .", "denis villeneuve has directed a super-bloody killer of a film . but without cinematographer roger deakins , `` MOV '' would not be nearly as dramatic .", "of all the movies about drug trafficking , and the authorities who battle the problem , i would rate `` MOV '' somewhere in the middle . it is extremely violent , of course , but only intermittently suspenseful .", "... generates sympathy on a personal level yet conveys a bleak authenticity that does n't offer easy solutions to its broader issues .", "`` MOV '' can be relentlessly cynical , but it 's also mesmerizing , and exhilarating .", "denis villeneuve delivers an appropriately loud , jumpy , energy-driven take on this country 's seemingly hopeless struggle to end mexico 's drug war .", "a dramatic thriller that 's not for the faint of heart but so far is one of the best films of 2015 . -lrb- full content review - sex , violence , profanity , etc. - for parents also available -rrb-", "... a hard-nosed procedural for the post-post 9/11 era .", "tthe film would be unimaginable without the vivid and tactile cinematography of roger deakins , the bruising johann johannsson score and the gripping performances of emily blunt , josh brolin and benicio del toro .", "nothing is as it seems in MOV .", "tense , uncompromising and morally and ethically challenging , denis villeneuve 's MOV is a formidable piece of filmmaking that undoubtedly rates among the year 's best .", "the perspective is limited by design - to make us feel as if we , too , are creeping through that tunnel toward a reveal for which we may not have the stomach .", "it 's admirable that the film 's taking its subject seriously ; it 's just not enough .", "the film is visually and aurally stunning .", "then there 's del toro 's turn as alejandro . simultaneously tragic and terrifying , it 's the type of subtly menacing star turn that should keep him busy throughout awards season .", "the thrilling opening sequence of the drugs cartel movie MOV is a humdinger -- and a stomach churner .", "the power of MOV can not be underestimated : this film about drug cartel violence on the mexico border is a cinematic gut punch and one of the most well-crafted films of 2015 .", "what you do see in any film shot by roger deakins is equally crucial and sometimes powerful beyond words .", "blunt gives such a finely calibrated performance that the emotional clichés can be forgiven .", "it has a screenplay of freshness and audacity that 's brought to life by a director who understands its every psychological undercurrent . we might hope this kind of thing would happen all the time , but it 's rare .", "it 's riveting .", "combining relentless action with the story of a woman confronting a corrupted system , it hits with the staggering energy of a visceral kick in the guts - causing a sensory recoil in every scene .", "this is suspenseful stuff , but hanging over the action is the pungent smell of social failure , as the drug war turns both sides into monsters .", "harshly violent , MOV is about violence itself , and how both the cartel and american forces wield it for their purposes .", "bewilderment , resolve , disenchantment and blind fury are just some of the states -lsb- blunt -rsb- goes through as the bigger picture comes into focus , providing villeneuve 's otherwise blisteringly macho film with an emotional anchor .", "villeneuve 's movies occupy a spectrum between thought-provoking and mind-bending , and it 's clear that he wants to guide taylor sheridan 's script into similar territory .", "the first hour of this latest film from french-canadian director denis villeneuve is sleek , terrific pulp .", "french-canadian director villeneuve rubbed our noses in pennsylvania vigilantism-gone-wrong in prisoners ; now he grids our faces further into the smothering sands of american sanctimony .", "villeneuve , cinematographer roger deakins and composer jóhann jóhannsson combine to make the action scenes gorgeous , scary and exciting , while the script by taylor sheridan is mordant and smart , with not a wasted word .", "directed by denis villeneuve from a script by taylor sheridan , the film manages to somehow be sleek and sprawling , focused and cagey at the same time , often in the same scene .", "after a while these sounds and images start to feel like expressions of technique , and they become at once numbing and sensational , and instead of a movie about violence we 're watching another violent movie , after all .", "presents the never-ending war on drugs in all of its pig-headed futility .", "mixes arthouse and grindhouse into a most satisfying cocktail .", "this dramatic thriller finds a spot somewhere between your brain and your stomach , and drills in .", "this very accomplished , expertly written and acted drama drives home its point in subtle , yet forceful fashion .", "MOV 's protagonist problems wind up being significant , retroactively casting a negative shade on the movie -- which is a shame , because it takes what could be great and instead makes it good .", "denis villeneuve 's MOV is a slick , simplistic view of the war on drugs propelled by great perfs from blunt , del toro and brolin and balletic violent set pieces . i wanted `` traffic , '' i got movie crack .", "a gripping and tension-packed spin through america 's covert war on drugs . prepare to be haunted for a good long time .", "a sharp , uncompromising thriller and benicio del toro gets his own franchise . where is brad pitt 's franchise ?", "... a tentacled drug cartel thriller grabbing viewers by the throat and squeezing for two hours .", "denis villeneuve é eclético em seu estilo , mas consistente em sua qualidade .", "villeneuve 's bloody drama does n't need to make perfect plot sense or answer all your questions , as the picture it paints of the cartels is so complex that , it seems , you could never understand -lsb- them -rsb- , let alone stop them .", "a taut and dramatic thriller .", "MOV is a remarkable , thrilling , intermittently brilliant film-and yet nonetheless a mild disappointment .", "after all the mysterious buildup , what eventually goes down is n't all that surprising or earth shattering except in its hair trigger execution , the filmmaking superior to the story it services", "a sensational thriller that grabs you by the throat . director denis villeneuve stages scenes with the eye of a master and he 's aided by the great cinematographer roger deakins and a first-rate cast .", "... the law may be casting something of a shadow , but it 's the harsh landscape - wild lawlessness - that dominates the frame .", "one of the best films of 2015 , `` MOV '' does more than just lift the dirty , clandestine rug on the mexican drug war . it poses harrowing moral questions many of us are too nervous to be asked let alone prepared to actually answer .", "the movie is stunningly effective , with special credit due to the peerless cinematographer roger deakins , who turns the deserts of arizona and mexico into eerie alien landscapes , and composer jóhann jóhannsson .", "with a taut and timely screenplay by taylor sheridan , MOV is a brilliant action thriller with the smarts of a message movie .", "MOV paints the bleakest of portraits of a realistic situation , drawn from headlines about mexican cartels that stack bodies with savage efficiency .", "an enthralling treatment of the war on the drug trade ... a brilliant , unsettling piece of filmmaking .", "MOV is a spectacular thriller , but it is first a good movie , and a thriller second . in this respect , it 's got less in common with its alleged sister-films traffic and end of watch , and more with the silence of the lambs or no country for old men .", "director denis villeneuve , aided and abetted by cinematographer roger deakins , fills MOV with dread and a violence that happens to be stunning to look at .", "sheridan suggests that the object of this game is not to stop the drug trade but to perpetuate the game itself .", "villeneuve has crafted a compelling , unflinching look at the deadly and complicated war on drugs , one that will challenge the attitudes of even the most straight-edged and law-abiding viewers .", "epitomizes what happens when every last creative and technical element is operating together at the highest level possible . `` MOV '' is mesmerizing , a subjectively grim but necessary stunner saturated in apprehension .", "MOV is a big brooding beast of a movie . like some sort of dark thing that lurks in a corner glaring at you but not moving to attack you . yet .", "MOV opens on a power chord of fear , nausea , and dread that resonates throughout the whole movie .", "we can thank villeneuve and rookie screenwriter taylor sheridan 's tight script , but also blunt , brolin and del toro , each of whom has never been better .", "emily blunt again steps up to bump up her credentials as today 's go-to action girl -lsb- in a -rsb- gutsy , rough-edged action drama .", "tedious on a grand scale but these days what war on drugs movie is n't ?", "if you like your movies powerful and important , even cringe-inducing , this could be your choice . it proves that there is more to movies than escapism . this one is disturbing on a high-caliber level .", "a molotov cocktail of a movie , flaming fuels of helplessness and paranoia and scorching viewers ' nerves in the process .", "i found it to be compelling and highly sophisticated in its performances and its visual design .", "an unforgettable motion picture that should be on the must-see list for anyone who appreciates films that deal in grays rather than blacks and whites .", "by the end , it packs a death stare so potent it will make you want to turn a blind eye to the shadowy brutality of its real-world horrors .", "french-canadian auteur denis villeneuve and a brilliant cast score with this powerful crime drama .", "it 's not that i think ` MOV ' is a bad movie , far from it ; it 's just with so much terrific work going on in front of and behind the camera , the fact the end result is merely a ` good ' movie somehow feels disappointing .", "like the war on drugs itself , nothing in ` MOV ' moves in a clean , straight line , nothing is really as it appears to be , and no one can really be trusted-or can they ?", "succeeds in evoking the anarchic violence of the drug wars raging on both sides of the u.s.-mexican border .", "from the opening moments , in one of the most disturbing set-pieces i can remember , MOV starts with taut intensity and never lets up until its tragic and perceptive denouement .", "it 's so good at building and maintaining tension that you do n't mind that it gets a little dopey every time the tension is broken .", "this is a meticulously slick , brawny , and set-piece-packed film that provides blunt with a ripe stage to wow us with her physical and visceral strength once again .", "the movie 's knowhow is impressive and its politics are spot on .", "it 's a film that lacks the urgency of the really great thrillers , but exists in that rarefied air of refined production values on every level and a flawless ensemble .", "i give director denis villeneuve and writer taylor sheridan , and lionsgate , credit for showing this story with a real edge .", "it 's a raw , muscular movie with terrific work from blunt and del toro , quietly debating urgent moral questions between stunning set pieces .", "denis villeneuve is , unquestionably , one of the most exciting directors working today .", "the narrative , like the morality , is murky and muddled , though knowing why one character is embarking on one mission wo n't make anything clearer", "the violence of the inter-american drug trade has served as the backdrop for any number of films for more than three decades , but few have been as powerful and superbly made as MOV .", "benicio del toro is downright magnificent . he delivers his best performance since 21 grams . a dedicated sensation that calls back to all types of performances such as javier bardem in `` no country for old men '' or gene hackman in `` the french connection . ''", "a masterpiece . director denis villeneuve 's best movie to date . benicio del toro and emily blunt are terrific .", "denis villeneuve 's film views life in the age of the modern-day drug war as an ever-crescendoing existential nightmare .", "the acting , craft , and tone of MOV are so precise that the absurdity of this cartel yarn is both its greatest weakness , and maybe its entire point .", "if `` MOV '' does not collapse under its own grimness , that is because of the pulse : the care with which villeneuve keeps the story beating , like a drum , as he steadies himself for the next set piece .", "remember the scene in boogie nights where alfred molina is randomly tossing firecrackers ? MOV is like that scene for two straight hours . it is intense .", "stylish , smart and exciting , this is what can happen when artists make entertainment : you get art that entertains .", "a compelling action-thriller that never loses sight of making its characters feel like real people .", "a well-deserved showcase for emily blunt .", "denis villeneuve is a master of grim determination . this is a compliment , because although it is one thing to be gritty , it is another thing to be all willy-nilly about it .", "pleasingly grown-up entertainment that pulls no punches .", "while MOV may be guilty of exoticising the `` murder capital '' reputation of juárez and its environs , it does so in a way that is horribly efficient , exploiting our anxieties and expectations with cruel precision .", "MOV looks so good that it 's impossible not to gush ...", "basically just another violent movie about drug trafficking . it 's efficient enough at what it does , but what it does is neither new nor significant .", "it 's the thriller of the year , now go see it , before you find out anything else .", "-lsb- a -rsb- visceral and savagely compelling action drama .", "MOV may leave an unpleasant taste but it is a slick , accomplished thriller .", "smart enough to challenge your views , yet not too cerebral to alienate the mainstream , MOV is a thoroughly engrossing watch that dazzles visually and connects emotionally .", "if the film is a little too macho and far too anglo to tell the full , ugly story of all the villains and victims , it is , like all of villeneuve 's films , a bravura piece of filmmaking .", "a visceral , in-the-moment ride-along more than a movie to chew over for any length of time .", "blunt plays the part splendidly .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- a disappointment from start to finish , denis villeneuve 's attempting-to-be-edifying international drug thriller fails miserably by the social realist parameters it portends to fulfill with macho quasi-military bombast .", "villeneuve -lrb- enemy , prisoners -rrb- sticks close to thriller formula but also takes the path less travelled along the way .", "the one saving grace of MOV is the considerable talent of cinematographer roger deakins , who continually finds new , striking images to couch all the action in .", "it is probably appropriate -lrb- indeed , deliberate -rrb- that denis villeneuve 's gripping thriller concerning the war on drugs should end in murky confusions .", "denis villeneuve takes on the mexican drug trade in this stern , robust , abandon-hope-all-ye-who-enter thriller .", "you know the way it goes ... the only woman on the team ? kept in the dark ?", "america 's covert war against the mexican drug cartels gets a bracing , brutal working over by the director denis villeneuve .", "with its shifting points of view , MOV does n't preach . but it will make you think .", "no drugs bust , then , but nothing to get hooked on .", "-lsb- denis villeneuve -rsb- has now proven himself to be one of the strongest directors in the field right now .", "a booming , blooming brilliant film that maintains the tension from the outset .", "even with all its impurities , `` MOV '' remains pretty kick-ass dope .", "delivers enough sheer brutality and suspense to maintain two hours of dread-filled anxiety ...", "pulled from the news but punched up to fever pitch , MOV represents the perfect mix of cerebral and visceral thrills . star , director and screenwriter all bring their a-game .", "the ` war on drugs ' has never felt more like an actual war in this brutal , scathing condemnation of the lawlessness of the battle ... on the ` good guys ' side .", "we 've seen similar riffs on post-9 / 11 ethical erosion at the movies before . but few are as suggestive , or feel so plausible , or have villenueve 's assertive , confident camera .", "denis villeneuve knows how to create tension with devastating precision and stunning visual swagger .", "an expertly crafted , beautifully shot and superbly acted thriller that delivers high quantities of suspense and action , cemented by an intelligent , morally complex script .", "damn it , academy , give roger an oscar", "intelligent and provocative . despite the heavy subject matter , MOV works just as well as a thriller as it does a social-issue drama .", "there 's not much emotional investment in any of the characters , and the film has little to add to any serious discussion of its subject matter - but as a pitch-black thriller , MOV succeeds with style ." ]
finding the right balance between subtle and sentimental , MOV moves beyond other similarly-themed dramas with evocative cinematography that plays an equal role to the talented cast .	sweet_land	355028263	[ "the film 's multilayered narrative -lrb- which employs a flashback within a flashback -rrb- and complementary use of organic transitions is nothing if not breathtaking .", "not a great film , something to watch when it comes on cable , not for a night out to the theater .", "MOV brushes against the true spirit of american independent cinema .", "MOV is gorgeously shot and directed without a false note , but its chief virtue is the beautiful and little-known -lsb- elizabeth -rsb- reaser .", "intelligently written , brilliantly cast and thesped story of a german mail order bride in a norwegian-american community in minnesota just after wwi never hits a wrong note .", "selim , cinematographer david tumbelty and a superb cast work together to create a believable , poignant and haunting evocation of a long-lost way of life .", "there 's a tartness at the center of MOV , ali selim 's unabashedly sentimental tale of a mail-order bride and the community that eventually comes to accept her .", "if the christmas movie season sometimes seems like a holiday smorgasbord stuffed with empty calories , MOV is a much-needed palate cleanser .", "director ali selim 's debut feature is a bland , drawn-out throwback to jan troell 's '70s epics the emigrants , the new land and zandy 's bride .", "if terrence malick could ever banish the wispy art clouds from his brain and give in to the storyteller inside , perhaps he might make a movie as stirring as MOV .", "this is the real a prairie home companion . you can practically hear garrison keillor 's voice as an implicit narrator .", "directing with a light comic touch and a palpable affection for the characters , selim draws pitch-perfect acting from a large cast -lrb- john heard , ned beatty , alan cumming , alex kingston , and lois smith -rrb- and achieves breathtaking levels of color and clarity .", "an old-fashioned family drama masquerading as an art film .", "a gentle , well-observed drama ... old-fashioned but in a good sense . ... reaser and guinee are such open , animated actors that inge and olaf 's emotions are easily understandable even if their words are not .", "a torturously slow meditation on the tribulations of immigrant farmers that strains for an elegiac tone .", "the low budget has n't prevented the filmmakers from taking care with details . the film 's almost palpable : you feel the coldness of the blue , forbidding sky and smell the bristling dustiness of the harvest-ready wheat .", "the son of an egyptian immigrant , the minnesota born selim demonstrates a startling intimacy and empathy for his characters , but infuses his story with a candid tough love for their weaknesses .", "characters ' motivations and behaviours wobble all over the map - even within single scenes - making for a profoundly frustrating and disappointing experience for viewers .", "it 's not a film to watch when you 're tired .", "MOV is n't so silly as to say ` love conquers all ' , but it reminds us , sometimes ecstatically , that love can conquer a lot .", "what matters in MOV are the moments between the words being spoken , the mute characters as seen in reaction shots , and the images of flat , grassy minnesota landscapes and big sky .", "community intolerance and quasi-legal hurdles in 1920 minnesota be damned for a courageous mail-order pioneer of the heartland .", "as MOV demonstrates , bigotry is vulnerable , and love is universal . MOV is a fervent movie poem to that love -- and to family , land , lost times and old beginnings .", "selim erases the cultural barrier between the eras and makes olaf and inge 's tentative , forbidden romance seem as beautiful and as tender , and as urgent , as anything that might happen in the present day .", "a film of uncommon grace , one that transports you to an america that seems innately familiar even though you have never seen it depicted on-screen quite like this before .", "this is an intelligently told story that relies on intriguing characters and enticingly mellow pacing that reflects the story 's setting .", "at once epic and intimate , MOV offers a stirring account of love and hardship which , aside from a muffed capra moment towards the end , hardly puts a foot wrong .", "nostalgic , gentle , loving : the elegiac mood set against endless rural space inevitably suggests malick 's days of heaven . what next from this considerable talent ?", "ali selim 's visual masterpiece recalls the stark artistry of terrence malick and western lyricism of larry mcmurtry , as it turns every frame into a picture postcard of stunning beauty .", "exceptionally photographed and remarkably performed by actors tim guinee and elizabeth reaser , MOV is modest , but demonstrative , eager to detail a love story that sustains for a lifetime .", "here is a nicely photographed , but bland , insipid and weirdly passive-aggressive little film .", "minnesota between the wars is a bone yard for dreams , yet , like babette 's feast , the film plucks a tiny miracle from stony ground .", "our movie of the week - which is n't saying much - arrives in the shape of this atmospheric slice of americana about an arranged marriage deep in the heart of rural minnesota .", "pleasant surprise of the week , a us indie so unashamedly romantic about pie , cornfields , family and baseball you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a presidential campaign video .", "MOV could have been mawkish and overly sentimental , but selim has a light touch and the film is intelligent , sensitive and sweet .", "echoing malick 's ` days of heaven ' in the way it captures the majesty of the american countryside , this is a small gem that 's worth seeking out .", "... a beautifully photographed film ... that celebrates its regional identity .", "a tender and touching film about the blooming of love , the poignant tug of place , and the challenges of openness in a rural midwest community in the 1920s .", "beautiful cinematography renders the prairie and its sturdy inhabitants more inviting than harsh .", "selim 's script does n't hit new territory , but beautiful cinematography takes it just far enough .", "MOV , a beautiful and poignant film , impressed me with its charming simplicity and convincing sense of place .", "some of MOV is very predictable , some of it is surprising . what holds the audience 's interest are the performances and selim 's solid direction .", "sweet and low-key , MOV is a movie that likely will leave you wishing you liked it more .", "a sweet gem .", "a spare yet meaningful script , subtly deep performances and a starkly beautiful landscape combine in MOV to tell a love story that is as much about the land as it is about two people .", "MOV is so beautiful that it appears to be made of moving postcards , and so dull that it appears to be made of ... moving postcards .", "MOV is a lovely , lovely small story about discrimination , assimilation and acceptance in the plains .", "a heartfelt work of radiant simplicity and plainspoken eloquence , MOV offers viewers a lovely reprieve from overproduced , marketing-driven studio schlock .", "inge only speaks a `` little english '' , so she relies on her face to convey all her thoughts and emotions and what a canvas for words ... elizabeth reaser 's enchanting on the screen .", "the camera eats up elizath reaser : her chiseled features , willowy frame , and long curls that peak out of period hats .", "terrific acting , a perfectly captured period setting , and a simple , aching farm courtship , that 's all MOV is .", "as opposed to the bulk of low-budget films , the look here is lush and beautifully crafted ; even the make-up is excellent .", "if its drama of german and norwegian newcomers on the plains of southern minnesota is modest enough , it 's also clearly a labor of love .", "MOV values interconnectedness -- in a couple , among a community , with the land , and with ancestors -- and powerfully illustrates it within the story 's emotional and visual content .", "a lovely , old-fashioned farm romance quietly doubling as a comment on immigration and american identity .", "a painterly , patient look at the american immigrant experiencewrit small .", "a simple but heartwarming period tale ... a generous and -- appropriately , given the title -- sweet-natured portrait of a time long past .", "a gorgeous romance , set during world war i , with a deep affection for the land and the immigrant settlers who make something of it .", "a love story and an elegy , MOV is a meaningful film that makes its points with subtlety .", "-lsb- director ali -rsb- selim grounds the story so firmly in its characters that he never hits a false note .", "intelligently written , beautifully photographed , intensely emotional and creatively challenging , it 's simultaneously heartbreaking and life-affirming .", "it 's a blend of immigrant saga , fish-out-of-water parable , days of heaven-like pastoral and epic love story , all merging with a seamless , satisfying unity and no wrong notes in its performances or production .", "as empty and beautiful as the picturesque minnesota terrain it 's so clearly taken with .", "this is the sort of quiet independent film that comes and goes before anyone notices . i hope that does n't happen here , because MOV is a nicely understated but loving look at the immigrant experience in this country .", "what we have here is an otherwise respectable period drama that keeps descending to an after-school-special level of bluntness .", "MOV is an unusual look at love and how it can unexpectedly develop . those for whom the concept of an arranged marriage is foreign will get a little history lesson on the immigrant experience watching this sweetly engrossing film .", "it 's beautiful ." ]
this dark thriller boasts a fresh approach , but it can still get bogged down by its heavy subject matter .	dead_girl	460673131	[ "a very unconventional way to tell a story we 've seen about a million times , and for that -lrb- along with the lean 94-minute running time -rrb- , i am thankful . keep an eye on moncrieff -- she 's the real deal .", "moncrieff chooses to scrutinize highly unpleasant material but , fortunately , she never takes an exploitative or sensationalistic approach . the movie has its integrity .", "the movie 's a big step up from blue car , which had a similar stillness but less to say", "a total downer and disappointment given writer and director karen moncrieff 's poignant debut with blue car .", "karen moncrieff 's melodrama is less noxious than paul haggis 's race fantasy by virtue of having nothing to say about anything that will be of any importance to anyone .", "the various tales amount to little on their own and fail to resonate outside of their narrow narrative confines .", "if you 're weary of crime stories that follow the conventional path on the way to a generically inevitable conclusion , the MOV is a title you might want to throw a red circle around .", "works like a package of crisp , individual psychological profiles of the women whose already troubled lives are disrupted by the murder .", "while some may find the film unrelentingly depressing , it is a richly acted , well written piece that deserves consideration .", "the film picks up speed and interest , due largely to a host of strong performances by some fiercely committed actresses .", "... there 's little doubt that the movie cements -lsb- karen moncrieff 's -rsb- status as one of the most promising new filmmakers to come around in ages .", "the truncated stories force the actors to start at a high pitch and keep going , but they -- and the director -- work wonders at low volume .", "moncrieff -lrb- blue car -rrb- pushes a view of women as victims that might create its own pornography of masochism if it did n't touch so many authentic shattered nerve endings .", "bleak and baleful , recommended only if you 're into sinister desolation .", "the chief problem with the MOV , as with most current multipart films , is that the truncated stories do n't give actors much room to develop a part . they 're on-screen for such a short time that they act furiously from the get-go .", "ambitious , but while it serves as a showcase for some terrific performances , it achieves the wrenching drama it 's aiming for only intermittently .", "the acting is extremely strong . most of the actors give something close to the performances of a lifetime but this is a film that is hard to watch because it is n't entertaining . this is just nice people in pain with no payoff . this is going to get lots of", "i neither gained any knowledge nor experienced pleasure or deep emotion of any sort ; the best that can be said is that i was n't bored or offended .", "there 's no mistaking the integrity and craft on display here , and the writing and direction are too smart to dismiss the MOV as victimology or man-hating .", "yes , it 's dark , depressing material , but watching the film is n't . because you 're seeing such talent at work there .", "each story could be its own full-length movie , and each is shot with a different style and feel .", "disquieting examination of female suffering that asks you to look at people and see a common humanity . nicely crafted , expertly acted , often unforgettable .", "from collette to byrne , these women start out strong and get continually better , reaching a crescendo with murphy .", "the use of multiple plots can be a dangerous exercise if not skillfully executed , making viewers feel cheated and wanting more , but moncrieff works it out , ably shifting from one story to the next and keeping us satisfied with the open-ended outcomes .", "... sometimes feels like seven filtered through sundance , but at least it gives weight to the sort of tragic story hollywood usually treats like a thrill ride .", "the MOV is bleak , sad , and depressing -- which is exactly what -lsb- director -rsb- moncrieff intends it to be .", "as tasty as butter", "murphy , devouring a bad girl role to go with her image , makes her the most alive person in what is most certainly not your typical hollywood serial killer movie .", "the MOV is an ambitious , unusual drama , and it 's the kind of script that actors kill for , giving them rich , three-dimensional parts that they only have to play for a small amount of time , allowing for full emotional impact .", "it must be said that the MOV is a film of considerable integrity . but before that , something else must be said : that 's about as unappetizing an opening to a film as can be imagined .", "a stern account of how the brutal murder of a young woman affects an array of far-flung characters .", "or : life sucks and then you die : the movie .", "growing less lurid and more poignant as it builds its story through a series of linked vignettes , this film by karen moncrieff provides a showcase for its predominantly female cast .", "um elenco formidбvel -lrb- com destaque para murphy e hurt -rrb- ajuda a diretora-roteirista moncrieff a contar uma sйrie de histуrias tristes , mas com belas promessas de redenзгo .", "confusing until you see all the loosely connected shortstories in the series .", "a well crafted five part ensemble drama of the toughest sort . tight dialog , first rate acting and searing images make their statement on the tragedy of runaway abduction .", "i do n't remember when i 've seen a movie with as many exceptional female performances as those in ` the MOV . '", "the tone is fittingly dark , the writing impressively poetic , and the performances excellent absolutely across the board .", "a dreary chick flick serial killer film , that puts a human face on the vic as it focuses on all the women affected by the serial killer .", "the MOV segues from one turgidly-paced , soul-crushing sequence to another with very little reason to continue watching .", "the masterful film , which was also released on dvd this week , sends shivers up your spine and devastates you five times over , then has you longing to wipe the sweat off your brow and start watching all over again .", "the MOV provides several of terrific actresses with meaty roles and for that reason alone -lrb- let alone moncrieff 's fluid direction and solid , if uneven , scripting -rrb- it deserves to find an audience .", "intriguing and unpredictable , this multi-layered film delivers a profound ripple effect as it explores the complexities of anger , grief , denial and retribution", "unblinking and critical about female-rooted and female-specific concerns .", "click for full review", "karen moncrieff 's previous film , the shallow and pretentious blue car , in no way prepares you for this superbly acted , emotionally acute picture .", "s she stands , so perversely resistant and so utterly naked , ruth embodies the grief and torment of being a live girl .", "pic 's weak ending demonstrates that its multi-narrative strategy , though full of cinematic potential , also holds traps for a film 's overall impact .", "the power of each individual performance is obvious , but it 's easy to underestimate -lsb- director karen -rsb- moncrieff 's subtle skill as a writer and observer of human nature .", "occasionally the movie manages to achieve a real sadness , but some story lines are forced .", "if the segments are uneven , moncrieff -- with the help of her excellent cast -- nevertheless crafts a gripping overall narrative that exposes a shared dissonance among the protagonists .", "the outstanding performances and writing would make a great film even if all -lsb- karen -rsb- moncrieff did was turn on her camera and aim it at the actors , but she adds yet another layer of meaning to the piece via her thoughtfully considered visual style .", "messy and melodramatic , then quiet and contained -- the MOV is definitely unpredictable . but then so is life . and -lsb- director karen -rsb- moncrieff gives us five fat slices of it here , all full of painful color and inconvenient drama .", "all screams aside , movies about serial killing are rarely chipper affairs . but few are as glum as the MOV .", "moncrieff manages to get beneath the skin of several of these characters , a nifty trick considering what a crowded world she 's created . in all , it 's a grueling , emotionally taxing , discomfiting film .", "moncrieff deserves kudos for making a femme-driven film , but it does n't really enagage us emotionally in the tragic tale of a dead hooker and the puzzle-like narrative does n't pay off .", "this is unsettling and completely riveting at the same time . it 's like six degrees of separation for the terminally broken .", "some chapters are more useful than others , but i 'm not sure you could omit any of them , either , as each stroke provides a color that contributes to the overall picture .", "an emotionally disturbing film about a victim of a serial killer .", "moncrieff never gets melodramatic with subject matter that easily could have been ; she wo n't make you feel good , but she will make you feel .", "five stories compose the heart of `` the MOV , '' karen moncreiff 's disturbing new drama that 's so unsettling , it likely will leave those who see it in an unqualified funk .", "the five-story format is intriguing , the performances first rate , and a couple of the stories , particularly those involving collette , harden and washington , are moving .", "with the MOV , this technique of breaking the narrative apart and then piecing it back together has led to a sort of narrative vacuum at its center -- an empty hole where a thing called exposition would typically reside .", "the stories do n't exactly add up to anything you can put your finger on , but they 're absorbing as they 're happening , and director karen moncrieff has a smooth , sure visual style .", "those who pass on the MOV are missing something . moncrieff has assembled a remarkable -lrb- and mostly female -rrb- cast , and there are moments in this film that are as powerful as anything currently in theaters .", "ms. moncrieff 's ambitious second film is a bit of a disappointment after the promise shown in her more tightly structured debut effort , blue car .", "the faces of the MOV , and their ways of reacting to utter awfulness , are preserved in your memory for days afterward", "moncrieff unfurls her tales with the poetic intensity of short stories .", "the MOV has such a glacial pace , and with such tonal monotony -- most of the first 20 minutes are either grim , in the dark or both -- that audiences will follow at their peril .", "a blistering , complex and compelling mystery that offers one of the best acting ensembles seen in ages .", "seeing multiple responses to a sexually motivated murder allows us to reconsider our understanding of sex crimes .", "none of these little tales goes quite where you expect it will , which would make it riveting enough , but every single performance is a wonder of surprising emotion ...", "there 's an underlying , unifying power and credibility to moncrieff 's cumulative assertion that degradation is expected of too many women , and too often expected by themselves .", "the relentless emotional violence in this film , a compendium of five vignettes related to a young woman whose corpse is discovered on a hillside , is of a level rarely found in movies .", "the sheer originality of a murder mystery written in this way should merit it , and moncrieff , a great deal of praise .", "no potential for redemption materializes in the thoroughly depressing world created by karen moncrieff .", "boasts many solid performances .", "brilliantly written and even better directed by karen moncreiff , the MOV represents a rather remarkable innovation in the female empowerment genre ." ]
a nonstop thrill ride , MOV 's dizzying action sequences more than make up for any expository flaws .	district_b13	170571851	[ "a die-hard , kinetically charged action film with the kind of shocks and starts that feel truly earned : for once , here 's something you might not have seen before , and with no strings attached .", "district b-13 is , in a word , a hoot .", "even the snobbiest cineaste will most likely wipe away the drool after seeing belle , whose athletic ability suggests jackie chan after being bitten by an irradiated spider .", "the single best action movie of 2006 .", "... lean , clean , adrenaline - and indignation-fueled b movie with a social commentary that is too blatant to be called subtext .", "proudly states its vanity and hollow entertainment value", "it is more entertaining than any of the ` spider-man ' flicks , makes the x-men series boring , by comparison , and is more credible than any of the fantasy-driven offerings from the far east .", "this is a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat . from the opening sequence until the very last frame , there is non-stop action .", "a ridiculously entertaining action flick that 's loaded with style , wit and jaw-dropping feats of physical prowess .", "the story 's a bit overdramatic .", "delivers a cogent , well-told story , with a bit of social significance underpinning , plus a series of sequences that should satisfy the action fans .", "gorgeously choreographed gymnastics of pain elevate MOV over the impossible missions and last stands of the season .", "MOV may have nothing new to say but , boy , does it say it fast .", "luc besson may have brought us jean reno 's hauntingly conflicted professional , and anne parillaud 's downtrodden yet deadly nikita . but he did n't try very hard when coming up with MOV .", "at under 90 minutes , it leaves you breathless and ready for more . even better , it leaves you - assuming you really like action - smiling a happy little 12-year-old 's smile .", "the action is so relentless that even hard-core martial-arts fans might need to pause for breath . and much of it is so repetitive that the film occasionally plays like a rerun of itself .", "the latest attack of excess from french action impresario luc besson .", "district b-13 is a hoot , so assured of its own coolness that it 's hard not to go along .", "it may be subtitled , and the faces may be unfamiliar , but MOV is the best buddy action movie around .", "the movie does n't make a lick of sense , but it 's done with such zest and skill -- and such incredible stunt work and action choreography by co-stars cyril raffaelli and david belle -- that the absurdities do n't sabotage it .", "nifty action flick influenced by hong kong cinema that includes a critique of french racism against immigrant community .", "i was delighted by the balletic and acrobatic stunts , some of which evoke tarzan .", "a message-based actioner that 's fast , dumb fun .", "both smart and direct , MOV is the kind of lean , mean action film most of america 's working directors only wish they could pull off .", "the most memorable parts of district 13 actually precede the unfolding of its main plot , which , much like the thermonuclear device on which it is premised , is never allowed to fulfill its explosive promise .", "comes off more like a theme park show than an actual film , it 's there to deliver stunts and never an actual story .", "this action film from luc besson 's b-movie factory is one of his best .", "when belle is in motion , the movie excels .", "there 's something refreshing about an action film that actually gives a damn about more than explosions .", "o roteiro quase inexistente й uma mera desculpa para que o filme apresente ao espectador diversas seqькncias de aзгo absolutamente sensacionais criadas a partir do parkour .", "as 85-minute testosterone binges go , you could do a whole lot worse .", "there are plenty of impressive gunfights and some wicked martial arts sequences here , but the film is most likely to be remembered for its emphasis on free running , a dizzying physical technique in which the cast sprint , leap and roll through the city .", "the highly stylized result feels barren of both texture and imagination .", "MOV is an apocalyptic action message movie with a distinct french flare .", "in his feature directing debut , cinematographer pierre morel has delivered an adrenaline-packed picture that sold its brains to the devil in exchange for spectacular fight and chase scenes .", "genre fans will get a kick from the martial-arts action , and that 's all MOV needs to do .", "the cast hurls itself into the comic-book violence , while the stunt choreography and razor-sharp editing are exhilarating .", "a 90-minute feature simply showing -lsb- david -rsb- belle 's stunts with no frills would be great ; unfortunately , they only account for about 10 minutes - the rest of the time , belle is called upon to act .", "if there 's a sequel ... i 'm there !", "for a film that 's so light on its feet , `` b13 '' seems rooted in what 's really happening on the ground .", "while women may certainly apply , it 's primarily the guys who will find MOV irresistible .", "go for the dazzling , if repetitive , human stunt work . endure the appallingly simplistic politics .", "a grand theft auto world of muscled goons who drive flashy cars and fire an insurgency 's worth of ammo as a neutron holocaust nears . then we 're told : ` violence is n't the only way to solve problems . '", "b13 is watchable and , sometimes , quite invigorating . but only when it 's getting its adrenaline rush from its stampeding macho duo .", "let 's put the matter simply : the french thriller MOV makes everything hollywood has lately done in the action genre look clumsy , dull and stale .", "starts at a fever pitch of rushing adrenalin and from there goes into the action stratosphere with some of the most inventive and just plain fun moves yet seen on the silver screen", "a passable mismatched-buddy movie , goosed up by hard-hitting martial arts and flashy camera acrobatics .", "what makes it unique are the truly amazing and kinetic action scenes featuring parkour pioneer belle and co-star cyril raffaelli .", "nothing more than high-octane junk but turns out to be junk that 's literally light on its feet and exuberantly silly ... enjoyable , adrenalin-pumping nonsense .", "the big innovation here is that the two nimble leads , stuntmen-turned-stars , are devotees of parkour , a fancy french word for the fluid use of urban environments as jungle gyms .", "what MOV lacks in story development it compensates for with stunningly realistic action .", "MOV does n't waste time with fake personality clashes . both lead actors are amazingly fluid athletes , and during the many getaway and shoot - 'em - up sequences , there is a minimum of special effects or wire choreography .", "if you can ignore the plot holes and the usual besson misogyny , the action is a real kick .", "forget about mi-3 or x-men 3 or any other film franchises . if you only see one film this summer , you need to get out more , but MOV is the flick you better not miss .", "an unlikely but effective cross between john carpenter 's escape from l.a. and la haine .", "the hyperkinetic melodrama only matters as an excuse to watch raffaelli and belle , and assorted bad guys , display some of the most adrenaline-pumping movement you 'll see this season .", "instantly forgettable , but hugely entertaining for 85 minutes .", "it 's not exactly brain fodder . but it is fun .", "the typically moronic plot simply gets in the way of what might have been a super-ambitious sneaker commercial .", "numbness starts to set in . frenetic action wrapped around a razor wire-thin script will do that to you .", "real-life events have overtaken MOV , and they give this feverish , yet oddly flat french action adventure a whiff of substance to go along with its spectacular stunts .", "the purest adrenaline rush of the summer .", "... this film starts at roadrunner speed and rarely slows down ...", "by the time the heroes start breaking necks at breakneck speed , morel has employed so many ` cool ' digital editing tricks and effects that we no longer trust our eyes . we ca n't be sure of the integrity of the stars ' athleticism ...", "it just goes to show you that , mais oui , the french can kick it with the asians and americans when it comes to junky kung fu flicks .", "morel lathers up a thunderous tornado of exhilarating destruction . there 's hardly a moment to pause for breath , blink or wipe the sweat off your brow .", "whew ! i ca n't remember the last time i got such an adrenaline rush watching a movie .", "the sheer ridiculousness of the story is part of the fun of this french import , which was produced by luc besson and stars two stuntmen turned ... um ... stuntmen with dialogue .", "a snazzy , sensational action ride from big-bang guru luc besson .", "the year 's best martial-arts action .", "as a brief introduction to belle and his amazing gifts , district b 13 is a treat . but as a movie its feet are dully planted on the ground .", "the problem with front loading a film with such spectacular stunts is director pierre morel has nowhere to go .", "as impressive as the opening scenes are , the last act sees district 13 descend into a preachiness that would embarrass the cheesiest hollywood producer .", "district b-13 is bad sci-fi , but it succeeds as mindless action .", "the plot is only serviceable , but it perfectly serves its main function ... an excuse to string together a series of ultracool fight and chase sequences .", "okay . this is a really stupid film , but who the heck cares ? it 's chopsocky !", "... the kind of movie i generally despise ... -lrb- b -rrb- ut when the end arrived , i discovered that i had been thoroughly entertained .", "district 13 proves that hollywood does n't have the final word in the big , brainless actioner stakes , and at least it does it with a lot of style and some very cool fights .", "the creator of films such as the transporter , the fifth element and la femme nikita can be counted on for movies that are big , stupid and often just skillfully demented enough to be fun . MOV obliges on all accounts .", "who has n't wanted to leap down a stairwell , bounce from rooftop to rooftop , do a backflip over a bad guy , give him a few chop socky blows and then take away his gun ?", "one of the best adrenaline rushes since we saw lola running for 90 minutes .", "almost nonstop action but seems like violence for its own sake .", "the well-executed action scenes will be more than enough to sate even the most finicky of action fans .", "spread the word : this delirious import is the most -lrb- maybe the only -rrb- fun action movie of the summer .", "besson 's script may be formulaic crap , but he obviously still has an eye for fresh action talent , and an instinct for how to show it off .", "leito-damien attempt to refurbish the veracity of the french motto `` liberty , equality , fraternity '' in the same way morel-besson try to restore the integrity of the action film .", "whether the flick is focusing on its numerous action scenes or its breathless bouts of plot exposition , district 13 speeds by like an absolute blur .", "the energy of the film is breathtaking , and the sheer momentum of the direction and talent make up for any artistic drought .", "... larger-than-life ...", "MOV is so busy kicking glass -lrb- that 's a euphemism -rrb- that you want fragments to keep on flying .", "the french-made , futuristic adrenaline-pumper district 13 does n't really grab you by the short hairs until it shows you why david belle is the movie 's star .", "MOV is as slickly edited , filmed and choreographed as it is empty of compelling characters or the meaningful ideas -lrb- institutional racism , the bleak future -rrb- it professes to be about . ultimately , it walls itself in .", "like its stunt work , the movie is both ridiculously hyperactive and a muscular feat of absolute confidence . i do n't expect to have a more adrenalizing time at the movies this summer .", "a rip-roaring french-language thrill-ride that plays like a parisian escape from new york crossed with a jackie chan policier .", "terse , taut and willing to pack on some philosophical weight , MOV wastes no time in shouting ` action ! '", "a french import that dishes out comic-book complexity with the simple purity of a kick to the gut .", "when a film is this entertaining , it does n't have to be all that original .", "great fights , great chases , hot kick - *** hero dudes , ruthlessly evil bad guys , some laughs , and a story that actually would be interesting even without all the above .", "it 's a high-voltage kick that 's never lets up , energized by sheer bravura stunt work .", "right from the opening credit sequence , MOV makes it loud and clear that you 're going to like this movie .", "the film maintains a healthy tension , as damien believes in `` the law '' and leďto is never convinced of its efficacy or good intentions .", "note to moviegoers : if you can still be entertained by a thriller that unabashedly borrows from others of its ilk and do n't mind reading subtitles , you could do worse than MOV .", "MOV is one of those films where you appreciate the artistry of violence , then forget about it as soon as you get into the car and head home .", "a scrappy action flick that shifts into high gear immediately and never slows down , this rousing french import aspires to no higher goal than flashy entertainment . in that regard , it succeeds entirely .", "it all plays out like a jackie chan cop comedy , crossed with 1,000 french comic books and minus the humor .", "MOV is a fine , snappy little picture that 's one-part escape from new york , one-part martial-arts flick , and mostly silly fun .", "MOV looks great , but do n't let those subtitles fool you . at heart , it 's every bit as proudly dumb as its american counterparts .", "mix in a whole lot of automatic gunfire , an overblown crime plot , a heavy dose of industrial-strength techno and a dystopian view of french social policy . stir . enjoy .", "MOV speaks the international language of brilliantly choreographed mayhem ... and could be the action movie to beat this year ; we 'll see if any other director comes close to equaling its delirious rush . the picture is 85 minutes long and" ]
smart , smoothly directed , and enriched with a deeper exploration of the franchise 's thought-provoking themes , catching fire proves a thoroughly compelling second installment in the hunger games series .	the_hunger_games_catching_fire	771250004	[ "renewed purpose to this part two , finding catching fire skillfully communicating beats of unrest and despair , locating a way to help the ongoing franchise settle in as an energizing story of an underground uprising .", "the first movie felt a little stiff , as though the director were mechanically turning the pages , but this movie sinks into your skin because lawrence immerses us in a pool of accepted injustice until we start to itch .", "katniss everdeen 's quandaries and director francis lawrence builds suspense through cunning shifts of character in this spiffy second chapter of the trilogy .", "catching fire is best in its first hour , when it concentrates on the politics and the specific horrors of panem . it becomes more conventional in the second half and loses steam , but it 's always heading somewhere .", "this sequel is a triumph of production design : philip messina 's settings are so detailed that they convey how the movie 's dystopic u.s. functions beyond the story at hand , and trish summerville 's costume design shows a similar degree of invention .", "it 's not exactly eisenstein but we 'll take what we can get .", "that this latest film leaves us hungering for more only means that it 's working .", "it 's largely satisfying as far as screen adventures go , and comes fully loaded with special effects and action scenes , and embellished with the usual brand-name character actors ...", "my thoughts on the hunger games : catching fire can be summed up as such : bigger ? yes . better ? not really . bonkers ? absolutely .", "catching fire bests the hunger games in every way . if the trend continues this series will be a political science fiction epic that will endure for generations .", "nobody involved seems remotely aware of the utter pomposity of the project - a third endless film is now in production .", "lawrence gives the same committed , heart-rending performance , and she 's even more saintly than before ...", "a safe , serviceable , carefully crafted action drama in which the subversive seeds planted in the first story take welcome root .", "like katniss ducking a poison-tip arrow , the keepers of suzanne collins 's trilogy of fantasy novels have dodged the perils of the sloppy second franchise film .", "catching fire is another strong installment in this confident series .", "catching fire expands suzanne collins ' novel beyond the confines of the arena to tackle some seriously brutal truths - plugging gaps and sowing seeds for a two-part finale that will have to work hard to match its grit .", "a ho-hum sequel that mostly sets the stage for hopefully more scintillating future chapters .", "-lsb- a -rsb- much more personal film that opts to expand on the lore of panem and consequences of the predecessor film , while simultaneously upping the stakes in every conceivable way .", "even viewers dragged into it kicking and screaming are unlikely to be bored out of their minds . well , not entirely .", "at a time when cinematic-action-extravaganzas feature the wanton destruction of cities and digital body-counts that are impossible to calculate , ` catching fire ' inhabits a world where death and violence have consequence .", "the hunger games : catching fire takes the narrative and thematic liberties traditionally granted the middle chapter in a trilogy and drives the stakes up sharply .", "if you want a reminder of how well `` the hunger games : catching fire '' does what it does , make sure to get to the theater early to see the trailers for all the other young-adult films trying to emulate it .", "though overlong at 146 minutes , catching fire retains the original 's curiously-engaging mix of the running man , spartacus , ben hur , avatar and rambo .", "what 's wrong with `` the hunger games '' and its sequel , `` the hunger games : catching fire ? '' well , i just ca n't get past the buffoonery .", "the rare sequel that surpasses its predecessor , ` catching fire ' tackles head-on the repercussions of the events of `` the hunger games , '' deepening collins ' cinematic mythology while proving that teen-lit is more than capable of tackling complex ideas .", "a stellar sequel and a crackerjack middle chapter : revisiting what 's to love about the original , upping the ante and promising even more to come .", "jennifer lawrence is a boon to this franchise . when she faces great and maddening cruelty , we feel the burn too .", "catching fire may be missing the surprises and shocks of the first chapter , but it moves the characters and the world forward in a way that hints at greatness for the two-film finale .", "with an impressive cast and an intriguing story , this is one cinematic revolution that fans are sure to rejoice in .", "... francis lawrence ... adds some important new pieces to that group and expands the world in a way that does n't throw out ross 's film , but that uses it as a way to get to something even better .", "the second instalment of the hunger games plays out in a bizarre zone where simon cowell meets leni riefenstahl .", "the success of this sequel will demonstrate , beyond doubt , that flesh-and-blood females can dominate the boysy , blockbuster landscape . how apt .", "` the hunger games : catching fire ' is that rare beast that has it both ways .", "a devastating indictment of pop culture as propaganda - about its power and the limits of its powers - and an upending of the typical teen-girl romance movie .", "it 's like an awesome episode of survivor all-stars , except the stakes are so much bigger .", "boldly builds on the world first seen in gary ross ' 2012 film .", "we 've been promised an inferno , but catching fire smolders for so long that when it finally does burst into burning right before the final shot , the blaze matters .", "the type of movie you hope no one ever brings up in polite company because you do n't want to look like an a ****** .", "`` catching fire '' is more substantial than the first feature because it delves deeper into themes such as loyalty , love , honor , sacrifice and freedom", "i hated the first one , but i really like this second one .", "a water-treading sequel that achieves its goal of satiating the fans ' bloodlust while whetting their appetite for the franchise 's grand finale .", "this is ` the empire strikes back ' installment of the franchise .", "events feel a little rushed at times but the strength of the story and its characters make this a series i 've become a big fan of .", "the least interesting thing about the hunger games is the hunger games itself . a complete view of society in author suzanne collins ' weather-beaten world remains tantalizingly out of reach .", "examines the price of being a celebrity , the dangers of idolatry , and how sometimes defiance of the status quo can have a dire outcome .", "full of action , drama and romance , ` the hunger games : catching fire ' is every bit as entertaining as its predecessor . a ` link ' movie , to be sure , but strong on its own , `` catching fire '' is certain to continue to do just that at the box office .", "i was hoping this sequel to the first hunger games film would be better than the first one and it is , so that 's good .", "it 's a quintessential middle film , lacking both substantive setup and a satisfying conclusion-and it 's all the better for it , thriving in the tumultuous , incendiary stages of a brewing revolution .", "`` catching fire '' makes for rousing entertainment in its own right , leaving fans riled and ready to storm the castle .", "you do n't need the first weekend 's grosses to predict a boxoffice inferno .", "what keeps the hunger games : catching fire alive and kicking is its transcendent strain of humanity .", "the first two-thirds of catching fire is truly compelling . unfortunately , that last third is something else altogether .", "catching fire focuses on the unfair dispensation of bread for the greater chunk of its hefty 146-minute running time , saving the circuses for dessert .", "conjures a convincingly scary and self-serving future dictatorship that connects it more truly to the 1970s tradition of protest science-fiction cinema -lrb- ` rollerball ' -rrb- than to its contemporary competition for teenage hearts and minds -lrb- the ` twilight ' saga -rrb- .", "same old same old biding time for the finale , but still has lawrence in the lead and for most that is enough .", "this is empire strikes back stuff . it has that second star wars movie 's kick of confidence .", "benefits from the impressive acting chops of jennifer lawrence , whose intensity and sense of self makes katniss into a prototypical action heroine who embodies an ideal set of values but still stays psychologically and emotionally grounded .", "i went back and saw the first film again fairly quickly after seeing it the first time because i enjoyed it so much . would n't elect to do that with this one .", "though flawed , catching fire manages something no adaptation since harry potter has : it respects its fans enough to challenge them while maturing alongside them .", "a chatty , 90 minute fashion show followed by a 50 minute -lrb- recycled -rrb- action picture .", "darker and even more gripping than part 1 .", "slavish devotion to the text and its legion of fans seems to be a problem ; collins ' world is so lacking in invention that there 's very little for director francis lawrence to do .", "jennifer lawrence sparkles once again , but this diluted sequel fails to ignite .", "undeniably entertaining . jennifer lawrence is as good as ever .", "you will walk out wanting more after that fantastic climax and final scene .", "so well done that it justifies every moment fans have not so patiently awaited the second installment of what has become the most satisfying franchise since ` harry potter . '", "has greater emotional weight , higher consequences for its characters , its downtrodden masses supporting a capital whose denizens indulge in hedonism a futuristic reflection of today 's great wealth divide in the united states .", "same ` logan 's run ' as bad reality tv show as the first one , minus the shaky-cam -lrb- i was grateful for that -rrb- .", "jennifer lawrence is excellent as always , but the film lacks spark .", "hunger games got off to a smashing start and has n't faltered yet . if it keeps up the pace , the finale will be worth the wait .", "-lsb- jennifer lawrence 's -rsb- skill set is wide : she might be the best on-screen crier in the business , but her katniss is steely and vulnerable , her sexiness somehow self-deprecating . you absolutely want to follow her into battle .", "is it too soon to say i ca n't wait for the next one ?", "catching fire is not quite a full course , more of an amuse bouche , making its mammoth audience hungry for future , meatier instalments .", "dismiss it as a popcorn movie if you must , but at least they 've bothered to serve it with real butter and truffle salt .", "its themes and action sequences are more forcefully realised than they were first time round , suggesting that this series may soon be the one against which all other franchises will be judged .", "manages to ... delve deeper into the politics and ethical quandaries laid out by its predecessor . all this despite being - for the most part - basically the same film .", "those who understand the outrage that powers the books should ... appreciate the blunt way it embraces collins ' cautionary vision of how a ruthless , privileged few can keep the masses down by dividing them and entertaining them ...", "it may not quite live up to the standards of its predecessor , but it far exceeds its source material .", "as an adaptation of collins 's catching fire , lawrence 's film is close to faultless . as cinema , it 's solidly engaging but consistently underwhelming .", "cleverly helmed by popular music video director francis lawrence .", "i 'm running out of ways to describe the capitol . i think this time i came up with `` the great gatsby on dmt . ''", "is n't a bull 's - eye , but its arrow never wavers .", "unpredictable yet utterly dependable , thrilling yet stoic , katniss everdeen is a force of nature on screen , and a role that jennifer lawrence appears born to play .", "one of the aspects that makes catching fire stronger than its predecessor is that it possesses a more palpable sense of danger .", "a welcome improvement on the hunger games .", "long and vanilla .", "this hunger games feels richer and more detailed than the first .", "as was the case with the first film , this sequel catches fire thanks to she who plays the ` girl on fire ' : jennifer lawrence .", "the budget is nearly twice the original , and it shows . great work from the a-list cast , amazing set designs and costumes .", "the rightist , racist government is opposed on the island by a blue state coalition of women -lrb- young , old , and punk -rrb- , an african-american geek , and liberated white males .", "after 2012 's the hunger games caught us off-guard with its subtle themes , this sequel more than lives up to the hype , dramatically expanding the scale of the action while letting the actors deepen their characters .", "book 's good . movie 's better . wait , what ?", "those with a ravenous appetite for the cruel and the kitsch will find plenty of nourishment in the second instalment of the film adaptation of suzanne collins ' teen trial literary trilogy .", "the hugely entertaining second instalment in the hunger games series is leaner and meaner than the first film , thanks to a strong script , pacey , focussed direction and terrific performances from a superb ensemble cast .", "a teenage girl as a hero in-the-making animated by her feisty independent spirit , survival skills , selflessness , and courage .", "things close with a surprising plot twist and a promising cliffhanger , which suggests the secret to the films ' success is embedded in the books .", "as the middle film in a trilogy , albeit a four-film one , the hunger games : catching fire mostly succeeds where it counts .", "an improvement in almost every way from its pretty decent predecessor .", "this second installment of the `` hunger games '' trilogy is a significant improvement on the movie that launched the franchise last year .", "fans of `` the hunger games '' should find `` catching fire '' a superlative advancement of the franchise .", "consegue adicionar um intrigante subtexto ao universo habitado por aqueles personagens ao mesmo tempo em que desenvolve as relaушes entre estes .", "like katniss , lawrence has become bigger than the games themselves , something that makes her very powerful , very dangerous and rather inspirational .", "thought it never truly catches fire , this two-and-a-half-hour sequel includes enough virtues to fill an entertaining ninety minutes .", "there is no law of diminishing returns here . the hunger games : catching fire is every bit as potent and gripping as its predecessor and a real triumph of entertainment .", "highly likely to be the best of all four hunger games pictures .", "the real emotional resonance is due exclusively to lawrence , who moves through the film with an urgent determination that brings a visceral reality to even the most far-fetched of situations", "you would think the more entertaining part would be the games themselves , but instead it 's the slower , more character-driven part of the film that holds the most interest .", "a little long , but still entertaining , installment in the popular franchise .", "talk about starvation ! catching fire is sadly lacking in visual nutrition .", "director francis lawrence 's film runs nearly two-and-a-half hours but it concludes so abruptly and tantalizingly , it leaves you wanting more .", "... a sequel that , for once , does n't coddle its target audience ... lawrence 's quick-draw archer is , if anything , more intense and single-minded , all glowering charisma .", "downplaying the violence itself strips the story of some of its power . you get little sense of the toll that surviving a competition such as this takes on the victor .", "the hunger games : catching fire is not only a solid entry in the franchise but stylistically a much better movie than the film that launched the series .", "-lrb- the -rrb- franchise takes on an invigorated energy , ending on a series of cliffhanger developments that coalesce with clarity .", "the stakes have gotten larger and also vastly more interesting , with the title games stretching from the battlefield into the mind .", "francis lawrence imbues the source material with visceral pleasure in well-wrought scenes vacillating between elaborate spectacle , breathtaking terror , and -- occasionally -- surprising beauty .", "like its predecessor , it 's good but not great . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "jennifer lawrence 's taut bow and lethal arrows have become the greatest symbols of female empowerment and sexuality in recent movie history .", "catching fire , which builds on the box-office and critical success of last year 's hunger games , is spectacular in every sense of the word . for extra pow , see it in imax .", "a competent sequel ... the hunger games could be fairly accused of being what it satirizes , but it 's not without a thought in its deadly little head .", "sexless and relatively bloodless , the hunger games : catching fire is about as good a follow-up to the 2012 hit as one could possibly imagine .", "in many ways it 's a better film . it keeps the strengths of the first film - the brilliant casting , the striking art direction - and does a much better job telling the story .", "catching fire is not only a superior sequel in terms of form but also in how it helps us reconcile the shortcomings of its predecessor .", "wonderful performances , excellent effects", "not only surpasses its original but also brings with it the undeniable sense that yes , finally , all the maddening chaos and underlying pathos of this deeply political story has finally revealed an important subtext .", "though overlong at 146 minutes , catching fire retains the original 's curiously-engaging mix of the running man , spartacus , ben hur , avatar and rambo .", "what a difference a director makes .", "while catching fire could easily stand on its own , it also should make audiences hungry for the next installment .", "there 's no disneyfication ; catching fire has a distinct look and sustained dark , gritty mood .", "it 's an exciting watch and even slicker than the first film .", "lawrence is the rare female action-movie lead who carries on the fierce tradition of sigourney weaver in the alien franchise -- easily the best and most enduring `` special effect '' this movie juggernaut has to offer eager audiences .", "the main thing that stayed with me on the trip home after seeing the film was the characters themselves , who are believably vulnerable , resourceful , devious and empathetic as the story demands .", "the hunger games : catching fire achieves what every sequel should strive for - a film that surpasses its predecessor in every way .", "there 's a depressing irony to the fact that the hunger games , a book series about the media 's ability to placate the masses with superficial distractions , is now a mainstream film franchise that has spawned its own cult of celebrity .", "as long as fully formed products like catching fire keep coming , the odds will be in the hunger games ' favor to continue being celebrated as the definitive popular moral tale of the early 2000s .", "francis lawrence has crafted a gripping , richly textured sci-fi thriller with reams of underlying dystopian subtext .", "catching fire delivers on the grim , roiling promises of the original .", "aimed at a generation of kids who are generally perceived as being entitled celebrity wannabes aspiring to their own reality shows , the hero of the hunger games is , essentially , a chick who 's really good at being famous .", "fans will approve of gripping & violent middle installment .", "with a story that ups the stakes and brings in the first signs of an uprising among the oppressed citizens , the intensity level explodes .", "did n't like the original . the sequel , however , does catch fire .", "expands on the best stuff from movie # 1 and fixes some things that did n't work so well . that 's a good way to make a sequel .", "the hunger games : catching fire is a much-improved sequel whose only real drawback is that it 's a middle chapter - with a somewhat thin payoff .", "catching fire is unvarnished sci-fi commentary on the present-day declination of our middle and lower social stratum and the moral indifference of the powerful and wealthy to their plight .", "the movie is n't awful , is sure to please no-standard fanatics and wo n't bore haters like myself .", "i 'm beginning to believe that the minds behind the hunger games franchise are closer in spirit to president snow and his sinister , heartless showmanship than to katniss and her bravery and passion .", "the hunger games : catching fire is that rare instance when the movie is better than the book , and the second movie is better than the first .", "with its troubling subject matter , catching fire makes for a tough balancing act , but francis lawrence pulls it off . it 's a frequently exciting film , with hunger games contestants old and new facing a succession of frightening challenges .", "an effective piece of melodramatic popular entertainment that savvily builds on the foundation established by the first hunger games movie .", "`` catching fire '' is a great leap forward for the franchise . seeing as it 's all about hope and what it represents , here 's hoping the next two are just as good , if not better .", "spinning in that wedding dress , or glaring in wary repose , lawrence catches fire on screen . she 'll make a superb la pasionaria when panem has a real war in the mockingjay films .", "runs smoothly and efficiently for its first 90 minutes , effectively mixing dark humor , social commentary , and pure story - and character-driven entertainment .", "the hunger games : catching fire is crowd-pleasing and compelling , most of all because of its fiery , charismatic heroine .", "there 's no question that lawrence accounts for the lion 's share of the franchise 's appeal , and a cliffhanger ending can only help build the frenzy of anticipation for mockingjay part i next year . bring it on .", "it 's a middle chapter , for sure , but a vigorous and fast-paced one that leaves you hungry for more .", "if you 're a fan , you ca n't miss `` catching fire '' !", "readers of the book should be more than satisfied , and non-devotees will find this a smoother , more affecting ride than its predecessor as well .", "it builds to a cliff-hanging conclusion pulled off with aplomb by lawrence the director and lawrence the star . who needs superpowers when you have this much talent ?", "catching fire is a good enough representation of the second book that it wo n't upset fans . those who do n't know the book will find a film that is a mildly altered version of the first movie in the series .", "it ends up being both a retread of the original and an extended setup for the finale , making it doubly unsatisfying .", "the grand climax , whose elements include a long piece of wire , a lightning bolt , and an electronic force field , is an incoherent , rapid blur that will send the audience scurrying back to the book to find out what 's supposed to be going on .", "a new director has brought catching fire back from the brink of twilight-like stupidity", "the movements are fluid and intense . the well-paced drama gives way to a tremendous sequences of action , and it 's great to see that francis lawrence is on-board to direct the next two films .", "while it may not capture the imaginations of those still-uninitiated to the `` hunger games '' phenomenon , `` catching fire '' will at least entertain those looking for an emotional punch with their holiday action experience .", "though some of the chases and escapes are thrillingly filmed , this last section of the film feels indistinguishable from plenty of other video-game-style avoid-the-obstacle action climaxes .", "it 's doubtful a viewer will throw his/her hands in the air in exasperation , and in an effie-like pout , wonder : `` why did n't they stick to the story ? ''", "the sequel lives up to its incendiary subtitle due to the quality of the material and the passion of its performers .", "relatively speaking , catching fire is terrific . even nonrelatively , it 's pretty damn good .", "quality stuff , an entertaining package . for those that retained their skepticism last time , this may even appear to be a better film . but hg has become a victim of its own success , co-opted by hollywood , a rebel not without a cause , a money minter .", "whatever the flaws , many from the books , this second grittier , more confident round of hunger games thrills us into submission .", "everything that felt clumsy in the hunger games has been improved upon here .", "none of it would work -- not the action , the adventure , the political subtext or the humor -- without the strength and beauty that ms. lawrence brings to the central role .", "the fans wo n't mind but the film feels overlong , the emotional curve fails to ignite and the ending is anticlimactic . jennifer lawrence is this sequel 's greatest asset", "fret not , hunger games fans . -lrb- hunger-hards ? kat-fancies ? -rrb- to paraphrase the famous mantra , the odds are ever your favor that you 'll be satisfied .", "catching fire is tightly paced with very little filler . no line or character is wasted .", "jennifer lawrence as katniss everdeen , the archer enemy of the dystopian society of panem , shoots so many arrows into your heart that you 'd be stupid not to go cupid all over her sass .", "there are wannabe twilight elements that hold the first act of the film back ... but things improve greatly once the hunger gaming starts .", "this new creative team does n't just repeat the previous film or the book ... they substantially improve upon both .", "this follow-up to the 2012 hit based on suzanne collins ' novel , represents commendable storytelling that ought to please the book 's many fans", "the hunger games : catching fire does everything right that the first film did wrong , streamlining the story , focusing on the characters and raising -- and more important , clarifying -- the stakes .", "catching fire is so much fun and does such a great job mounting the drama of the series ' increasingly engrossing story . the film just makes you want more .", "now the violence is not merely physical , but existential . far from having won her freedom as promised , katniss is now imprisoned in a false public narrative-supporter of the capitol , lover of peeta-from which she may never escape .", "far from being a mere holding pattern , catching fire feels like an advance and an improvement . let the games continue .", "` catching fire ' builds up a head of steam , and at only a few points does it feel like a ridiculous 148 minutes long . and then it just stops .", "in the arena where budding franchises battle to the death , only the hunger games still stands , the young , mangled corpses of non-starters such as the mortal instruments and the host slain at its feet .", "movie escapism made with intelligence , and that does n't come around often enough . as i sensed this movie ending i wished it would n't , and when it did i wanted the next one now . take that , bilbo .", "the double , or even triple , meanings behind catching fire -- the subtitle , as if you did n't know , of the second hunger games movie -- burns through this exciting , thoughtful adventure drama like a torch to tinder .", "the exaggerated world of the hunger games ... would overwhelm most young actors . but lawrence -lrb- convincingly tormented in this film -rrb- has a calm sincerity and steely determinism that cuts through it all .", "sluggish pacing plagues this mid-series installment , but lawrence 's tough performance once again carries the day .", "consider catching fire an example of successful franchise installment delivery , on time and in sturdy condition .", "as an action movie , the hunger games : catching fire is an improvement on the original . but as a social , political and pop culture satire , -lsb- it -rsb- is by definition a mixed bag .", "jennifer lawrence , of course , is the real draw . female role models come and go , and lawrence 's katniss is one of the better ones .", "catching fire is a work of thoughtful , emotionally engaging sci-fi - everything that its predecessor the hunger games was not .", "under the assured direction of francis lawrence -lrb- stepping in for the departing gary ross -rrb- , catching fire does n't just improve upon collins ' book , but the first movie as well .", "catching fire is more energized than the first hunger games movie ; it 's been directed , by francis lawrence , with a darkly sustained verve .", "a deeper , smarter , politically sharper , and more emotionally resonant follow-up .", "while i get more joy watching my wife geek out on these movies than i do viewing them alone , there 's not a lot of overall fault to find here unless you want to get into nerd-level nitpickery", "this movie makes you believe in revolution .", "catching fire burns across the screen with a fierce intent .", "`` catching fire '' confidently charges full-on into the flames and the result is spectacular .", "the jungle scenes were shot in hawaii , so at least they all got a paid vacation .", "like too many franchise installments , catching fire builds to more of an ellipsis than a period , teasing the next chapter instead of providing closure . but is n't that true of the empire strikes back as well ?", "it 's hard to shake the sense of déjŕ vu as the film 's narrative follows the trajectory of the hunger games a little too closely ...", "if there 's any doubt that catching fire belongs to jennifer lawrence , now in full command of this wonderfully wrought , reluctant amazonian warrior , pay particular attention to the film 's final image , a searing portrait of a reborn katniss .", "the ingredients are in place for a potent finale , but `` catching fire '' is watered down .", "what 's surprising is how tasty the franchise still is .", "it 's no surprise that this second instalment feels like filler ; but it does the trick , leading us from the explosive first film to a hopefully momentous last chapter .", "the new `` the empire strikes back , '' a smashing sci-fi sequel that takes its blockbuster franchise into deeper , smarter , more dramatically engaging territory .", "fails to fully develop some intriguing themes ... but still passes the audience engagement test thanks to some exciting action and the strength of lawrence 's heroine", "though the romantic triangle provides the story 's heart , it 's the film 's take on media as social control -lrb- stanley tucci returns as the unctuous tv host -rrb- , sharp sense of action , and smart peformances that give catching fire its soul .", "catching fire is n't just a worthy sequel that die-hard fans can appreciate , with its complexity and commitment to character it 's a superior film and proves why the hunger games is the most compelling franchise going today .", "the latest installment is an unquestionably tense return to the grim setting of the first movie , with a fair share of slickly devised action sequences , that raises the stakes with the prospects of a greater rebellion .", "offers its audience many of the elements that made the hunger games compelling , but adds to that by deepening the themes and emotional currents and traveling to darker destinations .", "in terms of pure story , catching fire is what a sequel should be - a development of themes from the first movie instead of mere repetition .", "while nothing is more dramatic than the change at the core of this film - katniss ' move from survivor to leader - it 's not enough , on its own , to comfortably sustain a two-and-a-half-hour film .", "yes , it 's the middle chapter and feels like it , but it 's never dull .", "an even darker , grittier film than 2012 's `` the hunger games , '' as it builds slowly to its exciting conclusion and deftly sets up the next installment in the series .", "fire maintains such a consistent dystopian vision by other means -- from fine performances to its accomplished production design -- that the stakes of katniss ' increasingly complex journey are evident even when its violence is obscured .", "one of this year 's best and most thought-provoking blockbusters .", "many of the key cast and crew from the smash first installment are back to ensure that this visually thrilling , rapid-fire sequel will match or even surpass the original 's near $ 700 million b.o. take worldwide .", "... a well-crafted and superbly acted sci-fi dystopia that resonates with much of what 's happening in our current age .", "significantly better than the first movie ... leaving you breathlessly waiting for the next chapter .", "-lsb- the actors -rsb- put on their best game face , smooching plenty for the cameras ... and robotically reading cue cards that emphasize the greatness of the totalitarian nation of panem .", "although this installment does n't match the freshness of its predecessor , it offers depth to its characters and themes that supplement its considerable visual flair .", "jennifer lawrence remains the series ' biggest coup . `` catching fire '' asks the actress to add ptsd and romantic stirrings to katniss ' psyche , then cover it with a barely affixed public mask . lawrence steps up .", "the steady action footage alone is enough to make this an improvement over the first installment .", "lawrence exudes a certain combination of feistiness , confidence and beauty that could not be embodied by any other young actress working today . she is clearly the glue that holds this film franchise together .", "bigger , better and broodier than the first film .", "it is heartening to find a teen-oriented movie franchise as gritty as the hunger games . even so , catching fire remains contradictory , caught in some nether world between nightmarish political allegory and adolescent escapism .", "sharp as a flaming arrow and as explosive as when one hits a powderkeg , the hunger games : catching fire is the rousing , thought-provoking action epic the first movie failed to be .", "the games sequences , while familiar from the first film , push the story towards a thrilling cliffhanger climax .", "the movie is a solid example of `` the book on film '' in spirit , and lawrence is brilliant in a performance far beyond blockbuster-level acting .", "by far the film 's greatest asset is jennifer lawrence , who again brings absolute emotional conviction to her haunted and conflicted heroine .", "more -lrb- and better -rrb- hunger games", "lighter on action and futuristic visuals , catching fire is superior to the first film by virtue of notable performances and more compelling storyline . if the quality of the filmmaking continues into mockingjay , i 'll be thrilled to see how it ends .", "as a long-time leftist , i expected something like `` norma rae '' . it was much more harry potter or twilight .", "the screenplay is terrific , with welcome shafts of wit .", "self-knowing , cynical , and urgently melodramatic , the hunger games and the hunger games indict you for watching it even as it asks you to buy in . and that is the genius of every iteration of the games no one can ever win .", "this second in the hunger games trilogy , directed by francis lawrence , has many of the virtues and somewhat fewer defects as its predecessor .", "the good news is that the new edition is a better crafted film than its predecessor .", "exciting and engaging escapist entertainment , a spectacular sequel that should satisfy fans of the book as well as the 2012 blockbuster .", "it 's possible -lsb- the film -rsb- represents a new form of post-content cinema , wherein the compression of so many plot holes into a single narrative creates the illusion of coherence ... watching -lsb- it is -rsb- akin to having an orbital sander pressed against your brain .", "katniss is a sponge . she sucks up the hopes and dreams of everyone around her . if they made a live action version of me playing cod , it 'd be called camp or hunger games .", "given the strength of this installment , i 'd say the box-office odds continue to be , in that hunger games catchphrase , `` ever in its favor . ''", "the hunger games : catching fire , anchored by star lawrence 's charmless performance , ultimately comes off as a misguided and hopelessly bloated -lrb- two and a half hours ! -rrb- blockbuster ...", "the one truly fresh invention-and the one that matters most-is katniss herself . with each on-screen chapter , the poor girl from district 12 continues to fulfill her destiny as an inspiration and a rebel fighter .", "has far more on its mind than ornate costumes and cgi effects , and this is what finally lifts the movie above its more mundane trappings .", "catching fire picks up all the potential of its predecessor and runs it in for a triumphant touchdown ." ]
straining under a thin plot stretched to its limit by a bloated running time , MOV adds an unfortunate coda to the long-running hbo series .	sex_and_the_city_2	770805765	[ "superficial , forgettable , meaningless . it 's simply bad storytelling , and by the end quite offensive .", "the main goal is to transport its target audience to the decidedly less mundane world of carrie and friends , and in that sense , the movie is more than successful .", "if only it were two and a half hours of liza doing beyonce numbers . now that would be a truly fabulous two and a half hours well spent .", "a 2 1/2 hour test of patience featuring four embarrassingly-entitled ugly americans agonizing over trivia and assorted soap opera drama that is , quite frankly , so patently superficial , you almost wish they 'd be cursed with some real problems", "this second cinematic bite of the apple far exceeds expectations and is a significant improvement over the 2008 movie . every outfit worn by these endearing ladies is ...", "just a string of excuses to get the girls back together to chit-chat over coffee and cosmos , all the while making crass and often tired sexual puns .", "it 's a never-ending sequel .", "a flagrant insult to the audience that made the first film a phenomenon . shame on the writers of this soulless drivel for trying to pass this canal street bootleg sow 's ear off as a genuine alexander mcqueen silk purse .", "the last gasp of a franchise that has definitively lost touch with its roots .", "despite the venemous satc backlash , and despite the extreme vapidity on display , it 's a reasonably fun romp that fans of the series will certainly enjoy .", "if cartoons of mohammed have incited jihad , `` MOV '' may add nukes to the equation .", "there 's so much glossy sheen to the work that it 's easy to forgive the contrived `` issues '' that must be faced for character growth .", "this one is for the fans , not the critics . paul chambers , cnn .", "abysmal ... a chick-flick ` ishtar . '", "will the film appeal to the franchise 's core fan base ? yeah , i suppose . to the rest of the world , this is one of the most aggressively unlikable films to hit screens in quite some time . -lrb- parental review also included -rrb-", "sarah jessica parker is now 45 years old , and , frankly , i can not stomach another moment of the simpering , mincing , hair-tossing , eyelash-batting little-girl shtick she 's been pulling ever since she emerged ...", "if you 're already sick of the hype and wondering whether a second sex and the city movie was really necessary , here 's a surprising answer : yes , in fact , it was .", "suggesting some kind of quasi-feminist manhattan-boosterism has always made the sex and the city series phony , as well as loathsome .", "what started out as a high flying confection , perched steadily on stiletto sharp heels , has deflated into a sad , puffy mess .", "two camels substitute for fonzie 's shark in this franchise-ending sequel", "an echo of the series ' glory , but that wo n't stop the fans . costumes and one-liners take precedence over female bonding .", "writer/director michael patrick king seems intent on turning carrie into the most irritatingly selfish , shallow , materialistic character ever to hit any screen .", "a cliched mess , this comedy lacks the carefree humor of its superior predecessor .", "this is the kind of movie that its participants refer to in small , dismissive groans at reunion parties .", "it 's a fairy-tale about fashion , jewelry , gowns , maybach automobiles , private jets , rolex watches , style , sophistication , and glamor , and i could n't wait for it to end .", "-lsb- michael -rsb- king has done well to maintain the wry comedy sex and the city is so well known for , especially considering the over-stretched 146-minute running time .", "it 's a toss up which is a worse fate : replacing original creators with hired hands who approach the series mechanically ; or letting the originators continue until it becomes apparent they 've run out of steam . MOV picks the latter .", "this franchise is now officially at war with itself . in order to maintain audience demand for a high level of vicariously thrilling wealth .", "dobra vijest za gledatelje je da seks i grad 2 nije loiji od prethodnog filma ; loa vijest je da nije nimalo bolji", "MOV is the female equivalent of transformers ; a big , dumb blockbuster that does n't require you to think very hard , if at all ... i mourn the death of four memorable television characters that used to mean something to so many .", "the film is most likeable when it remembers that it is meant to be more than an exercise in middle-aged , middle-class smugness and self-absorption . its principal strength remains its celebration of female friendship .", "shopping , sex , and stereotypes merge in trite sequel .", "the most insulting and dangerous film for women since pretty woman . but with less charm .", "like one of those cosmopolitan cocktails , it 's guaranteed to leave women everywhere with a warm , fuzzy glow . for men , it 's like all your hangovers came along at once .", "it goes from being what we know and love to ... what were they thinking ?", "fear not ladies , forget any damning reviews you may have read - this is a must for anyone who loves the manolo-wearing fashionistas , the hugely popular tv series and the 2008 hit film .", "let me tell you darlings , it 's heartbreaking . even more so than when mr. big got cold feet in the first flick .", "for the first hour or so it works . unfortunately , the film is two and a half hours long .", "to the list of insults , real and imaginary , committed by the great satan against the arab world , add ` MOV , ' in which carrie bradshaw and friends bring their name-brand materialism , exhibitionist licentiousness and western bunk to abu dhabi .", "in the end it 's the fun movie it 's supposed to be . raise your cosmos in a modest toast .", "it 's actually hard to describe just how bad MOV really is .", "the franchise will eventually , like all things , come to an end ... MOV is one step closer to that inevitability , so there is hope in it .", "this may be this first time since `` lucky lady '' that i walked away from a film thinking that it needed more liza .", "when marie antoinette did this , the people tore down the f ` ing bastille . when our `` sex and the city '' girls do it , they slurp it up like box rosé and häagen-dazs .", "amounts to little more than a two-and-a-half-hour plotless fashion show .", "this is a sequel that does n't come close to justifying its existence .", "MOV is a champagne cocktail on a runaway train -- fizzy , sparkly , giddy-making , and splashing all over the place .", "it 's a marathon of shopping , eating , oooh-ing , and gasping . or , for the viewers , retching and dozing .", "when carrie asks big , `` am i just a bitch wife who nags you ? '' i could hear all the straight men in the theater -- all four of us -- being physically prevented from responding .", "for a franchise that was supposed to be adventurous about sex , this film is about as cutting-edge as the love boat . but if you 're a fan , you 'll get your money 's worth .", "future bolsheviks will use MOV as a recruiting film .", "there 's nothing wrong with it that could n't be fixed by shaving 45 minutes off the running time and replacing carrie bradshaw with a character who is n't spoiled and unlikable .", "not that sex and the city has ever been lauded for its subtlety and grace , but this really is the closest to a carry on film that the franchise has come so far .", "everyone 's phoning it in for the first two hours . and let me point out something that i 've just said there : ` the first . two . hours . '", "both new york and whatever moroccan city stands in for abu dhabi are shot with such care that the whole thing might as well have been done in somebody 's backyard .", "it reminds me of another sequel , `` arthur 2 : on the rocks '' % u2026a terrible waste of liza minnelli .", "i 'm still not sure if writer-director michael patrick king intended for his audience to laugh at or with his fab foursome as they refresh the stereotype of the `` ugly american '' abroad ...", "it 's an almost avant-garde adventure in aimlessness .", "an enervated , crass and gruesomely caricatured trip to nowhere -lsb- that -rsb- seems conceived primarily to find new and more cynical ways to abuse the loyalty of its audience .", "at this point it 's virtually impossible to escape the cruel irony that sex and the city , the show , ended when it did so that it would n't become what this movie is .", "it 's worse than sex and the city 1 , and that alone is a remarkable achievement .", "this film sequel based on the long-running hbo series douses whatever sparkle remains of these beloved characters and their adventures in the big city .", "this feels bigger and more cinematic than the first film , and sees a progression in the lives of the characters . but many of the jokes are beyond broad , and the middle eastern stereotypes are shockingly cack-handed .", "vapid , overlong , painfully unfunny , preposterous and , worst of all , boring . it 's so bad that it 's gone past good and back to bad again .", "the ugly smell of unexamined privilege hangs over this film like the smoke from cheap incense .", "the creator has not absorbed any lesson of his first film 's weaknesses : the zeitgeist has changed considerably since the 1990s , not to mention the fact that the four women are simply too old for such silly escapades .", "like a plastic surgeon , storyteller king keeps trying to find new ways to lift and tighten his characters , but they have become garish caricatures of themselves .", "each in different stages of their well preserved-and well heeled-lives , the `` fab four 's '' dramadies continue for the audiences who love them . trouble is the surrounding story and its supposedly fun sojourns are as embarrassing as granny panties .", "badly misjudged , poorly plotted sequel that will disappoint even die-hard fans of the show , thanks to a hideously offensive second half that destroys any remaining goodwill towards the rest of the film .", "even in the context of that lumpy , overpriced birkin bag of stuff we call hollywood product , MOV hits a new low of idiocy and crassness .", "it 's not often a horror film reaches into the depths of my soul , grabs my heart and shatters it into a billion terrified pieces .", "an atrocious motion picture ... makes the adventures of priscilla , queen of the desert look like the remains of the day .", "had the filmmakers created an all-out sex farce porno centered on kim cattrall 's cougar-in-heat samantha jones , then at least the genre would fit the material 's instant gratification intentions .", "continues to be little more than the female equivalent to porn , a fashionable but unrealistic fairy tale with very little actual meat , but this time , it feels more like a cash grab .", "michael patrick king 's fascist , superficial assessment of the sex and the city girls ' intelligence insults them as the women we came to know them as on television , and no doubt has susan sontag turning in her grave .", "the most depressing thing about MOV is that it seems to justify every nasty thing said and written about the series and first feature film .", "a bloated , wearyingly unsubtle , dramatically inert valentine to conspicuous consumption . the movie 's overly demonstrative acting style -- embodied in varying degrees by all four leads -- seems pitched at small children .", "in a coma on life-support . not sexy , no story , ugly clothes , the women look horribly aged but max ryan is sex in the desert . insults a muslim culture .", "samantha does everything but draw a picture of the prophet muhammad on a pair of crotchless panties .", "the spectacle of four supposedly high-achieving , professional nyc sophisticates `` ooohing '' and `` aahing '' at a tacky gilt and red-brick fantasy middle east escaped from a disney rejects storehouse is beyond risible .", "with satc2 we were supposed to get a peek at what 's next . instead we got a fanciful vacation and a lame and fluffy version of female power .", "... a crummy little vehicle without dignity and too cramped for its fancy clothes .", "it might be time for carrie & company to hang up the manoloblahniks .", "strictly for the hardcore fans , `` MOV '' may not be in vogue for long .", "full review at movies for the masses", "ignorant , culturally insensitive and unfunny , this is simply the equivalent of a wiggles concert for the `` i love shoes '' set .", "girls , let 's have another cosmpolitan and remember the past fondly . but make way for chelsea -lsb- handler -rsb- . she drinks vodka neat . she 's a real woman .", "unlike the first film , this is self-involved , silly and whiny ... and so are the characters .", "the moment of dread . it comes for all beloved series , and in MOV , it arrives with embarrassing suddenness .", "so , should you see it ? if you 're a satc devotee , does it matter what this review says ? it should n't .", "but amid the luxury of abu dhabi , the new yorkers soon butt up against tradition , and their outrageous antics are no longer funny and harmless but offensive and dangerous .", "at two and a half hours , sex 2 -- like its predecessor -- is a long sit in the shallows , the equivalent of five half-hour episodes strung together .", "it has no plot to speak of , little in the way of wit or intelligence , and is about 50 % longer than can reasonably be justified .", "remember the old , boundary-breaking , taboo-toppling sex and the city ? forget it . neither sex nor the city plays any role in this film .", "the bottom line is this : `` MOV '' has everything its fans crave : their four favorite girlfriends , complete with stylish couture , hilarious hi-jinx and middle-aged angst .", "now , if only one of my girlfriends would meet a shiekh and have us flown first class to abu dhabi .", "a degrading portrait of women through an unfunny story about four ugly americans abroad .", "in the entire running time there 's exactly one scene that 's funny and honest and not filled with heavy-handed sex jokes , celebrity cameos or fashion statements .", "a miscalculation of feminine power so extreme that our country 's threat level should immediately be raised .", "overly long , superficial and shallow . their closets have been updated but not their sensitivity .", "a ghastly mess , and a stake in the heart of the great tv series .", "very limited shots of new york city , destroying a beloved character , and the girls have all matured and are no longer what sex and the city was and has been about .", "it is not the fashion or the romance we tune in to see but the bond between the women who acknowledge that they are each other 's soul mates", "the tagline states that we should ` carrie on . ' the publicity dept. almost got it right , but the spelling 's off . it needs to be ` carrion ' because nothing says putrefying , rotten and vile quite like this sequel .", "MOV delivers clunky jokes , unengaging plot twists and characterizations and , worst of all , it 's ugly to look at .", "MOV gives the fans what they want : more of everything . haters will continue to hate it , but it 's not for them anyway .", "glamour porn with fashion that looks like lady gaga at a wal-mart shopping spree and a plot that at times is cinematic roadkill . nonetheless , these are still likable and entertaining characters . the movie did its job and because of that , i enjoyed it .", "disposable , glitzy fun lacking depth or staying power , MOV is the cinematic version of karaoke : a giddy , silly hoot best enjoyed in tipsy groups .", "it 's slower and more of an eye-roller than the first film , but also a lot more about the women .", "the only thing memorable about MOV is the number two part , which describes it totally , if you get my drift .", "in this second screen incarnation of the fabulous hbo series , the satire is sagging , the irony 's atrophied and the funny is flabby .", "rights most of the wrongs of its predecessor , reclaiming all of the intelligence , humanity and humor audiences received when the series was airing . most important , spending time with carrie & co. is once again a blast . the real them had been missed .", "some of these people make my skin crawl . the characters of MOV are flyweight bubbleheads living in a world which rarely requires three sentences in a row .", "one wrongheaded jaw-dropper follows another , from samantha 's description of a gay manservant as `` paula abdul '' to a comic climax in which the ladies escape an angry male mob by wearing hijabs and abayas given to them by like-minded muslim women .", "honestly , by the time they ride camels , it 's ishtar in designer gowns .", "here 's another measure of how drastically the recession has affected american culture : sex and the city is n't fun anymore .", "there 's a beating human heart at the origin of the sex and the city behemoth , but this unwelcome , undignified sequel does everything it can to bury it .", "if sex and the city was star wars for girls , then MOV is the empire strikes back . the ladies of sex and the city still are sexy , sassy and living large .", "a new nadir . it 's a movie that ignores just about every one of the show 's good aspects and plays up everything bad - all while lasting an unforgivably long 146 minutes .", "michael patrick king throws carrie bradshaw & co. under the intellectual bus , making them do monumentally stupid things to satisfy the plot 's demands .", "sarah jessica parker is now 45 years old , and , frankly , i can not stomach another moment of the simpering , mincing , hair-tossing , eyelash-batting little-girl shtick she 's been pulling ever since l.a. story .", "as for sarah , looking like what the cat dragged in and then spit out , she 's forgotten how to act . whenever she 's on screen , an immediate lack of energy is apparent . it 's as if the screen 's a black hole sucking up life like a bounty towel on baby drool .", "`` memaws on mid-life support . '' to see this movie again , you 'd have to grab me by the barneys and push me hard through the dior .", "the film 's tone-deaf cultural awareness extends to a boozy karaoke rendition of `` i am woman '' which is equal parts naďve/patronising .", "when the best scenes in a movie feature liza minnelli singing `` single ladies '' and the foursome singing `` i am woman , '' you know the concept has lost its sparkle .", "i realize that gaudy fantasy is essential to this franchise , but why does the fantasy have to be so stunted ?", "best to quit now while there are still a few bubbles left in the champagne .", "sex and the city has turned into a bloated juggernaut of pointlessness . its female characters are now beyond unbearable , none more so than carrie .", "there 's a half-hour of good stuff to be had in this big-screen sequel ... unfortunately , it 's preceded by nearly two hours of listless filler .", "carrie is presented as some kind of empowering female image . that 's scary because she 's really more of an old school stereotype as she chases romantic clichés while pretending to write her own rules .", "i lost count of the number of times the filmmakers dropped the word `` sparkle '' into the script ; no doubt they thought they were going for gold , but they 've created a load of ratners .", "the movie completely unravels into a pastiche of wish-fulfillment , slapstick , and ham-handed social commentary .", "thanks to writer-director michael patrick king , i now have a fair idea how it might feel to be stoned to death with scented candles .", "earth hath not anything to show more fatuous than this sequel to an already otiose movie of the hit television series .", "runs approximately the same length as the first film -- that is to say , an excessive 150 minutes -- yet it ca n't seem to find time for any genuine emotion or a compelling storyline", "this is the new torture porn .", "king ca n't keep a straight face for long enough to make it work , sabotaging his own characters for the sake of a shallow karaoke number . do n't sing along .", "with writer/director michael patrick king and the whole gang back , ` MOV ' is as dry as the country they leave the city for .", "if you are contemplating watching the film , you 'd be better off with a night in and the box set . cosmopolitans optional .", "once again , michael patrick king packs four movies into two and a half hours , and yet there 's not quite enough substance for one film . there plenty of snappy one-liners and silly situations , but it will severely test the patience of any non-fan .", "sex 2 : narcissism run rampant .", "it 's all talk and no action .", "it takes everything that was bad about the first sex and the city movie , and nothing that was good about the sex and the city tv series , and mixes it together with a bit of racism to create something even worse .", "these girls are so hung up on looking great they 've forgotten there are several ways to be ugly .", "so long as you 're happy to suspend your sense of reality and turn a blind eye to the lack of depth in the story , you 'll still find some enjoyment with our favourite fab four .", "there 's only one thing worse than faking an orgasm : faking laughter . shame on you , MOV , for being a 2.5-hour laughless fake-a-thon that never finds the right spot .", "while i think it 's cute that people get all dressed up and have little parties going to this movie , the actual film is a hellish , embarrassing abomination .", "whenever the light is just right and the angle is just plain wrong , each star gets an unflattering close-up that leaves them looking like drag-queen stand-ins .", "on behalf of all sane and sensitive americans , let me be one of the first to apologize to the middle east and the arab world for MOV .", "twelve years , one beloved hbo series , and two feature films on , the sex and the city gals have been reduced to bratz dolls for grown women .", "i loved MOV , enjoying every single campy , over-the-top moment . it 's a crime that we have to wait possibly another two long years for the next installment to possibly come out . what 's up with that ?", "it 's supposed to be sex and the city . this is sects and the souk .", "MOV has very little sex , and not a lot of city . bad move .", "the stakes are so low that , during the girls ' final madcap sprint through an outdoor market disguised in burqas , the unspeakable outcome they 're trying to forestall is the possibility of having to fly home in coach .", "early in MOV , i started a list of things that could easily be cut because they go nowhere . it 's a long list .", "thank jimmy choo for feminism ! am i right , ladies ? i mean , not the nasty hairy feminism that 's all about equal pay and publicly subsidized day care and all that nonsense ...", "though the 2 in the title implies a double shot of everything fans loved about the series , there is less .", "although the movie repeatedly gives glossed lip service to feminism , it actually gives detractors who said the series perpetrated shallow female stereotypes a huge , glittery , indefensible target .", "the girls are older but not much wiser making this a movie only their devoted fans will enjoy .", "fans and fashionistas will sit back and savour MOV . everyone else will probably conclude you can have too much of a good thing .", "any emotional intelligence or investment made in the television series is crushed into dust under a signature louboutin sole , and then cast into the ` arabian ' desert along with any shred of the actresses ' dignity .", "it may be easy to dismiss it as a merely superficial experience : it 's all about the clothes , the shoes , the designer life , and of course that 's part of it . but it 's also about the lives of these women that we 've shared for twelve years now .", "a movie that does nothing but push its target audience 's pleasure buttons is destined to be an abomination , a camp classic or both .", "where the middle east is rendered with all the insight and sensitivity of a hope and crosby", "shoes , money , outfits , shoes , vagina , money , shoes , jewelry , outfits , money , shoes .", "acutely aware of the gfc , writer/director michael patrick king looks to depression-era hollywood for guidance .", "lock them all up and throw away the key is what i say .", "there 's still enough of the sex and the city magic for those who fell in love with the show more than a decade ago . nothing is as smart as it was ; it 's not as edgy , it 's not as cute , it 's sagged a bit . but then , have n't we all ?", "an insult to the memory of the cleverly written show and its celebration of friendship , it 's a slap in the face for the four gal pals -lrb- often photographed at unflattering angles -rrb- and an affront to muslims .", "the first satc film was such a downbeat snooze that one assumed it could n't get worse . but it can - and it does .", "women , this is n't empowerment ; it 's like watching us weekly prank call the new york times .", "bad puns , fashion porn , domestic handwringing , contrived plot points , idiotic dialogue and offensive stereotypes . what 's not to loathe ?", "as tasteless as an arabian cathouse , as worn-out as your 1998 flip-flops and as hideous as the mom jeans carrie wears with a belly-baring gingham top , MOV is two of the worst movies of the year .", "i enjoyed these characters more when they were rich , rather than obscenely rich , when their self-involvement and life crises had one foot on planet earth -- and when they were n't all gussied up like mae west in sextette .", "there are heisty hijinks involving lost passports and spice bags and menopause drugs and `` inter-friend-tions , '' but they all just blow pointlessly around in the desert dust .", "even director michael patrick king , known for his sense of excess , seems to recognize that we 've been down this road before , and we know where it ends .", "though the sequel is a welcome return of the four women we know and love , it 's tough not to acknowledge that if we were all friends in real life , at this point we 'd probably stop taking their calls .", "king and his cast seem content to put everything on autopilot and hope glamour and shopping sprees will be enough to carry them . nothing much happens -- and it takes 2.5 hours for it not to happen in .", "the nasty critic assault is a ` veiled ' attack on sexual empowerment of older women . and makes it seem that females are pariahs more here than the mideast . if only these ` make war not love ' critics were as outspokenly outraged against the us military there", "these characters had a great run , but based on this sorry sequel , there 's nothing interesting left to do with them .", "a perfectly pleasant way to spend a couple of hours . the vitriol directed against this movie mostly has to do with the ageism and sexism of the reviewers rather than its merits .", "same old silliness , only worse .", "all four women step up onto a karaoke stage in abu dhabi and give a rousing rendition of `` i am woman '' surrounded by a bevy of belly dancers . there is just so much wrong with that image that it 's hard to know where to start . but then again , why bother ?", "it 's like a magic carpet ride for barbie dolls in which designer fashion and life 's frustrations play on a bed of friendship . it ends up with little sex or city , falling short of its promise .", "this is by far the lamest grumpy old men sequel yet .", "parents , lock up your fanboys ! ... admittedly , annoying these computer trolls sounds like reason enough to give MOV a hearty recommendation , but the truth of the matter is that this follow-up to the 2008 smash does n't quite measure up .", "i am a man . i am straight . i really liked the tv show . i am tired of this shtick . and no samantha , i did n't just say dick .", "it 's an obscenity , hopefully a death knell for a franchise that should go gracefully into that good night .", "MOV is even worse than its predecessor -- a shallow cash grab that suffers from a bloated runtime and lack of story .", "it 's self-indulgent , way too long and never as clever or funny as it 's intended to be .", "perhaps it 's time to call it a day .", "the film might have triumphed as a musical : camp , virtually plotless , and liberally sequined . but sadly this sequel is not sex and the city -- it is menopause in the desert , and a waste of four great characters .", "as carrie might type on her laptop while giving one of her girly little shrugs , when did sex and the city become so long and mean so little ?", "the gossamer-thin plot is more flimsy than some of the characters ' dresses and at 146 minutes , the sequel overstays its welcome by the best part of an hour .", "the sequel is too long and is missing that sparkle and surprise factor which made the series and first film so enjoyable . even samantha 's character felt forced and overdone .", "... a moving , surprisingly traditional ` women 's picture ' in ridiculous , overpriced clothing .", "filled with lame niqab jokes that could have been lifted out of ishtar , or a bad episode of family guy .", "that charlotte would then deny her jewish husband 's name because she wants to enjoy the proffered ultra-deluxe freebie , explaining , `` this is the middle east , '' is arguably despicable ." ]
steven soderbergh 's intelligently crafted adaptation of the elmore leonard novel is witty , sexy , suprisingly entertaining , and a star-making turn for george clooney .	1083436-1083436-out_of_sight	13912	[ "as coy and unsettling in its violence as in its sex -- the carnage is abrupt , ugly , and very funny -- out of sight keeps facile formula out of mind .", "out of sight is n't just a rousing piece of entertainment , it 's also a cinematic salvage operation .", "out of sight is a good-looking , inventively filmed movie . it also teems with terrific supporting performances .", "out of sight may go down in the annals of film as the movie in which george clooney learned to keep his head still -- and became a leading man .", "clooney and lopez are so laid back , they anesthetize the proceedings .", "this great cast , soderbergh 's dynamic direction and leonard 's signature style make this one raw , fun and smart caper .", "director steven soderbergh gleefully lobs curves right up to the end of this sly , sleek crime thriller .", "sexy , funny crime-thriller has it all .", "with out of sight , steven soderbergh returns to cracking form with a sharp , funny , classy movie that leaves a wry grin on your face long after the credits roll .", "this zany screen adaptation of elmore leonard 's novel perfectly catches its funky portrait of idiosyncratic characters dealing with the craziness of human desire .", "out of sight is slick in all the right ways .", "clooney is the most impressive he 's been on film . jack foley feels real , not like some hollywood improvisation . foley is charming , handsome , graceful , cultured , energetic and disciplined . he just ca n't stop committing crimes .", "soderbergh understands the flaky , funny spirit of leonard 's characters and he gets his cast to express it .", "the movie is wonderfully cast -- it has the strongest bench of any movie this year , with albert brooks and don cheadle in key supporting roles .", "in playing a career criminal who ca n't get a break , clooney has finally found a movie role that adroitly showcases his smoldering good looks and smart-aleck demeanor .", "across landscapes from sunny south florida to snowy detroit , george clooney and jennifer lopez deliver a sizzling , palpable heat in out of sight .", "by turns bleak , funny , touching , sexy and poignant , with bursts of violence that rise like sudden geysers from a still pool , out of sight is chock-full of dead-on performances .", "its effortless cool and flawless ensemble make it the best translation of an elmore leonard book yet .", "the characters all seem to have known each other for years , referring to long-held grudges and resentments that only gradually are revealed to the audience . they 're a seedy , petty , dangerous and delightful bunch .", "after many mishaps , the art of bringing elmore leonard 's novels to the screen is coming to fruition . this latest adaptation , by director steven soderbergh and screenwriter scott frank , gets it just about right .", "great crime picture , with interesting performances , unique style and an intertwining , captivating plot .", "one of the more self-assuredly casual hollywood films to come around in quite awhile .", "it 's amazing that a film based on one of his novels has realized how to appropriately connect two characters emotionally with their audience .", "it does not push the outside of the envelope , but it gets its job done .", "for george clooney and jennifer lopez , out of sight stands as their best work .", "while out of sight boasts a terrific cast , the spotlight rarely moves far from george clooney and jennifer lopez , who deliver knockout performances .", "loads of fun .", "it is one of the first films to build successfully upon pulp fiction 's legacy .", "this is pure pulp pleasure , the cinematic equivalent of great beach reading ... and what better way is there to describe the work of elmore leonard ?", "with a savory score by cliff martinez complementing its every move , ` sight ' serves up a cornucopia of great moments , lines and performances .", "there 's a heist , a jail break , and a flawless melding of comedy and drama and steven soderbergh ties it together like a master .", "clooney and lopez sizzle in gun-happy heist flick .", "-lsb- a -rsb- now-classic romantic comedy -- with plenty of action and suspense .", "there is n't a character in the large , excellent cast that does n't emerge with depth and precision .", "much of the action seems more like warmed-over quentin tarantino than first-rate steven soderbergh .", "a darkly amusing and sly romantic comedy about an accident-prone bank robber -lrb- george clooney -rrb- who falls in love with the sexy federal marshal -lrb- jennifer lopez -rrb- on his tail .", "easily the best film i 've seen in 1998 .", "out of sight works both as a great romance and a great , unconventional crime thriller . but step back from such distinctions , and it just looks like a great movie .", "george clooney and jennifer lopez sizzle in this sexy , sly and snappy crime caper from director steven soderbergh , that neatly combines its 1970s heist-picture roots with sparkling romantic comedy .", "out of sight may be the first movie that has truly gotten an elmore leonard novel on screen , in all its hangdog wit and fractured-jigsaw form .", "clooney and lopez work well together ...", "some reviewers have applauded out of sight for its nuances of character , but i and others do n't see any characters at all .", "it 's refreshing to find a picture like out of sight , which is not only smart , but a great deal of fun , as well .", "soderbergh takes real delight in giving his stars the star treatment .", "soderbergh plays it a little too cool , not allowing the story 's ironic and comedic rim shots to resonate .", "like get shorty , out of sight has been adapted with deftness and fidelity by scott frank , who knows exactly how to translate leonard 's narrative voice to the screen .", "out of sight is nothing less than pure dynamite !", "-lsb- it -rsb- forced me to revise upward slightly my middling opinion of george clooney . pair him with jennifer lopez again , and i 'll be real happy .", "all the fancy footwork serves to bog down the movie .", "steven soderbergh 's best film since sex , lies and videotape a decade ago .", "a pleasurable and genial jewel-heist tale that itself is just shy of being a real gem .", "george clooney has finally made a good movie .", "this one came out of left field and knocked my socks off .", "the film owes a lot of its style to those produced by quentin tarantino , focusing heavily on characterization and quirky cinematography and not just pounding out a linear storyline .", "... entertaining enough while you 're watching it , but instantly forgettable .", "it 's amusing , entertaining and intriguing , even though the second half is shaky , as the film makes a seemingly uncomfortable transition into more serious material .", "out of sight is best at electric scenes between its romantic leads . clooney and lopez have the kind of chemistry that classics are made of .", "a surprisingly good film that wo n't stay out of viewers ' minds .", "it 's best to think of this as a pulp fiction-lite clone , but a darn good clone .", "soderbergh and his longtime cinematographer elliot davis have given us an action film that looks as sleek and moody as krzysztof kieslowski 's red .", "this movie is so much better than most of the junk 1998 vomited upon us , that it 's hard to believe it was puked out of the same year .", "unlike tarantino 's plodding jackie brown , this blackly comic and sexy thriller does its source material , yet another elmore leonard novel , justice .", "from the deadpan line delivery of stars george clooney and jennifer lopez to the funky electric piano and wah-wah guitar on the soundtrack , this adaptation of elmore leonard 's 1996 crime novel stays hip and never breaks a sweat .", "soderbergh knows how to take the everyday crime thriller and make it sing .", "the impossibly glamorous and charismatic pair of clooney and lopez absolutely sizzle from their first moment together .", "has a cornucopia of corny characters .", "it 's gritty enough to stay true to the source material 's comedy-of-despair ethos , yet solid enough to pack a punch , and in doing so it makes for one of the better heist movies in some time .", "faintly melancholy and alluringly fatalistic , this mercurial romance passing as a crime thriller is slyly entertaining and darkly sexy .", "out of sight is another fine mess elmore leonard has got us into .", "soderbergh finds the perfect equilibrium between mainstream entertainment and arty panache , lacing this heist movie/romantic comedy with character-motivated time shifting , prominent freeze-frames , a funky soundtrack and an all-around hip vibe .", "george clooney 's transition from telly to movie star was confirmed by this sparky adaptation of an elmore leonard novel .", "from the first shot to the last , mr. clooney is in complete command of the screen in the assured manner of the biggest stars in the past , and he does n't need a ton of special effects and digital enhancement to generate excitement .", "steven soderbergh 's most ambitious and most accomplished work to date .", "a splendid reminder of just how assured , intelligent and involving soderbergh 's movies can be .", "an outstanding crime film from director steven soderbergh and screenwriter scott frank , who adapted elmore leonard 's novel .", "intelligent and intriguing .", "un divertissement aussi cool et intelligent qu'un ocean 's eleven qui s ` affiche sous un enrobage esthtique aussi solidement labor que celui de l'excellent the limey .", "with smart dialogue , good characters , and an excellent cast , out of sight easily smoothes over the rough spots in the plot and delivers on both the action and romantic fronts .", "solidly directed by soderbergh , with strong performances for the two principals as well as nice supporting turns from ving rhames , don cheadle and steve zahn .", "it 's all the little asides , the little throwaways , the unexpected small things that make this a delightful encounter .", "complementing films from bonnie and clyde to pulp fiction , out of sight delivers original material in a stylish manner .", "represents a piece of great moviemaking from a pulpish story that could have easily been obnoxious or unbelievable or both .", "as always with the best of leonard , it 's the journey , not the destination , that counts , and director soderbergh has let it unfold with dry wit and great skill .", "another of those stunningly well-written movies based on books by the very productive elmore leonard .", "george clooney takes the gruff , devil-may-care attitude of a humphrey bogart and blends it with the sexy charm of a cary grant to make out of sight the tv star 's most successful big-screen venture to date .", "in a summer filled with mega-hyped disappointments , out of sight proves the undeniable value of story , characterization , and -- most of all -- intelligence .", "all in all , this movie is a step or two above average . the writing , chemistry , editing , and momentum probably made up for any deficiencies ." ]
MOV is n't an easy watch , but its soaring ambition and powerful acting -- human and canine alike -- make it well worth the effort .	white_god	771380388	[ "the filmmaker was wise choosing a species known for its capacity for unconditional love to make his point , its perversion all the more emotionally wrenching .", "what holds kornél mundruczó 's scrappy film all together is its fierce and forceful political metaphor : society 's underdogs - be it ethnic minorities , the poor , the disenfranchised - if pushed too far , will bite back -lrb- in this case literally -rrb- .", "by turns dickensian , marxist and dystopian , it 's a movie as deliriously unclassifiable as it is expertly focused in its desire to provoke and entertain .", "unfortunately , whatever satisfaction you may derive from seeing assorted nasty human beings get what 's coming to them for betraying the trust of man 's best friend is watered down by vague social and political allegory .", "the whole production speaks well for the power of film ; it 's a serious stunner .", "intriguing , but the movie 's larger statement is n't clear .", "rarely does a film 's execution achieve or even exceed its director 's ambitions , but hungarian director kornel mundruczo 's `` MOV '' is that rare movie .", "the film is no more than wildly inventive , engaging , exciting and memorable , with faultless performances by all the humans , and by luke , bodie and a jack russell terrier mix named marlene . i can live with the disappointment .", "mundruczó 's camera is itchy , moving , darting , as if sniffing , a `` shaggy dog '' approach , little nudges and sneaks ever so closer in scenes where the dogs move closer to war with mankind .", "MOV is a feat of practical filmmaking ...", "beautifully shot and with an amazing breakthrough performance by zsófia psotta . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "sometimes the plot can be unrealistic and even ridiculous , but the movie works due to it 's excelent direction . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a re-education about the butality of life in a post-socialist hungary . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the movie 's sensibilities thowards animal violence transform into visual poetry . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "cinema in it 's purest form . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "in MOV , a dog named hagen is our protagonist , but he could easily represent any minority in the world . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a hard and original analisis of society , it paralels with a lot of what 's going on today in the world . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "even if it 's hard to watch , this is a smart social metaphor , perfectly directed and performes . the dogs are great ! -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "more than the political metaphor we see on screen , the movie 's best parts are seeing 300 dogs on screen running through the streets of budapest . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "kornél mundruczó shows great ability to create atmosphere , generate emotion and get heartwarming performances from those who you 'd least expect ... -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "hungarian director kornél mundruczó downplays MOV as a `` genre experiment , '' but his film has real bite regardless .", "somewhere between the future shock allegories of the '70s and their tv spin-offs circa the abc movie of the week lies MOV .", "imagine an `` r '' rated lassie by way of spartacus . that 's kornél mundruczó 's MOV , a brutal but stirring fantasy about street dogs rising up against cruel and indifferent humans .", "a b revenge movie with a-plus direction by kornél mundruczó and a cast of canines so personable that even when they tear out people 's throats you still want to take them home .", "a rousing creature-feature thriller and political allegory , from hungarian director kornel mundrucz .", "the hand that feeds - and also brutalizes - is righteously bitten in `` MOV , '' a hungarian revenge fantasy that 's like nothing you 've seen on screen before .", "milo and otis by way of the birds by way of i spit on your grave .", "this is fascinating to watch on a purely elemental level , as mundruczó employs creative smoke-and-mirrors to make once cute dogs seem like menacing terrors .", "suffers at times from a scattershot tone ... -lrb- but -rrb- its marauding former pets and unresolved ending reminded me most of hitchcock 's `` the birds . '' that 's certainly not a bad film to aspire to while crafting a needed cautionary tale .", "... there is much to admire in this near exceptional film , and i guarantee you will be fully invested in the two leads .", "`` MOV '' is n't the first film to suggest that humanity 's cruel treatment of others will one day come back to haunt us . but it certainly makes its point with potent force .", "imagine a gritty version of the ` simpsons ' episode where santa 's little helper runs away and becomes a scary fighting mutt - shorn of the laddie subplot , alas .", "director kornél mundruczó goes big with allegory , violence , drama and sentiment , and the results are riveting .", "... could all just be an ineptly handled gag , like the agit-prop euro-benji film it occasionally resembles .", "i want to hug all the dogs in MOV , as well as thank them for their performances in this intense and moving drama .", "it 's ruthless but sentimental , gritty but fanciful , drop-dead serious but also a little impossible to take seriously .", "makes lassie come home look like a stroll through pet smart .", "when the violence gets unbearable , take comfort in the troop of trainers on the sidelines who prove that , for now , man and beast still make a good team .", "the screen teems with vitality and energy whenever the dogs return to center stage .", "MOV wants audiences to be moved because stray dogs are persecuted like homeless people . but viewers are prodded to despise the one actual street person in the movie for taking advantage of a dog .", "director kornél mundruczó 's staging of the scenes in which the dogs take to the streets is breathtaking .", "MOV is perhaps the greatest dog movie made without cgi .", "a poignant hungarian parable about the terrible things that can happen when there is no reverence for dogs as fellow companions .", "it affects a general air of artistically inclined realism , but it 's mostly concerned with building tension via a steady accumulation of flatly conceived misery .", "striking , grim , darkly funny at times . but who , exactly , is going to want to watch a movie built around graphic dog abuse ?", "the more you command it to sit and stay-to settle down as a plausible plot , or to cohere as a political fable-the more it slips its leash and runs amok .", "a wonderful movie that scores high as political allegory , grand guignol , and coming-of-age drama .", "beauty and the beast with bared teeth .", "this gripping suspense story considers how any canine can become the unfortunate repository for its master 's darkest impulses .", "`` hungarian director kornél mundruczó 's brave and tantalizing movie ''", "who let the dogs out ? this is homeward bound : the incredibly harrowing journey ...", "MOV is an ambitious and thrilling , if a little uneven , canine-centric drama .", "mundruczó skillfully weaves adventure , coming-of-age , prison-escape and revenge-thriller tropes into a mythic , emotional and visceral experience that poses moral questions about how people treat animals and how people treat people .", "this powerful hungarian drama features the al pacino of dog actors .", "a beautiful and bizarre film that veers between gritty realism and haunting fantasy , and from a human perspective to a dog 's - eye-view of the world .", "MOV is n't for everyone . but it is an unflinching , extraordinary piece of film-making .", "this is an entertaining , technically accomplished work , but unlike the 1982 samuel fuller race-relations thriller which the title references , its set-up ultimately proves distracting .", "superbly acted allegorical drama with a climax that is not only breathtakingly exciting but flawlessly handled .", "both a powerful statement for animal rights as well as a metaphorical commentary on the rise of racism in hungary today .", "a broad but often poignant allegory of oppression , it 's like the beautiful puppy of au hasard balthazar and the plague dogs .", "when it 's all said and done , `` MOV '' delivers an indictment of both sides , and its one that , despite its canine -lrb- anti- ? -rrb- heroes , rings with an undeniable sadness and human truth .", "... cheekily comments on how we often hide behind civilized culture to mask our basest natures .", "you remember the first shots , and the last , but the film never really finds its footing .", "you 'll feel like you 're watching something amazing .", "emotionally visceral , visually amazing movie with an underpinned social commentary that hits like a brick . see it .", "what it all means is open to interpretation . read it as a parable or as a horror movie . read it as the story of love between a girl and her dog . read it however you want . no matter what your take , you wo n't be disappointed .", "a startling , strange , and disturbing tale of dogs and men", "if someone wants to make a case that our four-legged actor friends deserve to be considered for oscar consideration , right alongside streep and mcconaughey , they need only offer MOV as evidence .", "MOV has all the moralistic themes and allegorical elements to make the film evergreen when applied to almost any social , political or socio-economic conflict .", "as a dark , eastern european take on `` benji the hunted , '' `` MOV '' holds some fascination . but as an indictment of the evil that men do , it 's all bark and no bite .", "MOV is a breathtaking beast of its own .", "an astonishing live-action fable in a dog-eat-dog world .", "a sort of apocalyptic fable in which the maltreatment of lowly animals becomes a potent metaphor for everything from immigration to the abuse of power ...", "... a triumphantly idiosyncratic film with smarts and visceral impact in equal measure .", "it is a fantasia of canine madness that looks sometimes like a horror-thriller based on something by james herbert or stephen king - and sometimes like a tribute to hitchcock 's the birds . except that this time it 's the dogs .", "kornel mundruczo 's sixth and best feature is an emotionally rousing , technically masterful man-vs . - dog adventure .", "even those who do n't buy in completely to mundruczo 's parable will be impressed by his canine crowd scenes , staged with ambition , skill and genuinely original vision .", "engrossing , and open to any number of metaphorical readings -- but not for people who ca n't handle simulated animal abuse in movies .", "think `` the incredible journey '' crossed with `` the birds '' crossed with `` rise of the planet of the apes . '' or maybe just imagine `` cujo '' as told from the dog 's point of view . do n't take grandma .", "it all pays off with an astounding , extended climax that is as rousing and exciting as it is frightening - one of the most surreal experiences i 've ever had watching a movie .", "the obviousness of the message -- follow the right leader -- would be more tolerable in a less badly acted , less shoddy-looking film .", "a mixed-genre fable that evokes dickensian melodrama , coming-of-age tropes and outright horror .", "kornél mundruczó knows not of subtlety . the hungarian director 's brash new feature MOV is over the top in all kinds of ways , for better and worse .", "call the shelter ; this one 's a keeper .", "dogs run wild in budapest . suggests a canine version of alfred hitchcock 's `` the birds . ''", "MOV offers a dark - very dark - take on the way humans exert authority , and superiority , over our fellow creatures ." ]
MOV did n't cover any new ground , but the cast and mamet 's expertise with witty banter make it worthwhile .	1109137-heist	14390	[ "a perfectly pleasurable ride .", "nothing tremendous but certainly entertaining in its own right and for what it 's trying to be and do .", "MOV is not so much a fleshed-out cinematic experience as a shallow exercise in con games .", "see it if you like really good MOV movies !", "david mamet 's films regurgitate every clever quip he 's collected on bar napkins throughout the years .", "a kick to watch , but it feels like it could have been more .", "mamet the writer should have thrown his script over to an action pro , like john frankenheimer , to protect him from himself .", "the slick-but-skin-deep MOV is little more than an engagingly empty exercise .", "a no-frills , ice-cold , dead-serious caper flick in the classic tradition .", "solidly entertaining and surprisingly free of the mamet-isms that can suck the life right out of the most tightly crafted story .", "structured as a trick within a trick within a trick , mamet 's latest contribution to film noir is a mildly entertaining crimer that nonetheless exposes his strenuous efforts to outsmart the audience .", "-lsb- mamet -rsb- is a giant in several areas , but i 'm not sure moviemaking is one of them .", "captivating david mamet movie for grownups .", "it 's one of mamet 's best . it 's also one of hackman 's best , most mercurial performances .", "your typical MOV film with a few improvements .", "the methodical planning of the caper is completely mesmerizing .", "como em todo roteiro escrito por mamet , os diálogos săo excelentes e a trama é engenhosa - mas desta vez o excesso de reviravoltas acaba comprometendo o resultado final .", "this is a world not unlike superhero comics , only in this world the heroes have the superhuman ability to knock down buildings with a split-second comeback line .", "mamet plays his cards carefully enough to raise the performances into a meditation on the nature of trust itself .", "MOV is better than the score , not because it is more surprising or the actorly turns by the principals better realized , but simply because it is better written and the direction is more fluid .", "it 's only skin deep .", "the robbery is intriguing enough , but a pity that the film lacks david mamet 's signature dialogue .", "it 's 99 and 44/100 % pure mamet all the way .", "as a caper movie , MOV is as good as any you 'll see . as a david mamet movie , it leaves something to be desired .", "despite mamet 's extensive experience , it is both sloppily written and surprisingly unpolished .", "a satisfying caper written and directed by a masterful craftsman and starring a perfect cast of leads and supporters .", "fast-paced entertainment that does n't pander .", "`` MOV '' is a smartly-written caper movie with sparkling dialogue . while it is too cute to be believable , it is still a very classy bit of filmmaking .", "mamet 's cerebral thriller is a joy to watch -- this is easily the director 's toughest , grittiest drama to date .", "the story is like a bad mountain road : full of twists , turns , and huge potholes , with mamet driving through it about ten miles an hour , his direction too slack and lackadaisical to build much tension or suspense .", "MOV is n't nearly as teasingly clever as mamet 's the spanish prisoner or house of cards , but it does show hackman at the top of his game .", "full of action and suspense , MOV is above all a gratifyingly adult entertainment .", "thanks to the writing and story structure , MOV is more satisfying as a character study .", "once you pull away its layers and discount the occasional running , jumping and gunplay , is simply more of the same .", "a swift , busy and almost preeningly generic crime movie .", "a minor work by a major guy .", "a hard-boiled winner .", "david mamet drives us crazy with a characteristically convoluted caper film that 's a lot more about attitude and sleight of hand than it is about action . mischievous , but you really have to go with the flow .", "a caper movie covered in the profane icing of mametian dialogue but stuffed with tedious mametian plot wrinkles .", "it 's less plot-driven than the score but is more satisfying because of what mamet leaves out .", "you 'll need 10 minutes to learn the pattern of david mamet 's the MOV , after which it will become a typical shallow caper film .", "revisits a lot of old turf , but brings the welcome dimension of hackman , lindo , and jay .", "once you recognize that each new development is nothing more than a prelude to another con , any sense of tension is moot .", "MOV is the kind of caper movie that was made before special effects replaced wit , construction and intelligence .", "yeah , things spiral out of control toward the bloated ending , but the film 's wonderfully barbed nature keeps this sting sharp .", "rare for mamet , that talk here sometimes comes off as strained and awkward , or as a slightly highbrow variation on the usual hackneyed bon mots of generic action films .", "essentially a genre piece overdecorated with phrases , quirks and narrative slipknots with a mannered look-at-me cleverness .", "if it piles on more psychological fake-outs than is safe in a setup this size -- well , at least it 's got that talk , that language , that thing mamet does that is at this point as identifiable as the cadences of the bard .", "MOV is smart , beautifully written , wonderfully plotted and brought to life by a terrific cast . we 're not sure it gets much better than that .", "there are dialogue-driven scenes in this movie that will blow you away -- nobody writes like mamet at the top of his game .", "there is some clever dialogue and a few neat little twists , but the crosses , double crosses , and triple crosses go on for so long , it gets to be a bit too much .", "as clever as MOV is at times , it often seems to outsmart itself -- that is , there 's at least one plot twist -lrb- and character twist -rrb- too many , and too many scenes rely on contrivances that strain credibility .", "MOV is a phoned-in job .", "MOV is satisfying in other ways , particularly seeing the terrific cast ... chew at mamet 's dialogue like hollywood film actors starved for substance .", "passable but never exciting .", "mamet does n't just give us an enthralling MOV flick , he makes the language something to savor .", "for fans of the sting and other classic cons , this will sound like jackpot time . for others , who prefer their capers less tidy or self-consciously clever , this exercise may carry all the excitement of a drugged mouse in a maze .", "not nearly as clever or engrossing as the best of mamet 's numerous neo-film noir scripts .", "unlike the score , which tested viewers ' patience until the climactic robbery with self-indulgent dramatics and cardboard dialogue , MOV has you in its grip from the get-go .", "avoids sentimentalizing or glamorizing the material , keeping it dry and always with an ironic edge", "a lively caper film with snappy dialogue and interesting characters .", "... enough to keep one 's attention , certainly , but the film is n't nearly as persuasive as some of -lrb- mamet 's -rrb- previous work .", "una cinta entretenida , bien llevada , mejor escrita , y con grandes actuaciones . se necesita ms para pagar la entrada a la sala ?", "a throwback to the kind of hard-boiled yarns the late don siegel used to crank out in his sleep .", "if the journey is familiar , however , it 's still enjoyable , as one team of thieves tries to trip up another . there are more broken alliances , double-crosses and hidden agendas here than you 'd find in a whole season of `` survivor . ''", "this is so incredibly below average , very disappointing . once again the writing is at fault and it 's just baffling because of who 's at the helm .", "very disappointing new action flick by mamet . not worth a trip to the theatre for this one ...", "the story turns tedious as the characters take turns stabbing each other in the back . every successive plot twist becomes easier to foresee .", "the real pleasure is found in a cast of actors who are smart , energetic craftsmen that are good at their jobs .", "a solidly entertaining caper flick with great performances , intelligent and fun dialogue , and expertly crafted plotting .", "featuring charming criminal masterminds going up against more venal , not to mention foolish , operators , pulling off all manner of delightful double crosses along the way .", "as capers go , MOV is considerably less than thrilling .", "while staccato dialogue and edgy confrontations have always been the wordsmith 's forte , the precision-tooled mechanics of an elaborate crime caper have not , and the physical direction here could use some muscle .", "MOV not only reminds us that there 's a little larceny in all of us , but reminds us as well how much fun it can be to commune with our inner thief .", "the score got away clean , without resorting to violence . MOV is n't so lucky . this house of cards goes down in a hail of bullets .", "the viewer 's biggest challenge is to survive fits of yawning so violent they could disrupt ornithic migratory patterns .", "not as cool as the score , but still decent grown-up fun .", "the problem , is the plot , this has been done before and it seems tired , but hey , this is mamet we 're talking about and if anyone can redeem a mediocre plot , he can ... and he does .", "MOV lacks the smugness of mr. mamet 's state and main but never reaches the wit-quota of his the spanish prisoner and wag the dog . even if it 's not memorable mamet , it 's a largely intriguing movie .", "so it 's not original . but MOV gets its snap and crackle from the precise language .", "a whirl of action going nowhere fast .", "betrayal only works if we care who ends up with whom , and mamet fails to interest the audience in anything outside the macho banter .", "what MOV lacks in novelty it makes up for in solid entertainment .", "MOV is mamet 's biggest and most accessible thriller to date , and if you 've never seen any of his films , the movie will work its devilish magic . but for the initiated , MOV carries a whiff of disappointment .", "it is a pleasure to be captivated by mamet , the master of tired , tough , talk .", "people who liked mamet 's glengarry glen ross will like this movie .", "the convoluted caper at the heart of MOV is a sure sign that writer/director david mamet has been trying way too hard .", "mamet serves up a satisfying entree .", "a self-indulgent exercise in senseless word-love and misguided nepotism .", "a neat , bouncy , minor-key crime procedural that shakes no rafters .", "works in spite of itself , due to the fantastic cast and mamet 's crackling dialogue .", "it 's consistently fun , occasionally funny , and will have viewers on the edges of their seats on more than one occasion .", "mamet has just become lazy with this one .", "the cast is brilliant , the plotting ingenious , the dialogue incendiary .", "great verbiage aside , the red herrings and manipulations boil down to too much of a good thing .", "a decent movie with some good acting , but it is probably more of a renter .", "an exhilaratingly tense thriller that benefits from an elaborate array of rapid-fire twists and the sharp , delicious , cadence of david mamet dialogue .", "a smartly written crime caper .", "mamet can be an engaging cinematic con artist , but it 's a lot more enjoyable to watch him making his money the old fashioned way : earning it .", "while MOV does n't exactly rank alongside classics like house of games and the spanish prisoner , it certainly has a beat that you can dance to .", "smart cinema , with a storyline that holds together and dialogue that stimulates your intellect like other movies ' car chases stimulate your adrenal gland .", "mamet directs MOV , with excellent pacing , stylized camera work and high-charged dialogue .", "not awful but nowhere near as good as it should have been .", "does narrative cartwheels in a futile effort to outwit us ... you 'll probably emerge from the theatre thinking you 're the one who 's been robbed .", "engaging , surprising , and sometimes quite funny", "there 's something offensive about how mamet continues to win praise as a serious filmmaker with such a joyless picture , a picture that -- intentionally -- gives the audience so little .", "as smart as a pail full of grown-up tomcats .", "i could n't believe any of it on any level , though it could be described as ` fun . '", "if mamet is n't quite as ahead of the audience as he usually is , his ear for crackling dialogue and intelligent attention to detail is still very much in evidence .", "MOV falls short of brilliance , but like house of games , mamet 's directorial debut , its effortless slight-of-hand is satisfying .", "the movie is super fun , even if some of its tricks seem to strain credulity .", "the film noir that mamet strives for is lost in the many twists and turns of plot manipulation that make up the bulk of `` MOV . ''", "this cast is excellent . MOV , though , proves that enormously talented people can make a pretty lousy movie .", "this was another familiar formulaic MOV movie with nothing much new to offer this genre ..." ]
MOV is an intricately plotted character study that quietly shines with authenticity .	lantana	16003	[ "a psychological thriller that emphasizes the psychology over the thrills . it 's a smart , heart-twisting picture .", "i grew to resent the way the storylines began to collide and converge -- it is n't a small world , it 's microscopic .", "characters and situations that are compelling on their own get shoved together in ways that feel forced and fake , as if there are only a dozen people in sydney and they all know each other .", "lawrence tweaks the stereotypes and creates rich character studies that speak volumes about how we live now as well as what constitutes the basis of happiness .", "lawrence 's storytelling skills do n't seem to have eroded -- if anything , they may have gotten even stronger .", "has a refreshingly keen ability to see everything from multiple angles .", "the film is as dense as its namesake , and it reminds us how few contemporary thrillers are adult .", "MOV , as coiled and thorny as its title suggests , gets its chilling energy from lapaglia 's quiet intensity .", "if some of the connections stretch credulity , an exquisite ensemble cast ... inhabit their characters with a subtle authenticity .", "even in its quiet moments , the movie is possessed by a moody , tenebrous aura that reflects the characters ' state of mind .", "the thorns in this film prick real blood , the color of which too few films can or care to examine . it is fine stuff indeed .", "MOV is so rich in secondary characters and performances it 's hard to mention them all . but you will certainly appreciate them .", "smolders but never explodes .", "an engaging and absorbing drama that rings true thanks to the cast and crew who excel at their respective crafts .", "the emotional experience of `` MOV '' is heightened by its marvelous ensemble cast , all of whom etch a character in relatively brief screen time .", "these are , for the most part , believable and honest characters , though i 'm not sure they always behave the way they would in real life .", "MOV has more than the usual dramatic quota of unhappiness , but it 's alive in each scene , beautifully shot , and directed by lawrence with fierce care for subtleties .", "one of the best .", "solving the mystery of the dead body would be enough for most hollywood movies . in MOV , it 's merely a device to launch us into more rewarding explorations .", "lawrence arrays their outstanding work in sensual , fluent fashion , making a bright , shiny and attractive movie out of the dim , dark hearts of his characters .", "imagine american beauty crossbred with ingmar bergman 's scenes from a marriage and transposed down under , except that MOV has a cool sense of tragedy and surprising reserves of passion that are all its own .", "this richly nuanced psychological drama circles around the complicated subject of love and offers ample insights into some of the sources of emotional illiteracy .", "love is indeed the greatest mystery , and it 's a bit unfortunate that the filmmakers were n't content to simply explore that quandary instead of manufacturing another .", "a terrific , multi-layered , character-driven story ...", "neither writer nor director supply good reasons why these miserable moderns do what they do . but this leaves the actors to do what they like . and in this , MOV blooms with talent .", "the acting is top-notch , and lapaglia , who makes the cop 's torment palpable , gives the performance of his career .", "`` MOV '' never veers off its course , but its path twists and turns with a frantic glee reminiscent of `` magnolia ''", "that rare movie that can be called adult -- not because it incorporates a few frank sex scenes , but because it respects the complexity of grown-up relationships .", "while the contrivances tend to pile up rather uncomfortably ... the picture is saved -lrb- though barely -rrb- by its remarkable leads .", "mr. lapaglia , ms. armstrong , mr. rush and ms. hershey invest their roles with a profound humanity .", "from the cheating husband to the bereft parents , every character earns our sympathy at some point in the picture .", "directed ... with a deft , perceptive eye and ear for the delicate verbal and emotional intercourse of frayed human relationships .", "a movie that rivets attention and generates suspense by underscoring how seemingly disparate lives can become as entangled as the branches of a tropical shrub .", "what 's surprising is how easy it is to follow the plot , and how the coincidences do n't get in the way .", "a sensitive essay that dearly wants to be a feature film .", "the characters are believable . same with the dialogue .", "after seeing -lsb- lapaglia -rsb- in MOV , no one will ever look at him without recognizing an actor of the first rank .", "remarkably non-bummer viewing . bleak as its outlook is , it 's not so much psychodrama as psychocomedy of manners .", "the film is powerfully acted , with nary a weak performance to be found .", "it sounds pretty bleak . it is . and it 's slow . but it 's not bleak as in despairing and dull .", "well-realized characterizations are undermined by the strained and artificial developments of the plot .", "suffers from performances that are virtually all pitched to the same note of existential ennui .", "the performances are gritty , and director ray lawrence does a noble job of keeping the pace natural and real .", "a remarkably thoughtful drama .", "this is for fans of good acting , not good writing .", "lawrence constructs a vivid pastiche of human foibles , nicely flavored with a touch of suspense and some well-timed jolts of humor .", "implausible tale .", "the movie just seems to happen , to grow out of the ground like a thorny plant , revealing the intricate intelligence of its design only in hindsight .", "the scenario eventually becomes so coincidence-choked that the filmmakers have no choice but to play it for mild snickers .", "-lsb- t -rsb- his reminded me a lot of robert altman 's best ...", "cutting up love -- in every dream house grows a MOV of heartache", "intriguing australian film that 's a must for independent film fans .", "warmly received at its world premiere -lrb- opening film , sydney film festival , june 8 , 2001 -rrb- , MOV is a film for film lovers , an engaging character study whose subjects are as varied as they are self-contradictory .", "a meditation on fidelity in marriage where the suspense and surprises stem from who has -- or has n't -- been betraying each other and how .", "it has a sensuality years away from the young faces and trainer-toned bodies we 've come to expect .", "it makes thoughts and emotional webs run wild in our heads , and leaves us unsure of how to describe them , simply by focusing on the complexity of people .", "the sort of movie that highbrow critics love to overrate ... it 's married with children for serious-minded folks without a sense of humor .", "the movie does n't have the appeal of a hitchcock psychological murder mystery . it 's more a well-acted study about the thorny landscape of relationships .", "as a mystery , `` MOV '' is memorable . but as a study in human relationships and the human condition , it 's unforgettable .", "... boldly , thoroughly , and honestly explores the difficulties of unconditional love in a society that teaches us that we should never deny our base appetites and impulses .", "a gripping story about real people trying to deal with an assortment of complex , bottled-up emotions .", "thoughtful , well-paced .", "a small , personal film , which ponders the importance of honesty , trust and love in a relationship .", "a gifted cast keeps the bummer moving forward with an intensity that 's a thrill to behold .", "a very adult picture with adult concerns that lingers in the mind the way so many of this year 's hollywood releases have not .", "a bit on the slow side .", "intricate , elegant , sophisticated and multilayered drama .", "a fascinating domestic drama -- wrapped in the trappings of a mystery -- that proves lawrence 's talents have lost none of their luster .", "deserves its accolades for , if nothing else , setting a tone for australian filmmakers and reaching a level to which they should now aspire .", "virtually all of the film 's drama is character driven . the motivations are unforced and believable .", "where `` MOV '' succeeds is by out smarting it 's audience . it is masquerading as a predictable thriller , but it 's far from that . it will keep you guessing til the very end", "a stark and haunting study of marital discord .", "MOV could n't quite pull off being both a mystery story and a psychological drama .", "a direct , affecting movie , one where every character hangs suspended between loneliness and the possibility of love .", "MOV meets its coincidences head-on , with a wink and a nudge that -- abetted by a compelling story and performances -- cajole us into playing along .", "this is the sort of fiercely intelligent , emotionally gripping movie about people that almost never gets made any more .", "lawrence cast well and gets terrific performances all the way up and down the line .", "MOV is definitely a film that works better on a moment to moment basis than it does as a complete package .", "uno de los dramas más hermosos que se han filmado .", "a perceptive , powerfully acted psychodrama .", "a strong , consistently engrossing drama that boils with emotions distinctly real and recognizable .", "a nicely structured account of mid-life crises undergone by a group of australians who meet through dramatic circumstances .", "very effective acting talent , even if you 've never heard of the dozen who do n't enjoy above-the-title billing .", "MOV is ray lawrence 's aussie rendition of short cuts , a multi-character relationship saga disguised as a bubbling thriller .", "the movie 's thriller hook is really just that : a hook , a pretext on which to hang some remarkably conceived and executed characterizations .", "MOV is no blockbuster , just exceptionally fine filmmaking .", "MOV 's strengths and weaknesses , like its characters , balance each other out .", "it 's walking a perilous tightrope with `` too stagy '' on the one side and `` too affected '' on the other , teetering and yawing alarmingly at times", "casts a spell that draws one into the murky waters of transgression .", "this well constructed film will keep you guessing until the end" ]
another profoundly affecting work from the dardenne brothers , two days , one night delivers its timely message with honesty and clear-eyed compassion .	two_days_one_night	771372270	[ "the dardennes take us into the ecosystem of need . by the time they are through , they 've cut a wide swath that covers most of the issues of the working class .", "a rare thing , a socio-economic thriller , with a moving performance by cotillard .", "less is more . that 's what the dardenne brothers are all about .", "none of this would work if cotillard 's performance were n't so forthright and deeply felt .", "jean-pierre and luc dardenne , comme d'habitude , deliver first-rate , suspenseful drama with an approach not unlike the cinéma vérité style associated with documentary filmmaking ...", "an intense and intimate experience that 's relentless in its warmth and chills . to date , depression has never felt so delicate and hypnotic on film .", "sooner or later , we all need a helping hand in our lives . but what happens when you need to convince people to extend one ?", "as a parable on karma , capitalism and darwinian corporate politics , `` two days , one night '' can often feel brutal . as a testament to connection , service , sacrifice and self-worth , it 's a soaring , heart-rending hymn .", "cannes film festival director thierry fremaux called it a `` belgian western , '' and it 's true ; echoes of `` high noon '' and others reverberate in its bones .", "throughout , cotillard , conveying shame and desperation without ever being showy about it , brings meaning to every movement and posture .", "some may find the journey slight , but there is nothing superficial in the film - from the emotional honesty of cotillard 's performance to the workplace injustice , bullyboy tactics and worker reactions as they are desperate to protect their own income", "maybe i just do n't get it , but this multi-awarded film from the celebrated -lrb- and cannes regular -rrb- belgian dardenne brothers is not only slight - as in , without cinematic scale - it is a bit contrived and tedious", "set in a dehumanizing economy , this is a powerful film about rallying self-worth .", "many films probe the tragic lives scarred by joblessness or underemployment during this economic crisis , but few delve into going about somehow confronting those issues . and in the case of this film , the triumph of the human spirit despite everything .", "as usual , the dardenne brothers are never heavy-handed , but also not coy about their politics .", "community or the individual ? the dramatization of the conflict is pungent , but cotillard 's oscar-nominated performance -lrb- of a different register than her equally accomplished work in 2014 's the immigrant -rrb- is the shining center of i > two days .", "-lsb- cotillard -rsb- she oozes sadness from the seams , and lets us feel the deep hole that is depression without great swaths of self-pity or melodrama .", "marion cotillard delivers a stunningly naturalistic performance .", "compassionate , suspenseful drama , posing an intriguing ethical dilemma ...", "marion cotillard proves herself an undeniable force in the emotionally jarring two days , one night .", "coursing underneath the film 's calm , observant surface is a fury at a system that sets people in the same leaky boat at each other 's throats .", "the dardennes are aces at these small-scale human dramas , and two days , one night is almost without flaw ...", "by the end of `` two days , one night '' we 've not only met an unusual heroine and her dynamic husband , but feel like we 've gotten to know a small french town whose denizens offer various shadings of a simple moral issue with complex ramifications .", "cotillard 's pill-popping sandra handles every face-to-face meeting and twist and turn of her heartbreaking plight with such openness , honesty and decency she forces us to assess what we really need to live - and what we could do without .", "this is just another prime example of cotillard 's stunning abilities to transform herself in any role . i think we 're looking at a legendary actress emerging before our eyes .", "the best work that the dardennes have done , a study of the hobson 's choices facing workers in a period of wanton ruling class greed .", "yet another fine exercise in the dardennes ' impassioned neo-neorealism .", "the dardenne brothers - known for their scruffy , hand-held , realist aesthetic - have made another richly emotional film about friendship and community .", "cotillard 's is a tremendous performance of delicate variations , and it elevates two days , one night to another level of compassionate observation .", "not only urgent , but quite emotionally powerful .", "cotillard does a stirring job portraying the repeated triumph of will over fear ... a film that places value on the simple human attributes of empathy and sacrifice .", "if you 're concerned about the disappearance of ethics in the workplace , ` two days , one night ' is among the year 's most important films . if you 're unconcerned , wake up and absorb marion cotillard 's powerful performance . one of 2014 's top ten .", "cotillard looks dwindled and drained , leached of allure by the unkind pallor of the lighting .", "even when `` two days , one night '' drags a bit , cotillard 's performance remains compelling .", "yes , `` two days , one night '' is a story about courage , and resilience and victory . but it also suggests that sometimes the best victory one can wish for is the ability to keep fighting , one day longer .", "one of the year 's best films , and a career high for everybody involved in its creation .", "one emerges from the film with a battered , hard-won sense of optimism . it 's an unlikely vision of hope .", "... a better-than-average gritty drama ...", "the dardennes believe in human value and social order being rooted in a sense of solidarity , a staggering consciousness of community that brims with a sensitivity to place , movement , and emotion .", "the dardenne brothers are too wise in their storytelling to settle for easy exits . that makes their new film all the more powerful .", "cotillard shows us resignation , recommitment and rediscovery . but there 's never resentment , which creates the film 's thematic linchpin a social drama with real sting and a fascinating field study of life on the working class 's financial fringe .", "their struggles to make ends meet would be recognizable to many americans as well .", "in their own quiet and bluntly impassioned way , -lsb- the dardennes -rsb- take a plainly spelled-out sequence of events in the life of a working-class woman and manage to imbue them with more tension than i 've felt at many a so-called hollywood thriller .", "a moral story in the most explicit and moving way . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "it 's a neat , intimately dramatic variation of a ticking-clock premise and the dardennes keep it grounded with a minimum of emotive amperage . and yet , they achieve an extraordinary level of suspense . this is largely due to cotillard 's performance .", "does not shy away from the harsh truths of life , ; but , at the same time , it seeks out and reveals hope and potential in every situation", "the dardennes have been producing insightful and bleak slices of lower-class life for over a quarter century , but with its shattering star turn and tighter narrative structure , two days , one night is their most accessible movie yet .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he dardennes illustrate with compelling drama the struggle to stay afloat in an unrelenting capitalist system .", "it is in within these acutely observed aspects of humanity , not at its best or worst but simply as it is that two days , one night achieves its greatness .", "dardenne brothers and cotillard elevate writer 's - exercise storyline", "exceptionally crafted , with a bracing honesty that challenges the viewer , making it the rare offering of participatory art-house cinema .", "cotillard 's sandra is asking a question not only of her colleagues but of the audience , too : are we willing to put aside our own self-interest for the sake of empathy ? are we cowardly or brave ?", "there is plenty of intrigue beneath the surface , as the film uses the no-frills style of the dardennes to sharply probe office politics and socioeconomic strife , refusing to provide easy answers .", "it 's a film that captures humanity at its best and its worst , sometimes simultaneously .", "the premise is as simple as a biblical parable , and as densely packed with significance .", "-lsb- a -rsb- slice of pressurized middle-class life ... so real , it feels a bit like a documentary .", "one of the year 's best , it 's beautiful in its modesty , reminding me in an odd way of films of perseverance like nights of cabiria and vivre sa vie .", "takes a damning look at how the modern economy handles the working class without ever overstating the case .", "cotillard is magnificent , her luminous eyes reflecting a soul in crisis . the dardenne brothers have created a film for its time , bristling with peril and alive to every flicker of human decency .", "the dardenne brothers expertly use confrontation to create great drama , and from that great drama arises quite the potent tale about principles in the face of hardship .", "a socialist epic in miniature , heartfelt and humane .", "cinephiles , do we have any idea how blessed we truly are ?", "human , honest , maybe not provocative . human and honest is not nothing .", "naturalistic and probing , in two days , one night , belgian brothers jean-pierre and luc dardenne tell an apparently simple , linear story with astonishing depth bolstered by another oscar-worthy turn from marion cotillard .", "this is a typically barebones plot from the dardennes , and the filmmakers manage to extract significant amounts of suspense , humanity and even a few dark laughs from sandra 's exchanges .", "cotillard is the movie 's focus and she offers perhaps her finest turn to date .", "the dardenne brothers consistently make compelling dramas that win awards , from rosetta -lrb- 1999 -rrb- to the kid with a bike -lrb- 2011 -rrb- , and this drama might be their best yet .", "a simple yet riveting drama ... cotillard 's tender , heartbreaking performance ... makes the message impossible to forget .", "the always luminous marion cotillard has two days , one night to get her job back in the harsh economic and social climate of this latest film by the dardenne brothers .", "two days , one night has the interpretive open-endedness of a parable , the ambiguity of an ethical thought experiment , and the limpid clarity of a folk ballad .", "compelling , and unwaveringly human , two days , one night is among the best films of the year .", "the story is well-written , except for the obligatory suicide theme which did n't seem to mesh well with the rest of the plot . this is a vehicle for marion cotillard , who is just terrific in this role .", "a stunning performance by cotillard and a moral dilemma aptly presented .", "slight but socially-aware contemporary political drama regarding belgium 's working-class .", "their thrilling , suspenseful plot is just so damn good ... if the final scene does n't have you white-knuckling your armrest , you simply must be dead .", "a working-class tale that 's as straightforward as a fired bullet with an exit wound the size of a grapefruit .", "filmed with a raw authenticity that saddens as it informs , this is tough , yet resolutely truthful viewing . just make sure you 're in the right frame of mind to handle such an intense experience .", "much of the praise is being directed at french actress marion cotillard who is terrific in the leading role . she draws on a wide range of emotions and her passionate performance with resonate with many .", "a top , tough drama from the makers of the superb 1999 drama rosetta .", "consider marion cotillard 's oscar-nominated performance in two days , one night a tour de nuance .", "the film is a gripping thriller , an uplifting female rejuvenation story , and a humanist indictment of a social structure plagued by the loss of community support systems and old-fashioned worker solidarity .", "... the dardennes have fashioned their most accessible and relatable drama yet , one that works as a suspense thriller even as it exposes some miserable machiavellian truths and darwinian terrors .", "it 's hard not to be moved by the latest essential film from the dardennes", "the movie affirms sandra 's existence , but in its affirmation it remains more a question than an exclamation point . it asks : how did we get here ? how , out of all the ways in which society could have evolved , did we come to allow this system to define us ?", "as with their previous films , the brothers cast a discerning gaze on working-class lives , without preachiness or sentimentality .", "a genuine horror story , sweaty with a palpable ring of truth about the unending fear that accompanies life on the knife edge of financial despair .", "cotillard 's heartbreakingly raw work carries the day , as she fleshes out both sandra 's suffering and emotional endurance on a journey of discovery that the latter , not the former , defines her .", "it presents the consummate movie actress of her generation stripping bare the vanities of her profession to portray an everywoman hero , gently coaxed to life by filmmakers with a profound grasp of true emotion .", "jean-dardenne and luc dardenne have birthed this overwhelming hour and a half overflowing with raw , human emotion . marion cotillard has taken on one of the most challenging roles of her career and has delivered a performance that is extremely rewarding .", "the dardenne brothers may have outdone themselves with this heartwrenching film ...", "if you only do one thing this year , make sure you catch this shattering masterpiece by the dardenne brothers .", "more sentimental and contrived than previous films from belgian brothers jean-pierre and luc dardenne , this is still a topical and touching tale .", "open the door to this woman and you wo n't be sorry that you did .", "as well as being an essay on solidarity , the film is also a terrific character study .", "as usual in dardenne films , such melodramatic contrivances are softened by their integration into the naturalistic flow of incidents , by the overall sensitivity to social and economic realities and by the generally credible performances .", "the dardennes ' latest feature has an epic quality that belies its small-town setting .", "it 's brilliant , pared-down film-making , and cotillard is exceptionally good in the central role , letting her face speak volumes about the pain of depression and rejection .", "the dardennes are never less than reliable , but this is one of their best , up there with the child or rosetta in its cast-iron sense of purpose .", "the physical sluggishness and emotional numbing of depression have seldom been better portrayed on screen ...", "the dardennes have gifted us yet another important and moving film and it would be churlish not to wish them that coveted palme d'or .", "an old-fashioned social-problem film where the problem magically evaporates .", "too much naturalism , not enough style .", "directors jean-pierre and luc dardenne have always had a feel for the rhythms of everyday dramas in unexceptional lives , and here they use their skill and empathy expertly .", "the emotional impact of two days , one night is overwhelming , a tearful experience .", "for a proven talent , this is an especially intimate showcase , and cotillard rises to the occasion .", "` two days , one night ' is all about the fight , and winning it with kindness and righteousness .", "... it could n't be more uplifting and affecting , and we left the theater with our hearts nearly bursting .", "what anchors two days , one night , and eases its gaps , is cotillard 's extraordinary performance .", "the premise is just impossible to accept.there 's simply no way a company would torpedo itself by allowing this situation and the movie ca n't be taken seriously because of it .", "scrappy , heart-wrenching drama of the first order", "ms. cotillard 's performance is as fine a piece of screen acting as you will ever see .", "it is not often that movies so authentically portray the travails of working-class characters in developed countries .", "two days , one night is a focused , frankly heartbreaking take on personal morals , selfishness , and what we 're willing to sacrifice for others .", "what makes their latest missive , ` two days , one night , ' slightly better than their usual , amazing lot ? it 's hard to tell .", "two days , one night is a small miracle of a movie , a drama so purely humane that it makes most attempts at audience uplift look crass and calculated by comparison .", "it is no less compassionate or political than we have come to expect from the brothers , although it is more sentimental than their early work .", "it 's a rare film of unforced simplicity that will stick with you for a long time . and it 's honest right to its perfectly judged ending .", "another stark essay in desperation from the remarkable dardennes brothers .", "belgium 's best-kept secrets are breaking through without selling out , and their unshowily inspiring domestic drama reminds us you do n't need to go to war - or prison - to earn redemption .", "two days , one night glows with compassion , but it 's hard to think of another feature film that depicts our current economic troubles with such trenchant fury .", "the 90 minutes fleetingly flow by as the storyline becomes far from a black-and-white struggle of an underdog .", "two days , one night gets its point across in the first 30 minutes , only to treat you to another hour of bittersweet nothings .", "two days , one night is the dardenne brothers great document for compassion faced with the hurdles of contemporary working class struggle . it 's masterfully crafted work from a pair of maestros .", "two days , one night is paced like a joke , but it plays like a prayer .", "affecting and expertly made as it is , the movie 's tight focus and streamlined quality left me wanting more .", "the dardennes bring enough moral shading to their story to prevent it becoming a tract , and tie it up with an ethical conundrum so dripping with juice , the usherettes should have been handing out bibs .", "specialists in unvarnished intimacy , the dardenne brothers add another clear-eyed contemplation of stark social reality to their impressive output .", "in film after film the dardennes have proven themselves the cinema 's most acute humanist critics of predatory capitalism ; this masterful drama finds them at the top of their game .", "though there are moments of agony and frustration , the dardennes have a delicate and sympathetic touch that keeps the simple from becoming simplistic .", "the dardennes craft an interesting slice of life that is not wrought with dramatic flair .", "what 's galvanizing about this film , and all films by the dardennes , is the little oases of hope that spring up amid a sprawling desert of despair .", "there is strength in simplicity , something the dardenne brothers ' `` two days , one night '' and its brilliant star , marion cotillard , prove emphatically .", "wonderbrothers jean-pierre and luc dardenne return with a tale of heroic struggle against an ordinary disaster .", "cotillard 's performance is revelatory , one to be admired and studied for generations .", "a dilemma so simple and so timely , it barely feels like fiction .", "watchably dull , but the cult of cotillard landed her another oscar nomination for this unsurprising melodrama .", "the dardennes have found the film 's anchor in cotillard , who is just tremendous as sandra , but the supporting cast is what ties the film together .", "the dardenne brothers take on a movie star and lose none of their beautifully observed verisimilitude in another powerhouse slice of working-class belgian life .", "a powerful , finely scripted issue movie , made all the more incisive by marion cotillard 's raw performance as a woman fighting to save her job while suffering from depression .", "the boys from belgium have made a good film here , but not , i think , quite a great one . that it 's built around a very good performance certainly helps .", "cotillard 's every subtle , perfectly judged move is exhilarating .", "the dardennes brothers are masters of taking the seemingly smallest possible story and finding drama , suspense and big overarching themes within it .", "perhaps the best work yet from the dardennes , this harrowing drama derives most of its power from a knockout performance by marion cotillard .", "a lean , no nonsense film crafted in the most brutally honest style of the dardennes with a stellar performance by marion cotillard .", "marion cotillard shines in this exceedingly true-to-life drama .", "this may sound dull , but it is n't . the dardennes know how to tell low-key stories effectively , and cotillard 's oscar-nominated performance builds toward the unexpected ending .", "two days , one night is contemporary social realism at its finest , portraying the complicated moral landscape we 're constantly navigating and the difficult decisions this modern world has invariably wrought .", "the beauty of the film is in its simple , honest analysis of the human condition -- and in ms. cotillard 's powerfully good performance .", "cotillard delivers a physically shaken performance that makes sandra more than a righteous crusader .", "a triumphant drama by the dardenne brothers about a heroine who demonstrates grace under pressure ." ]
an unpredictable scary thriller that doubles as a mournful meditation on love , loss , and human comfort .	vertigo	22490	[ "MOV -lrb- 1958 -rrb- is one of alfred hitchcock 's most powerful , deep , and stunningly beautiful films -lrb- in widescreen 70 mm vistavision -rrb- - it is a film noir", "the most-discussed work of the master ; despairingly sardonic and demanding of multiple viewings .", "hitchcock 's twisty , suspenseful tale is far more involving and memorable than most recent hollywood thrillers .", "what can one say ? exquisitely controlled , framed , scored , acted , and edited . a peerless triumph .", "often imitated , never duplicated .", "justifying MOV 's poor initial performance , it is a film that requires distance , as well as the completion of hitchcock 's career . it is a moment of acknowledgment in the final , retrospective establishment of the director 's frequent themes .", "this is one of the single most masterful pictures ever made .", "what a perverse little gem this is .", "pure hitchcock .", "james stewart , on camera almost constantly , comes through with a startlingly fine performance as the lawyer-cop who suffers from acrophobia .", "must-see hitchcock thriller for any classic movie bug .", "a haunting meditation on sexual politics , romantic love , and obsession , MOV is one of the greatest surreal movies ever made .", "technically well made , but there are a plethora of more entertaining hitchcock films available .", "`` MOV '' is alfred hitchcock 's beautifully stylized psychological thriller about a man in love with a fetishized romantic fantasy invented by another man .", "it 's as much a wonder of suspense as it is a catalogue of the director 's themes and an allegory for his own art of enticement-and for the erotic pitfalls of his métier .", "the most complex film made by alfred hitchcock .", "hitchcock 's most tender story .", "hitchcock 's rich and strange fable of love lost , and lost again , makes the case for him as a grand experimental artist who labored in genre cinema .", "a disturbing and darkly revealing psychological thriller", "MOV is a kind of consummate illusion -- tantalizing for being so often out of reach -lrb- dvds do n't match the reel deal -rrb- , fulfilling only for bringing us as close as possible to hitchcock 's head and heart in frisco circa ' 58 . or ...", "after it , psycho and the rest of the '60s are only a bitter précis of this thesis of sexual disassociation and identity politics .", "MOV is a fine film , but it 's not flawless .", "hitchcock 's most disturbing masterpiece .", "there ! no more hints ! coming or not ? what more 's to say ? well , nothing , except that MOV is performed in the manner expected of all performers in hitchcock films .", "everything is perfect in MOV .", "it tests our patience , but then rewards it , not only with beauty and terror , but also with an emotional sucker punch that has yet to be equaled .", "you watch this guy going slowly over the brink and realize , good grief , this is jimmy stewart .", "jimmy stewart never did finer work , and hitchcock 's masterpiece , though its meaning may be lost on many , reveals a man at his most obsessed .", "this is a great , well-made film that deserves every bit of recognition that has been heaped upon it .", "bernard herrmann 's eloquent score is among his finest , stewart is excellent , as always , and kim novak is surprisingly effective in her role , another of hitchcock 's icy blondes .", "one of the landmarks -- not merely of the movies , but of 20th-century art .", "the old master , now a slave to television , has turned out another hitchcock-and-bull story in which the mystery is not so much who done it as who cares .", "why is this movie hitchcock 's masterpiece ? because no movie plunges us more deeply into the dizzying heart of erotic obsession .", "it is about how hitchcock used , feared and tried to control women .", "MOV is an acknowledged masterpiece , one of those narrative films in which a bracing and unpredictable story has been distilled into a form that is at once classic and inventive .", "the `` MOV '' shot created for this film was so powerful and unique that everytime i see it used today , i get teary eyed .", "alfred hitchcock at his most disturbing .", "hitchcock was elsewhere an entertainer , often a great one , but MOV finds him working as an artist ...", "slow but totally compelling .", "a rich , resonant meditation of male romantic obsession ... not only does hitchcock demonstrate a total mastery of cinematic point-of-view , but he turns what might have been mere melodrama into film poetry . perhaps his greatest film .", "once seen , never forgotten .", "the ending of the show is perfect and shocking if you have never seen it before .", "one of the things that still amazes me about this movie is the way its study of obsession is so single-minded .", "with this masterfully conceived spine-tingler , alfred hitchcock once again affirms his standing as movieland 's king of the suspense-drama", "do yourself an aesthetic favor : take the plunge .", "the film is a magnificent technical achievement .", "from a craft standpoint , MOV represents the director in peak form .", "it may not be as funny or light as the best known of hitchcock 's work but this is certainly a classic largely because of it 's impressively unlikeable , intense characters so at odds with hitch 's trademark hollywood glamour films of the same time .", "there is a glumness to the film that is notably missing from the director 's other films of the period .", "MOV stands as one of the thrill master 's most psychologically dense and twisted works in which obsession , commitment , and dual identities all merge to create a voluptuous tale of thwarted love .", "MOV is hitchcock 's stirring parable of love and death .", "the lure of death , the power of the past , the guilty complicity of a clean-cut hero , the near-fetishistic use of symbol and color : these hitchcock hallmarks are all mesmerizingly on view .", "the film is not really a great suspense film , but really a fantastic introspective drama into the mind of a person much like the master of suspense himself .", "hitchcock seems to have been motivated by personal demons here .", "in its dark heart , the film is a sorrowful contemplation of love and the veils that manipulate sexual passions .", "alfred hitchcock 's control of the audience is most complete in MOV .", "one of the everlasting hitchcockian masterpieces ." ]
fascinating , evocative , and as unconventional as its subject , MOV offers a colorful window into the real-life story behind a classic film .	the_dog_2014	771363447	[ "makes for very entertaining viewing , though it hardly feels necessary .", "the true story behind dog day afternoon is fascinating fodder for a documentary , but MOV squanders this by letting its sociopath subject run the show .", "as a portrait of a life lived strangely-and if you asked its subject , perfectly , with no regrets-the dog is charming .", "for all its eye-opening material , MOV still feels unfinished , but for students of new york scuzziness , it 's an essential addition .", "directors allison berg and frank keraudren fill `` MOV '' with terrific archival footage that captures the feel , look and sound of a bygone , character-filled era .", "it 's informed with a subtle but disquieting subtext that insists on the pitfalls of allowing ideology to steer you away from common sense .", "what makes MOV so compelling is n't wojtowicz 's cinematic imprint but the place in history that was very likely denied him by chance and his own irascibility .", "working as both an unofficial dog day sequel and unconventional overview of new york gay culture from the past 40 years , MOV combines archival footage , still photographs , and testaments from many of those who knew wojtowicz well .", "-lsb- wojtowicz -rsb- may be crazy and full of himself , but his magnetism is hypnotic , and it makes this modest documentary a delight from start to finish .", "vintage material and first-hand accounts add to engaging expansion on the true-crime tale .", "how often hollywood embellishes . how rare , then , to find a documentary like MOV , in which we discover that , if anything , sidney lumet 's dog day afternoon left out much of the incredible story behind its 1972 hostage crisis .", "the film is a real `` whew '' - factor yarn , a hearty soup of thick accents , bold personalities and complicated motives , with an unmistakable taste of charismatic , ornery american hedonism .", "what 's left of wojtowicz is merely a story of one day in his lifetime , and maybe that was good enough for him .", "`` MOV '' is the story behind the familiar story of `` dog day afternoon '' and it answers any and all questions about the man and his motivations .", "it 'll leave you alternately amused and slack-jawed in astonishment .", "as he sits there regaling tales of his youth ... insulting everyone who ever gave him the time of day , and trying to eke fame and money out of an illegal act , i found him a deeply uncomfortable watch .", "as entertaining as MOV is , it never quite convinces that its bullet-point review of wojtowicz 's sexual exploits is necessary or that its subject merits the level of attention afforded to him .", "you simply could n't find a better subject for a movie than this inscrutable man , full of contradictions .", "-lsb- a -rsb- portrait of a man who emerges as much more than the flamboyant character pacino brought to life .", "the film keeps you riveted , yet its achievement is finally more humanistic than cinematic .", "in numerous interviews that careen from profane braggadocio to tender reminiscence , the lustily bisexual wojtowicz comes across as almost bizarrely self-satisfied .", "the result does justice to their subject 's foul-mouthed charm and braggadocio .", "any thought that al pacino overacts in ` dog day afternoon ' is instantly banished by the screen presence of the gleefully crude and unrepentant real-life wojtowicz , a leering and self-promoting priapus .", "the movie feels like life : you 'll see something about you , and everyone you know , in every frame .", "part of what makes mr. wojtowicz such a fascinating character is that he seemed to rotate identities as easily as other people change socks , and without angst .", "john wojtowicz , filmed over a 10-year period before his death , is the star of his own show . a very flamboyant character , he talks about the loves of his life , and there were many , heterosexual , homosexual and transgendered .", "`` MOV '' is insanely , endlessly watchable , a compelling human-interest documentary and a riveting true-crime exploration all in one .", "at its best when wojtowicz is unleashed", "dubious fame , but without shame", "questions of identity reverberate through MOV , a documentary by allison berg and frank keraudren that chronicles wojtowicz 's storied and terribly sad life .", "there 's surprising tenderness amid the tendencies to teeming madness .", "as entertaining as its central subject .", "a fascinating cross-section of the personal and political .", "outrageous , funny and sad .", "a thoroughly absorbing examination of a bizarre - and possibly delusional - personality .", "an unexpurgated blast of gay 1970s new york", "the documentary , directed by allison berg and frank keraudren , is the study of a man in love with his own legend .", "sidney lumet 's oscar-winning dog day afternoon was based on a true story - and john wojtowicz does n't even try to hide his glee in sharing every juicy , crazed detail in revealing documentary , MOV .", "the film is loose and sloppy , sometimes overreaching , just like -lsb- john -rsb- wojtowicz .", "keraudren 's documentary fills in many fascinating details of wojtowicz 's life ...", "try as you may , however , you ca n't turn away from this obscure footnote in pop culture history , even at his most aggravating . it 's that twisted thing we call celebrity .", "whatever parts truth or delusion or braggadocio , ` MOV ' is an irresistible picture of the man , the place and the times .", "as the moving , sad , riotously humorous documentary `` MOV '' explains , the film only captures traces of wojtowicz 's personality , and only tells bits of his story .", "there 's a brashness to this documentary that sneaks up on you .", "wojtowicz is quite the character and whether one views him as a criminal or an altruist , he 's a unique host -lrb- who often tries to direct his own segments -rrb- ... a fascinating look at one of new york city 's most notorious and unlikely personalities .", "as a fascinating pop culture artifact , this film is hard to beat .", "a rich dessert served in a slightly too-hearty portion size , MOV flirts with deeper truths about lives surrendered to the pursuit of fame but never totally punches through .", "wojtowicz is a publicity slut , plain and simple , but that 's clearly the darker side of this relatively even-tempered and rather unobjectionable documentary because it highlights the beginning of a modern phenomenon .", "`` MOV '' is a humbly extraordinary film .", "i 'd recommend MOV for the quotability factor alone . `` i 'm like babe ruth , '' wojtowicz brags . `` but i 'm the gay babe ruth . ''", "MOV is a funny , bizarre and wholly entertaining account of john wojtowicz 's strange life ." ]
the MOV is funny and compelling with more than a few poignant insights into human behavior . director seth gordon presents the dueling king kong players in all their obsessive complexity and with perfectly al dente observations .	king_of_kong	770669466	[ "here 's one of those unfolding documentaries where unforeseen events and deeds make the subject more appealing than even the filmmaker expected.hope , pride , personal identity and an air of fierce competition underlie the enjoyable action .", "-lsb- the MOV -rsb- would play like dark comedy were there not such honest-to-god cruelty at its core .", "who would have guessed that a documentary about gamers obsessed with scoring a world record at donkey kong would not only be roaringly funny but serve as a metaphor for the decline of western civilization ?", "the subtitle of the film is actually an unneeded addition since what the film highlights with piercing exactitude are the lengths grown men wo n't go to in the long run to prove themselves .", "not unlike the sleeper hit little miss sunshine , this breezy and engaging documentary has a great deal to say about the american fixation on winning and losing .", "you do n't have to be an '80s kid to see the MOV as a metaphor for life itself .", "documentaries can make you concerned for the environment or fascinated by penguins . and now , they can make you cheer for a guy who plays arcade games in his garage .", "a clever structure by director seth gordon means that the MOV ends up more engrossing than its bunch of geeky characters initially suggest .", "hollywood may find it difficult to cast two big-name stars willing to play it as broadly as the real-life hero and villain of this tale . nor would many self-respecting scriptwriters dare to match the sheer improbability of these actual happenings .", "up there with some of the greastest sports docs in that it truly allows the viewer to experience the thrill of competition and agony of defeat .", "a funny and madly arresting new documentary .", "a hilarious story about an unbelievable collection of arrested-teenage morons and , yes , an inspiring fable of persistence and redemption .", "that there is a controversy -lrb- admittedly , one that 's followed by , oh , 23 people -rrb- over who actually has racked up the most points playing an old-school video game is among the more amusing revelations in -lsb- an -rsb- entertaining , if extremely slanted documentary .", "a sprightly new documentary that 's as compulsively watchable as the vintage video game it focuses on is addictive .", "it may seem overblown when one of the gamers calls donkey kong a metaphor for life , but the MOV is just that -- a reminder of how we all have to prove ourselves to others .", "the MOV is very entertaining -lrb- and does n't overstay its welcome -rrb- ...", "a great american comedy . a hilarious and richly human tale of two guys trying to hang on to their own twisted dreams of glory .", "heartbreaking and hilarious ...", "a fascinating film", "thankfully the MOV plays it straight and let 's the players speak for themselves . in this case , the filmmakers may be giving their subjects just enough rope , as the saying goes .", "-lsb- the subjects -rsb- may be a curious sort of renown , but by the end you are enraptured in their struggle to declare and maintain it .", "i 'm amazed at how a few filmmakers can take a story so slight and trivial , and turn it into a 90-minute documentary that 's as fascinating as something that ken burns put together .", "thoroughly engaging , even as it explores the ugly underbelly of competitive gaming .", "a hilarious and moving study of the obsessive competition between the all-time scoring leader on donkey kong , an odd floridian , and a father of two who gets sucked into a world of mind-blowing passive-aggressiveness .", "-lsb- director -rsb- gordon has made a most improbable film : a documentary -- about frigging donkey kong of all things -- that is as compelling and involving as the original rocky .", "play -lsb- s -rsb- a bit like a real-life version of a christopher guest mockumentary", "a terrifically entertaining documentary about an unlikely subject .", "the MOV is as winning , sweet , and occasionally disturbing a documentary about people for whom time has stopped somewhere around 1982 as you 'd ever want to see .", "you could say it 's sort of like murderball , only these guys ' disabilities are of the social variety . at any rate , it 's a great film", "an oddly entertaining and exciting documentary that at times looks like a mockumentary", "unquestionably the most engaging and flat-out entertaining documentary since murderball ...", "if it were n't for swirling currents of humanity , the film would bore me gongless . but it turns out to be character thriller with a big finish .", "is there anything more tiresome than watching people play video games ? seth gordon 's documentary the MOV : a fistful of quarters answers that question with a decisive yes : watching a movie about people playing video games .", "benefits immeasurably from a cast of colorful supporting players , as well as a taut narrative that builds to a surprisingly tense climax .", "as tremendous an act in empathy as anything werner herzog has ever committed to the documentary screen .", "`` when we were kings '' for dorks .", "you could hardly call it a paragon of impartial filmmaking , but this is still a compelling and immersive glance into the nature of competitiveness and the corrupting aspects of fame .", "a great little documentary , full of laughs , drama and tension . it 's like rocky , but with a joystick . and an opponent who is n't actually seen stepping into the ring .", "it 's clear that director seth gordon is rooting for wiebe - but it is not just a trick of the editing that means within 30 minutes of the political machinations of kong beginning , you will be too .", "every bit as exciting as any sports % ufb01lm , while also shedding light on how obsessions can combine with corrupt power structures to drive otherwise normal people to ridiculous ends .", "even if you 've never so much as eaten a single ghost in a game of ms. pac-man , MOV is still a remarkable -lrb- and remarkably hilarious -rrb- film .", "seth gordon 's unexpectedly engrossing documentary about the quest for a `` donkey kong '' record - a seeming paradise only for the pale and pasty - offered a fascinating , infuriating look at the bleakly funny morass of american social expectations .", "amusing documentary duel at the video arcade .", "who would have thought that one of the years most intriguing and suspenseful films would be a documentary involving two grown men battling over the supremacy of an arcade game ?", "gordon invites us to snicker at his cast of hardcore gamers , for whom ` donkey kong ' tournaments are as vital as super bowls and as divisive as the war on abortion . but once embedded in their strange world , he finds a compelling story to tell .", "an engrossing story that plucks at the heartstrings just as hard as it pummels the fire buttons .", "wonderful , hilarious documentary .", "painful and interesting to watch , even with such clear black and white characters . see it if you can .", "a compelling , weird , and often times touching spin on video gamers doing what they do best ...", "mitchell is a ringer for ben stiller 's pompous villain in dodgeball : a true underdog story .", "i ca n't remember a more compelling film this year .", "the film paints a strange portrait of a subculture that i found to be a drag .", "hilarious and eye-popping .", "it 's very earnest . and funny . and endearing .", "the MOV is proof that you do n't need earth shattering events of cosmic import to create a compelling film .", "seth gordon 's feature-length documentary about obsessive arcade gamers could possibly be the most entertaining thing you could do on a saturday night .", "like some of the players it showcases , earns a nearly perfect score ... funny , poignant , surprising and satisfying from beginning to end .", "tthe best underdog story in years .", "it 's almost embarrassing how compelling this film becomes ...", "kong has more humor , more drama and more humanity than all of the summer 's top 10 movies combined and even delivers some sly commentary on how out of whack american priorities have become .", "a gripping yarn , an edge-of-your-seat thriller , as well as a mocking insider 's view and a genuine giggle .", "this may take place in the insular world of men who spend too much time in front of dimly-lit video screens , but that does not make this very un-homeric struggle for glory any less engaging .", "improbably compelling ... it 's every bit the rousing crowd-pleaser i wanted rocky balboa to be .", "the MOV is a cleverly made documentary that realizes you can start with something small and seemingly insignificant and make a highly effective and entertaining work .", "one of the smartest documentaries of the year , and easily the funniest .", "one of the most fascinating films of the year , and it deserves an oscar nomination for best documentary .", "a documentary that successfully takes it to the next level .", "one of the best pictures of the year ... MOV is an uproarious , unsettlingly observant , and romantically biased documentary on the golden years of classic gaming .", "the remarkable thing about the MOV is how its quixotic alternate universe quickly becomes a recognizable microcosm of our own real thing .", "directed by seth gordon , the film illuminates and draws you into a subculture you never knew existed and makes you genuinely care about its characters .", "the big laughs here come from the subjects ' self-absorption .", "nerds rule .", "a classic video-arcade game becomes the means of an epic struggle in this funny , surprisingly poignant video documentary .", "with the results up in the air until the very end of the film , you will care who wins the goofy contest .", "an operatic tragicomedy of rivalry , jealousy , failure , and success .", "this film 's unsentimental salute to a straight shooter is what makes it hit the documentary bull 's - eye .", "take maniacal classic video game champion billy mitchell , questionable video game world-record organization twin galaxies and unemployed dad steve wiebe vying to usurp the champ and you 've got a great story .", "the MOV is a twisty , wildly entertaining film , and this comes to you from a guy who cares so little about kong that he had to google it to make sure it 's correct to refer to it as a video game .", "these two go after the record like they 're cal ripken , and in the competitive community that surrounds the gaming world , no one would call them ` losers . ' just heroes .", "a stupendously entertaining nonfiction film concerning the cutthroat battle for world records on coin-operated arcade games .", "the film magnificently , and almost inadvertently , captures the story of the american dream .", "a pretty great trip down memory lane , even if you were one of the cool kids who managed to avoid the arcade scene .", "a documentary that is beyond strange .", "it 's over the top via nintendo , and it is stunning to behold .", "when a gamer tears up over a loss or a records auditor declares the significance of his role in the process -lrb- `` i see world records set in my room every day '' -rrb- , the film creates characters out of clips , asks viewers to participate in story arcs .", "like all great documentaries , this one transcends its subject matter , so that in the end , it 's not just about two guys who play videogames , but about the nature of competition , how we cope with winning and losing and what that tells us about ourselves .", "... a fascinating portrait of polar opposites driven by different needs within a freakish world of nerdy obsessives . one not need give a hoot about video games to enjoy this taught , tense and thoroughly entertaining documentary .", "seth gordon 's portrait of obsessive classic arcade game players finds high drama and murky intrigue in the competition for the donkey kong world record .", "not since 300 have i seen such manly mano-a-manoing as the iron clash of wills in the documentary the MOV : a fistful of quarters .", "about ethics and personal character as much as it is about the weird world of die-hard arcade gaming .", "the film keeps up a dramatic pace but it never loses sight of the personal stories .", "gordon finds a way to take these relatively normal guys and their simple quest to be the best at something and turns it into a conflict for the ages .", "the best inspirational sports movie since the mighty ducks . now , i 'm not saying it changes the world like d2 : the mighty ducks did , but for individual achievement , it 's there .", "the stranger-than-fiction cast of characters is fascinating , and their high-stakes machinations are nothing short of mind-boggling .", "the movie 's rocky formula proves irresistible .", "an audience favorite on the film festival circuit , the MOV : a fistful of quarters is a laugh-out-loud funny and rousing documentary that 's far more compelling than the would-be summer blockbusters crowding the multiplex ." ]
halle berry gives it her all -lrb- and then some -rrb- , but frankie & alice is ultimately too narratively strained and clumsily assembled to do her performance justice .	frankie_and_alice	770815677	[ "other than the a-list actors and high production values , there 's little to nothing differentiating the film from any made-for-tv movie on lifetime .", "halle berry impresses in both the title roles of frankie & alice , a well crafted if slightly soapy seventies period piece about a young woman 's struggle with multiple personality disorder .", "MOV is the kind of grandstanding that exposes an actress ' pathetic dependence on approval by others .", "a feature so eager for statues it practically provides a pen and a reading light to help with any potential award ballot situation that might arise after watching it .", "this material feels thin , like something you 'd see on the lifetime or we networks . it was good enough to earn a golden globe nomination -lrb- but who can trust those people ? -rrb- .", "less a revealing or dramatically involving case study , than an inmate taking over the asylum kind of vibe , as it lurches towards the end credits essentially way over the top .", "revisits similar stories -lrb- ` sybil , ' ` three faces of eve ' -rrb- that have packed far more of an emotional punch .", "berry 's transformations ... come across as borderline silly due to the sensationalistic treatment given this tawdry film .", "this movie , with its flashbacks to past sins and traumas , rests squarely on berry , a mesmerizer who makes every moment count .", "though inspired by a true case , this formulaic mental disorder melodrama is so poorly conceived and executed that even halle berry 's decent -lrb- but no more -rrb- performance can not rescue from failure", "it 's not just frankie who is putting on a show here . berry is also overemphatically showing off her chops .", "may look like an attempt to win another oscar for berry , and she does give a powerful performance here .", "a hokey old-school drama of multiple personality disorder based , in the tradition of the three faces of eve and sybil , on a real case study .", "the problem with the kind of dedicated and vulnerable performance -lsb- halle berry -rsb- delivers here is that without the proper dramatic execution it just looks silly .", "frankie 's struggle strays close to camp during her first transition ; by the climax , which finds her cycling through personalities so quickly one fears for an emotive sprain , the story is secondary to the spectacle of berry writhing with oscar fever .", "dusted off a full five years after it finished filming , -lsb- frankie & alice -rsb- is now a strange , wounded beast that cries out for academy validation with every histrionic frame , yet has already missed its window of opportunity .", "reduces multiple personality disorder to haunted memories and melodramatic flashbacks with limited insight about the reality of this true story and its long-term effects .", "it 's hard to see beyond berry 's forced mannerisms . she swerves from boogie-dancing tough girl to stoic matron to irritatingly voiced kid .", "old-fashioned as a leisure suit , but better-looking and a lot more fun .", "frankie & alice is lurid - again , she 's a stripper - and occasionally silly in the way that so many multiple-personality stories wind up being .", "not awful . just humdrum .", "berry shows total commitment to the part , allowing herself to go unhinged in the hands of a director not quite capable of supporting such a risky tightrope act .", "throughout , its exhibitionist proclivities are evened-out under director geoffrey sax 's astute guidance and the intelligent , nuanced performances of berry and skarsgard .", "while all this channel-switching and inevitable unearthing of psychic demons generates a great awards-season clip , it does n't necessarily lead to a satisfying drama .", "it may be that this genre has been forever ruined , or just that it requires a more subtle hand than the one exhibited by geoffrey sax , the director here .", "frankie & alice feels like a film that might have been groundbreaking 40 years ago but has cable-tv movie of the week written all over it in 2014 .", "berry has proven she 's willing to take on enormous challenges , and she certainly exceeds her grasp here . perhaps that 's why frankie & alice plays more like an elaborate acting workshop than a movie .", "admittedly a generously apportioned slice of awards-bait pie , but a well-rendered and engaging psychological drama nonetheless , anchored by two solid performances .", "it may be based on true events , but it seems more truly inspired by the star-producer 's desire for an ostentatious showcase to demonstrate that her best actress recognition did n't jinx -lrb- ouch -rrb- a career notable for such post-oscar calamities as ` catwoman . '", "modestly engaging , the film is more suited to cable tv and netflix .", "... provides berry with a diva showcase for plenty of over-the-top emotional outbursts and violent tantrums .", "lamentably by-the-numbers , treated like an affliction-of-the-week tv movie by its eight -lrb- ! -rrb- credited writers and directed by geoffrey sax as if he knew where commercials should go .", "`` frankie '' is a little thin despite its weighty subject matter , but it has some strong performances amid the predictable psychodrama ." ]
beautifully animated and genuinely endearing , the MOV is sure to please dino-obsessed tykes , even if it 's a little too cutesy for older viewers .	land_before_time	9986	[ "there is nothing about either the story or its execution to place `` the MOV '' alongside the classics , but then again , the age of animated masterpieces may be forever past .", "the characters are not well-developed .", "a very good animated film , but nothe where near intriguing enough to inspire copious sequels .", "most of `` the MOV '' is so authentically geared to the thinking of children that it should charm adults as well .", "after an american tale , bluth surely had the clout to make a more adventurous animated feature than this ...", "what charmed me when i first saw it as a six-year-old in theaters now strikes me as rather middling , indifferent storytelling and character development .", "for the most part , pic is about as engaging as what 's found on saturday morning tv .", "baby dinosaur buddy flick that started the series .", "i guess i sort of liked the film , although i wonder why it could n't have spent more time on natural history and the sense of discovery , and less time on tragedy .", "it is full of the delightful merriment of childhood , albeit dinosaur childhood not homo sapiens . for a sweet and simple little picture the whole family can gather round the tube and watch with delight , this one delivers the goods .", "the MOV is as handsome and honest an animated feature as any produced since walt disney ` s death ; it may even be the best .", "a gorgeous production from beginning to end , the MOV contains all the essential elements missing from most of disney 's recent efforts .", "the MOV works by evoking the simple virtues of this art aimed at children , as it was in the beginning when disney animated mickey mouse . this film deserves a place next to the often-revived animated classics .", "it looks and sounds as if it came out of the disney studios of the '40s or '50s . which is n't necessarily a bad thing -- that 's as much a compliment -lrb- in terms of the quality of animation -rrb- as it is a criticism .", "it 's a beautiful movie to watch , and the cartoony characters are as endearing as they come .", "if your little dinosaur lovers are still a bit young for jurassic park , then this charming cartoon should have them in raptures .", "sharp animation and powerful visualisation of scale will enthrall a young audience but the clumsy cub-scout moralising feels , well , extinct .", "the animation is fine . but the stu krieger screenplay contains violence that might be hard on the younger ones , preachiness that 's hell on adults and a never-let-up cuteness that can turn minds of all ages to mush .", "maintains a genuine sense of beauty to it that will appeal to its young audience .", "do dinosaurs really lend themselves to ootsie-cutesiness ?" ]
poignant , unsettling .	chuck_and_buck	15491	[ "unlike any movie i 've seen before .", "chuck & buck is deceptively spare , thoroughly smart storytelling with engaging performances .", "constructed with such candor and openness that we wonder why the mass movie audience still cheers on the endless escapism of the hollywood studios .", "a superb performance by writer/lead actor mike white .", "it constantly defies expectations .", "director miguel arteta escapes the sophomore slump .", "it is about someone who is desperate to find someone to love him , more than it is about homosexuality .", "a remarkable and original achievement .", "-lsb- the performances -rsb- are entirely watchable .", "when is hollywood going to realize that stalking is not a funny subject for a movie and that stalkers themselves are certainly not endearing enough to make them the focus of a film ?", "a would-be comedy about an emotionally immature stalker .", "you get lots of chuck and lots of buck , but not a lot of pluck .", "one of the year 's best and most provocative films .", "this weirdly comic film strips off the gloss of youthful beauty to explore the darker side of childhood and ask what happens when the wilful , needy child within refuses to grow up .", "this odd , uneven movie , with its trumped-up ending that makes zero emotional sense given what came before , is perplexing in the extreme .", "it 's an unusual film and , once you get past the creepy factor early on , an intelligently satisfying one .", "it 's certain to make almost everyone in the audience squirm , either out of embarrassment for the characters or because the situation hits too close to home ...", "it was often painfully difficult to watch . it was never predictable , though , which is saying something .", "MOV has been winning accolades at film festivals , and i 'm at a loss to explain why .", "any movie that sentimentalizes stalking ought to be shunned .", "chuck & buck is a film which you ca n't quite get a fix on : it 's a movie about child sex which is also as airy and sweetly likeable as anything you 'll see this year .", "thought-provoking jet-black comedy that may not be for all tastes , but is well-worth seeking out .", "this is a thoughtful , difficult film . see it if you are ready to be challenged .", "here 's an odd film : a heartfelt , sweet and funny little story about a coming of age better late than never , it 's also the disturbing tale of a pathetic gay sociopath and the man he stalks .", "too real to ignore .", "quite fascinating and even strangely endearing .", "as the film stands , it sheds some light on what happens between young boys , but very little about what happens between men after they have grown up ... whatever that means .", "what makes chuck & buck a brave movie is that it does n't attempt to sugarcoat or elevate childish qualities the way movies such as disney 's the kid and forrest gump do .", "a fascinating study of behavior that violates the rules .", "chuck & buck wo n't make for the most relaxed evening 's entertainment by any means , but it is funny and daring , and well worth the occasional shudder .", "chuck & buck is a beacon of intelligent oddity in another summer of sameness .", "marvelously sastisfying .", "there 's a lot to like about this low-budget flick .", "as close to magic as contemporary movies get .", "a strong central performance .", "arteta 's movie takes a grand leap ... and clears the chasm with room to spare .", "its psychological layers do n't overwhelm the film or kill the humor .", "part case study , part metaphor .", "one of the best indies in quite a while .", "chuck & buck is ... sad , funny , true and resonant .", "the acting is solid .", "it 's poignant , laugh-out-loud funny and thoroughly provocative .", "the gritty look works perfectly .", "a slight film if ever there was one .", "it may freak people out , but it 's never a freak show .", "all the people of chuck & buck feel very human .", "a genuinely scary movie .", "this is a troubling yet rewarding film that ultimately gives us a sense of hope by showing us resolution within the confines of normal behaviour .", "do you like the clammy as opposed to the scary ? do you like dread rather than drama , anguish and emotional coagulation rather than screamfests ?", "chuck & buck might be the most perversely agreeable stalker picture ever made .", "creepy , funny , yet surprisingly affecting , miguel arteta 's darkly comic drama pulls off a remarkable balancing act .", "skirts stalker cliches and grown-up-kid-in-a-man 's - body caricatures .", "genuinely unsettling .", "of all the films to premiere at sundance 2000 , there is one movie that best represented what indie film is supposed to be .", "that chuck & buck holds attention despite -- or partly due to -- its murky , troubling central conceit can be credited to execution that 's stealthy and low-key throughout .", "possibly the most daring and honest drama about sexuality i 've ever seen .", "the movie is so assured , so daring and successful on its own terms , that it can make ordinary cinematic beauty seem skin-deep .", "... neither of the principals is a likable character and buck 's inappropriate behaviors quickly become genuinely annoying ...", "there 's enough haunting humanity in white 's performance and screenplay to make his weird buck far more touching than the kids in any dozen teen sex comedies .", "for a picture about a stalker , chuck & buck is rather sweet , funny and winning .", "this is not a movie for everyone , but it just might grow on you .", "chuck & buck is terrific up until its last act , when it takes such a wrong turn that i almost want to write two separate reviews .", "as the film slowly moves along , it does manage sporadically to shock and touch us . but weitz 's overly obvious acting telegraphs its big surprise so badly that it takes the punch out of what should have been the movie 's best scene .", "chuck & buck sinks thanks to a fundamental misunderstanding of how to structure a plot with a plausible character arc .", "a place worth visiting ; you just would n't want to live there", "a mix of wild humor and genuine sentiment .", "the chief strength of chuck & buck comes from its even-handedness .", "chuck & buck is the kind of movie that gets under your skin and takes root .", "the climactic confrontation between the two men near the film 's end ... simply does n't ring true .", "may be the most interesting movie of the year .", "white and arteta 's remarkable achievement lies in making buck and chuck equally comprehensible .", "-lsb- one -rsb- of the better films to come out of sundance this year .", "manages to be not only consistently droll but cumulatively poignant and even scary .", "one of the few truly grown-up movies you 're likely to see this year .", "arteta mines a lot of subtle laughs out of -lsb- beverly and buck 's -rsb- unlikely pairing .", "fans of risky , avant-garde independent fare with biting humor and unsettling insight will remember this audacious oddity for a long , long time .", "childhood innocence , homo-erotic fantasies , and an endless flow of suck-em stand-in blow-pops all have their beguiling , unsettling moments .", "plenty of films that have explored the relationship between two characters that were close friends at a young age only to grown apart as they entered adulthood , but there 's never been anything quite like MOV .", "a real stunner .", "it 's disturbing and thought-provoking , in the way life sometimes can be ; that 's the first clue to its remarkable quality .", "despite its disturbing surface , it remains a touching and heartwarming story .", "refreshingly unexpected and difficult .", "unquestionably one of the most affecting , unusual and daring movies of this year .", "one of the most fiercely original films about adults coping with their pasts .", "a gem hits the screen ." ]
MOV is gentle and pleasant if unremarkable disney fare , with so-so animation and generic plotting .	brother_bear	9948	[ "to put it frankly , it 's generic .", "definitely a second tier animation effort by disney studios", "though MOV is as beautiful as any of disney 's hand-drawn features , the gang-written script is deadly flat .", "sure , send the kids , but parents , you 're better off hibernating through this one .", "disney has come up with a mythical tale , strong on both sentiment and humor and , of course , stuffed with suitable family values messages about being kind to animals and loving your brother as you would be loved .", "it 's a thoroughly pleasant , if unremarkable , kids ' movie that will keep the little ones entertained for 80 minutes while not hurting their parents ' heads too much .", "a sweet celebration of brotherhood in its many forms .", "while the hand-drawn animation is visually appealing , the story is completely predictable and phil collins 's music lacks the impact of his oscar-winning tarzan tunes .", "people have been screaming for years about the imminent death of 2-d animation , and MOV is the kind of movie that may make you want to hurry the process along .", "an uninspired recycling of themes that were far more gripping in the lion king and countless other earlier mouse house classics .", "predictable ? yes . corny ? sure . but MOV is still good , family fun .", "another watchable , old-fashioned , uninspired disney animation .", "lackluster story only for kindergarteners .", "... often just as dull as it is engaging ...", "compared to the disney classics , this is a lazy and forgettable misfire .", "if `` the ceo wants to sell teddy bears '' is n't going to inspire writers to do their best work , what on earth possibly could ?", "a sweet family film about love and tolerance .", "modest but guileless .", "MOV is a very mild animated entry from disney with a distinctly recycled feel .", "it also seems to want to have a message , but it 's a little tougher to spot than the usual `` be true to yourself '' or `` face up to your destiny . ''", "it is , in many ways , a well-crafted little movie that does n't wear out its welcome and works better than most of its recent trad-toon disney predecessors .", "MOV just does n't have the original disney spark ; rather it seems like a paint-by-numbers marketing venture .", "... runs on circle-of-life blather and casio-keyboard songs by phil collins . to call it bland would be an insult to barry manilow .", "good story , solid animation , catchy songs , a beautiful score by mark mancina and big laughs to not bore the adults . sounds like the perfect definition of a family film to me .", "a generally upbeat and engaging tale of friendship and understanding .", "though six credited people -lrb- and doubtless uncredited ones as well -rrb- worked on script and story , this fits the disney template to a t.", "even though the story never was never quite gripping enough , `` MOV '' still is an enjoyable movie for the kids", "messages about appreciating the world around you and a reworking of the lion king circle-of-life riff are likely to be warmly accepted .", "solid family entertainment , but wo n't give pixar a run for its money .", "there 's something vanilla about the whole enterprise .", "a quintessential example of a dishonest picture .", "if MOV aspires to be the lion king plus , that plus is the infusion of ethnographic kitsch recycled from earlier disney hits like mulan and pocahontas that adds moral tone , but no extra entertainment value .", "there 's never the sense that the people making it are exactly thrilled to be telling this story ... again .", "disney 's latest attempt to hold the line for traditional animation is a formulaic enough effort , but it still comes through with the moralistic goods when it needs to .", "MOV is a fine family film that eschews the competitive and self-centered values of popular culture and proclaims the grooming of one 's spirit with love and caretaking .", "all the old disney trademarks are here , except the wit and surprise that were once the studio 's stock in trade .", "the film blatantly strip-mines the lion king , beauty and the beast , and anything else its makers can get their paws on .", "-lsb- t -rsb- here 's more ransacking than respect in how the disney team handles this appealing mythology ...", "proves hand-drawn animation can dazzle as much the computerized kind .", "children and their parents are likely to relate on completely different levels , the adults connecting with the transfer of souls from man to beast , while the kids are excited by the adventure stuff .", "seems destined to swirl down the drain along with other mouse house flameouts", "while the result may seem a departure for disney , it 's a stirring new direction in storytelling well suited for a new and more emotionally complex world .", "there 's a nagging sameness here that dwarfs the film 's noble intentions and rather striking cinematics .", "the name may be disney , but the result falls short of a classic .", "it 's eminently forgettable and does represent mouse house storytelling at its most formulaic , but it 's still better than a great deal of what passes for animated entertainment these days .", "the film can be recommended to parents of headstrong children who are up for a wild , frequently entertaining , but not always coherent ride . everyone else might want to download the disney screensaver .", "MOV is safe family fare .", "a pretty tepid affair ... these bears are n't as irritating as the country cousins that disney foisted on us last year , but they 're not terribly endearing , either .", "a playful movie that celebrates nature and the spirit world with striking imagery and a smooth blend of drama and comedy .", "MOV is bearable , but just barely .", "... another pleasant , reasonably entertaining but hardly inspired -lrb- or inspiring -rrb- effort from the house the mouse built .", "it feels like the moviemakers went through the motions because it 's time again for a holiday season cartoon for the little ones .", "while there are certainly laughs to be had , and the backgrounds are frequently ravishing , MOV is frankly a bore .", "today 's street-smart moviegoing kids do n't need to be so shamelessly pandered to .", "a play - it-safe pastiche of familiar disney tropes , from the senseless killing of a poor animal to the headstrong young adventurer to the ragtag comic relief to ... well , you can fill in the rest .", "what 's maddening about bear is that it dangles good stuff in front of us -- an intriguing american indian myth , beautifully stylized backgrounds -- and yanks it away to dive into conventional territory .", "a sentimental and enjoyable family film .", "the good news is that this is mostly good old-fashioned hand-drawn disney animation . the bad news is that it relies too much on old-fashioned formula , hackneyed plot and cookie-cutter characters .", "ok for the kiddies who wo n't be alarmed by the brutal bear attacks and hunts , but adults will merely be hibernating", "disney has turned the call of the wild into the stultifying murmur of group therapy .", "it 's not that the movie is bad . it 's just innocuous .", "the parts may not all fit neatly together , but the whole delivers a tale of brotherly love with just enough laughs to keep the kids entertained throughout .", "disney 's latest animated film is , if not exactly a return to form , a return to the spirit of the lion king .", "quite easily the best traditionally animated walt disney film since 1994 's , the lion king .", "it 's hard to avoid concluding that MOV was pitched as pocahontas meets the lion king since it recycles the themes of both , not to mention a character or two .", "the hand-drawn animation is alternately static and inconsistent , and the story may be too downbeat for younger kids , who are most assuredly the target audience .", "man bad , wildlife good ... what a load .", "an uninspired and lackluster story told with some visual flourish and a few cute moments but without much energy .", "a collection of terrible songs by phil collins continuously halts the movie in its tracks .", "perhaps a better title would have been oh brother ! bear .", "o.k. for kids , bearable for adults .", "with the undistinguished `` MOV , '' disney seems to have forgotten it no longer monopolizes the animated feature market .", "while not a masterpiece along the lines of the lion king , and not a super-smart witticism-fest like lilo & stitch , MOV is deeply heartfelt , touching , and beautiful .", "just rehashed man-and-nature , circle-of-life , colors-of-the-wind , ` pocahontas ' - style conservationist claptrap", "although there are five credited writers , it 's as if they copied and pasted material from other sources but forgot what made the originals work .", "the much-handled script is stifling in its self-conscious seriousness .", "MOV ups the usual disney ante by affording the viewer the demise of a brother and a mother before this latest offering is a reel old .", "oh , brother , what a bore ...", "an inconsequential picture like this is n't going to do much to persuade disney to keep its artists supplied with inks and watercolors as well as hard drives and mousepads .", "the characters are mechanisms who move along the plot arc from point a to point b.", "disney 's animated fable takes the `` circle of life '' for another wearying spin down a road the studio has traveled before .", "give one chef eggs , cream , and sugar , and he 'll produce creme brulee . in another kitchen , you 'll get plain old vanilla pudding . what we have in MOV , for all the potentially tasty ingredients , is pudding .", "disney animation 's attempts to recover from the collapse of its renaissance have come to an end not with a bang , or even a growl , but with a whimper .", "these beasts are beautiful , but `` MOV '' is no `` beauty and the beast . ''", "saddle our freshly hirsute hero with an insufferably chatty-cute sidekick ... and you 're pouring chocolate sauce on a double stuf oreo .", "MOV should please most kids , but its formulaic story and predictable animation prove disney needs to try a little harder next time .", "with MOV , disney fails to live up to it 's own set of self-imposed standards .", "disney 's latest full-length animated feature is a pretty `` un-bearable '' romp .", "an admittedly uneven but reasonably enjoyable mix of inuit legend , broad comedy and anthemic phil collins tunes ...", "pixar is forcing disney to keep up with more than ongoing distribution negotiations ; MOV is proof its muscles are starting to cramp .", "tykes may giggle at the rick moranis/dave thomas-voiced moose , but there 's little for adults .", "the embarrassing earth mother chants by phil collins further remove us from the world of the sacred past and straight into a disney marketeer 's cubicle .", "MOV probably wo n't crossover to adult moviegoers without kids -lsb- but -rsb- it 's an intelligent and entertaining addition to the disney catalog .", "os animadores da disney fazem mais um trabalho excepcional e repleto de preciosismos .", "`` MOV '' eschews computer animation in favor of the traditional , hand-painted , 2-d variety . as such , it 's almost a museum piece .", "MOV is n't a marvel in terms of screenwriting urgency , but it proves the theory that if formula is handled with care and enthusiasm , it can still work delightfully .", "run-of-the-mill fare like this only gives more power to the pixel-pushers .", "disney 's apparent notion that five screenwriters are better than one comes apart here", "a new age-y tale that does n't quite rank as a disney masterpiece , but which is enjoyable nonetheless .", ".", "by investing in conventions faithfully , it expands the impact of its recycled tropes .", "it feels like a project that got quietly pushed through the pipeline while the studio gears up for bigger and better things .", "skirts self-parody in its rigid adherence to the cartoon-epic template .", "`` a rich , deeply felt story about self-actualization and love , as well as about learning to respect nature on its own terms . it 's the new bambi .", "it 's another must-have for disney fans .", "i still do n't understand how MOV got an oscar nomination for best animated film , but there are plenty of worse movies out there .", "great music from phil collins and a couple of familiar moose make MOV an animated film worth checking out with the whole family .", "... for all its earnestness , its wholesomeness , and its uplifting moral values , MOV is formula disney .", "` es una de esas joyitas que no pueden faltar en ninguna colección personal y cuyo valor seguramente será reconocido en los ańos por venir . '", "a lame duck of a movie .", "enchanting .", "the movie is n't as witty as monsters , inc. and the storytelling is n't as sharp as in tarzan , but the theme of environmental kindness is priceless .", "thanks to the reincarnation of sctv stalwarts the mckenzie brothers as a pair of moose , disney 's latest animated feature is more like brother beer .", "... an old-fashioned animated adventure with all the time-honored disney story elements ...", "uncommonly satisfied with letting the characters just sit there onscreen , inhabiting clichés until the audience does some eye-rolling .", "a really good disney film tarnished by really bad phil collins music .", "a pleasant experience that is more appropriate for families than for adults unaccompanied by young offspring .", "MOV does have a satisfying ending and it 's nice to see a g-rated film without bathroom humor , but there is too much formula and not enough reason to pay attention here .", "the painted backgrounds are pretty , but the animation is sketchy and flat-looking ; the characters cast no shadows and do n't seem to weigh anything .", "solid entertainment for the kid audience .", "it 's kind of cute -- but just not cute enough .", "you ca n't fault the message it wants to send ... -lsb- a -rsb- las , the execution is 90 % generic and 100 % unfunny" ]
director michael apted continues to utilize cinema as a window into the lives of everyday people , and in the reflection of this documentary we can glimpse our own aging humanity .	56_up	771308634	[ "in 49 MOV , many of the series ' subjects seemed to be just settling into their bliss ; now they 're committed to it , and the foreclosed possibilities that come alongside .", "what started as a crafty way of looking at the u.k. 's rigid class structure has grown into a portrait of melancholy middle age , with its heartbreaks and minor-key triumphs .", "we might say that '56 MOV ' serves much the same function as ` amour , ' but it responds to the inevitability of decline with compassion , not dread .", "chances are that you 'll come away from this long film feeling a sense of knowing its characters .", "quite simply one of the great documentary projects in the history of cinema , an engrossing sociological experiment on film ; and though this mostly mellow installment is n't as revelatory as some earlier ones , it 's still a remarkable document .", "what ultimately is so compelling about 56 MOV is the universality of the experiences . we were all once children . and we all will die . and in between , there is everything else .", "watching the eighth film is intriguing but , in a way , disappointing . at this point in the game , it feels as if all the characters have determined their lots in life and are simply plodding through their interviews .", "those british kids are now 56", "as pop anthropology , the series is unchallenged .", "a rich portrait of how individual lives progress , and how age shapes expectations and experience .", "we feel good , refreshed and depressed in watching these people get older , also embarrassed in moments and cautioned about the passage of time .", "... feels like a retrospective and summation of the whole series , with ample quotation from the previous films , an approach that makes it interesting even for viewers who have n't seen the previous installments .", "it offers a few insights , and fascinating updates on the most compelling characters .", "these are moving images of touchingly vibrant lives at certain moments in time and space .", "'56 MOV '' is as good a point as any to get hooked on the magnificent half-century series of documentaries ...", "if 56 MOV is something of a pleasant bore while you 're watching it , it gains more resonance when you think about it as the calm before the approaching storm .", "what gives the series its force is not just its universality but also its particularity . these grown-ups may be everyman , but they are also singular .", "-lsb- the film will be -rsb- of interest to faithful followers and easily accessible to newcomers .", "self-contained enough for theatrical auds new to the series , it will play best with those who 've come to care for these brits over time .", "more than ever in this seventh edition , the MOV people seem to be fulfilling henry david thoreau 's observation that `` most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them . ''", "`` 56 MOV '' is well worth seeing .", "56 MOV is still moving and philosophic , though not as exciting as earlier episodes , which had more drama .", "time has been neither kind nor cruel to the 13 men and women profiled in `` 56 MOV . '' it has just been time , which is what this groundbreaking series is about .", "once again , apted assembles a captivating documentary that 's profoundly educational , essential viewing to aid the understanding of the human experience .", "apted , himself now in his early 70s , says he hopes to continue the series further . long may it live .", "watching `` 56 MOV '' gives you the wonderful feeling of seeing a sociological experiment blossom into something novelistically rich and humane .", "perhaps the boldest and probably longest running sociological experiment on film .", "i think the best thing about this movie -lrb- and the entire series -rrb- is that it forces the viewer to think about their own lives . it 's kind of an awakening experience .", "a completely unique and remarkable documentary project .", "apted skillfully weaves old footage with the new , and we become poignantly aware of another factor shaping their lives -lrb- and our own -rrb- : biology , as the we watch the once-cute kids grow gray and heavy .", "the superb latest addition to the documentary series by michael apted , following the lives of 14 people in england .", "more reflective than previous entries , 56 MOV is also a richer , fuller , more emotional experience", "`` 56 MOV '' is a rather bittersweet chapter , as age begins to further narrow those possibilities already defined at birth . and it hints that `` 63 MOV , '' if we get there , may be sadder still .", "the most vital and moving sociological document of our times remains invigorating despite mostly maintaining the status quo because by now the `` characters '' , older , balder , and podgier , are like old friends .", "the effect is often profoundly moving , but you ca n't help but feel at times like there are other stories here you 're missing .", "for those of us already fans of the series and invested in the characters over the course of seven films and 42 years it 's a necessary continuation and curiosity .", "being able to view this slice of life -lrb- no matter how contrived or edited it may be by the shows producers -rrb- provides an enjoyable and provocative perspective into humanity .", "the series is both a testimonial to the vagaries of chance and an endlessly cyclical study into the implications of being studied .", "continuing michael apted 's insightful commentary on how life can be full of surprises .", "the latest , and perhaps greatest installment in a great documentary series . moving , amusing and eye-opening .", "`` 56 MOV '' reminds us that change is ceaseless and often dramatic , bringing growth we could never have dreamed of as little kids .", "apted creates a graceful back-and-forth from the earlier films to the present , and the experience of seeing people who have lived so much on screen is quite profound .", "it shows that life is what happens when you 're busy making other plans . and how , in case we forget , every age can predict the next .", "yes , on some level it 's just a seven-year check-in with people maybe half-remembered , if that . yet the films also serve as a kind of check-in with us , too .", "apted 's subjects would object to the idea that we really know them , but we think we do -- and that 's good enough to make his film feel like a reunion , a visit with an old friend . or 14 of them .", "56 MOV has become a stirring reflection , even tribute , to the little bends and turns of ordinariness , the ebbs and surges of everyday lives .", "a window into our shared human experience , and a terrific one at that .", "we 're now at 56 MOV , , and with each passing calendar leap , the experience of watching has only become more soul-stirring .", "the original documentary was intended to illustrate how the country 's deeply ingrained class system inscribed itself on the aspirations and inner lives of its young people . but the successive movies have been far less polemical .", "this suffers as well from the fact that the subjects ' lives have n't changed all that much since 49 MOV -lrb- 2005 -rrb- ; perhaps the series will improve yet as they head into old age .", "apted , now 72 , has said he 'll keep calling on his subjects every seven years until he or they are dead . whether the subjects show MOV or not , i for one will be in line when 63 MOV comes around .", "as the project hits its half-century mark , with the `` kids '' settling into middle age , the signature cross-cutting between then , now and everything in between feels downright proustian in its emotional depth .", "perhaps predictably the mellowest of the movies . they for the most part seem to have settled into an autumnal contentment . the big conflicts have been largely resolved .", "an intimate portrait of settling down and finally making peace with one 's well-publicized past .", "the granddaddy of longitudinal documentaries impressively reaches grandparenthood ... continuing to reveal as much about the heard -lrb- but not seen -rrb- apted as his interviewees .", "to see `` 56 MOV '' is to be reunited with an old friend .", "we are all older now , and this series proves it in a most deeply moving way .", "the running time is over two hours , but the lives here are richly revealed and vastly rewarding .", "apted possesses the unsettling ability to shape perceptions of their lives and personalities from inside an editing suite , a fact that the members of his flock begin to recognize at varying points throughout their adult years .", "inevitably , one looks in the mirror afterward and thinks , what have i lost ? what have i gained ? and at what cost ?", "it 's like the startling time lapse photography of `` chasing ice '' had been applied to the human race .", "... can be seen and appreciated by both those who have followed series and those to whom it is all new .", "in the eighth installment of michael apted 's epochal documentary series , his aging participants -lrb- one of cinema 's greatest assemblage of living characters -rrb- provide not just a telescope into the past but also a kind of primer for how to live .", "see you again in 7 years , friends ." ]
coming off his oscar-nominated performance in dreamgirls , the talented-but-inconsistent eddie murphy plays three roles in MOV , a cruel , crass , stereotype-filled comedy that 's more depressing than funny .	norbit	364557026	[ "eddie murphy 's finest example of multi-role playing is still his first , 1988 's coming to america . compared to that comedic gem , MOV is little more than excess weight .", "murphy may bring down the house in dreamgirls , but -- despite its crudities and obvious failures -- freud would find MOV significantly more interesting .", "from start to finish , MOV is dismally unfunny , inspiring this sign of the apocalypse observation : big momma 's house 2 was better .", "if i thought hijacking a plane carrying prints of the film and crashing it into murphy 's house would put a stop to it , i 'd go out and buy a box cutter right now .", "there is potential all over this film , but every scene is overwrought with unfunny caricatures and tired jokes . we 've seen every gimmick and sight gag before , in better , funnier films .", "this is all pretty ordinary murphy movie stuff , which is to say it 's kinda funny most of the time and very funny some of the time .", "dumb and coarse and sometimes boring and a little bit sad .", "eddie murphy in another fat suit ? what could possibly go wrong with that ? oh , plenty , let me tell you .", "... works on a basic level , but i left it very sad .", "one long fat joke ... a vanity showcase that exists for no reason except to put as much of its star as possible on the screen .", "apparently all fat people are inherently evil .", "this borderline-pg-13 comedy demands the sort of sociological scrutiny that often has the moviegoer looking for a fun night out rolling her eyes . and granting MOV consideration feels like swinging a sledgehammer at a microbe .", "after taking in double helpings of tyler perry and martin lawrence doing the same shtick in the madea movies and big momma 's house , is n't it time for us to just say no to MOV ?", "MOV may be the most disturbing , morally repugnant , nightmare-inducing film of the century so far .", "eddie murphy reteams with nutty professor makeup artist rick baker to show those whippersnappers martin lawrence and tyler perry how a black comedian in a fat-lady suit gets the job done . he half-succeeds .", "MOV is pretty much a bad-taste sinkhole , with murphy competing against himself to see which of his three characters he can make more grating .", "murphy looks like he 's in pain , and he probably is -- latex cellulite ca n't be fun to wear -- but his anguish is as much existential as physical , trapped inside a lumbering vehicle that offers a morbidly obese harpy as the main comic attraction .", "you would n't call this a recommendation , exactly , but the new eddie murphy movie is not nearly as horrible as it looks .", "the movie seems a weird nightmare of rampaging femininity and gross gags .", "MOV briefly thrives on the power of murphy 's genius and then becomes mean-spirited and depressing .", "what seemed an inventive and engaging stretch of murphy 's comedic resources 11 years ago has congealed into predictable , processed fare . the prefabricated naughtiness of MOV is guaranteed to drag the laughs out of you whether you like it or not .", "how this relentlessly crude film got a pg-13 rating instead of a deserved r is anyone 's guess . worse , it 's also racially offensive and sexist .", "puerile comedy vehicle is a backward step for its star .", "it probably is n't possible for a single movie to reverse all social progress made since the civil-rights era , but MOV , the latest broadside from eddie murphy , does its best to turn back the clock .", "MOV is n't one of murphy 's best ; it 's a poor cousin to his other family comedies , and as rasputia , whose catchphrase is a brassy `` how you doin ' ? , '' he 's surprisingly unfunny .", "eddie murphy has taken his love for playing multiple roles , jerry lewis , crude humor , himself , and -- to be charitable -- his deeply conflicted feelings about women , and made a movie that is disgusting , unfunny , dull , and an appalling waste of talent .", "this gross comedy hardly seems like the best way to exploit murphy 's talents .", "murphy does well juggling three roles , but the movie -lrb- from a story co-written with his brother charles -rrb- is n't worthy of his talents .", "MOV demonstrates that even when working with low-grade material , murphy can be a superb actor .", "murphy 's work in MOV makes his fine performance in dreamgirls look like he was acting with a couple of hands tied behind his back .", "eddie murphy plays three roles in his latest nutty professor clone , titled MOV . and eddie griffin still steals his movie from him .", "in MOV , murphy is back playing multiple roles . but this time the magic is n't there .", "the question is not whether murphy can do anything . he can . the question is why he would want to make a movie as squirmingly unfunny as MOV .", "if you 're eddie murphy , and you want to win your dreamgirls oscar , you 'd better hope voters cast their ballots before they see MOV .", "a quick paycheck may sound like a good idea when you 're a creatively tapped comedian making trash like daddy day care . but when you 're a suddenly serious comeback kid aiming for an oscar ?", "although there 's no denying the threadbare nature of the script , watching murphy riff can be a formidable entertainment on its own .", "watching MOV is like watching a train wreck with eye clamps on .", "MOV is another crude , sloppy paycheck job for an actor who does n't need the money -- and who proved in dreamgirls that he is capable of far better .", "it 's a thoughtless , cancerous , viral , irresponsible pollution whose existence speaks ill of the society that produced it and of any society that would endorse or defend it .", "it 's probably impossible to enforce a complete ban on the use of fat suits in hollywood comedies , but certainly it 's time for an extended moratorium on them .", "the nutty professor was a comic tour de force ; MOV smells faintly of desperation .", "i could deal better with mean-spiritedness if the film were better written and directed . but the picture 's humor is hit and miss , with long unfunny passages and characters who really do n't change much .", "this dismal comedy joins a growing pile of murphy disasters -lrb- the haunted mansion , daddy day care , i spy , the adventures of pluto nash -rrb- , which may have made his oscar nomination for dreamgirls a foregone conclusion -- if not now , when ?", "hopefully the awards and acclaim murphy has received for his work in dreamgirls will inspire him to think twice from now on about puerile pictures like MOV . the combination of the two speaks to his versatility , if not his pride .", "it 's an astonishingly crass and vulgar film , crudely directed on a cut-rate budget by brian robbins , never more than almost funny or less than disturbing .", "usually , it takes six or so months for an actor to parlay a best supporting actor nomination into a cringe-worthy career-derailing performance in an unbelievably awful picture .", "and while some of the laughs are certainly hilarious , they are n't as plentiful as necessary to make MOV a consistently funny film .", "it 's too bad that the script does n't serve murphy 's multi-character talents in the way he deserves . if and when it ever does , he may actually make a comedy for the ages .", "MOV is a return to form for murphy ; while it 's not on a par with his best work , it 's very funny and just risky enough to eradicate the memory of daddy day care .", "here 's a new oscar category : the worst movie ever released by someone currently under consideration for an academy award . the winner ? MOV .", "MOV is a tour de force in which murphy plays three distinct characters , two of them to the hilt . in fact , the only thing that makes MOV good rather than great is that the title character is a bit bland .", "MOV is as fleeting as a belch -- and even less funny .", "perhaps a release at this time is meant to capitalize on murphy 's artistic comeback . instead , MOV serves as a feature-length reminder of why he needed a comeback .", "MOV is not a thriller , action film or suspense story . still , it achieves the assassination of comedy .", "there are so many problems with MOV that when you try to pin one down , another one splooges out elsewhere .", "when eddie -lrb- hopefully -rrb- wins an oscar anyway for his dreamgirls turn later this month , he should take the opportunity to publicly apologize for this .", "think big momma 's house blended with a particularly loathsome jerry lewis movie , and you 've got the picture . grimacing yet ?", "perhaps worried that he might be taken seriously following his knockout performance in dreamgirls , eddie murphy churned out yet another script-deficient comedy along the lines of dr. doolittle and the nutty professor .", "in MOV , eddie murphy is like a xylophone player who keeps banging away on the same two discordant notes ; unfortunately , those monotonous , off-key tones are the characters he 's playing .", "click for review", "most of the jokes concern obesity , which murphy evidently believes to be ipso facto funny .", "a life sucking comedy of highly dubious intent .", "if you 're not a die-hard murphy fan , your enjoyment of MOV will depend entirely on how funny you find fat suits and fart jokes . worth missing .", "like all of murphy 's recent films , there 's also a sweet-if-predictable heart beating beneath the discount jokes .", "if there 's no limit to your love of fat jokes , this is the movie for you .", "the laughs are broad -lrb- pardon the pun -rrb- , obtuse , and unsubtle .", "it 's small consolation when you have to sit through such a miserably unfunny movie , but at least the bad ideas here are relatively original .", "murphy has a deplorable joke concerning a lost policeman 's whistle for which there is no excuse whatever - other than it 's very funny .", "... admirável que , com um passado já tăo recheado de atrocidades cinematográficas , eddie murphy tenha conseguido , com MOV , a proeza de realizar aquele que , sem dúvida , é o pior filme de sua já desastrosa carreira .", "there 's a growing - if still anecdotally rooted - consensus that MOV could do serious damage to eddie murphy 's oscar chances .", "when it comes to spectacularly unfunny comedy , the supposedly very funny eddie murphy sure knows how to pick 'em .", "if you 're going to make a movie that basically centers around misogyny , racism , and making fun of fat people , why not go all the way and make it an adult r-rated comedy ?", "eddie portrays three of the leads including a sassy , oversexed , super-sized sister in an unmitigated disaster which makes characters with darker skin the butt of virtually every joke .", "if nothing else , the movie proves that years of pg-rated kiddie stuff has n't dulled murphy 's edge . he 's just rusty , that 's all .", "we 've laughed at actors wearing fat suits enough already and there 's nothing new in ` MOV . '", "a film like anchorman turns everyday scenarios upside down and then runs for a touchdown ; here , the jokes stop short at basic perversion .", "... it is another eddie altogether , eddie griffin , that gives the film its few laughs .", "a film that seems more like an act of revenge against womankind than an extra-broad comedy where the star dresses up in drag .", "murphy may be having the time of his life under all this drag , but that does n't mean the audience is sharing the experience .", "MOV takes the idea behind the nutty professor 2 -- that eddie murphy can play just about every character in the movie -- and strips it of all charm and humor .", "surely some humanitarian organization will recognize the selflessness with which murphy has taken three of the movie 's major roles , thus saving two other actors from a nasty black mark on their résumés .", "an uneven comedy about a milquetoast named MOV who marries rasputia , a woman so large she 'd start a fire if she wore corduroy pants .", "murphy may be at the top of his game , but MOV is stuck on autopilot .", "... only wants to be a laugh riot , yet it 's so loaded with cultural self-loathing that i 'm afraid a race riot would be a more proper response .", "regrettably , MOV is too cowardly , sophomoric and woefully tacky ... -lsb- it 's -rsb- lazy and disarming in its myopic presentation of a modern-day minstrel show .", "there 's a formula to these murphy-in-makeup comedies , which MOV closely follows .", "maybe eddie murphy should have waited for the oscar voting and counting to be complete before unleashing this one on the world .", "murphy has made plenty of bad films , but nothing as flat-footedly awful as MOV .", "if MOV does n't kill cinema , nothing will .", "MOV ends up a patchy oddity , but remains the closest eddie murphy has come to recapturing his mislaid sense of danger .", "when it works , MOV 's honesty about its exaggerations makes for a more embraceable portrait of american culture than dreamgirls .", "nothing spells funny like someone in a fat suit -- unless , of course , it 's someone in a fat suit suffering from flatulence . that 's the ne plus ultra of comedy .", "it 's never a good thing when you 're supposed to be cheering for the underdog , but in the back of your mind you ca n't help but think that he somewhat deserves to be getting all that sand kicked in his face .", "eddie murphy steals more than a few ideas from tyler perry for his multi-character comedy that has murphy playing an obese wench named rasputia , to whom MOV is married .", "a sweatier hell than the fat suit in which murphy spends much of the movie . it 's official - our children will die never knowing the sensation of laughing at eddie murphy .", "the filmmakers ' big mistake in this painful , low-brow disaster , is their misguided belief that murphy in make-up and a fat suit is automatically funny . they seem to have forgotten that a good script is mandatory .", "first , martin lawrence as big momma , then tyler perry as madea , and now this ? enough already .", "murphy 's phenomenal talent is still on display , but mainly as an example of how he 's wasted it .", "somewhere between a minstrel show and a lesser jerry lewis movie there 's MOV .", "when martin lawrence and tyler perry play gals with sky-high bmi , at least their characters offer -- and are shown -- a certain amount of love and respect .", "MOV has something to offend everyone ... all you need is isaiah washington and michael richards in the movie spewing homophobic and racial slurs to make it complete .", "... a strange , toneless collection of fat jokes , fart jokes and foul sex gags .", "it 's not hard to detect this creature -lsb- rasputia -rsb- as the object of something like pure hate by four male screenwriters . comedy like this is n't pretty .", "-lsb- rasputia is -rsb- violent , vulgar , selfish , and lacking the subtlety of even a fairy tale orge or evil stepmother . the character undercuts the entire film .", "too many of the gags in the sloppy comedy MOV are lumbering and graceless , more fun to anticipate than to witness .", "MOV is worth checking out just to see eddie murphy do his thing . and fortunately that 's enough to make it relatively easy to overlook all the other big problems with the film .", "a few more movies like MOV and eddie murphy wo n't have a fanbase to kick around anymore .", "MOV sets a new standard for the worst hollywood can conceivably produce .", "if you survive the maddening MOV without hurting yourself or those around you , consider it a triumph of self-restraint .", "-lsb- i thought , -rsb- maybe this was going to be my guilty pleasure movie of 2007 . well , it did n't turn out that way at all .", "eddie murphy reaches into his comedic closet and pulls out a hysterical hit .", "absolutely adorable . murphy plays a big black woman who is not a victim of america 's unrealistic ideal of beauty .", "why is everybody in such a tizzy over MOV ?", "stealing from date movie : now that is pathetic .", "a one-dimensional bad news comedy .", "MOV is so bad , it has redefined my concept of hell .", "the humor is mean-spirited and the jokes rather puerile .", "three eddie murphys is three too many .", "stereotype-based comedy from eddie murphy in a variety of fat suits is just not enough to make a decent film .", "even if you go back decades , body fascism has rarely been so brazen , or so unfunny . horrifying .", "murphy finally has nothing to prove in front of the camera , which makes his fondness for wearing extreme prosthetics to play multiple roles in a film bursting with cheap , obvious gags increasingly baffling .", "it 's offensively bad ." ]
night at the museum : battle at the smithsonian is busy enough to keep the kids interested but the slapstick goes overboard and the special effects -lrb- however well executed -rrb- throw the production into mania .	night_at_the_museum_2	770681480	[ "adults have the choice of either admiring the scenery or taking a nap . there 's not much else worth doing . certainly , paying attention to the story is an exercise in futility , but you 're welcome to try ...", "a super-size rehash of the original .", "if you are n't enchanted and a little thrilled by the sequel 's setting -- well , you probably hate puppies and sunshine , too .", "smithsonian whips itself into a kind of frenzied exhilaration that 's both fun and funny .", "your 12-and-unders will dig it , and it might even serve as a sort of movie-bookmobile and get them to read a little history , or at least a little wikipedia . but otherwise it 's utterly dispensable .", "pleasant , innocuous and intermittently thrilling family entertainment .", "night at the museum : battle of the smithsonian seems to go on for several days and nights , though in fact it lasts just 105 minutes . i checked my watch . a lot .", "the sequel to the big family hit night at the museum struggles with a big creative challenge . the sense of wonderment you feel in seeing museum displays magically come to life is not as strong the second time around .", "the film offers enough ingenious touches and playful humor that the less-inspired elements hit with a screech .", "every bit as over-long , talky and cumbersome as its title .", "smithsonian only occasionally lives up to its wondrous , chaotic premise . instead the film appears more delighted with tiresome improvisational acrobatics than generating a welcoming tidal wave of wonder .", "what follows is less a story than a series of semi-clever ideas .", "the cheeky attitude and charming effects make it more entertaining than the original , notwithstanding some clumsy humans who almost break the spell .", "when this excessive and silly farce works -- roughly half the time -- it 's thanks to the comic dynamic created by funny folk who can go riff-to-riff with stiller .", "has the kind of laughs that might convince you that nothing is as bad as it seems : the movie is no masterpiece but if you could plug its good nature into the national grid you could probably keep birmingham alight for a month .", "it 's still strictly insufferable .", "click to read the full review", "ben stiller 's comic setpiece interludes provide the best laughs - his encounter with a goofy , officious security guard called brandon is particularly good .", "MOV is a fistful of family fun ... brimming with amusing lines , great effects and a series of smart cameo performances .", "it 's not quite as good as the unfairly maligned first instalment but , for parents , this is a foolproof way of filling a slot over the bank holiday weekend .", "this is designed to appeal to attention-deficit youngsters but will irritate or exhaust more discerning cinephiles .", "a great adventure for all age groups .", "this rushed smithsonian visit skims over laughs and excitement to cram in more museum paraphernalia and messages . like the original but bigger and faster , it 's harmless but throwaway .", "like too many sequels , more money and fewer ideas has made for a disappointing film .", "a comedy adventure that the whole family can enjoy , right down to the age of five .", "kids are well served with slapstick hi-jinks and mild peril but there are too few laugh out loud moments to keep adults entertained .", "fun , fast-paced sequel is more upbeat than the original .", "once these creatures do come to life for a second outing , the promise soon evaporates and the clever comedy , built largely on crisscrossing anachronisms and various sly cultural references , is not enough to sustain a romp that is all rather predictable .", "you can actually hear the writers pulling ideas out of their butts and flinging them willy-nilly at the screen .", "this is yet another hard-sell `` family '' film that tries to bludgeon viewers into submission with loud and overly elaborate special effects set-pieces instead of charming them with a compelling story or any discernible traces of genuine wit and/or whimsy .", "imagine a hyper child running through the entire smithsonian as fast as possible , screaming and waving his arms the entire way . he would probably be entertained , but would anyone around him ?", "the sense of wonder the movie engenders is palpable , and anything that makes museums look cool -lrb- which this movie does , in spades -rrb- deserves a vote of thanks from civilization as a whole .", "battle of the smithsonian is packed with odd characters , eccentric arguments and ornate special effects , and while it 's never transcendently funny enough to be seriously impressive , it is chock full of family-friendly giggles .", "the godfather part ii of family-oriented , museum-based cgi spectacles .", "compared with the wit and humour of any pixar movie or aardman feature this is shoddy stuff .", "kids should still get a kick out of this museum , but adults may have a harder time finding something worth laughing at this time around .", "with all the oversized personalities that surround him , stiller gets upstaged .", "amy adams adds plenty of welcome ` moxie ' -lrb- and a tight pair of aviator 's britches -rrb- , but otherwise there 's not much here besides noise , chaos and monkey-slapping .", "even ben stiller looks bored out of his mind .", "it 's not a bad movie . just an unnecessary one .", "i 'm not sure if anyone in this film actually acted alongside anyone else , or if the performances were all cut together in the editing suite .", "the silliness meanders wildly , and stiller looks like he 's more than happy to let everyone else do most of the work .", "amy adams is the lone saving grace to be found herein , which is a nice way of saying she 's all that kept me from pondering `` to be or not to be '' .", "does n't have the originality of the first film and feels a little boring as such .", "one wonders if director shawn levy was more interested in cramming special effects into the movie than creating actual comedy .", "a dreadfully unfunny comedy , which is amazing considering all the comic talent in the cast .", "... what the heck , it 's fun on the same level as the original ...", "night at the museum : battle of the smithsonian can be too cluttered and hyperactive to appreciate its broad pleasures .", "there is so much going on here , presented in such uninspired empty-calorie servings , that you grow bloated on the unending eye candy", "bill & ted 's excellent adventure is a more enriching experience , and it features joan of arc as an aerobics instructor .", "it never quite finds its comic footing , but kids will probably love it -- they might even learn a thing or two .", "overstuffed with gimmicks , but short on charm and creativity .", "maybe the movie would be more fun if the ancient egyptian tablet could bring ben stiller to life .", "night at the museum : battle of the smithsonian , is breezier than the first museum , at least to me , which means in three years i 'll be revising my opinion downward .", "talented comedians robin williams and ricky gervais are wasted in small roles . grownups chaperoning the youngsters will be bored as the 105 minutes seem interminable .", "it seems that the actors got together for this film just to have some fun , interacting with one another in an overblown snl sketch with plenty of special effects .", "the best , and possibly only , reason to watch night at the museum : battle of the smithsonian is the enchanting amy adams .", "maybe not as fresh and unique as the first one , the sequel has enough laugh-out-loud moments to enjoy .", "they fixed everything i found wrong with its predecessor , so i can only assume the filmmakers read my review and addressed my concerns point by point .", "no passado , quando um grupo de comediantes deste calibre se reunia em uma produзгo , o filme era um evento . hoje em dia , trata-se apenas da continuaзгo ruim de um longa apenas razoбvel e que terб sido esquecido em menos de seis meses .", "fitful and flighty , it 's a frenetic diversion destined for a popular niche on the dvd shelf .", "the lincoln memorial statue is something of a travesty .", "it 's bigger , noisier , shinier , and dumber , and it has no earthly reason to exist .", "if there 's one thing that a movie-going mom or dad understands , it 's the look in the eyes of someone who 's just going through the motions , and there 's a lot of that going on in night 2 .", "a fistful of family fun ... brimming with amusing lines , great effects and a series of smart cameo performances .", "this is a bigger and better night out than the first .", "as of now , the scariest four words in the english language are officially ` a shawn levy film . '", "this is what you call a wholesome kiddie movie on drugs .", "stiller 's still stuck in the first movie , with little to impress beyond some hi-tech wizardry . i see dead props , along with a story that could have used some pick me up too . and with artifacts gone wild , as the museum cross-pollinates with toys r us .", "fun facts and intriguing images zip by as quickly as the plot", "second -lrb- and third -rrb- chances abound for this cast of characters .", "though it 's a little slow to start and some of the humor clunks , the film features a wholesome charm , some truly dazzling effects -lrb- the lincoln memorial alone is worth it -rrb- , and enough mild , parent-nip in-jokes to keep all but the stone-hearted happy .", "a lack of discipline and a desire to appeal to the lowest common denominator have wreaked havoc on a decent cast and a great idea , almost burying the outstanding effects . it 's a flimsy rescue story .", "how can one movie contain ricky gervais , hank azaria , steve coogan , amy adams , christopher guest , bill hader , mindy kaling , jay baruchel and craig robinson while offering so very little in the way of laughs ?", "adults who see this movie unaccompanied by a child should sign up pronto for therapy with gabriel byrne on in treatment .", "night at the museum : battle of the smithsonian throws everything -- history , high jinks , lots of famous faces in supporting roles -- at the museum walls to see what sticks . happily , much of it does .", "musters only a few lackluster laughs ... -lsb- but -rsb- has one trump card : it 's a kid-friendly , `` pg '' film that celebrates museums .", "the plot of this film feels like a garage sale jigsaw puzzle : its pieces out of order , warped and shoved into places they do n't go with a few extra pieces thrown into the box .", "marvel at the movie 's cheerful idiocy , which seems definitive -- even though the summer season has just begun -- and at the efficiency with which the filmmakers have dumbed down a dumb premise of proven success .", "azaria pretty much steals the show .", "this was a chance to show young people how history comes alive at the world 's biggest museum , but instead , it makes the smithsonian seem like a place where dopey comics go to croak .", "in bringing history , literally , to life , and having as much fun with it as it is computer-graphically possible to have , director shawn levy and reno 911 writers robert ben garant and thomas lennon at least make -lsb- museum -rsb- worth noticing .", "battle of the smithsonian is far from art , but there 's plenty of art in it , and for parents seeking a reasonable afternoon 's entertainment for the kids , that 's recommendation enough .", "a big , bloated bore , so overstuffed with effects and racket that it 's simply exhausting ... the kind of empty extravaganza that gives family films a bad name .", "as it turns out , 93 main characters is too many .", "this time around there 's a little more life on display .", "on the whole , this pumped-up sequel proves to be a more satisfying kid-friendly action film than the original .", "along with the addition of amy adams as a spunky amelia earhart , moving the action to the smithsonian -lrb- and ignoring any concerns about believability -rrb- brings this goofy sequel to life like a wax sculpture of teddy roosevelt .", "never less than politely entertaining , but often misses its huge targets .", "it makes everything bigger and more impressive on a technical level , but ca n't ever find a story to match .", "enjoy the zooming action and slightly nerdy reverence for the past , and try not to think about what this delightful concept might have been in the hands of a tighter , more aware director .", "so many new characters have been added to the ones who appeared in the original film , and director shawn levy flits between them at such a zippy pace , no one gets much of a chance to register . and that 's a huge waste of the comic talents amassed -lsb- here -rsb- .", "bigger , longer , and even more chaotically crowded -lrb- more stars ! more f/x ! -rrb- than its predecessor , night at the museum : battle of the smithsonian proves that adding another ring does n't make for a better circus .", "when MOV sticks to its preferred brand of high-jinks , it delivers upon its promise of plenty of throwaway fun for the all-ages crowd .", "spritely scenarios are drowned out by the manic mayhem .", "-lsb- levy is -rsb- successful enough , in fact , that kids may well pass on their next chance to see a movie -- just so they can visit a real museum , instead .", "no stone is left unturned .", "the special effects are astonishing , the spirit of a `` can do '' america suffuses the enterprise , and it 's superior to its predecessor .", "it 's a gag-packed , fast-paced , fxladen romp which will provide plenty of entertainment for all ages . great stuff .", "night at the museum : battle of the smithsonian is that most rare of exhibits : a sequel that 's actually better than the original .", "atrociously dumb .", "... a retread that retraces what was funny in the first film but is n't anymore since the surprise and delight of discovery is gone .", "levy 's film is neither fun nor exciting . he 's stuffed it with special effects , star names and big numbers , but it has none of the exuberance needed to lift us out of our seats and take us on a thrilling ride .", "i know not every person is going to agree with me on this one , but i 'm going to say it anyway : azaria 's lisping kahmunrah is one of the most annoying and unfunny characters that has ever appeared on a movie screen .", "... a pleasant enough way to pass 100 minutes on an uneventful weekend afternoon .", "after a slow start , a great deal of fun .", "... ultimately fares slightly worse than its uneven yet agreeable predecessor ...", "watching historical figures enact the cliches identified with the most simplistic versions of their images , i found myself yet once again echoing the frequent cry of gene siskel : why not just give us a documentary of the same actors having lunch ?", "bloated with visual effects .", "more engaging and better-paced than its predecessor , relocated to the world 's largest repository of history , art and pop culture , the sequel ups the ante on all sides to deliver delightful family fun .", "if only -lsb- ben -rsb- stiller in real life would take a hint from his latest character and miss whatever career he had before acting and go back to it .", "all up it 's levy 's best work so far and while i realise that 's faint praise , it 's far from being damning .", "a scattergun trawl through human -lrb- albeit mostly american -rrb- history and culture , with the emphasis more on entertainment than instruction .", "stiller helps bring a new group of characters to life and they in turn bring this franchise to life again . adams and azaria shine .", "this is a family comedy that will entertain the kids and amuse the grown-ups . it 's also a rare hollywood sequel that 's better than the original .", "it 's a collection of some of the most interesting figures throughout history and some of the most talented performers we have working today .", "this sequel 's greatest claim to fame lies in turning its innocuously painless original into an overblown bore .", "the comedy is always lackluster , cumbersome and lacking a child 's innocent playfulness .", "i was surprised by how funny and well-made the sequel is , especially for a `` family film . ''", "the museum sparkles , but the movie is awfully dull .", "-lsb- a -rsb- morass of three stooges-level slapstick and juvenile-style playground taunting ...", "fine in the ` rather more than adequate ' rather than ` really rather wonderful ' sense .", "unlike most sequels , this `` bigger , busier '' strategy pays off , resulting in a romp that 's as affable as it is inventive .", "humor consisting of silly slapstick , people falling down and others making goofy faces , which is what 10-year olds love more than anything else .", "this is a funnier and more coherent slice of kids ' entertainment .", "the sequel is missing what made the first film so special ; magic and mystery . the first flick is far superior .", "upstaging its predecessor with colorful new characters and energy the kids will love .", "this is a throwback to those disreputable 70s comedies that found a spot for every unemployed layabout in hollywood .", "parental content review", "i can only recommend ben stiller 's comedy sequel in the way i might a burnt sausage when there 's nothing else to eat : it 's not terribly appetising , but it 'll have to do .", "the toy story-esque plot could be written on the femur of dormouse and some scenes still lean towards inanity . but , in the main , this is a funnier and more coherent slice of kids ' entertainment .", "perhaps it should have been titled either night at the museum : we 're doing it for the money or night at the museum : contractually obligated sequel , instead .", "it 's not so much a movie as a series of running antiquity gags , good for a comedy club , not so much for the multiplex .", "proves to be bigger and better than the first .", "busy is not the same as clever .", "amy adams , spunky and incandescent as amelia earhart , is so fun to watch that she almost makes up for the dopeyness surrounding her .", "what 's hugely-talented amy adams doing in an imbecilic debacle like this ?", "the sweet spot between action and inspired silliness .", "whatever its flaws may be , it at least refuses to be a stiff , lifeless relic .", "... most notable for the inventive new touches added which prove amusing diversions to the dull central throughline ... it 's kind of like the movie equivalent of a toddler 's busy box .", "the two short scenes that bring british comic ricky gervais into the movie as the stuffy museum administrator suggest the possibility of a third movie ... a decent script surely is needed before that 's given the go-ahead .", "smithsonian wants to be frothy , but it ca n't help having a little more heart and soul than you 'd expect or even require . give it a chance , it 's a fun show .", "best of all are azaria , a brilliant comic character actor ... and adams as the feisty earhart , thrilled to be off on a new adventure .", "... more of the same while being slightly different and raising the stakes . it 's a formulaic sequel , but it works every bit as well as the original did .", "unfunny , unnecessary and with unlimited box office potential , ` night at the museum : battle of the smithsonian ' is all show and no go .", "it was fresh , funny and clever the first time . now , not so much .", "stiller has a look on his face as if he knows he 's participating in total garbage .", "an amusing concept that still holds some charm now , although it also lends itself to bombastic overkill , which sequels are naturally inclined toward anyway", "the result is pretty much a free-form traffic jam in which everyone fights everyone else .", "wow , count this as one film that completely took me by surprise !", "with the exception of amy adams ' performance and some excellent special effects , this sequel fails to live up to the first ` night at the museum ' romp .", "an exhilarating , imaginative sequel filled with humor , excitement , wit and a lively cast . it 's genuinely delightful and fun for everyone young and old .", "you know how it goes : the plot is inane , but a lot of the dialogue makes you laugh .", "this sequel is a huge improvement . the plot is still simple but what 's improved is the comedy . it 's funnier and livelier .", "it 's lazy stuff , a waste of a big name cast in the service of a film that is little more than a boring virtual museum tour .", "there 's a slightly out-of-control atmosphere that makes this corny romp much more entertaining than the original", "this is a solid , if unspectacular , second effort , that retreads the material from the first film with a slightly bigger budget .", "add some gags with living paintings and photos , and the return of that monkey , and this museum is certainly worth the price of admission .", "entertaining sequel that survives its paper-thin plot and lazy writing thanks to superb special effects and a trio of terrific comic performances .", "remains consistent with the all-powerful amy adams rule , which holds that any movie featuring her is instantly , vastly improved because of it .", "it falls flat trying to muster up any mirth or suspense as it barrels from one set piece to the next ." ]
MOV may not be particularly deep , but thanks to kevin macdonald 's judicious direction and a magnetic performance from jude law , it remains an efficiently well-crafted thriller .	black_sea	771359314	[ "the film disappoints due to its lack of tension and gaffes in realism , which should have been airtight .", "you 'll be holding your breath right along with these treasure hunters as their hope for survival grows as black as the ocean depths .", "a modest , tightly wound , straightforward story about a dangerous task performed by disposable men under severe conditions .", "-lsb- you -rsb- could do far worse than this competently steered , claustrophobic adventure . but better fare exists in the subgenre catalog , and implausibility problems make this movie only partially compelling .", "director kevin macdonald and writer dennis kelly craft a relentless , claustrophobic nail-biting thriller .", "tension on a run-down submarine is n't perfect , but it 's good enough", "i was afraid this would be a case of robinson quickly succumbing to ocean madness and going kill-happy in the submarine 's unfriendly confines .", "`` MOV '' is shrill and strident - an overall unpleasant experience .", "not one of the all-time great sub movies , but it 's an entertaining ride and a gloom-filled glimpse at the darker side of human nature .", "an extremely satisfying undersea adventure with a quality lead performance by jude law .", "the hidden treasure genre is full of inventive stories and this is yet another one , a smart screenplay that pushes all the right elements to the fore", "the journey begins with high hopes and a sense of adventure but very soon it is the disintegration of the relationships on-board that prompts the fiery unraveling ; forcing life and death decisions , rather than those concerning wealth and poverty", "twelve men in a leaky boat with greed for company and the russian navy above them . a shame that none of them are very likeable .", "jude law completes with MOV his transformation into one of the uk 's most imposing screen presences . this , we were not expecting . what next ? ray winstone , now out of a job , auditioning for alfie 2 ?", "not much of it is credible , starting with the hiring of a rusty submarine out of sevastopol , but it has action and adventure to burn , leavened with bits of humour .", "though not perfect , MOV is a tense piece of pressure cooker entertainment .", "the plot does n't entirely hold water ... but law exudes brawny charisma and helps the film build up a good head of sweaty , claustrophobic tension .", "MOV is another strongly made drama from british filmmaker kevin macdonald and , like the last king of scotland and state of play , is about a protagonist in an untenable situation .", "director kevin macdonald successfully ties the psychological tension with the physical , using the tight confines of a submarine setting rather masterfully , squeezing each drop of tension and expertly pacing every plot twist in dennis kelly 's screenplay .", "with stunning underwater visuals , and a story that is engaging enough despite its obvious turns , there may be gold here yet .", "no serious fan of below the waterline thrills should miss this boat .", "after the criminally underappreciated how i live now , kevin macdonald kicks back with a terrific submarine thriller marinated in eau de maclean .", "MOV presents a unique twist on heist movies , and while the human drama may feel a bit clunky , the sum of all parts moves nicely from start to finish .", "gripping , smart and genuinely thrilling , MOV elevates itself above most other thrillers by how wisely and well it brings you down to the depths alongside its crew .", "as much as the film is primarily a genre workout for director kevin macdonald , the script makes room for a tough-minded , psychologically corrosive depiction of vengeance .", "the chilling and tense ambiance is not enough to save this feature from its generic tendencies .", "whether as an adventure tale , a thriller , or a morality play , `` MOV '' never quite makes a compelling enough case for its existence .", "MOV may not be a groundbreaking drama , but it 's an effective genre thriller that grapples with real world issues and offers another interesting challenge for law - accent and all .", "director kevin macdonald creates some great scenes of subaquatic tension , but law 's aberdonian accent makes groundskeeper willie sound authentic .", "there 's more than a hint of the treasure of the sierra madre about this dennis kelly-scripted thriller , which does a grippingly efficient job of trapping its audience amid the pumping pistons and clanging pipes of its inhospitable setting .", "as the perils mount , a certain momentum takes hold , though never quite enough to justify taking up two hours ' space in your life .", "in the end , `` MOV '' is a taut warning about the evil allure of greed . it also makes clear why vacationing on submarines has never caught on .", "screenwriter dennis kelly turns to the old nazi-sub-full-of-gold chestnut for a thriller that resembles an underwater `` the treasure of the sierra madre '' with a dollop of `` the caine mutiny '' and an underlying theme of fathers and sons .", "a contemporary submarine thriller that serves the genre well .", "macdonald creates a suitable claustrophobic setting for his tale to unfold , and it efficiently does so over the film 's 115-some minute runtime . -lrb- full content review -- sex , profanity , violence , etc. -- for parents also available -rrb-", "even though `` the MOV '' dives a little deeper than needed , it rises above its b-movie roots to become a solid , well-crafted thriller .", "MOV is a solid , mostly thrilling submarine movie ... with one big flaw", "conventional hollywood wisdom says one should be wary of any hollywood thriller released in the first month or so of any year . MOV is an exception to that rule .", "kevin macdonald 's adventurous thriller is a familiar but exciting descent into absolute madness that is extremely well acted , completely intense , and entirely amusing thanks to its eccentric cast of colorful nut jobs .", "i 'm something of a sucker for submarine-movie clichés ; watching this movie , i was happy the very first time i heard a disconcerting ping .", "even with its modes in patchwork style , MOV generally holds your attention for most of its nearly two hours .", "a parabolic film about a middle-aged man who decides to fight back after being reduced to being a nobody .", "it may be a tad predictable , with a bit of a slow start , yet it is a worthy effort from the director giving the modern heist movie a bit of a twist .", "MOV is so almost-terrific that it 's ultimately more disappointing than a movie that 's merely badly or carelessly made .", "basically another tough genre workout that is all too familiar , with enough tension and violence to keep an audience alert if not riveted .", "director kevin macdonald uses the das boot-like claustrophobia for maximum tension , then deadens the thrills with flashbacks . ah , jeez .", "really , though , everything else about MOV is in service to several big suspense setpieces , and here , the film cuts loose , concocting marvelous scenarios for enormous stress .", "a semi-waterlogged confluence of the submarine and heist sub-genres which seeks to evoke a testosterone-soaked , 1970s feel .", "shallow , swamped by cliches", "the kind of movie that makes you hold your breath when things get tense . how long can you hold yours ?", "the script stays on the surface instead of exploring the depths of the material .", "a conventional underwater boat movie , albeit one that 's well-made enough so that when you turn to each other after the movie and shrug , you mean it in a good way . sort of .", "while `` MOV '' physically dives deep , the story is shallow , the character 's motivations are irrational and the drama is forced . the star of the film is the old , rickety submarine and the tension only she provides .", "it 's a great setting for putting a group of people under intense mental and physical pressure , one that director kevin macdonald and screenwriter dennis kelly put to excellent use in MOV .", "too often , moviegoers must choose between character-driven drama and edge-of-your-seat action . `` MOV '' has both , with a gripping performance by jude law as their nexus .", "despite leading man jude law 's passionate performance , his vessel continuously springs leaks .", "by no means a masterpiece , but a solid genre offering , a portrait of desperate men crammed together and surrounded on all sides by what one describes as `` dark , cold death . '' what better way to escape the midwinter doldrums ?", "MOV is a submarine thriller set in the murky depths of exactly where the title says .", "it is n't the smartest or most exciting thriller that viewers will have seen but , thanks to a quality cast and a fresh setup , MOV is still an entertaining watch .", "macdonald is a fine captain himself , particularly when it comes to the more visceral thrills . but he could have stood to cut the screed against the fat cats who line their pockets with dollars earned by the workingman .", "MOV does n't delve too far below the surface , but it is claustrophobic , compelling and suspenseful .", "a lean , mean old school sub thriller that could bring these movies back to the surface .", "an old-fashioned sort of submarine suspenser -lsb- that 's -rsb- a mostly enjoyable throwback to macho melodramas of an earlier age .", "the film 's patina of richly textured grime lends the film a gloomy , claustrophobic beauty that serves its mood , as well as its satisfyingly misanthropic message ...", "dive in .", "some of the particulars do n't add up , so much so that you do notice them even as the action plows forward . but it 's still a thrilling ride .", "there 's an immediacy to a submarine movie like nothing else .", "flawed , but when it clicks together , it does so superbly , giving classic cinema conventions a successful modern spin .", "handled artfully by macdonald , whose earlier work includes `` the last king of scotland , '' dennis kelly 's script pulls bits and pieces from `` the treasure of the sierra madre , '' `` the wages of fear '' and its remake , `` sorcerer . ''", "the cold war flavor gives MOV the feel of something that might have been made three decades ago .", "we do n't truly know this skipper , so when crew members accuse him of letting gold fever compromise his sanity , we have no way to tell if they 're right .", "screenwriter dennis kelly infuses all this with a heavy dose of proletarian rage , and law exudes enough charisma in the lead role to supply the movie with one marginally likable character .", "a sturdy little adventure , even when it goes enjoyably off-kilter in its last half-hour .", "scottish director kevin macdonald , who 's best known for the oscar-winning the last king of scotland , knows how to build tension , and his talents are on full display in MOV .", "you walk away from the film with the niggling sense that the story never quite holds your attention the way it should .", "while the film does n't cut nearly as deep as -lsb- the director 's -rsb- the last king of scotland , it 's nevertheless a suspenseful , taut thriller with political undertones that delivers on its low-key promises .", "while `` MOV '' is predictable , especially with the almost expected treachery from one `` bad apple '' in the crew , the movie 's tension is palpable , particularly with its extended climax .", "the fundamentals of the story and that irresistibly cramped and isolated setting keep the tension level high .", "kelly 's screenplay continually adjusts the stakes , but the changes are the result of decisions made by the characters .", "`` MOV '' is no mere exploitation movie . it elevates itself by showing how the men aboard the sub are themselves changed by the lure of riches .", "the way enmities quickly escalate is a little bit of a stretch , but otherwise this is a smartly handled , old-school adventure , as law 's beleaguered captain struggles to keep control both of his men and his wayward , leaking vessel .", "take 12 men . fill their heads with tales of lost nazi bullion . seal them in a rusting , secondhand russian submarine . submerge beneath the MOV . allow contents to come to a nice , rolling boil .", "when the most convincing thing about a film is jude law 's scottish accent , you can be sure it has problems .", "law does a great job as the resourceful and relentless robinson .", "an underwater heist of nazi loot ? awesome . submarine movies do n't get much better than this intensely suspenseful popcorn adventure .", "despite rugged craft and a seaworthy ensemble , kevin macdonald 's low-key submarine thriller never quite sparks to life .", "there 's also a neatly cruel twist , midway through , plus a general drive to undercut band-of-brothers clichés . the russians - initially cast as primitives - develop in interesting ways . the same goes for law 's character .", "MOV is well-crafted and handled with reliable professionalism by its oscar-winning director kevin macdonald , even if it does ultimately tend towards the predictable .", "the director kevin macdonald does a very good job in capturing the claustrophobia and fear that a submarine crew feel as a mission goes wrong .", "while this submarine adventure starts out as a brainy thriller with superior production design , it eventually gives in to the demands of the genre : silly plotting and corny melodrama .", "it 's in the second hour that this boat really gets rocking : macdonald has torpedoes of conflict firing in every direction .", "MOV loosely rejiggers history to allow for a fantastic-sounding story-and treasure-to be pursued in a tightly wound twist on the common heist film .", "what makes the old tropes new enough to be frequently exciting ... is mr. law 's portrayal of a desperate man renewing his lease on life , come what may .", "though the characters are at odds , the cast operates in perfect unison .", "the story loses credibility as it goes along , as the body count escalates , and robinson 's solutions to life-and-death crises grow increasingly far-fetched . well before it ends preposterously , `` MOV '' has taken leave of its senses .", "a tense , old-fashioned thriller .", "fans of previous submarine thrillers should appreciate the tense nail-biter that macdonald has created .", "peanut butter and chocolate . fish and chips . the heist movie and the submarine picture . these things go together so perfectly that it 's a wonder they were ever apart .", "law is n't bad , but ultimately , in a situation like this , he 's just too decent .", "it 's also an angry class drama ; a portrait of international clashing ; and it 's set aboard not just a submarine but a grimy , clanky , geriatric submarine , which looks ready to rust as soon as it submerges .", "old-fashioned storytelling values and zeitgeisty relevance make for a worthy addition to sub-aquatic cinema 's nerve-juddering legacy .", "it 's well shot , tense and solidly entertaining . but watertight it definitely is n't .", "though it perhaps inevitably lives in the shadow of some subgenre masterpieces , MOV is a superbly shot men-on-a-mission thriller with chest-tightening tension and a striking contemporary resonance .", "this old-school , undersea chiller starring jude law offers a sophisticated and moving study into the evils of greed .", "looking for comfort food in a movie season stuffed with supposed gourmet fare ? sometimes a good old-fashioned sub will do nicely .", "ticking all the boxes required of the genre , it 's well up to movie sub standards .", "here 's a submarine thriller that delivers on tension but does n't get too deep .", "law nails the aberdeen accent and makes for a commanding presence as he tries to keep his bickering men focused on the mission at hand .", "a confused mishmash about greed , madness , violence and sentimental redemption .", "the disappointment of dennis kelly 's script , and also kevin macdonald 's direction , is how arbitrarily the onboard drama develops .", "the limits of incredulity are stretched thin , and in the end , though MOV is at times an admirable , even memorable film , it could have used a lot more of the sad realism with which it opened .", "it might not be the most original submarine movie you 've ever seen , but do n't be surprised if it ranks among the better ones .", "overloaded with narrative cargo , but often fun , if mostly just kinda .", "worker rage and rebel impulses collide in this tense political thriller , as economic crisis cinema sails into 2015 . placing the fury of the jobless front and center , and international class connections crossing cultural lines .", "`` MOV '' is a good movie ; law turns in a great performance , and one walks away feeling that the characters and the scenery here are all convincing .", "when it sticks to the increasingly chaotic undersea action , MOV is efficient and gripping .", "an adept , muscular entertainment that never for one moment lacks for dramatic clout .", "walking out of the theater , you might well get the bends .", "jude law makes for an effective rogue submarine captain in `` MOV , '' a fittingly immersive thriller , tautly directed by kevin macdonald .", "despite the fact that it 's too long and has a submarine big enough to play basketball in , it still creates a sufficient amount of tension along with a plot twist that make it entertaining . frankly , though , the plot twist made little sense to me .", "though a contemporary story , it plays out like an old-fashioned dramatic-thriller , and while lacking standout action sequences it sustains itself thanks to atmosphere and performances rather than special effects and grandstanding sequences ." ]
while it may be based upon 50 cent 's own life experiences , MOV ' is too similar to many other rags-to-riches stories to resonate .	get_rich_or_die_tryin	9175	[ "jackson has the advantage of essentially playing himself , but he is consistently unable to rise to the challenge .", "the movie debut of curtis jackson , better known ... as 50 cent , has everything going for it except an original script and a charismatic star .", "rent director john singleton 's boyz n the hood and director mario van peebles ' new jack city instead . both films address similar themes in a manner far more efficient and entertaining .", "sheridan comes up with more than his share of superbly directed scenes , but the whole thing is a mixed bag .", "surrounded by strong talent and the skillful director , 50 cent shows a quiet charisma . he does n't embarrass himself .", "the honesty and grit of this film make it worth the watch .", "successful rappers usually make poor actors .", "it exists only to support the already over-marketed and calculated `` legend '' that he was indeed shot nine times .", "total propaganda ... it 's the male equivalent of the hooker with the heart of gold .", "50 cent has some good moments , but other times he seems like little more than a blank slate .", "this is a very strong film .", "plays like a contrived cross between new jack city and hustle & flow .", "a good introduction to the rapper and his music , but also an entertaining movie in its own right .", "for all its biographical truth , get rich 's journey into a ghetto of hustlers , gangstas and mindless violence is all too familiar .", "this movie may make a bunch of money , but it 's d.o.a.", "rambling , boring and full of bad messages for our youth .", "good news for 50 cent ! he does n't have to worry about finding a date and a tux for the oscars , because he wo n't be invited . he 's playing himself , how hard can that be ?!?", "a reiteration of the now-clichéd hip-hop rise-to-fame legend that duplicates the crime-to-rhyme formula of hustle & flow .", "the tension between the macho and female ethos in the black ghetto slightly elevates this familiar , cliche-ridden , sanitized rap biopicture .", "director -lsb- jim sheridan -rsb- was a good choice : he understands the story 's theme and he captures the gritty feel of -lsb- 50 's -rsb- world without ever falling into exploitation .", "hindered by a lack of real depth ... but simply too compelling to dismiss", "... a chaotic and seriously cliched rags-to-riches rap drama that feels more exploitative than it does explosively realized in its impulsive skin .", "this would-be blaxploitation blockbuster is n't about redemption through artistic expression or pursuing positive means to escape the fools ' game ; get rich ai n't nuttin but bitches and money .", "instead of offering a compelling look at a star 's rise to the top against all odds , they offer only more of the same old tired crime clichés .", "the usual hip-hop hypocrisies infest this semi-autobiographical tale of a dope dealer 's rise to rapping glory , which laments the sad brutality of life on the streets while glamorizing every minute of it .", "classy director jim sheridan steadily gets it all in and keeps it as real as the director of movies like my left foot can .", "what this all adds up to is a film that is effective , but not particularly unique , and thus less provocative than it might seem .", "without his music , jackson is left stranded , an artist out of water .", "for a rapper who 's all about branding , 50 cent should consider this : his excellent breakthrough record now shares a name with his middling movie .", "the 50 cent fan club will fill the seats hoping to get a glimpse into their hero , but get rich never offers any insights into what drives the man and his music .", "no matter how accurate its rap-gangland narrative , there 's little here that could n't have been imagined by a screenwriter from suburban des moines ...", "a preposterous rags-to-riches story with a flat lead character that it 's determined to raise to the level of a deity .", "50 cent digs deep . he just does n't get there enough to demand that we fully commit to this tale of a tight-lipped drug-dealer-turned-rapper .", "... too few answers as to how 50 cent became who he is .", "it 's a quasi-authentic , simplistic , crime-and-rap story that become just romanticized , graphic gangsta violence .", "turns out eminem is a better faux-gangsta than 50 cent . now run along and bust yo dope rhymes at a bat mitvah before heading back to your 18-bedroom mansion in farmington , ct. . you 're so street , curtis .", "i do n't feel totally satisfied with the emotional payoff , perhaps because it 's so hard to associate with the characters , despite the fine performances . fans , of course will love it .", "here 's a guy that 's sold crack , cocaine , robbed , stolen , and murdered and made millions rapping about it . and this is supposed to be the hero ? wait to rent it .", "curtis `` 50 cent '' jackson is utterly lacking in charisma ... his complete lack of presence is deadening to the film because he 's in almost every scene .", "MOV ' will always be known as the 50 cent movie . not because of who stars in the film , but because that 's how much it 's worth .", "think of it as mariah carey 's glitter , only with more murders .", "50 spends the film with one look on his face , and it 's the look that you imagine a caveman would have when confronted with a cellphone .", "on one hand you 've got tupac shakur , will smith , ice cube , mark wahlberg , ice-t , ll cool j , sean combs and andre benjamin . on the other you 've got 50 cent . this kid stinks !", "50 cent may strive to be fresh with his music , but this is just another doin ' the crime while workin ' the rhyme movie that only his fans will love .", "i hate watching films that are kind of autobiographical , but not . the pacing is painfully slow , feels overly long and there 's almost no music in this !", "everybody loves marcus -lrb- 50 cent -rrb- , from relatives to homeboys to would-be killers .", "get rich or die trying made me feel like an ambitious yet arthritic sheep - stuck firmly on the fence despite my best efforts to get off on either side .", "50 cent 's fanbase might love this valentine to the rapper 's ego no matter the quality , but other audiences might not be as forgiving with this half-realized urban fairy tale .", "-lsb- jackson -rsb- as an actor , the word that comes to mind is dull . mind-numbingly dull . mannequin dull .", "a film with a rich and convincing texture , a drama with power and anger .", "sheridan 's ensemble ensures that get rich , the film , comes to life around the edges , if not at its center .", "the picture ca n't decide what it wants to be -- maybe a gangster flick , perhaps a musical biopic , or how about a real-life slice of mythic inspiration .", "get rich seems stagy and phony . what a missed opportunity , because the rapper 's compelling story offers ample opportunity for drama .", "what we 're left with is a movie that , at times , barely seems to move -lrb- it feels like it lasts three hours -rrb- and a lead actor who does n't just look bored , but delivers so many of his lines like he 'd rather be anywhere else .", "the urgency and intensity help offset the familiarity of the material .", "most of the time , the movie plods along like a leg-weary heavyweight in the late rounds , keeping the rhythm of its star .", "before we enter the theater , we know he 's a millionaire winner starring in a movie about how he won . so it 's hard to believe him when he is n't smiling .", "... too unsophisticated for anyone who should be allowed to see it and too unrealistic for that audience to really believe in it .", "i ca n't say whether 50 cent can act , because it 's not required of him . he has plenty of charisma , and is a natural force in this environment .", "at least he makes his priorities clear ; it 's not called `` make a good movie or die tryin ' . ''", "neither powerful nor interesting .", "crippled by a trite story line and a serious lack of flash from rapper and first-time actor curtis '50 cent ' jackson , MOV ' pretty much dies trying .", "MOV ' ca n't be accused of not trying , but neither is anybody apt to leave it feeling all that enriched .", "mr. sheridan understands the sudden , spasmodic nature of turf battles . get rich plays like a genre movie with a particularly skilled hand at the helm .", "a gangsta rapper without fire in the belly is n't terribly interesting , cinematically or musically .", "sometimes -lsb- 50 cent -rsb- could enunciate more clearly , but he does a great job of being a bad rapper early in marcus ' career . and most musicians will say that performing badly on purpose is one of the most difficult things for them to do .", "at no time in his career has sheridan -- his name is the first one on the screen after the title , in case one is uncertain who was in charge -- been quite this far up to his neck in blarney and sentimentality .", "for those who do n't take 50 cent 's talent for granted going in , there 's nothing to indicate what 's so special about him , much less why he of all people deserves to have a movie made about his experiences .", "in reality , 50 cent was n't nailed to the cross for our sins -- he was shot nine times for his . and he 's been getting extremely rich from glorifying those acts ever since .", "50 ? well , as an actor he 's a great rapper . his inexperience shows .", "the rapper-turned-actor makes a credible acting debut in MOV ' with the help of veteran irish filmmaker jim sheridan .", "howard is the movie 's sole saving grace , but his presence serves as a constant reminder that his similarly themed hustle & flow -lrb- 2005 -rrb- is a vastly better film .", "be warned , when a fedora-sporting godfather starts wheezing out pearls about violence begetting violence , you may die tryin ' to stop laughin ' .", "sells 50 short : his raps are heard only in stingy portions during most of the movie , and when , at last , he takes the stage ... he 's bumped off the screen by the end credits .", "shockingly inert .", "the improbable jackson-sheridan collaboration yields an immensely entertaining film .", "the charismatic rapper is so utterly inexpressive as an actor that he 's constantly getting swallowed up in his own movie .", "jim sheridan 's film , loosely based on the experiences of its star , the glowering rapper 50 cent , lacks an emotional core .", "the premise of get rich would be ridiculous if it were n't close to the truth and if the movie were n't refreshingly aware of its ridiculousness .", "the film moves , albeit under an oppressive cloud of deja vu .", "the result is a drudge and a bore .", "director jim sheridan and screenwriter terence winter have difficulty fashioning these events into a story that has a coherent point or purpose .", "if you insist on filming the same basic story for the third time in a row , you 'd better make it better . they did n't .", "MOV ' is a disaster on all levels .", "the story and action are serviceable , but there 's very little spark in the wooden screen presence of the star and the dearth of subtext or style from the director .", "the film 's inability to resist the lure of maximum exploitation becomes frustrating .", "that howard came off as a more convincing -- not to mention skilled -- rapper in hustle & flow than 50 cent does here is among the biggest failings of get rich .", "do n't for a second think that we 're meeting the next great rap star to become a movie star .", "the apparent turf war between director and screenwriter results in a compromised , confusing tale of a young man trying to mark his turf .", "if it 's a rap-related rags-to-riches flick you want , check out 8 mile or hustle & flow , both of which are ten times better than this .", "you feel this film straining to be another 8 mile , even as it never gets into the head of its central character", "people behind the movie will no doubt get rich , but it 's a shame they did n't try harder to make a better picture .", "sheridan 's surface vividness is applied around a vacuum", "... a distinctly tedious piece of work .", "50 cent dies for our sins in disappointing screen debut .", "embora limitado como ator , 50 cent tem carisma para segurar o filme , que acaba falhando nгo em funзгo do rapper , mas de seu roteiro convencional que soa como pбlida imitaзгo de 8 mile .", "marcus sells dope . marcus buys a gun . marcus buys a microphone . marcus goes to prison . marcus gets shot . marcus makes a movie about his life that no one goes to see .", "its real danger is that it sets a precedent for the director ; if the price is right he 's on board .", "a better film than `` 8 mile '' . an impressive debut for the coin-coined music superstar .", "it 's a reasonably entertaining story , and would be better if it had a reasonably entertaining actor at its heart .", "-lsb- a -rsb- major disappointment from director jim sheridan , who ... seems to have lost track in his first foray away from irish-themed films ...", "here 's a street version of a rags-to-riches tale that is certain to appeal to all 50 cent fans but will be all too familiar to other movie goers .", "surrounded by solid performers like akinnuoye-agbaje , davis , howard and duke , 50 cent does n't register . this is his life , but he 's not good enough to be the hero of it .", "even more problematic is the script 's clumsy , sprawling architecture , sheridan 's clubfooted sense of pacing and his grubby , indistinct visuals .", "the story is hyped to be `` inspirational '' , but call me crazy ; i see nothing inspiring about marcus 's life .", "not a totally terrible film , but there is nothing to really commend or recommend in it .", "this thinly autobiographical gangsta odyssey never achieves liftoff , and jackson is unconvincing .", "thank goodness the movie , unlike its star , was only shot once .", "this is n't sheridan 's most complex or richest picture , but there 's lots of life to it : this is an unapologetically glossy pop product , powered by a strong , old-fashioned sense of b-movie melodrama ." ]
solid performances , bold direction .	1093843-mansfield_park	10103	[ "it was supposed to be 1806 , but MOV the movie has a little too much 1999 in it ...", "one of the most assured and inspired literary film adaptations all year .", "full of sparkling dialogue , witty asides , and top-drawer performances , MOV is a social satire wrapped inside a romantic comedy .", "MOV is quick and funny , and a refreshing break from period-film stuffiness .", "the cast is good , especially davidtz .", "just enough sardonic wordplay pokes through to keep the jane austen in this jane austen .", "park is damn entertaining .", "patricia rozema 's MOV continues jane austen 's winning streak on film .", "a witty , entertaining film .", "a fine addition to the filmed austen canon .", "MOV is a generally light and funny film which invites us to watch fanny handle the coldness and pressure of her priggish relatives , and not only survive , but somehow prevail .", "austen purists may gag , but director patricia rozema has managed to crack MOV , transforming jane austen 's problematic novel into an engaging bit of entertainment .", "MOV is the cinematic equivalent of a nice walk in the park ; nice and relaxing , a breath of fresh air .", "a qualified success .", "ms. rozema has made a film whose satiric bite is sharper than that of the usual high-toned romantic costume drama .", "it 's smart , heady stuff that only fails at times because it 's perhaps too ambitious for its own good ...", "though it 's never dull , this MOV has too much of its own agenda and too little of austen 's to completely succeed .", "despite its brazen politics , MOV never goes giddily amok as promised .", "too often steps out of its era to adopt a knowing , politically correct , late-20th-century attitude to the society portrayed .", "this MOV becomes a kind of romanticized gloss -- an imaginative grad-student thesis that melds author and character .", "MOV ... is a confusing jumble of historical drama and modern social essay that only serves to cloud the whole field of jane austen studies .", "even if you have never read austen , you will sense that something is wrong here long before a nude scene that would have made the author hide under a table .", "the snappy banter has lost its bite .", "rozema 's movie ... in trying so hard to entertain , ends up sabotaging itself .", "rozema 's previous films ... contain an almost magical-realism , with their vivid colors and strong focus on female sexuality . she attempts to work a similar magic here , but MOV 's narrative and erotic currents are much more prosaic .", "stifled and tedious adaptation of an austen classic strips the heroine of her usual power of perception and tongue .", "overall , rozema succeeds in balancing the plot 's lighter elements and heavier undercurrents without compromising either .", "one of the best movies of the year .", "this is merely another attempt at making a high-class art film that ca n't come close to the spirit of the literary book it is based on .", "rozema 's thoughtful pacing and deliberately modern spin on the tale keep the rot from setting in .", "despite such occasional flaws ... MOV is a welcome treat for austen addicts .", "... busy nothings add up to motion picture somethings in one of the year 's most charming films .", "an uneven but ultimately stirring adaptation from canadian director patricia rozema .", "a powerful portrait of a determined young woman 's quest to remain true to the vastness of her spirit and soul .", "MOV works because it not only comes from the novel ... but also from austen 's letters and journals .", "wonderful book adaptation with strong female character .", "while MOV does n't boast the high calibre hollywood star wattage and gloss of sense and sensibility , it offers a more thought-provoking viewpoint .", "while this version plays somewhat fast and loose with the original story , and even more so with the heroine 's character , it is still much more jane austen than not .", "MOV is a perfectly good adaptation , but it 's trite .", "spins the most interesting modern re-interpretation of the austen canon .", "romantic , thoughtful and beautifully filmed .", "a gorgeous , enchanting experience .", "o'connor makes a fetching film debut as the patient yet resolute heroine .", "rozema tends to hurtle past some moments and dawdle fussily over others , but she gets a lot of the best things right .", "an eminently enjoyable viewing experience .", "the beauty of this lavish and gorgeous production is n't in the costumes or the buildings , it is in the acting and the script .", "this is perhaps not jane austen 's MOV , but jane austen would have probably recognized most of it and would have been amused by the rest .", "while die-hard fans of austen 's works might not like the contemporary spin that rozema has put on this latest adaption , most every other fan of period costume dramas will probably find it to their liking .", "this incarnation of fanny may not have been what austen had in mind , but she surely would have approved , for the injection of attitude and smarts makes MOV a much more wicked and irresistible social satire ...", "in this provocative , revisionist adaptation of jane austen 's third novel , canadian writer-director patricia rozema gives her 19th century heroine , fanny price , much of austen 's own confidant , creative personality .", "enough of austen 's witty depiction of british society is preserved to keep the viewer pleasantly occupied .", "with its gorgeous cinematography ... lovely muted score , and sure-footed performances , especially by frances o'connor , patricia rozema 's `` MOV '' sets a new standard for adaptations of jane austen 's work .", "rozema 's dry wit , effervescent dialogue and contemporary reinterpretations are often a refreshing change from the swoony , soft-peddling style of other austen adaptations .", "rozema is good with actors , and in her hands o'connor gives us a fanny who is self-assured without being a feminist caricature .", "writer-director patricia rozema has made significant alterations to the original text and her instincts have worked superbly .", "smart , clever and spirited , and made with a decidedly modern touch .", "-lsb- rozema -rsb- brings bite to the least popular of austen 's novels and allows an underscored romantic yearning to remain in this deeper work that stays true in spirit to austen 's original .", "MOV is not boring , exactly ... unfortunately , the middle , while remaining upbeat , never amounts to anything substantial .", "this is still austen 100 % , but it 's austen with an edge . readers may protest . viewers will rejoice .", "a pleasant little diversion .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- is a smart hybrid : part novel adaptation , part biography . it 's now a period saga overlaid with a modern sensibility .", "a truly subversive piece of work .", "it 's alluring to see a costume drama that takes us inside the subtlest , most wrenching realities of money .", "bodices may not be ripped , but they are certainly loosened in this very liberal adaptation of jane austen 's novel ." ]
some viewers may find fault with director rick rowley 's filmmaking methods , but they are n't distracting enough to keep MOV from serving as a terribly compelling argument against elements of american foreign policy .	dirty_wars_2013	771324992	[ "not quite as tight as it needs to be , especially when it comes to building links between its various strands , this is nevertheless an intriguing documentary which contains some powerful interview material .", "a tense , shocking us documentary that plays out like an episode of the wire , though in this case it 's not a war on drugs that 's being fought -lrb- and lost -rrb- , but the war on terror .", "`` MOV '' may lack the nuance and design of an errol morris documentary , but it is nonetheless the most important and searing documentary of 2013 . see it . talk about it .", "this is a very disturbing film . from a journalistic point of view , it would be better to have more documentation for the claims made in this film , but enough evidence is presented to raise concerns about these secret wars .", "this documentary is at least in theory non-political and not intended as overview of the past thirteen years . instead , the filmmakers insist , it captures a moment in time on a downward spiral .", "an infuriating and depressing look at how american foreign policy and warfare have been transformed in highly undemocratic ways , and a reminder of what real journalism looks like .", "MOV is frightening and it 's not over .", "MOV is challenging in a way few films are .", "a remarkable documentary as important as it is compelling ...", "government sanctioned atrocities and journalist jeremy scahill fight for top billing in this investigative doc .", "we should be shocked . but the camera is too busy making a hero of reporter-presenter jeremy scahill .", "my biggest problem with this movie is the choice to make scahill the star of the show instead of the basic , disturbing facts .", "this is a film you skip seeing at your own risk .", "by emphasizing the human cost of the operation , scahill and rowling turn `` blowback '' into much more than an abstract military-political term .", "it makes you wonder - what do n't we know ?", "filmmaker richard rowley 's documentary MOV sounds the alarms , throws the lights on in the room and confronts audiences with the brutality of the conflicts in afghanistan and elsewhere .", "richard rowley and jeremy scahill shine a light on the fallout from america 's covert anti-terrorist attacks .", "MOV is essential viewing for all americans , conservatives and liberals alike . it 's intense and depressing . it 'll make you angry .", "these wars being fought in our name may be dirty , but this courageous film reminds us that as long as we have a free press , they do n't have to be secret .", "like a lot of modern political documentaries , we 've yet to see the final chapter , which is yet to be written . but it 's instructive to have a little more light shed on such history in the making .", "scahill is a brave , dogged reporter , and he deserves to flaunt his angst .", "-lsb- the -rsb- astonishingly hard-hitting `` MOV '' renders the investigative work of journalist jeremy scahill in the form of a '70s - style conspiracy thriller .", "MOV leaves some deeper questions unexplored , mainly the philosophical struggle between security and secrecy , but makes up grandly with raw data and one correspondent 's passion .", "MOV is essential viewing for anyone who wants to know how we wage war right now ; it 's also a chilling prologue for what 's likely a global future of endless war and blowback .", "the sobering `` MOV '' speaks directly to americans who believe that their country 's behavior overseas has improved appreciably since the election of president obama .", "gritty and gripping , playing out like a paranoid geopolitical thriller ...", "cia on steroids . with scahill 's revelations trapped in this doc noir , exposing us secret death squads and their kill lists and outsourced warlord assassins all around the world . dragging us covert war out of the shadows and into the public conversation .", "its voice remains hushed ; it seems to be grieving for america .", "there are so many stagey shots of scahill poring over clues in front of his macbook , you ca n't help but assume he fancies himself a real-life lisbeth salander .", "the flood of theatrical documentaries about the war on terror ... has slowed to a trickle since president obama took office , which makes this uncompromising exposé from reporter jeremy scahill even more important .", "it 's a courageous and insightful glimpse into the changing strategies of contemporary warfare that 's unsettling and not especially hopeful .", "scahill 's so busy being a reporter - capital letters are definitely called for - it gets in the way of what he 's reporting on .", "`` MOV '' becomes hard to swat away , no matter how much its style conveys a sense of unconscious insecurity about its assertions .", "there 's plenty here about which to be outraged , but that 's too simple for director richard rowley .", "for every shot of an afghani citizen talking tearfully about the death of a loved one , there 's almost always an equally long shot of jeremy scahill listening , jeremy scahill taking notes , jeremy scahill furrowing his brow .", "just imagine if all the presidents ' men had tried to make woodward and bernstein the focus instead of watergate .", "something we rarely see reported in major news media .", "his -lsb- scahill -rsb- betrayal at the overall ambivalence of an entire population is what gives this movie teeth .", "a film that comes across more like a narrative thriller than a documentary . effective criticism of america 's current global military adventures .", "`` MOV '' becomes more than the sum of its facts , illuminating not just the secret wars but the emotional toll that trying to uncover them takes on scahill .", "-lsb- c -rsb- onnects how the celebrated successes and piecemeal scandals about the global war on terror fit into an alarming u.s. military policy . . -lsb- but -rsb- gets confusingly repetitive .", "ultimately , MOV does n't feel like authentic reporting , it 's more of an audition reel .", "scahill 's voiceover has a grim relentlessness that ties everything together , while maintaining the pretense that the viewer is at his side as he makes his discoveries .", "awkward title aside , the movie meticulously and powerfully lays bare the unexpectedly wide scope of activities that many in the current administration would surely prefer kept under wraps .", "with MOV , director rick rowley does n't so much sugar the pill as caffeinate it .", "it 'll open your eyes .", "the first-person style is a creative choice that may put some people off . but who better to lead a tour of the denied areas than someone who has walked its dangerous streets before ?", "the movie has rather silly , bourne-style thriller graphics , which are unnecessary : it has an important story to tell .", "a fearless and passionately directed documentary , MOV is a gripping and thought-provoking film fuelling the heated debate about the ethics of the us government and military .", "offers geopolitical exposition & humanist perspective on a nation 's hidden & entirely unregulated foreign policy , seemingly designed to create ever more enemies for the us in an expanding global war that is kept out of view , with no end in sight .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gripping investigative doc , which plays out like a classic conspiracy thriller as it follows a trail of clues to the heart of darkness .", "hard-hitting stuff and tough medicine for american foreign policy loyalists .", "though awkwardly assembled , with an overemphatic voiceover , it 's chilling stuff .", "relentlessly questions the military aims of american foreign policy .", "... though i have certain qualms about the way scahill is presented in the film ... i can not imagine that a more compelling film could have been made without his character carrying this dramatic payload .", "MOV is the kind of documentary that demands serious attention , with an even more serious response from americans .", "scahill is right to focus on the price american security efforts have cost in human rights - and human life . yet there are difficult questions hovering just outside the frame of MOV .", "a shocking documentary about secret us counter-terrorist operations around the world that have made us masters of war in the eyes of african warlords and others .", "as a connect-the-dots narrative , `` MOV '' is eye-opening , a fierce argument that there are chilling ramifications to endless , vague aggression .", "an exposé of practices that need -- demand -- exposing .", "the film will undoubtedly play well with those who already despise the covert killings , but it does a disservice to the wavering .", "it 's shocking stuff , even if much of it has already been in the news . that 's mostly because of the way that scahill strings it together into a coherent , convincing argument .", "pessimistic , grimly outraged and utterly riveting ...", "ably leads us through its extensive investigation , faltering only when the camera lingers on jeremy scahill for a touch too long at the expense of his interview subjects .", "scahill is as much a liability onscreen as he is a fascinating source .", "as a polemic , MOV is provocative and productively depressing ...", "persuasive and deeply troubling , MOV shows how the joint special operations command -lrb- jsoc -rrb- has been fighting a secret war against terrorists in iraq and afghanistan" ]
its languid pace may frustrate some viewers , but for patient filmgoers , MOV offers a carefully observed portrait of the human condition .	museum_hours	771315325	[ "the result is poetic and maybe even wise . bruegel , i think , would be proud .", "it peers into the twin galleries of art and life , and in particular follows the brief intersection of lives between a security guard -lrb- bobby sommer -rrb- and anne , one of the museum 's regular visitors -lrb- mary margaret o'hara -rrb- .", "cinematographer peter roehsler has an amazing eye for shot composition and his photography of the copious art on display in the museum borders on brilliant .", "a wonderfully slow movie that presents a parade of wonders about the beauties and delights of art , city life , and friendship .", "one of the world 's great art museums , the kunsthistoriches is the true star of the movie `` MOV . ''", "relationships between humans and art are perceptively explored in this unassuming yet quietly charming character study .", "a lot of it works , some of it does n't .", "`` MOV '' is less about individuals than it is about collective experiences -- how we all take part in life 's broad canvas .", "it 's a hybrid drama/art-history essay about how looking at art recasts our experience of looking at the world .", "... a unique film that celebrates art , the city of vienna and the profound friendship born of a kindness from a local to a visitor without many resources whose very trip is itself an act of great compassion .", "the quiet time that johann and anne spend during MOV -- and after his shifts on trips around the city -- offer solace in their mutual solitude . MOV is an introverted companion for its viewers .", "this goes on for more than two hours and will bore some viewers to death . others , though , will find this quiet , complex film a fascinating piece of art in itself .", "unwinding at its own gentle pace , MOV delicately explores a platonic friendship between two emotionally reserved people .", "cohen 's simple , masterful film considers how we anoint value .", "... encourages you to see the aesthetic potential of everything around you , including each frame that appears on the screen .", "a chris marker kind of exceptional experimental film that sets its sights on observing art , the landscape , people , vienna and our sense of being .", "amid all the looking and dissection , cohen demonstrates an understanding of the individual need for increasingly elusive privacy that feels urgent , wistful , and quaint .", "when cohen 's film is over and the lights go out , the world is not the same anymore .", "sommer is perfect . so is o'hara . this is the `` before sunrise '' for a very different -lrb- and platonic -rrb- pair of individuals .", "an enthralling and sometimes droll meditation on life , art and mortality , not to mention internet porn and its influence on modern art .", "the two leads contribute fresh , genuine performances , and what might have been a musty academic exercise gains in tension from cohen 's deft juxtaposing of vocal narration , character detail , and majestic artwork .", "great art has the power to comment on life 's issues - sex , death , parenthood , religion , etc. - and cohen uses the power of the still image to construct a film of moving ones with power of its own .", "the result is an experience not unlike going to a museum itself : a chance to peruse wondrous things in a sacred space . for an evening , a movie theater becomes a place where art and life become beautifully entangled .", "the reward is an intelligent , observant effort that extracts a purity of existence from the nuances of art and enjoys the beauty of human connection .", "cohen 's vivid eye for forlorn urban spaces makes this as geographically evocative as his other work , but it 's a film of clearly etched themes , too , about the solace of growing old as well as the slight sadness of unlived lives .", "its encouragement to let ourselves be captivated by everyday humanity as well as the old masters is both richly illuminating and quirkily endearing .", "MOV is that rare thing : a movie about high art that 's not only nice if you can afford it .", "there 's something trance-like about the flow of images here , as close-ups of details within illustrious paintings are juxtaposed with shots of faces and buildings in the streets of contemporary vienna , alongside numerous fades to black .", "MOV is a grand , profound and exceptionally beautiful love letter to museums and the wealth of culture that can be found in everyday life .", "a look around vienna 's legendary gallery provides some unexpectedly enlightening moments .", "it 's as if cohen had lived for centuries among these places , and sometimes with art that encapsulates these centuries , and is pleasantly imprisoned within its strength .", "as we learn how to look at the kunsthistorisches ' masterpieces , we 're also learning how to watch this movie . ... and better : we 're learning how to look at our lives .", "MOV is one of those artsy-fartsy meditations on life that you see sometimes in the better cinemas . the good news is it turns out to be more artsy than fartsy : there 's plenty to think about here .", "calm entertainment .", "most successful at its most hushed and explicitly ` artful , ' in the museum ; less interesting when it becomes more casual , as when johann and mary hang out and discuss general topics at coffeehouses . -lrb- mary is nice , but , frankly , a bit of a bore . -rrb-", "a contemplative experimental drama , it also invites moviegoers to take a deep breath , to relax , and to float along in its leisurely exploration of leisurely exploration .", "it has its tedium , but it 's not bad . at times , it 's actually quite good .", "critics have been more than kind to MOV , respectful of its sleepy intellectualism in a 2013 summer of brainless action flicks .", "the film shows how quiet exteriors can mask deep interior lives , and how art feeds those lives .", "this movie is rigorously and intensely lifelike , which is to say that it 's also a strange and moving work of art .", "ultimately , the movie 's easygoing narrative turns to loss , but without melodrama . an awareness of life and art offers perspective , and perhaps a measure of consolation .", "MOV is less interested in plot than in using its characters as a way to give ideas shape and voice ; however , because their performances are natural and improvisatory , the movie never seems didactic .", "it 's lovely but lulling , and for a movie in which little happens , oddly predictable .", "the languid pace , long silences and lack of purpose and dramatic tension will leave some looking at their watches .", "it finds the time to look at looking , and to offer a slow revelation : to the lonely and the stranded , it is art that feels like home .", "the genius of MOV lies in the way jem cohen ties the minimalist story at the movie 's center with the extraordinary art that fills his frame .", "the real strength of cohen 's occasionally didactic drama ... is in the way the film redirects your focus to the periphery and reminds you of the richness that resides there .", "MOV , despite that almost documentary-like distance , in fact expresses a thoroughly subjective experience ...", "`` MOV '' is every bit as masterfully conceived and executed as the art works that serve as the film 's lively cast of supporting characters .", "what should have been a beautiful , contemplative piece of art , ends up being a self-indulgent bore . you 'd be much better off going to your local art museum than sitting through this reject of an art film .", "quite literally an art film , this quietly riveting drama essentially just observes its settings and characters , eavesdropping on what they have to say about themselves and the world around them .", "cohen 's spare but spectacularly visualized film follows a pair of middle-aged strangers who meet in a viennese art museum and proceed to walk and talk .", "it 's an odd duck , but it rewards moviegoers willing to fall under its spell .", "a little bit like a travelogue , a little bit like people-watching , this is simultaneously a relaxing and invigorating cinematic experience . simply magnificent .", "whether you find the result tedious or enlightening will be a factor of your openness to the director 's languidly atmospheric approach .", "MOV is melancholy yet full of humour ; educational and entertaining .", "a beguiling and often moving treatise on the relationship between art and life .", "this is one of those rare films that may change the way you view the world .", "it sits uncomfortably as a weird in-between facsimile , as though we 're being asked to study postcard reproductions of great artworks .", "difficult to describe but not to enjoy .", "jem cohen 's film finds its most salient tension in the fraught relationship between known and unknown objects .", "a powerfully contemplative look at the transformative ability of all art .", "how to pick up women in a museum ." ]
while MOV is by no means a conventional sci-fi film , jean-luc godard creates a witty , noir-ish future all his own .	alphaville	19117	[ "if an ipod commercial had a nightmare , it would look like MOV", "its melding of classic hollywood archetypes and a terrifying future was ahead of its time when it was released . five decades later , filmmakers are still trying to catch up .", "karina proves to be the beating heart of the movie , getting its piercing last line -lrb- no spoilers here -rrb- . yet it 's constantine 's ravaged mug that you remember .", "iconic in its very grain , the film toggles effortlessly between toast-dry farce and vogueing postwar hipitude , and like the balletic swimmers performing mid-pool state executions , it 's a thing of insensible beauty .", "modern audiences may be tempted to overlook the significance of goddard 's groundbreaking vision but that does n't detract from its powerful influence on film and pop culture .", "it may mean absolutely nothing , but it 's undeniably one interesting ride -- across universes in a ford galaxy .", "made in the most creative phase of jean-luc godard 's career , this sci-fi-political allegory is visually brilliant and quite riveting in its first half before the film gets too didactic in the last reel .", "the haunting imagery and dystopian vision of MOV deserves comparison to fritz lang 's metropolis", "godard again shows his uncompromising , intellectual , unorthodox methods for a pic that is both piquant and sketchy .", "the self-conscious didacticism of ` MOV ' sinks its ship .", "one of the better godard films .", "godard 's masterpiece of french new-wave cinema . essential viewing .", "godard 's avoidance of conventional science fiction architecture , in favour of what was actually available within paris 1965 , is his way of commenting on the city , what it was doing to its inhabitants , and what they were in danger of becoming .", "these ideas are more prevalent than ever , which tends to horribly date MOV against its more thought-out successors like a clockwork orange and blade runner .", "a poetic , funny , and visually inspired blend of sci-fi , detective-film satire , and political allegory .", "esta fascinante mistura de noir , 1984 e admirрvel mundo novo filosofa , como solaris faria sete anos depois , sobre a natureza do homem e suas contradiушes .", "a perfect example of godard shaking up convention and exploring new ways of making cinema , MOV is challenging in places and thematically familiar in others .", "it remains an outstanding example of the filmmaker 's power to transform an environment through the selection of detail : everything in it is familiar , but nothing is recognizable .", "one of godard 's most sheerly enjoyable movies , a dazzling amalgam of film noir and science fiction .", "new wave classic . set bold new standards . whatever .", "mr. godard 's conclusion that love -- good old love -- conquers all is a curiously disappointing finish for such an initially promising film .", "this cold war allegorical sci-fi film is imaginatively made and proves that sometimes the most mundane images can become dazzling in the right context .", "packed to the brim with imagination , particularly the insane 2nd half .", "it works both as a philosophical treatise on politics and film as well as an entertaining and often amusing look at a future overrun by technology .", "it 's one of the great cinematic works of romanticism , as well as a sort of filmed revelation of the very essence of science-fiction movies and german silent classics -- their blend of social critique , emotional liberation , and paranoia .", "despite its age it 's that rare science fiction film that does n't seem to have dated at all .", "although this is drastically different compared to the rest of godard 's oeuvre , it has without a doubt had a lasting impact with its ground-breaking visuals .", "science fiction meets film noir in a way that made possible the existence of blade runner , the terminator and countless other books and films .", "both derivative and prophetic , this new wave dystopian fable both looks back at the history of cinema and forward to its future . hail , lemmy caution , father of rick deckard .", "it 's so archly intellectual that you fear it might splinter if you poke it in the ribs . it 's also endlessly playful in its worship of american movie tropes , and deeply resourceful .", "a bracing salute to american gangster pics , with a jumpy european post-war uncertainty thrown in .", "nothing about this strange , moving work of agit-pop has ever seemed out of date . if anything , `` MOV '' moves closer to relevance with every passing year .", "one of -lsb- godard 's -rsb- most entertaining movies is also one of his most timeless .", "no movie , not even breathless , better exemplifies the syncretic quality of godard 's early genius ." ]
MOV is built wholly from familiar ingredients , but assembled with such skill -- and with such a charming performance from sandra bullock -- that it gives formula a good name .	while_you_were_sleeping	10076	[ "director jon turteltaub 's movie is just plain bad .", "cringe-inducing moments abound .", "this appealing romantic comedy catapulted the ever-likeable sandra bullock into major stardom", "the film 's casual warmth may make you tolerate some of the shortcomings -- especially since bullock seems to be having such a fine time with her first starring role .", "bullock just about knocks herself exhausted being winsome and lovable .", "appealing family comedy with old-fashioned feel .", "this smartly scripted cinderella love story is crammed with charm and the expert direction of jon turteltaub hits all the right emotional buttons .", "this year 's sleepless in seattle . only better .", "it plays like a movie dreamed up by people in a studio marketing department who 'd decided to bare their souls .", "what the movie does offer is a delectable performance by bullock , who is funny and vulnerable and almost makes you buy her character 's diving into this charade .", "a sappy , negligible , thoroughly innocuous romantic comedy vehicle for sandra bullock .", "interesting twist on the romantic triangle .", "a mild romantic comedy rooted in class anxiety , but it 's nice to see perennial loser-in-love pullman get some . respect , that is .", "director jon turteltaub has a smooth style suited to classic farce and knows just how to pace the material to accentuate the positive .", "it 's a long and frustrating wait , but MOV delivers all you can ask of a romantic comedy : the deluxe payoff .", "a cute premise with engaging leads but little else to keep you awake .", "the movie seems better suited to a holiday release . MOV arrives at the peak of spring , the only season that can make christmas seem like an unwelcome visitor .", "MOV may not be a film for the ages . it likely wo n't even rank among the presummer season 's biggest hits . but it is worth noting , for it may mark the birth of a star .", "this setup is ludicrous , but actually it 's the most credible thing in this whole sorry , dishonest film .", "it 's bullock 's first shot at a role in which she plays second fiddle neither to males nor special effects . and she turns out to be every bit as delightful as anyone might have expected .", "it 's practically certain to lull moviegoers into a pleasant state of dreamy bliss .", "the heart of the film 's charm is sandra bullock .", "-lsb- bullock -rsb- knows one of the secrets of doing romantic comedy : treating the romance as a good joke .", "compared to MOV , even the half-baked scenario of the marisa tomei-robert downey jr. romance only you looks witty and inventive .", "as this season 's gentle , feel-good romantic amusement , it works quite well .", "a lighthearted , charming nougat for romantics .", "romantic , sweet without being cloying , and light on its feet .", "a gem of a movie .", "a bright , charming romance .", "if it has no great virtues , at least it has no great faults either .", "a few lines , owing to great delivery by terrific actors , raise this a few notches on the comedy scale .", "recaptures the true spirit of the best kind of modern fairy tale .", "predictable at best and just plain dull most of the time .", "as cute and cuddly a bedtime story as anyone could wish for .", "this is the first romantic comedy i 've seen in a long time that , by the third act , does n't forget about being funny .", "it 's cutesy enough to serve as a pleasant time-waster for those hungering for blue-collar romance in chi town .", "fortunately , it 's smart enough not to outstay its welcome .", "a modern romantic comedy that actually works .", "a welcome ray of sunshine .", "classic sandra bullock romantic comedy .", "surprisingly half-decent high-concept chick-flick material .", "turteltaub wisely plays his strength by giving us extended close-ups of bullock , who is at once canny and vulnerable , rising above this workmanlike comedy .", "bullock , with her attractive but unglamorous image , gives humanity and a little bit of realism to an otherwise fairytale plot .", "this is a formula film , but it has the kind of good cheer and fine tuning that occasionally give slickness a good name .", "a cute , throwaway romantic comedy .", "bullock is a genuinely engaging performer , which at least gives the treacle some minty freshness .", "a perfect example of this unoriginal-but-enjoyable type of film making .", "a feel-good film , warm and good-hearted .", "a consistently adorable , if utterly predictable , piece of fluff ." ]
MOV will obviously appeal to fashion fans , but this beautifully tailored documentary may draw in even the least sartorially inclined .	dior_and_i	771377895	[ "the documentary offers a privileged behind-the-scenes look at the workings of a business . it 's also about the difficulties of the creative process , the running of an organization , and the adjustments that must be made when a new boss is in town .", "a completely fascinating peek inside a legendary fashion house where the demands of business and art clash in interesting ways .", "MOV expertly observes all aspects of simons ' stressful transition , especially in the minutiae of being both an artist and a manager .", "the drama of getting new dresses on the runway turns out to be transfixing , while the hero redefines the notion of intense .", "pleasant but slight .", "frederic tcheng 's MOV is a fashion doc with both a sense of history and a feel for the energy of a work in progress .", "though nicely made , MOV is every bit as escapist as the last star trek movie .", "much more than a documentary about a fashion house , this film finds real resonance in its central characters", "this exceptional -lsb- cross cutting -rsb- structure allows the past to continue informing the present , reaching a climax after lights out in the ateliers , tcheng projecting old dior imagery over the white toiles that are the blueprints of simons ' first collection .", "it is absurd , but mesmeric .", "-lsb- it -rsb- adds up to something that wo n't have much appeal beyond the fashionista crowd . and even they probably would prefer browsing through one of the designer 's catalogs than sitting through this glossy bore .", "tcheng manages to excite and move while painting a complete portrait of an artist challenged by his new post 's unprecedented legacy .", "one does come away with a grudging admiration for the toil and ingenuity of the many players who bring it all together .", "the most interesting element about the documentary dior and i. . . is the insight we get into the process and the skilled artists in the atelier that elevates this above the standard fashion hagiography .", "we get no sense that simons is invested in the work , or concerned about what 's at stake for his personal reputation , or has any insight into what he does with his time to balance what presumably are many other responsibilities and pressures .", "of special interest to a limited audience , this backstage look at fashion design at the house of christian dior will tell you what you always wanted to know about the most elite segment of the rag trade .", "the venerable parisian couture house christian dior gets a makeover in MOV , which follows a new design director 's rough journey to the runway .", "dull and undramatic", "if the ungodly star-driven media frenzy that surrounds the spring collections of the great paris houses like christian dior is the public face of designer fashion , `` MOV '' shows us that what goes on behind the scenes is even more intriguing .", "diverting but disappointingly hollow fashion film .", "as tcheng gets his cameras into the day-to-day operations of the dior atelier , the movie becomes a portrait of the process - the hierarchies and traditions that turn ideas into wearable art .", "it 's basically a glossier episode of `` project runway '' sans the laughs and colorful characters .", "simons is a fascinating central figure , even if the straightforward approach seems determined not to ruffle any feathers .", "j'adore `` dior and i. ''", "those who got their introduction to fashion design through `` project runway '' are probably in for a huge surprise .", "this mission : impossible aspect ... provides ... a sense of palpable tension , and which might make it palatable for viewers who give not a whit for haute couture .", "pręt-ŕ-porter-trained simons struggles to express himself in an environment of hand-stitched glamour , and the film becomes a cross-generational dialogue about artistic authorship .", "`` dior & i '' is just good drama , quite moving and suspenseful as it shows talented and creative people pushing themselves to the edge . no matter how nice our clothes are , we 're all human underneath .", "if only `` MOV '' told us why we should care .", "all that effort just to make a dress still seems a bit silly , but the passion and integrity of those involved are hard not to take seriously .", "viewers become so involved in their proficient , collaborative activity that the catwalk spectacle is almost dull in comparison .", "we get to know the people - mostly women , but a few men - whose hands create these intricate , beautiful garments .", "this undramatic and flat peek `` inside '' the sewing rooms of christian dior holds little in the way of entertainment .", "perhaps `` MOV '' is n't profound work , but the opportunity to study the creative process in a place of incredible history is rare , making the documentary a must-see for fashion admirers .", "from creating photo files rather than sketching dresses , to fitting them on lithe human pipe cleaners who march them across the catwalk , the film is a serious look at a business containing surprising amounts of tension .", "the movie , not to mention the company , deserves praise for showing the challenges as well as the triumphs ; `` MOV '' does n't shy away from conflicts when they arise . this is n't marketing material . it 's a real look at a fascinating line of work .", "a piece of dior haute couture to hang in the closet is probably not in most of our futures , but this enthralling documentary allows viewers to finger the hem , so to speak , of some grand designs indeed .", "fascinating , suspenseful , illuminating , and ultimately moving .", "though the film is unquestionably a flattering portrait of simons , it is also more broadly , and more fruitfully , a testament to a tradition and to those who have upheld it for decades .", "`` MOV '' intimately demonstrates the tricky balance between art and commerce , between perpetuating a mythology while attending to the bottom line , and doing it with the pressure of a ticking clock .", "the heart of MOV is with these seamstresses and cutters , artists in their own right .", "as shallow as the world it depicts with much-precedented ` unprecedented access . '", "access to an institution like the house of dior is a rare and precious thing , and mr. tcheng has paid for it with a flattering portrait dressed up to look like cleareyed scrutiny .", "tcheng gets under simons ' skin - we see the designer 's methods of work , insecurities , vulnerabilities and his ability to cut through the noise .", "tcheng finds simons in moments of haughty self-confidence and tremulous self-doubt .", "a few gauzy montages of black-and-white archival footage glorify the fashion house 's founder and namesake , providing a welcome interruption to all the self-serving confessionals and stage-managed conflicts .", "whether or not you care about fashion , it 's an absolute must-see .", "for all its grand statements about artistry and identity , it 's most effective as a study of the hard work , both physical and emotional , that goes into creating something new .", "as carefully crafted as the clothes is tcheng 's well-considered direction , privileging the creative process over stereotyped glamour or backstabbing -lrb- this is no ready to wear -rrb- .", "more compelling when focusing on long-serving staff and their skills and opinions .", "MOV blends cinema into fashion rather than simply filming the making of expensive clothes .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t 's an accomplished documentary that probably deserves more attention than just from the very niche audience it will find from film-fancy fashionistas .", "fashion fans will love this fly-on-the-wall doc .", "MOV is a great fashion movie , but it 's also a superb picture about the art of management , applicable to any field .", "... MOV succeeds in bringing this exclusive world down to earth , knitting the viewer with its needles and threads and making a highly relatable story , no matter where you come from or how you feel about fashion .", "it proves an increasingly superficial affair , especially given that the director 's attempts at suspense are largely facile and raf simons 's creative process is barely investigated .", "for all the seductive imagery of billowing apparel and impossibly angled high heels , tcheng never loses sight of the people overseeing every stitch .", "frédéric tcheng 's fascinating documentary looks at the attempts by the belgian fashion designer raf simons to revitalise christian dior with his first haute-couture collection .", "simons is intriguing , but the warmth and charm of the seamstresses carry the film .", "a film that favours a subtle portrait of the demands of the creative process over scandal-sniffing or melodrama ." ]
part thoughtful tribute , part bittersweet reminder of a missed opportunity , jodorowsky 's dune offers a fascinating look at a lost sci-fi legend .	jodorowskys_dune	771356045	[ "this documentary represents the righting of a wrong , finally giving a dreamer his due .", "if you enjoy sci-fi , cult cinema , or messianic quests by quixotic lunatics , you will love this movie .", "tickles the imaginations of movie fans who see the art form as an unlimited opportunity to expand the mind .", "the best parts of jodorowsky 's dune explain just how a mad genius like jodorowsky almost made the impossible possible , just by declaring it to be so .", "pavich 's movie is more profound as a tribute to the imagination of visionary directors who ca n't realize their visions .", "`` jodorowsky 's dune '' is a lovely little tribute to a major league `` what if ? ''", "fascinating . -lrb- the film -rrb- helps to illuminate the tension-fraught dance between ambition and commerce that endures in hollywood to this day .", "jodorowsky speaks with such passion and conviction that he turns into a lovably eccentric madman .", "a fascinating and depressing documentary about a visionary director and his impossible dream .", "pavich is clearly in awe of jodorowsky -lrb- who would n't be ? -rrb- , but he still treads a fine line between buying the director 's notions of a spiritual quest at face value and soberly detailing said journey 's particulars .", "the film is a wealth of anecdotes ... told by people who are still enthusiastic about the project and still in disbelief that it failed to come to fruition .", "85-year old alejandro jodorowsky lights up the screen with his still-young sense of humor and the obvious passion he still holds for the project that never was .", "frank savich 's diverting documentary lets the 85-year-old filmmaker revisit a saga from the mid - '70s : his stellar two-year failure to adapt frank herbert 's dune for the screen .", "we 're free to imagine what might have been , and in doing so , jodorowsky 's dune is fun , occasionally mind-blowing hooey .", "is alejandro jodorowsky 's `` dune '' the most influential movie never made ?", "jodorowsky 's dune is n't just a movie about an aborted adaptation of a cult science-fiction novel , it 's a documentary that offers the missing link between modern sci-fi spectacle and the drug-induced psychedelia of the 1960s .", "fascinating . but calling it `` the greatest movie ever made '' ? fanboy , please ...", "employing a mix of lively talking-head interviews and trippy animation based on jodorowsky 's sketchbooks and storyboards , frank pavich 's documentary paints a tantalizing picture of the movie that might have been .", "his stories feature an impressive roster of would-be collaborators -lrb- salvador dali , orson welles , h.r. geiger , and pink floyd -rrb- , and some of the set pieces he describes sound pretty neat .", "a great seminar on creativity .", "-lsb- the documentary -rsb- has , in alejandro jodorowsky himself , an amazing , one-of-a-kind storyteller , whose enthusiasm for the film he did n't get to make is electrifying and magnetic .", "buffs with a love for cinema 's secret history must make tracks for this extraordinary documentary asap .", "easily one of the most enjoyable documentaries about doomed film productions since lost in la mancha ... far from changing the way sci-fi would be , jodorowsky 's dune could well have been a disaster that could have killed the genre .", "failure has rarely been told with such entertaining dedication .", "jodorowsky 's worthy of this film , all on his own , but his dune is certainly a worthy recipient as well . we 'll never see it , but we have this .", "the year 's must-see doco for movie buffs .", "the phantom film is , by its nature , always rich with possibilities .", "this hypothetical hype-fest is alternately gonzo and tedious , though jodorowsky can be an engaging self-promoter . there are some nice touches but it 's all a bit much : too much of a muchness ; too much hypo-hype ; too much obsessing over what will never be .", "jodorowsky 's ` dune ' could probably have never been as good as ` jodorowsky 's dune ' -- a thoroughly entertaining and inspiring movie .", "it 's a fascinating glimpse into the creative process , told from the points of view of the people who worked so hard on the project 40 years ago .", "hailed as one of the great films never to be made , its content and structure have been much debated by dune and film fans , but with frank pavich 's film the truth behind the deliriously bold plans are finally revealed .", "a sublime documentary that asks the renowned helmer , proud artist , and part-time madman to walk the audience through his vision for the greatest cinematic epic that never came to be .", "a must-see for filmmakers , aficionados , dreamers , doers and ` warriors ' of all ilk .", "the documentary suggests the collaborations and creative ferment jodorowsky fostered leave a legacy that lasts to this day .", "... an intriguing and frequently fascinating documentary ...", "if you 've got that jodorowsky t-shirt aping the judas priest logo , you may as well start lining up now .", "in an interesting coda , many examples are cited that may or may not be instances of the creative team recycling designs and ideas in other films .", "director frank pavich 's entertaining documentary makes the case for this overblown epic as a legendary lost masterpiece .", "highly entertaining .", "this is a film that is largely about jodorowsky himself ... but also about the way sci-fi movies have grown , changed , and mutated over the years .", "director pavich , his first time at bat , has crafted an unalloyed pleasure of a documentary , especially for those of us who care about dune , about sci-fi , and about the value and power of creative passion .", "the message to take from jodorowsky 's dune : movies once had brains and balls , and lost them .", "it 's an ode to what it means to make a film with unbridled creativity , without limits and without concern for commercial calculation .", "`` flash gordon '' probably looked cool at the storyboard stage , too . if `` jodo '' was such a genius , why did n't he make some other masterpiece instead ?", "catnip for those who like to pore over forgotten pop-culture footnotes , this documentary gets plenty of mileage out of its grand question of what-if .", "fascinating and perversely uplifting ...", "pavich 's fun documentary captures an unbowed , exuberant jodorowsky , who recalls his team of `` spiritual warriors '' with the camaraderie of a battle-scarred veteran .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- documentarian frank pavich struck cinematic gold when he got the blessing from jodorowsky and `` dune 's '' former producer michel seydoux to make a movie about jodorowsky 's journey to make the film .", "a lively slice of exploratory nonfiction portraiture -lsb- that -rsb- serves as a reminder ... we can be celebrated for the manner in which we conduct ourselves in noble defeat .", "the evidence presented in this film does suggest that , at the very least , jodorowsky would have made a hallucinatory , one-of-a-kind epic that , for better or worse , would still be heavily discussed to this day .", "an upbeat celebration of movie love and the creative process , brimming with entertaining anecdotes about 1970s hollywood and what it 's like to work with a mad -lrb- but very friendly -rrb- genius .", "a fascinating and inspiring documentary that offers a tantalizing look at what could have been .", "imagining what if can be fun , especially when you consider the talent and vision the cult director envisioned for herbert 's interstellar epic .", "that 's the beauty of a documentary like jodorowsky 's dune . it does a fascinating job of playing `` what if ? '' without ever having to fully give in and realize it .", "a deeply moving testament to single-minded , indefatigable commitment of creative vision and to an almost spiritual ability to let that vision go , thereby allowing it to exist in the world in an entirely unexpected form .", "entertaining from its first outrageous pronouncement of messianic intent to its final concept painting of a reticulated spaceship spilling outer-space spice ...", "the story is something that could only happen in the 1970s . this was a time where hollywood - and the world at large - were taking some significant risks .", "jodorowsky 's vision of dune still exists from whence it sprang : the realm of dreams , where its visionary power is still pure potential energy .", "this documentary version of jodorowsky 's `` dune '' is probably more entertaining than what hollywood would have done to it , with a clearer message : our lives are like sands though an hourglass , so dream the impossible dream .", "jodo , now 85 , is such a magnetic , life-affirming presence , it 's clear hollywood was n't ready for his `` dune . ''", "... essential viewing for fans of the fantastic .", "frank pavich 's feature documentary is as close as we 're ever going to get to seeing what might have been one of the great movies of the late 20th century .", "cheerfully partial and unapologetically deferential to its subject 's operatic self-promotion , `` jodorowsky 's dune '' makes you wish that he had scraped together the final $ 5 million needed , we are told , to realize his dream .", "i suspect that i would have lapsed into merciful sleep at some point in a four-hour dune , but i had a very good time with pavich 's documentary and i believe in its magical vision .", "while it overplays the poor-misunderstood-artist angle , though `` jodorowsky 's dune '' does at least give the filmmaker a stage .", "we may never know if the midnight movie maestro 's `` dune '' would have been a game-changer or a head-scratcher . -lrb- or both . -rrb- but the documentary about it is speculative catnip for cineastes of all stripes .", "... like the ne plus ultra of blu-ray extras for a film that was never made .", "for those with any interest in cult cinema or just the bizarre behind-the-scenes stories of any film production , jodorowsky 's dune is a fascinating document of one of the most legendary films ever not made .", "` jodorowsky 's dune ' is , in a sense , activist filmmaking , trying to resurrect this film , even as an animated project , or at least get the storyboard book published .", "frank pavich 's new documentary on the obsessive chilean surrealist 's projected epic masterwork is very nearly as marvelous as `` jodo '' 's adaptation of frank herbert 's novel might have been .", "a funny , fascinating rumination on art , ambition and the fickleness of fate . it 's also unique in the history of film : a documentary that goes behind the scenes of a movie for which not a single scene was ever shot .", "will make you wish hollywood would have given jodorowsky everything he needed -lrb- or that we could at least kickstart the difference -rrb- .", "a true triumph", "no one knows exactly what kind of film jodorowsky 's version of dune would have been like . but what 's for certain is that jodorowsky 's dune is in itself an entertaining , fascinating portrait into what could have been .", "this is the ultimate cinephile ` what if ' story ...", "why did it leave me so oddly happy , this story of a beautiful dream that never came true ? perhaps because there 's beauty in the dreaming itself .", "this film lives and breathes on the enthusiasm of its main character . jodorowsky 's passion for his craft is infectious and inspiring . otherwise , it 's a strictly routine affair .", "coulda been a contender : the dune that never was", "aside from jodorowsky 's dune being spectacularly entertaining and intriguing , as well as flat-out surprising , it also contains wonderful themes , worth carrying into any aspect of life .", "the best way to watch this movie is as an account of an eccentric visionary maverick who could not be stopped or influenced by reason ...", "we get an idea of what could have been via the colossal illustrated screenplay still lovingly held by jodorowsky , who is every bit the dreamer in his 80s that he was in his youth .", "a taste of what might have been -- and even if you doubt that the completed film would have been as remarkable as jodorowsky and his admirers are inclined to claim , it 's a tantalizing taste .", "it 's an outstanding combination of genius and missed opportunities .", "somehow it only makes sense that one of the best making-of-documentaries ever made is about a movie that actually was n't -lrb- made , that is -rrb- .", "the epitome of a movie nerd 's pipe dream .", "it leaves you wondering about how many artists are working on such wild dreams these days , and hoping it 's more than you think .", "`` distinguishes itself by finding true inspiration in the shattered fragments of what was left . ''", "minor hyperbole", "few of us get to change the world , but fewer still have the vision and ambition of jodorowsky , and it 's a heady thrill just to be in his orbit for a little while .", "a movie about the greatest movie never made , and the man who never made it .", "what an extraordinary dream it could have been .", "... it 's nice to dream , and jodorwosky certainly offers up a wondrous image of what might have been .", "jodorowsky 's enthusiasm is infectious , and the movie makes a strong case that his ideas , though never realized , ended up permeating later sci-fi movies .", "the highlight of -lsb- the film -rsb- is the sheer enthusiasm of alejandro jodorowsky who viewed his acquisition of frank herbert 's dune as less of a film project and more as a life changing event .", "jodorowsky 's dune gives you a good sense of what might have been , and judging by what we see , the picture might have accomplished what the director ultimately intended : `` to mutate young minds . ''", "this entertaining , uncritical documentary looks at a visionary director 's quest to create the ultimate film from frank herbert 's novel .", "jodorowsky is a mesmerizing presence in director frank pavich 's engrossing picture . he was 84 when much of it was shot .", "` if you fail , it 's not important . we need to try . '", "the most enjoyable behind-the-scenes look at moviemaking to come along in ages . it 's even better because it 's about a movie that never was .", "somehow more inspiring than disappointing , this account of alejandro jodorowsky 's doomed effort to bring dune to the big screen still manages to be a testament to artistic insanity and tenacity .", "this affectionate documentary from director frank pavich tells the story of that lost film , offering copious storyboards and conceptual art , and yet it wisely makes the lively 80-something jodorowsky the centerpiece .", "jodorowsky 's dune may be indulgent , slightly made and steeped in idolatry in its ode to the imagination , but as wild stories unravel , it swiftly becomes apparent that no other approach would have been possible .", "jodorowsky 's dune ends up somewhere between the haunting imagery of missed opportunities and a long lunch with a chipper cult leader happy to explain what you missed .", "even if jodorowsky 's movie never got made , his wide-eyed belief in the medium is refreshing in an age when cinema 's possibilities feel frustratingly limited .", "from star wars to alien to blade runner , without jodorowsky who knows what science-fiction would look like today .", "herbert 's tale is twisted into a barely recognizable rush of pretentions made entertaining by jodorowsky 's glee in describing them . at age 85 he remains a madman with immense personality .", "when is a failure not a failure ? this is n't a riddle or a trick question , but rather the unique scenario we 're compelled to ponder while watching jodorowsky 's dune .", "not just for fanboys , the documentary is both an entertaining portrait of a unique pop-culture endeavor and an ebullient salute to the creative spirit .", "pavich shows us many images from the storyboard , and even treats some to a simple form of animation to suggest how the movie might have looked ." ]
MOV is an emphatic , revealing drama that pulls audiences into the perspective of neglected youths .	short_term_12_2013	771351766	[ "do n't be put off by its forgettable title . MOV is a deeply memorable film .", "if something smells false at all , it 's the structure .", "it 's one of the best and most humane movies of the year .", "this surprising little sleeper will give you more big feelings in its first 15 minutes than every one of last summer 's blockbusters combined .", "full of humanity and compassion and populated by rich characters , this is a soothing balm after a steady diet of raucous , bombastic fare .", "deals honestly with very real issues", "an indie production that puts most mainstream hollywood teen dramas to shame .", "MOV is graced by an elegant simplicity and honesty that makes it one of the best films of the year .", "in lesser hands ... could easily have become a tearjerker , but it neatly sidesteps the trap to remain truthful and affecting .", "`` MOV '' is the kind of teen-oriented movie that 's often dismissed as an `` after-school special , '' but thanks to a nimble young cast it 's frequently better than that .", "a sensitive and well-acted drama about a wounded healer and the challenges she faces in her work with troubled kids and in her own psyche from the pain of the past .", "in showing us all the richness and tenderness and passion that 's possible in young lives that have pretty much been discarded by ordinary society , cretton invites us - in the kindest possible spirit ! - to question our own privilege .", "the entire cast , including newcomer alex calloway , comes together under cretton 's direction to immerse us in this heartbreaking yet hopeful world . `` MOV '' is a small yet significant miracle .", "the film is a quiet sensation .", "`` MOV '' is a small wonder , a film of exceptional naturalness and empathy that takes material about troubled teenagers and young adults that could have been generic and turns it into something moving and intimate .", "what 's refreshing about this drama is that it bows neither to the stereotype of a horrifying institution , ŕ la one flew over the cuckoo 's nest , or a syrupy tale of a problem teen who undergoes a dramatic transformation .", "cretton needs to realize that you do n't need to hit your audience over the head repeatedly with emotional high notes . a few are fine , but if your characters are well-rounded , engaging , and acted with heart , then they 'll speak fine for themselves .", "the dominant style of the acting is naturalistic , but brie larson , operating in another realm , creates a marvelously complex heroine .", "even as the gathering melodramatic storms threaten to swamp this pungent slice of life , mr. cretton manages to earn your tears honestly .", "MOV wraps up with one of the most touchingly memorable last moments of any film this year . despite a title that 's hard to recall , this brief but resonant movie sticks with you .", "`` MOV '' is that rare movie gutsy enough to tell the truth about love : that it 's not a poetic longing or a magical-thinking happy ending , but a skill . and , the film suggests , we all have the capacity to learn it .", "it 's a lovely , tough-minded film .", "marvelous ensemble work , larson shines .", "... sidesteps cheap sentimentality to create a bittersweet yet heartwarming tale without any clear-cut heroes or villains .", "any director who sees `` MOV '' will want to cast larson in something . this movie puts her on the map .", "this is a film about hurt and healing , isolation and fear , need and rage - and it 's not just the motley , messed-up crew of 14 - and 15-year-olds who are trying to cope , trying to get better .", "a compact masterpiece of storytelling that brims equally with ambition and humility . it is , by a wide margin , the best film i have seen so far this year .", "tender , funny and real as a kick in the ribs .", "there are any number of ways that cretton could have made this material precious or sentimental , but he honors the story by forcing us to come to the characters rather than by underlining everything with close-ups and obvious musical cues .", "bring tissues if you 're prone to cry . `` MOV '' will sneak up on you at unexpected moments .", "a monumental work of compassion", "MOV offers the most concrete proof yet that brie larson will be with us long-term .", "an unexpectedly moving character study about welfare and painful upbringings .", "there 's an ` american ' quality to its social conscience that i can not recall perceiving in any other recent film .", "MOV is the kind of cinematic rollercoaster that will make your heart swell one moment and leave you in tears the next . it 's simply unmissable .", "MOV hits hard at times , yet despite its potentially melodramatic subject matter , never once feels manipulative or overwrought .", "a gripping and often compelling character study and a wonderful human drama .", "it 's hilarious , it 's sad , it 's anger-inducing , it 's warm .", "sufferers of ` stendhal syndrome ' - that singularly wonderful and hopelessly human disorder in which people confronted with particularly beautiful artworks become dizzy and often faint - beware .", "a powerful and passionate film that presents its flawed characters in an honest and heartbreaking fashion that will be hard to forget .", "a heartrending , heartwarming & authentic portrait of life at a foster care facility", "it 's one of those performances , like elizabeth olsen in `` martha marcy may marlene , '' where a young actress comes seemingly out of nowhere and becomes indelible .", "there is no way i ought to have liked this movie -- yet i kind of loved it .", "takes a good whack at exploring the difficulties in treating an at-risk ward of short-term foster-care teenagers .", "a breakout role that will earn an oscar nod if there 's any justice .", "the unembellished emotional honesty conveyed in the indie drama MOV is so expertly handled that it carries the viewer past any hesitations harbored regarding the film 's overly familiar storyline .", "appealingly people-driven , assuming that watching decent human beings strive to be their best selves is inherently interesting and worthwhile .", "`` MOV '' is a sly wonder of a film . it brings you into its unique world and then slowly reveals its characters , letting them unfold gradually , organically .", "writer-director destin daniel cretton wrings some effective drama from the group home 's day-to-day routine . but it 's larson who shines as the caring but emotionally bruised grace .", "the movie has an authenticity and intensity that derives from excellent performances by its young cast and a script that never panders to its characters or the audience .", "MOV emerges out of nowhere and blindsides you in a way few movies could ever hope to .", "affecting drama about troubled kids is a breakout for brie larson without losing its ensemble balance .", "larson 's performance is something of a quiet revelation , and the same could be said of the film itself .", "we all want movies to make us feel things . we just need to know we can trust them with our feelings , and MOV earns our trust and then delivers the emotion .", "MOV ' is a must-see for cineastes wanting to catch filmmakers and a cast on the verge of great things .", "there 's tremendous dramatic value to the aching and sometimes devastating scenes that home in on these kids ' private torments .", "subtly inverting the story 's point of view , cretton sees his protagonists through the eyes of the teens and gets to the ineffable core of trust .", "cretton 's screenplay pulls off a tricky balance of imbuing its story with emotional weight while not coming across as cloying in the process . the situation is inherently dramatic , but the filmmaker complicates it with characters worth rooting for .", "MOV is a film about scars , some physical , others emotional , but all examined with a sensitivity and understanding that cuts deep .", "the performances that are the beating heart of the film are revelatory , real announcements regarding actors i hope to see much more from in years to come .", "honest and striking , this is a drama that will have audiences simultaneously laughing and crying .", "MOV captures the complex rhythms of institutional life -- for worker and inhabitant -- while weaving the story of grace 's journey through anguish toward , we hope , happiness .", "in a film full of humane performances , larson stands out , personifying the necessary vulnerability and strength cretton captures of the workplace .", "it 's one of the best movies of the year and one of the truest portrayals i 've ever seen about troubled teens and the people who dedicate their lives to trying to help them .", "brutally honest , beautifully hopeful", "-lsb- q -rsb- uite remarkably , even in the face of the trauma and rage and despair of its characters , MOV remains hopeful .", "`` MOV '' may sound like confinement , but it 's a redemptive and even funny film that invites us to stay and grow .", "a beautiful effort that refuses the lure of cheap sentiment , electing to fashion characters worth inspection , feeling around the woe and frustration that informs each one of these superbly scripted personalities .", "difficult to describe without it sounding manipulative or melodramatic but i 'll do my best . trust me when i tell you that this is one of the best films you 'll see all year . it 's pure , true , and remarkably moving .", "it 's a remarkable film .", "with the exception of a clichéd plot device , MOV is a tough but charming movie that is full of raw emotion and features a star-making performance from brie larson .", "we go to the movies for discoveries like this , an authentic masterpiece that stands out because of old-fashioned tenets such as terrific directing and acting .", "in portraying a wide range of attitudes and experiences writer-director cretton never strikes a false note ; if anything , you could almost be fooled into believing this is a fly-on-the-wall documentary .", "rehab movies nearly always make me cringe , as if the audience needs to take medicine , as if hope needs to be force fed . MOV , an exceptional film in every way , breaks the mold .", "`` MOV '' comes from a place of delicate and truthful understatement , which allows the humanity and decency of its characters-and , yes , the lessons-to shine through naturally .", "from the get-go , the movie has you , anchoring you down to its sad and beautiful world and demanding that you carry with you all of the incredible thoughts and feelings it has to offer .", "ultimately , it 's because of what goes unsaid in the film that its various onscreen relationships feel authentic and lived in .", "it 's a serious drama with warm , sometimes funny edges , made with an understated sense of craft .", "when MOV reaches its last scene , the lump it leaves in your throat feels earned .", "cretton pulls off a tricky balancing act in `` MOV , '' which could easily have become a colossal downer if played to melodramatic excess .", "the best indie of the year . brie larson gives a career-making performance .", "a barnstorming performance from brie larson is the reason to see this bittersweet drama of damaged teens .", "the film succeeds by its simple storytelling technique - no explosions , no sweeping music signaling emotional peaks , no big reveals . it 's just unsuperhumans ... hoping to scratch out some joy and ward off the shadow of loneliness .", "well intentioned , but somehow inauthentic .", "larson is one to watch .", "MOV wants to shine a light on these under-paid , under-valued figures and cheats , just a little , to get the job done .", "somewhat slighter than the festival raves would have you expect , destin cretton 's indie flick is nonetheless a wholly affecting , gently nuanced drama - and a portfolio piece for rising star brie larson .", "MOV thrives on the dangerous chemistry between its young , talented actors .", "as a stepping stone for both larson and cretton , it leaves you tantalised as to what they 'll do next .", "despite the heavy subject matter , the film never bogs down into the daily grief it depicts , but maintains a jaunty current of humor that counterbalances its melodramatic content .", "the kids are sensitively drawn , if a little pick-and-mix in terms of their issues and ethnicities , and the whole movie breathes with kindness and intelligence .", "cretton is able to leap tall towers of everyday humour and humanity and then suddenly drop you into a pit of total , gut-wrenching sadness in a single bound .", "MOV is cinema at its most compassionate , vulnerable , and human .", "here is a movie overflowing with compassion , warmth and good humor .", "larson delivers one of the great performances of 2013 .", "it 's a wild , unruly mess of rampant emotions , and yes , some of them are painful , but there 's a great deal of warmth and love here too . it 's a truly wonderful movie .", "raw , intense , human and absorbing .", "brie larson is superb in this brilliant exploration of life in a short term care facility where troubled teens try to find a way to survive in the care of compassionate men and women .", "... the best film of 2013 so far . ... it will devastate you without warning and break your heart , all while showing you how to move on and feel hopeful again ...", "short is all nuanced performances bathed in sumptuous californian sunlight : its realism is reflected in its lo-fi aesthetic and naturalistic cinematography .", "a heartbreaking drama about the lingering affects of childhood abuse and neglect , even under the best of curative circumstances .", "human drama does n't get much better treatment in the movies than this enormously affecting and beautifully acted independent film . a masterpiece .", "i know , it sounds like one of those earnest inspirational good-hygiene movies . on one level , it is . but the exchanges are electric .", "heartrending troubled-teen drama explores heavy themes .", "this is a small film about a society of castoffs , and while it 's beautifully acted and often moving , it 's also predictable , because it keeps wresting itself into familiar forms .", "an authentic drama couched in character that never stoops to manipulation .", "it could have been smug , exploitative or politically self-righteous but it 's none - it 's one of the year 's most powerful films .", "an emotionally authentic examination of the lives of those who live in and work at a children 's home where the lines between the inhabitants and the caretakers is n't as clear as one might suppose .", "this movie has the dash and esprit of service comedies like mash and the harrowing emotions of misunderstood youth films like the 400 blows .", "it has the intimacy of a documentary so that the solid , assured narrative structure sneaks up on you .", "MOV will remind you why you like movies . it tells a beautiful story , brings to life vivid and real characters , and will leave you breathless but undoubtedly still smiling .", "along the way all the characters ' stories seamlessly and elegantly ripple into each other to form conclusions that contradict current social and political tendencies and movements that promote alienation and detachment .", "-lsb- a -rsb- sincere and heartening american indie set in short term accommodation for displaced children .", "this is a walk through familiar territory , but it wins you over step by step .", "there are perceptive scenes and abrasive moments . but there 's also a soapy need to launder every problem into a happy or `` closured '' denouement .", "the lead character 's called grace , but do n't be put off : cretton 's tough-love snapshot of shattered youth is achingly moving rather than manipulative or mawkish .", "there are no star names here but there are star turns , most notably from brie larson ...", "MOV is a miracle of a movie . beautifully written and perfectly played , all of human life is here : the good , the bad , the messy and the uplifting .", "there 's heart , soul and personality to burn in ` MOV ' ... but this is a film that , like many of its young characters , desperately needs to calm down .", "a rollercoaster of emotions , bringing so much passion , energy , and creativity to the screen , MOV is absolutely a must-see film of the year .", "set inside a group home for troubled teenagers , this film proceeds with seemingly unforced naturalism to tell stories about ordinary lives whose problems unfold into understanding rather than melodrama", "MOV strikes a delicate balance between emotional turbulence and artful understatement .", "the situation has a built-in heartbreak , but cretton does n't milk it . instead , he lets each character strike a note of lived-in reality that is rarely found on screen .", "just a beautiful film and a real crowd pleaser .", "larson , in particular , does wonders with a character who in other hands could easily have come across as overly earnest , even saccharine ... it 's a superb performance that deserved a more credible , less jerry-rigged context .", "easily one of the best films so far this year , it 's a nearly perfect blend of pimple-faced naturalism , righteous moral fury , nuanced social insight , and unsentimental but devastating drama .", "independent dramas do n't come any better conceived or executed than this impressive debut outing from writer-director destin daniel cretton .", "you 'd have to go back to half nelson to find such a beautifully organic combo of spot-on performances , tough-love storytelling and tender treatment of deep-rooted emotional damage .", "i do n't expect to see a better film this year than MOV .", "acclaimed at film festivals - this is a sensitive , poignant and distressing drama about troubled adolescents .", "a naturalistic look at troubled adolescents and the staff people who treat them .", "set in a foster-care facility outside of san francisco , this independent drama is vivid and heartfelt in its depiction of social work , at times recalling some of frederick wiseman 's great documentary portraits .", "... an engaging , emotional little drama that bodes well for cretton 's future endeavors .", "if we 're lucky -- if the tides are right and the winds are calm -- we might get one or two movies a year as good as MOV .", "MOV will having you laughing one minute and tearing up in the next .", "there are so many pitfalls , and it seems like every tv movie version of the story falls into all of them at the same time . but in MOV , writer-director destin cretton manages to skillfully step over all of them .", "sacramento native brie larson gives one of the best performances of the year in MOV , an affecting drama from writer-director dustin cretton .", "it 's often heartbreaking , but ultimately the film takes us to a truthful yet positive conclusion", "while the topics are serious and the film heartfelt as it provides a genuine insight into troubled lives , there is a surprising lightness about much of the experience , making the bitter-sweet journey all the more rewarding", "brie larson is very impressive as the caring , funny supervisor whose own demons threaten to engulf her .", "the performances , too , are uniformly splendid , especially from brie larson as grace and john gallagher as mason .", "incidents seem more idealized than authentic", "documentary-style authenticity gives this understated drama a real kick as it explores the fallout of child abuse from an angle we 'd never expect .", "the acting is very good in this film and the screenplay is powerful . it is evident this is a low budget movie , but it works very well despite its production limitations . this is one of the best films i 've seen this year .", "brie larson -lrb- 21 jump street -rrb- is outstanding in the leading , tripled-edged role of grace .", "a wonderfully authentic film about the families built from the fragments of broken homes", "at times MOV seems uncertain where it 's going , but this matches the circumstances of both staff and residents .", "cretton is not afraid to be uncool ; he embraces the strong emotions that scare some indie filmmakers and that scar -- in some cases literally -- his young characters . the result is a movie that is passionate , compassionate and has the ring of truth .", "the film 's climax feels a little rushed and overwrought , but the movie 's real resonance is its exploration of empathy and vocation .", "crettin 's script delivers warm , humorous dialogue and his direction a wealth of naturalistic performances , chief among them larson 's understated , incandescent turn as grace .", "there 's a hilariously scatological tale told at the beginning , a sweetly uplifting one at the end , and in the middle a parable about a lonely octopus that may be the most heartbreaking thing you 'll hear all year ." ]
enchanting , sweepingly romantic , and featuring plenty of wonderful musical numbers , MOV is one of disney 's most elegant animated offerings .	beauty_and_the_beast_1991	9980	[ "the best of all the disney cartoons", "some of the film 's ideas , which are both campy and subtle , may not be kids ' stuff , but like all good movies , disney 's enchanting fairy tale operates on many different levels and thus can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages .", "has a power to enchant that all the flying monsters and magic broom rides in the world ca n't touch .", "belle is so decidedly positive in every regard , so simplistically shaped to meet the desires of all audience members -lrb- both dreamy little girls and feminist objectors -rrb- , that she ultimately fails as a character", "the animation for the set pieces is excellent , lansbury 's fussy teapot takes top honours in the vocal performances and the musical numbers by ashman and menken are n't too schmaltzy .", "its animators ' pens are wands ; their movement enchants .", "a uniquely elegant and entertaining mix of hand-drawn classicism and high-tech innovation .", "a dramatic , comic , exciting , suspenseful , joyous , and robustly magical adventure that has the bracing feel of a 3-d movie at times and approaches sensory overload .", "she falls for a hot-tempered manimal , but is it any coincidence that he showers her with gifts the whole time ?", "the entrancing , enthralling MOV remains a true cinematic treat .", "as far as `` classic disney , '' MOV pretty much has it all . y' know , for kids . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "at the intersection of great animated films , great filmed stage musicals , and great fairy-tale romances , disney 's MOV stands alone ... the quintessential disney masterpiece .", "... an above average -lrb- yet far-from-flawless -rrb- animated endeavor .", "with its strong characters and lively storytelling , animated or not , this deserves its place alongside the cinema greats .", "MOV is one of the year ` s most entertaining films for both adults and children .", "this is n't merely the best of the princess features ; it 's very close to being the best disney movie of them all .", "a classic story of redemption , love , purity and friendship - a film worthy of our love and attention .", "this beloved 1991 film has never looked better , and seems even more magical in blu-ray .", "it is a surprise , in a time of sequels and retreads , that the new film is so fresh and altogether triumphant in its own right .", "despite some excessive narrative streamlining , this 1991 release was the best disney animated feature in years , full of charm and humor .", "better remembered than seen , MOV has been treated unkindly not just by the years that have passed since it was released to enormous acclaim in 1991 , but by a faddish 3d conversion .", "MOV looks beautiful and is sure to entertain , but this experience is superfluous at best-it was already a three-dimensional story long before these new technics .", "3d does n't downplay the inherent artistry of the effort , but it does n't enhance anything outside of ticket prices .", "and it is a joy to revisit the timeless pleasures of traditional disney storytelling , with no attempts to add sizzle from celebrity voice talent or radio-friendly pop songs .", "some youthful memories are better not revisited , but this definitely is n't one of them . sometimes you can go home again .", "the 3-d pops out to enhance the drama or energy of scenes in which settings are large and integral to the action .", "it 's less a whole new experience than a slightly different one and the main reason for seeing it is n't the newly immersive effects but the profound awesomeness of the original movie . it still gets you .", "the set pieces are narcotically pleasing , especially the busby berkeley-style dancing-kitchenware spectacular , `` be our guest , '' and the romantic ballroom centerpiece that brings beauty and her beast together .", "the ultimate makeover story has strong , positive messages .", "the 3d is unnecessary - but it does n't spoil the fun of MOV .", "MOV is just as enchanting 20 years after its initial release .", "the apex of an art form , a justly celebrated classic , and the best animated movie of any sort ever put on screen at any time .", "the lines have begun to show in belle 's tale , which remains enjoyable but feels more like a quaint artifact than the masterpiece it once was declared to be .", "both tangled ever after and MOV are sure to enthrall audiences everywhere , even if the 3d does n't really add much of anything to this animated classic .", "disney , please understand ... what people are actually showing up for ... they just want to see classic disney on the big screen . the 3d is incidental .", "disney 's gorgeous 1991 animated version of the classic fairy tale `` MOV '' gets the same 3d treatment that was recently given to `` the lion king . ''", "watching this in a theater definitely makes it feel less like a `` cartoon '' and more like a significant film . cogsworth poking le fou in the butt with a sword aside .", "one of the brightest jewels in disney 's crown , MOV 's 3d reissue takes nothing away and makes the film 's brilliance even easier to appreciate ; the movie is more beautiful and timeless than it ever was .", "a serviceable version of a classic fairy tale minus that crucial touch of magic .", "what you gain in an extra , faked dimension you lose in lively , genuine beauty .", "the scenes , characters and songs attempt to duplicate the success of mermaid all too obviously .", "splendidly crafted as it is , the new disney is a luscious impasto of visual invention that never quite finds its heart .", "if you do n't have kids , go anyway .", "there is plenty of suspense , comedy and wonderful music to keep everyone entertained .", "this is the only animated film ever nominated for a best picture oscar , and you 'll see why .", "it may be a cliché to call a fairy tale enchanting , but no other adjective suffices as the film still has the wit , slapstick , and romance to enrapture children and adults alike .", "the new version is amazingly sharp with backgrounds that look like impressionist paintings .", "an absolute , unqualified delight , without a weak stretch or an unwanted second .", "a delightfully satisfying modern fable , a near-masterpiece that draws on the sublime traditions of the past while remaining completely in sync with the sensibility of its time .", "slipped around all my roadblocks and penetrated directly into my strongest childhood memories , in which animation looked more real than live-action features .", "a thing of beauty for our kids , something they deserve .", "not only the finest animated movie ever made , but deserves a prominent position on any list of all-time greats .", "pure fairytale escapism that does n't boast any digital trickery , celebrity voiceovers or unnecessary action .", "the 3d revival sees this witty , dramatically inventive version of a familiar story wearing well .", "there 's no doubting the craftsmanlike elegance of the film , summoning up with relish the spirit of classic fairytale disney of the 50s and 60s ...", "disney 's most perfectly achieved combination of animation , story-telling and song must surely be this loving tribute to the old fairytale .", "magic .", "unsubtle perhaps , but never fails to hit the right notes .", "the greatest animated film ever made and one of the screen 's great musicals hardly needs this -lrb- 3d -rrb- sort of sprucing up .", "reaches a level of artistry , sophistication and musical excellence that 's still to be bettered by the mouse house - or indeed its rivals .", "i admit it : i wrote this more than 20 years ago . but , like '' MOV '' itself , i think it stands the test of time .", "a lovely film that ranks with the best of disney 's animated classics .", "entirely captivating from beginning to end -- interview w/director kirk wise .", "simply one of the best films ever made , animated or otherwise .", "remains a near-perfect film , the second best disney film after 1941 's dumbo .", "for once , the disney hyperbole was right -- the film is , indeed , a timeless cinema classic .", "a sporadically brilliant escape that at times stops to preen and pose , like that he-man lout gaston .", "in the imax format , the introduction of the beast 's castle has a breathtaking 3-d effect . and throughout the film , you see textures and details you never noticed .", "brims with charm , style , and flawless execution that does n't feel the least bit dated by subsequent technological advancements .", "it 's not an especially scary movie , but right from the start , you can tell that this MOV has a beauty of a bite .", "still holds up well after being around 10 years .", "it 's a pleasure to see `` MOV '' again in a theater with an audience that laughs and cries , but most of those pleasures would be just as evident in a conventional presentation .", "it 's cartoon cocteau , but just look at the children 's faces as they watch it .", "just like the little mermaid a couple of years ago , it blends child-pleasing characters and plot twists with jokes and musical styles that clearly have older spectators in mind .", "it is a wondrous love story unsparing in its sentiment .", "it 's exceptionally difficult to make an audience care for animated characters unless they 're mermaids or anthropomorphized animals or insects , yet the disney animators , with a big assist from the vocal talents of a superb cast , have pulled it off .", "it 's got storytelling vigor and clarity , bright , eclectic animation , and a frisky musical wit .", "at once enchanting and emboldening ...", "it is the most dynamic animated film ever made , and the prance of its camera , the sense of penetration into its action , the brilliantly paced editing pyrotechnics give it a crackle of life far more abundant than any feature that 's come before .", "once again , love will redeem the beast , and beauty 's dancing clocks and singing teacups will blend marvelously with the tintinnabulation of bells this holiday season .", "remains as wondrous and beautiful as ever .", "MOV is certainly adequate holiday entertainment for children and their more indulgent parents ... but the film has little of the technical facility , vivid characterization and emotional impact of disney past .", "does the imax version work ? for the most part , it does .", "MOV will entertain generations to come and enter the archives of disney 's classic stories .", "ten years later , it 's still flawed and still quite fascinating .", "-lsb- a -rsb- great film ...", "on a normal-sized screen , and even on video on a television , MOV is n't merely one of the best animated movies ever made , it 's one of the best movies ever made , period .", "many scenes can stand by themselves as paintings", "this beaut 's worth it just to revisit a time when disney knew how to make good animated films without its pixar crutch .", "there 's still room in this world for innocent love stories -- and tales as old as time .", "a nostalgic feast , drawing shamelessly on the best traditions of screen animation and american musical theater and film . thoroughly derivative but thoroughly charming .", "there 's enough wit and ingenuity in roger allers 's story and howard ashman and alan menken 's songs to give the cgi whizzkids a run for their money .", "the classic story of a bewitched prince who can only be saved by true love works as a wonderful genre romance , and the characters are uniformly imaginative and charming .", "the finest disney feature-length animated musical ever made", "the artistry of the animators , who combined traditional painting with computer-generated images , stands up to the best that the disney empire ever produced .", "a must own for any dvd collector .", "... filled with charm , wit , romance , humor , and plenty of songs and music .", "not quite the masterpiece we once thought .", "the tale 's as old as time , but MOV has gotten somewhat banal .", "it 's academic pop art , overblown but zestless , a cartoon cathedral with all the spiritual feeling of a little golden book .", "revoke my cynic badge if you must , but i say this one comes real close to the disney classics of yore . -lrb- i said `` close ! '' -rrb-", "una obra maestra que los hará reír , llorar , emocionarse y pensar que la vida , aunque solo sea por unos momentos , es maravillosa ." ]
audiences other than children will find very little to entertain them .	pokemon-the-first-movie-mewtwo-vs-mew	9629	[ "would it have been too much to ask for just a tiny bit of interest for the grown-ups ?", "the wisdom of putting bad experiences behind us never rang more true than after viewing this movie . avoiding it though , may be impossible , so be prepared .", "disney 's wild , creative but beautifully-controlled set-pieces , eccentric memorable characters , and sheer rush of colour tower over anything on offer here .", "if you do n't mind plunking your kids down in front of a 90-minute commerical , go nuts .", "with its undertones of slavery and cockfighting , pokémon '' may have the most unsavory premise ever for children 's entertainment .", "unfortunately , dear grown-ups , no end to the pokémon invasion seems imminent .", "probably too verbose to significantly influence the target audience .", "the film is baffling , amateur and somewhat contradictory about violence .", "just because something makes money does n't mean that it is good .", "the kiddies in the audience were enthralled by every minute of it .", "this japanese film 's free will philosophy is in stark contrast to the determinism that seems to be running rampant in today 's hollywood films .", "a lot has been written about the admirable lessons that pokemon teaches children about responsibility , teamwork and obedience . but some unfortunate messages are being sent as well .", "a shameless plug for pokemon merchandise ? you betcha .", "with intentionally stilted animation , uninspired music and lame jokes , pokemon is basically an ultralong version of the phenomenon 's own boring tv ` toon .", "70 minutes of irritation .", "for the legions of pokemon fans , the film gives them everything they crave and more .", "this is a movie that knows its audience .", "grossly offensive .", "pokemon is a quality example of the genre , and it is indeed one of the most successful anime shows ever .", "even the kindergarten target audience will be hard-pressed to sit still for this elementary and lumbering saturday morning reject adventure .", "-lsb- an -rsb- overreaching , hypocritical mess .", "pokemon is more of a worldwide phenomenon than a movie .", "pokemon is n't even good animation , unless the standard of measure is the crude lcd graphics of a game boy .", "i feel your pain .", "this is little more than a promotional effort to draw kids to the theater to get a free card and then encourage them to buy more of the newly introduced characters .", "the animation is relatively bare-bones and often shoddy . it assumes its audience 's preknowledge of the concept and characters , and explains nothing .", "it 's so bad , i begged the projectionist to show me the haunting instead .", "pokemon has opened up another front in an unrelenting campaign to bankrupt parents around the world .", "my name is bob , and i am a father who is very afraid .", "pokemon is an ugly , cheaply made , witless , punily voiced movie .", "it makes the star wars mythos play like pong .", "adults may cringe at the preachy heavy-handedness and the extremely limited motion animation that sets the art form back a couple of generations .", "for pokemon fans ? give it a shot .", "the animation is crude , and there 's certainly not much depth to the storyline or the characters .", "the problem is not the violence , the standard abrasion static found in video games and juvenile tv . it is the lack of ideas , the paucity of story flow and dramatic imagination , the sterile , vacuum-packed cartooning ` directed ' by kunihiko yuyama .", "every generation of children has some hideously annoying cartoon series to provide parents with much agonizing and many , many buying opportunities .", "i 'm about forty years too old to take this movie seriously . or even understand it .", "violent and dark -- and even a bit disturbing , especially for what 's supposed to be a g-rated film .", "there 's all sorts of fighting between pokemon -lrb- pokemonesians ? -rrb- that goes on . no one ever seems to get hurt , but then there 's the obligatory ` violence begets violence ' homily at the end . give me a break .", "a dull , crudely animated pokemon byproduct .", "not only does pokemon -- the first movie threaten to strike again with the sequel-readiness of its title , but the overlong 89-minute opus aims to thrill tykes by being slightly less than adorable -- meaning you should n't trust these creatures any f", "for the record , it is n't terrible . it 's far from a milestone in japanese animation , and not an especially memorable entertainment . yet it does n't try to be either of those things .", "the film moves along slower than a snail going uphill after taking seconal .", "you may not want to deny your children the pleasure of seeing it , but there 's no reason whatsoever that you ca n't try to spare yourself from the ordeal .", "there are only two explanations for why anyone would make pokemon : the first movie : alien abduction or drugs .", "there is n't a moment of wonder or poetry in its very long 69 minutes .", "i shudder at the thought of several sequels to this flick .", "my baseline for boredom had been standing in line to renew my automobile registration . but now , thanks to this pokemon film , i have a brand-new baseline .", "the first half of the movie is filled with mystery , danger , and excitement . unfortunately , heavy moral overtones start creeping in midway through the movie .", "an incoherent hodgepodge of bad animation , cartoonish violence and heavy-handed pronouncements .", "even some children will eventually grow restless with the flat , unimaginative drawings and bland light-rock soundtrack", "strictly a kids ' movie .", "heart is something sadly lacking in pokemon : the first movie .", "the movie 's slim charms are such that they are unlikely to convert many adults to the cult .", "the story is a humourless retread of a bond-style world domination yarn with a frankenstein theme .", "excruciating to endure .", "it would be nice to think that ` the kids ' would take on board the heavy-handed moral messages , but more likely they 'll be looking out for new pokémon to collect , therefore fulfilling nintendo 's merchandising dream .", "the repetitive plot is essentially a string of excuses for fantastical combat sequences , but somehow several characters ' insistence that violence is bad does n't come off as hypocritical .", "this pacifist spirit of brotherhood echoes the heroics in princess mononoke and other anime titles , but the artistic gap between the miyazaki masterpiece and this project is huge .", "if you 're over 10 years old i have four words for you : see princess mononoke instead .", "abysmally bad .", "amazingly , it 's all more watchable than expected . ok , disney 's beauty and the beast it 's not .", "the movie may have been designed to shift pokémon product but it also comes down hard on the side of friendship , mutual respect and resourcefulness .", "the kids in the audience at my showing were certainly enthralled , and i only fell asleep twice .", "in the tradition of such drivel as ` the care bears movie ' and ` teenage mutant ninja turtles , ' it 's essentially a commercial disguised as a feature film .", "the japanese animation is beautiful , and the script adaptation for the english-speaking audience is well-paced , clever , and absorbing enough to keep parents from squirming .", "it 's just a sound-and-light show , linked to the marketing push for pokemon in general .", "the values of pokemon 's protagonist have tapped into the unconscious of a generation that compulsively watches the show and codifies its critters without really knowing why", "spending 95 minutes with the slight antics of pikachu , ash and the gang may seem like an eternity .", "i 'm not sure how much of its so-bad-it 's - good appeal is intentional , and besides , much of it is boring and repetitive .", "movies like this make me cringe .", "kids will come away with the moral of the story : trust your heart . adults will just be happy to come away .", "the finale 's violence undermines the film 's much-trumpeted message that ` fighting is wrong . '", "there is a new definition of the term , ` critic-proof movie , ' and it goes by the name pokémon : the first movie ." ]
a brutal and effective british hoodie-horror that , despite the clichés , stays on the right side of scary .	eden_lake	770781362	[ "instead of deliverance 's deep backwoods hicks we have now backwoods chavs who live a life unscrutinised by cops or anyone . watkins has consumed all those tabloid hoodie tales and regurgitated a horror .", "you do n't watch it , you survive it . a battering experience , and the hardest brit horror in years .", "if it gets people talking about youth violence , class conflict and the gulf of social inequality in britain , then all the better - and if it does not , at least it will give them a frightening , albeit derivative , ride .", "has some seriously haunting themes torn right from the headlines , giving us something thoughtful to chew on . besides our fingernails .", "MOV : pursuit , persecution , violent death .", "daily mail scaremongering ? possibly . but formidably well-made , all the same .", "a solid horror thriller worthy of a watch , if only for its insight in to how easily the hive mentality can be formed , and how merciless it can be .", "works exceedingly well , and will probably stick in your gut for a little while .", "an effectively harrowing brit thriller-cum-horror pic whose yuppie protags ' weekend getaway runs violently afoul of the local youth .", "well acted , well directed , and totally intense , ` MOV ' is the best horror film to come out of the uk in years .", "a well acted , smartly directed horror flick that 's gory , disturbing , terrifying and topical .", "a gruelling , grimly effective british chiller .", "it is impossible not to admire the way watkins ratchets up the tension in his debut as director -lrb- he wrote my little eye -rrb- and keeps his tale strictly to 90 minutes .", "... while MOV is effective , something feels not quite right about cheering for prepubescent kids to get their fatal comeuppance .", "for all the brutality of the confrontation with knife-weilding , car-nicking local scum - think stanley knives gouging out tongues - it 's never far off ludicrous .", "dispiriting and unpleasant , a trip to MOV will leave most viewers feeling the need for a hot shower and a tetanus jab .", "it 's a claustrophobic marvel , and an impressive debut by watkins .", "this looks to me like the best british horror film in years : nasty , scary and tight as a drum .", "it 's not long before the claret starts to flow . and it wo n't be too long before you start eyeing the exit sign .", "it is not often that the sneak feels like walking out of a movie . but this exploitative , patronising and nauseatingly violent take on britain 's yob culture had your critic eyeing up the exit .", "frustratingly , there is potential in watkins ' claustrophobic , back-to-nature setting , but , in trying to play ` edgy ' with contemporary anxieties , his cooked-to-formula script merely sinks to the level of the gutter press exploiting those fears .", "it does n't fight shy of a truly frightening final twist , which makes it not only bleaker but also more truthful than virtually every other movie in this genre , which all too often is over-populated and under-humanised .", "the film 's one major fault is that reilly 's character repeatedly acts in ways that serve the plot , but which run contrary to rational human behaviour . by contrast , the shattering downbeat ending is well earned and genuinely shocking .", "so harsh , bleak and intense it achieves a level of raw power . a sordid little nightmare of contemporary england ." ]
the band 's visit is both a clever , subtle slice-of-life comedy , and poignant cross-cultural exploration .	the_bands_visit	770672006	[ "both a soulful mood piece and beautiful exploration of cross-cultural communion .", "the israeli film that 's become celebrated for what it lacks -- enough hebrew to contend for the best foreign language oscar -- can now be seen and appreciated for what it has in abundance : visual wit , verbal charm and a completely droll sense of humor .", "the band 's visit , the first feature by the israeli writer and director eran kolirin , flirts recklessly with obviousness , cuteness too .", "kolirin does n't go for belly laughs . he prefers subtle , wry humor , much in the fashion of finland 's aki kaurismaki .", "a remote , israeli desert town is the setting for this droll , endearing comedy about an accidental cultural exchange that very quietly says some very important things about contemporary arab-israeli relations .", "with its attention to detail and careful , naturalistic performances , it 's a small slice of life .", "a deeply spiritual comedy about the bridge-making capacities of hospitality and the way music serves as universal language that draws people together .", "writer-director eran kolirin has a gentle touch , although the film is too self-consciously sentimental .", "fresh , funny and engaging , it 's a shame that a technicality disqualified it from oscar contention .", "eran kolirin 's uncommonly assured directorial debut hinges on its characters , and in ronit elkabetz as dina , and sasson gabai as tewfiq , he strikes cinematic gold .", "but not for nothing was it nominated for thirteen israeli academy awards , winning eight , including best screenplay , actor , actress , director , and picture .", "while kolirin clearly loves his characters , you can sense a general tone of condescension in the way they think and interact .", "a quiet , sympathetic film about the loneliness that surrounds us .", "this is one movie where words can do little justice to the quality of the film itself .", "kolirin 's writing conveys the poignancy and heartwarming touches that make this movie the triumph that it is .", "the band 's visit reveals that the strangest places are rich in dreams , joy and hope , and that strangers can share them .", "you can watch the band 's visit for its political idealism , or you can watch it for entertainment value alone . in either case , it does n't disappoint .", "these are characters the feel believable and are engaging .", "sunny and light . could have been much more if it had wanted to .", "director-writer eran kolirin creates some charming vignettes , ... little gems in a small , but sweet , movie .", "this may be a small film but it is almost perfectly formed and by no means just a pleasant work in a minor key .", "delightful comedy with a subtle script and charming performances from its three leads .", "even with the subtitles , the band 's visit is n't that far removed from a cbs tv movie ... at least it knows not to overstay its welcome .", "a tender , poignant allegory for arab-israeli tensions that never makes a single overt gesture toward articulating its larger concerns .", "if you stick with it , the story of the alexandria ceremonial police orchestra 's visit to the dusty nowheresville of beit hatikva -lrb- when they 're actually looking for petah tikva -rrb- has an irresistible tragic and romantic undertow .", "israeli filmmaker eran kolirin has made a sly and bewitching chamber comedy that underscores the decency of its characters while sidestepping the gooey , let 's - join-hands imperative of its premise .", "a little picture in the best sense of the term , it 's filled with small but telling moments and richly drawn characterizations .", "it has an elating lightness that belies its heavy subject -- peace , or at least conversation , in the middle east -- and it leaves you filled with a sense of possibility .", "this wry , quiet comedy takes an enjoyably askance look at israeli-arab relations , using a small , gentle story to say something extremely profound .", "a genuinely touching crowd-pleaser and a real treat .", "a truly lovely film , as patient and generous with its characters as viewers should be with its delicately latent politics and occasional over-love of eccentric tableaux .", "this modest little fable from israel , in english , hebrew and arabic , has spellbinding resonances , yet never breaks the spell by blowing its own horn .", "at moments , the movie is almost sentimental , but the performances save it every time .", "eran kolirin 's fish-out-of-water comedy-drama is a real treat , often funny and genuinely moving .", "there 's just one thing wrong with the band 's visit : it 's fiction , not a documentary . you want a story as warm as this to be real , because good news is scarce from the middle east .", "an inconsequential little movie that is worth seeing solely because of its touching and genuine characters .", "both a clever parable on the state of israeli/egyptian relations , as well as a surprisingly affectionate , amusing tale .", "if the great stone face himself were around today , this is the kind of narrative he might well find himself in the middle of .", "the film leaves us with the notion that music ; sweet simple notes arranged in brilliant order , is one language where even jews and arabs can find harmony", "when the band 's visit ends we feel refreshed and fulfilled .", "there are no major plot points or dramatic arcs in the band 's visit , but through its awkward pauses , there 's plenty of nuance and wry humour .", "funny , sweet and touching", "the band 's visit is a charming little drama that skirts sentimentality and manages to be a feel-good film without necessarily feeling very good .", "a film of exquisite charm , beauty , humor and humanity -- with some of the best performances you 're likely to encounter in some considerable time .", "the 34-year-old israeli director eran kolirin 's debut feature is a good one .", "the band 's visit has pathos , but it is also very funny .", "... there 's hardly a moment in this delightful movie that does n't ring with authentic human feeling .", "like no fish-out-of-water film in recent memory , it leaves you with the hope that these fish will find their way back to water , and maybe learn to share that puddle before the desert dries it up entirely .", "despite the cultural divide between arabs and israelis , subtract politics from the mix and their shared humanity shines through in eran kolirin 's gentle film .", "the formality and the deliberate pace suggest the influence of laurel and hardy and jacques tati ...", "when in doubt , strike up the band .", "pretty , resonant and utterly approachable as a gentle comedy , the band 's visit is conventionally low key .", "something marvelous happens as the filmmaker , in his first feature , expertly metes out small scenes of communication between people taught , for generations , to be wary of one another : this band swings with the rhythms of hope .", "tonally , the band 's visit steps gingerly on the line between ` sweetly humane ' and ` cloyingly quirky , ' but -lsb- director -rsb- kolirin pulls back the reins just enough , maintaining control by expressing as much with his framing as with his script .", "charming and touching ... gentle and soft-spoken , but it speaks volumes about the possibility of reconciliation in one of the most politically volatile regions of the world .", "the laughter , i think , comes from a recognition of the shape of our own regrets .", "music , as one would guess , plays a key part in giving the band 's visit its wholeness .", "just a few notches left of mediocrity .", "the band 's visit is a lovely first film from young israeli director eran kolirin that offers a middle eastern inflection on the bittersweet stylings of jim jarmusch and aki kaurismäki .", "the band 's visit resounds with tenderness and melancholy .", "one of the film 's prime strengths is its wordless willingness to let the principal characters express themselves through music and mime to overcome cultural barriers . -lsb- dvd -rsb-", "some of the humorous and touching explorations between the band and their hosts are predictable , but a sweet portrait of humanism amidst language and cultural confusion .", "those who like their comedy , romance , and tragedy in quiet doses should enjoy this textured story .", "this foreign film is a sweet , lower-than-low-key story of an egyptian police band that arrives in the wrong israeli town .", "filmmaker kolirin shows israelis what they 've been missing , and the rest of us what the middle east could be , in the gentle , human-scale antics of the confused egyptian band .", "-lsb- writer/director eran -rsb- kolirin finds bittersweet humor in the comedy of their melancholy lives and fumbling efforts at communication and common ground", "not so much a story about jews and arabs finding a way to get along as it is a nonpolitical story about people discovering the humanity in others , in all their scared , awkward beauty .", "a conventional humanistic parable that it is wise and graceful all the same", "what matters is the sense of exhilaration you take away with you .", "a witty , elegant and deeply affecting film .", "-lsb- director -rsb- kolirin wonderfully maintains an atmosphere of both humor and melancholy .", "the band 's visit blends gentle comedy and softly aching pathos into a low-key , deeply affecting wonder , a sort of alternate-universe version of aki kaurismki 's raucous 1989 hoot leningrad cowboys go america .", "the film succeeds because of the nuanced performances of its superb cast , and because of kolirin 's witty visual compositions .", "none of this is earth-shaking , but the band 's visit is n't meant to be . like a balloon , it 's short-lived and modest , but it brightens your spirits while it 's around .", "it is a small message , but a sincere one , about the solitude that separates us , and how the expression of this solitude can bring the unlikeliest of people together .", "sharply observed and agreeably acted , the band 's visit does n't soar to giddy heights , but it moves along and holds one 's attention .", "taking a premise that could give rise to either slapstick or hand-wringing , -lsb- director kolirin -rsb- produces a charming little film built of bits of music , romance , cultural conflict and the simple human need to connect .", "you expect the band 's visit to be a sweet little snapshot , a delightful and endearing culture-clash movie -- funny and poignant and human . and it is all those things . what 's surprising is how it manages to be just a bit more .", "a warm and delightful take on cross-cultural relations that proves that sometimes a light touch is just what 's needed to address serious topics .", "radiant and wise comedy of miscommunication .", "with luck , filmgoers who discover this gem about an egyptian police band stranded in a small israeli town will make it the must-see movie of the season .", "despite all its melancholy , the band 's visit is often quite humorous and warm , and its underlying message of common humanity is elegantly rendered .", "what a charming , laugh-out-loud little gem this is .", "one of the pleasant surprises at cannes fest this year and a highlight of israeli cinema , this subtle , wry comedy concerns initial culture clash and miscommunications but then better understanding , when an egyptian band lands in a remote israeli town .", "a gentle , unpretentious comedy that posits a why-can ` t-we-just-get-along approach to the arab-israeli conflict .", "in other hands this might have become a clumsy message movie , but the witty script , charming performances and playful direction make for pleasurable viewing .", "a modest , bitter-sweet charmer .", "sweet human comedy .", "with its themes of social displacement subtly and skilfully enmeshed within a pleasingly straightforward shaggy-dog narrative , this is one of those films that runs at you with open arms , and you 'll find it very difficult not to succumb .", "a heartfelt , wry and decidedly spry film .", "the kind of film that will appeal to patient viewers : charming , low-budget whimsy with a soupcon of political relevance . the music is lovely too .", "the band 's visit could easily have become a clunky message movie , but kolirin maintains a sure-handed balance of humour and heartache .", "eran kolirin 's insightful little film -- about a starched band of cop-musicians whose travel plans go awry -- is more than about what happens when ostensible enemies get to know each other .", "what a lovely first feature this is from israeli director eran kolirin , brief at a mere 80-plus minutes but never in a rush , never loud , always willing to wait for the emotion to bubble up quietly from the situation .", "there 's nothing subtle about the lesson in human-to-human detente in a sea of hostility . it 's a nice try , if a bit over-rated .", "every frame of this low-key delight is about foreignness .", "a sweet little film about the universality of loneliness , the band 's visit succeeds admirably whenever it does n't attempt to exceed its modest scope .", "the film 's sweetness , simplicity , and sincerity are hard to overstate , and probably impossible not to like .", "a drama about isolation and communication , the band 's visit is characterized both by strongly delineated characters and low-key comedy .", "the band 's visit is a charming and tender meditation on loneliness and the essential need for human connection .", "... a hopeful film that looks forward to the day when israelis and arabs are at peace and can focus on the little victories and setbacks of everyday life .", "in turns tender and awkward yet always with an eye towards the universal language of hope .", "it 's a small , profoundly satisfying movie that keeps echoing long after it 's over .", "elkabetz is splendid .", "arab-israeli relations get the warm fuzzy treatment in the band 's visit , a wonderfully appealing israeli film that should have been up for a foreign-language oscar .", "perhaps the band members have seen the movies she so loves , and in her eyes , imagine themselves as next generational approximations of omar sharif .", "we see bittersweet and beautiful emotions running throughout the film . these are spread from the small victories in human connection to the shared passion that the language of music conjures up .", "it 's beautiful and gentle and warm and a little silly , but in the best possible way ...", "it 'll be a long time before the image fades of members of the alexandria ceremonial police orchestra in their powder-blue regalia lining up formally as they struggle to maintain their dignity .", "it 's a film of subtleties ... delicate , but infinitely rewarding .", "this movie has a tone , look and mood all its own -- it 's a joyously bittersweet piece of visual music about isolation , melancholy and everyone 's yearning for transcendence , through love , art or both .", "kolirin has a fine sense of where to place the camera and when to cut between shots for maximum comic effect ." ]
while not miyazaki 's best film , MOV is a visually stunning fairy tale that 's a sweetly poetic treat for children of all ages .	ponyo	770681325	[ "MOV is a visually arresting work by an anime master , and both cute enough and suspenseful enough to keep pre-schoolers in their seats .", "you watch a miyazaki film with the pie-eyed , gape-mouthed awe of a child being read the most fantastic story and suddenly transported to places previously beyond the limits of imagination . it 's quite a trip .", "MOV is memorable for the palpable glee of its protagonist -- a fish out of water who adores the feel of earth beneath her feet and loves her man .", "just as stop motion got a bump earlier in the year with coraline , MOV -lrb- already global hit , with $ 165 million box office to date -rrb- hopefully will bring back an appreciation for 2-d .", "miyazaki 's artwork can be lovely -- and the delicate , watery colors of MOV are particularly well done -- but he 's still a slave to the genre 's peculiar traditions .", "five minutes into this magical film you 'll be making lists of the individuals of every age you can expose to the very special mixture of fantasy and folklore , adventure and affection , that make up the enchanted vision of japanese director hayao miyazaki .", "trippy in the right way , and wholly enchanting .", "this exquisite pastel-colored , eye-popping example of hand-drawn animation is still very japanese , aimed most specifically at children around the world -- but with a storytelling sophistication that adults will savor .", "wondrous , weird , and sweetly innocent , MOV is a tale bursting with love , which is recommendation enough for the young and the young at heart .", "you get a psychedelic , visually stunning film with a japanese flavor , instead of one with pop culture flavor -lrb- and no talking dogs or balloons -rrb- .", "those who consider miyazaki a filmmaking master will probably consider this another one of his masterpieces .", "` MOV ' is a worthy piece of work from an artist who takes his work and his audience seriously .", "miyazaki works marvels . sit back and behold .", "miyazaki 's stunning adventure is geared to younger kids .", "sometimes it 's enough to just sit back and let a beautiful work of animation wash over you , letting the troubles of the world slide past as the pictures take you out of this world . MOV is just that sort of film .", "when the ocean rises in this wonderful movie , each leaping wave stares out at us with a baleful eye as if in watchful and worried wait .", "the type of glorious filmmaking and storytelling that should appeal to everyone ... a wonderful and magical film that should be seen and enjoyed as a family .", "hayao miyazaki proves that he is not only a master animator but also a master storyteller . MOV is easily one of the best films -- animated or live action -- of the year .", "a charming hand-drawn japanese spin on hans christian andersen 's little mermaid .", "a sweet love story about a boy and his fish , MOV is a weird yet wonderful children 's fantasy , and marks another milestone in the career of hayao miyazaki .", "let 's say you have a five-year-old child who 's not all caught up in the details of boring , mundane reality . here 's that kid 's new favorite movie .", "there 's still plenty of gorgeous eye-candy to keep adults going if they 've taken their kids along for some unthreatening entertainment .", "even when the film feels murky , miyazaki 's painterly eye keeps things afloat", "for once , japan 's animation maestro is all at sea .", "miyazaki 's ode to motherhood ; the sea is the greatest nurturer of all . the underwater sequences are some of ghibli 's most luminous , complex reflections of nature 's teeming beauty .", "not as profound as miyazaki 's other works , but the fact that an animated children 's film actually has the brains to go for larger , resonant themes is worth congratulation .", "apart from the ecofriendly message , we have , as always , miyazaki 's magnificently inventive animation , which is almost enough to carry the day .", "the fantasy elements are so seamlessly blended with real elements . there is very little disbelief by the characters , and you want to believe yourself by the end .", "it 's very much a charming kids ' film , created by a master of animation .", "as beautiful as MOV is to the eye , the movie -- thanks in part to a spotty english-language adaptation -- is sometimes a bit grating to the ear and confusing to the brain .", "hayao miyazaki 's magical MOV blends fantasy with just a drop of reality , and the result is irresistible .", "the 68-year-old filmmaker shows that he 's at the peak of his skills , both as a visual artist and a storyteller .", "disney has done an unusually fine job of americanizing MOV with a delicate script by `` e.t. '' writer melissa mathison and warm , expressive voice work . now , i just hope it does n't fall on deaf ears .", "a bright tale of wonder and connection , MOV is a reminder that a g rating need n't be a `` little kid '' designation .", "when you see MOV -- and you must -- be prepared for a movie that does n't abide by hollywood rules . this is a tale for children -lrb- yes , of all ages -rrb- who are ready to be coaxed into another world through simple words and luscious pictures .", "MOV 's considerable charms translate easily to audiences of all ages , making the film not mere spectacle , but something truly special .", "it 's a wonderful place that miyazaki creates , an alternatively sweet and savage world that defies physics and common sense , as imaginative and impossible in its own way as jules verne 's sci-fi fantasies or maurice sendak 's animal kingdom .", "the film is visually stunning , however , with a a-list cast of voices that include matt damon , cate blanchett , and tina fey .", "though MOV contains images so haunting that it 's hard to dismiss altogether , this is one of miyazaki 's feeblest efforts .", "does n't commit itself to mining our deeper feelings , and as such it feels much more geared to younger viewers ; but with that comes dazzling displays of drawn and painted visuals , full of color , life .", "that rare children 's movie that actually taps into the unique imaginative power of a child 's mind .", "his antediluvian underwater creatures are gorgeous , a world removed from finding nemo , his sweeping tides and smashing tsunamis are a patchwork of colour and technique .", "significantly , miyazaki creates realistic , valid and memorably attractive characters , such as the heroic-vulnerable-patient-nurturing-tough mother , tina fey .", "though far from studio ghibli 's best film , MOV is still a magical experience .", "while the animation in MOV is simplistic , even crude by many people 's standards , there is no denying the film 's dazzling color palette , masterful attention to detail and dizzying imagination .", "... this gentle storybook film is a simple , sweet tale animated with a delicacy unique to animated features .", "beautiful and thoughtful , miyazaki once again shows he 's a master of taking the magical and making it endearing .", "should n't an anime ' auteur of hayao miyazaki 's stature avoid a story about a sea creature interacting with a human child ? is n't that `` finding nemo ? ''", "if the plot of MOV is small as a minnow , its themes -- the relationship between parent and child , between the young and the elderly , between friends , between man and nature -- are large and fully realized .", "MOV is n't hayao miyazaki 's greatest film , but his beautiful , quirky fable has magic other children 's movies ca n't touch .", "i sure like miyazaki 's visual style , but could he for once make a movie that actually made sense ? or have realistic characters , like a mother who would n't leave her 5 year alone during an extremely dangerous storm ?", ". . something like finding nemo and the little mermaid - if nemo and ariel had gotten together to ingest some new variety of aquatic shrooms .", "another brilliant animation by a japanese master .", "the film 's joys are numerous , and most of them are small and simple . to start with , the animation -- all hand-drawn -- is simply breathtaking .", "i liked that it was n't bound by the conventions of normal storytelling and i loved seeing a film that is just hand drawn animation .", "i was , i 'm afraid , a little lost at times .", "exquisite artwork backgrounds makes us feel we are living the adventure inside a painting , while endearing characters keep us grounded in reality by delivering identifiable heart-felt emotions . it 's the inventiveness and extraordinary detail that stands o", "one of the anime master 's weaker efforts .", "the film 's pleasures are immensely simple , but this does not make them less real or wonderful .", "MOV has n't changed my mind about miyazaki . but i 'm willing to accept and enjoy this little window into the dream life of fish .", "MOV is n't quite as memorable as some of miyazaki 's previous works , but it 's a magical experience that 's far superior to most animated offerings .", "i feel like i need a second viewing for full absorption .", "if you consider teletubbies to be a work of creative genius then , yeah , okay , MOV is great , too .", "fable , emotion and psychology merge in a fairy-tale brew that will hold children rapt and engage the better angels of adults .", "comes from a great line of miyazaki heroines", "given its bizarre imagery and offbeat attitude , it 's like the little mermaid on acid . -lsb- but -rsb- it 's visually beguiling , and that more than makes up for the strangeness .", "older kids and even adults are unlikely to get bored , thanks to the story 's unforced sweetness , giddy highs , and stunningly beautiful visuals . even in the unspoiled devonian , real life never looked this good .", "heartwarming , graciously surreal , and pure eye candy , MOV is an elevating fantasy that swims enthusiastically in delightfully unexpected directions .", "a superb work of japanese fantasy from animation wizard miyazaki that transcends age barriers .", "nothing in the great animation of a miyazaki movie stays cute for long . not the ocean , not the trees , not the critters that live in them . change is constant but rarely natural .", "until its fizzle of a finale , MOV , hayao miyazaki 's latest artisanally-crafted animé daydream , brims forth with an appealingly willy-nilly inventiveness pitched to a child 's sense of wonder .", "with a starry , first-rate voice cast and the shortened name , this disney-fied version remains a magnificent animation wonder and a pure delight .", "when miyazaki makes films that decry the threat to the natural world , every molecule onscreen resonates with that belief -- a belief that dissolves the boundaries between form and content .", "`` MOV '' is an entertaining fantasy movie for little ones where painstaking attention is given to balancing physical reality with magical reality . already a hit in japan , it 's an instant classic of children 's animation .", "see this film if you 're looking to immerse yourself in a sense of delight over the simple wonders of a child 's world .", "a goldfish falls for a human boy in this imaginative kids ' tale from visionary japanese animator hayao miyazaki .", "a childlike wonder wedded to dazzlingly imaginative visuals , in a story of surprising simplicity and equally surprising emotional depth .", "it 's a movie for anyone who , like miyazaki himself , can still happily commune with his inner five-year-old .", "probably the most saccarine horror film i 've seen in years .", "parental content review", "in a summer of senseless mayhem and underwhelming efforts , MOV on the cliff by the sea is majestic . it easily matches -lrb- and in many cases , surpasses -rrb- the best the genre has to offer .", "some may find it too childish , but the movie 's innocence is infectious , and miyazaki 's artistry utterly transporting .", "a warm summer treat amid the gunfights and explosions that reminds us how beautiful a child 's innocence can be .", "his twisted version of finding nemo meets splash , the movie wo n't go down as one of his best , but it 's still better than 90 percent of animation out there .", "not the spectacle that princess mononoke or spirited away are , MOV 's beautiful , hand-drawn storybook pastels , mesmerising swirls of colourful action and sweet message of friendship are a gentle delight .", "visually stunning , it 's a fantastical , enchanting charmer that 's bound to delight children and adults alike .", "for those who love ` spirited away ' and ` princess mononoke , ' as i do , here 's another hayao miyazaki tale of friendship and fantasy .", "MOV towers over this summer of empty toy-related blockbusters . it will end up as one of the best films in american release this year .", "if you 've never experienced a miyazaki movie , here 's your chance to try one . come on in . the water 's fine .", "MOV possesses an almost demonic childish energy and a delight in form stronger than reason or narrative .", "with its ever-shifting world and palpable sense of magic , MOV captures the wonder of being a child .", "miyazaki fans who are expecting the deeper themes in this may be disappointed . and as good as it looks , it 's not career defining work , it 's only merely good .", "a charming and enchanting mystical fairy tale about a goldfish who becomes a girl and a little boy who loves her and introduces her with pride to his world of wonders .", "... at its most magical when it observes the every day .", "sticks together disparate bits and pieces of fairy tale , mythopoeia , sci-fi and family film with the artless simplicity of a child mashing up tinkertoys , playdoh and daddy 's cuff links into a single sculpture .", "stunning bursts of imagination and sensational , almost psychedelic images make the film a garden of unearthly delights .", "a loose adaptation of the little mermaid that 's full of fantastic visuals and genuine whimsy , but a little lax when it comes to plot logic or meaningful themes .", "a lovely and unique feast for the eyes and the heart .", "charming , amusing and firmly anchored in a child 's point of view , this movie from the master animator of spirited away makes a great introduction to that acquired-taste style of filmmaking .", "depicting the physical and social world from the point of view of a young boy , MOV is a narratively simple , visually captivating fable that benefits from the a good voice cast , including a trio of eccentric ladies , tomlin , leachman and white .", "a children 's film that 's at once overly simplistic and needlessly nonsensical .", "what held in the animator 's previous films as eccentrically multifaceted dream logic comes off for once as a series of non sequiturs -- but really , why complain while sucking on an everlasting gobstopper of eye candy ?", "... a sweetly lovable and visually trippy movie that young tots and their parents can enjoy in equal measure .", "several notches below -lsb- hayao miyazaki 's -rsb- masterworks , which makes it only , oh , super-duper wonderful ... it makes big magic , seemingly effortlessly .", "admirable and enjoyable and beautiful , but it 's a movie for the littlest of the little ones .", "MOV has elements of both a classic fairy tale and an environmental message movie , but it shifts as nimbly between those genres as MOV herself does from person to goldfish and back again .", "this poetic , visually breathtaking work by the greatest of all animators has such deep charm that adults and children will both be touched . it 's wonderful and never even seems to try : it unfolds fantastically .", "do n't tell walt disney , but hayao miyazaki really holds the keys to the magic kingdom .", "there 's a miraculous transformation in almost every moment of the film .", "MOV is something of a disappointment . leaving aside the plot deficiencies and storytelling awkwardness , mr. miyazaki 's latest simply does n't look good .", "minor miyazaki to be sure , this film pales in comparison to many of his recent features .", "MOV observes the everyday , magically and truthfully .", "MOV is a delight , so long as you accept it for what it is ... an empowering , completely upbeat wonder-tale .", "a story as idealistic and imaginative as any that miyazaki and company have brought to life , with the kind of vivid hand-drawn care that is harder to come by with each passing ` toon .", "hiyao miyazaki , bless him , continues to be an analog guy in animation 's increasingly digital world", "hayao miyazaki is off his game with this film that has weaker art and animation than his usual films and a script that needed another draft or two .", "miyazaki refuses to be dismissed", "lacks any real sense of conflict or danger . it makes up for it ... with a delightfully absurd internal logic that is perfectly keyed into the way small children see the world", "lately , when i want to smile , i just think of MOV .", "it 's one of miyazaki 's funniest and most intimate films so far , partly because of the engaging matter-of-factness with which he marries the extravagantly fantastic with the comforting realities of everyday life .", "heralds a return to the child-like wonder of miyazaki 's enduring my neighbor totoro . and what do you know ? it 's another masterpiece .", "-lsb- n -rsb- ever coheres into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts , as miyazaki 's true classics have done ...", "miyazaki effortlessly combines the marvellous and the mundane in his cinema . visually , MOV is an imaginative , exhilarating work , but its vigour and energy are achieved with surprising simplicity .", "children will love this . it 's classic miyazaki .", "miyazaki has come up with another memorable film in MOV , which is roughly inspired by hans christian andersen 's the little mermaid ... it 's incredibly beautiful as miyazaki explores an amazing world of sea creatures and human beings .", "it is a delight , this film . there is so much imagination at work here .", "the sight of the giddy and newly bipedal MOV racing atop the waves of a magically roiling flood may be the happiest and most memorable image of the movie year .", "compared to the animated garbage that typically passes through stateside theaters , it 's practically a godsend .", "while it continually stimulates our imagination , it 's a little too odd to really resonate .", "perfect family entertainment with a subtle environmental message .", "miyazaki 's back , and still a force of nature . a weird , wonderful aquatic romp , MOV is also a meditation on the state of this blue planet . catch it .", "we 're drawn under the waves of the sea to a hidden enclave of neon-hued aqualife more vibrant , surreal and enchanting than any of the floating 3d whatsits in ` avatar ' .", "a fantastic looking , inventive and well-acted children 's film , but a children 's film nonetheless - and that 's all it was ever intended to be .", "as usual , miyazaki treads a thin line between intuitive , unshackled fantasy and simply seeming to makes things up as he goes along , but there is never a dull moment in the film 's imagery .", "an arresting work from an unmistakable film-making personality .", "a simple tale , less freighted by foreboding than miyazaki 's recent output . in any case , storytelling is less important to him than mood or texture . his films are dream waltzes , all liquid motion and mysterious turbulences .", "MOV is the little mermaid , finding nemo and fantasia , all wrapped up in one fin-tastic movie , and guaranteed to hold the attention of the most cg-addled five year old .", "bar the climactic dip , another ghibli charmer that finds story , subject matter and style in freewheeling harmony . you have n't seen the sea until you 've seen it through miyazaki 's goggles .", "more than enough joy and laughter to outweigh its less-than-inspired moments .", "a magical , uplifting and visually stunning film that 's exhilarating for kids and adults simultaneously .", "a dazzlingly dreamy anime certain to delight children worldwide .", "even though MOV is not one of miyazaki 's great masterpieces -lrb- at least from a narrative perspective -rrb- , it is so beautiful and immersive that it 's hard to imagine grown ups not losing themselves in it .", "accompanying adults will likely find themselves just as enthralled as their little ones .", "MOV will sure make you long for the days of hand-drawn animation .", "`` MOV '' is the kind of dazzling cinematic experience that will resonate in the hearts and minds of anyone who sees it for a long time afterwards .", "it 's unlike any other animated feature -- excepting , of course , miyazaki 's own .", "we are truly dealing with a master .", "a good number of miyazaki 's fans will be disappointed by what looks like a step back , but the relaxed simplicity of the new film eventually works its effortless magic .", "no animator captures the movement of tides and the deep physics of the sea as lyrically as miyazaki , and the story 's themes of rejuvenation and ecological balance carry a highly topical edge .", "absurdly delightful , a prestidigitation of line and colour .", "-lsb- miyazaki 's -rsb- dream-like visuals which sparkle in the deep blue sea .", "this is a million miles away from the garish and crude cartoons that american studios often churn out , and serves as a reminder that animated films can be imaginative , enchanting and exciting while still telling a sweet , good-hearted story .", "the underwater scenes are as rich and teeming as miyazaki 's boundless imagination ; little MOV in her human form , joyfully wobbling around on her newly sprouted legs , is a pure delight .", "be bold enough to watch someone color outside the lines on purpose", "if you want to see something suitable for all ages that will dazzle you sideways and remind you of the awesome power of animation done right , you should see this .", "it may be a feelgood story but it 's the stunning animation and the director 's imagination that take the eye .", "beautifully animated , utterly charming adventure with a strong voice cast , delightful characters and an emotionally engaging , if bonkers , storyline .", "at its heart , MOV is a film about a global catastrophe no less destructive than the shifting plates and rising waters of 2012 . but the apocalypse has seldom seemed so light , joyous or tender ." ]
brilliantly acted and emotionally powerful , MOV is a handsome adaptation of richard yates ' celebrated novel .	revolutionary_road	770674037	[ "... consistently elevated by the superb performances and sam mendes ' expectedly enthralling directorial choices .", "you outgrow these arguments -- you only hope that the entertainments intended to illuminate as you get more curious have the decency to mature at the same pace", "MOV hits theaters at the height of oscar season . that does n't mean it 's oscar worthy .", "it 's a sterile , contrived film about unlikable people that 's only worth seeing for a few very good performances .", "another tale about how suburban domesticity is miserable simply because it 's marriage and it 's the suburbs .", "... stale and predictable .", "sam mendes , the director of MOV , injects a few milligrams of hope into his film version of the 1961 richard yates novel , an excoriating portrait of a mid-1950s marriage built on sticks , straw and delusion .", "by emphasizing the breakdown of a marriage without ever establishing the hope and dreams that gave birth to it , mendes has made leaden and incessantly depressing what was insightful and breathlessly dramatic on the page .", "a beautiful-looking but essentially lifeless work that would seem more at home on a mantelpiece than on a movie screen .", "these are performances - and lives - lived in quotation marks .", "a gripping and harrowing dissection of two deluded souls .", "sooner or later it becomes very hard to escape the sense that nothing actually happens in this film .", "does yates 's work stand up today ? if you want an insight into the horrors of being married to the wrong person , there 's nobody like him . but the result is not so much riveting drama as highly potent aversion therapy .", "a cold and unappealing drama that is almost cripplingly middle-class .", "watching a sam mendes film is like sitting in a room while all the air is being sucked out .", "MOV is a very well-made film indeed , and if it stings a little , that is only a testament to how strong a work it is .", "it packs some dramatic fireworks but , in the end , not enough emotional punch .", "there is great anguish and great artistry in this showcase by winslet . this is a film that hurts so good .", "... brilliant and cold , like a sun-flooded winter 's day .", "if the film seems obvious compared to the novel , it captures yates ' idea that the young , even naive , frank and april are play actors in their own lives ...", "somehow the film fails to inspire more than admiration , never reaching the same heights of empathy achieved by less impeccable treatments of the same topic .", "sam mendes , still better known for his theater work than as a movie director , has put a decidedly theatrical spin on richard yates ' 1961 novel .", "a heartbreakingly sad yet remarkable film from director sam mendes .", "it is as fascinating as a train wreck , as well as the most sensitive , wryly compassionate , immaculately acted and uncannily real a movie portrait of a dysfunctional marriage as i can remember seeing since who 's afraid of virginia woolf ?", "intense adult drama shocks but does n't awe .", "as it goes on , MOV starts to feel like a tepid rewrite of a douglas sirk weepie .", "the self-dramatization is harder to capture , sometimes coming off as false moments between the actors , yet this is still a troubling story of two good people who ca n't live with the truth that they 're as ordinary as their neighbors .", "sam mendes 's spiritually depleted film exerts an undeniable pull as its beautiful , doomed protagonists navigate the ennui of adult life . MOV provides an apt bookend to a holiday season drenched in fatalistic gloom .", "they should hand out complimentary razor blades at the end of MOV . but if anyone can find the refresh button on the exhausted suburban malaise genre , it 's kate winslet . and she does .", "the movie 's really a psychological horror story in which the characters , especially the wife , are broken down as surely as the spinster eleanor vance played by julie harris in the haunting .", "an actors ' showcase for its iconic duo ... and both have grown impressively since they last swooned shipside .", "onscreen cigarette smoking is as incessant as april 's discontent -- the period prop that becomes a running gag . a more important choke point , though , is dim audience involvement .", "it reunites again titanic doomed shipmates leonardo dicaprio , kate winslet and kathy bates , but this time as doomed suburbanites .", "apparently , their hearts did go on -- and how . easily , one of the year 's best films . it 's fantastic , with two amazing performances by kate winslet and leonardo dicaprio .", "a stunning achievement across the board . the movie fully captures the kind of middle-class existence that turned a younger generation into hippies or radicals . powerfully written , acted and directed , this is an instant classic .", "MOV is not a great film , per se ; a great film needs the stamp of a great director . but it is a great film of this great book .", "another gem from director sam mendes about suburbanites who lead lives of quiet desperation .", "not titanic 2 . she hates him . michael shannon deserves a best supporting actor nomination .", "vital and brilliant , without american beauty 's occasional pretension , it 's a shot in the arm for the dull holiday season , a shattering experience well worth having .", "the best work that either dicaprio or winslet has ever done . mendes masterfully conducts controlled fireworks of verbal savagery to suit the age of apropos and good reputations .", "MOV is n't just a failed literary adaptation . it 's a failure of the worst kind : it does n't even make you want to read richard yates ' deservedly legendary book .", "director sam mendes , who covered similar ground in american beauty , evokes the eisenhower years in every detail and sets a reasonable pace for the script . yet the path is so familiar that not a step along it takes us by surprise .", "dicaprio and winslet are compelling as young people who simply do n't have the emotional maturity to juggle their conflicting desires for material success , personal fulfilment and the rewards of raising a family .", "packs considerable punch .", "sam mendes , the oscar-winning director of american beauty , has made another american beauty , this one a powerful examination of a young couple trying desperately to deal with the plasticity of 1950s suburbia .", "people will argue over the film 's histrionic tendencies but stars kate winslet and leonardo decaprio bring it in every scene and produce an admittedly depressing film .", "dicaprio and winslet 's cinematic reunion only highlights MOV 's bleakness : even if the titanic had n't gone down , the film tells us , these lovebirds were still doomed .", "MOV ranks right up there with who 's afraid of virginia woolf ? in its characterization of a coupling deeply scabrous and defective .", "skilfully adapted and superbly directed , the film is an emotional tornado , delivered with exceptional performances from not only the two leads but the entire cast", "an involving film that disturbs on the deepest levels as tensions mount , words ricochet like bullets and actions speak louder than words", "except for a handful of misplaced laughs , `` MOV '' is nothing but loud arguments , awkward silences and other bits of unpleasantness .", "this cracked social mirror the director holds up to society is no pretty sight . although it 's impossible to turn away .", "the territory covered is bleak but searingly honest . itâ -lrb- tm -rrb- s another terrific achievement for mendes .", "is the movie trying too hard ? in moments of self-doubt , i wonder ... i found the performances stellar and i was emotionally rocked and rolled ; i ask for little more .", "a flawless , moment-to-moment autopsy of a marriage on the rocks and an indictment of the american dream gone sour .", "it simply does n't play as well as it reads .", "directed with extraordinary skill by sam mendes , the film is a tough road well worth traveling .", "MOV is impressive , but it feels like a classic encased in amber .", "there will be tears .", "dutifully reproduces incidents and particulars while only rarely glancing at the underlying element of self-deception , of acting a part , that defines said moments .", "the cinematic equivalent of watching a balloon deflate slowly , agonizingly , through a microscopic pinprick .", "it is honorably and brutally unnerving .", "similar yet better domestic dramas that come to mind for comparison purposes include `` in the bedroom , '' `` little children '' and `` american beauty . ''", "ca n't tell whether mendes speaks through his characters or speaks about them", "... more of a sedate lecture on values than a revealing or entertaining look at life and love .", "it plays like douglas sirk without the irony .", "jo % u0161 jedan primjer u dana % u0161njem hollywoodu sve iritantnijeg % u017eanra `` dajte mi oscar '' filmov", "it 's hard to shake the feeling that this is merely a lesser rehash of mendes ' more accomplished film american beauty .", "middlebrow self-consciousness", "MOV is content to stick with hoary cliches about the emptiness of middle-class bourgeois life .", "suburban malaise has seldom been better looking or better acted .", "chilly and academic , thoroughly admirable but one step removed from the very real angst of a movie like the man in the grey flannel suit -lrb- 1956 -rrb- .", "... a limp , facile condemnation of suburbia -lrb- though in the interest of full disclosure , i moved from chicago to the suburbs six years ago and happen to enjoy the extra trees . -rrb-", "dreary and depressing tale that would not have survived without the powerful and emotional performances by kate winslet and leonardo dicaprio .", "the result also has the authentic quality of real people clinging to the aphorisms and going through the motions demanded by the situation and the times , all of which is bathed in lush regret by cinematographer roger deakins .", "parental content review", "after winslet 's amazing performances in the reader and MOV , it 's quite possible -- and maybe even likely -- that she 'll get two oscar nominations this year .", "the film is jolted into hopes and dreams and more importantly , escaping a blah life . but you can just sense there is something else . after all , this film is n't called ` frank and april move to paris . '", "MOV 's existential dread of unspoken feelings bubbling to the surface perhaps better resembles tennessee williams , a towering explorer of authenticity and self-delusion .", "MOV , an essay on the emptiness of 1950s suburban life , leaves one with an empty feeling .", "viewers in the mood for rip-snorting marital combat should go ahead and partake , but they must prepare to leave the theatre in a state of profound depression .", "bitter , nerve-wracking , ugly and relentless , MOV is big drama done right , a mesmerizing look at desperate lives , wrong moves and spoiled dreams that hits hard right from the beginning and never lets up .", "most of the way , the film feels more like a documentary about the couple than a corrosive study of either of them .", "MOV 's portrait of a disintegrating marriage is so unflinching , so unsentimental , and so bleak , that you really need to be in a buoyant emotional state to get through the movie .", "there is not a shred of hope , light or even life in mendes ' fourth film .", "mr. mendes at least has an idea what he should be going for even though he ultimately fails .", "MOV offers nothing you ca n't see on tv , with more compelling narratives and better performances -lrb- save for michael shannon -rrb- .", "... far beyond deconstructing the man in the gray flannel suit . ... -lsb- writer richard yates -rsb- explored ways we acquire and define our identities from people we love , and how we set our lives on self-deceptive and self-destructive courses .", "from the director of american beauty comes another empty , fake-meaningful tale of how rotten it is in the suburbs .", "these people are not tragic , they 're not even pathetic - they 're fountains of soap-opera profundities .", "the characters in this film are weak-willed , pathetic losers . i just could n't muster much sympathy for the characters that could n't burst out of the cages of their own design .", "mendes has made a troubling film that wrestles with big themes and touchy subjects , even if it is set in an overly familiar milieu .", "a road to ruin paved more by mindless conformity than by good intentions .", "bolstered by thomas newman 's score , spot-on set design and the brilliant source material , `` MOV '' is a darkly effective portrait of an eisenhower-era couple who fall tragically short of reaching camelot .", "-lsb- solid -rsb- performances took me over some of the bumps of the movie .", "the result of all this combined talent is a masterpiece of a film that reveals the hidden disease at the heart of american life in the 1950s .", "sam mendes 's film , based on a faithful screenplay by justin haythe , is beautifully crafted .", "sam mendes has created an intelligent , thoroughly engrossing , beautifully acted adaptation of a classic novel that depicts the tragic underside of america 's sunniest decade .", "the film is blatantly aimed at the oscar committee - anyone else may well find it slightly dull .", "if ever there were a film that aimed for the zeitgeist and missed badly , it 's this one .", "the acting is amazing but the story is one long drive to despair", "-lrb- ... -rrb- al menos desde quin le teme a virginia woolf ? , de mike nichols -lrb- 1966 -rrb- , no se vea en el cine estadounidense el resquebrajamiento de un matrimonio de manera tan cruda y tan honesta .", "the many millions who swooned over their romance in titanic should expect to encounter a very different couple in MOV . the bloom is very much off the rose .", "MOV gets my vote as the best american film of 2008 .", "sam mendes has worked in this territory before with his oscar-winning american beauty . MOV is a better movie because it does n't rely on such blatant caricatures .", "the movie is intense and stylized , and bristling with great performances .", "MOV is easily the best-acted film of 2008 , and one of the most corrosive .", "-lsb- a -rsb- devastating if flawed adaptation of the richard yates novel .", "unlike the novel , which you can set aside and take a break , with the film version of MOV , you 're in for the duration , and it 's ultimately too much to take .", "winslet gives a fearless performance here . it 's not her fault her husband has shrouded it in taste .", "this film is so good it is devastating . a lot of people believe their parents did n't understand them . what if they did n't understand themselves ?", "like its cinematic kin , frost/nixon and doubt , this , too , is a delicately crafted , prestige project whose translation to screen does n't deliver the original 's amazements .", "mendes is careful to keep the mood largely sombre ahead of a gruesome denouement which , visceral as it is , does n't alter the pattern of the film ; delivering more food for thought than fire in the belly .", "it leaves you feeling voyeuristically sullied ; scrubbing the blood out of your mental carpet , privy to something simultaneously indulgent and inconsequential .", "ultimately , the performances are -lrb- rightly -rrb- more involving than the story . by the same token , the actors are more involving than the film .", "a worthy but slightly cold adaptation of a classic american novel that fails to fully engage the audience 's sympathy despite first-rate performances and some sublime camerawork by multiple oscar nominee roger deakins .", "it feels removed from the messy energies and doomy turbulence it depicts , filtering them through an aesthetic sensibility so tasteful , controlled and ultimately second-hand , that it can impress but never truly move us .", "a deeply felt , moving and genuinely tragic study of a marriage tearing itself apart .", "terrivelmente prejudicado em funзгo da abordagem distanciada e excessivamente racional de mendes , que parece estar sempre julgando e condenando seus personagens .", "MOV is a dumbed down movie . but it 's not dumbed down for just general audiences ; it 's dumbed down for would-be intellectual audiences , people who are supposed to like books . it sorely fits contemporary times .", "this is a sobering , well-observed film that does n't fully hit the mark but sets up enough pleasing ideas to chew on regarding ambition , marriage and ideals of how to live one 's life , individually and as a couple .", "handsomely done and beautifully acted , just slightly wanting in a screenplay that leaves questions unanswered about what 's behind these unhappy people . and it 's ultra-depressing ...", "hoplessly bleak and disturbingly detached , this dissection of a doomed marriage is saved by kate winslet 's formidable performance .", "certainly the best work mendes has ever produced for the screen , MOV works as a showcase for performances : dicaprio and winslet are at the top of their game .", "an extraordinary motion picture that harnesses spellbinding emotional discharge and enthralling disgust , using two of the most talented and captivating stars of today to bring to the screen a masterwork of domestic isolation .", "who on earth seriously wants to watch an entire movie of kate and leo squabbling as their marriage implodes ?", "an unforgettable film and one of the year 's best .", "since mendes has kept us emotionally at arm 's length with his structured , hermetically sealed production , it 's hard to care about whether they 'll ever find that elusive something .", "-lsb- b -rsb- oth the protagonists are thoroughly mediocre , uninteresting people , and i never figured out why i was supposed to care about the fate of either of them .", "revolutionary road/i > is dramatically potent material and , although it poses a number of philosophical questions , it works best as an unsentimental examination of a marriage in crisis .", "affected , overwrought misstep from director sam mendes tracks the brutal disintegration of a 50s-era suburban couple in high style and higher melodrama .", "it 's cynical dramedy for people who pride themselves on being smart -- that is , unsentimental .", "though boasting strong , oscar-caliber turns from dicaprio , winslet , and michael shannon , mendes ' second dissection of suburbia is too studied and deliberate in the first acts before generating emotional power , and may suffer in comparison to tv 's mad men .", "when he made his big-screen debut with american beauty in 1999 it felt thrillingly fresh . with this second take on suburbia , mendes is reversing up a well-worn path .", "winslet gives MOV its depth and heft . that face still gazes at us , with its seraphic blend of beauty and horror , minutes , even hours , after we have left the theatre .", "in terms of performance and production , this is an undeniably high-quality affair . yet it 's all rather superficial .", "dicaprio and winslet channel much nuance into their home-based hell . mendes ' level-headed helming is best at pinpointing the brutality of banality , while roger deakins ' lush cinematography stylises suburbia as a lavish velvet coffin for its residents .", "while yates ' story retains flecks of perceptiveness , this is as disappointing as the characters ' compromises .", "the acting impresses , the plight of the characters , less rounded and sympathetic than they are in the book , merely depresses . roadworthy then , but hardly revolutionary .", "a great script , visually stunning cinematography and great direction from kate 's husband sam mendes make this a remarkable experience .", "justin haythe 's disappointing screenplay is less than cinematic . too much of the dialogue is on-the-nose , and more akin to theatre than real life . far too much is said . the brilliance of yates 's novel lay in the amount that he left unsaid .", "you come out knowing you have seen some great performances , brilliant direction and beautiful cinematography , but it is just not a film you love .", "it 's as if someone 's taken the american dream , lashed it to a table and cut it open to see how it works . an uncomfortable process , to be sure , but an awfully compelling one , too .", "it is good , not great , and it is the two stars that make this worth the price of admission .", "a skillfully composed but gloomy affair that rigidly positions itself as a serious adult drama of the feel-bad variety .", "an unflinching look at the discontent of a suburban couple and the ways they deal with the death of their dream of liberation .", "reminds us how , in 120 minutes , a picture can go from `` i can not wait to see that '' to `` i never want to see that again . ''", "extremely well-acted and not without its effective interludes , mendes ' latest effort is done in by a final ten minutes that lessen the story 's would-be impact with an overload of tacked-on contrivance .", "from cast to conclusion , MOV is fate funneled through a true artist 's muse .", "the best thing about MOV ... is that it does n't end with that rote vision of bourgeois anomie . it only begins there .", "buy the house in the suburbs , go to work , take out the garbage , have an affair -- slowly these two mortgage their dreams .", "-lsb- a -rsb- didactic , emotionally overblown critique of the soulless suburbs .", "why does the movie feel as pleasantly deadening as the midcentury connecticut suburb where it takes place ?", "this is a movie by and for the actors , especially for kate winslet , whose prodigious talents are well used throughout this bleak , troubling and powerful drama .", "kate winslet 's message is strong and if you do n't get it the first time kathy bates will tell you again , but it could have been delivered sans hysteria . flawless sets and costumes make this a sumptuous but sad trip into the '50s .", "beautifully shot , superbly written drama that exerts a powerful emotional grip and features terrific performances from a reunited kate winslet and leonardo dicaprio .", "the book and the film may be nailed to their fifties period -lrb- everyone seems to smoke perpetually -rrb- but what MOV says about not so quietly desperate lives is still appropriate today .", "this is an honourable attempt to get at the heart of a great novel . its account of marital failure and of lost illusions is consistently absorbing and occasionally heart-rending .", "with all the talent , time and effort that has gone into making a movie like this , i hate reducing it to one word . but here goes . MOV is ... awful .", "MOV is a moany , groany , phoney oscars contender that 's all boo-hoo-hooey . mendes merely assumes we will share his characters ' contempt for ` burbs life .", "MOV may strive for heaviness , but it 's more doughty than weighty . the film is a doorstop that thinks it 's a statue .", "i do n't know anyone who 'd want to watch , in these miserable times , a marriage swirling down life 's khazi . but that does n't stop it being a fine piece of work . and while i did n't enjoy it at all , i can definitely recommend it .", "mendes digs into suburban life with a riveting and ultimately stark marital drama ... . and it 's the terrific acting that keeps us engaged .", "at any moment , we expect the depressed , chain smoking gilded cage suburban house pet kate to morph into sylvia plath , poised to stick her head in the oven , a premature free spirit bloodied christ figure imprisoned behind a window in a breezy hollow world .", "so straight and formal there 's no room to breathe .", "if you 're looking for an intense , character-driven movie , MOV delivers big time .", "a bleak , bitter , brilliant portrayal of the failure of the fifties version of the american dream it so beautifully captures in period terms .", "even though we could reasonably wonder if there had to be yet another one of these blasted suburban satires , at least MOV is a pretty good entry in the field .", "mendes very simply creates a period picture and thus fails to justify why the material is still relevant in 2008 .", "kate winslet and leonardo dicaprio rise to the acting challenges of this downbeat exploration of 1950s suburban ennui and marital discord , adapted from the acclaimed novel by richard yates .", "the pompous direction was inflicted by sam mendes , who seems to regard the 1950s as a foreign country .", "what is the point of ` MOV , ' besides providing a showcase for two dynamic actors , leonardo dicaprio and kate winslet , to chew the scenery in an overwrought exposition of domestic combat ?", "we all lead lives of quiet desperation , though some of us are louder than others .", "MOV is content to be a powerful film about an ordinary troubled marriage ; the kind taking place in a handful of houses on your block - perhaps even in your own .", "the build-up gains slow momentum but once it finds its rhythm rev road is positively devastating", "kate and leo just stand around shouting the subtext at one another , mired in that typical mendes swamp of gloss wherein every shot looks like a picture from a coffee-table book .", "a showcase for dicaprio and winslet 's formidable talents , and they are up to the challenge of playing tortured , well intentioned but ultimately doomed victims of dashed dreams .", "however familiar it may ring , this very downbeat tale about dreams dashed in the name of stifling social conformity feels freshly devastating , thanks to the lead pair .", "MOV is for those of you who think marley & me looks like a sappy , falsely cute , sugary sweet concoction of junk .", "it may be , as thoreau said , that `` most men lead lives of quiet desperation , '' but in the movies , desperation is much more likely to be loud .", "like columbus , british filmmaker sam mendes insists he 's discovered america .", "MOV is n't emotionally engaging or moving .", "a film that , by the end , turns into a far more unsettling haunted-house story than the amityville horror .", "imagine , if you can , what tennessee williams might have written for a story line of tv 's mad men and you 'll get a good picture of MOV .", "mendes ' skillfully struck detachment sabotages pathos .", "each revelation . every event . a snapshot . -lsb- sam -rsb- mendes lingers on the characters % u2014 especially golden globe winning -lsb- kate -rsb- winslet % u2014 and wordlessly lets you feel what they feel .", "MOV is a very powerful film even if i 'm unsure whether or not it 's also a very good one .", "dicaprio and winslet deliver terrific performances .", "if MOV had been filmed back in 1961 , when the novel came out , it would have been timely and powerful .", "revolutionary takes us down a familiar road .", "suburbia never was what it 's cracked up to be .", "there are no wasted moments in this film . there are many you ca n't watch without wincing .", "while the theme of ` what are you doing with your life ? ' resonates , it 's not much fun to watch , in spite of splendid performances from all concerned .", "we understand -- immediately , like in the second or third scene , thank you -- that they are tragically suppressed ; why should we care ?", "what is it about the 1950s that brings out the worst in cultural historians ?", "this is not the film to see if you 're looking for light , frivolous entertainment , but it reflects humanity in a way that can be cathartic .", "strong performances steer this 1950s marital drama out of a period-picture trap .", "in pieces and in spirit , the many honest parts of this drama about marital life in the 1950s are like the rooms of a house that feel right , even if the exterior slopes somewhat clumsily .", "a very powerful drama .", "give me something to care about .", "MOV , a waxworks edition of the furiously unsentimental novel by richard yates , tracks the unraveling of a handsome young suburban couple in the 1950s .", "the crossed-signals and secret selfishness of a bad marriage are the sour heart of MOV . and it is devastating .", "it 's keenly observed , handsomely mounted , supremely well-acted , and distant in a way the period trappings ca n't quite explain away .", "MOV is a very good bigscreen adaptation of an outstanding american novel -- faithful , intelligent , admirably acted , superbly shot ." ]
jodie foster 's visual instincts and mel gibson 's all-in performance sell this earnest , straightforward movie .	the_beaver_2010	771188157	[ "flawed , but in an era of safe filmmaking with stories and characters tied in uniformly neat bows , MOV operates outside the box ... and then it kicks the box down the street .", "a fairly uninvolving one-trick pony .", "for a film about the real problem of mental illness , it never feels authentic . depression is not something neatly tied up . if this is meant as an allegory , it 's vague and unconvincing .", "gibson knows a thing or two about lost , troubled souls , and watching him navigate around the edge of the abyss is fascinating .", "for all his recent travails , gibson remains a formidable film-maker -lrb- apocalypto was a tour de force -rrb- and a strong screen presence . he is simply not right for his role here .", "it 's still worth seeing , if only for gibson 's performance .", "gibson 's performance as walter black ranks among the best of his career .", "someone like walter black is bruised in the brain . like MOV , such a state is complicated , aggravating , but definitely worth fighting to understand and accept .", "in case you have n't heard , mel gibson has a new movie out , with a dumb title and even dumber premise . that 's three reasons to not buy a ticket to MOV , but i 'm guessing gibson 's polarizing presence is enough for most folks . it has been , so far .", "if anyone can see past the suggestive title , the oddball premise and the controversial casting of this film , they might be surprised to find it surprisingly tolerable .", "sure , there 's lots of pretense but it 's all the wrong kind -- just silliness posing as sensitivity pretending to be art .", "let us begin by saying MOV is good enough to let you forget everything you think you know about mel gibson for 90 minutes .", "settling for superficial sentimentality , it makes us feel sorry for the characters , especially walter , but it does n't enlighten or challenge us , which serious art should do .", "if you continue to be fascinated by this talented , volatile , messed-up man , it 's worth experiencing what may be gibson 's finest performance to date .", "i did n't want to read a word about MOV before seeing it , and i 'm glad i went in `` cold . '' it 's a purposefully odd little film about mental illness and a broken family , made with care and obvious passion by jodie foster from a. . .", "i did n't want to read a word about MOV before seeing it , and i 'm glad i went in `` cold . '' it 's a purposefully odd little film about mental illness and a broken family , made with care and obvious passion by jodie foster from a. . .", "the puppet works .", "admittedly , gibson is very good as the deeply disturbed hero - particularly as he sits alone slugging vodka or mourning the loss of his family 's love . but is this really acting ? is it even a performance ?", "foster almost brings it home with a playful tone that accentuates gibson 's batty performance , but one plot point nearly throws the poignancy of the story down the toilet .", "though kyle killen 's script becomes trite and predictable , gibson delivers in an uncompromising way .", "off-screen mel gibson may be a deplorable human being , but he and MOV , a film honest about depression and lined with a certain bruised grace , are uniquely suited to one another .", "the refusal of foster and screenwriter kyle killen to conform to familiar narrative rhythms makes MOV curiously intriguing .", "it 's a tough sell , but watching gibson 's character work through his depression is addictive .", "a flawed , erratic comedy-drama that nonetheless remains fascinating because of gibson 's frenziedly committed performance .", "it 's basically gibson 's show , and he 's thoroughly believable . ... unfortunately , the parallel -lsb- seems -rsb- to have come from a different , inferior screenplay , resulting in half a good film ... or at least half an interesting one .", "this could be a great swan song or the rebirth of a troubled yet talented actor . either way , it 's quite special .", "the main problem with the film , competently but rather blandly directed by foster , is that you ca n't believe this fairy tale for a moment .", "regardless of what you 've read in the tabloids and have come to know about mel gibson off screen , on screen , he is still a man with many talents .", "when meredith claims they used to be happy , and he responds that it 's all a lie , we do n't really know who to believe . and that vagueness makes it unclear who we 're supposed to trust and what outcome will actually be a good thing for the characters .", "there are many scenes in which absurdist fiction intersects with fact that it 's depressing and disturbing , yet gibson 's anguished performance is not only believablebut insightful and compelling .", "... contains moments of cinematic brilliance and insightful characterization but also occasions of wishful thinking bordering on the ludicrous .", "-lsb- gibson -rsb- delivers a performance very few could pull off as a depressed father who begins communicating through a hand puppet , but foster does n't know how to manage it or navigate the script 's seismic tonal shifts /", "a perfect match of artist and repertoire .", "put the puppet back into the dumpster .", "moviegoers probably wo n't be interested in seeing mel gibson in an onscreen train wreck that reminds them so much of the mess he 's made of his real life .", "sthn trith ths skhnothetikh apopeira , h jodie foster akomh den exei piasei thn ennoia toy rakor , alla ayto einai to mikrotero ap ' ta problhmata mias dramenti poy pairnei to thema ths katathlipshs arketa elafra , gia na thes na thn aytoktonhseis", "it 's a bummer of a movie -- dark and at cross-purposes with both itself and any image do-over -lsb- gibson -rsb- might be seeking .", "the device of MOV is a constant distraction from what is otherwise a compelling tale of a man and family in crisis .", "a unique and thoughtful project that showcases a charming , as well as unconventional , character journey -- and one of gibson 's best roles to date .", "mel gibson 's last hurrah", "jodie foster 's MOV had its moments , but the overall premise just did n't fly . i just could n't buy the idea of the talking puppet .", "thinks it 's a whimsical tale of a man finding himself , but gibson thinks it 's the tale of a man losing his mind .", "it does n't quite work , but it does provide something of a cinematic exorcism for the public 's increasingly conflicted relationship with gibson .", "it 's a lame joke , but it fits : i 'm of two minds about MOV .", "jodie foster shows as a director that you really can make a movie about anything if you do it right . i mean , a guy with a beaver puppet ? come on !", "navigates its tricky tone and subject matter in a sweet , memorable fashion .", "MOV is ironically salvaged by gibson 's complete performance , and the film 's commitment to his character ensures that it will endure beyond the controversy , resonating in spite of itself .", "it is a potent reminder of why jodie foster should have made more movies by now . and it is a strong beginning for screenwriter kyle killen .", "mel gibson 's emotionally intense performance is the best element of jodie foster 's disappointing family melodrama , a bland , earnest , shapeless film , marred by contrived ending .", "brilliant film by jodie foster , with oscar-level performances .", "despite its ambitious tonal sweep , MOV ends up feeling like pieces of a lot of different films , making it a movie that 's more interesting than it is great .", "-lsb- mel gibson -rsb- gives remarkable life to a man , and a film , in crisis .", "less nutty and more moving than its premise suggests , jodie foster 's on-target dramedy transcends its real-world baggage .", "jodie foster 's MOV is a film about mental illness that , refreshingly , is n't like most films about mental illness .", "MOV makes for a creative portrayal of mental illness , and of family life around those who live in the dark , reaching a fine balance of drama and comedy .", "se maneja en el filo entre la comedia absurda y el drama lacrimógeno , una combinación no siempre efectiva . dentro de un buen elenco se destaca el intento de mel gibson por volver a los primeros planos .", "aside from having a title that turns me into a puerile , sniggering teenager every time i talk about it , MOV is a heartbreakingly good movie .", "it is a totally manufactured product , this film , completely free of sincerity and reality", "this is a wholly wasted opportunity for gibson -- and a disappointing misfire from foster .", "MOV is one of the strangest and most inconsistent dramas in recent years .", "mel gibson is quite wonderful as walter and it 's to foster 's credit that she is able to balance the serious with the bizarre so convincingly .", "a heartfelt and compassionate portrait of mental illness .", "there 's a strong and positive sub-text to the story , offering a depth of understanding to an often considered subject that is taboo . but whether audiences will buy gibson talking with the hand is another question", "what sounds like an odd , interesting experiment squanders its potential on boring life lessons and bland sincerity .", "there 's not a single idea that gets full explored ... -lsb- foster 's -rsb- ideas about how to visualise the themes and character beats of the story could hardly be more obvious , or leading ,", "viewers will have to check cartloads of baggage upon entering jodie foster 's courageous , crazy-as-a-loon character study about a man having a major midlife meltdown .", "even as kyle killen 's script becomes ever more implausible and ultimately ridiculous , it 's impossible to take your eyes off the screen when the tortured and ill-looking gibson is center stage .", "as director , foster , working with kyle killen 's screenplay , treats the goofy premise with a literal earnestness -- as a family drama about separation and reunion -- that seems all wrong . a little wit would have helped .", "if you take -lsb- gibson 's -rsb- performance on its own merits , it 's one of the finest of his career ; touching , terrifying and admirably understated throughout .", "gibson demonstrates a staunch commitment to his role as an emotionally damaged man driven to excise his troubles by speaking through the titular hand puppet , but the subdued tone brings him down to earth .", "... the film has some bristling and moving scenes and certainly ends up being what you 'd call a conversation starter .", "gibson again stares deeply into the abyss . the question is whether -- after his public disgrace -- anyone will want to go there with him .", "MOV puppet never comes off gibson 's hand and that , like its star has demonstrated in his more recent films , there 's no redemption without some crucifixion-style pain .", "mel gibson 's passion is vanquished by his collaborators ' retreat into boilerplate sentimentality .", "`` MOV '' is n't a perfect film , but it 's challenging and original .", "that this ambitious , if deeply odd , film is so compulsively watchable is a credit to gibson 's compelling performances , both as spiritless walter and the cockney-accented voice of the tireless title character .", "if you 're going ahead and make `` MOV , '' and you need an actor to go convincingly off the deep end , you could do worse than mel gibson . but you might not do better .", "the storyline would appear trite and the message muddled even to someone who 'd never heard the name mel gibson .", "i respected MOV for having the conviction to treat mental illness seriously and without compromise . but did it have to be so maudlin , too ?", "neither as funny as you 'd hope nor as serious or profound as it seems to think ... half a good movie , until it takes a fatal wrong turn into solemnity and mawkishness .", "whatever you think of mr. gibson , whatever he has lost , he still has talent , and here displays acting of power and resonance . it 's a pleasure , for a change , to see the best side of his split personality at work .", "i do n't know whether gibson is method-acting out of his own psychology or is just a brilliant mimic , but it 's tough to resist the conclusion that this guy knows what it 's like to look in the mirror and not quite recognize the person he sees there .", "mel gibson looks like hell in MOV . that 's a compliment .", "ventriloquism -- seeing and speaking through others -- is foster 's metaphor for the compassion that art ought to elicit , but that even the hollywood community of `` artists '' has failed in making gibson a pariah .", "could it be that foster , who has gone on the record as a loyal ally of gibson 's , made this small , poignant drama about depression and redemption as a gift of love to her friend ?", "gibson is powerful , touching in foster 's finely shaped , offbeat drama as a profoundly sad man trying to save himself . the haunting fictional portrait lingers beyond the film .", "emotionally messy in all the right places . bravely addresses the isolation of depression and the lack of easy answers when it comes to people with mental illness .", "MOV is serious about portraying mental illness . and whatever your opinion about gibson the man , so is gibson the actor .", "jodie foster has created an uneven , inordinately peculiar film , one that oscillates unsuccessfully between edgy black comedy and hollywood convention .", "foster commendably stretches beyond her comfort zone with MOV , but in the end the film 's high-concept premise is at war with its conventional direction .", "the figure of gibson is immediately suspect and polarizing , and ultimately too much of a distraction from this fragile tv-style family story .", "the movie comes across as rather safe and sober , with misplaced attempts at humor .", "in MOV , a stately family drama with a black comedy struggling to break free from within , mel gibson deploys a seemingly magical hand puppet -- plus more charm than he 's allowed out in public in years .", "while the film flirts with both darkness and narrative craziness , foster is too buttoned-down a director to make this material crackle and pop the way it should .", "completely overgrown with symbolic gestures .", "you wo n't be the only one anticipating a car-crash appeal in MOV , that eerie sensation of not being able to look away from catastrophe .", "an awkward , uneven amalgamation of drama and comedy with more cringe-inducing moments than laughter or poignancy , despite uniformly strong performances .", "it 's possible mel gibson is * too * good and foster was too willing to let the tone of gibson 's performance steer the tone of the movie , rather than the tone of killen 's script .", "i 've rarely seen a movie about severe malcontents that ended on such a note of unearned uplift .", "mel 's character is n't on prozac , but the movie is -- a succession of bland camera setups , cued to a highly conventional score . would that the direction were half as nutty as the script or as wacked-out as its star !", "a quirky but emotionally affecting drama about depression , beaver medicine , and the miracles of love and transformation .", "an incongruous mix of fable and realism , giddiness and gloom , MOV gnaws off more than it can chew , but mel gibson 's earnest performance and jodie foster 's able direction shore up the dam .", "foster has crept out on a limb here , showing us a grown-up human being who 's in terrible pain , and for whom there are no easy answers .", "too odd to sink your teeth into", "it 's unclear what about life or depression foster and killen are really saying . a movie about a man hiding behind a puppet is also a story about a movie hiding behind its star .", "an emotional runaway of a film that carries neither the insight nor the uplift to make the weight of its dark journey worth it .", "while MOV starts with gibson in what women want slapstick mode , it eventually goes to such exaggerated , extreme places that it becomes as much of a must-watch train-wreck as gibson 's own real-life situation .", "gibson 's best performance in years saves the picture from its inconsistency . few other actors could ride out the bumps in plot while delivering a believable performance .", "jodie foster 's drama MOV , starring mel gibson as a depressed man who communicates via a hand puppet , is many things : admirably sincere , occasionally poignant , often trite and perversely wrong-headed .", "not knowing whether to be a comedy or a drama and often failing at both , there 's very little to recommend about this downer of a movie .", "the remarkable marriage of actor and role turns out to be the best part of this overly tidy family portrait .", "it is , by some distance , the best drama about family life this year - the sort of refreshingly-good film it would have been easy to think that nobody in hollywood wanted to make any more .", "they seem like a real family , beaver puppet and all . and ` MOV ' gives them the dignity they deserve in their troubled times .", "not a good movie , but a brave one from a star in trouble .", "the set-up sounds absurd , and parts of the movie are indeed funny peculiar , but overall foster plays things straight and gibson rewards her with a nakedly honest portrayal of a man who 's hit rock bottom and is trying to clamber back to the light .", "foster 's curious movie is at once a realisation of the kind of `` risky '' script that never gets made and an unwitting signifier of typical hollywood contrivance .", "it is the very essence of a misfire , a film so out of step with the times that i 'm tempted to say dick cheney on a hunting trip could n't have misfired more .", "MOV sensitively deals with themes of mental illness , suicide and self-belief , plumbing some very dark nooks of the human psyche .", "deftly handling the seriousness of its mental health issues , MOV is also often profoundly funny .", "jodie foster invites us to laugh at this guy who talks through a puppet , then scolds us for doing so .", "MOV goes to elaborate lengths to sidestep any interesting conflicts or complex characters , instead opting for twee humour and saccharine life lessons .", "the movie 's glumness is in synch with foster 's performances over the last decade : it 's as if she 's decided that acting is something you mature beyond . which i suspect had a dampening effect on gibson 's performance .", "MOV is the best american release i have seen this year ... easily .", "the film works thanks to the performance by gibson . despite his messy personal life laid bare on the internet and tabloid headlines , he still has talent .", "from the pen newcomer kyle killen , creator of the brilliant , but instantaneously cancelled , lone star , it reeks of promise but vast inexperience , while jodie foster perhaps could have helmed the narrative better too .", "but curiosity over a gibson screen return may make this a surprise box office climber - and a warm-up act for the greatly anticipated how i spent my summer vacation ...", "it never quite comes together in a satisfying way , but it 's still a brave , strange , brain-stirring piece of filmmaking .", "i 'm still hoping for a sequel in which jodie gives mel a puppet cockerel .", "a story that should be savagely funny and tauntingly surreal , at least for part of its arc , drifts into problem-of-the-week terrain .", "while using a comical device to explore a serious subject , foster clearly wants to go darker and deeper , striving to draw parallels between the bonding of the kindred teens and walter 's increasingly disturbing psychotic split .", "worth seeing for its terrific central performance from mel gibson , though it runs out of steam in the middle section and gets a little too bogged down in its less interesting , beaver-free sub-plot .", "beyond the initial idea , this is kid gloves filmmaking , when what we need is a bit more of the gloves-off stuff .", "this strange , uncertain picture ca n't be dismissed .", "`` MOV '' is almost successful , despite the premise of its screenplay , which i was simply unable to accept .", "is gibson showing us the character or himself or some combination of the two ? you decide . but whoever that is onscreen , it 's the saddest man in the world .", "the redemption the movie most strongly suggests is mel gibson 's own .", "this is often quite affecting for its portrait of midlife crisis and gibson 's personal investment in the role .", "this is a daring drama , a true risk for everyone involved that pays off with an emotionally rewarding piece about mental illness , family ties , and turning points .", "the film is to be commended for addressing depression , but while gibson 's performance is always fascinating , a dual acting job without benefit of a screen double , the film suffers its own malaise when he 's not on screen .", "a promising story about a madman and his puppet fast becomes a trite tale of a father and son as the combustible mr. gibson is tamped down ...", "none of this sounds as if it should work for a second as drama , so great credit goes to foster and the cast for keeping the story small , quiet and often very moving .", "there maybe be a lot of talk about this being the return of `` actor mel , '' but MOV is also the return of director foster .", "mel gibson 's off-screen exploits have lumbered him with some heavy baggage , so it 's surprising to see him embrace that vulnerability in jodie foster 's oddball comedy .", "somewhat tedious once the initial novelty of seeing mel gibson talk using a beaver puppet has worn off .", "foster 's direction is on the timid side but gibson 's performance manages to make a weird situation feel real and unexpectedly touching .", "it is n't offensive , or antisemitic , or actionable , so there 's some relief -- but it is very embarrassing .", "contrived , self-admiring and self-pitying , unfunny , burdened with a central performance which is unendurably conceited and charmless .", "as the movie grows darker , and walter becomes more dissociated from reality , gibson convincingly depicts a man who 'll have to crack all the way before he can heal .", "what we 're left with is a daft premise and a damaged movie star desperately trying to endear himself to the audience . a bold but doomed effort .", "fitfully compelling , a welcome antidote to more formulaic hollywood fare , and deserving of more than embarrassed sniggers .", "while there are too many carefully constructed moments in this film , it 's a remarkably effective mixture of dark drama and absurd comedy . this is surprising because the premise is more than a little ridiculous .", "it 's commendable to capture depression on film , but a talking rodent and a fallen star are n't the way to do so .", "the reason to see `` MOV '' ... is gibson , who nails both roles in what feels like it 's half-performance , half-therapy .", "with MOV , gibson shows that for all his personal turmoil , he still may have a career in the twilight years .", "the film is amusing , then melancholy , then weirdly funny , then not . it 's a quiet , measured work .", "the acting throughout -- foster , lawrence , yelchin -- is superb , and this may well be gibson 's finest performance , just as it 's foster 's most balanced job of directing .", "MOV puts the focus back on mel gibson the actor , not the tabloid nightmare .", "the script , thank goodness , takes a left turn rather than heading straight for the happily ever oprah uplifting conclusion we anticipate .", "the weird mel gibson movie no one wants to see is actually a strong psychological study from director jodie foster .", "... -lsb- MOV is -rsb- a better-than-expected drama containing one of gibson 's finest performances to date .", "no one can deny gibbo delivers one of the most compelling performances of his career .", "... while it 's probably not a movie everyone will want to see , is probably the best hollywood movie of 2011 to date .", "delivers more than it promises-namely a performance that draws on exceptional skill as well as what one irresistibly takes to be the real-life anguish of a movie star whose own life has come to ruin .", "take away the titular gimmick , and the film would be a standard-issue family drama with nothing to set it apart from other oft-told tales of suburban ennui .", "-lsb- video -rsb- mel gibson 's cinematic mia culpa might not equate to a public apology to the countless people he 's insulted over recent years .", "MOV 's simplistic resolution is a fitting one , considering how the movie , like its characters , evades the problem .", "the entire cast delivers , but none more so than gibson .", "despite some missteps , this film stands as a moving portrait of a husband and father who reclaims his will to live with the unlikely help of a hand puppet . and the main reason it 's so moving ? mel gibson .", "everyone is coming to see gibson and foster , but it 's oscar nominee jennifer lawrence who emerges as the superstar supporting player in the film .", "if you can get past your feelings for the troubled gibson , you get to watch a high-wire performance of the highest caliber .", "what starts out as a harmless , if kind of goofy , exercise in radical psychotherapy takes a compelling dark turn in jodie foster 's MOV .", "... a character study of depression and mental illness that does not preach and says a lot about the human spirit , even though the star is a beaver ." ]
MOV rises above its formulaic sports-movie themes with charming performances , light humor , and uplifting tone .	1046227-cool_runnings	10237	[ "the setting and characters were so unique that the film quickly overcame its shortcomings to become a very satisfying piece of movie entertainment .", "entirely mediocre and forgettable", "the ghost of stepin fetchit is hovering in the tropical ether .", "often silly but almost never funny .", "a wholesome , engaging , frequently hilarious , ultimately inspirational film .", "better than it looks . i know , it shocked me too .", "a cute , buoyant sports fantasy , jolted along by a reggae soundtrack and playfully acted by an appealing cast .", "in the tradition of mighty ducks , here 's another great rocky story from disney .", "it 's a film about success coming from hard work and determination , and it 's a film i would be glad to take a family to see . that 's a rarity , and it 's worth praise on its own level .", "the considerable warmth , humour and persistence of the cast soon have you rooting for these underdogs .", "MOV does n't even rate a bronze medal as either sports film or comedy .", "a spirited -- if sentimental and conventional -- movie ...", "delightful , tween-friendly story of jamaican bobsledders .", "MOV is a charming tale of determined underdogs , with plenty of laughs , moments of real tension , and five engaging performances .", "a energia do elenco e a inspiradora premissa -lrb- baseada em fatos reais -rrb- convencem o espectador a ignorar os vários clichęs e a torcer desesperadamente pelos bravos jamaicanos .", "one of candy 's best as coach of an olympic bobsled team .", "travelogue shots of happy jamaicans dancing in the sun give way to patronising comedy .", "the offbeat , fact-based saga is enlivened by the perfect balance of humor , emotion and insight and should be one of the true sleepers among fall box office releases .", "while the film is cute and charming , it is n't without its copious cliches . all in all , it 's pretty much as expected .", "entertaining and uplifting .", "if you like underdog movies , you might like this one . especially if you have n't seen very many ." ]
MOV is a mature , intense drama that embraces the bruatlity of its subject and invites the audience to sympathize with its protagonist 's nightmarish circumstances .	war_witch	771303871	[ "an astonishing drama set in africa that vividly depicts the courage and resiliency of a 12-year-old girl whose spiritual gifts enable her to survive .", "infused with terrence malick spices , MOV aims for ambiance as a way to approach its searing images of war , keeping the viewer unnerved instead of outraged when inspecting the troubles of africa .", "21st century africa presented as a godforsaken wasteland conjuring up primitive images reminiscent of the ghoulish dystopia chronicled by conrad in heart of darkness .", "with intelligence and deceptive simplicity , nguyen injects the discombobulating impact of grief , conflict and ptsd -lrb- with the added effects of magic milk -rrb- , to delve deeper than a simple observed account of a soldier 's bid for freedom .", "this harrowing film refuses to let up long enough to let you catch your breath .", "rachel mwanza 's performance is extraordinary and shows great depth for such a young actress .", "being a child soldier is tough to imagine , but canadian writer-director kim nguyen takes on the challenge without many qualms .", "it may be hard for a viewer to accept some of the paranormal goings-on in MOV -- the ghosts , the superstitions , the otherworldly powers -- but they 're nothing compared to the realities that komona has to endure .", "a powerful and unforgettable emotional viewing experience .", "MOV does n't sermonize or propose a solution to its larger problems . it 's a portrait of a life . it just so happens that said life is playing out in a living hell .", "atrocity and beauty somehow co-exist in MOV .", "what 's missing here , in order to raise it to a different status , is the fierce involvement that comes from someone who lives inside the picture and is therefore , personally concerned .", "MOV gives us a continent 's tragedy in a young girl 's face .", "the film is a laser-focused fable threatened occasionally by its drifts into character shorthand , but equaled by a wrenching lead performance by rachel mwanza that results in one of the finest of the year .", "... rich in anthropological specificity , nguyen 's film is unexpectedly sensitive and anchored by some amazing performances .", "the picture is far and away most effective in its sequences of quiet lyricism .", "this year 's city of god .", "nguyen brings the harshness of this world alive not with big dramatic flourishes but with an everyday tone that makes it all the more frightening . this is how it is - how else would it be ?", "you 're likely to ponder its images , its insights into a very foreign -lrb- for most of us -rrb- location and the tragic situation of komona -lrb- and others like her -rrb- for a long time to come .", "... driven by a remarkably natural , unaffected performance by mwanza . and nguyen , despite relying a little too heavily on the initial voice-over for exposition , is a confident and sensitive intelligence behind the camera .", "brutal without turning exploitative , the result is harrowing and heartbreaking .", "is it accurate depiction of africa 's child soldiers ? i do n't know , thank god . but it feels authentic to its very core , and that makes it as hard to forget as it is to ignore .", "MOV is most effective not when we are looking in on komona but when we are inside her head .", "along with the moral lesson , nguyen remembers to give auds some pleasures , including the exquisitely chosen soundtrack of african folk and pop music , nicolas bolduc 's cinematography and the very artful use of sound throughout .", "it is astonishing that film that contains such violence can have such a serene tone . the source of the serenity is the measured , calm narration by komona -lrb- voice of diane umawahoro -rrb- that is the telling of her story to her unborn child", "rebelle is full of such careful detail , and is carried so beautifully by mwanza 's performance , that questions of authenticity slide away .", "writer/director kim nguyen ... takes us to a place most of us are lucky enough to barely imagine and does so with grace and sometimes even beauty .", "the powerful things we expect from `` MOV '' are as advertised , but what we do n't expect is even better .", "-lsb- despite -rsb- so many fictional elements ... the point of view poignantly emphasizes the special travails of girls within violent societies engaged in constant war .", "the portrait of a girl who retains her dignity and strength , her faith in the future , in the face of unimaginable horrors . it 's inspirational in a very real way .", "nguyen creates a mesmerizing tone through his camerawork , editing , sound and the infusion of african folk imagery and ritual , but it 's mwanza 's performance as komona that makes `` MOV '' feel so miraculous .", "the sensitively imagined story of a child soldier in africa makes MOV a genre benchmark and a breakout work for writer-director kim nguyen .", "it 's depressing stuff , to be sure , but it does a marvelous job at giving us an impressionistic taste of horrific circumstances without using them to beat us into submission .", "this intense , gripping drama is utterly transporting .", "nguyen reportedly worked on `` MOV '' for a decade , and it shows in both the immediacy and authenticity of his tale , and the meticulous craft with which it 's told .", "while MOV is a gorgeously made film with strong , natural performances from its leads .", "... an intriguing and frequently disturbing drama that tells an important story in an impressively even-handed way ...", "while the film is certainly a potent and sometimes harrowing portrayal of injustice , it is not heavy-handed , but done with skill and sensitivity .", "nguyen , astonishingly , manages to wring something vaguely like a happy ending from this tragic story .", "this is a straight ahead essay on warfare at its worst and the survival of the human spirit at its best .", "made with extremely clear-eyed restraint from harangues , sentiment , message-mongering , or anything else that would cheapen its central character 's suffering and fight .", "MOV features a standout performance by rachel mwanza , but the supernatural visions do n't really suit the film 's tone and mood .", "nguyen 's compassion and commitment to the issue is admirable , and at its best , MOV is devastating .", "canadian writer-director kim nguyen spent nearly a decade researching this docudrama about child soldiers in africa , and the film feels as authoritative as a first-hand account .", "a haunting take on unspeakably grim subject matter , shot on location in the democratic republic of congo .", "MOV is remarkable for the fact that it never strays into sentimentality or sensationalism .", "... a love story between youngsters who are forced to become adults all too early in their lives .", "a powerful and upsetting portrait of a young girl compelled into unimaginably horrific circumstances .", "the movie is committed to revealing the world through komona 's eyes , and you never feel a taint of voyeurism or condescension . it stays true to her .", "nguyen 's decision to look away from carnage and avoid melodrama is admirable , making room for sensitive and imaginative filmmaking , but it softens the blow the subject would otherwise deliver .", "brutality and tenderness are a potent mix in `` MOV . ''", "as a 12-year-old african village girl kidnapped by rebels and forced into brutality , mwanza guides the audience through a nightmare beyond most comprehension .", "nguyen 's matter-of-fact storytelling proves to be the right match for a life of extraordinary suffering .", "the film 's subject is almost too horrible to contemplate , but it finds a way to space out the blows without softening them .", "MOV is a remarkably mature portrait that trusts its audience to have their own reactions to its material ; it does n't yank at the heartstrings so much as expertly tune them .", "an exquisitely made film in direct contrast to the ugliness of its subject matter", "creative film storytelling at its finest and a truly unique coming-of-age tale .", "... startling , hallucinogenic war drama", "the ghosts of murdered villagers that haunt a young girl brutally forced into slavery as a child soldier in rebelle mirror the film 's dramatic effect on an audience .", "though ostensibly a character study , it 's nevertheless characterized by the vaguely moralizing tone of an issue film , one whose candor in face of brutality seems calculated for maximum liberal appeal ." ]
despite best intentions from director emilio estevez and his ensemble cast , they succumb to a script filled with pointless subplots and awkward moments working too hard to parallel contemporary times .	1162559-bobby	343970062	[ "in what is clearly a labor of love , estevez has assembled an extraordinary cast to present a mosaic of american culture at one of the '60s ' key turning points . estevez may milk the final sequence a little too long , but the result is deeply affecting .", "a document to the idealistic spirit of rfk 's times . estevez , in a trifecta as director-screenwriter-star , brilliantly succeeds in all aspects .", "what i resent most about MOV is that it 's so obvious that it has no ability to be meaningful . it 's like making a movie about how the ocean is wet . who does n't know that ?", "as we experience kennedy 's compassion and eloquence in newsreel footage and hear the campaign speech he delivered that night , we comprehend the film 's overwhelming sense of loss .", "not because of its overly ambitious screenplay , but because of its heart , its performers and its shots of real-life subject matter , `` MOV '' is better than average .", "while it includes excerpts of some rfk speeches , MOV provides no insight into the man and his politics , choosing instead to flit among the insipid soap opera storylines .", "emilio estevez 's inventive and passionate `` MOV '' is so timely today % u2014 in a world lacking justice and peace and in much need of a strong and convincing leader .", "for all his good intentions , mr. estevez has reduced history to a bad melodrama in which nothing much happens until a crazed assassin -lrb- of whom we catch only a fleeting prior glimpse -rrb- supposedly destroys the last great hope of a liberal renaissance .", "estevez 's plan to honor rfk feels more like exploitation of the footage to give his movie energy and an emotional context it does n't otherwise have .", "one of the key problems with the new robert kennedy biopic , `` MOV , '' is that it never is as compelling , necessary or as thought-provoking as rfk 's ideas , nor is it as interesting or as tumultuous as the time it depicts .", "the best anyone can say about MOV is that writer/director emilio estevez 's heart is in the right place .", "emilio estevez 's lament for the lost ideals of the '60s draws heavily from the robert altman playbook .", "despite its flaws , its intriguing premise leaves us haunted by thoughts of ` what if ? '", "the archival kennedy clips aside , the excited radiance of these young characters ' faces -lrb- and many of them are just extras -rrb- may be the best thing about MOV .", "emilio estevez 's MOV tests your patience to the breaking point -- maybe beyond .", "as a reminder of a historical tragedy wrapped up in a pop movie so as to appeal to a later generation , i pat estevez on the back . but , as disaster vessels go , this one 's sunk .", "-lsb- MOV 's -rsb- a sketchbook trying to pass as a tapestry .", "MOV does n't get everything right but when estevez allows his images and the reality of his characters do the talking , the film works with indelible cogency .", "MOV , which reportedly is going to receive a huge push for the oscars , is one of the year 's worst movies .", "it is a cross-section of america , and of the screen actor 's guild .", "always engaging , rarely revelatory , MOV earns credit for its convictions and its ability to dramatize those convictions in the context of a man who embodied them .", "it pains me to have to slam a film that so obviously has its heart in the right place , but MOV is such an inept and misguided effort that there 's no other option", "estevez 's true kindred spirit ... is novelist arthur hailey ... the political themes in estevez 's film are frequently submerged in soap suds : despite all its noble ideas , ` MOV ' is less like ` jfk ' than it is ` days of our lives . '", "... while estevez succeeds in catching some individually touching scenes , others are overwritten , phoney and irrelevant .", "so keenly felt and so deeply imagined i could n't help but be moved , even grateful for its bleeding-heart nostalgia -- which winds up feeling rather up-to-date .", "... signals solidarity with the kind of late-1960 s liberalism that the martyred MOV came to embody . it 's a nostalgia trip , and is less interesting for its vagueness .", "as long as you do n't let `` MOV '' lose you , and just sit back and adapt to its chaotic ways , you may find that it reaches past your confusion into your heart .", "with so much brandishing of name actors in small roles , MOV feels like a '70s disaster flick , with the disaster in the final minutes . while waiting , viewers must content themselves with playing spot-the-star .", "ambitious , uneven and deeply affecting drama .", "with one film , estevez has transformed himself from a middle-aged joke into a youthful auteur who has made something beautiful , something he can be proud of , one of the best films of 2006 .", "for all its flaws , MOV is a heartfelt and undeniably relevant project .", "a poignant and heart-rending drama about the hopes , dreams , anger , and righteous indignation of those who saw in robert kennedy a catalyst for justice , change , and peace in america .", "poignant yet fragmented - with trivial , star-studded subplots - it unabashedly idealizes rfk , presenting him in an almost saintly light .", "star power alone pushes MOV to a point where it 's a comfortable failure ,", "MOV wishes it were robert altman 's nashville .", "has so many storylines that it becomes near impossible to give a flip about any particular one .", "with so many movies winking and aiming for clever , MOV arrives sopping wet with nostalgia and earnestness .", "a crash-like roundelay of desperately manufactured bathos that covers the entire spectrum of miserable plotting and characterization .", "an exercise in historical revisionism for folks who would rather be informed of breaking national crises through news feeds on all my children .", "written and directed by emilio estevez , MOV is like an american-history textbook marked with thick yellow highlighter wherever a parallel might be detected between the vietnam era and the reign of bush ii .", "oddly , it works , creating a pastiche of idealism , humour , loss and sadness .", "whatever MOV lacks in nuance , texture and depth it makes up for in idealism , passion and nostalgia for the era .", "there 's not much subtlety to be found in this fictionalized historical drama . worse , there 's not much interesting going on , either .", "a lot of quick , character-defining cameos , which makes the movie play out like a pilot for a sprawling prime-time television show .", "none of the characters is interesting on his own -- what makes them interesting is that , at the end of the day , they witness a murder . and estevez has n't even made that compelling .", "it 's this disconnect between historical reality and dramatic indulgence that keeps an otherwise worthy film from being completely satisfying . there are moments , though , where even the most hardened cynic may have to wipe away tears of regret and loss .", "it 's a tin-eared movie , in many regards , history rewritten by that c-student who tries to jam too many footnotes into every character .", "ultimately rises above its inadequacies ; it 's an earnest tribute to a time gone by , and to a symbol of hope .", "a compelling film of tender moral decency that boasts a number of moments not to be shrugged off .", "it 's little more than a collection of half-glimpsed lives .", "despite problems with its subplots , the larger story of the times and the man are so compelling , and the actors here are so capable , that the movie succeeds .", "the surprisingly masterful MOV washes over you as a lament for a lost era , a lost legacy , a lost dream of the country that could have been .", "MOV throbs with tremendous contemporary relevance .", "emilio estevez has done a terrific job with MOV , a film that explores the lives of people who were at the ambassador hotel in los angeles the day that robert kennedy won the california primary and was shot to death .", "this movie has everything to do with estevez 's needy ego , and nothing to do with MOV kennedy . it is a disgrace .", "a great cast but a little crowded", "a labor of love from actor/writer/director emilio estevez , MOV is a very well written , deftly directed and incredibly acted ensemble piece .", "a stew", "one wishes that sirhan sirhan did n't aim for kennedy and instead set his sights on wiping out the entire lot of time-wasting characters .", "not every story comes together into a satisfying climax , and it feels like some time has been wasted with some people that could have been better spent with others .", "esteves 's curious multi-strand film carries us to a quietly devastating conclusion .", "MOV coasts along on a dread , and sorrow , it does n't earn .", "estevez means to eulogize the hopes of a nation , showing the night 's impact on a group of hotel guests and staff cross-sectioned by age , race , and class . but his movie ends up buried under its stifling good intentions and dire execution .", "every frame is informed and fueled by mr. estevez 's impassioned mourning for a figure who came close to changing the course of american history . MOV is exciting , involving and riveting .", "estevez probably could have cut the cast in half and come up with a richer , stronger film .", "it 's an ambitious film drenched in sincerity and oozing with nostalgia that , despite the energy provided by its title icon via archival footage , falls flat dramatically in nearly every other way .", "with MOV , emilo estevez tries to link the intimate stories of nearly two dozen characters to a large and consequential public event the assassination of robert f. kennedy .", "everyone in this film is powerful .", "in the movie business , there 's no such thing as ` truth in titling . ' if there was , MOV would be called a bunch of boring , no-name , cookie-cutter characters .", "estevez proves himself as a capable filmmaker by combining actual footage and speeches by kennedy with new material to create something stirring and memorable .", "a fascinating reflection of the times , when idealism and hope still held pride of place in the minds and hearts of the american public", "there 's nothing worse than a movie that knows it 's important , and MOV reminds its audience of that fact in almost every scene through character development , dialogue and plot .", "the ensemble structure of ` MOV ' becomes problematic , because some the stories are clumsy and dull .", "fantasy icon super-imposed over a whole menu of subconscious collective thwarted desires .", "strong on stars but short on real drama . impressive but ultimately unmemorable .", "this dim movie invites suicidal comparison with altman 's ensemble pieces .", "it makes you wish you were watching a biopic of robert kennedy instead .", "if estevez 's drama had been as strong as -lsb- rfk 's -rsb- speech , MOV would have been a far better film .", "using his haunting elegy for martin luther king over the final scene , estevez makes most of what 's gone before seem entertaining enough but fairly trivial . this is not , after all , grand hotel .", "it 's hard to dislike a film with such laudable ambition . but watching this feels like being kidnapped by a hippie parade .", "cloying , but at other times , quite emotional , especially when estevez draws less-than-subtle parallels between 1968 and 2006 .", "inspired by altman -lrb- nashville , short cuts -rrb- and hal ashby -lrb- shampoo -rrb- , estevez 's honorable film is a grand hotel-style ensembler -lrb- 22 roles -rrb- set at la 's ambassador on the fateful night robert kennedy was assassinated -- and american idealism forever tarnished", "the movie has no real story to speak of , just a series of barely connected vignettes over the 24-hour period before rfk 's demise , only some of which have anything to do with the ever-changing political climate of the early 1960s .", "a nashville wannabe without robert altman 's subtle wit , MOV is an ambitious attempt by writer-director emilio estevez to capture a turbulent era through a single historic event .", "-lsb- estevez 's -rsb- attempt to shoehorn what he sees as the grand themes of the period into a choppy , unsubtle and insubstantial script is embarrassing .", "brilliantly directed , superbly written and beautifully acted drama with an ensemble cast that would make even robert altman jealous .", "MOV has a spectacular cast , and estevez has another twist there : well-known , famous actors play unexpected roles , try ` something different . '", "sprawling and fragmented , this multi-strand film comes together with a surprising punch in the end .", "whether or not MOV kennedy was the man his supporters believed him to be , the film makes a persuasive case that something important in america was silenced when he was gunned down .", "a passionate outcry for peace and justice in america that becomes deeply involving by the final climactic scene , overlaid with one of rfk 's most stirring speeches .", "an earnest film that shows an advance in estevez 's filmmaking technique , but one that -- given its setting -- seems curiously shallow , even trivial .", "for the last four decades of racism , sexism and any other ism , we , apparently , have only an assassin to blame .", "the former brat packer turned writer-director makes a quantum leap with this mature , well-balanced and deeply felt film . he expertly juggles the many storylines , making sure they all reflect some aspect of american life and culture at this watershed time .", "an earnest and altogether silly piece of conjectural melodrama .", "we 've barely had time to absorb the idea of christian slater as director of food service before the guests start to arrive and estevez continues to zap us with the taser of celebrity cameos .", "with so many stories to tell , and so much kennedy footage to share , estevez -lrb- who also appears -rrb- never gets beneath the skin of any of his characters .", "the most interesting person in this maze of a movie is by far the title character . and his absence leaves an inescapable void .", "if MOV causes us to stop and compare what might have been to the leadership we currently have , one suspects estevez would not mind at all .", "estevez does n't seem to have anything to offer beyond a sweet , unquestioning admiration of rfk and the history homework he obviously did about the trappings of the time .", "a daring , messy and strangely rewarding patchwork that 's straining at the seams .", "... suffers from a distinctly uneven vibe ...", "robert kennedy won the california primary that night . history will show that he was shot moments after claiming victory , gunned down while walking through the kitchen of the ambassador . however , with `` MOV , '' his message continues almost 40 years later .", "`` MOV '' is both a crowning achievement for estevez and the years must see movie . here 's hoping robert altman got to see it .", "rfk assassination revisited as ` crash ' style roundelay .", "that other MOV -lrb- altman -rrb- would be very proud ...", "even if some plots go on a bit long and others veer into self-righteousness , it 's a lovely balancing act , and worth a look .", "while the movie is about one of our great national tragedies , it is not without hope .", "the screenplay is a collection of half-formed ideas andpartial character traits masquerading as fully-rounded people .", "a remarkable ensemble in an uneven patchwork of loss , longing and the urgent necessity of a societal rethink .", "does capture the mournful finale well enough to overlook the weaknesses of estevez 's script", "macy two-timing stone with graham ? it really was a different time .", "one of the most unflatteringly photographed movies i 've seen in years . a scene between sharon stone and demi moore comes off more like a bad-facelift pageant , and lindsay lohan does n't look a day over 40 .", "terrible , uninformative and embarrassingly amateurish in word and lensing .", "where the hell is our money shot of brother charlie sheen wearing a hawaiian shirt with dark shades while picking up a cocktail waitress at the cocoanut grove ?! throw us a bone , emilio !", "MOV may not make the case for its messiah as much as it would like to , but on its own terms , it is a reasonably moving portrayal of a society in need of salvation .", "every isolated moment or trapping that might be excused in a better film leaps up like a cowlick that just wo n't behave : demi moore drawling through ` louie louie ' comes to mind .", "if robert altman had been dropped on his head as a toddler , MOV is the sort of movie he might have ended up making .", "it 's a bland , pointless movie that happens to have a brilliantly emotional ending", "it is neither sprawling nor epic , and only really `` political '' insomuch as it evokes a generally nostalgic desire for optimism , uplift and mutually brokered solutions .", "what little plot MOV has is overshadowed by the star spotting .", "presents a blinkered look at the man and what he meant to americans in the turbulent 60s , but nobody can accuse estevez of lacking sincerity .", "it 's uneven but when MOV 's at its best it 's unbelievably good .", "the film plays more like an episode of the love boat than hard-hitting cinema .", "you can understand why somebody would want to make a film about such a famous `` lost moment '' in american history , but this celebrity ensemble piece is misconceived and poorly managed .", "so , yet again , hollywood 's elite has produced a political tract that plays fast and loose with history from an empty-headed , politically correct perspective .", "meandering , maudlin and totally missable .", "few of the characterisations could fill the back of a matchbook , and , in refusing to see rfk as anything other than a liberal messiah , the film meanders through its political context with a white stick and a dopey smile .", "a historical timepiece reverberating now . preachy in parts , but estevez 's who 's who of hollywood lights up an impressive ensemble drama .", "the profound grip of MOV is that it 's about the murder of a dream , an eloquent requiem for what might have been , and a tragic reminder of how much that bullet cost .", "liberal hollywood may well be looking for a uniting , inspiring figure of principle in these troubled times . MOV kennedy is a dull choice .", "-lsb- s -rsb- ublime ... so simple and so luminously powerful , so beautifully capturing the emotions of a moment in time ...", "there are important movies and engrossing movies , but it 's not often that both terms apply to the same movie . MOV , which opens thursday , is a fictionalized account of the day robert f. kennedy was assassinated , and it 's one of the exceptions .", "featuring 22 characters in a movie leaves little time to explore their subplots , and since they 're played by a-list celebrities , we see the stars and not the characters .", "MOV shows how some people 's problems become small and insignificant in the face of momentous events . but in so doing , the movie reveals itself to be small and insignificant , too .", "the characters are fictional but their hopes and dreams are real enough , and every role is well-acted , even by lightweights like lohan and kutcher .", "a preachy , liberal-courting slog .", "a powerful , poignant movie and its ending -- played over a long excerpt of one of rfk 's most compassionate speeches , voiced with none of the cliches of political rhetoric -- was , for me , the movie year 's single most devastating sequence .", "in the film 's most prophetic bit of unintentional hilarity , estevez literally walks off his own movie and passes the torch directly to sirhan sirhan for mop-up duty .", "estevez has crafted an indelible portrait of a great man who , to many of us , is never thought of as anything but the brother of another dead kennedy .", "all the actors get their big moments , but verisimilitude goes out the window .", "where is aaron sorkin when you need him ?", "a dynamite ensemble cast gives a good try but writer/director emilio estevez bites off more than he can script in a too ambitious robert altman experiment gone mediocre", "to paraphrase lloyd bentsen , estevez is no robert altman .", "one awful ` dramatic ' scene follows another , until we become almost awed -lrb- wait until you hear fishburne 's chef deliver a metaphorical speech about blueberry cobbler -rrb- .", "while these many plots vary in effectiveness and banality , the finale % u2014kennedy 's arrival the hotel and the violence that follows % u2014is undeniably moving .", "ham-handed and tv-movie flat , it states the obvious , then states it again and again and again .", "... -lsb- a -rsb- notoriously uneven political melodrama . in short , MOV deserved more than what it got from its sprawling yet cluttered scope of transparent convictions .", "a very good film , a deeply felt film , and even in its occasional missteps is miles ahead of the simplemindedness of last year 's crash , to which it has been compared .", "what registers is the movie 's cross-section of people -lrb- an ensemble cast selected from all corners of the hollywood map -rrb- pulling together for a common future .", "there are so many people involved that none of them are given a chance to be special or memorable , until they become victims of a senseless act of violence .", "an excruciatingly slow , uninvolving , story of a bunch of imaginary people about which i cared not a whit ... a disappointing job of recreating the cocoanut grove ; how much could a couple of fake palm trees cost ?", "estevez has pulled together the best political drama , fiction or otherwise , in recent memory . avoiding oliver stone-like conspiracy theories , he draws from robert altman 's playbook .", "MOV does do a solid job of telling one generation what the world was like in the summer of 1968 , and reminding another generation of a time when they believed a politician could change the world .", "estevez deftly weaves a stories of ordinary americans into aglorious tapestry , activities and conversations occurring onthe day MOV kennedy was assassinated .", "despite the clunkiness , estevez 's commitment to his father 's generation 's idealism -lrb- and its murder -rrb- commands respect .", "estevez has made a vague gesture at a large , metaphoric structure without having the dramatic means to achieve it .", "estevez wants to imply that kennedy had something to give every american -lrb- republicans , perhaps , excepted -rrb- , but too few of the people in this movie are brought fully enough to life for that to ring much more resonantly than a campaign slogan .", "estevez means well . but having your heart in the right place is no excuse for insipid ineptitude .", "one of the year 's best pictures , an unforgettable motion picture experience with an outstanding cast that shines brightly right down to the smallest part .", "this is more about killing time , than killing kennedy ." ]
beautifully filmed , the MOV is a simple touching and tender love story .	1108624-road_home	9527	[ "yimou 's strongest films always doubled as valentines to the porcelain face of former muse gong li , but here , reiterative beauty-worship is something of an end in itself .", "a beautifully simple romantic fable set in 1958 china in which the lovers are never seen touching , much less kissing -- yet it can move you to tears .", "without postcard prettiness , he lays the beauties of this village and its mountains before us so quietly and proudly that a warrant of nativity , of belonging , suffuses the film .", "it works . it feels like a slice of life .", "the MOV yields its pleasures slowly , opening in wintry black and white before ripening into a miracle .", "... a simple , loving tale that wears its sentimentality like a badge of honor .", "this is a film that rescues love from the world of cliché and treats it with the awakening passion it deserves .", "the MOV has a few rocks in its path , but once you kick them aside , its a journey well worth taking .", "zhang ziyi proves in her film debut what a powerhouse force she is on-screen .", "a totally earnest and fairly predictable romance , it 's also surprisingly affecting , thanks to another radiant performance by crouching tiger , hidden dragon star zhang ziyi .", "an interesting , if slightly unbalanced , hybrid .", "a gentle , engaging narrative of constancy and devotion against all odds .", "a moving love story that is as simple in its narrative gestures as it is rich in color composition .", "after watching this film just about everyone in the audience -- man , woman and child -- will be at least half in love with -lsb- zhang ziyi -rsb- .", "it has the ability to break your heart .", "the film is laced with gentle humor , and its simple story is built on a sure foundation of humaneness .", "the pace makes the lawn tractor journey in david lynch 's the straight story seem like driven , but patient viewers will find in its glorious stillness an impeccably composed and passionate tale of love and devotion .", "zhang brings to it his masterly gift for visual composition .", "of course , the past always looks better in retrospect , especially to those who have never done without indoor plumbing .", "this movie stars zhang ziyi , minus her incredible sword and flying abilities , but what it lacks in action it makes up for in tenderness .", "ms. zhang 's intensely concentrated performance conveys a current of stubborn , obsessive passion lurking behind di 's girlish wide-eyed innocence .", "continues zhang 's extraordinary record of accomplishment .", "the ending does deliver an emotional payoff . but the road there is so straight and unvaried that the journey can be wearing .", "the film is also a showcase for zhang ziyi , who is never less than enchanting .", "its compositional sophistication , its lighting on par with the dutch masters ' , its oneness with natural landscapes and its luxuriant appreciation of the leading lady -- makes MOV a must-see .", "a deeply eloquent film about an especially difficult period in china 's recent past .", "if this film 's coda does n't move you to tears , you 'd better make an appointment with your cardiologist .", "a layered , delicately but surely romantic tribute to the simplicity and grace of a bygone era .", "well-made tripe .", "... the images are unsupported by storytelling of any particular gravity ...", "an old-fashioned and heartfelt film .", "a straightforward , emotionally honest drama .", "its fine acting -- especially by zhang ziyi -- and its visual artistry trigger deep emotions , despite a simple story .", "a sumptuous treat .", "you do n't see too many gorgeous , heartwarming romances with a g-rating slapped on them , but that 's exactly what zhang yimou 's the MOV is .", "celebrates a beauty and heroism around us that we often miss in both our movies and our lives .", "zhang yimou focuses so frequently on ziyi 's face in extreme close-up that she sticks like a daguerreotype to your retina -- and then your heart .", "makes a mighty strong case that the old ways are the best .", "a romantic family film , a true g movie , pure of heart and harmless .", "has deep rewards for those who surrender to its lulling rhythm .", "even the director 's most ardent admirers wo n't be ready for the soapy goo he delivers here .", "the director finds poetry in the face of his lead actress , whose performance is as luminous and moving as the film itself .", "it 's a luminously beautiful love story , a masterpiece of lyricism .", "from the beginning , road has a magical , delicate quality .", "the film is lovely , life-affirming , and guaranteed to make you cry .", "` know the past , know the present ' chant the students . `` the MOV '' poignantly shows us both through the eyes of a son just coming to understand his father 's lesson .", "we get completely enchanted and carried away by the purity and beauty of this love story .", "zhang 's delicate , eager , ingenuous , resilient performance makes the audience feel so close to her it 's like we 're the butterflies in her stomach .", "breathtakingly unspectacular , simultaneously simple and nuanced .", "as luminous as the star presence at its center .", "in the spirit of the best nostalgic village pics , only one thing happens , and yet it turns out to mean everything to its characters .", "mantendo seus habituais comentários políticos em segundo plano , yimou narra uma história de amor simples , mas tocante , trazendo zhang ziyi numa performance absolutamente adorável .", "for the way it gave me room to ponder , for the gift of its colors , and for the delicate performance by zhang ziyi ... it 's one of my favorite films of 2001 .", "about love acutely desired in youth and fiercely remembered in old age ... delicately simple and emotionally satisfying .", "zhang ziyi , who is considered to be the movies new queen of kung-fu shows that she can do more than just kick *** here .", "it 's a simple story but lovingly told and pleasant to watch .", "a touching little pleasure . the story is about as uncomplicated as it can get , and the visuals and the performance of zhang ziyi are there for the audience to simply soak-in .", "delicately unravels the first tentative steps of flirtation that eventually bloom into a lifelong relationship .", "a celebration of the power of love .", "a touching love story without a cynical bone in its body .", "a spellbinding tale of romantic love that beautifully conveys the mood swings and elations of this delirious state of being .", "`` the MOV '' takes the subject of love and presents it in its purest form . a stunning and beautiful meditation", "although your mind may wander since so little happens , your eyes may tear up during some of the striking visuals . the result is a disappointing film that 's still worth seeing .", "do n't be surprised if you 're struck with the overwhelming desire to check in on mom and pop after the film .", "nos hará reflexionar sobre nuestra historia inmediata y , lo más importante de todo , nos hará sentir que hemos regresado a nuestro hogar", "infected with a sanctimonious air of arty piety , which , added to its dearth of plot , makes it something of an audience trial .", "screenwriter bao shi 's characters and story are fairly simple , but in the ever-sure hands of director zhang yimou , such simplicity is made quite elegant .", "... story of an illiterate young woman so completely in love with a man who does n't seem to care left me with a bitter taste .", "a nicely realized love story ." ]
josh brolin gives it his best shot , but he ca n't keep the short , unfocused MOV from collapsing on the screen .	jonah_hex	770805421	[ "darkman and the quick and the dead -- the two sam raimi films MOV most wants to be .", "some movies seem so blatant an effort to appeal to a specific target audience that they ought to come with a viewers ' advisory warning .", "you could do worse than this and if you have been going to the movies this summer with any regularity , you most likely already have .", "jonah mess", "yes , it 's true ... jonah sux .", "the lean story-telling works well for its taciturn characters and spare settings , presented by cinematographer amundsen , and well scored with assistance from mastodon .", "a grindingly dull western-revenge-supernatural-terrorist-save-the-world mishmash that fails on every level . did i ask why megan fox is here ?", "opening the same day as toy story 3 and an alternative for those who prefer their movies dark , no sugar , this likewise cowboy fantasy tackled a long taboo subject : the post-traumatic stress link between dirt poor confederate grunts and viet vets .", "what can you say about a film where john malkovich ca n't work up any enthusiasm for playing a villain ?", "this looked to be a priority project by warner bros. at one point -- that is until cash spigot got turned off . the special effects are really cheesy , even by comic-book standards .", "begins affably enough as a random slew of leone-style squint-a-thons and shoot-outs but then loses it way in a dopey , anachronism-happy sci-fi plot .", "MOV is a no doubt a bad film . that said , it has enough good elements to make you realize that it could have been awesome .", "at times it is as if MOV was shot twice , and the editors could not decide which pieces to use , so they intercut both of them .", "MOV is not a good movie . not by a long shot ... but that did n't stop me from having a hell of a lot of fun watching it .", "instead of a really good villain , you get ... ` i 'm shooting you because it says in the script i 'm supposed to shoot you now . '", "there is n't a single reason to see this movie .", "as inane , sloppily edited , painfully awkward and unintentionally funny as an uwe boll film .", "you wo n't be blown away but if it 's your thing , you will be entertained .", "only the idiosyncratic warner brothers would give us a wide-release summer movie that turns out to be an acid western .", "a lot of money , a lot of time , and a lot of pyrotechnics to deliver a tiny little fizzle of a flick .", "... a seriously uneven missed opportunity ...", "scripted by crank scribes mark neveldine and brian taylor , and starring a game josh brolin , this probably looked good on paper .", "what do you get when you make a movie out of a comic book that 's not worth reading ?", "when making a feature film based on a western horror comic , -lrb- do n't -rrb- remove it from the old west , sanitize the horrific bits , and mistake the term `` comic '' for the funny kind .", "john malkovich and josh brolin are too good for the sloppy , overripe MOV .", "MOV is one big rush , but not in the positive sense .", "yes , it squanders its sergio leone-worthy source material , but it 's a surprisingly entertaining disaster -- a sort of concorde-new horizons picture for the new millennium .", "a horse opera with a hex .", "the bad and the ugly are both covered , with a main character that has a scarred face and a deep desire for revenge . as for the good ? that 's more of a hit-or-miss proposition .", "80 some odd minutes of bland , boring , tedious nonsense . utterly inept and squandering potential at every opportunity , the only ` interesting ' thing the film has going for it is an ending that is totally bizarro , terribly conceived and bafflingly stupid .", "`` MOV '' is a movie missing every element of what makes a movie . it 's a gritty comic book adaptation without the grit . it has characters without character in a story without storytelling .", "who needs a story that makes sense when it 's only camp that you 're after ?", "embarrassing for everyone involved .", "distinct from its various narrative failings , this dc comic book adaptation is most notable for how skimpy and curiously under-sketched it feels .", "had it been available to him , max bialystock would have opted for this as his guaranteed flop rather than springtime for hitler .", "a sprawling , incoherent mess of a movie , all style -lrb- bad -rrb- , no substance -lrb- worse -rrb- , and capturing little if any of dc 's seventies-era mucho mojo .", "it 's enough to make you want to kill the film reels , bring them back to life and then kill them again .", "all three of you clamoring for a sequel to wild wild west have got your wish .", "josh brolin grits half his teeth for the whole movie . i just ca n't tell if he 's doing it to stay in character , or because he 's disgusted with everyone else 's effort in the film .", "a badly disfigured hero and a cliched heart of gold heroine are wrapped up in an inane plot . it makes you wonder just why did they make this movie ?", "MOV misfires . repeatedly .", "MOV is n't necessarily a bad film , it 's just nothing at all .", "there 's just one ingredient missing : anyone with a clue .", "MOV could be bigger , louder and longer , with more special effects and faster cutting , but it errs on the side of simplicity . and to that , let 's all raise a shotglass .", "there 's the germ of a great idea in this premise , but it 's flattened by sledgehammer direction that smashes any possibility out of each scene .", "has obviously been hacked to pieces and is hampered by lazy supporting performances , several utterly pointless scenes and the fact that all the violence happens offscreen .", "there 's plenty of bangs for your buck -- check out the dynamite-heavy ambush of a steam locomotive in the opening sequence .", "scarcely even feature length , and bewilderingly chaotic .", "thin , dull , messy story that 's short but feels much longer . it 's all flashy explosions and effects and no substance .", "at 81 minutes with credits , MOV feels crude , lazy and entirely perfunctory .", "-lsb- a -rsb- dull and messy ride through supernatural clint eastwood territory .", "an object lesson in how not to adapt a comic book . a crushing disappointment .", "whether it 's the director 's fault or the result of studio meddling , this is a mess of a movie that 's been cut to pieces .", "it just gets louder and more nonsensical as it progresses , with fox shoe-horned into as many scenes as possible .", "jonah kex , jonah wrex , jonah hax , jonah kax , jonah thix , jonah crox , jonah sux .", "the film shows its comic-book origins in good ways -lrb- stylish settings -rrb- and bad -lrb- too many scenes end in a gigantic conflagration -rrb- .", "at least it 's relatively short .", "it 's a loud and subtle-as-a-sledgehammer assault on the senses , though , at 81 minutes , mercifully short .", "almost everything is wrong with it .", "having already bombed big-time in the us , our search for the biggest turkey of 2010 ends right here .", "... remarkably two-dimensional , showing evidence of having been edited down from something more complex .", "to quote clint eastwood 's monco in for a few dollars more , you people need a new sheriff .", "it 's popcorn-chomping fun rooting for the soul-stripped hex as he battles his way toward redemption and sweet , sweet payback .", "it 's a little too brief to get bored exactly , but it 's certainly long enough to get frustrated at the lack of the essential ingredients to get the audience engaged in its story .", "it 's a standard western revenge tale dressed up with supernatural elements .", "the mark of a good actor is being good in a really bad movie . josh brolin is a really , really good actor , because most of the time he 's on screen speaking you can almost forget what a loathsome , irredeemable , turd of a film MOV is .", "when it works , which it does quite often , it 's one of the better comic book adaptations of recent years .", "seems almost calculated meticulously to suck the life out of its audience as much as humanly possible ...", "the film is simply too brief , too befuddled and too delirious to do the comic book legend justice .", "an awful excuse for cinema that ultimately fails in nearly every way possible .", "MOV is a good performance and a few good lines buried in a script whose authors should do a little time in writer 's hell for scribbling it .", "the film runs about 72 minutes in between the credits ; it unfolds like a kid not understanding what he 's reading but turning the page anyway .", "here 's how you know josh brolin has become a movie star : MOV may not be much with him , but without him ? perish the thought .", "if all you want is a bullets-and-bombs b-movie , you 'll get your money 's worth : somehow , hayward makes 82 minutes feel like hours .", "the issues that happened behind the camera , including the original directors leaving the project , are extremely obvious in the final product . the film is a complete disaster .", "MOV may not be the longest 81 minutes you ever spend , but it might well be the most tedious .", "the western , with its code of short tempers and cheap life , sprang from the civil war , but few westerns connect the dots to demonstrate how the war must have created hollow nihilists the way MOV does .", "not that anyone should confuse this with a good movie , but it features plenty of violence , plus megan fox in a corset . for action fans , that 's entertainment .", "brolin strides around talking to the dead and destroying things , mostly the good will he garnered after surprising everyone with no country for old men and w.", "in the comic book tradition , the story weaves between the real and the mythical , but it 's a very boozy trip . brolin 's intermittent voice-over narration proves to be the most powerful stuff , with the rest curiously sputtering .", "in MOV , josh brolin plays a wild west bounty hunter who can talk to dead people . so how come he could n't yank the film 's director out of his coma ?", "-lsb- brolin -rsb- is done in by the deathless mediocrity of the production , an assemblage of random camera shots , messy editing , redundant scenes , and witless dialogue as haphazardly stitched together as the flesh on MOV 's face .", "it 's the latest in a long , stinking line of graphic-novels adapted to the screen in the wake of the huge , surprise success of zack snyder 's far superior 2006 effort `` 300 . ''", "though it has bad word of mouth , `` MOV '' is generally better , sprier and more diverting than most of the action flicks now playing , the a-team included .", "the movie is laughable , but it 's not funny , not even in a camp way .", "MOV is cut-and-paste filmmaking at its crudest .", "if hex can talk to the dead , then he 's probably the only one -lrb- apart from ned the pie man -rrb- who could have any meaningful interaction with this movie .", "it 's hard to have any thoughts while watching MOV -- the cranium-crushing soundtrack takes care of that .", "an intriguing comic-book hero is left stranded in a half-baked film adaptation that bears the marks of severe post-production tinkering .", "with a total running time that barely hits 80 minutes , it 's hard to believe they even paid -lsb- john -rsb- malkovich and -lsb- megan -rsb- fox to show up .", "compelling plot and character development get lost somewhere between explosion no. 1 and explosion no. 78 , but the film certainly satisfies the popcorn quotient for summer cinema .", "it 's not going to rock your world , but if you 're comfortable with the comic style and the super weapons/crazy guns that would have blown the minds of any civil war soldier , the action will keep you entertained .", "despite all the state-of-the-art weaponry , it 's a total misfire .", "if this represents the true vision of director jimmy hayward , then i have only one question : what was he thinking ?", "hex has a direct line to the cemetery , able to unearth old acquaintances for some good old-fashioned catch-up time . whoa , pardner ... is this paranormal activity or merely facebook , circa 1876 ?", "MOV ' is an exercise in silliness designed to rob you of $ 10 .", "slight but sluggish , murky but not effectively dark , MOV is caught in a limbo rather like its hero 's .", "why , in the name of all that is campy , ca n't a movie featuring a dynamite-loaded crossbow just have some fun ?", "you can surely tell this movie has been passed through the editing bay one too many times .", "it plays like a film that 's not done yet , as if the editor hated watching it repeatedly and simply refused to finish .", "MOV is not a good movie , but it 's a great cautionary tale about what happens when a film loses its way .", "a lumpy soup of western action and supernatural shenanigans , heavily spiced with narrative confusion .", "the gifted josh brolin is totally wasted in this misguided , messy , disjointed and tedious action-adventure-western", "calls to mind two of the worst westerns of the past thirty years ... the problem is n't that the movie is moody and morose ; it 's that it 's flat and tedious .", "at 70 minutes sans credits , it gets in , does its business , and gets out as fast as it can . it 's as if the studio knows what they 've made is n't very good and want to spare paying audiences with the least amount of pain possible .", "while MOV has its moments , it 's ultimately yet another disappointing comic book adaptation .", "there 's just nothing there ; MOV is soulless .", "this is industrially processed entertainment at it cheapest , nastiest and greasiest .", "it 's just too bad the movie did n't indulge its spookier , supernatural elements more , instead of relying on action movie cliches .", "although josh brolin rises to the occasion , much of this comic book adaptation appears to have been abandoned on the cutting-room floor .", "josh brolin does the pizza-faced bounty hunter justice , but pretty much everyone else involved -- including megan fox -- lets him down .", "the movie began life as a macabre postbellum western for dc comics . now it 's lumbering action-camp following a video game plot .", "the film 's noisy , slam-bang approach and lack of imagination in all nonvisual departments will keep it from rounding up a fresh generation of thrill-seekers .", "all i know is , the end could n't come fast enough .", "awful and intolerably tedious , everyone connected with this abomination should hang their heads in shame .", "the most chopped up , stitched together frankenstein job in recent memory .", "it reexamines assumptions of good and evil-morality tale vs , trite entertainment-by confronting the hideous compromises people make with social conventions and their own desperation .", "director jimmy hayward fails to establish a viable reason for this movie to exist .", "bracingly inept .", "calling MOV a waste of time requires qualification , given the action flick weighs in at 82 minutes .", "there 's a director 's cut version of MOV , right ? because this film feels like a series of bullet points disguised as a feature film .", "i think MOV could have exceeded 80 minutes to make room for some real visual invention . and three-dimensional characters . and a plot . a plot would have been nice .", "it is n't just that no effort is expended on old-fogey ideas like character development ; it 's more that hayward does n't even try to make individual scenes make sense .", "every once in a while , a film limps into theaters so stitched together , it 's a wonder it does n't rip apart in the projector . MOV is such a film .", "glossy and gutted , MOV turns the cowboy with a melted mouth into a grunting moviegoing chore . but at least it 's a ridiculously short chore .", "completely forgettable", "mercifully fleet and lamentably uninteresting ...", "gives hollywood an excuse not to make more westerns , just as it 's bad for the future of graphic novel adaptations ... save your money and buy the trades .", "so short , and so bad , you cringe at the thought of how awful whatever ended up on the cutting-room floor must be .", "take the intriguing premise of a punk-rock western based on a graphic novel , populate it with a good cast , add striking visuals and you come up with ... a real mess .", "it 's based on some dc comics characters , which may explain the way the plot jumps around . we hear a lot about graphic novels , but this is more of a graphic anthology of strange occult ideas .", "seventy-three minutes , not counting the end credits . it may take longer driving to and from the theater ... normally such brevity is welcome , especially with westerns since kevin costner already thinned our patience , three hours at a time .", "MOV definitely appears to be making itself up as it goes along .", "the only people who deserve to see MOV are hitler and the ceo of british petroleum .", "easily a front runner for one of the worst mainstream releases of the year . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "this comic book adaptation is an ill-defined mess of a film that attempts to shoehorn its character into a superhero `` origin story '' with vague hints of the supernatural .", "MOV would hate this movie . he would make fun of this movie .", "the filmmakers try to squeeze action from their trampling of a genre .", "although it 's got the shortest running time of anything we 've seen all year , MOV does n't feel so much snappily paced as it does rushed and disjointed .", "a quintessential paycheck movie , made not because someone had a terrific vision for how to adapt the story but because a studio owned the rights and thought they could make some cash from it .", "i liked it so much , i really want to see the rest of it . it ca n't really be a 75 minute movie , right ?", "MOV lost its way long before it hit the screen , laboring mightily to deliver a threadbare collection of postmortem detritus .", "everyone seems to be sleepwalking through this film . except for megan fox , who is such a terrible actress that she could n't even act like she 's sleepwalking ." ]
asger leth risked his life to bring audiences this rare and gritty glimpse at haitian gangs , poverty and politics .	ghosts_of_cite_soleil	385329392	[ "consistently riveting thanks to the sense of sheer terror that infuses its best moments .", "fascinating stuff , but this portrait of these scary ` altar boys ' is probably the last thing that haiti 's board of tourism wants to see in circulation .", "gripping , powerful documentary with a terrific soundtrack and a compelling narrative that resonates on both a personal and political level .", "the tone of the movie is excessively in thrall to its admittedly charismatic subjects .", "raw authenticity makes this a strong contender for a haitian city of god , but it seems too staged and narrow in its focus to properly convince as a documentary .", "leth 's gritty , haphazardly edited film plays like a music video , with jagged rap sequences interlaced with urgent handheld super 8-style footage and a stonking shanty-blues soundtrack .", "when it comes to depicting hell on earth , MOV burns right through the eyeballs and straight into the soul .", "arguably the film romanticises its morally challenged protagonists , but there 's little hint of rose-tint in the fear , peril and hopelessness that seem to soak every frame like a cold sweat .", "cité soleil is the scariest and most captivating ghost story you 'll see this year .", "an expressionistic portrait of a society in violent chaos , the film blends cină -lrb- c -rrb- ma vă -lrb- c -rrb- rită -lrb- c -rrb- and newsreel footage to capture a modern-day tragedy with shakespearean overtones .", "interesting and quite well done .", "if only due to the access achieved , there has never been anything quite like asger leth 's film ; it 's amazing it even exists and that the director is still alive .", "for a documentary , this film has one of the most gripping narratives of the year .", "its apparent complexity is all visual patchwork .", "a spectacularly turbulent portrait of the chaos and bloodshed that have come to define haiti .", "the 85 minutes of this documentary are searing , not on gore quotient but through an aura of appalling violence in every frame .", "it 's an unforgettable , visceral journey into the heart of darkness , grueling poverty and anarchy .", "viewing the political tumult in 2004 haiti through the perspective of two gangleader brothers , this powerful docu offers a critique on power , poverty , and the pervasive impact of american pop culture on the wider world .", "this privileged-class filmmaker is so enamored of his romantically outlaw subjects and the woman in-between , his film is just one step removed from `` the real world : haiti . ''", "a daring documentary about two violent young haitian gang leaders and their lives in a slum that is a truly a hell on earth .", "this is a film that burns .", "that the most powerful aspect of this story is described rather than shown is one of ghosts ' many mysteries . another is leth 's remarkable access to his subjects .", "asger leth 's ghosts of cité soleil offers a tour of a notorious , hellish slum in port-au-prince , the capital of haiti .", "danish filmmaker asger leth 's gritty documentary is an all-too-real -- and rarely seen -- glimpse into the dark side of aristide 's haiti .", "the director , asger leth , is n't terribly organized , but he puts us smack in the middle of everything : petty squabbles , horrible riots , casual shootings , even a love triangle .", "a moving and profoundly upsetting portrait of life near the bottom of the global power pyramid .", "-lsb- an -rsb- indelible documentary , which dives into the brutal heart of a place most people would avoid at all cost .", "shot like a music video , the movie is quick-cutting , glossy and superficial , causing one to wonder about its serious intent .", "goes beyond front-line journalism to show the men behind the guns .", "intimate and terrifying , at points almost expressionistic and surreal , this is never less than a nerve-shredding experience . it even includes an -lrb- improbable -rrb- love story .", "leth shows us the horrendous nature of the period but fails to provide much necessary political analysis , without which it is even more deeply depressing than it might have been .", "a garbled account of state-aided terror that sheds little light on these dogs of war .", "while leth 's guerrilla-style documentary is gripping to watch , it is n't particularly well-structured and constantly loses focus", "with a film this frenzied and passionate , it is difficult to tell just what 's going on for a sizeable chunk of the running time .", "dark , dreary , depressing documentary", "captured at hair-raisingly close quarters by the fearless filmmakers , the sense of lawlessness grabs the throat and haunts the mind .", "this is as appalling , and viscerally compelling , a documentary as will be released all year .", "this deeply questionable movie presents itself as a documentary . actually it is hardly more than an exploitative gangsta rap video about the worst slums of the haitian capital port-au-prince . leth 's movie is politically and morally illiterate .", "the ultra-violence of this microcosm -lsb- gang -rsb- society is what ghosts is all about .", "this flashy looking documentary scored by haitian singer wyclef jean is such a frightening inside look at a poverty stricken society ruled by violence that it is a marvel that it got made .", "more horrific than any tale from the crypt hollywood could conceive .", "dutch director leth is so enamored of the ugliness of it all that he does n't even try to penetrate the noisy bravado that obscures the patches of truth that lie beneath the surface .", "there 's an immediacy to ghosts of the cite soleil that 's exceedingly rare for a documentary of any stripe .", "MOV is too brief and limited in scope to provide a complete picture of haiti 's turbulent history , but its images of how so many of its citizens live and die on a daily basis -- is both heartbreaking and unforgettable .", "MOV is a curiously unfocused , rambling film that never really settles on exactly what it wants to say or exactly which stories it wants to tell .", "leth ... gets us so close to life in cité soleil that we practically can hear the bullets and smell the garbage .", "packs an emotional punch , but that only partly makes up for the lack of a good story", "besides anti-aristide diatribes mouthed a little too much on cue by these hooligans , there 's also a french female relief worker mostly providing sexual relief to a gabby gangster . not to mention ` relief worker ' often as third world code word for cia spy ." ]
MOV is a pleasant animated comedy that overcomes the story 's familiarity with strong visuals and likable characters .	bolt	770681835	[ "super-dog adventure is fun , age-appropriate for kids .", "MOV is an insignificant cartoon , but undeniably enjoyable . i was smiling through most of it and i imagine kids will too .", "MOV is a good but not great film which should earn walt disney animation a deserved hit even if it wo n't quite return them to the heights of their own creative and commercial heyday .", "easily the best disney animated film since 2002 's lilo & stitch ... a return to core values for the studio .", "the 3-d glasses are a pain and the film is too long , but the hamster and cat run away with the show .", "let 's not underestimate the significance of a workmanlike disney animation .", "a frisky addition to that collection of man 's best friend movies , with a generous portion of one-joke-fits-all humor to captivate kid and adult audiences alike .", "rhino -lrb- voiced maniacally by mark walton , a disney story artist who grew up in salt lake city -rrb- walks away with the movie , or rather rolls away with it in his little hamster ball .", "with the holiday season officially underway , `` MOV '' is the perfect present for the whole family .", "it 's entertaining while it lasts but dissipates from memory the moment it 's over .", "are your kids ready for an existential movie ? turns out they are : disney 's cgi-animated action comedy MOV is , at its core , a story of one individual 's discovery that his sense of reality ... has been seriously skewed . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "unmistakably bears the conflicting influence of pixar and disney 's old ideals .", "MOV is a jolt of joy , a computer-animated delight that is delirious with laughs .", "the writing team of dan fogelman and co-director williams have concocted one of the most witty and often hilarious disney outings in years .", "MOV marks disney 's long awaited re-emergence as a top-dog in the world of animation .", "a touch slight by disney standards , but even if it 's not high art , it 's still warm-and-fuzzy fun .", "funny , charming , and a feast for the eyes . it is also quite probably the best animated film made by disney in years .", "... a fairly winning animated endeavor .", "has the right amount of sincerity , schmaltz and silliness to make MOV entertaining for everyone", "restores some faith that there are some creative minds left in animated films that pixar has n't added to its talent pool .", "wait ... an all-star voice cast for a computer-animated story we 've never heard of before , and it 's watchable , too ?", "the latest generation of animated flicks is a sort of latter-day vaudeville revue . kiddies who take MOV to heart may conclude not only that dogs really do have superpowers , but also that everybody 's in showbiz .", "overall it 's basically a crass marketing concept closer to beverly hills chihuahua than a fully conceived work of art like wall-e .", "while MOV is n't as funny , memorable or inspired as the animation classic from which it pilfers , it 's still beautifully animated , cleanly told , professionally voiced and makes you smile without insulting your intelligence .", "wall-e , it 's not , but its target kiddie audience will have no problem whatsoever adopting MOV .", "disney surely sees that inside the kinetic movement of pixar films is a lot of restraint . MOV is super-fast , yet not as super-sincere as it would like to believe .", "you wo n't need to keep a pack of tissue at the ready here , but MOV does have some lump-in-the-throat moments courtesy of a vividly drawn , huggable main character you grow to love .", "at the end of the day , MOV is a sweet disney family film , but lasseter 's oversight has made it smarter than it otherwise would have been .", "i 'm never a big fan of animal films and i admit it 's because , though i am by no means a crier , pets losing their friends or getting lost gets me all choked up . frankly , it 's embarrassing . but if you can make me sniffle , you 've won me over . MOV ... sniff", "MOV is n't a dazzler , but it 's entertainment with heart .", "what this mutt lacks in uniqueness it makes up for in puppyish charm , high-class velocity and enough pop culture crackle to keep most demographics suitably amused .", "it 's smart enough to keep adults on their toes and exciting enough to keep a kid with a short attention span glued to his seat .", "the latest disney animation has everything going for it , from a cast including john travolta and miley cyrus to a truly brilliant premise .", "the wonderfully expressive features on MOV make him feel almost real and the movie has enough charm and humour to please both adults and children .", "the directors and screenwriters hit all their marks and push all the right buttons , but the story never really takes off , and the characters never really spark to life .", "john travolta 's earnest , gentle voice performance as the title character goes a long way in making this disney animated feature a winner .", "focused , fun and action-packed , disney 's MOV proves that it does n't need the pixar banner to make an excellent cg animated film .", "molonoti me ton lasseter kapoy pano ap ' tin paragogi , na tis dinei aroma pixar , i prototypia tis tainias tis disney eksantleitai se merika oraia panarismata kai haritomenes gonies tainias drasis sti skinothesia , i asfaleia tis sto problepsimo senario omos", "so much fun , you might be tempted to conclude that disney 's acquisition of the amazing pixar team has inspired the already in-house disney team to new heights .", "the jokes are n't a match for pixar 's best , and there 's too much sentimentality -lrb- as if lasseter were determined to keep disney 's cartoons just that little bit less cool than pixar 's -rrb- , but this is still an above-average children 's film .", "i had a lot more fun at MOV than i initially thought i would .", "the plot is sentimental fluff . but this has energy and invention enough to keep lasseter top of the heap .", "it 's funny and inventive , though not greatly helped by 3d .", "the 3-d process is an enhancement , even though it 's used with little verve or ingenuity . but the movie 's terms are severely limited too .", "while it 's not at the level of pixar -lrb- and i ask you , what is ? -rrb- , MOV is a solid animated film with plenty of action and plenty of heart .", "that it falls short of pixar 's lofty heights does n't mean the attempt is n't worthwhile ; indeed , MOV is the most entertaining and well-crafted disney animation movie in years .", "straight-ahead star power is provided by teeny-bop pop star miley cyrus as penny and john travolta who looks better as an animated dog than he did in drag in hairspray .", "... arguably the best non-pixar -lsb- animated -rsb- film that disney has released in some time ... -lsb- a -rsb- t best , it 's an amusing by-the-numbers effort .", "there 's something both simple and sweet about MOV , yet epic , that 's entirely surprising .", "the unappealing cross-country trip of a dog , a cat , and a hamster .", "MOV ? more like sparky . the movie is nowhere near as good as this year 's best animated film , `` wall-e , '' but it does zip with energy , the story escalates nicely and , in the end , it 's a good time .", "disney 's holiday tentpole is an engaging , solid effort . its primary fault ? being released the same year as wall % u2022e .", "not your grandfather 's 3 ~ d.", "while MOV does n't quite contain the same charm and slick storytelling that defines the pixar films , it is still a mostly enjoyable film that should appeal to all ages .", "90 minutes of empty-headed family entertainment of the type that you have seen a hundred times before and while it is better than many films of its ilk , it never quite comes into its own as a worthwhile experience in its own right .", "it 's not a ` gourmet ' banquet on the order of ratatouille or the first shrek , but this peppy picture is certainly more than a cinematic ` snack , ' and for its 96-minute running time will not bore kids , the parents or other adults joining them .", "if MOV does not quite rise to the level of bona fide pixar masterpieces like wall-e , finding nemo and ratatouille , it does manage to be frisky , funny and inventive enough to engage the attention of grown-ups as well as children .", "to paraphrase a line often misattributed to samuel johnson , this disney-aspires-to-pixar combination is both original and good ; the problem is the original parts are n't good and the good parts are n't original .", "as usual , the sidekick animals steal the show . that tradition goes all the way back to those singing mice in cinderella . maybe even before then .", "well-made , pleasant , diverting , unobjectionable -- and absolutely nothing special .", "the incredibles got a puppy , and its name is MOV . if you loved the `` flat '' 3-d animated antics of the superhero parr family , you 'll like the genuinely three-dimensional antics of a dog named MOV .", "if you can get past the wafer-thin premise that serves as the foundation for MOV , you 'll find that it is a rather entertaining movie .", "first-time directors byron howard and chris williams give it enough charm and good-natured humor to see us through the clichéd montages and predictable storyline .", "a key part of the film 's success is that penny , the object of MOV 's devotion , really is a sweet kid who loves her furry co-star .", "the perfect holiday movie follow-on for those kids and kidults still high on the comic buzz of madagascar 2 .", "while it may lack a certain amount of bite , there 's plenty of bark to recommend this winning animated adventure .", "this is the best animated feature of 2008 .", "there really is n't anything terribly fresh nor distinctive here .", "it 's a lovely , often hilarious piece of work .", "great action and witty sight gags raise the toon bar .", "super-cute , even though there 's not much there .", "MOV combines pixar smarts with classic disney storytelling .", "a presença de john lasseter como produtor se faz sentir na história que se revela bem amarrada e nos personagens divertidos que năo precisam apelar para a caricatura para fazerem rir .", "eclipsed by the dynamic duoe wall-e and kung fu panda , MOV is the other great computer-animated film of 2008 .", "boasts much of the humor , character development , story layering , and unmistakable heart pixar has brought to the animation genre", "parental content review", "what MOV lacks in originality it makes up for in execution .", "this is the perfect movie for a dog lover and just proves once again that the animated kids flicks still have steam . plus , i loved that hamster !", "it 's a great day in america when the complicated looks so easy , and when we expect smart storytelling as a rule , not the exception .", "MOV is a winner and proof that disney animation is really trying to catch up to pixar in both story quality and animation .", "your pre-tweens and tweens will love MOV , though ; the good news is that there 's an excellent chance you 'll like it , too .", "it 's sophisticated look is rich with details that are easy to take for granted , but which add immeasurably to the texture and dimension of the scenes .", "mild amusement is about the best you can hope for , but MOV never bores .", "fun , four-legged scampering is n't enough when the characters are so unmemorable , the high concept is so wobbly and the journey does n't have you rooting for a reunion .", "a digital hamster takes on pixar 's industry domination - and kicks butt .", "a warm and even perceptive family film , not always original but undeniably sweet-natured .", "the story is somewhat predictable , but it 's sweet and happy and the animation is first-rate .", "smart , sharp , original and very funny , MOV could be the model for a certain kind of midrange , nonevent -lrb- i.e. , not wall e -rrb- animated family film that would be more welcome right now than such bizarre junk as the recent fly me to the moon .", "i saw this in a theater full of squirmy , restless little kids but , when the film started to roll , everyone -lrb- even the parents -rrb- quieted down and gave the great story and brilliant cgi their full attention .", "the story is shamelessly derivative , but you wo n't mind much because it 's so gentle and warm-hearted .", "this lively animated adventure keeps us entertained even if the story and characters are n't particularly well-developed", "a formula that has worked ever since lassie came home in 1943 .", "perfectly acceptable children 's fare .", "-lrb- MOV is -rrb- slick , sophisticated , incredibly well scripted , and sprinkled with enough ani-magic fairy dust to keep both the adults and the wee ones totally sated .", "essential to the proceedings is a fired-up hamster who believes the dog is the superhero he plays on ` the magic box ' and is itching to help him : ` ring , ring ! who is it ? destiny ? i 've been expecting your call . '", "adults should get a good kick out of these animal characters and the exemplary personality quirks that go beyond just image perfection .", "` MOV ' is consistently entertaining because its characters are so endearing .", "if you feel as though you need to borrow a child to buy a ticket for this cutest of cute films , go right ahead . you wo n't want to miss this adorable animated film about a dog who thinks he 's a superhero", "this is the best action adventure movie for kids i 've seen in a long , long time .", "disney lite - thin and familiar but love that digital animation !", "`` MOV 's '' basic story is nothing too original , but its underpinnings and flourishes are smart and inventive .", "it 's a seriously withholding action comedy , stingy on the wit , charm , jokes , narrative satisfactions and animals with personalities sharp enough for the big screen .", "familiar territory , but the disney team still knows how to bring a story to life .", "no classic but not a dog in spite of being about one .", "for the first time in years , it feels like disney has done its namesake proud .", "MOV is earnest , wholesome , family entertainment . in a word , it 's disney , which seems to have remembered that those attributes are really nothing to be ashamed of .", "while this charmer about a canine james bond does not pack the emotional punch of wall-e , it 's frisky fun to see the white shepherd get a new leash on life .", "what i could n't predict was how much i would enjoy the simple pleasures of a warm , witty , well-written story -- especially when it is told with the state-of-the-art computer animation that is easy to take for granted in these techno-savvy days .", "the digital comedy-adventure starts out pretty slow and never really finds its footing , especially in regards to its needed comic edge .", "funny and heartwarming , if not entirely original , MOV is bound to charm audiences of all ages .", "charming and frequently exciting .", "MOV 's nothing short of a winning mix of pixel perfect magic .", "tremendously lovable and funny stuff .", "wittier by the reel , MOV is ca n't - miss family entertainment , and a glad relief from the solemnities of award season .", "MOV is a damn enjoyable and undeniably funny film .", "while any remaining competitors slink away with their tails between their legs , pixar and disney just need to find a name for their new pedigree . here , pixey !", "MOV is enormous fun from start to finish for adults and kids alike . disney animation does n't get much better than this - especially when in many places you will get to see this in 3d .", "for entertainment value , there 's nothing this week to rival MOV . it 's a clever , funny family film .", "the animation is n't up there with pixar 's finest but still looks great , while the story is engaging enough for kids and adults alike . in short , it 's the puppy 's privates - and do try to catch it in 3d if you possibly can .", "MOV has all the wit , wisdom and top class computer imagery of a pixar film , with the star voice cast of a disney release .", "MOV is fast-paced , funny and beautifully animated -- a charming movie that would have benji and lassie howling in jealousy .", "the disney animated blockbuster-to-be MOV is a delightful family movie , and if i 'd seen it as a kid i would have been deeply traumatized .", "best of all though is curb your enthusiasm 's susie essman , touching and uncomfortably honest in her exchanges with MOV and greg germann -lrb- ally mcbeal -rrb- , who is hysterically funny as penny 's opportunistic and less than diplomatic agent .", "the film is funny -- with a sophistication that might actually appeal more to adults . but there 's still plenty for the kids to enjoy .", "it 's got a great ensemble cast . it 's not the most original idea but still effective nonetheless .", "although it will never be mistaken for pixar pedigree , this genial production is a notable step up for walt disney animation studios .", "an ok disney animated entry enhanced by nifty 3-d projection .", "movie magic aplenty in animated action adventure from disney .", "the fact that the hamster steals the film speaks volumes about the lack of fresh ingredients .", "its hero may lack any real super bark but this comic cartoon comes with a sharply ironic bite .", "disney 's first 3d animation , made under new head john lasseter , is a likeable , dynamic and seductively characterised family entertainment .", "the unlikely superhero of this film is the hamster , who brings the funny amid a flurry of weaker gags . but MOV still has charm - it just wo n't hit with the adults the way the best animated films can .", "could MOV 3d be better animated ? no . could it be funnier ? a bit . did it need the 3d ? not really .", "this cracking cartoon romp is just what you yearn for from an animated movie - smart , funny and not too long ! MOV is brilliantly animated entertainment that will keep both kids and their parents amused .", "if a little twee for grown-ups , this is riotous fun for kids . even if it 's not pixar-perfect , it 'll definitely do until up touches down .", "it 's a neat progression for disney that finds balance between the studio 's old-school charm and pixar 's dynamic modern outlook .", "enjoyable animated adventure with likeable characters , impressive 3d effects -lrb- in selected cinemas -rrb- and a witty , truman show-inspired script .", "even if it 's a bit too knowing in places for children and a bit lightweight in others for adults , as a whole it gives pixar every chance to show that even with a moderate story line it can give us something to savour .", "this computer-animated -lrb- but non-pixar -rrb- adventure flick does n't do much of anything innovative , but it sports a disarming furball of a lead and enough jaunty comic turns to carry the day .", "witty , sweet and -- in 3d -- often visually dazzling , MOV is an unexpected pleasure , a showbiz , sci-fi spin on a classic disney tale that 's sure to please small kids and parents alike .", "the format brilliantly brings an audience that much closer to a handful of increasingly lonely , yet contagiously enthusiastic , animals .", "its script is smart , its conceit a heart-tugger in the finest of senses , and it 's the first disney effort in way too long to be more concerned with being a movie than with being a breeding ground for product tie-ins .", "funny and engaging 3d adventures of a canine tv star lost in the real world . disney marketing might ensures a major holiday family hit .", "disney 's movie taps into our desire to believe that the happy hound sleeping at the end of our beds is as brave , noble , loyal , and devoted as he seems .", "-lsb- a -rsb- s sensitive and spirited as -lsb- it is -rsb- gorgeous to look at ...", "-lsb- w -rsb- hen the canine protagonist of MOV borrows a character arc from buzz lightyear , even youngsters will smell a rip-off .", "pixar masterpieces aside , it 's been quite a while since disney cranked out an animated movie worthy of its fairy-dust-sprinkled castle logo .", "the film succeeds because it has genuine heart , a couple of mildly-thrilling action sequences , and most notably , a hilarious supporting performance by mark walton , who plays rhino the hamster .", "MOV is perfectly amiable but rarely brisk , with neither its premise nor its execution quite inspired enough to elicit more than faint admiration .", "the lack of screenwriting imagination is offset by the inherent charm of the picture , resulting in a pleasing arrangement of cg-animated action set-pieces and slapstick comedy to push MOV beyond the repetitive family film norm .", "MOV has the magical quality of great animation , the ability to touch us without the hint of preachiness or manipulation .", "MOV certainly moves along at a lively clip that will satisfy both kids and adults , but the script -lrb- from williams and dan fogelman -rrb- is a little too hollywood-insider .", "disney 's strongest cg animated effort to date can be credited to the strength of a premise that mixes what 's worked so well in earlier disney animated films with a better awareness of what makes a movie entertaining both for kids and adults .", "cute , clever , and enjoyable .", "with its vibrant look , frisky attitude and sweet lesson about loyalty and friendship , MOV is solid , fresh family-friendly entertainment .", "a welcome departure from the deluge of films wherein the characters mirror the facial characteristics of the actors voicing them . travolta 's no more a dog than a '60s housefrau . wait . scratch that .", "not much here for grownups to enjoy ... apart from watching the kids get a kick out of the film . -lrb- and the pigeons . -rrb-", "MOV 's faith in his fiction is slightly pathetic , but it 's not unrelated to the ways that children -lrb- as well as pets -rrb- are regularly conditioned .", "MOV 's double identity allows young viewers to imagine the fun of owning a cuter version of krypto while it also affirms charles m. schulz 's assertion that happiness is a warm puppy ...", "in its best moments , it gently shows us how MOV 's discoveries parallel those of a child in learning self-reliance .", "other animated films that substitute brainless noise for sophistication could learn from ` MOV ' what it means to be a picture that families will cherish for years to come .", "a holiday standout .", "like ` homeward bound ' and ` incredible journey , ' it teaches tiny tots that - with friendship and love - you do n't need superpowers to be a hero .", "adults wo n't find much to enjoy here , though the dog 's high-octane action series serves as a perverse parody of jerry bruckheimer-style summer blockbusters .", "sharply-drawn supporting characters , a solid narrative hook and slickly constructed action-adventure sequences help make for a vibrant , engaging , feel-good treat that will connect strongly with younger viewers .", "although it does n't reach the heights of finding nemo or the incredibles , it 's a masterpiece compared with disney 's 2002 treasure island .", "MOV is packed with action sequences , but it finds room for humor and heart , too .", "whenever a new kids ' film comes out , there 's always the hope that it 'll work for adults , too . alas , not this time . but the kids will probably like it .", "in the pre-thanksgiving lull , parents can take their young ` uns to MOV , drop their 10-to-14-year-olds off at twilight , and the whole family will have survived the weekend .", "if only first-time directors chris williams and byron howard would have followed the advice in their own film , MOV could have turned out to be incredibly extraordinary .", "sometimes a story is so beautifully simple that it 's impossible to muck it up , and the animated 3-d MOV is a perfect example .", "belief may be in question for much of the movie -- only for the perturbed pooch -- but fortunately , enjoyment is never a problem .", "make a little room lady , tramp and all you dalmatians , disney 's got a new animated dog to bark about .", "no future classic , but a pleasant little movie with a fiercely devoted little hero .", "MOV , with its numerous winks and nudges , reminds us how attuned we are to the falseness of pop culture , which is n't the same thing as connecting us with its truths .", "disney animation takes a tentative step out of the shadows of pixar with MOV , a winning 3d-animated action-comedy that marries the best disney traditions with pixar polish .", "there 's something touching about the yearning for ordinary life and decency that , to judge by its ubiquity in films for the nominally innocent , plagues those who live and work in the realms of the unreal ." ]
director brian de palma and star al pacino take it to the limit in this stylized , ultra-violent and eminently quotable gangster epic that walks a thin white line between moral drama and celebratory excess .	scarface	12881	[ "sometime it fun .", "stylish ultra violence = one popular film for many , sad to say .", "the most frantic and assured film of brian de palma 's impressive career .", "the dominant mood of the film is anything but funny . it is bleak and futile : what goes up must always come down . when it comes down in MOV , the crash is as terrifying as it is vivid and arresting .", "a slyly ironic vision of america 's still-thriving meritocracy .", "a coked-up version of the godfather and the godfather part ii without a family to feel sympathy for .", "subtle it ai n't , but just try turning your eyes away from this study in stylistic excess .", "i like it as a kind of b-movie version of the godfather . there are a lot of classic lines and a handful of memorably horrific scenes ...", "at a certain point , MOV sheds its moralistic pretense and becomes a slick come-on to impressionable youth", "palpitating with intensity . .", "as time goes by , films like MOV only gain in their importance .", "depalma loves blood and guts-nothing wrong with that !", "what were pacino 's detractors hoping for ? something internal and realistic ? low key ? the tony montana character is above all a performance artist , a man who exists in order to gloriously be himself .", "an unashamed study of selfish , sadistic criminality , and all the better for it .", "painted in exuberant , extravagant swaths of red , brian de palma 's foolhardy epic is a thing of delirious grandeur", "viewed today , while MOV seems less shocking than it did during its initial theatrical run , it 's no more substantive or interesting .", "to call the whole thing visceral is a palpable understatement .", "as overrated as it is overlong .", "-lsb- pacino 's -rsb- grandstanding performance is still hard to resist and symbolises the baroque excess of this shockingly violent gangster classic .", "although the film depicts a nightmarish world , it 's also very funny .", "as stylized social realism gives way to wigged-out faustian fantasy , the would-be devastating effects have an oddly slapstick effect .", "MOV could be the male moviegoer 's answer to mommie dearest ... when it 's not grotesquely melodramatic , it somehow manages to be incredibly dull .", "pacino , of course , goes way over the top and through the floor on the other side .", "MOV has become a touchstone of pop culture , one of the half dozen or so most frequently referenced films of our era .", "to be honest , MOV is n't exactly what you could call a ` good ' movie . it 's overwritten , overacted and overdirected -lrb- not to mention overlong -rrb- . and yet , against the odds , it still works .", "pacino 's bravura performance dominates , making no concessions to our sensibilities . and the final shootout is a tour de force of editing .", "this almost jacobean tale of drug gangsters in 1980s miami is rather too long for the points it makes , but is nevertheless riveting and still , after 26 years , remarkably fresh .", "unbalanced as it may be , it 's an exhilarating picture .", "ultra-violent ; pacino is manic and all ham ; a pale shade of the original .", "the definitive modern gangster movie . pacino 's powerhouse role . meet my little friend !", "al pacino is amazing . a knockout action blockbuster !", "watching some 20 years down the line , -lsb- pacino 's performance is -rsb- laughably campy in a manner that the rest of this bloated , self-important film does n't seem to appreciate .", "this is very much a film of the 80s in its portrayal not of moral decline -lrb- there is little declining left to do -rrb- but of unstoppable ego-centrism . with guns .", "perfomances are excellent , and despite its moralistic conclusion , the film has since become de rigueur viewing for crack barons , who know a good shoot-em-up when they see one .", "pacino , em mais um de seus grandes momentos , transforma montana em um ícone do gęnero e da década de 80 , conduzindo um filme que seria fartamente copiado nos anos seguintes .", "... brian de palma 's criminally over-the-top remake of the 1932 howard hawks gangster classic", "de palma 's film is now back on the big screen and looking better than ever .", "pacino 's drug-crazed , bloodshot performance gives this gangster movie a terrifying edge .", "ugly and overrated", "what 's left to say ?", "any list of classic guy movies would be incomplete without an appearance from brian de palma 's MOV .", "still a must-see for pacino 's potent and influential performance .", "paciono gives a riveting performance in the lead in de palma 's over-the-top but engaging modern version of the classic gangster", "extremely violent '80s crime classic with drugs , sex , etc. .", "it 's a whole new spin on the immigrant story and the american dream as an underworld nightmare and a fitting bookend to the two godfather films .", "the very definition of excess , which is perhaps why it has persisted so long as a cultural totem : its florid pleasures can never be exhausted", "one fundamentally dishonest character choice launched a billion-dollar industry . but it hardly sours a film that became a garishly ghoulish , bleakly funny and compulsively watchable template for modern-criminal deconstructions of the american dream .", "by ignoring its massive , toxic , nuclear-fallout shortcomings , it finds its way to the hallowed status of camp classic .", "one of brian depalma 's best films", "performances are all extremely effective , with pacino leading the way .", "it is a serious , often hilarious peek under the rock where nightmares strut in $ 800 suits and armageddon lies around the next twist of treason .", "the sharp , if expletive-ridden , dialogue in oliver stone 's script and the vivid cinematography of john a alonzo help make de palma 's urban shocker a modern-day classic .", "characterization and plot go out the window . arms are cut off with chain saws . by the third hour everything is out of control .", "-lsb- brian depalma -rsb- apparently considers `` money is n't everything '' an original and profound message .", "... much , much longer than it generally needs to be ...", "one of the best gangster dramas ever made , driven by pacino 's haunting performance and de palma 's lightning pace .", "an undeniably effective , visceral experience ." ]
a retread of a christmas carol , featuring matthew mcconaughey in a retread of his dazed and confused role , MOV lacks originality , humor , and any semblance of charm .	1193906-ghosts_of_girlfriends_past	770683360	[ "the plot 's eventual denigration of the single life and endorsement of soul mates and happily-ever-afters is predictably rote .", "as written by jon lucas and scott moore and directed by mark waters , the movie clumps through one witless if not wince-evoking sequence after another without the relief of laughter .", "just in case you ca n't get enough of the romantic comedy oeuvre of matthew mcconaughey , MOV is here to remind you that , yes , some films of his are even worse than failure to launch , surfer dude , and how to lose a guy in 10 days .", "there are more problems than ghosts in this charmless romantic comedy in which matthew mcconaughey 's lothario gets a lesson in the love stakes .", "this movie i think really did the impossible . it makes failure to launch look like the thin man .", "it 's a tired premise with some even weaker gags .", "when the movie is not immersed in the main character 's subconscious it 's almost unspeakably bad .", "it 's smart , charming , sticky sweet in places , and it 's got a bit more of a bite to it than most romantic comedies .", "there are more problems than ghosts in this charmless romantic comedy in which matthew mcconaughey 's lothario gets a lesson in the love stakes .", "it shamelessly rips off all of the films and tv specials that have also ripped off his brilliant , metaphor-filled story .", "there are some things that even matthew mcconaughey 's laid-back charm ca n't fix .", "even trying to think about MOV from a snarky perspective makes me want to vomit . this is a repulsive movie ...", "sleazy , shallow and at times downright tasteless , ` MOV ' would have charles dickens spinning in his grave .", "mcconaughey is just too good at being a sleaze ; he sold me and i never believed his transformation . meanwhile garner faded into the woodwork", "the whole concept founders on mcconaughey 's unalterable cheesiness . flimsy though it is , the film has a couple of okay jokes , and might have been passable with a more endearing star .", "MOV submits that connor deserves to be saved by jenny . but it never shows how or why she should bother with him .", "tired slapstick , an air of cheesiness , some bad '80s pop songs and spurious emotion -- at the service of an unlikable screenplay with a downright nasty tone .", "charles dickens 's a christmas carol has been endlessly remade . none so far has been as bad as this unpleasant comedy .", "lose michael douglas and there is pretty much nothing about the movie that 's appealing in even the smallest degree .", "it actually has a couple of qualities few modern romantic comedies possess : it 's romantic and quite funny .", "a more appropriate title would have been screwed , in reference to the character 's predicament , and the audience 's response to wasting money on this clunker .", "the screenplay never comes to grips with the fact that connor is a loathsome human being .", "like connor with his women , the film picks up ideas and then drops them . at one point , connor reflects on wayne : ` i never figured out why he called me dutch . ' weirdly , neither do we .", "predictable romcom has some iffy stuff , but ok for teens .", "it 's misbegotten from the get-go : it boasts the nadir of `` high concepts . ''", "despite being foolish in most respects , MOV keeps you on its wacky rom-com narrative train all the way to the end . but that 's probably a testament to the power of charles dickens ' storytelling more than anything else .", "is there no end to mediocre and outright lousy movies about weddings and the silly and sad things that happen at them ? here 's another strained and unengaging one .", "a junky-looking romantic comedy that 's neither remotely romantic nor passably comic .", "made me unexpectedly homesick for fool 's gold .", "as a romcom , it 's average , but as a matthew mcconaughey romcom , it 's above average . if you 're a low-expectations moviegoer , this one might surprise you .", "jennifer garner is sweet and radiant as mcconaughey 's childhood friend and former lover ; lacey chabert steals scenes as the woman marrying mcconaughey 's brother ; and robert forster and anne archer are good as her parents .", "for a comedy that does n't require a lot of heavy thinking , it tries hard not to dumb things down too much , nor skimp on character or storytelling either .", "every audience member with an intellect bigger than a squid 's knows at all times where ghosts is heading .", "please , ladies , do n't go see this movie . -lrb- chances are most men would rather put out their eyes than go see a film with such a title . -rrb-", "conor has the flamboyant confidence of a matador , but mcconaughey draws out the right amount of sleaze and tenderness to transform conor from a bullfighter to a rodeo clown .", "when i first read about this movie several years ago , it was a star vehicle for ben affleck , and i thought it was a great idea . i was wrong .", "kind of cute ... it never takes itself too seriously and is filled with deliciously cheesy lines .", "it 's fortunate director mark waters thought to surround his pretty-boy star with so much talent -- without their combined efforts , this would n't stand a ghost of a chance when it comes to offering any semblance of entertainment .", "far better than the last two opening summer weekend counter-programming choices -lrb- made of honor last year and the dreadful lucky you in 2007 -rrb-", "only two characters might qualify as sympathetic .", "mcconaughey has never really found his niche as a movie star , occasionally scoring in an adventure film , but lumbering through a series of romantic comedies to no good effect .", "in a movie as spiritless and stupid as this , you ca n't help but look for clues you 've hit bottom .", "i 'm almost embarrassed to admit i found MOV the season 's first genuine guilty pleasure .", "this romantic comedy/fantasy goes exactly where we expect it to go . -lrb- and that ca n't be considered a serious plot ` spoiler ' . anyone who 's ever seen a movie fantasy will be able to predict this film 's ending . -rrb-", "the formulaic story evaporates faster than cotton candy , and it 's often as cloyingly sweet and tacky .", "overall , ghosts offers a couple quick laughs in passing , but the movie never seems to generate sparks . all in all , it 's a bit like kissing your sister .", "a cheerless rip-off of a christmas carol .", "MOV never comes as close as spitting distance to a laugh .", "carves out a little place for itself as one of the few romantic comedies of 2009 that does n't annoy or insult the viewer 's intelligence .", "douglas , radiating an arid narcissism , does look as if he was recently exhumed . whether this is a deliberate makeup choice or unfortunate lighting is hard to guess .", "a bizarre conflation of chick flick and a christmas carol .", "if charles dickens is n't spinning in his grave , it 's only because matthew mcconaughey 's career is in the way .", "despite my mcconaughey resistance i got more guilty chuckles from MOV than failure to launch or four christmases .", "the best part about MOV is that the film knows it is unoriginal and uses that to its advantage . michael douglas was priceless .", "how crass and joyless the whole business is , culminating in a love-declaration scene prefigured by mcconaughey knocking an elderly man unconscious , to get the boring , obstructive old dude out of the way . yikes .", "kicking off the summer with this flick i was hoping for more sizzle , but wound up with a lot fizzle .", "parental content review", "any film starring the self-regarding , teak-veneered charisma vacuum that is matthew mcconaughey has more to overcome than most . so the fact that the rom-com dickens riff MOV is even sporadically entertaining is no mean feat .", "it 's mostly just there and is unevenly paced , but has a few moments .", "how very dull it is to watch movies in which the men are lost little boys and women their sanctified saviours . it 's demeaning to everyone .", "when it sticks to the interpersonal stuff , the emotional links between old lovers , close brothers , and the family that supports both , MOV is quite tolerable .", "comfort zones do n't come much plusher than the one habitually occupied by matthew mcconaughey , who must read the words `` arrogant , torso-flaunting alpha male '' in script synopses and think : `` that 'll do . ''", "director waters pulls out the odd cracker , injecting dickens ' timeless story of redemption with a healthy dose of self-awareness .", "a second-rate sex farce ... mostly clunky and vaguely unsavory .", "the potential is here for a comedy that could have been hilarious . but the screenplay spaces out some undeniably funny lines in too much plot business , and matthew mcconaughey , while admirably villainous as a lecher , is not convincing as a charmer .", "-lsb- an -rsb- odious romantic comedy ... has all the depth and charm of an unwashed pillow case . needlessly unimaginative and cloying ...", "MOV requires a certain finesse -- really , how do you sell a romantic comedy about a twisted womanizer , and how do you get the audience to buy his inevitable turnaround ? -- and neither waters nor his leading man are up to the task .", "as superficial and melodramatic as one might 've expected ...", "a deluge of dim jokes and rote romantic interludes between matthew mcconaughey and jennifer garner that are intended to recall charle 's dickens ' `` a christmas carol . '' god help us all .", "this flawed , fractured fairy tale fails to scare up many chuckles or much charm . as ebenezer scrooge himself might say , `` bah , humbug ! ''", "a parade of clumsy slapstick , unerring homophobia , and big fat life lessons .", "although there are some sweetly sentimental moments , they are not nearly enough to redeem what is otherwise a fairly mean-spirited film .", "a watchable pastiche of a christmas carol , this rom-com resorts to corny slapstick a bit too often but also manages to find moments of real resonance", "ghosts is better-than-average mcconaughey swill , but not by much -- that 's its pleasure and its curse .", "ideally , you want to see the male and female leads end up together in a romantic comedy ; if not , it all starts to become kind of creepy .", "chief among the disappointments of the new romantic comedy MOV is that mcconaughey plays an upscale version of his dazed and confused character , yet that creepy edge has been filed off again .", "the comedy is reduced to pratfalls and embarrassing situations , and much of it comes across as just mean-spirited .", "director mark waters finds the movie 's laughs in the supporting players : michael douglas , emma stone and lacey chabert .", "a get even sex addiction comedy , with some quickie laughs , that retools the basics of a christma carol , but comes off like a commitment challenged scrooge on viagra . and what 's with the pg-13 , is this meant as a manual for underage two-timers in training ?", "despite inducing some guilty grins , mcconaughey 's character is unforgivably shallow . the likable garner has little to do except wait for his inevitable breakthrough .", "matthew mcconaughey stars , emma stone takes over .", "MOV does n't do dickens any favors , but in a year that brought us bride wars , it 'll do .", "you 've got to love a movie that so eagerly assassinates its leading man 's cuddly image , and which also manages to blow a wicked kiss to fatal attraction .", "all those snappy supporting performers take the focus off the movie 's romantic-comedy trappings .", "appalling , hateful , reptilian , inept", "matthew mcconaughey proves better than the material put before him in the intermittently intriguing MOV", "there are a few laughs in MOV , to be sure ; you can even hear them over the sound of charles dickens spinning in his grave .", "all in all , it 's a pleasantly familiar way to spend two hours .", "there 's precious little to laugh at - not the lead 's one-dimensional swagger , michael douglas 's rat pack-meets-robert evans jive talk or an anti-misogyny parable with the gall to make every female a neurotic shrew or a sex-starved harpy .", "i would say that this was a complete and utter waste of time and talent , but , except for emma stone , i did n't see any talent .", "mcconaughey is mildly coasting . he has danced these steps before .", "the movie is cheesy , tacky , and gimmicky . but as directed by mark waters , it 's also prankish and inventive enough to be kind of fun .", "the dickens elements elevate MOV above the level of pure formula ; unfortunately , the presence of mcconaughey in full sleaze mode makes it difficult to like this film 's scrooge , even after his redemption occurs .", "this rom/com gave me nightmares .", "you can count the jokes that work on one hand ; the rest is pratfalls and predictability .", "poorly written , indifferently directed , it 's multiplex filler at its worst ... who is it exactly that thinks matthew mcconaughey is funny ?", "quite honestly , you have much better things to do with your time .", "lacking wit and subtlety , this high-concept comedy suffers from casting mcconaughey , who has the cockiness but not the likability as the eternal bachelor , and lack of chemsistry between him and the gifted garner ; it 's doulglas who walks out with the film", "this crude reworking of dickens was probably a bad idea to begin with , but it 's so haplessly done that it did n't have a ghost of a chance .", "starts unpromisingly but ends up , thanks largely to co-star jennifer garner , being briefly affecting .", "above all , it will make you long for a day when studio movies about relationships feel like they are by and for adults who have actually been in one .", "mcconaughey 's self-satisfied and oleaginous performance scrapes away the trace amounts of charm the film has to offer .", "i suppose your reaction to the film will depend to some extent on whether or not you find matthew mcconaughey a charmer . i do n't , so i found connor repulsive with no redeeming features .", "let 's be clear : this is trash , not very funny and sometimes jaw-droppingly insulting .", "the ending does a big flip flop , but if you go in with low expectations , you 'll have a hard not laughing in MOV .", "` MOV ' lacks energy and originality , plus the characters are too shallow to care about . but michael douglas is delightful .", "the only thing of note is that its star , matthew mcconaughey , does n't remove his shirt", "a slick , standard hollywood studio produced romantic comedy that utilizes a clever conceit and some expert supporting comedic performances to help it squeak by .", "quirky supporting characters enliven this by-the-numbers romcom .", "mcconaughey too once showed promise , but here he seems to be auditioning for a bad sitcom , while garner misuses her gawky sincerity .", "not as bad as you might think , but ...", "there are many ways you can deal with the hypocrisies and faults of the male libido ; fellini spent a career exploring this terrain -lrb- think 8 1/2 , city of women -rrb- but there is nothing interesting on the subject here .", "MOV might be one of the most unoriginal films ever made , but it works anyway .", "a.k.a. `` the bride wore blah ''", "not as deep as matthew mcconaughey 's dimples .", "matthew mcconaughey does n't have a ghost of a chance in this mirthless romantic comedy that 's anything but romantic .", "why does hollywood have such a knack for getting romantic comedies so wrong ? who knows , but they owe it to performers like garner to find a way to do better .", "this is the cinematic blending of two familiar formulas : the ` love , lose and then love again ' framework of most romantic comedies with the idea of transforming ghosts from the classic a christmas carol .", "you know you 're watching a bare-bones , witless screenplay when the writers ca n't merge the dickensian parable with the morals of modern-day casual sex by making a good old-fashioned yet-to-come joke about the final ghost .", "enjoyable , well acted romcom that pushes all the right emotional buttons , though it 's not as consistently funny as it should have been .", "we end up with the expected platitudes on the importance of commitment , but the getting there is unusual , enjoyable and sporadically funny , enlivened by waters ' knowing way with genre conventions .", "even if you 're willing to check your brain at the door and suspend your disbelief for 100 minutes , MOV has just a few fleeting moments of hilarity , but ultimately falls flat as comedy , romance and drama ...", "for a movie about ghosts , it 's lacking in spirit .", "ghosts is a matthew mcconaughey romantic comedy that would be better off without matthew mcconaughey . it 's come to a point in this performer 's career where his inability to alter his natural spray-tanned ooze has rendered his acting tiresome .", "though it pours the sentiment on at its conclusion , waters 's film has a nasty misogynist edge , suggesting that women are gasping for cads such as connor to seduce them .", "romance may be alive and well but the charming , well-made romantic comedy continues to look like an endangered species thanks to MOV .", "there is n't an original thought in the film , but it bounds along amusingly .", "the film cuddles its dickensian soft centre in a mills & boon soft casing . oů sont les wisecracks d'antan ? almost extinct .", "as far as the mightily abused mcconaughey romantic comedies go , MOV is actually one of his better outings .", "mcconaughey is so used to playing the rogue he has forgotten how to be likeable .", "ephemeral , ridiculously amusing ` date movie ' that will evaporate before summer .", "alas , it swiftly ditches the pithy asides as it hurtles towards its treacly ending .", "in the worst performance of his career , mcconaughey plays connor as so insufferable that jenny would obviously be much better off with somebody else . anybody else . even russell brand .", "as much as you 'd love to hate it , this jaunty supernatural romcom remains a polished , amusing , surprisingly sweet diversion ." ]
MOV is no treasure , but it 's a fun ride for those who can forgive its highly improbable plot .	national_treasure	10016	[ "a smart , entertaining little adventure through american history .", "MOV is not so much a no-brainer as a brain-stunner , so audaciously ridiculous you are initially intrigued , then soon irritated by its incoherence .", "cage ... all but sleepwalks through the film with an expression and body language that could be the result of his jockeys being just a scooch binding", "safe , simplistic and stylistically inert film fodder meant only for the least discerning multiplex zombies .", "a witty comedy caper .", "great escapism .", "despite its superficiality , MOV is undeniably enjoyable .", "none of this should work , but in the best bruckheimer tradition , it does .", "nicolas cage usually brims with personality , but you would n't know it from this pedestrian ripoff of raiders of the lost ark. .", "interminable and riddled with plot holes you could drive a humvee through .", "people run . things blow up . sometimes , just to add another layer of nuance , people run away as things blow up .", "an exciting little adventure movie differentiating itself from the pack by focusing more on its string of clues than it does on setting up the next big piece of stunt work .", "a joyfully convoluted adventure yarn that moves lickety-split through clichés , plot holes and overall narrative mayhem until the whole unlikely rig screeches to a halt .", "it 's a fun ride to a boring payoff .", "so bad on so many levels .", "imagine eating your favorite sub sandwich ; you know exactly what it will taste like , but it 's just what you wanted : simple , tasty and satisfying .", "who knew the founding fathers were cultish masons hording gold under wall street ? perhaps the craziest film ever made by jerry bruckheimer .", "what 's the secret to turning a clever treasure adventure into a humdrum theme-park ride ? here 's a clue : jerry bruckheimer .", "instead of another raiders of the lost ark , we get to watch plunderers of a lost art .", "if the goonies starred adults , contained a pamphlet 's worth of history , drew half the laughs and lacked sloth and chunk , it would be MOV .", "jon voight spends his scenes in unintentionally hilarious rants about how much he hates clues .", "one of the funniest movies of the year . too bad it 's not a comedy .", "MOV gets more entertaining as the preposterousness rises .", "this movie is a fortune wasted .", "it 's fun and occasionally amusing and it did n't give me a headache . that 's not the sort of endorsement that gets you quoted in the ads , but it 's the best i can muster .", "as realism , turtletaub 's movie flops . as escapism , though , grab the popcorn , kick your feet up , and have a blast .", "that the movie manages to maintain interest and gain occasional involvement is somewhat of a feat considering , although not enough of a feat for it to succeed .", "strangely , i. . . found myself liking this movie .", "about as edgy as a child-friendly tv movie ... . and despite being at least a half hour too long , it 's great fun while it lasts .", "it is harmless fun , but it could have been done a lot better .", "... a mock-epic assault on the conventional wisdom of american history .", "-lsb- cage -rsb- ust can not cut it playing an intellectual , and his ben is convincing only in the scenes where he is evading bullets or hanging by one hand over an abyss .", "a passably enjoyable adventure romp", "this goofy , good-natured dry run for the da vinci code is almost well-meaning enough to compensate for its countless problems .", "one scavenger hunt that 's definitely not worth playing ... it has more climaxes than a porno movie .", "the best cinematic comfort food you could ask for .", "ten minutes into the picture , you 're searching the screen for life-support machines .", "who knew the founding fathers had the time to drop clues throughout the eastern u.s.", "the movie has less to do with interesting characters or clever plotting than with having the actors scurry from place to place in search of missing treasure .", "a dumb movie MOV remains , but only the unkindest heart could call it bad .", "it 's easy to underestimate the value of a popcorn movie that works as well as this , especially if you have n't seen many recent failed attempts .", "watching it is akin to sitting next to someone else hogging the playstation controller as he steers a character through a maze in search of clues that lead only to more clues that finally land in a dreary dead end .", "it 's not exactly raiders of the lost ark , but disney/touchstone 's MOV is certainly watchable treasure-hunt hokum .", "taken simply as a popcorn flick , MOV has its pleasures .", "despite some preposterous twists , it is a treat to watch a movie with a hero who confronts enemies , threats and clues with wit and insight instead of guns and grenades .", "not only safe for junior and grandma but also pretty entertaining .", "turteltaub manages to stitch it all together well enough so that the ludicrous nature of the characters ' quest does n't hit you until the final credits roll .", "historical adventure is a fun romp for tweens and up .", "though turtletaub 's direction is inspired , everything else from acting , to plot , and dialogue falls flat ...", "has almost nothing to recommend it -lrb- justin bartha 's performance being the lone high point -rrb- , not even any gnarly explosions , which does n't bode well for our man bruckheimer .", "the treasure hunt is cool in this dvd , it 's a whole game of numbers and quizzes go get to some of the easter eggs .", "if you can see the film through the eyes of a child -- one who thinks a cheesy thriller is the ideal way to pick up new facts about history -- then this is n't that bad a yarn .", "a mild holiday caper , for the wettest of afternoons .", "it might feel like a dan brown bestseller . but americans have an appetite for historical mysteries ... and capitalizing on that appetite is about as american as you can get .", "hop-scotches up the eastern seaboard with no real zeal , detouring at historic landmarks like a tour bus on steroids .", "the film plays on every cliché and every stereotype imaginable , and part of its charm is playing them exactly to an audience 's happiest expectations .", "the historical touches make the film more akin to classics like `` raiders of the lost ark '' than to duds like `` remo williams : the adventure begins -lrb- and ended simultaneously -rrb- '' .", "the ` north by northwest ' of a new generation it is not , but ` treasure ' provides two hours of easy escapism ...", "a bruising us history class , taught in dolby surround .", "is n't likely to be branded as either bruckheimer 's best or worst ; but his latest bit of cage carnage is well-acted , well-directed and full of interesting ideas .", "like an episode of where in the world is carmen sandiego ? with explosions and car chases .", "lacks originality and wit .", "sure it 's dumb , but it 's tons of fun and ever so slightly educational .", "follow this exciting adventure and thrill to the mystery and chase .", "an awfully contrived and terribly executed adventure , particularly disappointing in that it sports a fascinating story and some decent actors . **", "too preposterous to be believed yet too concerned with historicity to work as an adventure tale .", "every bruckheimer film is a potential pot of gold and this one is no exception .", "cage ? movie star as social studies teacher .", "` we hold this truth to be self-evident , ' said thomas jefferson , ` if i had seen this movie first , the only thing i 'd have traced on the back of the declaration is my resume . '", "somewhere between the emulsion and the nitrate of this film there 's a map to the bruckheimer fortune .", "an underdone pastiche of raiders of the lost ark and a really tedious high school history class .", "an impatient , over-plotted caper-mystery populated by undercooked characters , far-fetched contrivances and routine genre twists .", "on the heals of the very popular adventure novel , the da vinci code -lrb- by dan brown -rrb- , `` MOV '' takes many elements of that book -lrb- intentional or not , you decide -rrb-", "this would be fun if director jon turteltaub did n't move things along at a snail 's pace .", "a cornucopia of ridiculously over-the-top action , humor , and romance conceived in the bruckheimer tradition .", "this is spreadsheet filmmaking , soulless and overly designed for maximum box-office effect ...", "unfortunately , it lacks the conviction to embrace its own garish awfulness , resulting in little more than tedious historical and patriotic hokum ...", "we 're left with three oscar nominees , the retard from gigli and the broad who launched a thousand ships in troy being pursued by the fbi and logic bringing up the rear .", "the meat of the movie is like the da vinci code ... but this heist makes the perfect score look like ocean 's 11", "i 'm convinced someone was n't paying attention when the project received a greenlight , so the filmmakers should feel pleased that their movie turned out as passable as it did .", "keep this one buried .", "it 's pretty preposterous and a little too long but kind of fun .", "cage invests none of the edge , passion or heart we 've come to expect from him in the part . bean has no decent villainous moments , and the rest of the cast -lrb- save for voight -rrb- is forgettable and generic .", "a decidedly less exciting popcorn movie that tries to mix indiana jones , the da vinci code and several strands of conspiracy theory in one blandly entertaining package .", "though i 'd never call the film a treasure , if you do n't take it too seriously , it 's on a par with most bruckheimer actioners .", "you think for a minute it might tip the movie toward an ending of real integrity -- you know , like the real treasure being the declaration itself .", "the plot is all breathless riffs and jolly twists , and even cage looks strung-out .", "plays a lot better than it sounds . trust me .", "an almost tongue-in-cheek fantasy wrapped around well-researched historical details .", "it has no ambition , little sense and false sentiment , but it does have velocity , high spirits and scale .", "the best thing about MOV is how clever it is .", "cage plays gates way too broadly and crudely ; i half expected him to break into his patented elvis impersonation .", "this long , and long-winded , series of middling cliffhangers wo n't pump the adrenaline of action aficionados .", "one of the more implausible movies in recent memory .", "it 's everything you loved about the da vinci code , stripped of its religious context and transposed to early america .", "fluffy , frenetic and sometimes downright farcical , MOV makes gleeful fun of itself while leading us popcorn-munching escapists down a tangled , painless adventure trail .", "treasure may fall a notch below pirates of the caribbean on the pleasureometer , but it does give american history sex appeal and celebrates a guy who relies on brainware rather than gadgets .", "it 's bad news when a bruckheimer movie makes one downright nostalgic for the rock ...", "the picture is 25 minutes of fun , spread over 125 minutes .", "too dumb and improbable .", "has all the soul , wit and originality of a major co-branding campaign .", "with its ludicrous frisson of patriotism and a nod to the da vinci code , a more cynical grab for hollywood gold is hard to imagine .", "... may well have the most asinine plot in the history of cinema .", "this patriotic action-adventure from walt disney pictures is n't worth the hype it 's getting , even though its somewhat-historical premise is engaging .", "rancid cinematic cheese .", "all it is , really , is astonishingly boring , terribly stupid , and , it bears repeating , boring . it 's boring . -lrb- also stupid . -rrb-", "the lighthearted , rocket-paced adventure does n't have a shred of plausibility -- and it does n't pretend to . but it has oodles of fun .", "as vanilla a filmmaker as they make 'em , turteltaub 's filmography does n't exactly inspire the greatest confidence that he can handle a monster-budgeted action/adventure .", "despite an interesting premise and a decent cast , the movie swings randomly between too much explanation and not enough , between simplistic cliche and inscrutable babble .", "it fakes high concept , but turns into a whole lot of hooey .", "alluringly over-the-top without being overcooked .", "a radical adventure it is , with nicolas cage strapping on the hero boots to solve clues , dodge bullets and dangle off of underground wooden structures .", "MOV is a wildly inventive thinking person 's raiders of the lost ark film .", "secret societies revealed , a quest for the truth and treasure , a hateful bad guy , and a good guy and good girl who share some romance along the way ...", "a silly , stupendously artificial enterprise .", "a serviceably entertaining but ultimately forgettable bit of escapism .", "this infantile excuse for an adventure yarn plays more like a triple-cross between the davinci code , csi , and the amazing race than raiders of the lost ark. .", "as documents go , this one tastes like cardboard .", "sluggish for a jerry bruckheimer production , but maybe the kids will learn something .", "a movie that uses stealing the declaration of independence as a starting point ? need i mention that this is a jerry bruckheimer production ?", "yeah , it 's got a lot of gab in it about unalienable rights , but would n't the declaration of independence really be something if there were a treasure map on the back ?", "in trying to maintain a pg rating , director jon turtletaub establishes a wavering tone that 's at turns raucous , infantile and imbecilic .", "with one of the more preposterous climaxes in the history of film , this movie flunks every test of believability .", "it 's that kind of careful attention to detail that makes something like the goonies more thrilling and easier to accept than this .", "remove the logical progression of events from the da vinci code and you 've got MOV .", "when the effects seem more real than the characters , the quest , and , especially , the jokes , even an overstuffed movie like this one just feels empty .", "a rip-roaring , high-spirited american adventure , it 's one of the best scavenger hunts to come along in ages !", "an above-average popcorn movie .", "this one 's no treasure . but it features a few interesting baubles .", "the clever bits are swamped by no-brainer gunfights , rescues , and chases galore .", "almost every scene in this generic action movie is ripped off from somewhere else .", "MOV is so silly that the monty python version could use the same screenplay , line for line .", "an adventure zipped up with a light smattering of history .", "from the very first action scene in the frozen arctic , to a chase up the liberty bell tower , to the climax in a tunnel deep below new york city , MOV takes you on an exhilarating ride .", "the film is far from perfect , but what do you expect from the director of 3 ninjas .", "does n't this movie 's plot sound like some educational movie that 's supposed to trick kids into learning because they made a game of it ?", "while clues abound in MOV , i was left clueless .", "this is one screenplay that would have excelled had all the dialogue been excised or retooled .", "while it may be blasphemous to recommend ` MOV ' , it 's probably not far off the mark to say -lsb- it will -rsb- keep fanatical fans of high-tech hesit movies content .", "the film 's trio of credited writers fails to generate anything in the way of character , and they create the largest and most unwieldy plot holes in a long time .", "a satisfying torrent of chases , escapes and discoveries .", "falls short in many ways , not the least of which is a ridiculously moronic plot that defies reason at every turn", "as a family-friendly adventure , the film undoubtedly excels - though it 's clear the movie could 've used a little less adventure and a little more sleuthing .", "passable , lightweight entertainment .", "a scavenger hunt conceived in liberty and dedicated to the notion that all jerry bruckheimer films are created equal -lrb- equally dumb , that is -rrb- .", "MOV falls a bit short both as a window into the american past and as crackling good adventure .", "laudable , at times inventive .", "definitely has minor moments of matterhorn-ride amusement for what 's otherwise an insultingly preposterous , culturally barren clump of exploitative , flag-sticker patriotism .", "a national embarrassment .", "a formula-action exercise that 's part indiana jones , part da vinci code , part history trivia lesson and all bluster , treasure proves quickly that it 's fool 's gold at best .", "if you 're looking for MOV to rewrite history , you 're wasting your vote .", "this is bruckheimer 's niche . do n't ever expect him to adapt a nicholas sparks book into a film any time soon .", "if dick cheney had attempted to write the da vinci code , he might have envisioned something like `` MOV . ''", "few can argue that the movie is totally unbelievable , but if one is able to leave all sense of logic at the door , it 's very hard not to have a darn good time in the process .", "stealing the declaration of indepenence is easy - making an interesting film is tough !", "... a semi-historical mystery-thriller ... too many chases and clichés keep this good movie from being great .", "this movie could n't be more stale if it 'd been dug up by archaeologists .", "a big , overblown wazoo of absurdity .", "this is a bravura film that genuinely understands the nature of true family entertainment and provides it in spades .", "MOV may be dumb and relatively short on action scenes , but it 's still a lot of fun , largely thanks to cage and bartha .", "the movie gets a little cheesy -lrb- with some definite raiders of the lost ark moments -rrb- , but it 's got humor , a little suspense , and lots of action .", "all of this could have been lots of fun . if only harrison ford , or someone just as good , had played ben .", "works fairly well as slick , enjoyable hooey ... in its general approach if not all particulars , this could represent a promising new approach in family entertainment ." ]
part harrowing immigration tale , part gangster story , this debut by writer/director cary fukunaga is sensitive , insightful and deeply authentic .	10009823-sin_nombre	770802066	[ "there is bitter and breathtaking truth in the story and in the story-telling .", "that this is fukunaga 's first film is astonishing , given its sharp script , technical proficiency and suspenseful pacing . the ensemble cast is top-notch .", "mashes up the tale of the arduous journey across borders with the developing world gangster drama , offering a fresh and convincing spin on both .", "a tense , awfully depressing companion piece to last year 's great wendy and lucy when seen as a search for opportunity where there is n't any .", "is n't so much a bad movie as it is an unremarkable one", "-lsb- director -rsb- fukunaga is a fine craftsman , but his story , a kind of `` under the same moon '' by way of `` the warriors , '' is one that has been told many times before .", "the scope is epic and the achievement , though solidly grounded in conventional storytelling , is a revelation .", "a moving portrait of the arduous journey taken by poverty-stricken people from central america through mexico with their sights set on the united states .", "an honorable addition to border films about central american immigrants , this highlight of the sundance film fest offers visceral experience based on the helmer 's firsthand familiarity .", "`` MOV '' is a convincing verite-styled drama that pulls you into its dangerous universe of desperation and immediacy .", "fukunaga maintains a deft balance of justifiably melodramatic plot elements and low-key realism ; the horrific moments here never feel false or overemphatic .", "the best that can be said is that it 's a more honest film on the subject of immigration than the recent crossing over -- but then again , so is beverly hills chihuahua .", "a big new talent arrives on the scene with MOV . writer-director cary joji fukunaga 's enthralling feature debut takes viewers into a shadow world inhabited by many but noticed by very few .", "the movie is alternately brutal and affecting , filled with big dreams and crushing realities .", "from beginning to end , the director understands that life for most immigrants is an expansive turf war .", "the rules of the gang are spurious enough to make us realise that this is n't a world of good against evil , it 's a world of adolescents who 've got no reason to grow up .", "there is enough freshness in the documentary-style observation to make up for any lack of imagination in the storyline .", "if you 've ever got your hands on a second-hand set of operation , you 'll know how it feels to watch the latest addition to the slum drama stable . most parts are present and correct , but there 's definitely something missing - a heart , perhaps ?", "likely to be one of the must-see foreign language titles of the year , opening our eyes to a world of desperation , hope and pain .", "it 's a tough watch . it 's also one of the best films of the year .", "it 's the scenes of immigrants heading north atop moving trains which resonate the most - a testament to adriano goldman 's brilliant , expansive cinematography .", "captivatingly naturalistic performances and cinematography almost makes up for the lack of a larger political framework .", "it 's a tribute to the visceral impact of the staging that the film retains its grip despite becoming somewhat predictable , while thematically it 's the usual cycle-of-violence hand wringing .", "MOV is a spry , humane account of the hardships encountered on the mexican immigration trail , whose violence never feels exploitative , for all that it may be hard to watch . highly recommended .", "for all its formal élan and gritty location shooting , MOV is a wearily hollow , morally specious movie .", "more than just an immigration drama ... real and dramatically intense .", "there are some brief minutes when the tension drops and the story starts to sag , but fukunaga almost always fills the frame with something worth seeing , and the story has a built-in suspense .", "MOV is n't easy to watch , it 's raw as a punch to the gut and just as brutal , but it 's also a truly beautiful film , full of wonderful performances and brilliant , articulate direction .", "` MOV ' is informative and gripping in story and technique .", "i -lsb- t ' -rsb- s about people trying to make their way across the border into the united states . but if you think you 've seen it before , you 're mistaken .", "-lsb- director -rsb- fukunaga has a fine , spacious film sense and a gift for action , but the doomy , heavy-handed plot devices and overwrought , overacted gangland set pieces betray a novice 's hand .", "the combination of professional actors and locals is effective and adds to the unique telling of this immigrant story .", "the best film i 've seen this year .", "unfortunately , other than some gorgeous scenery , sayra 's stupidity is the only thing that feels truly fresh in fukunaga 's debut feature .", "the caressing , honeyed light in MOV beautifies and softens every ugly moment in this equivocating story about geographic and moral border crossings .", "fukunaga -lrb- who was raised in oakland , california lives in brooklyn -rrb- uses natural-looking locations and non-professional actors like a pro .", "MOV is pure filmmaking : a great story told in beautiful images .", "fukunaga paints better outside the lines , working with cinematographer adriano goldman to offer vivid shots of the poverty and despair cutting through latin america .", "while this mexican import is treading familiar territory , first time writer/director cary fukunaga comes at it with fresh eyes .", "-lsb- director fukunaga -rsb- spends as little time dwelling on the whole as possible , instead opting for a classic road-trip story of the parts : the people who are emigrating and the gang members trying to kill one of them .", "what makes it unique among films that cover similar subject matter is the restrained acting and richness of its visual sense .", "this is a very fine film debut .", "i only wish fukunaga was as good a writer as he is a director -- but as this is his debut feature , i 'll cut some slack on that score .", "it 's a documentary-style look at the harrowing journey illegal immigrants take to get into this country , but it 's also a tightly plotted thriller .", "a confident , raw feature film that continually surprises and repeatedly devastates . MOV is an outstanding motion picture .", "the actors , particularly flores , have a documentary reality about them . their reactions to most of their predicaments , even the ones given away too easily by the script , are real in the most human sense .", "MOV is a riveting watch and an expertly directed drama that will stay with you long after you leave the cinema .", "a hard-hitting tragi-masterpiece that jolts from tender sentimentality to gritty real-life violence .", "it 's such an accomplished and powerful piece of storytelling that MOV - which means nameless - could easily find itself in the running for the best foreign film academy award .", "gorgeously shot and edited , and performed with a gentle emotional openness , this gritty odyssey tells a deeply personal story while examining much bigger issues in central america and beyond .", "a striking , and often quite gruelling , account of survival and flight in poverty-stricken central america .", "the movie never quite determines if it is docudrama or melodrama , though each , at times , shines strongly .", "the film will linger in the mind long after its devastating conclusion . you leave the cinema breathless and disquieted but also with a sense of having had something important revealed to you . in a very strong field , this is the year 's best film so far .", "there is the feel of a sam peckinpah western to a grimly predictable story that blends beautiful scenery with brutal reality .", "the movie , which has both bloody violence and tender romance , will remind you of `` city of god '' meets `` under the same moon . '' it is another shining example of the best that independent filmmaking has to offer , much like last year 's `` frozen river . ''", "this is a vivid portrait of the landscape of the americas , picking apart every step of the migrant 's journey", "you might think you know where these characters are going , and how the various plot threads will be tied up . but you 'd be wrong .", "a very southern modern western , the spanish-language MOV offers a treacherous frontier , a conflicted outlaw and fine performances by actors with whom the camera clearly is besotted .", "the film 's beauty , which is meant to suggest the dreams of the characters , is another crucial aspect of MOV 's complexity .", "despite the unevenness of the ride , however , the memory of MOV is indelible .", "this is a stunning feature debut for director cary fukunaga . the story borrows from road movies and crime thrillers , but the scenes and situations vibrate with authenticity .", "it gives a caravan of migrants human faces , compelling motivations and dramatic challenges that transcend borders .", "MOV is at once subtle and intense , familiar but refreshing , intimate even as it tells a story untold numbers have endured .", "cary fukunaga makes an impressive feature directing debut with the lacerating immigration tale MOV .", "the compositions -lrb- even in grimy cities -rrb- and use of color are wonderful , the kind of thing that can only arise with the assistance of a wonderful art director .", "rich details make the immigration thriller MOV vivid and haunting .", "this sense of equilibrium even carries over to fukunaga 's crafty integration of professional and nonpro actors .", "imagine city of god without the zippy camerawork or slumdog millionaire without the millionaire and you get the feel of MOV .", "sincere and sympathetic but also mostly inert .", "sayra and her family are the poor , huddled masses our founders were talking about , and it 's painfully bracing to watch them crushed beneath the promise of a stocked cupboard and living wage .", "above all , fukunaga has great respect for his characters and their story .", "steadily building intensity despite overwhelming feelings of doom", "MOV marks an impressive feature-film debut for cary joji fukunaga , albeit more as a director than a writer .", "fukunaga 's intentions may be honorable , but films like MOV exploit their subjects as much as they empathize with them .", "brutal , wrenching and filled with desperation and meanness , MOV signals a major new talent in writer-director cary fukunaga , who never flinches while telling a story so grim and sad it moves beyond tears to numbness .", "intense spanish-language feature debut intrigues but does n't quite gel .", "whenever MOV turns violent , it seizes you with its convulsive skill , but the film 's images vastly outstrip its imagination .", "an epic and stunningly shot thriller about two young people crossing the gauntlet of central america in their attempt to get to the usa .", "basically a manipulative thriller with social-commentary aspirations", "fukunaga wastes no time with laborious explanations for his characters ' motives .", "it 's a drama , a romance and a thriller , but make no mistake - MOV pulls no punches in delivery a raw , powerful film that shrugs aside genre convention .", "MOV still leaves an acrid aftertaste .", "-lsb- f -rsb- or all its raw simplicity , the film manages to conjure a veritable library of references .", "the gangster part of the movie is riddled with cliches , but strikes gold with its depiction of immigrants on a train headed north . an excellent debut by a japanese-american director .", "cary fukunaga makes a strong impression with his debut feature , a visually rich spanish-language thriller which borrows the conventions of the western and applies them to a world of gang brotherhoods and travelling immigrants in mexico .", "spellbinding and nailbiting at the same time , `` sin nombre?s '' climax chillingly evokes the fable of the rabbit crossing the river on the crocodile?s back . even amid such fleeting hope , its bone-deep fragility proved impossible to shake .", "full review at movies for the masses", "one of the best movies i 've seen in a long time - director cary joji fukunaga has a promising future .", "a variation on the theme of central american gangster films , `` nombre '' adds a mystery thriller note in the tone of early american `` gangster on the run '' films that makes it riveting to watch while telling a heartbreaking story .", "fukunaga does show a certain flair for filmmaking style that suggests that he will one day direct a great movie -- unfortunately , despite what you may have heard , this film is n't it .", "it contains risk , violence , a little romance , even fleeting moments of humor , but most of all , it sees what danger and heartbreak are involved . it is riveting from start to finish .", "the thrilling and beautifully crafted debut feature of 31-year-old californian cary joji fukunaga .", "it 's the tone of the movie 's two sides -- action and stillness , graphic violence and romantic melodrama -- that do n't cohere .", "MOV is a brutal , dark film that is one of the most moving and memorable that i 've seen in a long time", "it is a movie about the wages of sin that come back to claim their own , indifferent to redemption , especially a redemption bathed in blood .", "fukunaga 's gift lies not in inventing clever reversals , but in declining to provide us with the typical cinematic cues that advertise what 's coming .", "among the film 's many revelations is a cast of talented unknowns who stand to become much better known in years to come -- which makes the ` no name ' title seem almost ironic .", "writer-director cary fukunaga keeps the story lean while peppering it with realistic details .", "it wo n't disappoint you . that 's rare , do n't you think ?", "tragic and gripping , cary fukunaga 's MOV revitalizes a gang-warfare genre that had appeared to be played out lately .", "as accomplished as MOV is in many ways , you 're always aware of the ever-tightening plot screws , rather than the human beings caught in one threatening situation after another .", "fukunaga seems more capable than most at setting up truly intimate moments ; whether it 's canoodling in bed or a warm exchange of a burrito between strangers . and it all happens on the decks of one of cinema 's most enduring symbols .", "-lsb- director -rsb- fukunaga 's startlingly impressive first feature is almost ruthless in its depiction of the brutality and degradation confronting the hidden hordes that cross rivers and hop trains trying to get to the united states .", "more substantive than the average thriller/road movie .", "fukunaga expertly shapes a variety of elements -- gangland thriller , immigration drama , social commentary -- into a rich , compelling story about redemption .", "there are no wasted scenes or superfluous dialogue in `` MOV '' , just hard-hitting drama that has the feel of total credibility .", "one can only imagine what life must really be like for these heavily tattooed killers , who hold a baby in one hand and take a life with the other ." ]
richly detailed and loaded with surreal touches , MOV is an odd , delightful charmer .	the_triplets_of_belleville	10128	[ "a sensational counterpoint to everything animation means as family entertainment in hollywood .", "right down to faux black-and-white film stock and scratchy gramophones , triplets resurrects flesicher 's world of music , debauchery , inspired illogic and crude showbiz parody .", "an animated film that takes familiar disney archetypes and twists them into vivid , imaginative shapes .", "packs staggering levels of craft and imagination into every last frame .", "wonderfully weird .", "a mad masterpiece .", "`` dazzlingly inventive and delightful and probably unlike any cartoon -- or movie -- you 've ever seen ... ''", "virtually dialogue free , les triplettes is full of funny and bizarre images , often in the same frame .", "the astonishing , outlandish , and singular originality of this movie defeats any attempt to describe or explain it . but it also makes it a lot of fun to watch .", "triplets is very probably unlike anything you 've seen before .", "shows influences as diverse as `` mr. magoo , '' the films of caro and jeunet -lrb- `` delicatessen , '' `` city of lost children '' -rrb- , `` the family dog , '' the animated `` 101 dalmatians and warner brothers ' early merrie melodies cartoons yet remains a completely unique creatio", "belleville rendez-vous is an engaging , original europudding cartoon , animated in the classical style , without the sugar of disney , entertaining from start to finish .", "visual ingenuity , wry humour , and french self-parody add up to a strange and touching experience .", "grotesque yet trippy .", "quite unlike anything you will have ever seen in an animated picture .", "an odd and oddly satisfying concoction .", "it may clock in at a crisp 80 minutes , yet a single viewing can barely do justice to this richly detailed and often playfully macabre adventure .", "forges an all new narrative and visual style that 's so winning it lingers in the mind long after the credits roll .", "feels simultaneously cutting-edge and a new classic of the cartoon genre .", "-lsb- sylvain -rsb- chomet 's vision is singularly strange and somber , and one of enormous originality and promise .", "i 'm not so sure what chomet 's getting at here , or even if there 's really much to be gotten at all . but the movie 's a bona fide eye-popper . -lrb- man , i wish i still smoked pot . -rrb-", "se precisei assistir a esta animaзгo 3 vezes somente para escrever sobre ela , nem imagino quantas vezes voltarei a vк-la apenas pelo prazer de visitar a criaзгo de chomet .", "a hugely entertaining alternative to disney and pixar", "it would appear that the best ` toon flicks are presently being produced outside the usa .", "triplets of belleville conjures up a world that 's totally surprising and sublime .", "a triumph of style and substance , dispensing equal parts unbridled glee and powerful melancholy .", "a comfortably subversive and accomplished film that speaks to everyone , without talking down to anyone .", "it is funny in spurts , frightening , moving , magical , exhilarating , horrific , smart and silly . it is all this and more .", "captivating to watch .", "-lsb- l -rsb- ike nothing you 've ever seen and at the same time like a recurring dream you can always just barely remember when you wake up ...", "many notable moments of animation excellence", "international story of bicycling , rescue , singing , the passage of time and the nature of evil is a fantastic use of animation for grown-up storytelling .", "not since pee-wee 's big adventure has the story of a boy and his bike been this delightfully strange .", "finding a delicate balance between dystopia and nostalgia , this diaphanous , baroque vision is n't just a disarming trifle : it 's genuinely transporting .", "kept me smiling for 80 minutes , and that 's worth something , right ?", "the comparative abstractness of mr. chomet 's vision allows the mind to wander freely .", "a dialog-free , animated film for adults that would have made a great short film , but , without speech or much of a story , it is seventy-five minutes too long .", "the city of belleville is like some nocturnal amalgam of paris and new york , on the edge of a vast sea and of the world itself .", "if walt disney had gone on a binge of red wine , hallucinatory drugs and absurdist plays , MOV could have sprouted from his animation empire .", "it 's a must-see for animation fans , but others , including youngsters , may just as likely be bored or baffled .", "an ephemerally entertaining comic adventure .", "MOV proves there 's still plenty of life in hand-drawn animation .", "as original as it is strange , MOV not only will win you over with that potent combination , but will likely tempt you to seek out its company again and again .", "too far-fetched for me to dive into a genre i have not yet acquired a taste for .", "if you have an open mind , and an appreciation of film animation , you will surely enjoy the film 's clever gags , as well as the sensational blending of cel animation and computer-enhanced backgrounds and action .", "everything about the film , from the characters to the settings , is tres bizarre , yet it 's all weirdly compelling .", "triplets is as visually unfamiliar as a foreign language .", "MOV can feel so alive you may have trouble sitting still while watching it .", "it occasionally suffers from longeurs , but it 's moving and funny with moments of genius . more of the same , s ` il vous plaît .", "just when jeffrey katzenberg had loudly declared the death of 2-d animation , along came this sly , inventively drawn cartoon that blew the cumbrous studio leviathans out of the water .", "astonishing , outlandish , and full of laughs .", "this is an animated movie to fall in love with .", "beautiful animation , surreal imagery , funny quirky characters and engaging situations make this a gem that should be discovered .", "whimsy is alive and well in the movies , thanks to sylvain chomet .", "vous guessed it by now : triplettes is terrific .", "a winning blend of dark and bittersweet , aimed more at adults than kiddies , but suitable for all ages .", "relish the film 's deadpan grotesquery , its flair for invention , be it the fanciful narrative segues or various object lessons ...", "if there 's any justice in the world , french animator sylvain chomet will be handed the animated feature oscar in february for this fantastic little film .", "every so often , a film comes along that is so original , imaginative , and just plain flat-out wonderful that you can do little but marvel at the filmmaker 's artistry .", "it 's all trčs charming .", "artful , engrossing and oddly touching .", "an utter delight .", "an insanely delicious animated feature .", "a wildly imaginative and wholly original creation .", "a singular delight .", "it should appeal to adventurous types looking for a more challenging animated feature .", "a tour de force of ink-washed , crosshatched mischief and unlikely sublimity .", "a truly out-there piece of comic animation , the most outlandishly visual film of the year , this 80-minute french treat takes us into a world that can barely be described , a world unlike any we 've seen before .", "viva le difference !", "animation was invented so that movies like MOV could be made .", "a fresh , very funny and wonderful artful enterprise .", "thanks to chomet , ` beautifully strange ' has a new home address , and it 's in belleville .", "an extraordinary , melancholy ode to the endless , mercurial peculiarity of life .", "one of his greatest achievements is allowing the audience to crawl inside bruno 's head . not since `` babe '' has a movie made me care so much for a four-legged character .", "you may love it , you may hate it , but you 've never seen anything like it .", "let the movie wash over you , and , at the very least , it will cleanse your palate .", "... might be the french counterpart of a jerry lewis movie . for the few that will love it , as many more will be baffled three times over .", "a stylish throwback , a pretty work of art in every frame .", "exploring imagery 's universal potential , the movie reaches artistic heights by allowing us to recognize ourselves in people and customs that initially seem brazenly foreign .", "words can not replicate the world that chomet has designed here ; description is pointless , as belleville simply must be experienced firsthand .", "its strange vacillation between the hopeful and the arbitrarily cold is still a mystery to me ... it 's not a great film , but then again , it is .", "triplets could be described as max fleischer on acid .", "the simpsons meet william steig", "zee french , zay are different , non ? well , in this case , wonderfully so .", "un beau , wildy amusement et un film original ! see this immediately - read on - >", "MOV is an animated feature with two out-of-the-ordinary superheroes : a zealous old lady and a very fat dog .", "an almost impossibly delectable mixture of uncanny weirdness and poignant sweetness", "chomet 's charming , visually cluttered realm ... is so imaginative and vividly realized you could freeze any frame and spend an hour picking through its details .", "` el estilo y la atmósfera en que se desarrolla son de una calidad e inteligencia que pocas veces podemos apreciar de este lado del atlántico . '", "a beautiful but dull affair .", "a bustling cornucopia of delights .", "something unique : mixing styles , eras and geography into a cocktail that is both funny and melancholy .", "there are high-powered opiates that do n't pack the psychedelic kick of this cartoon .", "la historia se cuenta en imágenes y sonidos , y ese es un primer gran mérito a tener en cuenta en una época en que los personajes del cine suelen hablar demasiado .", "the big test was how few times i could look at my watch to determine how much more agony i had to endure .", "it 's impossible to watch this movie without gasping at its graphics , and yet we 're so drawn into chomet 's way of seeing that , after a while , his genius erases the distinction between animation and live action .", "chomet made this movie to remind us how imaginative animation can be as an art form .", "if you 've a heart and a pulse , you will like this movie .", "a highly original , charming , visually striking and constantly droll entertainment .", "a bizarre yet beautifully composed piece of nutty whimsy .", "most of the magic of this unusual movie comes from the freshness , imagination and sweet spirit of its animation , which is blissfully its own thing and does not show the influence of any of the reigning forces in the art form .", "a strange delight , an original vision that enhances the state of contemporary animation .", "this oddball has the fuzz of real invention .", "an animated feature of appalling originality and scary charm .", "filmmaking at its best , and a wonderful reminder of the pure unadulterated joy that can come from going to the movies .", "oooh la la and a certain je ne sais quoi permeate every frame of this imaginative french gem that leaves ordinary animated projects in the dust .", "dazzling in the simplest of ways putting sylvain chomet at the animation 's adult table that still has plenty of room for the kids .", "like a silent film that just happens to be drawn instead of made with real people - it 's absolutely mesmerizing to look at this animation .", "feels like a cross between ' 60 's disney cartoon movies and yellow submarine . no , even that description is too simplistic .", "chomet has made a refreshing film set apart by its humour , unique cultural flavour and quality animation .", "the artwork is just brilliant .", "this is a film that speaks a universal language of funny images and unexpected surprises .", "... director chomet proves to be quite effective at establishing an utterly bizarre looking variation on our world , he 's just not able to hold our interest all the way through .", "in an era when live-action movies often play like cartoons , this is an animated film that feels all grown up .", "watching MOV is like getting lost in a storybook you never want to put down .", "depending on your perspective , it 's either visionary or weird .", "an animated extravaganza of gallic wit and soul that delivers more wild humanity than many of the year 's live-action features . in a word : go .", "as funny , original , and entertaining as the film is , a dark drama floats just beneath the surface that is heightened by its nostalgic , sometimes melancholic tone .", "much of the story unfolds with the careful , deliberate pacing of the best silent films , and the action ranges from kitchen sink realism to outlandish fantasy .", "a charming , one-of-a-kind experience , a breathtakingly drawn and uproariously funny film by french animator sylvain chomet . it 's one of the most delightful films of the year .", "perhaps the worst animated feature film i 've ever seen .", "it 's downright daft at times . but it 's ingeniously crafted , marvelously drawn , and utterly unpredictable .", "a determinedly weird , almost wordless gallic concoction that casts a considerable spell even if it 's not supposed to make much sense -lrb- and definitely succeeds in that respect -rrb- .", "... delightful , inventive , accessible , hilarious , and tremendously executed .", "there is more imagination in this film 's puny 80 minutes than in all the other films i 've seen this year put together .", "a strange and wonderful tale that relies on and indulges in the luxuries of hand-drawn animation", "does n't have much to offer outside of its technical achievements , which is both amazing and a shame , considering chomet 's fertile imagination .", "so bizarre , satirical and imaginative that it almost defies description .", "built on slow , repetitive actions that quietly amuse us but do n't necessarily raise our adrenaline . still , for visual grandeur and artistic imagination , it 's a sheer joy .", "all you really need to enjoy `` triplets '' is a taste for the weird and the wonderful .", "it 's nasty but droll , cheerfully grotesque , full of non sequiturs as well as deadpan repetitions , never cute and the opposite of precious .", "while , like most animated films , MOV was made by many people , this divinely eccentric movie feels as if it came straight to the screen from one man 's wild and wantonly free imagination .", "a sophisticated , wholly original brand of animated storytelling that manages to be at once deliriously eccentric and deliciously sinister .", "for someone with an adventurous cinematic appetite , a production that makes miyazaki appear mainstream is surely worth a look .", "impossible to describe , impossible to forget .", "shares the inventive , experimental storytelling found in the works of miyazaki and the wachowskis . what a joy to watch a cartoon with your brain turned on .", "comic , touching and a visual knockout .", "-lsb- an -rsb- effortlessly charming cry of defiance against america , wrapped up in a touching and ticklishly funny , yet bitter-sweet tale that dances across the screen ." ]
driven by director michael mann 's trademark visuals and a lean , villainous performance from tom cruise , MOV is a stylish and compelling noir thriller .	collateral	12909	[ "a crime drama made with immense skill .", "-lsb- tom cruise has -rsb- never been this convincingly wicked .", "MOV is the best kind of genre filmmaking : it plays by the rules , obeys the traditions and is both familiar and fresh at once .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he most deliciously intoxicating mann movie yet , slippery cool and brashly elegant , fresh and furious ...", "a sort of dud-brained taxi driver on the slick streets of los angeles rather than the steaming streets of new york .", "a genuinely original modern thriller .", "an intriguing , if predictable , ... story that benefits strongly from an everyman performance by jamie foxx and a dead on , chew the scenery supporting perf by mr. cruise", "it 's straight-up entertainment , not something to see and then talk about a month later , but definitely something to enjoy .", "my nominee for the most effective film yet shot digitally .", "the best thing mann brings to his picture is a strong sense of time and place .", "mann 's film makes tom cruise fun to watch again , because he occasionally plays someone besides tom cruise .", "MOV has such classy trappings , you 're constantly expecting more -- but while there may be less here than meets the eye , this is solid stuff in the midst of hollywood 's dog days .", "vincent 's ferocity -lrb- designated by cruise 's grim-face mode -rrb- is the film 's most distracting cliché .", "as much a dark , odd couple comedy as it is a quirky , efficient little thriller .", "MOV is an ultimate thrill ride through the mean streets of l.a. , powered by a killer performance -lrb- pun intended -rrb- from tom cruise .", "cruise is a little out of his range but that works oddly well , giving him a little frisson of uncertainty underneath the terminator-like singlemindedness of the character .", "mann hits a new peak , orchestrating action , atmosphere and bruising humor with a poet 's eye for urban darkness .", "-lsb- jamie foxx is -rsb- the reason to see MOV , as he walks into the frame and walks off with the picture .", "taut , exciting and intelligent , MOV is just the movie this summer needed .", "arguably the first film mann has made that marries the painstaking style of heat and manhunter with the gripping substance of the insider .", "`` MOV '' is the type of film that viewers will enjoy if they can bring themselves to the theater .", "there 's another , more interesting movie lurking behind the pulp , glimpsed fleetingly in a stunningly-angled shot or a tantalizing line of dialogue .", "a stylish , impressively directed , smartly written thriller with superb performances by both cruise and foxx .", "MOV is , simply , a perfectly pitched popcorn movie .", "tom cruise and jamie foxx do terrific jobs with a great script and a director who definitely passes muster here . this is an enjoyable thriller .", "we 're supposed to be fascinated by what makes cruise 's vincent tick , but he turns out to be just a heavily armed gasbag .", "for vincent 's sharp-witted command of the cab and the echoes of the third man and heat , MOV is well worth targeting .", "vincent es demoledor , cínico , frío , calmo , un hombre solitario , un asesino que reflexiona sobre el sentido de la vida .", "perhaps the best premise for thrills since speed , only this time the bad guy 's on board and the battle of wits is more philosophical debate than pop quiz .", "a single la night compacted into two gripping hours of four big hits and one anticlimactic miss .", "a slim drink of thin beer , remarkable only as evidence that mann might have a modern masterpiece in him if he were cut loose and allowed to roam around in his own obsessions .", "the real delight is soaking up cruise 's acting . he is terrific .", "visually , ` MOV ' locates the post-apocalypse landscape growing within a city still waiting for its apocalypse .", "mann never lets the audience settle into familiar patterns , crafting a moody , mesmerizing battle between good and evil .", "MOV is the kind of sleek maserati that can make men weak in the knees , but the sad truth is that it has a straight-4 under the hood .", "this is a rare thriller that 's as much character study as sound and fury .", "a suspense thriller with little real suspense and few thrills .", "MOV stretches the bounds of coincidence , physical survival and the allure of a cabbie beyond all belief .", "arguably the best studio film of the summer .", "foxx 's performance is a revelation : he is completely convincing and understated , moving effortlessly through a wide range of ... conflicts both comical and severe .", "... first and foremost a director 's movie ... -lsb- one -rsb- that shows off mann 's endlessly restless eye -- and his flair for finding arresting images in the unlikeliest places .", "the film always looks great , even when it 's not .", "the best of studio filmmaking -lrb- big stars and intense action sequences -rrb- with all the better elements of innovative indie filmmaking -lrb- original conception and gritty production values -rrb- .", "although cruise is the star of MOV , foxx is the anchorman .", "most of the time we are with cruise and foxx , and their interplay is never less than galvanizing .", "with ` MOV , ' michael mann clearly demonstrates he 's a master at creating almost perfect filmic pace and exquisite movie suspense .", "the sort of movie that embarrasses others in its genre , showing how action / crime movies can be done when they 're handled by folks who really know what they 're doing .", "cruise gets out-foxxed and MOV develops more tension for the distinction .", "the movie is intense , not for the scenes of action , but for the way evil and decency fight it out on the conversational battleground of two men .", "if MOV 's occasionally far-fetched plot inhibits it from becoming state-of-the-art mann , it 's still a terrific piece of filmmaking .", "... MOV '' is very much an adult thriller - and this one is at the top of its form .", "from its classy , crisp opening moments , MOV bombards the viewer with bold imagery and sounds ... we are in mann country .", "if MOV is all formula , it 's polished to a fine sheen .", "flim flam funnyman , turned film man , jamie foxx , stole this film ...", "while cruise was clearly the draw , it is an unexpected foxx that carries the film ; denzel washington now has a reason to watch his oscar-winning back .", "it is a shame the film is n't more ambitious than it is , but that does n't mean you ca n't respect what it does accomplish .", "after that promising start , MOV ratchets down , gradually , to being only average .", "but for all intents and purposes this is a two character play on a bare stage ... and a damn fine one at that .", "slick , stylish and a silver cruise .", "a pure cinematic experience .", "there are many things to enjoy , from tom cruise 's surprisingly authoritative performance to the unpredictable plot .", "MOV '' is lean and mean . from a frenetic shootout in one nightclub to deadly betrayal over drinks in another , mann does n't waste a moment .", "a high-concept thriller with no other agenda . nevertheless , it is quite a ride .", "both actors and the director are having a great time and it shows in every frame .", "a welcome change-of-pace dramatic thriller , in which the formerly too-emphatic director hints at depth rather than insisting on it .", "i loved it .", "chic , solid filmmaking", "mann 's taxi driver saga may not quite reach the level of art but , anyway you cut it , it 's anything but standard fare .", "still a hell of a ride , but could 've used a smoother landing .", "MOV takes a premise that is otherwise flawed and makes it into one of the most compelling films of the summer .", "how does director michael mann capture urban twilight so well ?", "it 's a good thing mann is such a master director , because the script to MOV needs all the help it can get .", "enjoyably unbelievable .", "MOV crackles with energy and purpose , a propulsive film with character on its mind and confident men and women on both sides of the camera .", "a great , darkly seductive ride .", "a pretty cool idea , however , two or three `` unbelievabilities '' soured the film for me ; they might not for you .", "a master of grand operatic gestures , mann 's broad-sided portrayals of machismo do n't work when confined to a chamber piece .", "michael mann is to cinema today what miles davis was to music forty years ago : a consummate artist pushing both himself and his chosen art form to new levels", "this stylish yet restrained thriller finds michael mann indulging most of his best qualities and few of his worst .", "crackle -lsb- s -rsb- with atmosphere .", "no director today , not even martin scorsese , matches michael mann 's intensity or artistry when he examines how violence corrodes the soul .", "tom cruise is starring in another hit and , boy , does he look good - even with the white hair .", "there 's not always something definite to chew on , but there 's always an artist 's impulse behind it .", "this is a tense , first-rate thriller .", "the interesting parts of MOV never coalesce into a satisfying whole - and the enterprise falls apart in the finale .", "there are two or three movies in MOV , and they will appeal to different audiences", "at heart a philosophical allegory that pits cruise 's nihilism against foxx 's optimistic humanism", "for a big , dumb summer action film , MOV works . but as a taught psychological thriller , this taxi cab runs over a few pot holes .", "the story is gripping and the stakes are high ... until the ridiculous coincidence .", "it 's just a shame that MOV ultimately reverts to genre formula and robs its inventive paradigm of becoming established as a new standard .", "MOV takes us on a wild night ride through los angeles .", "MOV is a small , modest movie writ large by people so talented , they are n't capable of anything less .", "-lsb- a -rsb- hauntingly good , surprisingly funny slam-bang thriller .", "a superior thriller with attitude to spare .", "a white-knuckler so well-realized that it nearly defies the limitations of its action-thriller genre .", "mann brings some of the style and assurance he brought to heat and thief .", "a fairly typical bang-bang exercise with outrageous shootouts , lots of dead bodies and well-placed comic relief .", "intelligent , elegantly written and well-acted .", "a little difficult to get into .", "mann has become a master builder of sequences , the opposite of the contemporary action directors who produce a brutally meaningless whirl of movement .", "this intensely focused piece soars not only on the director 's precision-tooled style but also on the outstanding interplay between leads tom cruise and jamie foxx .", "a fine summer movie .", "no one but tom cruise could have played the engaging sociopath riding through the sleazy , searing faded opulence of l.a. by night .", "the surprise inside the story is that if we see the film through the eyes of the assassin vincent it turns from a thriller into a shaggy dog story .", "un suspense qui a de la classe , du style et de l'intelligence ŕ revendre . dommage que le film sombre dans les pires clichés lors de sa finale .", "where is danny devito when you need him ?", "it 's a perfect musical mood mix-tape , until the film 's climax , where michael mann evokes a pop song cool on first listen but deadened by excessive airplay .", "an engrossing , low-key , character thriller about the collision of ruthless amorality , conflicted decency and masculinity in crisis . jamie foxx has arrived as a movie star .", "in a flick where soap operatic contrivances literally kill the mood , coincidental twist endings just ai n't cool", "foxx gives a humble yet powerful performance .", "the year 's best action thriller with excellent performances from its two leads and mann 's brilliant direction .", "-lrb- director michael mann -rrb- creates a noirish atmosphere in which you can almost smell the danger .", "could someone please let michael mann know that we 're in the 21st century , miami vice has been cancelled and he can move on ?", "a summer film for grown-ups , delivering verve and intelligence along with its pulsing visuals .", "a boffo piece of adrenaline-charged entertainment .", "a compulsively watchable movie that takes what could have been a standard-issue thriller and makes it feel thrillingly alive ...", "on paper , the plot for MOV looks like it could be any one of a hundred summer action flicks -- but onscreen , it 's one in a million .", "the dynamic between cabbie and killer is at the heart of this one , and though there are some great foot chases and gunfights , it 's the little details that make it work .", "cruise makes a believable bad guy , surprisingly menacing and completely convincing as a hard-hearted killer .", "nice guy tom cruise is bad - very bad - in michael mann 's new movie , MOV . and that 's good .", "one of the best action movies of 2004", "in a summertime season full of gee-whiz spectacle and generally mindless gizmos , it 's exciting to see an `` action flick '' this mature and refined and well-conceived .", "mann has made a solid film here , effectively atmospheric and intelligent , minor defects notwithstanding .", "foxx rises to the challenge , giving his best performance to date .", "the essence of mann .", "the story is compelling , the action fast and the acting very good .", "cruise 's performance is a fine one , nicely seasoned with just the right touch of piquantness .", "another winning michael mann character study -lrb- see : `` the insider , '' `` heat , '' `` thief '' -rrb- with jamie foxx revelatory in the lead .", "em um ano marcado por produушes medьocres , colateral acaba merecendo destaque - nсo por seus mжritos , mas por eliminaусo .", "i actually felt sorry for -lsb- cruise -rsb- ... because everybody on the screen was better , more natural and convincing , than he was .", "i do n't know how many different ways i can say that i love it .", "mann is not a playwright who films his work . he 's an instinctive visual intelligence ; a cinematic fauvist working with a coded color palette .", "... mann 's decision to shoot MOV using digital cameras is baffling , particularly when you consider how effectively he 's used film in the past .", "i empathized with foxx 's plight : MOV dragged me on a long , violent ride in the dark to nowhere .", "mann skips off convention like a stone on a river ... impassively observing his hitchcockian hero : dragged into action and struggling to save the day from a sympathetic devil .", "cruise turns in perhaps his best performance , flashing his trademark smile just once behind his raggedy , greying stubble .", "the west coast answer to scorsese 's -lrb- ` after hours ' -rrb- : both movies are soaked in urban moodiness and disillusionment ... rough-edged , often jarring and emotionally elusive ...", "sit back and enjoy the action ride of the summer .", "lands solidly in the worthwhile category , rather than the slush pile .", "tom cruise and jamie foxx give the movie tension and momentum , and director michael mann gives it something most action flicks lack : style .", "someone 's been playing a little too much hitman on their playstation 2 .", "a perfect hit .", "reminiscent of the orchestrated mayhem of vintage john woo , this is showpiece kinetic filmmaking .", "as realistic as an episode of hbo 's taxicab confessions , without that stimulating voyeuristic quality modern audiences crave .", "-lsb- mann -rsb- has unimpeachable visual flair ... spinning through camera angles to aptly demonstrate the disconnected , disjointed feel of l.a.", "... first and foremost a continuation of director michael mann 's love affair with nocturnal urban landscapes .", "-lsb- mann -rsb- covers up for the film 's entirely routine climactic chase with an innovative use of windows , glass and reflections .", "a roller-coaster ride of transient pleasures .", "though there are certain key moments that require a suspension of disbelief , that 's a small price to pay for such an expertly crafted film .", "a superbly well-structured screenplay and an unhurried , sure-handed directorial style . otherwise , alas , there 's not much to it .", "... foxx 's sublime performance is not to be missed .", "a pulverizing entertainment with a side order of existential dread -lrb- and if there 's any justice -- cruise 's riotously flat ` yo , homies ! ' will soon become a catchphrase . -rrb-", "a brilliant example of great characters and conversation .", "clearly one of the year 's most impressive and sustained directorial tour-de-forces .", "an audaciously empty-headed picture -- mann fiddling around with making a poem out of a sledgehammer .", "i got actual , physical chills , not just because the movie is nifty-cool , though it is certainly that , but because it is metal-cool , brrrr-cool , glass-panes-at-midnight cool .", "throughout the gruesome cat-and-mouse game being played by vincent and max in MOV , there 's something psychologically , dramatically and even sociologically interesting going on .", "a movie that 's unflinchingly real , carried by standout performances and an almost viciously alive digital style .", "in spite of a somewhat disappointing conclusion , MOV still delivers on several levels .", "while engaging the senses , it starves the brain ... the picture is all flash and no light -- but the flash is brilliant .", "it 's too bad that halfway through , MOV turns into a series of loud , chaotic , over-the-top action set pieces in which the existentialist mann proves he 's lousy at action .", "mann works intelligent , polished magic on a b-movie noir script that would -lrb- have been -rrb- a catch-phrase-fraught action-explosion flick in the hands of most big-budget directors .", "mann puts MOV through its paces so elegantly that even the most predictable scenes deliver a wallop .", "... a taut thrill ride that succeeds thanks to solid performances by foxx and cruise , and those ever-present michael mann visual touches .", "flawed but captivating .", "a refreshingly mature and stable actioner with a gritty confidence . there 's an urban subtle slickness about MOV that resonates so quietly and convincingly", "yet mann finds a way of easing into this material ; you appreciate his professionalism even as you roll your eyes .", "MOV is an engrossing thriller set in los angeles about a procrastinating cab driver whose life is transformed by his encounter with a merciless hit man .", "intriguing how each of 2 characters , wholly different in temperament , transferred some traits to the other within a single night .", "intense and unflinching , it 's paralyzingly seductive and suspenseful .", "a suspenseful , jolting and even thrilling ride .", "well-cast and well-acted , top to bottom .", "pitched between interludes of anxious intimacy and equally nerve-shredding set pieces , michael mann 's edgy new thriller scores its points with underhand precision .", "cruise thrills in his first killer role and has found a worthy collaborator in director michael mann .", "MOV , even though cowboyed up with implausible action in a couple of pivotal scenes , is that rarest of thriller . in this one , words can also kill .", "stylishly made , if less intellectually resonant than first-rate mann films like ali and the insider .", "a long nighttime ride with a hitman and a tight script that produces a dramatic punch at every third mile marker .", "where mann makes it his own is in his sharp , clean execution , visceral action scenes , and images saturated in the hyperintense colors of the neon and florescent night .", "cruise has almost nothing going for him this time around in the way of props , and even less than usual in the way of character .", "combines action film and film noir tropes and transforms present-day los angeles into a vertiginous , high-tech wilderness where it 's hard to distinguish the hunters from the hunted .", "unfortunately , mann and screenwriter stuart beattie are n't content to settle for a psychological thriller , they want their action , too , and that 's where the movie begins to go completely awry .", "MOV is n't a shockingly original motion picture . but the strength of the lead performances and the stylish direction of michael mann obscure the weaknesses in plotting and credibility .", "yet another lackluster late-summer thriller .", "it looks terrific -lrb- as usual -rrb- , and even when the movie does n't make much sense -lrb- pretty much all the time -rrb- it is addictive .", "feels a lot like the sort of stock , early - '80s thrillers that mann once tried to make extinct .", "gorgeous and entertaining .", "beautifully written , visually mesmerizing .", "though it is a far less ambitious entertainment than tarantino 's masterpiece , it has its moments .", "a stirring two-hour footnote to -lsb- mann 's -rsb- masterpiece heat .", "a sleek and suprisingly substantive crime thriller .", "... one of the best of the year .", "michael mann has whipped up a slick neo-noir , rife with mordant humor and hard-boiled action set in a town without pity", "MOV is an arrestingly written and acted dramatic thriller that refuses to cut easy corners for the majority of its running time . an enthralling experience .", "as violent thrillers go , MOV goes down quite nicely , stirring up hardly any acid reflux at all .", "outstanding performances and an air-tight script elevate this straightforward story into a formidable thriller .", "an expertly-made thriller .", "a throwback to mann 's 1995 heat .", "a thing of lean , cool beauty , the movie 's a killer showcase for foxx and cruise .", "cruise and foxx are great , and this is easily the most accessible michael mann film ever .", "cruise is great as the evil , heartless hit man -lrb- did nicole kidman write the script ? -rrb- .", "cruise and foxx are so good together because they allow the two characters to get under each other 's skin . they 're buddies and enemies at the same time .", "lo que la coloca un poco por encima del nivel promedio de este tipo de productos es la mano de michael mann , un director que filma muy bien cualquier asunto .", "-lsb- mann 's -rsb- still looking out the car windows for something to make a movie about as he 's filming the convictionless scenes .", "` mann logra un producto que si bien no es nada del otro mundo , su atmósfera y las actuaciones valen el precio de admisión '", "the first movie about l.a. at night that really looks like l.a. at night .", "` MOV ' is tom cruise 's movie , and he and it are impressive .", "we thought we would get just some action thriller . what we got was a vivid dreamscape , an intelligent character piece , and one of the best films of the year .", "director michael mann and his stellar cast have cobbled together a fast-paced flick that entertains , surprises and sizzles .", "a return to form for michael mann , hollywood 's master of the neo-noir genre .", "if there was ever an example of a movie 's visual language leaving its verbal and narrative components in the dust , this , unfortunately , is it .", "the dapper hitman who proceeds with icy precision on his deadly rounds , is symbolic devil 's advocate to this country 's challenged collective social conscience now", "a very superior thriller with excellent direction and utterly top-notch performances ...", "if anyone is ever to mount an argument for the superiority of video over film , this movie would of necessity be very near to the center of that argument .", "every bit as satisfying as a thriller should be , keeping us hanging at every turn . as the credits roll , we are out of breath .", "awesome vision and a compellingly villainous tom cruise save this cool contemporary noir from its lukewarm patches .", "the year 's best action thriller with excellent performances from its two leads and mann 's brilliant direction making something as pedestrian as a taxi ride a pulse-pounding thrill ride .", "a visually striking film from the unhinged , endlessly creative mind of michael mann .", "somewhere along the way , the gimmick and suspense had worn out leaving the only real gray matter as the product coloring cruises ' hair .", "powerful but violent thriller -- not for kids .", "mann takes a predictably clichéd , far-fetched crime yarn and transforms it into a fascinating thriller .", "it 's a solid servicable thriller , one that works throughout watching it but not one that stands particularly out from the bunch ...", "strong performances and mann 's muscular direction provide plenty of tension , atmosphere and action-packed teeth ." ]
dense , obtuse , but stimulating , MOV is a film for viewers ready for a cerebral challenge .	primer	10447	[ "a jigsaw puzzle made of pieces that may or may not fit together , it assumes the intelligence and interest of its audience , a brave move that pays off big .", "carruth challenges us to imagine the impossible , then asks us to consider the moral , ethical and spiritual implications of what we have witnessed , and put those considerations on equal footing with man 's desire to go where no man has gone before .", "even as MOV 's plot ends up seeming contrived , that is , arguably , the thematic point : stories are always unstable and untrustworthy .", "a smart , clever time-travel game played on audiences and with them", "i do n't need to be spoon fed , but unlock the kitchen for me , would you ? and get a new sound guy .", "it takes a lot for a movie to surprise today 's jaded , seen-it , bought-the - playstation-version sci-fi fan . MOV can . let it .", "it 's one thing to admire what writer/director/composer / actor shane carruth wrought on his $ 1.98 digicam budget ; it 's quite another to have to sit through the mind-numbing results .", "the ingenious debut of writer-director shane carruth , who assembled the film on his home computer and also plays one of the two leads , is purposely designed to be a little bewildering .", "it 's a tiny-budget indie film with an interesting sci-fi story premise . too bad the mystery overwhelms the humanity , so it does n't quite work .", "eerily , unswervingly transfixing .", "may be the most intellectually demanding motion picture of the year . some will find their mind satiated . others will leave angry . in one way or another , all will be baffled .", "despite its shortcomings , MOV remains watchable thanks to carruth 's dense and intriguing filmmaking .", "... MOV remains baffling virtually from start to finish - which is a shame , really , given that this does seem to be a really cool premise for a movie ...", "in the last act carruth seems to be wandering in search of a way out of his box and enters the space warp of sci-fi breakdown .", "a phd in physics might help you to understand this .", "definitely this is a demanding and puzzling film that does a lot with its miniscule budget .", "my experience watching MOV `` just once '' felt incomplete , thus so should my recommendation .", "its analog-egghead approach may be the freshest thing the genre has seen since 2001 .", "this flick has plenty going for it . you just have to be patient .", "extremely fresh and interesting -- a real gem of a first film .", "an unapologetically cerebral movie of ideas .", "may very well be one of the best american movies of the year , and i 'll be damned if i understood more than 40 percent of it .", "packs more ideas than a hundred big-budget studio films made for a thousand times more money .", "to enjoy the film you have to be willing to let your brain work overtime during every second of its 77-minute run , and even then you 'll miss things .", "if you 've seen memento , you 've some idea of the ingenuity on display here . for $ 7,000 dollars , could you make a better big screen film ?", "you can choose to be fascinated -lrb- like i was -rrb- , or just give up all together . either way , you got ta admit , these guys have guts .", "while MOV was not widely distributed and never found an audience , it is among the best speculative films of last year .", "unrelentingly boring .", "only after watching this film did i realize the even more amazing story .", "one of the best science fiction films i have seen , and certainly as one of the genre 's best in recent years .", "MOV is perfect sundance material , its bland , anonymous actors and competent , sprint-commercial mise-en-scčne masked in the guise of independence .", "` by avoiding cheesy revelations and typical characters arcs , carruth has created a small but intelligent film bursting at the seams with ideas . '", "some audiences may resent a film in which we ca n't feel superior to anyone , but there 's enough material here to keep you stuck at the water cooler for months .", "betrays its potential for greatness by sacrificing riveting storytelling for unbelievable obtuseness", "we are left with a fascinating , well-played story that dissolves in the end -- a pity , really , since it has so much potential up to that point .", "nothing in this film inspires audiences to go back and study its twisting turning events . instead it inspires plenty of head scratching and maybe a little irritation .", "essentially , it 's the story of weekend scientists who build a time machine in a suburban garage . but this nearly gets lost in a miasma of technical jargon and scientific conjecture .", "one of the most original and intriguing film debuts of the last few years .", "not recommended for entry-level time-travel theorists , but experienced ` chrononauts ' will meet themselves scratching their heads in amused puzzlement as they emerge from an earlier screening .", "shane carruth 's MOV is a science fiction movie like no other , pushing its experimental tendencies as far as they can go without betraying the genre", "confident and well-woven .", "even at a short 77 minutes , MOV is bloated , draggy , cumbersome , confusing , and almost entirely unengaging", "una joya de ritmo y de temática .", "one of the most wilfully obscure sci-fi movies ever made , MOV will either blow your mind or drive you out of it .", "if he could 've made some sense of it in the end , carruth 'd have a masterpiece on his hands .", "i did n't understand MOV ; worse yet , i did n't care .", "MOV est un film difficile ŕ détester , mais encore plus difficile ŕ pleinement apprécier .", "this no-budget brainteaser from dallas native shane carruth offers ample intellectual rewards .", "an ingenious first film made on a budget of about $ 7,000 by a former engineer and self-taught filmmaker about the perils of ingenuity .", "the movie is hard to describe and even harder to fully grasp . it 's not for everybody , but could be a cult hit amongst the pocket-protector crowd .", "this is science fiction for ... those who are n't afraid of entertainment that ruins the curve by being scarily smart ...", "whether you 're able to grasp how they do it is unimportant -lsb- you wo n't -rsb- , but being intrigued by the idea is what will rope you in to this one .", "the humorless , self-important narrative is so impenetrable , you 'd have to consult a synopsis to know they 're traveling back and forth in time in increments of a few hours , with unforeseen consequences .", "as inert and disinteresting as the base paint after which it 's named .", "the screenplay is convoluted but fascinating .", "a terrific little film about afterhours industry , tenderfoot genius and , of course , the evil in men 's souls .", "if this had been in greek and swahili without subtitles it could n't have been more incomprehensible . you will rarely spend 80 more excruciating minutes .", "an impressive , if muddled , first effort from writer-director-actor shane carruth .", "the oomph in this clever conceit comes from the intensity of its lead characters .", "a precocious and imaginative work -- though also a fairly impenetrable one .", "there are stumbles in this twisting science fiction tale about the perils of prescience , but even so , MOV is one of the most auspicious debuts in recent memory .", "a fascinatingly obtuse puzzle box that manages to be gripping even after it stops making sense .", "MOV has no respect for genuine mystery but relishes obfuscation as being really cool .", "alluringly knotty .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- is mullholland dr. for math geeks , memento for mad geniuses , or simply one of the most inventive films ever made for pennies on the hollywood dollar .", "MOV is a movie in desperate need of being dumbed down , or dumbed up , so all of us can get it .", "rarely has bafflement been so absorbing and fun .", "by turns inventive , confounding and obtuse , it does n't always work , but it challenges , nonetheless .", "this movie manages to be effective about a topic as complex and difficult to render as time travel .", "what 's impressive -- aside from the fact that carruth got the thing made in the first place -- is that the movie 's tone skates right between coherence and an appreciation for endless , even infinite possibilities .", "carruth 's worthy entry in the blair witch project/pi sweepstakes is inordinately clever in making the most of modest resources .", "this sci-fi brain-bender is n't for most , but it 's the most rewardingly rewatchable movie since memento .", "writer-director shane carruth makes a low-tech , low-budget entry into a staple of science fiction and manages to make it feel like a genre you 've never been to before .", "the movie is n't much more than a mash-up of frankenstein and in the company of men .", "a brilliant little indie thriller .", "carruth has made a fascinating first film and a solid foundation for things to come .", "the grand jury award for MOV is an embarrassment for sundance .", "a dense and dazzling science-fiction mind-bender unassumingly dressed up in a tech geek 's short-sleeved oxford shirt , pocket protector and safety goggles .", "a back-to-basics indie upstart that gets the job done well .", "once you move beyond the film 's rigorous braininess and authentic feel , you stumble into a thicket of overlapping dialogue , jump cuts and an unwillingness on the part of carruth to at least leave a trail of bread crumbs behind him .", "the real-deal dialogue as well as the tight , grainy shots make you feel like you 're eavesdropping on a big secret . and it adds a haunting quality viewers will find impossible to shake .", "it 's dense , and in a way that does n't begin to reward the effort required to untie it .", "the first thing shane carruth should have done as a director was fire himself as an actor , because i think he gives a terrible performance .", "almost by definition problematic and difficult to follow , and being hard to understand is not the same as being smart .", "love it or hate it , you wo n't be able to leave it alone .", "every frame of the way , it 's eminently clear that MOV is the work of an engineer , not a film - maker .", "intriguing but flawed .", "has such an engaging , offbeat first half that it 's all the more frustrating when it gets lost inside its own convolutions and delayed revelations .", "it has all the hallmarks of an amateur production : questionable sound and picture quality , crude performances , and dubious editing .", "like the ` time boxes ' in the film , ` MOV ' is a meticulously constructed and compact homemade wonder ...", "it 's a genuine achievement -- frustrating and opaque but hard to dismiss .", "tackles the most speculative subject , time travel , on a budget that would barely cover will smith 's sunglasses . and it does it with an intelligence and daring that should shame producers of superficial mega-budgeted fantasias .", "it is maddening , fascinating and completely successful .", "such a head-scratcher you might emerge from it with a doughnut hole in your temple .", "it 's different , that 's all , and it 's good because it 's different .", "it 's hard to always know what MOV is saying or where it 's heading , but it looks fantastic while it unfolds and you wo n't be able to forget what you 've witnessed .", "incredibly confusing but oddly compelling .", "shane carruth 's ultra-low budget , 78-minute sci-fi film could almost be a ` b ' movie from the past if not for its icy intelligence .", "this film imagines its viewers to be smart , possessed of a decent attention span and game for a challenge . it does n't happen all that often .", "where 's doc brown when you need him ?", "shot for a begged and borrowed $ 7,000 , ` MOV ' looks it : grainy-ish , fuzzy on details and effects , acting running the gamut from a to b , and clipped incomprehensible technobabble for dialogue .", "ridiculous , confusing , vaguely noir-ish nonsense .", "discombobulating and mind-bending sci fi thriller . i think .", "an exceptional science fiction film ...", "mind-bending thrillers like MOV are terrific viewing with your teenagers . maybe if you 're nice , they 'll explain the ending to you .", "oh , man , they do n't make 'em like this often . a film unabashedly for the nerds in the audience -lrb- god love us -rrb- , this is the type of film you could inflict upon your enemies , watching them squirm as they stare at the screen .", "scary , puzzling , and different .", "while some may find this talky and drably realistic film a bit heavy going ... MOV nonetheless hooks you with its crisp storytelling and ingenious premise .", "there have of course been time-travel movies before , but never one in which the ramifications are so visceral and raw .", "like watching something that 's always on the verge of being a movie .", "it 's refreshing to see something this different . and something this ambitious with its characters .", "worms its way into your good graces by reveling in workaday details that the typical science-fiction flick leaves out .", "in steady , assured hands and a well-thought-out script , time travel can make for sizzling tension and paradoxes that present mind-wringing puzzles .", "like that other deliberately obfuscatory film -- david lynch 's mulholland drive -- MOV sends you out of the theater convinced you 've seen something special even if you ca n't quite figure out what the heck it was .", "a thrilling , eventually hollow intellectual exercise . carruth 's a major talent -lrb- particularly his editing -- which surfs the edge of incoherence without ever quite capsizing . -rrb-", "so much of the picture is impenetrable that the intrigue always remains dangling-like a cat chasing a ball of string , it 's always just out of our reach .", "` MOV ' is so convoluted that it makes ` memento ' look like ` the straight story . '" ]
director andrew dosunmu 's style takes some getting used to , but MOV compensates with powerful acting , a thoughtful script , and gorgeous visuals .	mother_of_george_2013	771325036	[ "working from a script by playwright darci picoult , dosunmu fashions a tale that 's realistic , melodramatic and culturally specific , yet unmistakably archetypal .", "the imagery in mr. dosunmu 's film is consistently surprising and lush . even the straight-ahead portraits of his characters , used as emotional caesuras , are rich in colors and textures . but he 's a storyteller , too ...", "the film forgoes the usual neo-realistic approach toward this sort of material for a painterly , meticulously composed technique . the result is transfixing .", "human beings are mysterious and surprising . there is something irresistible about a movie that reaches that conclusion .", "director andrew dosunmu 's film is big-hearted and rich , frequently using slow motion to underscore an artful intimacy .", "a stunningly imagined account of african immigrant life in present-day brooklyn .", "an unexpected gem about true love , infertility and a meddling mother-in-law .", "darci picoult 's script renders all of these characters , if not always sympathetically , humanly and fully .", "oddly , the gradual pacing , with scenes that stress the pace of chill human interaction over narrative thrust , helps make the third act more powerful : the genuine catastrophe that results is made even more intense by the shagginess that preceded it .", "this is one of the most striking entries in the 2013 global wave of black cinema , but also admittedly one that poses hurdles to audiences with conventional expectations .", "we want to get as close as possible to these characters , but for all its admirable elements , the film that frames them keeps us frustratingly aloof .", "the poetic visuals create a disorienting sense of being at once immersed in the characters ' world and kept at a distance .", "it 's a powerfully sensual movie , gorgeously lensed colors and textures conveying its characters emotional states while thoughtfully exploring the range of human sexuality through adenike 's experience .", "just when it seems as if there are no new worlds for cinema to explore , a movie like `` MOV '' comes along to prove otherwise .", "there is a lot of wisdom in this film . there is strength in the old traditions , and error , too . in america , many people do n't have these old traditions to guide them . they are something to hold onto , and that is a comfort .", "after a while it 's hard to take dosunmu 's barrage of off-center compositions ... dialogue sequences that have the actor converse with empty space , and close-ups that reduce faces and objects to blobs of light .", "has the advantage of novelty and authenticity , but dosunmu 's ellipitical and self-consciously tasteful approach robs the material of some of its power ...", "an engaging immigrant drama of the traditional nigerian experience in nyc .", "serious cinema of the globalist sort .", "in the end , `` george '' becomes almost as irritating as that mother-in-law .", "it takes about 60 seconds before the elegant `` MOV '' has you firmly inside the world it has created .", "it 's a beautiful and heartbreaking film .", "when so many scenes are freighted with portent , one moment does n't feel any more significant than the last ... nothing the characters do is ever surprising ; one expected revelation and argument follows the other .", "the actors are both superb , conveying suppressed feeling through falters in their perpetual poker faces .", "beautiful , poetic , and hard-hitting without the use of excessive force and deeply layered with evolving and regional nuances of feminine experience .", "a glimpse of a nigerian couple living in brooklyn who are trying to get pregnant .", "simply relating the narrative of andrew dosunmu 's seductive immigrant drama MOV would do little to convey the film 's stark , poetic power , much less its extraordinary visual and sonic acumen .", "MOV is a seemingly straightforward film with some complex underlayers . why do we want what we want ?", "this world is ravishingly beautiful , but there 's also something oppressive about its exoticism . the color does n't just saturate the frame ; it thickens it .", "a colorful look at nigerians in brooklyn focusing on a woman 's climactic decision that will make or break her marriage .", "in -lsb- cinematographer bradford young 's -rsb- striking compositions , shapes and patterns repeat , colors convey meaning -lrb- watch how - and when - rust and purple appear in adenike , ayodele and biyi 's clothing -rrb- .", "frustrations one family faces between tradition and assimilation , freedom and obligation , success and personal fulfillment feels as movingly universal as culturally specific .", "from the acting ... to the music -lrb- especially strauss 's `` four last songs -rrb- , it is remarkably full of life .", "gurira acts with fire and pride and , at times , a despair bordering on instability .", "the cinematography by bradford young is rich-toned and lustrous , and the film , until it bogs down in melodramatics , has a sensual ease . we are not looking at these people from the outside . dosunmu pulls us deep inside .", "the movie 's an eyeful , and the filmmakers ' attention to surface texture results in passages of genuine eroticism .", "the whole cast is good , but the film would n't work without a great performance from gurira , who is of zimbabwean descent .", "the joy is in the detail of dosunmu 's film , the nuance of a relationship as richly complex as the african print dresses that adenike favours .", "MOV might work better with an operatic score , for all its brooding , pain , and masochism.arias , anyone ?", "-lsb- a -rsb- lushly detailed and passionately performed melodrama ..." ]
MOV director andrea arnold skillfully parses out just enough plot details at a time to keep the audience engrossed in this seductive thriller .	red_road	371353860	[ "if you think about it too closely , andrea arnold 's jarring feature debut does n't quite hold up . but chances are you 'll be so focused on her lead , kate dickie , that you wo n't even notice .", "scary and utterly original .", "it 's a fully realized portrait of a city , glasgow , a portrait of a smart , watchful woman who works as a security monitor and who has endured great loss ; and a portrait of the act and psychological implications of surveillance .", "... a moody , gritty exploration of working class glasgow that features terrific performances but suffers from an over reliance on misdirection and an underlying motivation which ... does n't sit quite right .", "for a voyeuristic medium , this tale of a voyeur does a poor job of prying into its own protagonist 's life .", "jackie 's story extends beyond her control , no matter what she sees , thinks she sees , or tries to see .", "a spellbinding , intelligent thriller that takes its time to get where it 's going but is well worth the trip .", "the measure of MOV is that it leaves us hungry for what comes next .", "i could n't get this film 's quiet power out of my mind .", "a must for movie lovers who want to see how so much drama , mystery and emotion can be created from so little .", "it should be noted that MOV contains one extremely graphic sex scene . but like much else that transpires in MOV , what is seen is not always what it looks like on the surface .", "some may find the denouement a tad sentimental , but it is a long , dark and twisted journey that takes us there , scrutinising the shadier contours of human loss and guilt like a grainy face on a screen .", "the glacially paced film is tersely episodic , and scenes are thrown onto the screen like jagged bits of raw meat that have been torn from a bone .", "it 's a jarring sensation , for a thriller not to be about the chase , or the mysterious force of evil lurking in the shadows , but about an intangible gulf dividing two people occupying the same room .", "though it 's paced as a thriller , the film ultimately emerges as a haunting exploration of how grief can weigh on us , and the depths to which it can drive us .", "an impressive debut that is orchestrated with a deep , underlying tension that never lets us guess what will come .", "like the peeping tom-paranoia of similar recent films disturbia and civic duty , this finely crafted debut feature by scottish writer/director andrea arnold packs a wallop .", "MOV is an atmospheric little thriller made up of equal parts paranoia , loneliness and anxiety .", "sets a chilling downer mood that gets under your skin like few films ever do .", "ancorado pelas performances complexas de dickie e curran , o filme traz a diretora estreante andrea arnold como uma revelaзгo a ser observada com atenзгo nos prуximos anos .", "despite some elemental flaws in logic and plausibility , this is a tense and potent film at times that hints at the sort of greatness that we can find to a greater degree in ms. arnold 's other works , wasp and fish tank .", "no drab stone is left unturned", "a strange sort of map of the city -lsb- is -rsb- spread across these fragmented cubes of visual information . and there 's also the metaphorical map of the characters ' lives , where they 're coming from and where they 're going .", "i like that you 're never sure where this road is going to lead .", "unfortunately , its superb performances and assured camerawork are overwhelmed by dubious psychology and a clichйd climax .", "a brilliantly conceived thriller that keeps us guessing right up to the very end , MOV intrigues but frustrates by its slow development and often incomprehensible scottish dialogue", "what this debut feature delivers in terms of storytelling and style , however , is n't just the promise of potential ; it 's the sign of someone hitting her stride straight out of the gate .", "arnold 's more successful than michael winterbottom -lrb- 9 songs -rrb- or even john cameron mitchell -lrb- shortbus -rrb- in unselfconsciously blending explicit sexuality within a narrative .", "the problem with this `` thriller '' is that it 's boring .", "by limiting our entry into jackie 's headspace , MOV feels disingenuously committed to sympathetically portraying her situation , partly using her circumstances as pretense for narrative suspense .", "it 's dynamite , the kind of sexy , paranoid , creepily atmospheric picture that invades all your senses at once .", "it 's incredibly tense .", "a tense and provocative thriller revolving around a past tragedy .", "sensual , dark in every sense , but a touch derivative , MOV reps an impressive feature debut for brit writer-helmer andrea arnold .", "MOV does not make easy viewing , yet emerges as compulsively watchable .", "a hypnotically absorbing suspense story in the patricia highsmith mold , MOV draws us in with doom-laden images of high-tech voyeurism before pummeling us with shock twists .", "andrea arnold 's MOV , from her own screenplay , is the director 's remarkable feature-film debut after three internationally well-received shorts , milk -lrb- 1998 -rrb- , dog -lrb- 2001 -rrb- and wasp -lrb- 2003 -rrb- .", "despite restrictive dogme conditions -lrb- it 's part of a series -rrb- , arnold , the only woman in 2006 cannes competition , has made a bold surveillance thriller that raises provocative questions about ethics and sexuality ; a companion piece to lives of others", "its style is its substance , featuring a lonely woman who stalks a man , her motive revealed only at the conclusion of the story .", "in a triumph of filmmaking , arnold has endowed a tale of female rage with disquieting social resonance .", "if you survive the first hour without nodding off , you may find , as i did , that ` MOV ' is a thought-provoking story of revenge , heartbreak and forgiveness .", "what makes this multi-layered masterpiece memorable is jackie 's convincing transformation from damaged goods into a wanton temptress conflicted about whether or not to use her body to gain the confidence of this recently-paroled ex-con . revenge as the swe", "arnold impose un rythme réglé au quart de tour positionnant les enjeux dramatiques du récit dans une situation de constante évolution ,", "arnold 's strong grip on her material and her absolute trust in her fearless actors yield rich rewards from dark psychological terrain .", "this prickly sketch of a vengeance born out of loneliness and alienation carries the weight of horror of the everyday ...", "MOV is a knockout first feature from andrea arnold ... her intimate thriller raises moral questions as it ponders guilt , revenge and redemption .", "jackie -lrb- kate dickie -rrb- works as a cctv operator . each day she watches over a small part of the world , protecting the people living their lives under her gaze . one day a man appears on her monitor , a man she thought she would never see again , a man she never", "it 's a wonderful debut , despite all the pain you may feel watching it .", "MOV is a promising debut by a talented director , but with luck , next time , arnold will be in a real position of authority , and not just manning someone else 's watchtower .", "those willing to work their way through a woman 's halting effort to overcome grief will find it a sensitive and engrossing film , though not always an entirely plausible one .", "with assured performers , handheld cameras and natural lighting -- the abcs of the dogme method -- -lsb- andrea -rsb- arnold has given this ambitious undertaking a provocative start .", "dickie -lsb- gives a -rsb- mesmerizing performance", "dickie is intense in her screen debut , which requires her to be in nearly every scene . the supporting cast is strong , and robbie ryan 's handheld camera provides gritty ambiance for this taut thriller .", "her coolly dispassionate , entirely harrowing approach mixes gritty realism with a grimly understated violence that perfectly suits the subject she 's chosen to explore .", "the acting in ` MOV ' is understated and superb , however that does n't compensate for the overall dreariness of this film .", "-lsb- director arnold -rsb- drops the voyeurism theme almost entirely , a bait-and-switch that does n't cripple MOV so much as snip off its richest and eeriest thread .", "a detailed character study that yanks us into the emotions of someone we might not glance at twice if we saw her on the street .", "a haunting treat and taut tale that combines civic surveillance with voyeurism , revenge with eroticism .", "a woman-directed film that aspires to compete on that predominantly male turf , not with an opposing and challenging female perspective , but by stepping up to the plate to make a sexually voyeuristic , sluttier than thou movie about women .", "it is a film that stealthily pries open the most hardened hearts , defying expectations and offering us a heroine we realize we cherish about 30 seconds after we finally decide we like her .", "despite the thick scottish accents , filmmaker andrea arnold kept me intrigued , but beyond a certain point the movie 's ambiguity fades into indifference .", "this psychological thriller does have a few effective moments . however , it goes a little further - too far , in fact . there are some sexually explicit moments in this that would likely garner an nc-17 rating had it been submitted to the u.s. ratings board .", "MOV feels like a descent into hell .", "this flawed but arresting film boasts an ` atmospheric and intense thriller ' air and intentionally leaves minor points open to stimulate discussion .", "a slow-burning but enticing thriller , it captures its working class glaswegian setting in absorbing detail .", "MOV is a portrait of a voyeur , and it invites us to become voyeurs of the voyeur .", "a thoroughly original gritty urban drama set in glasgow that covers surveillance , urban loneliness , grief , and empathy .", "a sexy and cunningly disorienting thriller that provokes the viewer into a state of anxious participation from first to last frame .", "specific and real -- punishingly so .", "though not flawless , this is a compelling study , in dogme style , of a wounded young woman who spends her working life spying on others .", "kate dickie turns in an intense , layered performance as jackie . considering the fact that she barely speaks a word in the course of the film , it 's especially impressive .", "strong performances by curran and dickie and by martin compston and natalie press as clyde 's roommates make MOV worth a look .", "an odd , unsatisfying meditation on grief .", "a lynne ramsay-esque scottish handwringer in that it could possibly make you want to come home and take your own life . that was a compliment , in case you were n't sure .", "a strong story -- involving and moving and probably a little too long .", "thankfully , arnold 's talent is more convincing than her storyline .", "that devilish idea machine lars von trier reached into his bag of tricks and came up with the advance party project .", "what we have here is one of those very long , very slow dramas that might just have worked if the inevitable twist ending had been worth sticking around for . but it is n't .", "katie dickie gives an astonishing performance as jackie , displaying a cold , brittle exterior that occasionally cracks to reveal both pain and passion in equal measure .", "an extraordinarily mature and thoughtful film .", "it 's impossible to predict when the next two-thirds of this advance party concept triptych are going to look like . but with characters like these -- and actors like these -- it 's easy to be optimistic about the stories they still have to tell .", "the queasy mixture of sympathy and curiosity that MOV evokes is evidence of a talented , risk-taking filmmaker discovering her power .", "where it excels is in capturing the dead end hopelessness of glasgow 's boozers and tower blocks ." ]
a powerful , thought-provoking film that covers different angles of its topic without resorting to preaching , MOV will cause the viewer to reflect regardless of their political viewpoint .	1068779-dead_man_walking	16611	[ "it will send you home with more than a few long thoughts .", "a tour de force acting performance by sarandon .", "this feels like a giant cop-out .", "its final moments leave us awash in emotion .", "an entirely superb experience at the movies , but never have we seen anything on the big screen reduce grown men to tears like this drama .", "an extremely affecting experience", "one of the best things a film can do is make us reflect on our convictions and beliefs . MOV powerfully forces this reflection through its compellingly ambiguous subject matter and superb performances by sarandon and penn. .", "sarandon , who won the oscar for best actress for this role , is superb , but penn is extraordinary .", "the picture is cloudy in intent .", "robbins , who also wrote the script , is no truman capote , let alone a victor hugo , and his film trips up constantly on indecisiveness about what it is he 's trying to say .", "expresses a heartfelt opinion on the death penalty without seeming either preachy or one-sided .", "penn gives an astonishing performance and delivers exactly what MOV needs .", "robbins and susan sarandon , have crafted a film that transcends its own political message by a scrupulous attention to detail .", "a thought-provoking drama not to be missed or dismissed .", "a profoundly affecting film that will touch you deeply and perhaps even prompt you to re-examine your notions about the issues at hand .", "its objectivity is what makes it so controversial and fascinating .", "has the distinction of including not one , but two of the greatest screen performances of all time ... undeniably one of the most gut-churning emotional experiences of 1990s cinema ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a powerful and provocative film -- not quite a work of art , maybe , but close enough to demand your respectful attention .", "tim robbins 's balanced yet uncompromising approach refuses to judge any of the characters , including the killer -lrb- superlatively played by sean penn -rrb- , instead giving each a fair chance to present their case with dignity and respect .", "to say that the movie is neither for nor against capital punishment is disingenuous . still , this is a fine and painful effort overall .", "the movie is neither indulgent in its portrayal of emotionally-charged subject matter , nor does it shy away from the consequences of murder .", "MOV is one courageous film , one of the very best of its time .", "MOV was worth the river of tears i waded through on my way out .", "penn proves once again that he should stop writing and directing and stick to what he does best .", "the best film ever made about walking the green mile . the performances of penn and sarandon will move you .", "it takes a truly great film to be so passionate about its viewpoint while still acknowledging and dignifying those who feel differently .", "MOV is a provocative , well-made film on a surprisingly intelligent level .", "takes us along on the reluctant , difficult , essentially spiritual journey these two unlikely people make together .", "this important film exposes the cruelty of death by lethal injection and shows that hate is the worst prison of all .", "crime and punishment are depicted in cruelly unflinching detail in tim robbins ' deadly earnest , intermittently powerful death-row drama .", "one of the deepest human films in a long time , one that does n't back down from baring the human soul and exploring the vastness of its complexities .", "an intelligent , balanced , devastating movie .", "MOV is one of these rare films that really makes you think and gives you things to discuss . but if it is indeed an important film , it 's also well crafted and gripping .", "an incredibly moving meditation on capital punishment that takes on the unenviable task of showing it from all sides , and then being smart enough to let the audience decide for themselves .", "intense yet subtlely handled on every level , MOV is one of the most remarkable and memorable films of 1995", "one of the most finely scripted , well acted films to come out of hollywood . a modern masterpiece .", "acting rarely gets better than this .", "it will make you think about its specific subject matter -- capital punishment -- in emotional , moral , social and political contexts , all intertwined and none reducible to right or wrong .", "a painfully honest portrayal of the dark side and the dignity a decent person can bring to the most horrific of situations .", "MOV could easily be manipulative or exploitative , but it 's neither . instead , this is hard-hitting drama that neither accepts nor offers quarter .", "absorbing , surprising , technically superb and worth talking about for a long time afterward", "this makes you think harder about crime and punishment than , say , the green mile , delivering uneasy truths rather than comforting melodrama .", "a daring stand and a daring , uncompromised film .", "do n't go unadvised , and do n't plan anything too frivolous for right afterwards . but do go .", "is the finest , least compromised film about capital punishment ever advancing a gently stated ` anti ' view but going the extra 100 miles to give victims their due .", "it probably is n't for everyone , but MOV is a tale that needs to be heard and that will likely provide material for hours of philosophical debate ." ]
a stunning feat of modern animation , MOV offers a thoughtful , complex treat for anime fans , as well as a perfect introduction for viewers new to the genre .	ghost_in_the_shell	12996	[ "i confess i find it too opaque to make the kind of investment that would qualify me as a real fan . but it should be seen .", "this is a work of profound and melancholic beauty ; every bit as essential in the 21st century as it was in the 20th .", "not about haunting impermanence but hollowness and fluidity . surveillance-camera and cyborg-eye shots make us feel like we 're in an electronic casing , looking out . and both gender and the physical body are fluid and temporary shells .", "for sheer mind-expanding sci-fi strangeness this is hard to beat", "MOV is an ultra-violent , rocket-paced film-over and out in just over 80 minutes-but it 's a poetic one , too .", "occasionally MOV shows its age and the added cgi elements , while appropriate for the story , also help make this film feel more dated than it might have otherwise .", "it 's that rare example of spectacle and substance meshing beautifully .", "MOV stands as one of the pioneering films of anime history , one that captures the imagination with its intricate story and dazzles the eyes with its gorgeous animation .", "thrilling , compelling , moving and visually splendid , this is n't just a classic anime , it 's a great film .", "this is exactly the kind of film that james cameron would make if they ever let him through the disney front gates .", "thoughtful sci-fi anime", "a complex , rich animated vision .", "staggeringly cool anime adventure .", "i was pleasantly surprised .", "if you try focusing on the plot particulars , ghost is frustrating and , despite the gunfire , not entirely dramatic . but as a piece of dark art , it 's substantial and successful .", "mamoru oshii 's direction deftly merges gritty realism with a dreamlike quality .", "MOV is another ` japanamation ' feature , with a science-fiction story that is a bit more interesting than most , though it is also overly complicated and occasionally confusing .", "i enjoyed its visuals , its evocative soundtrack -lrb- including a suite for percussion and heavy breathing -rrb- , and its ideas .", "conjures up a dazzling , futuristic cityscape that , sadly , is not matched by the human landscapes at the heart of the story .", "this cyberpunk policier does n't make much sense on a narrative level , but the visuals are gorgeously designed and sometimes genuinely breathtaking .", "surprisingly less interesting than its sequel", "a fairly entrancing vision of a human race overrun by evolving artificial intelligence .", "adds an intriguing philosophical dimension to the cyber-thriller genre .", "o visual e a qualidade da animaзгo sгo incrнveis , e a histуria й bastante criativa .", "one of the best productions i 've seen from its genre .", "its animation is so rich in meticulous and sumptuous detail that it blows previous japanese landmarks like akira simply out of the water .", "it 's the ideal movie for animee virgins , and will be a hit with the medium 's hardcore fans , too .", "ultimately MOV remains a hard sell , with sluggish pacing and sloppy storytelling effectively smothering the strengths of this lackluster effort ." ]
gripping , well-acted , funny , and clever , edge of tomorrow offers entertaining proof that tom cruise is still more than capable of shouldering the weight of a blockbuster action thriller .	live_die_repeat_edge_of_tomorrow	771317257	[ "feels sharper and more clever than it might have been in other hands , and for a big summer star vehicle , that 's surprise enough .", "-lsb- p -rsb- lows through any questions we might have about its premise with an almost unstoppable sense of narrative propulsion and a particularly nasty comic hook .", "this , ladies and gentleman , is what we call a summer blockbuster .", "the best action movie of the summer ... combining its innovative sci-fi premise with the type of high-gauged action james cameron delivers so effortlessly .", "a nicely assembled sci-fi film that is breezily exciting if never intellectually challenging .", "edge of tomorrow will leave you breathless and grinning . simply put , this is why we go to the movies .", "tom cruise stars in this cleverly crafted and propulsively executed sci-fi thriller about a soldier forced to relive the same day over and over again .", "although the humor helps , the groundhog day-like repetition gets tedious ; it makes you feel more like a hamster than a groundhog - or rather a hamster 's wheel , going round and round , over and over again .", "edge of tomorrow remains as an unadulterated , captivating thriller , which revels in being such unreservedly good fun .", "`` edge of tomorrow '' is slick , but once its fancy plot dressing takes form , it has little more to offer aside from a few impressive action sequences and the infallible grin of its nimble lead .", "a surprising and unforgettable adrenaline rush and is so far the summer 's best action film .", "a terrific , fast-paced action flick . -lrb- please ignore the terrible title , trailer and ad campaign . -rrb-", "edge of tomorrow is n't without its faults ... but those are minor annoyances for a film that proves to be such a satisfying breath of fresh air in a summer packed with sequels .", "the film 's second half , however , disappoints in many respects .", "this is a movie with a lot on its mind . perhaps too much .", "-lsb- cruise -rsb- delivers a one-man master class in his own fascinatingly protean screen presence .", "edge of tomorrow is clever enough that the viewer does n't have to feel embarrassed sitting in the audience but not so clever that there 's no fun to be had .", "i liked it well enough , but felt like i had seen it before , again and again .", "it works in both action and humor and deftly handles what could have been an overly complicated story .", "the whole thing should go down quite nicely with popcorn . it wo n't change the course of cruise 's career , but at least it mixes up the formula .", "is this great art ? of course not . but it 's a kick .", "smart , unpredictable , expertly designed , shot and edited , well acted and boasting impressive special effects , `` edge of tomorrow '' is science fiction and the summer blockbuster done right .", "... thrilling and unexpectedly comedic ...", "if you can believe that repetitions of death/life can be used as a slow build toward gaining on an invincible enemy , you 'll appreciate that this creative team has made a movie in which there is n't a dull moment .", "tom cruise : in regards to oblivion ? all is forgiven .", "there is a good bit of humor in the movie and the performances of cruise and blunt are spot on , with good supporting work from bill paxton , who plays a very hard-headed sergeant .", "keeps the pace and dialogue snappy enough for a classic screwball comedy , at least until the inevitable overkill of the boom-bastic finale , centered on an alien-infested louvre .", "one of the best , most intelligent , most exciting and surprisingly funny special effects-laden epics i have seen in several summers . a model of cinematic craftsmanship from page to screen .", "the financial failure of edge of tomorrow represents the greatest inverse relationship between quality and ticket sales since twilight sent breathless teen girls storming into theatres .", "is it possible we owe tom cruise a collective apology ?", "the metaphorical overlay of fantasy and history is the best thing edge of tomorrow has to offer -- and , for much of its running time , that overlay is enough to lend the movie a shiver of curious power .", "it features all the best qualities of memorable summer-movie thrillers - it 's clever , cool and quirky to the point of almost being a bit silly - and when you leave , you may consider re-living the experience all over again .", "edge of tomorrow will get the easy comparisons to groundhog day but it 's also exactly the kind of punchy sci-fi adventure that goes best with salty popcorn and a willing audience .", "witty , clever , thrilling - it could easily turn out to be the blockbuster of the year .", "proves a summer blockbuster does n't have to be based on a mainstream comic book or a sequel to be just as exciting , thrilling and entertaining .", "edge of tomorrow is everything you wish summer blockbusters were - strong , charismatic central performances anchoring excellent fx work in the service of a well-constructed and smart story", "ultimately , this is a two-hour video game . but the filmmakers play it well .", "comparisons to harold ramis ' beloved and profoundly humane groundhog day are misguided . edge of tomorrow does n't have a humanistic pixel in its digitally bloated body .", "smarter and funnier about its central conceit that you might expect and with a pair of great performances , -lsb- its -rsb- only serious flaw is a final act that ditches all the science-fiction stuff for a murkily shot and relatively unimpressive conclusion .", "cruise is better than he 's been in a while because he damps down his usual all-intensity-all-the-time mo. . he 's best here when his character seems the most scared .", "highlighted by a good time travel story , fine acting by cruise , and well-paced directing by liman , for a futuristic , special-effects laden film , this is one of the best", "edge of tomorrow does n't go far enough in some respects , but its unique stylistic approach makes the experience an overall satisfying one .", "appealing but violent sci-fi thriller explores time , fate .", "blunt makes us believe utterly in her fierce warrior mindset and her physical skills , and cruise has a blast transforming his helpless coward into a mean fighting machine .", "the matrix revolutions meets groundhog day , edge of tomorrow is tom cruise 's most entertaining film in years .", "` groundhog day ' was a great film but ` battle : los angeles ' was a lousy one and this feels like a combination of both .", "an entertaining version of a video store clerk making a love connection between the boxes for groundhog day and starship troopers .", "moderately engaging , but not up to the level of truly outstanding summer action fare . you could say that it 's on the very edge of being a winner .", "a fresh premise , engaging chemistry and incredible sci-fi action make it the surprise movie of the summer .", "it 's `` aliens '' meets `` groundhog day '' meets `` starship troopers '' meets `` source code '' , and each of those films ' best traits are expertly deployed into `` edge of tomorrow '' .", "doug liman directed , making the most of every opportunity for a quick cut , a good laugh and a new surge of adrenaline .", "it 's the writing and plotting in `` edge of tomorrow '' that sucks . not the staging of scenes . not the film 's sense of humor . not the film 's quality action sequences .", "it succeeds on modest terms , yet it 's certainly not worth repeating over and over .", "clever and fast-paced with a welcome streak of dark humor , this sci-fi actioner is undeniably entertaining , if ultimately not terribly substantial .", "cruise and blunt take you on a -lrb- literally -rrb- loopy ride that 's entertaining and does n't wear out its welcome .", "tom cruise once again shows why he 's still a movie star in this exciting , inventive and witty sci-fi actioner .", "it 's an exceptionally entertaining , consistently humorous , and surprisingly moving story sporting top-notch visual effects ...", "more story than testosterone , more time-jump-cuts than spacey filler , and more war-as-hell than war-as-cool . leaves you pondering if we 're ` masters of our fate ' or just action-figures going through the emotions in some supreme player 's idea of a war game .", "a big , bright , loud and occasionally smart entertainment , and well worth seeing once - although not , perhaps , every day for the rest of your life .", "edge of tomorrow is an ingenious action-comedy about how frequently movie heroes would actually die if they attempted that much crazy s *** .", "this is not a run-of-the-mill genre yarn in the vein of countless modern sci-fi blockbusters , but a fascinating and enjoyable vehicle that creates an ambitious illusion .", "edge of tomorrow is perfect summer escapism and the best cruise film since 2002 's minority report .", "how good this genre of film is depends on how the actors , writers and the director get from predictable a to z . this one does it perfectly .", "tom cruise is the most committed movie star around and he 's a major reason this original , big-budget picture works as well as it does .", "for all those that complain they do n't make them like they used to , i recommend you get to the biggest screen you can find , buy copious amounts of popcorn , and enjoy this slice of summer movie-going fun .", "a lot of talent and craft wasted on non-stop exposition trying to justify a plot conceit we 'd already accepted . meanwhile , the actual aliens are vaguely rendered and abstract .", "seen as it must be , in imax 3d , the movie rears up before you in a formidable display of pure commercial will . it 's actually a lot of fun .", "light on its feet and crisply edited , an endearing dalliance with the art of storytelling .", "in many ways , this movie feels like a video game , and as anyone who has ever picked up a controller will tell you , the dude who has an infinite-lives cheat-code will eventually win the game .", "just when everybody was ready to count tom cruise 's career out for the count , not only is he back , but back again and back again and back again , ad infinitum !", "all in all , a perfectly superior example of industrially fortified hollywood fun , and as good a guarantee as doug liman can offer that we have n't seen the last of him yet .", "`` edge of tomorrow '' is laced with action and humor ; the action coming during the various sequences on the beach , the humor with cage reliving every day and confounding his fellow soldiers . ...", "tom cruise is the last movie star , fortunately , he 's in edge of tomorrow , making it better despite itself .", "a delirious descent into blackly funny futility .", "endlessly entertaining and ceaselessly innovative .", "a satisfying chunk of sci-fi entertainment , breezily but carefully directed by doug liman to be a cerebral summer spectacle .", "'' ... represents the deconstruction - and then the hurried , harried reconstruction - of tom cruise . ''", "despite some quibbles , edge of tomorrow delivers the goods with ferocity and a funny bone , capturing intensity through the colorful details of involuntary rehearsal .", "fluidly directed , ferociously acted , and intelligently written , it even takes the time to consider such lofty issues as the ennui of immortality and the nature of reality as it blows up nifty monsters from outer space . blows them up real good .", "`` edge of tomorrow '' is a total blast .", "the filmmakers constantly keep things fresh and inventive , providing us with a different perspective of cage 's learning curve .", "fast , exciting , surprisingly witty and just plain satisfying . . the first really exciting movie of the summer-the most original , the most invigorating and the most entertaining .", "the rest of the cast has less to do because this is tom cruise 's movie through-and-through , but they 're all given moments of humor , terror or simple eccentricity .", "hopefully , it will cause other filmmakers to realize you need more than a lot of blasts to make a summer movie - you also need to be a blast , which ` edge ' most definitely is .", "liman has a gift for off-center authenticity -- even amid the orchestrated chaos of a major studio fx picture .", "i 'm not sure `` edge of tomorrow '' holds much repeat viewing potential among teenage movie consumers , since the movie 's a self-repeating entity to begin with . but once is fun .", "intriguingly effective and exhilarating , delving into an eternal recurrence .", "the tag line alone - `` live . die . repeat . '' - guarantees $ 30 million at least on opening day . it will deserve every penny .", "an entertaining , effects-driven black comedy , with shades of starship troopers in its depiction of warfare as a futuristic turkey shoot , the movie is distinguished more by how fluidly it handles its high-concept premise than where it takes it .", "no , `` edge of tomorrow '' does n't reinvent the cinematic wheel , but it cruises along , pun intended , by merging familiar ideas into something that 's engaging and original .", "this is a movie about tom cruise working very , very hard to please the world .", "edge of tomorrow is the best kind of sci-fi : smart , engaging , witty , exciting , and an entertaining joyride from start to finish .", "`` edge of tomorrow '' aims for heights of suspense and often reaches them .", "there 's no question that doug liman 's `` edge of tomorrow '' is a solid one hour and 40 minute movie . too bad it runs one hour and 53 minutes .", "certainly , the fate of the world -lrb- tm -rrb- is at stake , but it says quite a bit about liman and mcquarrie that they can still bedazzle a frayed and worn out genre .", "edge of tomorrow is acceptable escapist entertainment whose unexpected plot developments give it much-needed originality . the action scenes are handled with expected skill , the heroes are intrepid and the creatures are suitable nasty and vicious .", "why do invading extra-terrestrials always bring with them the single thing that can wipe them out ? could n't they have hid it on jupiter or something ?", "the whole thing begins to feel like a giant-screen videogame - with the gamer getting a little further , a little deeper , with each new push of the start button .", "effective , enjoyable , and even funny where it counts , edge of tomorrow lacks the smarts and the gravitas to do its gimmicky premise justice . but , like an exoskeleton-assisted haymaker , it gets the job done .", "tom cruise might be the only great action movie hero left in this business .", "if you 're looking for an action film that 's not your standard , brainless excuse for cinematic mayhem , ` edge of tomorrow ' may just fill the bill . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "if you like tom cruise , then you will like `` edge of tomorrow , '' and if you do n't like tom cruise , then you will like it even more .", "the first two acts are excellent , but the film loses steam as the action slows and the story becomes ever more familiar and less inventive .", "finally , a summer movie . edge of tomorrow is an engaging and exciting sci-fi film that has a lot of fun with its premise .", "groundhog day re-imagined as a sci-fi war game .", "funny , suspenseful and terrifically imaginative , edge of tomorrow is a thinking-person 's action film .", "one of tom cruise 's best in years , edge of tomorrow steers clear of its source material 's heaviness and just tries to entertain , which is does in spades , packing in the action and director liman 's gallows wit approach to a groundhog day premise .", "the concept of repetition is quite brilliantly done . it never feels `` that gag again ?! '' .", "liman takes the movie 's `` groundhog day meets independence day '' premise -lrb- adapted from hiroshi sakurazaka 's novel all you need is kill -rrb- and runs with it a way that makes it more compelling than it theoretically should be .", "director doug liman -lrb- `` the bourne ultimatum '' -rrb- does a nice job of taking a script credited to three screenwriters and mixing in moments of humor with mostly non-stop action .", "liman 's the brains behind the bourne franchise , so one approaches the picture with great expectations of breathless action , depth of character and narrative dazzle . one is in for great disappointment .", "a reminder that the best kind of idiot fun comes from a place of very pointed intention , snug filmmaking , purposeful writing and acting .", "this is a movie that is constantly ahead of the audience , where smart characters do smart things to thwart a seemingly smarter menace .", "though lacking the overall conceptual sophistication of modern time-warping classics such as looper and inception , edge of tomorrow is still more than capable of applying an unshakable grip upon the viewer from start to finish .", "this film would have been well-made regardless of its casting , but the pairing of tom cruise and emily blunt is an inspired one .", "liman eschews the not-so-subtle `` we 're - killing-our-planet '' message of similar films to let his movie progress without preaching . edge of tomorrow manages to keep us interested while not insulting our intelligence .", "even if the war sequences lean a bit too heavily on saving private ryan-style chaos and the mimics never blossom beyond generic extraterrestrial monsters , liman 's approach proves more than efficient for a pulse-pounding thrill ride .", "liman is a true master of the genre , and with cruise and blunt standing in the crosshairs of the viewfinder , edge of tomorrow not only works as pure escapism , it feels like a first-class ticket .", "think `` groundhog day , '' but more serious and with a sci-fi motif , and you 'll get the idea of `` edge of tomorrow . ''", "edge of tomorrow is clever and even poignant during its first two-thirds .", "a fairly eye-popping futuristic war story with a clever -lrb- to a point -rrb- structure .", "we need more intelligent blockbusters that are based on original properties , and supporting films like edge is the only way to get them . or do n't see it - but do n't whine to me when you have to sit through transformers 10 .", "liman and his screenwriters - christopher mcquarrie -lrb- `` the usual suspects '' -rrb- and jez and john-henry butterworth -lrb- `` fair game '' -rrb- - make their concept feel fresh with smart setups and ambitious -lrb- if underdeveloped -rrb- themes .", "a frenetic burst of energy that thrills and enthrals while carrying zero baggage", "walks a tricky tightrope : we chuckle when rita shoots cage like a fallen racehorse so the day can restart , but every time he jolts back to life we feel for his gulping , startled agony .", "the sharp script makes ineffectual carnage pretty hilarious , with laughter due in part to the fact we 've seen so much of tom cruise in bs battle mode there 's something cathartic about watching him die on a loop .", "terrific . best of the summer . cruise oozes charisma and has real chemistry with blunt .", "the 51-year-old cruise clearly relishes playing the flawed hero - one who gets to be smarmy , duplicitous , exasperated , intimidated , bad-ass and wise .", "we should pause to give sincere thanks to the film : on top of its cred as sheer big-screen entertainment , there 's no prospect of an edge of tomorrow sequel or prequel , or of it being spun out into a franchise - and how friggin ' rare is that these days ?", "if ` groundhog day ' and ` district 9 ' had an offspring , it would be ` edge of tomorrow , ' an action-packed science-fiction romp . the story , which is based on ` all you need is kill , ' a japanese graphic novel , is whip-smart .", "it 's `` groundhog day '' except it features tom cruise instead of bill murray , which ca n't make it better .", "the conceit may sound constricting , but liman -lrb- like harold ramis before him -rrb- gets exceptional mileage out of it , presenting his ever-revolving tale with visual style , narrative velocity , and a wonderful dose of dark humor .", "in a summer season filled with its own time loops -lrb- i.e. sequels , reboots , etc. -rrb- , `` edge of tomorrow '' beats the clock .", "with a reference to several films of the past , tom cruise and emily blunt successfully make everything old , new again in the ` edge of tomorrow . ' throughout the film , the story never runs out of steam , which should please and entertain audiences .", "edge of tomorrow contains intense , pulse-racing action that takes your breath away . this is the best science fiction film to come along since district 9 and is what battle : los angeles only dreamed of being .", "one of the best blockbuster rides of summer 2014", "an audacious concept , superbly executed , this grand scale sci-fi thriller will knock your socks off , combining knee-knocking tension with exhilarating action and a sense of humour .", "with a touch of slick humor , doug liman 's energetic direction , and a hint of the bizarre , this is easily cruise 's best crack at the genre", "liman masterfully controls the pacing , sticking with scenes when necessary to figure out how the conceit works and skipping ahead at a quick clip that 's often quite funny .", "like many compulsively watchable films , the wealth of details in the writing , direction , and characterization all but ensure that edge of tomorrow holds many treasures to be discovered on repeat viewings .", "the perfect summer blockbuster . funnier than you 'd think . cruise 's image is both satirized and celebrated . blunt is terrific .", "liman deftly plays the rinse-and-repeat familiarity for both us and cage as comedy and as thriller as needed .", "as for mr. cruise and ms. blunt , they hold their own in parts that really could have been cast with anyone with a sag card .", "now that 's an action movie .", "it used to be that there was cool , and there was tom cruise . now , there 's tom cruise in `` edge of tomorrow , '' which is cool on top of cool .", "tom cruise must 've been grinning that risky business grin from ear to ear when he first read through the script for edge of tomorrow . he had to know he had a magnificent movie in his hands .", "there 's imagination , spectacle and thrills to spare . there 's a freshness here too that comes not only from the structure , but from edge of tomorrow being a shiny new property in this cyclical age of sequels , prequels and spin-offs", "edge of tomorrow 's simple , smart pleasures include a look at how many screw-ups it can take to learn there may be things -- and people -- beyond yourself that are worth fighting for .", "the script , adapted by christopher mcquarrie and the sibling team of jez and john-henry butterworth , is actually ingenious in doling out its herky-jerky storytelling .", "... exactly the kick-ass , intellectual , science-fiction story everyone says they wish was made more often ...", "it 's the rare summer spectacle that , tacked-on coda notwithstanding , might actually warrant repeat viewings .", "i 've always said it : if only there could be an epic sci-fi version of groundhog day . ok , i never said that , but i 'm glad there is one : it 's called `` edge of tomorrow . ''", "it 's a fairly lightweight , but high quality summer movie . the kind you can just sit back and enjoy while you munch your popcorn .", "it 's a near perfect closed loop of a film : fun , well-conceived and never afraid to treat death with both the reverence and contempt that it deserves .", "edge of tomorrow is a diverting enough , enjoyable , tom cruise war movie , but perhaps one that wo n't linger in the mind too long after the final credits have rolled .", "will groundhog day work in a space invaders movie ?", "its recursive conceit often seems poised to devolve into a cheap gimmick , but , much like cage , it consistently makes slight course corrections that keep it feeling fresh .", "only toward the climax , when the live/die/repeat cycle is abandoned , does edge of tomorrow go logy . but it 's two-thirds of a sensational ride -- one you can ride over and over without buying additional tickets .", "writer christopher mcquarrie handles the concept with aplomb , and he knows that the real interest here is what effect this kind of life would have on human relationships .", "long before the end , it 's an old-fashioned high tech army fighting the mimics , who are as spirited and pretty as blunt . the combat is endless and predictable .", "edge of tomorrow profits by upending action film cliches .", "despite its terribly unimaginative title , edge of tomorrow is a surprisingly imaginative summer action movie .", "a tom cruise action flick with a strong female heroine and a sense of humor ? `` edge of tomorrow '' has both of those , plus a `` groundhog day '' - style gimmick that pays big dividends . over and over .", "groundhog d-day , or the reborn identity : do n't we all want a furious , jumbled intelligence like doug liman 's to fashion memorable pop ? tom cruise 's every-doofus character is a great mid-career role for him , since it 's briskly business .", "the pulse-pounding action scenes are briskly directed by doug liman .", "a playful and frantic science-fiction twister which mimics the best -lrb- aliens , the matrix , groundhog day -rrb- while offering something fresh and - most importantly - thrilling .", "this is the kind of thoughtfully constructed movie that other summertime blockbusters should aspire to be more like , clever and cool and never giving you that ho-hum sense that you 've seen it all before .", "as `` puzzle movies '' go , edge of tomorrow is one that holds up surprisingly well to scrutiny .", "this is one of my favorite movies of the year so far .", "director doug liman has great fun with this just-go-with-it conceit .", "before too long , the plot begins to cut significant corners , things get terribly convenient and , by the end , the suspect plot logic utterly falls apart in favor of an idiotically beatific ending .", "to have a fun summer blockbuster with good characters , good action , and a tight and exciting script these days is almost unheard of . the smart sci-fi action movie is back . let 's hope it happens over and over again .", "edge of tomorrow feels like it 's about something more than action . neat trick .", "it 's easily the highlight of the summer movie offerings to me so far .", "it 's a star-driven mass-market entertainment that 's smart , exciting and unexpected while not stinting on genre satisfactions .", "in `` edge of tomorrow , '' mr. liman brings mr. cruise 's smile out of semiretirement and also gives him the kind of physical challenges at which he so brilliantly excels .", "a sharp sci-fi thriller that 's going to be hard to beat as the summer 's best blockbuster .", "refreshing and unexpected , both for its humor and for its upending of action norms .", "if you gave groundhog day a shot of adrenaline and a trip to the armoury , it might end up looking a little like edge of tomorrow .", "edge of tomorrow is the kind of film that can be enjoyed time after time .", "a lot of it is very well done .", "with a tremendous first half and more brains , heart and laughs than any of its promotional material indicated , this is smart , witty , thrilling and , above all , fun .", "`` it 's a razzle-dazzle triumph , and one we ca n't wait to experience again and again and again ... ''", "one of the most deliciously exciting films to watch in the summer months", "because edge of tomorrow is effectively about the infinite refloggability of cinematic horses , it manages to break the chain of formulaic repetition and come out surprisingly fresh .", "` groundhog day meets alien . ' relatively good compared to cruise 's recent , unwatchable movies because liman orchestrates spectacular action ; the talking scenes are tiresome .", "doug liman 's half-inventive ` full metal alien groundhog day ' war film is buoyed at first by tom cruise 's rascally twinkle before falling back on shopworn battle-bot effects and videogame plotting .", "the film 's groundhog day-meets-independence day plot is actually pretty genius .", "it 's a rousing spectacle , interspersed with touching moments of really hard trying .", "this doug liman directed feature is a cut above the usual in terms of cerebral content , but it 's still difficult to imagine it appearing on mensa must-see lists any day soon .", "this is a film that feels fully in command of its high concept and credit for this must also go to the film 's editors , and the unusually witty and deft script .", "at its best , edge of tomorrow has the same fatalistic humour that characterised groundhog day . at its worst , it is both repetitive and plain ridiculous .", "tom cruise 's participation transmutes , as it always does , everything around him , turning the movie 's series of false starts , dead ends , and hard lessons into a working metaphor for his own career .", "doug liman 's edge of tomorrow is the sci-fi answer to groundhog day that source code tried to be .", "now if only we could find tom a leading lady his own age ...", "liman handles his high concept conceit with some particularly dynamic visual touches , while cruise and blunt bring energy to their roles .", "it is basically deadly serious , and after some moderate knockaboutfun , settles into something pretty dull . where 's the edge ?", "tom cruise plays a callow , bumptious twerp in early scenes of the sci-fi adventure fantasy edge of tomorrow . he is very good : let 's be nice and call it a stretch .", "high concept action flicks largely live or die by the third act denouement -lrb- something that killed off liman 's last blockbuster effort jumper -rrb- . no such problems here .", "foibles be damned , edge of tomorrow is mindless fun of the highest order .", "the idea of history repeating itself is already writ large , here , but what is n't so familiar is the casting of tom cruise as a coward .", "it 's taut , twisted and blackly funny in ways that only movies in which tom cruise gets crushed under the wheel of a truck can be .", "it is a pretty exciting , twilight zone-style premise that bourne identity director doug liman introduces with brisk efficiency and sustains through twists and turns that are often ingenious .", "it 's a blockbuster with brains , and when it 's over , you might find yourself in a time loop of your own -- one where you ca n't wait to see it over and over again .", "cruise and blunt are both superb , the action sequences are genuinely thrilling and the effects work is impressive throughout .", "thank heavens ... for the time-loop gimmick , which sustains a full hour of screen time with enough variations on its gambit to hook you in .", "it should n't work . a human-versus-aliens epic that keeps repeating the same scene over and over again as if the comic tilt of groundhog day had turned suddenly dangerous . but edge of tomorrow will keep you on edge .", "what stays with you are cruise 's off-type performance , a few bravura sequences , and blunt 's molten presence .", "it 's fun for a while , but `` edge of tomorrow '' is what the gis used to call a blivet -- 10 pounds of movie in a five-pound bag .", "it 's a spectacular and witty movie based around a revolutionary idea for its own genre : more than painful , death can actually be pretty boring sometimes .", "a fun ride that never really arrives anywhere", "its mashup of genres proves wildly entertaining .", "edge of tomorrow earns props for marching to a different beat in an increasingly homogenized cinematic culture , and for treating its notions with the same respect it asks from the audience .", "by the second half of the film , i was utterly invested in these characters and their relationship , even though cage is the only one who `` remembers '' all their experiences together .", "embraces video game logic and gives it a human face and heart , investing it with the numbness and exhaustion that come from running through the same scenario toward the same goal again and again until you get it right .", "to paraphrase an old dictum : directors who do n't learn from history - like their hapless heroes in sci-fi movies - are doomed to repeat it . but , in -lsb- doug -rsb- liman 's case , that has turned out to be not such a bad thing .", "a bold concept which could have easily resulted in tedium , but not in liman 's hands", "cruise is a winner all the way , whether he 's being a gung-ho hero or the butt of the joke .", "i ca n't say i was always quite sure what on earth was going on , but edge of tomorrow , despite its flaws , despite its feeling of deja vu , manages to be tolerably entertaining mainly because of its nicely calibrated sense of humour .", "edge of tomorrow may be the best video game movie ever made . which is strange since it is n't actually based on a video game .", "the smartest blockbuster of this summer season , or perhaps any summer season .", "the reason the film works is because it throws everything into the blender and comes up with something new , something that has a great lively sense of wit and humor to it , and it takes the time to fully explore its wild premise fully .", "edge of tomorrow is a decent time waster , but if you 're the sort of person who watches a movie every day , you should probably look for something better .", "it 's a beautifully executed jolt of darkly funny , smart-arsed sci-fi adventure . welcome back tom .", "it 's the rare action film whose quiet moments cut as deep as its fight scenes .", "with its intriguing premise , engaging characters , and plenty of thrills to go around , edge of tomorrow makes for a breath of fresh air in a genre that has been crushed under monotony as of late .", "a deftly calibrated sci-fi spectacle .", "among countless sequels and remakes , the high-concept edge of tomorrow is the right kind of a rerun .", "unlike many of the year 's big-bang movies so far , it probably wo n't linger long in the memory . but then , not being any part of a larger franchise , it does n't need to .", "one of the most enjoyable blockbusters of the year .", "i bet this ends up being the most well-executed action movie of this summer , and probably a few others .", "it 'd be easy to dismiss edge of tomorrow as just another blunt-force summer movie , but it 's sharp as a scalpel in the deft hands of its makers , with the kind of smarts , wit , filmmaking and force too many other summer films can only dream of .", "like cruise himself at this stage of his career , the film 's concept ought to be played-out and obvious , but `` edge of tomorrow '' is much smarter and sharper than you 'd expect .", "it 's also knows , like ` eyes wide shut ' before it , that it 's always a joy to make the cocksure -lsb- tom -rsb- cruise nervous .", "`` groundhog d-day '' ? `` a million ways to die ... in the future '' ?", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- all high-concept , but affording only minimal entertainment reward by way of its stale ghost-in-the-machine storyline , `` edge of tomorrow '' is the `` groundhog day '' of sci-fi movies .", "what do you get if you cross a big-budget humanity-vs-aliens action movie with groundhog day ? well , a wittier , more inventive and , paradoxically , a far less repetitive film than any number of others .", "two hours of derivative , repeat-rewind eye agony .", "technically handsome , but approximately as deep and lasting as a small parking-lot puddle .", "at its best , edge of tomorrow is a cross between groundhog day and saving private ryan , even enjoying a little of the former 's humour and the latter 's intensity .", "what a delight it is to discover an early-summer action picture whose plot is something more than a machine to generate eventual digital mayhem .", "um filme intrigante com boas sequкncias de aзгo , mas que desaponta no terceiro ato .", "a smarter-than-expected script turns this noisy sci-fi action movie into something remarkably entertaining .", "with edge of tomorrow , tom cruise proves he 's still got the action and acting chops to carry a summer blockbuster , plus the eye for a quality role that 's more than just guns-blazing , balls-out action .", "a witty , clever , character-driven bit of science fiction wonderfulness , full of suspense , surprise , tension , and an unexpected poignancy .", "earns the right to be groundhog day meets starship troopers with a clever story that uses the narrative device in new ways .", "thanks to brisk direction from doug liman and some clever plotting , said repetition never becomes predictable .", "this summer blockbuster is almost ready to conquer the world . but not quite .", "what we have here is a blockbuster with brains , and explicit references to the normandy landings of the second world war are both knowing and well done .", "liman stages the chaotic action scenes , including several iterations of the beach assault , with clarity , precision , and wit . this is his best movie since 2002 's `` the bourne identity . ''", "it feels straight out of a thumb-worn , 1959 issue of galaxy magazine , an enjoyably pulpy hunk of military science-fiction with a premise that 's part groundhog day and part starship troopers .", "cruise is a delight , exactly what he needs to be , fluid enough for comedy , physical enough for action , always going with the flow and yet finding ways to make moments memorable .", "edge of tomorrow leaps onto the summer-movie playing field with ferocious tenacity , expertly balancing large-scale action with humor , tension , courage and the kind of flawed heroes you really grow to invest in .", "edge of tomorrow is an entertaining alien invasion movie with neat narrative wrinkles and glancing references to some classic sf-action films .", "edge of tomorrow is a delicious reminder that cruise still has all the right moves .", "a complex sci-fi tale about war , warriors within , and resetting the day .", "takes its starship troopers meets groundhog day premise and turns it into a rare summer movie that 's both smart and a crowd-pleaser", "breathlessly exciting , wildly entertaining , `` edge of tomorrow '' is a wake-up call to makers of formulaic alien-invasion thrillers .", "`` edge of tomorrow '' has neither an edge nor a vision of tomorrow that matters today .", "`` edge of tomorrow '' repeats itself without being repetitive , takes itself seriously while providing some laughs and offers plenty of action without short-changing us on the intelligence front .", "the fact is that this is a pretty good summer-kablooie movie , and cruise is better than pretty good in it .", "edge of tomorrow is not as inventive as rian johnson 's time-bending noir , looper . nor is it as surprisingly spiritual as groundhog day . but it whirls with energy .", "it 's a bloodless romance and the action builds to an anticlimax , but the story is also adapted with surprising wit ...", "out of nowhere , edge of tomorrow is an exhilarating mix of verhoeven-esque sci-fi subversion , existential comedy straight out of groundhog day , and the slaughter-and-reset structure of a first-person shooter game .", "i had a better time than i expected .", "overall , it benefits so much from the expert deployment of time-travel tropes that it earns a pass on a little alien acid blood .", "yes , the title is bland to the point of meaninglessness . but that 's just about the only thing edge of tomorrow gets wrong .", "edge of tomorrow obviously cost a fortune to make , but it has a light , shrugging , tossed-off air that makes it all the more impressive , let alone enjoyable .", "it 's harder to bear how the film fuses its sci-fi premise with an action movie 's sensibility : one in which the characters become living , breathing video-game avatars , rather than human beings .", "shirks its responsibility to be about anything . still , decent fun .", "it seems to know what we 've all been forgetting since 1985 : science fiction can be funny , blockbusters can be kooky , and tom cruise can , and should , be a jackass .", "`` edge of tomorrow '' is big , loud and undeniably fun .", ". . a thoughtful , action-packed , and occasionally amusing take on the -lsb- time loop -rsb- premise melded into the alien invasion story . for summer entertainment , it will more than do .", "somehow now 51 years old , the ever-youthful tom cruise is the ultimate a-list hollywood battler -- he keeps coming back for more again and again and again .", "yes , tom cruise 's time trippy sci-fi-er is the best surprise of the summer .", "` edge of tomorrow , ' with an intriguing premise and the ability to see it through to a satisfying conclusion , is more than razzle-dazzle visual effects .", "an exciting and character driver action movie that features blockbuster king tom cruise in top form .", "the film utilizes a flurry of fireworks effects and strong character development to create a sci-fi masterpiece .", "it has enough plot density to hold your attention for a while , along with a few feints at character development . you might not much notice its fundamental dishonesty and mendacity , except as that odd sick feeling you have later ." ]
though lushly atmospheric , the MOV does n't engage or provoke as much as it should .	dreamers	14631	[ "this is n't one of those old ` adults-only ' movies . this is , simply , a movie only for adults -- and worthy of their attention and debate .", "there 's not a moment in the film 's belabored 115-minute running time that feels emotionally authentic .", "for the easily titillated , among whose company i count myself , the rewards are plenty in this curious ménage ŕ trois among college students in 1968 paris .", "a kind of art-house showgirls -- which actually exceeds showgirls in its self-indulgence , shallowness and sheer stupidity .", "the MOV did n't put me to sleep , but i did start wishing they 'd reenact a better movie .", "encapsulates the sense of innocence and adventure we all wish to carry", "works best when viewed as a tone poem that examines the present through the prism of the past .", "the siblings , in particular , grow so irritating with their cultural tunnel-vision that even the film 's explicit sex grows monotonous , and its lack of humor grows irritating .", "as an erotic valentine to 1960s paris , it 's unlike anything else you are likely to find .", "an ode to the kind of discerning , obsessive movie love that flourished at the time and has never been matched , before or since .", "watching the MOV is like receiving a present where the box is nicer than the contents .", "it is a well-made film in many ways , but i found in the callowness of these youths nothing to admire .", "a passionate tribute to the cinema 's contribution to the great '60s cultural fusion , as well as a melancholy reminder of just how far it 's fallen from that heady era of its highest idealism .", "crammed with indelible images and scenes of sheer beauty and impact .", "the oneiric atmosphere takes a turn for the worse as the focus inevitably turns to a bad daydream and the secluded apartment setting stultifies the aura of film worship ...", "celebrates the feverish vitality of youth with sexually explicit candor .", "the MOV is an important film , if for no other reason than it finally offers a mature alternative for adult cinemagoers .", "a good choice for film buffs ; lends itself to analysis , conversation , or maybe even a term paper", "begs the question : can sex be boring ? the answer is yes , if the actors have been cast primarily for their looks .", "the MOV makes its point with clips of old films . and yes , there is quite a bit of sex and nudity .", "they are n't making revolution in this hothouse , they 're making a listless blue movie .", "it 's possible that the nc-17 has never been used to such pg-13 ends .", "go see it , even if it 's smutty .", "like few filmmakers , bertolucci captures ... the sexual delirium of youth .", "the rapture of movies themselves has never been more masterfully or evocatively presented . but the movie fails to integrate its themes in a satisfying way .", "bertolucci undercuts the smarmy quality of most coming-of-age films of this sort but giving weight to the sexuality , and by tying it in with the politics of that period .", "like stealing beauty , a european-set tale of adolescent sexual awakening , loosely recast here as a heavily affected , awkward polemic .", "has an attractive facade , but its apparent audacity turns out to be as empty-headed as its photogenic but vacuous lead characters .", "who else but sartre-reading , fellini-watching wannabe-sophisticated 15-year-olds will find this film intriguing ?", "a lazy film about lazy people that , predictably , would have lazed me into a coma if it were n't for the near non-stop nudity .", "the erotic parlor games in bertolucci 's film do n't get quite get debauched or deep enough , and once they 've run their course , the movie does n't know what to do .", "up until its final moments , ` the MOV ' is all too aptly titled . ... two hours of lusciously photographed lollygagging ...", "it 's been described as a love letter to cinema and the heady 1960s , but it plays more like a memoir of infatuation .", "bertolucci and cinematographer fabio cianchetti construct every shot carefully , often building shapes out of the characters ' positions or referencing shots from other films .", "the MOV is about three people dropping out of the world for a while , even as they imagine themselves an integral part of it .", "it 's thrilling .", "the MOV is infused with the same kind of wistful melancholy that made the french new wave films so winning , and it 's all gorgeous to look at .", "it ends up a mess .", "swept away by the intensity of the characters ' movie debates and sexual games , bertolucci often recaptures the film-besotted spirit of the period .", "the whole thing feels a bit scattered .", "despite the movie 's well-earned nc-17 , bertolucci 's own ménage ŕ trois favors cinephilia over the related pleasures of politics and sex .", "legendary director bernardo bertolucci -lrb- `` 1900 '' -rrb- crafts a return to social revolt in the form of sexual pursuits by a trio of late '60s teenaged students in this engaging yet insufficient movie .", "it 's an amusing , sophisticated movie , true to its times , cheerfully erotic , and played with unselfconscious conviction by its three young actors .", "bertolucci tops himself .", "fans of film and gorgeous naked people of either sex will find much here to interest them . but it also has moments that make you want to throw stones .", "the film is at once a celebration of the sexual revolution and a celebration of cinema as the secular equivalent of religion , at a time when movies really mattered .", "the venue for pitt 's marvelous coming-out performance .", "a real pleasure .", "it 's a hot sequence that nudges the boundary of taste , but still manages to come off more as art than porn .", "... we feel stranded on a soundstage , mummy-wrapped in film studies and bereft of any genuine emotion .", "there is enough youthful energy and sexual tension to float the MOV along , although the film 's deeper potential and political context slip away .", "bertolucci 's best work to date . film , politics , sex , the cultural divide , love , relationships , parenting - are looked over by his camera , and the result is breathtaking .", "it so desperately wishes to be a masterpiece that the result is hopelessly infatuated with its own perceived cleverness .", "ambitious and uneven , visceral and pungent .", "bertolucci never lets his obvious pretensions overshadow the characters and the story at the heart of the film .", "focus exclusively on the movie 's brazen , occasionally gratuitous sexuality and you 'll miss a whole other level of pleasure .", "the most logical explanation of the bizarre premise : bertolucci , an inarguably brilliant oscar-winning filmmaker , is also quite the perv .", "` the MOV ' comes wrapped in a strange nostalgia , which makes the pretentiousness even sadder .", "boy-boy love masquerading as boy-girl-boy love so you 'll go see it .", "a film about youth and passion that seems old and passionless .", "while the sexual content in and of itself is hardly transgressive or shocking , the mere presence of it at all in a contemporary film is both a shock and a breath of fresh air .", "cinematic allusions , both verbal and visual , are tossed around as if in the hope that some of their quality might somehow rub off on the ever-less-interesting movie at hand .", "these kids are so languid and lovely , so immersed in each other as reflected images , that they pose a risk for the naďve american .", "a film about youthful passion -- for sex , for politics , for music and , above all , for film itself -- that feels passionless .", "the MOV devolves into a nostalgia trip for 1970s cinema intellectuals ; for them , it pays dividends . others might do better to check out the films -- like bertolucci 's own last tango in paris , the conformist and 1900 .", "the MOV is a betrayal of dreaming .", "maybe bernardo bertolucci should have stuck with his original plan to make a sequel to his epic 1900 , because his latest film is a major disappointment .", "... these characters just are n't as fascinating as bertolucci clearly believes them to be ...", "it 's wonderful to see a film that takes back sex from the smutty teen comedies , that grapples with political ideas and shouts its love of cinema from the rooftops .", "i wish that this first release to show the artistic potential of the nc-17 rating was an undisputedly great film , not merely a brave and intriguing one .", "bertolucci provokes audiences instead of pacifying them . boy , do we need him now .", "starkly argues the ultimate futility of the cinematic ideal , the insidious love/hate nature of film glamour and the danger it harbors for our real-life psyches .", "bad , but unlike the similarly camped-up little buddha or stealing beauty , it 's not exactly boring .", "by far the most engaging aspect of the film is its celebration of cinema .", "a ménage-ŕ-trois drama that 's watchable but does n't live up to its italian director 's towering reputation .", "if you could skim away all the gratuitous film-studies crud , you 'd have a smaller but more intense little film , a kissing cousin of that other screen classic 9-1/2 weeks .", "no wonder young americans love europe !", "disappointing .", "this is a boring movie and all the sex and nudity , while distracting at times , does n't change that fact .", "self-discovery is engrossing and all consuming , even when the world outside is literally erupting . multiply discovery by three and the pleasure is that much greater .", "an over-ripe orgasm of a film , but also a weary one . after gorging for hours on youthful idealism , bertolucci finally drops the hammer and confronts its limitations .", "it 's a movie so physically beautiful and ardent that it can make you fall in love or lust against better judgment .", "the thrills of this movie are aesthetic ones , the creation of new , ravishing imagery -lrb- and all three of our young heroes are beautiful enough to be up to this task -rrb- , the surrender to dream logic , the adoration of the silver screen .", "the seductively charismatic duo of green and garrel , who make the siblings ' twisted relationship warm yet disturbing , off-putting yet inviting .", "knowing that a character prefers chaplin to keaton tells us only about his taste , not about his soul .", "how much you enjoy the MOV will depend on your threshold for flash minus dramatic depth or political subtext .", "a pretentious and self-absorbed chamber piece that underscores the importance of the 1968 student riots in paris .", "the casually edgy eroticism and constant allusions to old movies are in many ways a mask for the fact that -lrb- these -rrb- are n't especially interesting people , except to each other .", "just the dose of relatable mainstream art the u.s. cinema desperately requires .", "disenfranchised youth spells relentless bacchanalia , without the benefit of narrative structure or purpose .", "for all its multi-layered sexuality , the film 's bottom line is all about the destruction of the characters ' dreams when those dreams are touched by reality .", "bertolucci and adair have made a beguiling tribute to the glorious indeterminacy of youth .", "it 's all quite soporific , because nothing is at stake and there 's no reason to care about these self-absorbed twits .", "only time will tell if the MOV is a great film . i think it is at the least a very good one .", "not good for you , but wickedly pleasurable all the same .", "bertolucci indulges too much in the great sin of nostalgia , thus reducing the film 's political firepower by washing it in a hazy wave of ` remember when ... '", "exhilarating .", "the MOV is a richly imagined , boldly acted ode to the delirium of a generation that did n't know it was dreaming .", "the cultural revolution reflected in the personal lives of the young people is a distraction . better to enjoy the movie for the beauty and delight of its love story alone .", "maybe the worst thing bertolucci has done is make a good film that is too blithe to distance itself from the offensively precious one it constantly threatens to be .", "bertolucci is so drunk on déjá vu he has made a movie that 's really a flossy assemblage of bertolucci signifiers .", "meticulously photographed and crafted , it 's a sumptuous visual feast that 's built around voyeurism .", "grim and joyless .", "the dialogue is so trite you would n't want to be that young again ... and the rococo nature of the erotic entanglements make one pine for the relatively old-fashioned romance of last tango in paris .", "a wise , high-energy conjuring of 1968 .", "explores the twilight realm of longing where three youth embark on an alternatingly intense and playful voyage of discovery .", "a study of corrupt idealism , with a cynical and unforgiving core hiding under a dazed , playful exterior .", "if you do n't glow with the same pleasure -lsb- bertolucci -rsb- feels when the characters in the MOV alternate brashness with callow immaturity , you 're going to be in for a very long evening .", "bernardo bertolucci 's new film is an ardently romantic love song to sex , cinema and the spirit of the 60 's .", "there 's no question about its desire to present a thoughtful exploration of links between political and sexual freedom in the fabled '60s .", "neither the story nor the characters capture the zeitgeist that bertolucci theoretically set out to celebrate .", "there are two films at work here : a love-struck but tedious ode to cinephilia and a fascinating exploration of sex as a form of political resistance .", "i would love to cut all the marvelous film references and footage into a single montage . it would prove the best thing from -lsb- the MOV . -rsb-", "a pretentious , pointless picture that produces the same ca n't - look-away effect as seeing a car wreck .", "at a reflective and still romantic 63 , mr. bertolucci pays heartfelt hommage to henri langlois ' famous theater , cinémathčque française .", "-lsb- a -rsb- sex-infused film that touches on all kinds of interesting themes ... but never goes anywhere interesting with them .", "bertolucci 's best film for a long time .", "stylish , erotic , forgivably pretentious drama with lashings of explicit sex and strong performances from its three leads .", "brilliantly referenced cinema history paired with a ridiculous central story make the MOV a wash .", "a pretty silly affair -- a minor film made by a major filmmaker .", "marks a long-overdue return to the important themes of human connection and social commitment that run through many of bertolucci 's most memorable films .", "bernardo bertolucci 's love letter to paris , cinema and sex in 1968 is as uneven and imperfect as it is unique and impassioned .", "-lsb- a -rsb- provocative , sensual feast .", "it is both a love song to escapism and a warm embrace of the real world -- a wake-up call that one place , without the other to occasionally return to , would make life for us -lrb- who are the real MOV -rrb- far less wonderful .", "do these characters really care about the collected works of godard ? not for one parisian minute .", "anyone seeking cheap titillation would do better to invest their movie cash in a fresh copy of playboy or penthouse than to spend the two hours of contemplation needed to fully appreciate the myriad layers of the MOV .", "no matter how many mirrors he uses to fracture his characters into meaningful multiple images or how many shots he includes of out-of-control falling , -lsb- bertolucci -rsb- ca n't make the naughty innocence compelling .", "an ambitious and exciting piece of work , a movie about sex and movies made by a filmmaker who understands the power of each to set off fantasy , create addiction , incite danger and transform the spirit .", "this handsome , mildly brave scrapbook probably wo n't be prophetic of upheavals to come .", "bertolucci going through the motions .", "it 's funny , affecting , interestingly twisted , and seriously erotic before it heads south in the final stretch .", "it effectively explains why we obsess over movies and rock and roll and honest communication long after those passions have been hijacked by parodists and advertising agencies .", "an out-of-print postcard of a movie , neither shocking or smart enough to matter in the modern world , and too disjointed to be involving .", "the real world in which these characters live is only hinted at , making their behaviour look mighty precious most of the time .", "in almost every way , the MOV is a less sexy , less successful ode to the innocent passions and energy of a bygone era than austin powers .", "above all it evokes a time when the movies -- good movies , both classic and newborn -- were at the center of youth culture .", "dresses up its sex with pretensions of high art , but its intellectualism is disposable , and unless brother-sister incest is your cup of tea , the sensuality misses its mark as well .", "a rich movie filling the viewer with a four-course french meal of sensuality , politics , ideas and character .", "rather than turning into a coming-of-age story , the movie wallows in the cocoon-like insularity of its characters .", "there are some wonderful moments of bliss , as in all bertolucci movies ... but for all the flash and sparkle , there 's little heat .", "the entire film is a charged sensory experience -- a cinematic turn-on .", "at its heart , the MOV is bertolucci 's valentine to the movies that nurtured him in his youth . at worst , it 's sort of an nc-17 version of rugrats in paris .", "a rare movie made by and for adults , haunts its watcher for some time , despite its shortcomings .", "perhaps -lsb- bertolucci -rsb- was ambivalent about his feelings for the time . perhaps he was just sloppy .", "its nostalgia and narcissism are ultimately two versions of the same thing , and neither can reopen cross-cultural channels . instead they keep this story stuck in the past , frozen and intact and irrelevant .", "when the sex and weirdness stops , all we 're left with is pseudo-intellectual discussions from this trio that is found in every dorm across america .", "bertolucci pays affectionate homage to cinema , goofy youthful exuberance , romance , innocence and the student revolt of may ' 68 .", "this works most effectively as an ode to the way cinema infuses the lives of its fans .", "bertolucci is hardly a klutz with the camera , but to me the movie was always good-but-not-great , it never truly took off ." ]
the MOV is as persuasive and engrossing as it is unapologetically biased .	revolution_will_not_be_televised	280213507	[ "bartley and o'briain do an excellent job in deconstructing the venezuelan tv news footage of blood , chaos , and rival crowds .", "while there is a story to be told about the 2002 coup , this is definitely not the documentary to tell it .", "filmmakers kim bartley and donnacha o'brien happen to be in all the right places at all the right times .", "-lsb- bartley and o'briain -rsb- 's fearlessness , unobtrusive narration , and lack of michael moore man-and-microphone pandering are to be saluted .", "rough-hewn , improvisatory and contentedly lo-fi , the resulting documentary should prove warmly encouraging to embattled progressives of all stripes , and incidentally offers the best political date-movie of the week .", "amazingly immediate , and without any caramel coating of happy talk .", "an extraordinary inside look at politics at its most urgent , volatile and bare-knuckled .", "the MOV is an extraordinary piece of electronic history . and a riveting movie .", "the filmmakers , simply forgotten in the dramatic rush of events , capture the anatomy of a coup as it crystallized and unraveled , and history nearly recorded itself .", "fascinating , intense but disturbingly incomplete and one-sided ... an accomplished , involving but highly selective account of a still-charged historical event .", "remarkable true-life footage makes this 74-minute film as potent as behemoths twice its size .", "a gripping if necessarily disjointed documentary that plays like a real-life version of a costa-gavras thriller .", "a fascinating look at events mostly unknown to outsiders .", "instructive not only for students of south american -lrb- and oil -rrb- politics but also for anyone who questions the importance of the media in determining who gets power and how long they keep it .", "more than a scary close-up look at the raw mechanics of a power grab , the film is also a cautionary examination of the use of television to deceive and manipulate the public .", "does an excellent job of showing how powerful television has become in getting one 's message across ... as well as how easily television and some creative editing can manipulate that very message .", "like 9/11 and gim me shelter , this movie puts the viewer into the middle of the danger and without compromise . quick , tight and thorough , this documentary plays more like an action movie . a masterpiece .", "wow ! this documentary sticks with you and days later you 'll still be thinking about how easy it was to manipulate an entire country .", "a remarkable example of the power of film to capture unfolding historic events .", "an eye-opener that focuses on world-shaking events and makes you feel like you are there .", "a rough-edged work of journalism that is as gripping as a thriller .", "fascinating , informative and chilling .", "revolution ... is not just a portrait of a fascinating , paradoxical leader but of a vibrant people and culture long-hidden by our own media .", "compelling and immediate .", "a thrilling , expertly assembled argument against regime change .", "the big story here is neither the coup , nor the countercoup , but the spread of constitutional values to the people of venezuela .", "a fascinating account of history in the making that plays like a cinematic whiplash .", "it gives us a sense of venezuela 's political and social climate in april 2002 , and in that regard it is most fascinating .", "a tense , rapid-paced political drama .", "it is remarkable because the filmmakers , kim bartley and donnacha o'briain , had access to virtually everything that happened within the palace during the entire episode .", "it 's as if somebody had had a camcorder in hand when julius caesar was slain in the roman forum . history does n't get any more real or vital than this .", "the MOV may be controversial , biased and patchy , but it contains some of the most electrifying and immediate nonfiction footage seen on the big screen .", "bartley and o'briain can be accused of being biased about their subject , chavez , but show me a documentary film ... that does not take sides .", "this riveting piece of work should encourage viewers to continue to investigate the subject on their own after leaving the theater", "does at least make you want to find out more about venezuelan politics -- as well as u.s. foreign policy regarding the country , so on that score it succeeds .", "stands as our best chance to understand what happened in caracas , even if the filmmakers ' pro-chavez stance should send you to alternate sources for the larger picture .", "a gripping , nearly perfect documentary , chronicling a heart-stopping rise , fall and triumphant reversal in the space of its 74-minute running time .", "everything 's real -- the shouting , the dissonance , the worry .", "it is the simulacrum of a free press in the age of globalization that bartley and o'briain so eloquently illustrate .", "an amazing record of what has been called history 's shortest-lived coup d'etat .", "both farcical and deeply troubling , it unfolds with the kind of breathless , minute-by-minute immediacy that only eyewitness reportage can bring , and offers an important perspective on the role the media inevitably plays in contemporary revolution .", "what resonates in the end are the forces behind it , what it says about its time , and how , in fact , it ever happened at all .", "the crew of the MOV had been in the country for months before the coup , and their access and reporting are impressive .", "this is reality filmmaking -- a fascinating front-row seat for what could be history 's shortest-lived coup .", "amazing documentary .", "as gripping as any recent thriller ." ]
this documentary traces franken 's transformation from humorist to activist with entertaining , if uneven , results .	al_franken_god_spoke	287865088	[ "when he 's on , he 's hot , and when he 's not , he 's not .", "this film by nick doob and chris hegedus forces us to make some decisions about him . for myself , i find him generally gross , in person and in manner .", "this scattershot movie , shot over two years , follows the zigzag trail of political satirist al franken as he feuds with bill o'reilly , campaigns against george w. bush , and helps establish air america .", "... best viewed as an investigation of the phenomenon of ideological celebrity , with mr. franken as a willing case study .", "proves to be an illuminating -lrb- if perhaps unintended -rrb- demonstration of how hard it is to keep one 's sense of humor when mixing it up in the political mainstream .", "there 's a story to be told in al franken 's transformation from smarty-pants saturday night live personality to political commentator on the scrappy liberal radio station air america , but nick doob and chris hegedus ... fail to find it .", "what i was really itching for was for him to leave the political battlefield long enough to give us a scripted stand-up act as he 'd do it for an audience at the improv .", "this smoothly edited snapshot of a roaring mouse ... is an outspoken and pretty damn funny portrait ...", "the scope ought to be narrowed , but the film is still pretty entertaining in places , owing to franken 's intelligence and quick wit .", "there is a lot of preaching to the converted in nick doob and chris hedges ' al franken : god spoke , an adoring and fairly haphazard look behind the scenes with the comedian and liberal gadfly .", "the film is most compelling for its suggestion of how politics and showbiz are at once incestuously entwined and , perhaps , irreconcilably different .", "what this documentary lacks in intent , insight , and surprise it makes up for in thoroughness .", "a fascinating combination of class clown and fact-happy debate-club president , franken nonetheless makes for a compelling subject , but god spoke veers uncomfortably into hagiography , especially as it winds down .", "as a record of the al franken you already know and love , hegedus and doob 's rather slapdash movie is fun .", "neither as adroitly funny as franken 's comic routines , nor as notable as his conversion to the fine art of politics , this is a 90-minute ` what if ? ' with no discernible answer .", "a documentary in search of a story .", "often entertaining .", "the film is worth seeing for footage of bill o'reilly seeking sympathy from ann coulter , who makes maternal noises with a mischievous glint in her eye .", "the documentary skims the surface , appreciating franken 's crass , troublemaking modus operandi . this would be ok if the doc were crammed with hilarious footage , but franken comes off as more droll and bitter than clever .", "with his nearly nonstop , self-congratulatory monologues and his seemingly insincere attitude , he comes off as every bit as much an insufferable blowhard as his conservative counterparts .", "the film feels unfinished as franken contemplates a run for the u.s. senate from minnesota , which might make god spoke the set-up for a much more interesting sequel .", "though not as thorough as war room , docu is still highly entertaining and poignant , if not too critical or deep , offering a portrait of a new kind of american folk hero , more iconoclastic -lrb- not to mention witty and charming -rrb- than michael moore .", "a documentary about the comedian and satirist who sees himself as a leftward leaning crusader for truth and justice in an era of lying liars .", "feisty , quick-witted and quixotic , franken takes on such right-wing demigods as bill o'reilly , ann coulter and sean hannity .", "this uncritical bio-pic presents al as more of an intellectual on a mission than a funnyman in search of laughs , leaving one to wonder whether the purpose here was to makeover al into a political figure for his rumored run for the u.s. senate .", "entertaining cinéma-vérité piece", "a humorous , but more importantly illustrative , documentary about the weight of the media -- especially the comedic media -- on the last presidential election .", "a inteligęncia de franken é notória , assim como seu pavor ŕ retórica da direita norte-americana % u2013 algo que o filme ilustra de maneira burocrática . além disso , sua falta de foco leva-o a parecer um mero instrumento de propaganda , o que é lamentável .", "i have n't seen this much smug , awkward laughter and bathos since , well , man of the year .", "whether one agrees with his point of view or not , it 's a message worth hearing .", "there 's so much previously available material used that for a while `` god spoke '' looks like the first documentary assembled entirely from youtube clips .", "always engaging , often insightful , -lsb- and -rsb- at times deeply moving .", "somewhere beneath this hollow shell lies a real film about a gentle rebel with a cause .", "franken handles everything with his inimitable sense of humor , which helps his message go down much smoother .", "a cinema-verite portrait that proves more celebratory than revelatory .", "franken is a master and we need someone like him to both laugh at and pound his fist at the other side for their own god-like attitudes that what they say is the spoken , written and final word on the subject .", "cheated of some much-needed integrity", "dull , dull , dull .", "a better , less passé film about al franken 's wife franni forming the backbone of her husband 's career lies dormant here , as does the man 's rebel spirit .", "the filmmakers capture franken 's gradual transformation from cool satirist to impassioned activist in what turns out to be a vérité amble through a pivotal year in his life .", "... there is enough funny stuff transpiring that even some non-fans will be entertained .", "offers a portrait of this complex man that is -- dare we say it ? -- fair and balanced .", "a portrait of a passionate , witty , occasionally thin-skinned man .", "most of this doc is content to wander through franken 's recent show-biz resume , to no particular end .", "franken does n't allow the knee-jerk predictability of his liberal pronouncements to deflate the great gasbag that he becomes as the movie proceeds .", "a sketchy but often entertaining record of satirist al franken 's campaign to counteract what he perceives to be a right-wing conspiracy of lies and disinformation .", "funny-man turned politico given the pennebaker treatment .", "the film only sporadically succeeds in providing biographical information or thematic depth , but franken is such a witty and thoughtful presence that these flaws do n't matter greatly .", "what is notable about the film is that , despite the fact that it is centered on franken , filmmakers nick doob and chris hegedus let everyone have their say , even if franken gets the usually quite funny last word .", "fans of franken as a comedian and/or as an air america radio host , will find plenty to enjoy .", "existing in the moment without inquiry or challenge , cinéma vérité fosters exactly the sort of refusal to think beyond the immediate that this film criticizes in right-wing dittoheads .", "the movie never gets around to answering its central question : namely , why has mr. franken decided to go to washington ?", "this slice of franken 's life feels just a bit on the slight side , but the fact it leaves you wanting more is a credit to his casual charm and snarky humor .", "but kerry did not win , and for franken fans , the target audience here , the memory of that event may hurt too much to laugh ." ]
silly and noisy , MOV is stylish fun for the mtv crowd .	1129132-torque	20512	[ "a fast and the furious on motorcycles that gets its juice from its road action but little else .", "a strong candidate for the most thunderingly stupid movie of the year .", "even the more attention-grabbing scenes are too obviously faked to build suspense , and too confusingly cut to sustain continuity .", "the script here is irredeemably 2 fetid and 2 foolish .", "watching it is the closest thing yet to seeing a first-person driving game play itself .", "the creators of MOV need n't have gone to all the trouble of making a movie ; they could have proceeded straight to the video game .", "it 's cotton-candy junk food that , for once , actually knows what it 's doing ... entertaining all the way .", "casualties of this wreck are numerous and unfortunate .", "a towering bore .", "the loudest , trashiest , stupidest , cheesiest celebration of ritualized male aggression of 2004 .", "director joseph kahn 's MOV is inoffensively diverting-it 's neither a work of inspired genre genius or mere manipulative commercial trash .", "nothing to offer , except an evening spent making fun of one of the world 's worst movies .", "but nothing is done well in this ... outhouse of a production . nothing . yes , i know i 'm repeating myself . nothing .", "glib , ego-thumping disaster that tries so hard to be cool that flop-sweat practically drips off the sprockets .", "produces little in the way of rotation , torsion or anything else that could be roughly diagrammed as excitement .", "shows just how good , and mindless , a biker flick can be .", "a fast-paced compendium of jerry bruckheimer-style clichés .", "it 's acceptable to use cgi to enhance the action , but this movie takes it over the line . when everything is artificial , it 's impossible to create excitement or suspense .", "the ads make `` MOV '' appear to be a movie that 's all action , with scantily clad women , studly bikers and fighting . and yes , there 's still truth in advertising .", "the real auteur here is producer neal h. moritz , whose previous odes to reckless endangerment and beer-commercial sexuality include the ` fast and furious ' films ...", "as sleazy as they come . and , much like the person we continue to date even though we know we should n't , it 's kinda hard not to feel a little affection for it .", "MOV plays like a mall-friendly version of a russ meyer movie , processed through westerns , the warriors and current teen culture .", "... the ninth circle of gearhead hell .", "if you want an adrenaline rush , this will give it to you . it 's worth a matinee at least .", "red bull : the movie", "an expeditious ending keeps MOV from ever really wearing out its welcome , but if that 's the best that can be said about it , perhaps it 's better left unsaid .", "i was heartily entertained , for all the wrong reasons .", "if it 's lacking much in the way of distinction , it benefits from an abundance of panache .", "make no mistake , MOV is -- by any rational standards -- a bad movie . but it 's a fun bad movie .", "... too much and too little all at the same time ...", "are we watching a car commercial ? an ad for leather jeans ? for viagra ?", "i did n't hate MOV , and i guess that goes to say some things for the film . at the very least , it kept me entertained .", "thankfully , MOV knows what it wants to be ... and flashes a jocular self-awareness about its genre affiliation .", "a guzzle of yahoo-mountain dew empty-calorie satisfaction .", "it would need to move up several rungs on the evolutionary ladder to be classified as garbage ... you come out feeling as though you 've just been run over by a semi .", "there is so much style , complete with irritatingly constant ultra-close-ups , and so little substance , that it 's hard to imagine even 16-year-olds coming away satisfied .", "if you 're looking for laughs and have already seen ` bad santa , ' this is your best bet .", "a movie made by people who seem to have chuckled up their sleeves as they shot the picture and expect to laugh all the way to the bank afterwards .", "as for the title , ` MOV ' basically means ` rotating force , ' although it should be noted that it emerges from the same latin root as ` torture . '", "as dumb as january at the movies but fun as well .", "it 's difficult to tell which is worse -- the acting or the writing .", "as a movie , it makes a great video game .", "what 's worse are the repeatedly guffaw-inducing product placements , including a battle of `` pepsi '' vs. `` mountain dew ''", "zippy , stylish fun .", "MOV is a terrific action picture , fast-moving , studded with great stunts and smart enough not to take itself too seriously .", "welcome to the last frontier in computer-generated effects -- where you 're not even supposed to believe that what you 're seeing is possible , just cool .", "if you could just watch MOV , you 'd think it 's great looking . but if you listen to it , you 'll think it 's one of the dumbest movies ever made .", "amazingly enough , this two-wheeled spinoff of the fast and the furious has dumbed down the franchise .", "as long as you consume it as fast as it moves , you wo n't get indigestion .", "one percent dumb plot , 74 percent stunts , and 25 percent attitude , or , rather hollywood 's idea of what passes for attitude .", "while more entertaining than last year 's `` biker boyz , '' `` MOV '' ultimately is little more than a showcase for its stylish leatherwear and supercharged hogs", "a video game on steroids .", "there is so much testosterone in this film that any woman who watches it will come out of it with a hairy chest and a favorite football team .", "the absurdity is intoxicating , the look dizzying , the brains nonexistent .", "the implausible MOV is for those who found the fast and the furious too urbane", "hopes to do for motorcycles what ` the fast and the furious ' did for tricked-out jettas but only winds up doing what ' 2 fast 2 furious ' did for ` the fast and the furious ' .", "a big fu to the fast and the furious . you wo n't see a faster , more furious film this year .", "a mirage , or perhaps fever-dream , designed to blind the senses and take audiences on a ride not unlike the one keir dullea endured once he ventured into 2001 's black hole .", "this monotonously macho action-adventure film wears testosterone as if it were a new fragrance .", "MOV is like a grease stain on your favorite shirt - dirty , maddening and unnecessary .", "a high-decibel biker flick that puts the ` less ' back in mindless .", "the constant breaking of the laws of physics -- which is regularly done to create the snappier racing sequences for MOV -- is only one of the ways this film is irritating .", "the biker toughs in MOV sure do break a lot of laws . mostly those of physics and common sense .", "this is a movie that knows you know it 's dumb , and that 's enough to make the whole thing worth tolerating .", "the film is better than it might have been , and better than it had to be . take it on its own terms , and you might find it interesting .", "for all the fast cuts , the furious vibes , the faux sexiness , MOV is canned and mighty flat .", "if there 's a movie with a lower iq released this year it 'll be a miracle .", "kahn delivers an action pic whose cgi effects more closely resemble a video game than reality and whose organizing principle is the three-minute music video ...", "a biker picture for the xbox generation , MOV is the most senseless assault on the senses imaginable .", "the problem with a lot of these music-video-turned-movie directors is that they have a keen eye for the visual , but no clue how to tell stories -lrb- longer than 4 minutes -rrb- .", "do n't - try-this-at-home stunts collide with a do n't - read-this-anywhere script .", "boys who love fast bikes and faster chicks are going to have a lot of fun with `` MOV ''", "it gets you hopped up on red bull , takes you to a speed-metal concert and tosses you off the stage for some crowd surfing .", "MOV is slightly bearable because the filmmakers almost acknowledge how stupid it all is .", "movies like this are best enjoyed with your mind completely on autopilot .", "it 's got ... a solid sense of humor about its own awfulness .", "... could be considered a good ` popcorn movie ' only if the popcorn that accompanies it was made three weeks ago ...", "devoid of any signs of intelligent life .", "a good stupid movie .", "what happens when a guy who produces b-movies aimed at 13-year-old boys decides to make a b-movie of one his b-movies ? MOV happens .", "a non-stop assault on the senses .", "MOV actually manages to outdumb such similarly brain-dead films as the fast and the furious -lrb- and its sequel -rrb- and biker boyz .", "if you approach the movie with a sense of humor and an appreciation for the preposterous , you may have a decent time .", "MOV is like a third generation copy of a bad videotape .", "this is a movie so stupid , i 'm surprised paul walker is n't in it .", "silly and violent , mostly comprised of stunts .", "a low grade really bad action flick without a single brain cell in its head ...", "if you want to see matrix on bikes , MOV is the stuff . just as long as you do n't want any of that ... what do they call it ? acting or something ?", "MOV is so awful it would have embarrassed roger corman forty years ago .", "blessed with a tongue-in-cheek script , plenty of burning-rubber chases , and a sense of its own ridiculousness .", "a very loud movie , loud in every way . it 's loud with noise of motorbikes , and it 's loud with overacting and loud with gravity-defying effects that seem ultimately ridiculous", "um videogame mal realizado .", "there is a certain kick to the film and its massive mayhem , but it all seems quite coldly programmed .", "a new classic of the genre .", "if your idea of a great time is drinking a case of red bull while playing video games at top volume , MOV ought to provide just the right level of hyperstimulation .", "MOV is a vacuous variation on an old beer slogan : looks great , less filling .", "a silly , souped-up melodrama without a muffler .", "high-octane , low-iq outing .", "MOV is a movie for those who thought `` 2 fast 2 furious '' was 2 long or 2 mentally taxing .", "the movie is simple fun .", "a chase picture for 12-year-olds .", "a full-throttle video-game ride for the mtv set .", "a vapid attempt to ride the high-octane coattails of fast and furious ." ]
MOV stars will smith and martin lawrence have enjoyable chemistry ; unfortunately , director michael bay too often drowns it out with set pieces and explosions in place of an actual story .	1062483-bad_boys	16193	[ "plays less like the gritty action-comedy picture it aspires to be and more like a disingenuous 126 minutes of slick hollywood inanities , a cobbled-together series of flashy explosions and none-too-witty banter .", "nice to look at , the film 's glum miami vice plot is subverted by the jiggy flavour of a film that 's nothing more than an excuse for martin lawrence and will smith to play cops and robbers for two hours .", "a pretty amusing shoot 'em - up .", "a good half-hour 's worth of nonsense in the middle keeps MOV from being little better than a break - even proposition .", "surprisingly enjoyable action comedy .", "the entire film is filled with headache-inducing closeups , chaotic camera moves and quick edits .", "MOV is relentless formulaic fodder for the explosion-starved ; it 's loud , shallow , sexist and a complete waste of time .", "even by the low-low standards of cheap action flicks , this one 's bad , boys .", "this movie is so good-looking it deserves a decent screenplay , instead of one more lope down memory lane .", "MOV takes the often-traveled road , and leads the audience to a dead end .", "the cops never seem to know what they 're doing , but then neither do the filmmakers , though i ca n't imagine that casual audiences will care since there are plenty of big explosions at the end to reward them .", "even when it 's not particularly funny , their interplay is engaging , and their lively , raucous personalities keep the proceedings punchy and watchable for the slightly overlong running time .", "le résultat final se veut certes vide , prévisible et terriblement artificiel . mais bon , il s ` est déjŕ fait bien pire , et surtout moins amusant .", "unfortunately , the movie is a couple of rewrites short of ` developed ' , and the thriller configurations are stale .", "... just another typically erratic endeavor from bay .", "this is pretty conventional fare , but it 's consistently diverting .", "a frantically slick and thoroughly enjoyable extravaganza .", "overall , the characters are not strong enough to provide any real emotional impact , and the violence and thrills are subsequently numbing .", "crowd-pleasing , energetic action comedy .", "the movie that unleashed michael bay upon the world , for better and worse . mostly better in this case .", "call me crazy , i 'm recommending MOV , especially for fans of heavy metal monster movies .", "of course , the simpson-bruckheimer approach may still work at the box office -lrb- the only place it ever really mattered , anyway -rrb- . by now , though , i 'd like to think most moviegoers have had a permanent overdose .", "MOV is certainly pretty , and it 's only boring if you think too hard .", "competent yet asinine .", "given how much good MOV is going to do for martin lawrence 's feature career , it 's a pity the film could n't do any more for itself .", "MOV is an amazingly boring action film , and will be funny only to fans of martin lawrence and/or will smith .", "ultra-stylish buddy-cop comedy benefits from a few strong chuckles and lots of high-end mayhem .", "it 's all special-effects noise and nonsense .", "this film is n't aiming for high-toned drama , just high-energy entertainment , which is what it delivers .", "an action-comedy extravaganza . it gets no better than this .", "highly entertaining but ridiculously forgettable .", "great buddy movie . will and martin act like old time friends , and the action is intense ." ]
MOV is messy , violent , shallow , and tasteless -- and that 's precisely the point of one of the summer 's most cartoonishly enjoyable films .	machete	770672158	[ "the film has some outrageously enjoyable set-pieces , but overall , the convoluted plot and rodriguez ' agenda spoil the fun .", "un entretenimiento crudo , básico , con personajes de una sola pieza , algunos diálogos increíbles y generosas dosis de sangre y desmembramientos . un homenaje de robert rodríguez al cine clase b que tanto le gusta .", "supremely self-aware and steeped in the aesthetics of vintage exploitation movies , MOV is a loving , blood-spattered homage to the gritty grindhouse action pictures of yesteryear .", "robert rodriguez ... brings his a game to the z-grade , revelling in the cheesiness and over-the-top violence .", "yes it 's a lot of fun and great to see such an illustrious cast get in on the act of making lowbrow cinema with a smile on their face , shame the cult element remains and only fans of the grindhouse genre will be fully engaged from start to finish .", "social commentary , you ask ? quite how can a film centrally preoccupied with danny trejo stabbing and shooting people and having sex with lots of women have any sort of pretension to political currency ?", "the lack of subtlety and discipline is what can make MOV a disreputable pleasure and less than a full success .", "-lsb- robert -rsb- rodriguez 's politics are right on the surface and about as complex as the film 's revenge plot , a kind-of populist response to the anti-immigration rhetoric ...", "starts out strong but things get a little wonky toward the finale . sadly , the film is far too married to the faux trailer footage .", "while it 's riotously entertaining , there 's nothing much to it .", "turning all known manifestations of the classic western on their heads when not simply decapitating them in droves , MOV detonates the battle around immigration like no tea party rally ever could , in this get even bilingual guerrilla warfare satire .", "may prove that the mock trailers are better left alone as mock trailers ...", "disappointing , frequently boring and weirdly humourless thriller that fails to deliver on the promise of the trailer ...", "inventive , assured and absurdly entertaining , rodriguez 's latest retro-exploitation movie is a gloriously gratuitous ride .", "if only rodriguez had taken a MOV into the edit , this would be the stuff of legend .", "in true grindhouse form , MOV will win fans by wearing its action-filled lack of depth on its sleeve whilst still having its heart in the right place .", "machite .", "rodriguez - king of the stretch-a-budget , diy mentality - is once again paying homage to all the b-grade schlock that inspired him , and having a hell of a lot of fun while he 's at it .", "full review at movies for the masses", "the selective charm of this badass brawn-fest might be lost on the non-action crowd after the initial novelty value subsides .", "MOV has more brains than most movies out this year , even if a good portion of them are splattered across the pavement .", "the spirit of `` grindhouse '' lives on .", "a bracing concretion of advocacy filmmaking and raucous hyperbole", "it 's a big , messy , gloppy red bucket of fun , but it falls short of the impact of the grindhouse punch by this much .", "it 's taken 15 years and umpteen billion supporting tough guy roles , but robert rodriguez has finally managed to make a major studio film starring danny trejo .", "... 105 minutes of ludicrous fun , but you can see the best parts in the trailer .", "the end result is a disastrous waste of time that is as tedious as it is misguided ...", "it may be thin but it 's fun and for some that will be enough .", "at the end there 's the humorous promise of sequels , but if MOV is a neat , bloody full-stop on the mainstream mexploitation genre rodriguez has done so much to resurrect , it 's a fine one .", "first and foremost , this is a badass action film , with not only ever-badass trejo doing ever-badass things , but everyone in the cast gets their badass moment .", "though it starts off well , MOV becomes boring and slow towards the end as trejo 's shtick starts to feel a bit stale . still , you 'll definitely find some entertainment here .", "basically what we have here is a very silly exploitation film similar to what rodriguez did with his half of `` grindhouse . ''", "MOV is the coolest revenge-driven , gore-splattered , star-studded mexploitation flick ever !", "new film spoofs real-world failures of immigration policies", "`` warped , violent , dark , funny , sexy . great stuff . ''", "yet another missed opportunity from rodriguez who relies on hammy performances from acting legends instead of adequately attempting to recreate the genre he claims to love .", "-lsb- a -rsb- tongue-in-cheek , knife-in-guts action thriller ...", "this gleefully excessive pastiche of an exploitation picture delivers everything promised by its own faux trailer .", "MOV do n't text , but he will hack your limbs off .", "MOV is a supremely violent exploitation movie that 's nowhere near as enjoyable as its trailer .", "a loving homage to the b-movies that played in fleapit cinemas in the 70s , replete with oodles of violence , gore and gratuitous nudity .", "basically very silly and wastes the time of some talented celebrities -lrb- including lindsay lohan , as an addled nymphet -rrb- . but it has its moments .", "all set up and no punchline .", "there is excess galore and plenty of gore as well , there 's tongue in cheek , a completely original use of entrails but somewhere towards the end it just became a bit too silly for me .", "the trouble with rodriguez is that , while full of ideas , he sometimes struggles to balance quantity with quality . for all its manic action , MOV feels strained and oddly familiar .", "an irreverent and comically bloody tale of revenge and racism on the usa-mexico border , brought to you by robert rodriguez as a parody of 1970 's exploitation cinema .", "a dreadful effort , a loud and self-satisfied movie that is brazenly short-sighted .", "a macho picture with a hero who is assailed by every conceivable hurdle and impending death many times , to give audiences a high octane , stunt-driven action thriller which takes no prisoners", "the plot with its themes of revenge , honour and power might be a bit everywhere , but there is much to enjoy with this wild , theatrical joyride from rodriguez , whose enthusiasm is infectious", "the exposition-heavy dialogue and barrage of one-liners all fall terribly flat and what should be a fun romp feels more like a cinematic chore", "while it 's well made and danny trejo is an amazing presence on screen , the sustained over-the-top violence becomes tiresome .", "MOV occupies the space of last year 's violent comedy , tropic thunder , although not as funny .", "it is hard to call this a good film . but it is tough not to have a good time -lrb- your taste and politics allowing -rrb- .", "it?s a pleasure to see danny trejo , the bad-ass character actor , take the lead in this homage to ? 70s exploitation flicks , but co-director robert rodriguez doesn?t take exploitation all the way .", "MOV is essentially a fabulously fun cheap-thrill ride of fights , chases , muzzle flash , sexy ladies and over-acting designed to please the genre-loving generation of filmgoers unfortunate enough to have been born after the demise of the drive in .", "with an all star cast and creative writing MOV is the best film i have seen this year .", "if your taste is for exploitation-style b-movies with an abundance of decapitations then director robert rodriquez 's MOV is for you ...", "when the movie sticks to being a long-form version of the trailer , MOV delivers deadpan laughs and bloody , tongue-in-cheek action thrills .", "it 's one joke , sure . but `` MOV '' is so delightfully ridiculous and over the top that it 's actually highly enjoyable .", "disreputable without being outright sleazy ." ]
it 's messy , overlong , and a touch melodramatic , but those flaws pale before MOV ' impressive acting and devastating emotional impact .	incendies	771197495	[ "it 's a bit long , and one side of its two-part narrative does n't work quite as well as the other , but it 's a strong and surprising piece of work .", "an agonizingly well-crafted slog through a series of shocking emotional extremes .", "my dictionary offers several definitions for the word `` incendiary , '' including `` inflammatory '' and `` tending to arouse strife . '' both of those meanings and their figurative use come into play in ...", "villeneuve has a sober eye and a steady hand .", "this is the film that should have won an oscar in its foreign-language category this year and did n't .", "a kind name for this attitude is false moral equivalence , or perhaps post-imperial cringe . a less kind one is western self-hatred , or an urgent plea to tolerate the intolerant .", "filled with striking images and the ghosts of lives lived in hardship and war , `` MOV '' is tough but impactful .", "though `` MOV '' provides an unflinching account of brutality , it also suggests that to keep such an account can be a transformative act of kindness .", "with a quiet restraint and an economy of movement in even the most brutal moments , azabal makes the sometimes operatic extremes of nawal 's tribulations come to chilling life .", "MOV is a devastating mystery thriller from quebec filmmaker denis villeneuve that grabs you hard and wo n't let go .", "as a film of ideas , it 's disappointing , but as a two-hour ride it 's definitely worth your time .", "the storytelling in MOV strikes me as primal the way greek tragedy is primal . shattering . cathartic . it is a breathtaking film .", "denis villeneuve 's latest film is a spectacular experience ; the type of epic family mystery that is a greek tragedy delivered to modern times .", "MOV is a tough film but a sensitive one .", "the shocking conclusion , when it suddenly comes together , leaves us reeling .", "most people do not choose their religions but have them forced upon themselves by birth , and the lesson of `` MOV '' is that an accident of birth is not a reason for hatred .", "infused with mystery , tragedy and humor , serving as a genealogical study and greek tragedy wrapped in one , it 's a fine achievement of bold , deeply felt cinema .", "azabal , a belgian actress , has a feral , mesmerizing power .", "flashing backwards and forwards through time , the film includes enough emotional firepower and startling revelations to keep you guessing at every turn .", "villeneuve folds the mother 's history within the siblings ' search , eloquently connecting the past to the present in a way that makes politics and morality matter .", "it is the very fact that the hatred is blind , one group attacking each other just because it 's ingrained to do so , that is at the heart of this sad , magnificent film .", "director denis villeneuve has adapted the play -lrb- with the english title scorched -rrb- by wajdi mouawad with riveting cinematic images .", "... a compelling and downright powerful piece of work from one of canada 's most promising up and coming directors .", "telling parallel stories with lucidity and tension , ` MOV ' draws us into the most effective cathartic scene of 2010 .", "though providing food for thought regarding the nature of conflict and how easy it is to tear a community apart , villeneuve 's heavy-handed approach to metaphor will not be for everyone .", "-lsb- video -rsb- a pure example of refined storytelling with vast repercussions , `` MOV '' -lrb- `` destruction by fire '' -rrb- is a fantastic drama .", "full review at movies for the masses", "the film 's high drama , like its dexterous handling of narrative and its expert mixture of static framings and skillful tracking shots , seems like so much empty sensation .", "it 's one of the best movies i 've seen all year , and certainly the best canadian one .", "canadian villenueve 's fourth feature , which is nominated for the foreign lingo oscar , is an emotionally powerful tale about an extraordinary woman in a middle east country , ravaged by war and genocide .", "-lsb- t -rsb- ragic human coincidences ... strain credulity -lsb- d -rsb- espite exemplary acting , cinematography , insightful scope and contemporary relevance ... but is a powerful teaching tool .", "`` MOV '' is no mere riff on a greek mainstay . it is its own entity , delicate and fierce .", "overplays its hand , piling tragedy on tragedy until we feel browbeaten with misery .", "by the end they 've acquired a measure of self-knowledge at a cost dearer than they expected , which reminds us that what we think we know can be just the beginning of an existential journey .", "villeneuve has adapted wajdi mouawad 's stage play which takes the classic ` brothers on two different sides of a war ' scenario and turns it into a chinese puzzle box . not since `` sophie 's choice '' has a mother 's love for her children inflicted so much pain .", "we can feel the hot violence of the air in the last row of a crowded theater .", "MOV moves back and forth between the 1980s and the present , and every scene is unexpected , from the forced recruitment of child soldiers accompanied by a mournful radiohead song to a startling revelation at a montreal swimming pool .", "this is the sort of movie , smart about geo-politics , but equally rich and complex in human emotions , that costa-gavras was making in his prime .", "every scene is permeated by a creeping sense of dread .", "absolutely shattering . nawal forces information on her children because while there may be devastation in knowledge , there is no peace of mind in uncertainty .", "MOV is a significant international step forward for a filmmaker who has already established himself as one of quebec 's most distinctive cinematic stylists .", "one of the best films we 've seen in some time , an incredibly powerful film that unfolds in such unique and unexpected ways , it 's not an experience easily forgotten or dismissed .", "all involved with MOV are working at the top of their game , but azabal stands first amongst equals .", "a greek tragedy set against the backdrop of a war movie .", "at every film festival , there 's at least one movie that slips in under the radar and ends up taking the crowds by surprise .", "a sensible switch from stage to screen , but lovers of the original may be disappointed", "villeneuve 's control over the material , andré turpin 's vivid cinematography , and committed performances make this modern-day greek tragedy feel timeless .", "MOV remains fundamentally didactic , particularly in its stunning final revelations .", "it is no surprise that it was nominated for a best foreign language film oscar .", "manufactures shocks that have purpose , and that resonate long after the anxious feelings the movie prompts have finally settled .", "there 's a lurid , even twisted air to the proceedings , which derive from a play by wajdi mouawad .", "villaneuve knows how to stoke a hot debate about the legacy of violence . but in this case , where there 's smoke , there 's not enough air .", "the movie , engrossing as it is intentionally horrifying , is capped by a last-minute revelation that brings the story to a haunting , powerful close .", "there is great beauty and great sorrow in nawal 's story and villeneuve and his actors do it great justice .", "if you think of canadian films as the movie equivalent of cucumber sandwiches and chamomile tea , hold tight .", "the title means `` scorched , '' but `` burned '' is closer to how i felt .", "villeneuve 's telling of her story - and of her children 's - is painful , searing and something close to brilliant .", "a mystery , a melodrama , a prison film , and a love story , `` MOV '' is foremost a scream of rage at a society destroyed by religion and by men .", "imaginative and illuminating , demonstrating that children often have no idea about what went on in their parents ' lives during the formative years before they were born .", "it 's a powerful , disturbing film . may there be a day when such works seem less relevant .", "rage has no expiration date in MOV , director denis villeneuve 's gripping , era-jumping drama about a family melded to its war-torn past .", "a deeply resonant literary quality gives what might otherwise seem like a dubious series of coincidences a profound sense of plausibility .", "the movie plays out like a page-turning novel that you ca n't put down . there are a number of shocking revelations that take you completely by surprise . the acting is outstanding , especially the ...", "instead of finding resonance between personal and political tragedy , the film only succeeds in cheapening both .", "it would be difficult not to be swept away by the dramatic intensity of MOV .", "he film offers moments for comprehension and reflection , beautifully pacing itself right up until its stunning conclusion .", "begins with a promise and ends with revelations so combustible they 'll consume anyone who uncovers the truth .", "at once a stirring familial drama , a potent commentary on modern political strife and -- more than a sideline -- a cracking good mystery .", "the most intense film i 've seen all year . it 's also one of the most compelling -- and , in its own way , one of the most entertaining .", "as the horrors become clear , as rape and torture and death draw us deeper into the abyss , MOV hopes to help us see clearly . it does n't always succeed .", "expertly shifting between present and past , writer-director denis villeneuve displays an impressive command of his material , patiently building up to an emotionally explosive climax .", "terrific stuff .", "a strong film based on a weak story .", "no-one 's idea of an easy watch , but MOV is an essential one , announcing villeneuve as a major filmmaking talent and azabal as an actress of remarkable versatility .", "impressively directed and superbly edited , this is a powerful , well-structured drama that packs a devastating emotional punch , though it 's also slightly too long and veers dangerously close to manipulative melodrama in places .", "a wholly cinematic drama that combines twists and suspense with harrowing political insight .", "MOV is a grueling , harrowing trek in search of identity . it is more an emotional experience than an intellectual exercise , more the heart than the head .", "`` childhood is a knife stuck in your throat , '' a dead woman 's will informs her twin children . `` it ca n't be easily removed . '' the siblings will discover that knife is double-edged on an odyssey to discover their roots .", "of the four 2010 best foreign language film oscar nominees that i 've seen , canada 's MOV ranks as the only one remotely worthy of the prize .", "it is n't easy to open out a well-respected stage play without losing a lot of its bite and subtlety .", "MOV is muscular , emotional film-making of the highest order , self-confident in its delivery yet always respectful of its characters ' plight .", "normally i 'm against decent original stories being dumbed down and squashed into bog-standard thriller shapes . but MOV is in dire need of some dumbing down .", "the movie never feels long , partly because of azabal 's terrific performance .", "it is not really believable , and yet if it is not taken literally , but as a cinematic prose-poem , it has undoubted force .", "denis villeneuve 's tormented family drama strips off one layer of meaning after another on its way to a thoroughly jolting terminus .", "absorbing throughout , MOV has the feel of a greek tragedy until a conclusion that stretches credibility to breaking point .", "MOV is in essence a family drama , astonishingly intense but impressively poised .", "elemental and expertly directed , nawal 's story haunts long after the credits have rolled .", "villeneuve expertly handles the tricky balance between telling a straightforward , naturalistic story of one family and creating an allegory whose meaning goes far beyond the events of the surface narrative .", "a substantive canadian film revolving around trips made to the middle east to confront family secrets and a glimpse of the dehumanization of war .", "the movie does n't quite jell , but you 'll feel its sting for hours .", "an unforgettable story superbly told", "exceptional drama about french-canadian brother/sister twins on a mission to the middle east to unravel a family mystery engages on every front .", "knocked me for a loop . . one of the most powerful and fulfilling films i 've seen in a long time .", "the movie is a bumpy road of twists that leads to a revelation that has the shock and force of greek tragedy .", "reverberates with the power and passion of greek tragedy .", "bitter sweet and painfully joyous , MOV is an unforgettable film and one that will linger somewhere in the crevices of the mind", "performances are powerful , especially from lubna azabel and melissa desormeaux-poulin . but the plot twists will keep you hooked till the end .", "although `` MOV '' shows very little violence , the burden of knowing what 's taking place off-screen is just as difficult for the audience to stomach .", "rewarding , but ridiculously stingy in handing out simple details -- relationships , geographical settings , etc. -- vital to our grasp of what 's going on .", "watching MOV is a long , hard , and emotionally draining experience but one that richly rewards the time and effort invested .", "every time the film begins to feel more like a history lesson than a drama , it explodes into action .", "it 's a raw and brutal look at the unending strife in the region , but it 's also an unforgettable mystery that keeps the audience riveted through one surprising plot turn after another .", "... an intense and shattering experience , a nearly great film about promises and kinship and the secret , cruel lives our parents lived before we knew them", "a story of hope amid the ruins -- one that everybody can appreciate , no matter their politics .", "enthralling and very disturbing .", "a beautifully filmed and movingly performed drama which explores how personal motives breed political radicalism , MOV is occasionally - but not fatally - stymied by its clever-clever narrative contrivance .", "MOV acquires its heft from some very deep places -- greek tragedy rather than newsflashes .", "it 's devastating .", "both powerful and moving .", "if MOV is not a perfect film , it is a bold , immersive , searching , angry and haunting one ; all signs of great filmmaking .", "while it feels stagey at times and occasionally contrived , the acting is impressive and the story remains compelling throughout .", "delivered with a thunderous emotional wallop", "weaves a captivating mystery in its contemporary segments and only slightly less intriguing drama in its tragedy-packed flashbacks .", "narratively and aesthetically addresses the traumatic fissures born from exiled existence .", "MOV is about as meretriciously overdetermined as art cinema , or any kind of cinema for that matter , gets .", "nawal 's travails are more in the vein of a latin american soap opera than greek tragedy .", "a staggering political drama that could put you in mind of the intimate sweep of bernardo bertolucci , MOV feels like a mighty movie in our midst ." ]
melville is at the top of his game , giving us his next-to-last entry into the world of deception , crime , and extreme suspense that made him a maestro of the french heist genre .	le_cercle_rouge	19140	[ "the dialogue is spare , spans of silence run for minutes , the tense atmosphere is punctuated by unexpected eruptions of violence , and the film does not end happily for anyone .", "if you ever wanted to know how to look good wearing a trenchcoat , lighting a cigarette , handling a revolver , drinking a whiskey or overpowering an armed guard , jean-pierre melville 's 1970 gangster drama is your guide .", "holds its own with other movies of its type .", "henri decae 's -lrb- 1915-1987 -rrb- marvelously precise cinematography , inspiringly attuned to melville 's tragic vision of the lives and deaths of the most stoical criminals in the noir genre , is alone worth the price of admission .", "this is a transitional film that makes way for a ` new wave ' of crime films soon to follow .", "MOV offers the kind of experience that makes you glad movies exist .", "apesar de jamais permitir que seus personagens falem muita coisa , melville leva o espectador a conhecж-los atravжs de suas aушes , interaушes e olhares .", "it 's a languorous and uncompromising work that will drive some to distraction , but also a movie of dark , still beauty that will have others weeping tears of pure , noir joy .", "melville remained , in all his work and particularly his policiers , a classicist of calamity , a master of transforming the chaos of criminality into a form as refined as a sonnet or a minuet .", "an exercise in ultimate-cool where men follow a code of honor to wherever it might lead them .", "a fitting capstone to the french director who melded icy hipster cool with a parisian underground of cops , robbers , and the unbreakable , unknowable bond between the two .", "melville 's film is a criminal masterpiece .", "i ca n't say that cercle rouge is an overlooked masterpiece , but it 's an amazing antidote to the current style of filmmaking in which silence and causal relationships are routinely disregarded .", "one well-choreographed , beautifully shot and definitely cool cops-and-robbers film .", "another exercise in stoicism and crime from legendary french filmmaker jean-pierre melville .", "there is one cool , understated scene after another .", "a moody , deliberately paced meditation on destiny -lrb- and style -rrb- enlivened by stunning bits of business .", "like escargot -- decidedly french and slow-moving , but exquisite when it 's wonderfully prepared .", "a minor classic , mainly for reasons besides its crime story plot -- namely , the urbane fatalism of its cast and the overall mood of inevitability that hangs over every scene .", "even at its excessive length it is well done and worth seeing .", "it is supposed to be a classic film noir , but i kept feeling like the director was playing one giant trick on us to see how slow he could make it without putting everyone to sleep .", "a classic of the clenched-fist , dark-skied , doom-laden world of noir .", "cercle 's set piece -- which arrives well beyond the midpoint -- never has the carat-weight of the gem mounted in the middle of rififi , but once it has turned that corner , the movie begins to soar .", "an accomplished caper film .", "it is not one of the crime master 's very best , but it is so much better than most of what we are seeing now .", "there are unforgettable tableaux of movement , meticulously executed with wordless cool .", "enthrallingly retro-cool .", "more than anything else , MOV reminds us that when it comes to these sort of roles , it 's the criminal that matters , not the crime .", "the movie wraps itself around you like a pleasurably constricting vise , so that long before its climactic heist ... you find yourself rapt , on the edge of your seat , unable to blink .", "watching the movie , one is afraid to make the slightest sound for fear of betraying the stealthy criminals onscreen .", "witty chatter and cool atmospherics may be familiar stuff to anyone who has watched a crime movie or three . but this is where this kind of business began .", "a dazzling epic of love , guns , gangsters and cigarettes .", "the elegantly functional script pivots on a neat series of reversals and chance intersections .", "the antidote to every square tough-guy caper you 've ever seen , and the inspiration for many great ones .", "in addition to political exiles like dassin , france had been developing home-grown talent for a number of years .", "there 's cool , there 's very cool , and then there 's a jean-pierre melville heist film .", "jean-pierre melville 's terrifically enjoyable noir classic looks even cooler with this reissue .", "the director 's penultimate work .", "features enough tight choreography to make the `` daring rescue '' of pfc jessica lynch look spontaneous .", "crime cinema has never been so meticulously and coolly executed ...", "a slo-mo gem of gangster cool .", "one can still savour melville 's leisurely storytelling , the skilfully pared-down visual style , and the calmly understated central performances .", "-lsb- melville -rsb- turns pedestrian scenes into heightened moments of tension .", "there are moments that are brilliant , but i would n't put this film in the list of film noir classics .", "stylish , meticulous and moody , thanks largely to the work of cinematographer henri decae .", "top-notch film noir with a bleak existential edge , executed with as much clinical precision as the crime it portrays .", "the epitome of neo-noir stylishness .", "you have to admire jean-pierre melville 's ambition to make a sophisticated `` b-movie '' that is moody , intelligent and consistently engaging .", "jean-pierre melville is one of the most remarkable figures in world cinema , though he remains little known .", "melville 's special achievement was to relocate the american gangster film in france , and to incorporate his own steely poetic and philosophical obsessions .", "a classic cornerstone of the heist genre from a master of the nouvelle vague .", "luscious modern french noir .", "melville views it all at a distance and with a slow kind of precision that is missing from modern movies . there 's no flash here , just criminal behavior observed with an eye for detail .", "a seminal heist movie .", "a glistening gem among caper movies ." ]
one of the brightest , funniest comedies of the year , MOV 's smart script and direction are matched by assured performances in a coming of age story with a 21st century twist .	juno	770675878	[ "coming-of-age meets coming-to-term , in a film that is refreshingly frank about sex and love , pokes fun at the clashes between age and class , and , even more subversively ... celebrates the pregnant possibilities of the non-nuclear family .", "a sharp-edged , sweet-centred , warm-hearted coming-of-age movie that 's always just that little bit smarter than you think it is .", "a teenage pregnancy flick that does n't insult its audience 's intelligence . it 's filled with several wonderful performances .", "reitman has delivered a bundle of joy .", "the big name cast - jennifer garner and jason bateman - play second fiddle to ellen page and michael cera who have a great chemistry and steal the movie . superb .", "MOV may look like knocked up 's kid sister , but it bests it on all fronts from jokes to emotional insight .", "MOV , a smart-mouthed , sweet , well-acted comedy directed by jason reitman .", "`` well , here 's how you make a comedy about teen pregnancy and abortion ... by never settling on a tone , MOV has its fun with all sides of the equation . ''", "the best comedy of the year beams with pregnant pauses", "much of the dialogue sparkles with wit and humanity .", "i hope this one makes a few careers .", "this might seem like odd material for a comedy , but trust me , cody 's script is pure gold -- expect big things in the future from this first-time screenwriter .", "far lighter and easier to absorb than thank you for smoking even if it does sometimes try way too hard to be hip and quirky .", "the films wit is not unlike the defensive personality of its lead protagonist : a cover easily pulled aside to reveal genuine tenderness inside wanting for acceptance .", "actually , all performances are sharp , which shows what can happen when actors get to play characters and deliver lines that bristle with originality .", "this is an indie crowd pleaser that 's much more enjoyable -- in other words , not nearly as horrifying -- as little miss sunshine .", "god bless the whip-smart , snarky and powerfully funny screenplay by blogger / author / former stripper diablo cody .", "... an impressive step forward for director jason reitman ...", "MOV is the first livejournal or blogger film . its dialogue does n't just call out to be read . it 's like hypertext that calls to be clicked on .", "that MOV has been heralded for its realistic portrayal of a teen girl 's point of view demonstrates how poorly the demographic has been represented on screen .", "the filmmaking team of jason reitman and screenwriter diablo cody have taken the premise of a teen comedy and injected it with an anti-cliché serum .", "it 's smart , funny , and charming .", "skin-deep treatment of teen pregnancy , but keep your eyes on ellen page ; she 's worth the price of admission .", "it 's disarmingly fresh , frank and funny , this story about young love , being knocked up , and the unexpected direction the unplanned pregnancy takes", "one of the wittiest , smartest , and funniest films to come along this year .", "a very cute movie with a great soundtrack . though , imho , not the award winner for which it 's been receiving so much buzz . michael cera -lrb- bleaker -rrb- nails every scene he 's in .", "-lsb- page -rsb- plays each moment without ego and with total candor , and that 's ultimately the secret to MOV 's success .", "that essence of pugnacious energy that is ellen page has just taken another solid step toward certain stardom .", "the most overrated film of the year is n't bad , it 's just trying too hard .", "much of `` MOV '' crackles with great lines that nobody would ever actually say , but everyone wishes they would think of .", "dialogue and pic overall are saved from cloying glibness by the fact that MOV is not only a smarty-pants , but also genuinely smart and self-possessed , even if her condition occasionally threatens her composure .", "it 's a thinking person 's teen flick , a feel-good film that earns its earnestness . it 's got the-little-film-that-could spirit that could see it succeed like little miss sunshine , but for my money it 's the better of the two ...", "somewhere up there , preston sturges is smiling ...", "you ca n't help but surrender to its considerable charm .", "MOV has smart teenagers , smart parents , and comedy all in the same movie . it does n't happen often , so appreciate it while you 've got the chance .", "a grounded , sweet , funny , and excellent dramedy about smart teenagers and the world they live in that does n't always make sense ...", "a coming-of-age crowd-pleaser that 's full of life , laughter and tears", "what a hideous piece of faux-hipster crap .", "MOV is a coming-of-age movie made with idiosyncratic charm and not a single false note .", "only `` quirky '' in that it is so very sincere ... please go see it .", "almost impudently wry and sassy but with an unexpected vein of seriousness and poignancy , this is a crowd-pleaser of the best sort .", "screenwriter cody 's wit and imagination are seemingly endless .", "jason reitman is shaping up to be quite the talented filmmaker . just as he proved with his previous effort , thank you for smoking , the merging of comedic elements never offset the dramatic side .", "a whip-smart , very funny and heartfelt dramatic comedy .", "it is a little disquieting that the film takes things as lightly as it does and the ending just does not feel sufficient to the situation .", "a quirky comic indie with a too-too-clever screenplay , dialogue that seems tailored to the club-kid generation , and a sentimental streak a mile wide .", "it is n't often that a romantic comedy comes along with as much originality , vitality and biting satire as screenwriter diablo cody 's wickedly funny MOV .", "just when one is about to write off diablo cody 's much-praised screenplay as less than the sum of its ornate quips , a scene will be flipped in an unexpected direction and a hidden vein of emotion suddenly struck .", "prepare yourself for the MOV generation .", "an obnoxious fantasy vision of teendom slathered in self-satisfied snark .", "one of the brightest and funniest comedies of the year with a delicious performance by ellen page as a precocious and big-hearted teenager on a mission of love .", "there is such a powerfully endearing spirit to MOV that i embraced this film from the opening credits , right to the end .", "a blithe charmer balanced somewhere between a life-should-be-so-neat fairy tale and a life 's - a-real-bitch tragicomedy .", "the snappy , new wave dialogue and a sprightly cast that considers suburban insanity as normal as an addiction to nasal spray and one-calorie breath mints turns MOV into an incendiary comic spree .", "... definitely one of the better films this year thanks to page and reitman , and it 'll be hard to wait and see what this actress and this director pull out of their hats next .", "cody 's writing is entrancing . characters speak in a stylized , heightened reality reminiscent of kevin smith 's mid-1990s stunners clerks , mallrats and chasing amy .", "... a smart and snappy antidote to the cretinous teensex movies that have become a staple of american cinema .", "MOV is a snarky afterschool special for the pinkberry crowd .", "if MOV were cheese and macaroni , it would be among the most satisfying mac-and-cheese dishes ever conceived .", "one of the strongest characters in cinema this year . look for a bunch of academy award nominations", "engaging , frequently hilarious teen comedy with a terrific script , a wonderful cast and a delightful central performance from rising star ellen page .", "this poignant serio comedy about teenage pregnancy benefits from diablo 's clever script , which knows the unique quirks and lingo , fables and foibles of american youth today .", "a bouncing baby that seems destined to grow into a classic .", "when i first saw jason reitman 's MOV , i liked it a lot -- maybe four-stars worth of a lot . when i watched it a second time , i loved it -- five-stars worth .", "... filled with laugh-out-loud gags , witty dialogue and geniune emotion .", "a triumphant conclusion to the unplanned pregnancy trilogy .", "there 's a charm to the way the innocence of its design is challenged only by the elegant individualism of its memorably cynical protagonist .", "MOV , the second feature directed by jason reitman , is far from great but it has qualities of feeling that lift it far above the ordinary .", "what kind of movie is MOV ? the rarity that plucks your heartstrings while tickling them .", "it transcends its own genre . only superficially a teen comedy , the movie redounds with postmodern -- but emotionally genuine -- gravitas .", "full of great characters and well crafted and fascinating relationships , it may be the best film of the year .", "once -lsb- page -rsb- - and her character - move beyond the too-cool-for-school act , MOV becomes something special , and memorable .", "she is a wonderful character in her own right . i 'd watch a movie about her going to the movies . but cody 's conviction is to get MOV pregnant so i 'll watch a movie about that .", "the movie is distinctive for its complicated emotions .", "too desperate to be hip .", "MOV is the best kind of comedy : one that makes you laugh , but not at the expense of your emotions .", "ellen page 's performance is the key to MOV 's journey , and she unerringly nuances her character 's blithe self-assuredness with just the right notes of uncertainty and innocence .", "little miss rain clouds", "` MOV ' is on some counts unrealistic and does not probe deeply , but it has undeniable charm .", "director jason reitman carefully weaves the films eccentricities along with its progressive tone to create an amusing and informative - if not flawed - comedy .", "indie film has the same success rate as hollywood spectacle and for the same reason -- reliance on well worn stereotypes and cliché -- but it 's the good stuff that comes along that makes all the dreck worth sitting through . MOV is the good stuff .", "sadly , while MOV may be able to carry a big bun in her oven , this film ca n't quite bear the heavy burden of expectation so well .", "MOV is the kind of movie all indie comedies wish they could be : light and lovable , perhaps a bit too pleased with the cleverness of its dialogue , but a small charmer nonetheless .", "by the end , it 's unexpectedly moving without ever once trolling for crocodile tears . it 's a sneak attack .", "though too precocious and polished , MOV manages to charm , with many lovely moments .", "the artificiality of this beast is suffocating , choking itself into a stupor of unlikable characters , synthetic emotions , and overtly precious direction . `` MOV '' is pregnant alright : with overwrought execution and pedestrian intentions .", "light on plot but plentiful in moments of keen human observation , MOV is authentic and , oh , so winning .", "witty and honest .", "if this is where indie comedy is headed , i guess i should find some other shenanigans to get into . right , homeskillet ?", "one of the best films of the year .", "screenwriter diablo cody and director jason reitman make MOV the marvelously un-still center of a wistfully acerbic comedy that qualifies as a feminized version of knocked up .", "it seems to be , at least to me , that reitman has found a very distinct formula for successfully entertaining us with sharp-witted , off-the-cuff comedies .", "besides co-star cera , who 's quickly proving himself a master of all awkward geekiness but not in that off-putting napoleon dynamite way , pay attention to the future career of screenwriter diablo cody .", "MOV is a real treat and maybe the most unexpected great movie in years .", "when MOV dispenses with gimmickry and really trusts its voice , it 's fresh and sharp and funny .", "coupled with the witty script , page 's terrific performance , and a quirkily fun soundtrack , reitman would really have to try hard to mess things up . thankfully he does n't , and the result is an enjoyable , highly entertaining , and even occasionally touching", "cody 's writing recalls early quentin tarantino - dripping with pop-culture references , from beverly hills 90210 to thundercats - but with a welcome sentimental streak .", "MOV comes on all wisecracking and are n't - we-clever , but do n't be surprised if you find yourself getting choked up -- with happy tears -- by the end .", "MOV is the best movie of the year . it 's the best screenplay of the year , and it features the best actress of the year working with the best acting ensemble of the year .", "together , cody and page have crafted a highly memorable character .", "the film is a portrait of family as a messy group hug and a dysfunctional miracle . and , considering that it is a comedy about teenage pregnancy , it preserves the dignity of its theme by revealing the humanity of the people involved .", "too much of it is like a subpar episode of freaks and geeks , padded out to 92 minutes with pseudo-witty dialogue .", "what propels the film into the stratosphere is MOV herself . as played by ellen page , MOV is a winning combination of fierce intelligence , irrepressible irony , casual profanity and , though she does n't want to admit it , emotional vulnerability .", "totally solid teen comedy .", "... an immature , if fitfully entertaining work .", "a terminally-clever comedy that 's laced with lots of inspired sardonic humor but ca n't quite convince you to take its slowly thickening plot seriously .", "MOV represents an almost magical configuration of very talented people with very much the same brand of whipsaw humor .", "MOV respects the idiosyncrasies of its characters rather than exaggerating them or holding them up for ridicule .", "once it gets past some serious tonal overkill , MOV 's sweetness feels earned .", "hollywood 's woman of the year is a pregnant 16-year-old , the incredibly hip , smart-mouthed and totally endearing heroine of the wise and witty MOV .", "page reigns over the movie , joined by a solid , eclectic cast who are allowed to be as individualized as she is .", "MOV has an implicit pro-life sensibility : life is life , and deserves to be nurtured , even -- if not especially -- when everything around it is broken .", "i ca n't remember the last time i was pulled into a film this quickly and this deeply .", "a light , heady romantic comedy , reminiscent of john hughes ' work in the 1980s .", "by its end , MOV , in its guilelessly chatty way , touches the heart -- and yes , i had tears in my eyes . this movie works , on its own terms .", "MOV 's relationship with her parents is one of the best things in the movie . for once , we get parents who genuinely love their child and respect her decisions .", "reitman deftly creates a modern romantic comedy out of a serious situation that applauds the value of life , with terrific performances by all , especially page and simmons .", "ellen page makes for the most exceptional movie teen in many a year .", "sweet , sassy , and satisfying .", "the most pleasant surprise of the year .", "-lsb- a -rsb- heightened , brightened , skip-a-dee-doo-dah glide through one of life 's big goalposts : not so much growing up but growing out . and i do n't mean bellywise , either ...", "a sweet-and-sour look at the traumas of teen life , and the way that sometimes , improbably , they can be transformed into small miracles .", "an indie comedy that uplifts - funny and smart , totally trying to be cool and succeeding , and heartfelt to boot .", "kicking up a fuss -lrb- much like MOV 's unborn child -rrb- , this is easily one of the year 's best releases .", "comedy comes from an exaggeration of reality , not reality itself -- and on that score , diablo cody 's first screenplay gets high marks .", "MOV is hilarious and sweet-tempered , perceptive and surprisingly grounded . it 's also a gust of fresh air , perspective-wise .", "MOV , directed by jason reitman , is smart , witty , and engaging -- three ingredients that , when applied to any film , comprise a recipe for success .", "has all the rhythms that made films like little miss sunshine and garden state so beloved by audiences and critics alike , but invents its own rhyme to buck familiarity thanks to its brilliantly funny and exceptionally wise screenplay by diablo cody .", "the engaging story , coupled with the character 's likable quirkiness , makes for a film bristling with vitality and heart , without resorting to glibness or sentimentality .", "if MOV 's charms win out in the end , it is n't without a slight residue of uncertainty suggesting we 've just had the latest napoleon dynamite clone foisted upon us .", "MOV 's disarmingly charming and completely real , and one of the best films of 2007 .", "MOV 's personality dominates the movie , which is both its strength and its weakness .", "it is certainly the feel-good movie of the season , and credit for that goes to the gifted -lsb- director -rsb- reitman , novice screenwriter diablo cody and the film 's sensational lead actress , ellen page .", "its high-concept slanguage sometimes feels over-written , its visual style can get a bit too twee , and there are two or three bridge scenes in the third act that feel like imports from a much stupider movie .", "first-time screenwriter cody diablo 's gently comic , different-for-girls tale of a pregnant , hyper-verbal teenager is the distaff answer to the testosterone-fueled hijinks of movies like knocked up and superbad .", "the best thing about this movie is that for all its wiseacre badinage , it 's utterly believable about the most basic of human situations .", "the movie itself does n't claim to be anything other than what it is : a modest crowd-pleaser with a little bite .", "MOV is n't a film made in the bell jar of unlikely reality that is , far too often , hollywood : it 's a film whose attention to real-life detail is so fine , audiences will be hopelessly and happily lost in its story from the first frame .", "i feel almost duty-bound to say something contentious about the highly praised MOV , but truth is , it 's every bit as good as advertised .", "part whip-smart teen comedy , part drama , backed by a quirky soundtrack and the most subtle comic performance by a youngster in years , MOV is a rare feel-good film in the morose pack of oscar contenders .", "MOV is unerring , compassionate and funny as heck .", "an exceedingly clever , offbeat comedy about a pregnant teenager .", "that smart , hip , human comedy you 've been waiting for all year ? the one with dialogue like a sugar rush and performances like grace notes ? it 's called MOV and it just arrived in theaters . go forth and multiplex .", "it not only more than lives up to all of the advanced hype , it is actually even better than the advanced word has been suggesting .", "it takes MOV about 15 minutes to calm down and get its joke reflex in check . ... and by the end you 've fallen in love with the thing .", "with a charismatic lead performance from page and a plaintive score of indie-rock songs , MOV seems poised to be the season 's youth-culture hit .", "brilliant teen pregnancy comedy is funny , moving .", "a movie already reputed to be hipper than tomorrow night , jason reitman 's follow-up to thank you for smoking is actually sweet , romantic and irony-free .", "cunningly perceptive and hip in its irresistible skepticism about the comforts and uncertainties of love , MOV is enchantingly bright and breezy in its effecting resonance .", "you come away from the film feeling grateful and happy % u2014 and scrambling for superlatives to shower on that subversive snugglebug ellen page ...", "tart of tongue and sweet of disposition , MOV offers living proof that crisp writing , graceful directing and an abundantly poised young lead can perk up a premise that 's been bludgeoned to death .", "MOV turns out to be about hope and understanding . everyone 's heart is in the right place here , and maybe that 's why the movie wins out .", "not as hysterical but much more rewarding than knocked up , allowing kids to be kids , adults to be adults and each to spend a little time as the other .", "it 's great to see a family on film that does n't freak out at this all-too-common scenario . as alienated as MOV may feel , she 's actually surrounded by some pretty great people in her life .", "MOV is neither page nor cody nor reitman , but her own fully realized person , speaking to us in the extraordinary rhythm of real life .", "this comedy about teen pregnancy is extremely entertaining , packed with dialog that 's rather too smart and snappy .", "gilmore girls gone wild ... -lsb- blu-ray review -rsb-", "do n't tell this to jamie lynn spears , but there can be some humor behind a 16-year-old getting pregnant .", "right from the beginning when MOV is chugging away on sunny d , we want to see watch she will say and do next .", "fierce without being cruel , sweet without becoming saccharine , and never short of hilarious , it 's not only the best comedy of the year , but one of the best films , period .", "even if you knew nothing of MOV going in , it 's easy to pick up on the fact that the movie 's voice is unlike any you 've heard in a while -- it 's totally fresh , in every sense of the word .", "jason reitman directs MOV with just the light touch it needs , and page is surrounded by terrific supporting performances all around . this could be the sleeper hit of the year .", "-lrb- MOV -rrb- is perfectly clever and perfectly paced .", "being the hipster movie of the year presents a couple of problems . one is that hipsters are kind of annoying .", "MOV is a great little movie , and its quirky , intelligent approach to teenage characters could teach a thing or two to the makers of teen horror flicks .", "the fact that the film deals with teenage pregnancy - and does n't preach at all - is a feat of filmmaking .", "could have played up the subversive , satirical possibilities of the scenario , but -lsb- diablo cody 's -rsb- first script is too smart , her affection for her characters too strong , to mistreat the story and its inhabitants so .", "the film 's forced quirkiness constantly threatens to derail the entire enterprise . but it keeps being put back on track by the apparently effortless performance of a great young actress .", "MOV gets two things dead right about contemporary teenagers ...", "it 's one of the best movies of the year .", "MOV invites you into a world you wo n't want to leave .", "it 's so much fun that it 's easy to overlook the film 's rather conventional plot arc .", "cody 's script is filled with smart , funny , very specific lines that define the characters and tell the story .", "filled with tart dialogue that entertains the audience , but always gives us an insight into the character speaking it and the pain they are going through .", "the sophomore film from jason reitman is as smart and funny as his debut feature thank you for smoking , and even more affectionate and full of life .", "not since election has a female star talent hit the screen with such a sting of arrival .", "a fresh , quirky , unusually intelligent comedy about a 16-year-old girl who wins our hearts in the first scene .", "a pure charmer and a heartfelt original , you will find this a totally unexpected , enormously satisfying and oddly rewarding trip to the movies .", "MOV is not a great movie ; it does not have aspirations in that direction . but it is , in its little way , a truthful , engaging and welcome entertainment .", "the film , which initially seems as if it might only exist to serve its splendid dialogue , comes to serve its characters , who resonate long after reitman and cody deliver their final twist .", "definitely one of my favorite films of the last five years .", "one of the year 's snappiest , snarkiest , most quotable comedies .", "you ca n't spend this much time being too cool for school and earn a sentimental rimshot -- it 's the boy who cried `` human . ''", "bright , brazen and often very funny", "strikingly written by newcomer diablo cody , MOV will get a lot of attention for its colorful dialogue , which is at times too ostentatious for its own good , but the film 's sincerity is what ultimately carries it across .", "it could be this year 's little miss sunshine , another funny , poignant and sincere take on family life served up with a raw indie sensibility .", "MOV is more than a few smiles - it makes you laugh deeply . it 's one from the bruised heart .", "yes , i 'll say it : this film is overrated .", "una comedia fresca , inteligente y tierna que aborda temas delicados de manera desdramatizada e irónica . excelente elenco -lrb- empezando por la increíble ellen page -rrb- y banda sonora .", "young MOV is self-possessed and breathlessly selfaware , the sort of person who is comfortable in any situation simply because she is comfortable in her own skin", "seria fantástico se as pessoas conversassem , em seu dia-a-dia , como os personagens de MOV , construindo diálogos que combinam uma estrutura elegante com um conteúdo rico em referęncias e um humor cortante e preciso .", "loved every minute of it", "... -lrb- the cast -rrb- brings life to cody 's words and raise what could have been a standard television movie-of-the-week to a much higher plain .", "excels in smart , stylishly rude , tangy teen dialogue , courtesy of screenwriter and former stripper and phone sex operator , diablo cody , boasting career choices that have assisted her in perfecting talking dirty on screen into a science , i guess .", "sweet , perceptive , sharp and near-perfect , MOV is a memorable film that will still be great viewing decades after its release .", "one of my favorite movies of the year .", "clever , wise and outrageous , `` MOV '' comes at you with no holds barred .", "heart-warming , thought-provoking and beautifully played , it that tackles a serious subject with sensitivity and grace while providing more than a few laughs along the way .", "what 's sure to be the breakout indie hit of 2007 -lrb- and deservedly so -rrb- establishes the voice of screenwriter diablo cody and the career of young actress ellen page .", "the title character is the kind of hip , articulate , whip-smart teen girl you 'd both love to have as a kid and find awfully challenging as well .", "almost too unique for description ; a tour-de-force comedy with tremendous heart .", "after three viewings , i kind of feel like i have a crush on ` MOV ' the movie and MOV the character . i 'm poised halfway on the emotional scale between the bemused affection of MOV 's tolerant father and the wide-eyed wonder of MOV 's pale boyfriend ." ]
daddy 's little girls boasts fine performances and a poignant message , but is ultimately let down by amateurish filmmaking .	daddys_little_girls	462957579	[ "the hamfistedness of daddy 's little girls ultimately shatters its charms .", "tyler perry likes preaching to the choir .", "tyler perry 's latest conspicuously lacks his drag clad alter ego madea % u2014 the star of his earlier hits diary of a mad black woman and madea 's family reunion % u2014 but it manages to be a drag nonetheless .", "perry enters into the arena of soap opera with a melodrama that often makes little sense , content to luxuriate in its heart-tugging suds without offering much in the way of logic .", "tyler perry , the man behind madea 's family reunion , is not a subtle filmmaker . but perry 's stories can be emotionally effective .", "while its look at interclass romance among african-americans and the struggles of a working-class single father is fresh and vital , the heavy-handed execution is n't .", "a sorry excuse for filmmaking .", "the movie reaches the heights of melodrama with narrative cliches that border on the surreal .", "the action bogs down in a torrent of clichés .", "cottage-industry independent filmmaker tyler perry fumbles with this family drama about monty -lrb- idris elba -rrb- , a salt-of-the-earth car mechanic and father of three girls trying to win a custody battle with his lowlife ex-wife .", "it makes you happy to receive the word of perry .", "come back , madea , and bring your chainsaw .", "implausible ? yes . predictable ? yes . entertaining ? you bet .", "perry will never get an oscar nomination , but he has something better : an audience .", "-lsb- union and elba -rsb- are such expressive , extremely thoughtful performers . they have chemistry and they have class . what they do n't have is a filmmaker who knows yet how to use either to make real movie magic . i 'm rooting for him to figure it out .", "there are fewer laughs and more lectures ... but there 's plenty of sass and soul in between .", "perry has great casting instincts , and in elba and union he 's matched two gifted , equally gorgeous actors , both of whom seem ready to make sparks fly . if only their director would let them .", "daddy 's little girls is maudlin and manipulative , but compared to movies with awful stereotypes like norbit , is that such a bad thing ?", "do n't let the brightly colored poster with the cute little girls on it fool you -- this is n't a comedy , either , but is meant to be a drama with a message . daddy 's little girls has its funny moments , but overall it 's fairly somber from the start .", "daddy 's little girls is a serviceable dramedy that 's slightly outlandish but nevertheless strives to touch the heart with its well-intentioned vibes .", "it is exciting to think that someone in perry 's position is indeed challenging himself , as he could presumably coast along on tried-and-true formulas for quite some time .", "daddy 's little girls is a frightening step backwards for the perry empire , revealing a filmmaker who i once thought was just kidding around , but now it turns out he 's legitimately incompetent and irresponsible .", "there 'll always be a place for perry in a world where there are moviegoers who find spike lee 's films too challenging .", "almost a real movie .", "gabrielle union has never before exhibited as much of an emotional range as seen in this role as an ice princess whose cold heart melts when offered an opportunity with a real man who comes with a ready-made family .", "a game try , still , it 's not all quite there ,", "suffice to say that everybody in this totally tv-tempered , finger-waggingly reactionary movie learns a valuable lesson in getting back to basics .", "subtlety has never been perry 's strength , but his previous films balanced the sermonizing with good humor and sincerity . perhaps next time , he 'll ease up on the lectures , and bring back the love .", "this particular tyler perry movie offers some glimpses of the graceful comic talent its one-man entertainment empire can be if he turns down the volume more often .", "the script is n't much better than perry 's madea 's family reunion ... but it helps that perry does n't show up in the crass , cross-dressing role of madea and that he has hired some excellent actors .", "given his built-in appeal , perry has the opportunity to broaden the subject matter of so-called black movies . he takes a stab at it in girls , but he could do so much better .", "regardless of how silly the storyline becomes , perry 's admiration for single dads who take care of their kids and people who take their faith and their families seriously comes through ...", "the lead actors make perry 's didacticism easier to take .", "in daddy 's little girls , tyler perry merits an a for the messages he wants to deliver but only a c-plus for the way he delivers them .", "in terms of direction , this is the sharpest film perry has made . it moves at a deft pace , and the comedic sequences continually score . he also knows how to create a mood .", "daddy 's little girls is -lsb- perry 's -rsb- best-looking film to date . is it asking too much for a script to match ?", "daddy 's little girls is the kind of movie where you look the other way as regards to minor offences , so devoted is it to making a positive statement .", "perry gets better at directing every time he tries .", "jenny and joe do n't help to make a case for the `` good men '' and `` strong women '' they seem to oppose . they only drag everyone down .", "even when perry does n't dress up like a woman , he 's pretty much a drag .", "-lsb- perry 's -rsb- gotten comfortable behind the camera . and without madea , his obese , smart-mouthed alter-ego auntie , to portray , the man in the dress shows he really can direct .", "yes , it 's true that tyler perry 's movies are mostly formualaic . yes , it 's true that tyler perry is n't the finest director in the world . but it 's also true that tyler perry is getting better .", "love can transcend class lines ; in tyler perry 's universe , it also defies all rules of the legal system -- and logic .", "... cardboard characters and awkward dialogue .", "i entered this moviegoing experience ready for a lot of wincing and eye-rolling . but dammit if this movie did n't make me laugh and cry .", "infinitely more captivating for its outrageous ungainliness than a great many more proficient filmmakers have ever been able to manage .", "dismissed by critics but embraced by african-american audiences , tyler perry now opens his pictures without press previews , but on the basis of this expert melodrama he might want to reconsider .", "the cast is likable , and perry makes good use of the atlanta locations .", "perry 's habit of reducing drama to verbal sermons is the main thing keeping his movies within the realm of daytime tv .", "kindness , graciousness , nurturing , and support is the message for couples and community , so even if it 's not saying anything new under the sun , all that syrup makes the cardboard taste better .", "... this is easily perry 's best film , which is to say it 's serviceably mediocre rather than godawful .", "lumbering morality tale packaged as a romance ." ]
MOV is bitterly honest , deeply disturbing , and utterly worth watching .	osama	11193	[ "i wanted to scream at MOV : look , your life is at stake , stop crying and climb the tree like a boy !", "what you see is n't surprising , but living through it -- experiencing the cruel and arbitrary justice of the taliban through a 12-year-old 's eyes -- puts a knot in your stomach that lasts beyond the film 's closing credits .", "imagine if we could see films from previous centuries -- records of slavery , the great fire of london , the black plague . MOV is like a film from some long-ago age .", "despite an absence of subtlety , the film has a very real impact .", "barmak tells his story without a ton of explanation ... often , we have no more idea of what 's going on than our hero does , which increases the film 's sense of danger and fear .", "works simply as the story of one unlucky young girl .", "we feel her fear and are moved by her plight because her will and childhood are torn from her not only by the taliban but her own family .", "... the sad truth is that potential viewers would be far better off watching a documentary on the rise and fall of the taliban .", "captures with a terrifying purity ... the claustrophobia of being trapped ... within the confines of one 's own body in a land where being female has been criminalized", "derives most of its power from providing a clear window on a previously obscured world .", "a must-see for anyone with an interest in the rest of the world .", "although its story is horrifying , MOV wisely makes its points through irony and understatement .", "it 's a painful film about religious issues made with sufficiently compelling craft that you ca n't look away even as you are appalled .", "barmak proves an able craftsman . if the film 's story stammers here and there , its overall power ca n't be denied .", "barmak and his little star bring artistry and truth to the plight of women under the taliban .", "a harrowing look at a disturbingly recent time that seems more rooted in a barbaric , distant past .", "delivers a somber and powerful message without offering any simplistic solutions", "beautifully balances political statement with artistic expression .", "... asks irresistible questions about the sexist inequality rampant in modern-day islam .", "what MOV shows all too well is that things can always get worse", "successfuilly transforms the socio-political triaals of the region into a personal drama of great emotional resonance ... comparable to the italian neo-realist pictures .", "may seem redundant after jafar panahi 's more structurally impressive the circle or mohsen makhmalbaf 's absurdist kandahar , but it 's no less powerful .", "it definitely paints you a picture and it 's not a pretty sight ; it 's sad and infuriating -lrb- but that 's how you know the movie is working for you -rrb- .", "truth shines through every frame , thanks to barmak 's storytelling skill and his young star 's unaffected radiance .", "it 's not just a message that must be told ; it 's also a bold , beautiful and deeply moving piece of film art .", "focuses more on the relentless hardships and suffering than on the characters experiencing them .", "the loss of one childhood howls through barmak 's film", "MOV delivers a cry from the heart of subjugated and humiliated women in afghanistan under the merciless rule of the taliban .", "MOV is an exposing , opinionated , frighteningly frank and fascinating film . it 's also an actual afghani film , so it 's amazing it even got made .", "-lsb- `` MOV '' -rsb- is a harsh , no punches pulled film that will cause an emotional impact on the viewer .", "i found mr. barmak 's direction too by-the-numbers , and ms. goldbahari 's MOV a one-note performance in her relentlessly whimpering -lrb- though perfectly understandable -rrb- self-pity .", "heartbreaking stuff .", "a stark reminder of what is at stake in afghanistan , apart from the capture or killing of terrorists .", "reminiscent of agnieszka holland 's 1990 drama europa europa , this award-winning afghani film paints yet another harrowing tale of human survival .", "in most ways that count , it 's as true as any documentary .", "pregnant with emotion and bitterly realized .", "a traditional story in a traditional setting that will make contemporary audiences think , feel and empathize with those on screen .", "we are certainly entitled to marvel at its very existence , but that is n't enough . the work itself is extraordinary .", "a poignant film with stinging images .", "shot on the ruined streets of kabul , it has the urgent impact of a documentary , but it is a work of poetic vision .", "if you 're into watching films that will make you want to go home and kill yourself , you wo n't want to miss this tragic picture , the first to be made in post-taliban afghanistan .", "the script and camerawork are clever and extremely accomplished , giving us an intimate view of the characters and situations .", "if recent martian visitors viewed this film about the taliban , they 'd think that earth got stuck in the 7th century .", "although the subtitles here sometimes seem flat and repetitive , art-house audiences will find in the poignant dignity of the women of afghanistan images of lasting beauty , courage and grace .", "`` minimalist visual compositions are characterized by a clear-eyed austerity and realism . ''", "billed as the first entirely afghan film shot on home soil since the rise and fall of the taliban , siddiq barmak 's MOV ends up being of greater historical significance than of any lasting artistic merit .", "unrelentingly shocking in its portrayal of religion and ancient culture gone to the bad .", "barmak details the taliban 's picayune restrictions , which would be comic if they were n't enforced with such brutality .", "gives real insight into a part of the world that likely will dominate our newscasts and newspapers for years to come ...", "a grueling but wonderful picture .", "a wonderful and riveting movie experience", "the film has an almost documentary feel about it .", "great films like MOV , thoughtfully considered , give us the ability to withhold blanket judgments and come that much closer to the truth .", "MOV manages to surprise you with its story , even though we have no right to be surprised ... already ranks among the best films of the year .", "the first film shot entirely in afghanistan since the rise and fall of the taliban , and it 's a heartbreaking look back at life under that regime .", "no histrionics or emotional manipulations here . its view of the taliban is frightening precisely because it is real ; dramatic exaggerations are unnecessary .", "a film that is not only moving but valuable as a historical and social instrument .", "`` MOV '' is at once an important film and a dangerous one .", "it 's an important film , made under impossibly arduous circumstances . yet it 's far easier to respect than to embrace .", "a smooth mix of humanism and keen filmmaking instincts .", "barmak ... gives us vistas of stark beauty in this beaten-up landscape , a desolate backdrop for the beaten-down faces of his human palette ...", "a shattering portrayal of the shocking treatment of afghan women under that nightmare regime .", "a profoundly moving story that demonstrates the power of art to enlighten and entertain .", "that it is such a powerful and indeed beautiful film is simply extraordinary .", "will touch everyone with its haunting sounds and images .", "its central performance by young marina golbahari registers a terrorized and unforgettable personal response to pervasive mass intimidation .", "... its poeticism contains a power no newspaper report can match .", "-lsb- a -rsb- powerful film .", "an unforgettable harrowing examination of the lives of the afghan people .", "painfully realistic .", "very rarely will you find a film that beautifully balances political statement with artistic expression .", "traps you in a quicksand pull , slowly sucking you into its world until it 's too late to escape unscathed .", "it offers valuable insights into a foreign culture that few of us have more than a cursory knowledge about .", "filmado apenas em locaушes , provoca um impacto ainda maior ao mostrar um paьs destruьdo pela guerra - evocando , neste sentido , o inesquecьvel alemanha , ano zero .", "we 've heard so much about the cruelty of the taliban that we think we 've heard it all . but there 's something about seeing one small human story played out that is still overwhelming .", "feel vindicated in the mad incongruity of popular foreign policies advocating war with `` the other '' for the sake of the innocents .", "wears you out in a way that would be considered heartless and manipulative if it were n't also -lrb- mostly -rrb- true .", "a must-see import .", "siddiq barmak 's film is the first feature made in afghanistan since before the rise of the taliban an impressive achievement made more so by the director 's sure and subtle artistry .", "raw and wretchedly current , it is a story that packs a cruel emotional wallop .", "whatever you thought were the atrocities committed by the taliban , siddiq barmak wants you to know that the reality is probably worse .", "a rare uncensored postcard from a ruined place , a document at once depressing and hideously beautiful that sketches the real hardships of trampled people -- specifically women -- with authority and compelling simplicity .", "offers us what feels like a true insider 's view , free from condescension and the temptation to view the country 's persecuted citizens as merely pitiable ` others . '", "it 's gripping , timely , and revealing .", "aided by golbahari 's remarkably convincing lead performance , barmak generates considerable suspense over the fate of MOV and her female relatives .", "the diurnal magic and utter impossibility of this simple child 's game are unforgettable .", "preaches to a very large choir , but does it with sober righteousness .", "outrage is concentrated by art , but how can you urge people to watch a child being tortured for 82 minutes ?", "crackles with suspense and dread in a place where the horrific was the norm .", "a melancholy movie , but a necessary one .", "the horrors of MOV are pervasive , not acute , so they take longer to sink in . but once in , they stay there .", "although it 's a drama , MOV feels like urgent documentary .", "without piling on unnecessary pathos , and with a devotion to simply telling the truth of a situation , MOV works a rough kind of magic .", "wonderful film , and what a remarkable achievement .", "a bleak , all too realistic drama .", "the film , a simple tale of a girl who disguises herself as a boy , begins with a nelson mandela quote : ` i ca n't forget but i can forgive , ' is designed to ensure the audience wo n't forget either .", "the best and worst thing about this film is it seems completely true . and no amount of water can wash away the sins portrayed ." ]
thanks to energetic performances from its young leads , gim me the loot captures a slice of city life with warmth and exuberance .	gimme_the_loot_2012	771271078	[ "charming and engaging low-budget indie with a witty script , likeable characters , a strong sense of time and place and a pair of terrific performances from its two young leads .", "out of nowhere , adam leon might just have delivered the first great new york film of the decade .", "funny and freewheeling , it 's a joy .", "` gim me the loot ' is ... meandering and a little shallow . and even at 79 minutes it feels a little too long for what 's essentially the film equivalent of a short story .", "a thousand-watt jolt of mischief , a spunky , funky , ebullient indie that packs its 81 minutes with cinematic exhilaration .", "a slim , low-budget coming-of-age tale whose richness lies entirely in its interstices . a keenly observed work that celebrates the unfettered joys of youth , and rewards by reminding of the power of a simple tale told well .", "ghetto laughs with a sophisticated point of view .", "simultaneously real and hopeful , `` loot '' has almost no plot , but when the setting is so fresh and the characters feel so raw and alive , who needs one ?", "a movie about teenage taggers in the bronx should be fast and raw , scruffy and loose , and adam leon 's gim me the loot is just that .", "it may be a slight movie , but it has its sunny charms .", "a nose-to-the-ground portrait of two believably aspirational protagonists and their constant hustle to make good on the movie 's eponymous demand .", "does it sound patronizing to call a slice-of-life film about teenage bronx graffiti artists adorable ? it 's not meant to .", "the stakes may be low , but the experience is authentic ...", "director adam leon , 31 , has slyly and reverentially crafted a perfect new york movie , including the class tensions , relentless hustling and spontaneous connections that best define the exuberant strain of the city .", "sofia is intense and unsmiling , while malcolm is a charming , goofy chatterbox , and they make a vivid impression , even without spray paint .", "a warm and wonderfully discursive slice-of-life story , with an emphasis on language and local color and a great feel for the longings of working-class adolescents .", "`` gim me the loot '' winds up as a shaggy-dog story built largely out of digressions , but the punch line is tender , as is leon 's attitude toward being young and poor in new york .", "writer-director adam leon has crafted a classic new york story , a film imbued with the fast rhythms and muggy sensations of city life during the summer .", "... ` gim me the loot ' is n't the kind of film where a lot happens , but that 's it 's small-scale magic ...", "much more grownup than it looks , gim me the loot is that rare teen-centric film whose brisk pace is unburdened by sentimentality .", "an impressive debut feature , gim me the loot is also an unusual take on characters who want to leave their stamp on `` the city that never sleeps . ''", "gim me the loot has an energy that 's been missing from independent film lately . it 's not dreary or quirky ; not excessively stylish or stubbornly formless .", "want a bracing alternative to the usual hollywood swill ? try gim me the loot , a fresh , funky jolt of filmmaking joy .", "the idea is good but the result is saccharine ; the movie plays more like an outline that 's still awaiting its point of view .", "the winner of the indie spirit ` one to watch ' award could never work again and will always have a memorable new york city film to his credit .", "every bit as charming and joyful as it is profane , affectionately portraying a slice of life that feels both exotic and recognizable .", "has the mischievous energy and vivid sense of place that distinguished an earlier era of new york cinema ...", "when the next american new wave rolls around , it 'll be thanks to moments like these , and movies like gim me the loot .", "full of ear-pleasing lines and obscure r&b tunes , it 's colourful , casual and full of flavour . an unexpected treat .", "watching this film reminded me a bit of ` friends , ' the funny tv show where nothing ever happens . here , there is a lot of activity , but nothing much is accomplished , except for the creation of a funny , entertaining movie .", "what gets this slight episodic film to first base is the likability shown by the non-professional leads .", "a film brimming with so much life and mischief that it left me in an almost insufferably good mood for days afterwards . i did n't want it to end .", "amid all the copycatting and pricey bombast and genericness , here 's a movie that looks like it hails from a real place ; whose characters sound like they come from somewhere ; whose stakes are stresslessly low .", "first-time feature director adam leon 's shots are precise and full of detail .", "the film 's strong suit is its use of locations .", "hickson walks the line between bravado and vulnerability , while washington has a charisma , spark and beauty that should ensure this wo n't be the last we see of her .", "bolstered by a low-key but assured aesthetic and a soundtrack of vintage soul and doo-wop , the film is infectiously enjoyable , with frequently amusing insights and an affable shagginess .", "small but bursting with energy .", "there 's barely enough narrative to sustain even an 81-minute picture , yet a sweet spirit buoys this quick-witted , amiably foul-mouthed indie .", "`` gim me the loot '' should n't be as appealing and exuberant as it is , it really should n't .", "tashiana washington and ty hickson are terrific in the main roles . so is zoë lescaze as ginnie , a spoiled white kid who teaches the taggers a thing or two about drift and being dissolute .", "as it lopes along , the movie offers a warm but very sharp portrait of new york 's have-nots and their uneasy relationship with the haves .", "... a magical , summery treat .", "the film is episodic and determinedly offbeat , funny at its best , boring at its worst .", "shot on the streets of new york in a loose , freeform style , this lively comedy-drama feels somewhat underdeveloped , leaving us doubtful about its realism .", "it 's a great deal of fun , emotionally touching , and even surprisingly old-fashioned .", "some of the movie does n't exactly convince , and some of the scenes have an actors-improv feel to them , but there 's always plenty of humour and energy .", "endlessly entertaining , refreshingly light-hearted and bursting with summer soul , gim me the loot joins the pantheon of great new york movies .", "it 's a shaggy dog story with a certain amount of charm but not nearly enough drama .", "is n't cinema wonderful ?", "the movie is unpolished , and it matters not a jot , because leon has written super roles for these kids and invests their relationship with such sly feeling .", "led by his two charismatic young lead actors , adam leon 's gim me the loot is an almost compulsively endearing film about two tough-talking teenagers in the bronx .", "this is a simple , meandering , slice-of-life indie film that feels more authentic than most `` gritty '' new york films with infinitely larger budgets .", "there 's a certain last-act development that feels a bit forced considering this otherwise relaxed tone , but it 's hard to bear a grudge when the rest of the film is pulled off with such naturalistic grace .", "gim me the loot is a slice of lo-fi filmmaking by a promising new talent that refreshingly shifts focus onto the everyday lives of two aspirational young people from a world that 's seldom given prominence in film .", "adam leon has created something unique and current , with affectionate nods to new york films of the past .", "it 's a triumph of the underdog in more ways than one . and that final shot would make ozu beam .", "leon 's grungy résumé indie is a modest deal , with a sweet , mumblecore-style ending , but it glows with unmistakable star power .", "promotes robbery and ca n't be serious in expecting us to care whether malcolm and sofia become more than friends .", "like the graffiti art it documents , it 's a lovingly handmade affair .", "charmingly lackadaisical .", "it 's a simple film , but an artfully executed one , and it succeeds precisely because it demands very little from the audience .", "i see so many independent movies that sometimes , when an indie movie comes along that really is independent -- that is to say , when it offers up a fresh new way of seeing -- i blink twice ." ]
despite some charms , overt emotional manipulation and an inconsistent tone prevents MOV from being the heartfelt dramedy it aspires to be .	martian_child	387335433	[ "cusack could do for parenting movies what he did for romantic comedies . this is a rocky start .", "no one in the movie speaks like a real person . even the youngest cast member talks as if footlights and a proscenium hemmed him in .", "poorly adapted from david gerrold 's acclaimed autobiographical novel , this sappy comedy-drama about a widower who adopts a special-needs child makes a number of key changes and consequently misses the point of gerrold 's heart-tugging tale .", "if all this is supposed to be so life-affirming , how come i envied the dead dog ?", "everybody is very earnest , too earnest .", "in this abandoned-kid-who-thinks-he 's - an-alien mush-fest , MOV does n't offer much beyond its small-screen sensibilities .", "has enough wit and unpredictability to hold your attention .", "MOV wants to make us cry . it nearly made me gag . this is an exercise in shameless and inept emotional manipulation .", "it 's off in many directions -- false in its details , false in its relationships , false in its emotions -- but probably the first and worst thing that needs to be said about it is that it 's also overlong and dull .", "cusack and coleman make this whimsical trip worthwhile .", "director menno meyjes keeps the sci-fi suspense quotient up just enough to make the ending somewhat disappointingly pat .", "it could have been so easy for this story , about a single man adopting a troubled kid , to enter schmaltzville . but john cusack manages to deliver plenty of warm fuzzies -- without the sugar shock .", "lurches between sappiness and self-consciousness -- resulting in a movie which , for all its charms , fails to convince on either dramatic or whimsical terms .", "heavy-handed sentimentality .", "you might expect a serious-minded movie about a troubled kid who really thinks he 's from mars to confront the fact that this kid really is troubled . not so much , here .", "MOV would like to be about a boy -lrb- who thinks he 's a martian -rrb- , but , disappointingly , it does n't even come close .", "what if lloyd dobler grew up , gave up kickboxing for writing books about space battles and adopted a kid ? i do n't know about you , but i would n't miss it for the world .", "there is something disingenuous and calculating about the work of his director and composer .", "it 's hard to take this look at foster care and adoption seriously .", "the movie can also be accused of its own sugar overdose as director menno meyjes piles on every clichéd situation .", "cusack and coleman are on screen together most of the movie , and the fact that they do n't completely overstay their welcome amid the maudlin action says a lot for the restraint they bring to the characters .", "hobbled by its ham-fisted effort to strum our heartstrings .", "the whole ha , ha ! dennis is a young norman bates thing gets quite creepy .", "john cusack is the only bright spot in an otherwise sentimentally sloppy drama that telegraphs its plot points with a blinding laser beam .", "it 's a minor but affectionate flick that knows sometimes all kids seem like they 're from mars , and those without parents do n't have much guidance in knowing how to be human .", "this is , wonderfully , a smart and snappy -- never sappy -- portrait of a budding parent-and-kid romance , and a lovely ode to nonconformity , to being your own person even if the rest of the world has some issues with that .", "the title character is far from lovable , but john cusack 's charm is irresistible", "there are absolutely no surprises as the film disintegrates into its own cutesy display .", "coleman ... seems to have been cast not for his chemistry with cusack but for his adorable lack of key baby teeth .", "director menno meyjes pulls an engaging film out of the potential claptrap , while also putting across a message about the beauty of nonconformism .", "just more middling , forgettable fare for the movie memory scrap heap .", "directed by spielberg protege menno meyjes , MOV is contrived , but it works .", "an amusing and heartfelt exploration of the ups and downs involved when adopting a child -- in this case , one who insists he 's from another planet .", "john cusack is the best and main reason to see this mediocre film about a self-confessed oddball and successful sci-fi writer david who adopts a misfit .", "manipulative to an almost absurd degree ...", "the things MOV gets right are strong enough to save this apparent glucose-spiker .", "what works is cusack and coleman . when they are on screen together something interesting always seems to happen .", "though it panders shamelessly , it 's not entirely unwelcome in a time when the pg movie is an endangered species . -lsb- dvd review included . -rsb-", "the entire cast is fully committed to this squishily sentimental tale , which is especially impressive given that it 's the kind of generic dramedy you 'll swear you 've seen a thousand times before .", "the credits state that MOV stars john cusack , amanda peet and joan cusack , but really , it stars lucky charms , m&m 's and amazon.com .", "knockout performances by john cusack and child actor bobby coleman help legitimize a whimsical but sententiously moralizing script .", "after an ebullient and inventive first half , the film loses its wind and only gets it back for a sprint or two .", "unfortunately for MOV this has more maple sap pouring out of it than a neglected vermont tree looking for a good tapping .", "... a betrayal of the book ...", "john cusack is perfect but it 's bobby coleman who delivers one of the most uniquely original kid performances ever . you actually believe he might be from mars .", "it 's rare that a movie has this little flavor . compared to MOV , a jar of gerber 's mashed bananas is a taste treat .", "... features a mesmerizing kid actor . but , as good as his acting is , it 's just a one-note performance ... that starts off as intriguing but ends up becoming tiresomely repetitive .", "MOV would be a lifetime movie of the week without the cusacks", "cusack seems determined to make this work , and contributes some nice scenes . but he 's better than the movie around him .", "sometimes , `` the MOV '' works as a weeper.other times , you 'll just hate yourself for getting wrapped in what essentially is manipulation . it 's good-hearted enough , but it plays more with your emotions than it does with delivering an intelligent sto", "while david imagines other worlds for profit , MOV crash-lands on this one .", "the primary obstacle to enjoying any moment of MOV is dennis , a little creature whose habits never feel like anything other than groan-worthy screenwriter contrivances aimed at cheaply eliciting audience waterworks .", "a comedy masterwork that touches the heart with its portrait of the survival tactics of an abandoned orphan and the loving ministrations of a widowed science fiction writer who adopts him .", "MOV certainly is n't much fun , unless you were desperately awaiting k-pax with a kid instead of kevin spacey .", "harmless and schmaltzy , this dramedy about the bond between a lonely widower and a misfit son draws on a semi-autobiographical novel about a gay dad , which would have made the story timelier ; even the gifted cusack ca n't elevate such predictable text .", "MOV was directed by menno meyjes , who wrote the screenplay for the color purple , and written by the distinguished team jonathan tolins and seth bass . how could so many good people go so wrong ?", "the problem with MOV is that it wants to be a story about outcasts , but dennis does n't come off as a cute little rebel .", "the only thing that saves it from being a lifetime movie is cusack 's ever-present charm and personality .", "john cusack 's favored co-actors -lrb- oliver platt , joan cusack , and angelica huston -rrb- add color to a sweet movie that intermittently gets bogged down by poor pacing .", "a generic version of any other dramatic comedy about familial love .", "those who stick with MOV wo n't entirely avoid mush , but they will find terrific performances by john cusack , as the parental unit , and 10-year-old bobby coleman , as the self-proclaimed extraterrestrial .", "heartfelt pap .", "it either is stiff and dry or it piles on the schmaltz in absurd amounts . in that sense , it offers the worst of both worlds .", "a story that has me checking the time , frequently , is telling .", "the fairly predictable cornball fluff we anticipate when off-center loners find a middle ground .", "an occasionally schmaltzy but likable story of healing and redemption .", "john cusack , coleman and the rest of the talented crew on screen reach moments of authenticity that are thrilling .", "before long , the story 's conceit -- a loud-and-clear metaphor for the ways in which we all sometimes feel alien when it comes to human relationships -- just becomes wearying .", "the quirky allure of joan cusack can offset a lot of sentiment in a movie , but even she drowns in the goop of MOV .", "a film so cloying it could have been processed from high-fructose corn syrup .", "it 's sweet and lovely and honest , and it made me laugh and cry , and john cusack and the little boy , bobby coleman , are fantastic , and i want them to move next door and be my brother and nephew , respectively .", "-lsb- cusack -rsb- just ca n't seem to conjure up a reservoir of emotions to make MOV human .", "sweet kid-friendly drama has some mature themes .", "in december , cusack will be back on screen in grace is gone , another portrait of a grieving widower struggling to raise children . viewers may want to hold out to see him in a film that maintains its sensitivity all the way through .", "it 's a largely dreary time at the movies and offers next to nothing for the kids that it 's advertising to .", "the science-fiction elements are mere window dressing for a story that 's most affecting when it 's down to earth , rather than when it 's following its heroes ' flights of fancy .", "unfortunately , the second half of the movie gets pretty messy , and the sudden tonal shifts -lrb- things go from light comedy to dark drama -rrb- are a bit jarring .", "MOV feels artificially sweetened rather than genuinely moving .", "the overriding sappiness keeps killing the so-bad-it 's - good buzz .", "my heart was ready to be warmed . but it never got above room temperature .", "heartfelt , but uninspired , the film follows a plodding , predictable path that does not deviate for a second from what the viewer expects .", "a faithful adaptation would almost surely have necessitated that the focus be changed from a father-and-son story to a polemic on gay fatherhood .", "not too dull to sit through without some enjoyment , but forgettable within 24 hours of watching the movie .", "one soggy slab of sentimental uplift .", "it 's a bit creepy , since -lsb- dennis 's -rsb- `` quirks '' are an unaddressed cry for help in this generic tonal mess that switches to light rom-com mode whenever any of its complicated-fatherhood drama starts to get too realistically sobering .", "child resolves in a way that 's touching , however schmaltzy .", "MOV has intelligence and a modicum of wit -- if only it had more heart and a kid worth shedding a tear for .", "so bland and safe that it might appeal more directly to children than adults .", "cusack carries this unabashed tearjerker .", "martian boy carries off the relationship with winning performances from -lsb- john -rsb- cusack and the young -lsb- bobby -rsb- coleman ...", "if you like these emotionally-brittle family dramas , you 'll eat this film up . but for a confirmed cynic like myself , it was torture to sit through the movie", "apparently , they took the title seriously . it feels so false , you sense it was written , directed and conceived by martians .", "the film feels lazily conventional . there are truths to be had here , but much of the film still rings false .", "100 percent goo .", "maudlin , mawkish , and slightly misunderstood itself , MOV is the perfect example of good intentions wrapped in hollywood-lite logistics .", "it 's a well-intended psychological drama , but meyjes is too afraid to permit the film any darkness ... a patchy creation , bouncing between sincere questions of homestead stability and fluffy sitcom montages set to elo hits .", "if you 're allergic to schmaltz , bring a bottle of benadryl along to MOV .", "despite the film 's laziness and mawkishness , however , MOV has some lovely sections .", "part of the reason it works is that the film at least tries to make the kid something other than a face you 'd see on a cereal box .", "everything you expect it to be , then it goes on for another 20 minutes .", "john cusack gets seriously spaced out , in this cross between a beautiful mind and et ." ]
a bleak , haunting drama whose wordless dialogue speaks volumes , MOV is a bold , innovative take on silent films for a contemporary audience .	the_tribe_2015	771380511	[ "MOV builds to a revolution in your attention , forcing you to change not just how you watch the film but how you feel its characters , but director miroslav slaboshpitsky is sly enough to ease you in .", "visually , it 's striking . narratively , it 's one long nightmare of confrontation and misery .", "based on slaboshpytskiy 's experience as a crime reporter and on stories of ukraine 's `` deaf mafia , '' it 's less a social portrait than an experiment in shaking up the balance of our senses : a tale of no sound , just fury .", "the lack-of-language barrier is the least of its problems .", "for those who can take it , `` MOV '' is a movie of undeniable emotional power , unlike anything you 've seen before .", "while MOV does at times feel designed to be shocking , it also demands that you pay attention in a way that we 're not used to paying attention in the movies .", "if `` MOV '' were set in the hearing world , its desolation would seem reductive and forced , a pose rather than a statement . without words , the movie becomes a nihilistic fable and , indeed , something unheard of until now . it 's silent opera .", "MOV is n't afraid to shed blood , but its stiff acting , disgusting depiction of sex , and inability to completely comprehend the film 's message is crippling to the film 's overall enjoyment .", "it 's a cinematic tightrope act , and it is to slaboshpitsky 's credit that he pulls it off .", "a bleak , daring drama from ukraine .", "compelling , upsetting , brutal and brilliant , MOV is one of the best works of cinema of the year - a familiar template recreated in what , for most , will be an entirely new world .", "arty , edgy , and bleak , MOV fails the plausibility test", "MOV is a singular experience , even if it 's in service to shallow themes and characters who feel more archetypical than real .", "while the specifics remain uncertain , it 's never particularly difficult to keep up with the movie 's pace , since their actions speak plainly enough -- and sometimes add far more expressiveness than any verbal exchanges could provide .", "the film is more interested in performance and symbolism than in the meaning of its characters ' words or their substitutive gestures .", "a uniquely riveting experience sure to inspire an array of reactions-speechlessness included .", "there are few films that compel me to cover my eyes . that `` MOV '' did so more than once says something about how deeply disturbing it is .", "you 've seen juvenile delinquent movies . you may also have seen films about bleak conditions in the former soviet union -lrb- there are a lot of them -rrb- . but you 've never seen anything like MOV -- nor heard anything like it .", "a strange and oddly immersive film that makes it audience really work but in the end delivers something rare and original .", "the use of sign language , deafness and silence itself adds several heady new ingredients to the base material , alchemically creating something rich , strange and very original .", "it 's a whole other world . and it can be quite frightening and disturbing .", "an audacious and successful gamble from a first-time feature filmmaker who is now officially on his way .", "this striking film is a revealing document of a time . it is deadly quiet , yet what it says will stay with you for days .", "overlong and not always successful in its storytelling , slaboshpitsky consistently returns to sex and violence to shore up a weak plot about a guy who falls for the wrong girl .", "a stunning examination of teenage cruelty , exploitation , and crime that refuses to give us the satisfaction of identifying with the characters .", "the many characters introduced as `` MOV '' may be nameless , but you get to know all of them and their motivations , criminal and otherwise .", "as a whole experience , MOV is definitely unusual -- and i suspect will prove haunting in the memory .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t 's a successful experiment , but as a worthwhile story , the movie falls disappointingly short .", "alternate -lsb- s -rsb- between the ragged and the well-wrought , between objet d'art and the incidentally observed , between extended long takes and icy tableaux . and even when the motives are unclear , the intensely gestural performances fascinate .", "the whole body communication that encompasses sign language pulls us into the film like trying to listen to someone who 's whispering . we engage more ... find ourselves doing things like ` sharing ' interior monologues", "it might sound glib , but it 's the literal truth : `` MOV '' left us speechless .", "MOV was by far the most hard-hitting and vivid work in the -lsb- cannes film -rsb- festival .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t was a thrill to discover something so bold , innovative , and downright wayward .", "the film 's second half descends into increasingly explicit and shocking displays of violence , and , in fact , all of MOV is defined by either overheated emotions or extreme actions .", "the piece de resistance is a taboo subject that unfolds in an elaborate single take . it was so harrowing i would have applauded if it would not have been completely inappropriate for the subject matter to do so .", "a sad , shocking and undeniably harrowing dramatic reflection of ukraine with the searing truthful lens of a stylistic documentary treatment -lrb- at times similar to that of austrian auteur ulrich seidl -rrb- .", "i ca n't stop thinking about it .", "actions , emotions and desperate impulses speak far louder than words in MOV , a formally audacious coup de cinema that marks a stunning writing-directing debut for ukrainian filmmaker myroslav slaboshpytskiy .", "winds up feeling like a gimmick , artificial and alarmist instead of authentic and revealing .", "i can safely say , with unequivocal authority , that you have never experienced anything like myroslav slaboshpytskiy 's MOV .", "... a deeply immersive experience , one that made me feel like a sense-deprived stranger in an unfamiliar world .", "MOV is just as brutal in its depiction of casual depravity as it is in its bursts of extreme violence . if you can make it past the final five minutes without wincing , more power to you .", "MOV is a brilliant formal achievement that marks ukrainian writer-director miroslav slaboshpitsky as a filmmaker to watch .", "a startlingly original , at times unbearably intense drama from ukraine that - on a moment-to-moment , scene-by-scene basis - blows up expectations on every level : narratively , visually and in terms of performance .", "slaboshpitsky frames his problematic protagonists with painterly meticulousness , their feral posturing and nakedness conveyed with improbable beauty .", "it 's got a story every bit as bold and fearless as its approach - the kind of primal story that 's beyond the ken of language .", "an intriguing setting and risky but successful no-dialogue or - subtitles approach is undermined by a dark plot that grows increasingly off-putting . the cinematography though is superb .", "miroslav slaboshpitsky 's study of teenage tribalism and the brutal adherence to a gangland-style hierarchy is a grimy , gripping , unrelenting vision .", "slaboshpytskiy does n't attempt to get inside the psychology of these people , or expand the meanings , political or otherwise , of their descent .", "one need not read it as a metaphor for the director 's homeland to appreciate the movie as a tour de force .", "any expectations of conventional enjoyment must be checked at the door . nevertheless , the film stands as a singular achievement .", "even with its numerous issues , the film remains a must-watch for movie lovers and anyone who appreciates filmmakers who take bold steps in uncharted directions to tell stories in unconventional ways .", "there 's an undeniable power to the way MOV plays with our senses .", "an utter astonishment .", "full of sadness and stubbornness and a kind of cosmic anger , it seeks abandon through destruction , starting with humanity 's first and best crutch : language .", "MOV grabs you almost immediately .", "as an amazing piece of pure cinema , MOV needs to be experienced . and talked about .", "it 's hard , in some ways , to take . yet , it is also so inventive and so unbendingly determined that it will be equally hard to erase from the mind .", "in the end , -lsb- director myroslav -rsb- slaboshpytskiy pushes his story beyond plausibility , or it may be that he was striving for allegory all along ... it 's unclear .", "it 's a staggering film , but not a brilliant one - a superior version would have played more with the gulf between our senses and theirs .", "story-wise , `` MOV '' is yet another art-film wallow in cruelty , not nearly as unique as its looks and its world .", "it toys with our pity , then it toys with our outrage , then it toys with our identification . before we know it , we 've been sucked into its wicked , all-too-human drama .", "... there 's an undeniably compelling frisson in the MOV 's unique mixture of brutality and silence .", "it 's about a lot of things-the insularity of the deaf , the enforcement of conformist rituals , and self-determination-but it 's also a clarifying experience as a moviegoer .", "by the end , MOV has revealed itself as so original , and so chilling , it 's likely to leave you speechless .", "it 's something of a formal tour de force , a triumphant overcoming of self-imposed cinematic challenges .", "MOV is a singular , fascinating experiment , but that 's about all it is . it gives gimmicks a good name , without ever transcending its own .", "if slaboshpitsky retrofitted his tiresome screenplay with sign language because he wanted to prove that everyone , no matter their circumstances , is only human , i can think of a dozen much less dimwitted strategies he might have employed .", "if there 's one place where love has no place , it 's here .", "all of it makes for a unique cinematic experience , an ambitious work that relies on its audience taking a leap of faith . those that do will be rewarded .", "it must overcome its gimmick , or become a footnote . slaboshpitsky succeeds by using a language that crosses all social and cultural barriers : violence . also , sex .", "this is a challenging film that 's not for everyone . yet there 's no denying its brilliant concept and its raw cinematic power .", "MOV is constantly riveting , and even if there is one other movie without spoken dialogue this year , shaun the sheep movie , you still wo n't see anything else like it .", "what sets MOV from any other youth crime film is the way it 's told , challenging the viewer every step of the way . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "there is nothing else like MOV , at once a searing , singular vision of a particular time and place and a brutal metaphor for the wounded human condition .", "the lack of spoken words or score also heightens the natural sound to a magnified impact in a film that 's hardly lacking impact .", "an intriguing , unique story done a disservice by some frustrating directorial choices . leaving it untranslated means we only get the broad strokes where i want details .", "despite the ... longueurs ` MOV ' is certainly a dark and powerful portrait of the grim goings-on at a school where violence plays a far greater role than education , told in a fashion that ca n't help but fascinate .", "MOV , the first feature from kiev-born myroslav slaboshpytskiy is , by any standards , a remarkable achievement .", "the absence of music and spoken dialogue enriches expressiveness rather than denuding it , so that what appeared to be a deficit is repositioned as a gain : not a bad philosophy to arrive at for a film presenting disability to a largely able-bodied world .", "this uncompromising rites-of-passage allegory is a sign of the times .", "a disturbing and extraordinary work .", "while the absence of verbal language presents no barrier to engagement , scenes of almost unwatchable squalor offer a potentially insurmountable challenge .", "pretty much every single thing about MOV is impressive .", "in what amounts to pantomime , the actors convey more psychologically and reveal more about their characters than 99 percent of the films coming out of hollywood today . bravo !", "so vigorous are those signs , and so unmistakably sore is the inflammation of feeling behind them , that , far from being shut out , we are pulled all too fiercely into the drama 's heart .", "this movie wo n't let you sit back -- instead , you lean forward , utterly involved in what you 're seeing .", "wants to make us feel lost and out of control , much like -lrb- if nowhere near exactly like -rrb- its characters and actors .", "a stark and strangely mesmerising take on contemporary silent cinema ... for anyone interested in the language of filmmaking itself , MOV is a movie that demands to be seen", "it 's a tough film ... and one that makes its audience feel as lost in its characters ' world as its characters might well be in ours .", "MOV is a violent , cinematic shock to the system : a core-rattling experience that 's paradoxically engaging and alienating .", "some films are made to leave you speechless ; for some experiences , there can be no words .", "beyond the film-stealing , hypnotic use of sign-language , what we get is a bleak vision of a society gone to pot .", "boldly full-on about sex and violence , as well as its underlying themes , this ukrainian drama refuses to let the audience off lightly ...", "slaboshpytskiy has stated that , ` it 's been my dream to pay homage to the silent movie , ' and the result is a relentlessly bleak and brutal coming-of-age drama that makes for mesmerising viewing .", "you 'll want to bathe your eyeballs afterwards but MOV does something that 's never been attempted before - and probably never will be again .", "a substantive emotional compendium that 's passionately , hypnotically shattering .", "slaboshpytskiy 's gambit is to thrust us into the domain of the deaf by eliminating the spoken word and withholding subtitled translation for the flurried sign language , making this a truly and pointedly silent movie ." ]
the MOV is an entertaining children 's adventure , with heart and imagination to spare .	spiderwick_chronicles	770669821	[ "spiderwick 's great charm is that it feels exactly like the kind of adventure story you might have imagined at the bottom of the garden one day during childhood .", "spiderwick hits the high notes when it needs to , and kids who can handle the scarier parts will find it an enjoyable escape .", "the MOV hands us a new fantastical adventure to capture our imagination -- and make us grab the edge of our seats . it 's definitely not for the youngest faint of heart .", "it 's fast-paced and funny , strangely warm and suddenly creepy , disarmingly charming and admirably icky , all at the same time .", "director mark waters does a fine job meshing the fantastical with the quotidian .", "meticulously rendered cgi creatures spike this dark adventure , shot marvelously by caleb deschanel .", "the best fantasy movie to come along in a while . spiderwick is miles better than the yawn-inducing adaptation of `` the golden compass . '' it 's smart , thrilling and funny , and it even features a good message about the importance of family .", "a refreshingly spry , modest adventure .", "a well-crafted family thriller that is truly scary and does n't wimp out .", "instead of absorbing us into this magical landscape , this adaptation crams all five books together into a frenetic and frustrating 24-hour-escapade", "a classic adventure with its heart and its sense of whimsy in all the right places .", "-lsb- the -rsb- combination of creature effects , action and believable situations is what ultimately puts the movie on par with the first couple ` harry potter ' movies .", "there 's nothing wrong with it that passion and personality could n't fix .", "an enjoyable adventure fantasy that pushes all the requisite buttons while still managing to throw in a pleasant surprise or two , paramount 's big-budget gamble has impressive talent to burn on both sides of the camera .", "a work of both modest enchantment and enchanting modesty , grounded in a classically spielbergian realm where childlike wonderment crosses paths with the tough realities of young adulthood .", "the voice of the novels is lost in translation ; what 's left is something that 's merely by the book .", "scary enough to give free `` midnight movie '' nightmares to some of the young ` uns in the audience . what could be better than that ?", "` spiderwick 's ' biggest shocks are due to big names cast in off beat roles ... the real eyebrow raiser is seeing nick nolte as the evil ogre mulgarath .", "see what happens when you drink yage .", "the mood never wavers , allowing the MOV to develop into an exciting and largely watertight adventure .", "waters does ground his film in the real world , and more importantly he creates a real sense of the family dynamics before jared opens the door to the world of goblins and woodland creatures .", "-lsb- c -rsb- harming ... lots of humorous and thrilling fantasy action ...", "gorgeous cinematography from caleb deschanel -lrb- the black stallion -rrb- and wonderfully intricate production design from james d. bissell create a believably magical world of dusty tomes and toothy goblins .", "a pleasing melange under the direction of mark waters , who , after freaky friday and mean girls , is becoming the go-to auteur of traumatized youth .", "characters with such real-world problems lend the film some real-world credibility", "spiderwick is the neverending story of the new millennium -- a family-friendly fable that kids will applaud but adults may nap through .", "best of all , waters and his team remember to make the movie about human beings ; like e.t. , this is a story about dealing with absent fathers that happens to be filled with adventure and outlandish critters .", "... a wonderful stand-in for childhood itself , when kids often have adventures involving things only they can see .", "a safe mix of fantasy and fright , the adventurous tale the MOV fills a gap in solid entertainment for children and adults .", "a fantasy adventure with the questionable uplifting message that revenge tastes sweet .", "just because the MOV is n't an insta-classic does n't mean it 's not a fine time at the movies .", "a ghoulies for the post-millennial crowd , complete with lots of short attention span flash", "the MOV may be too good to waste on kids . sure , it 's full of goblins and monsters and griffins and sprites , but hey ! it 's a really good movie , eminently suitable for the more mature crowd .", "... just the sort of ` fantastical ' adventure we 've needed at the movies after the oscar onslaught and ensuing winter doldrums .", "`` the MOV '' is a modest and reasonably charming example of a genre that is n't exactly renowned for modesty or charm .", "after lovingly setting up the intricate relationships among its characters spiderwick loses itself in the action and pretty special effects , only recovering in time to do a rushed , pat wrap-up .", "maybe it 's fantasy fatigue , but for all the pretty effects and breathless chases and goblin war battles , the sense of wonder and magic is lost in the shuffle .", "the people who made this film cared enough about it to give their all .", "the movie reveals these creatures with some well-ingrained cgi that makes the visuals appealing for young and adult viewers .", "ok of its type , even if its type is starting to exude that slightly disagreeable scent of ` been there , done that . '", "the story is very condensed and straightforward . it gets right to the action and stays there .", "i found it to be more irritating than scary , more tedious than exciting .", "the overall story and action is mighty familiar . but at the same time , spiderwick does what it does remarkably well .", "it is more adult than its family audience theme would let on . you would n't want to bring any young children to see it .", "... followers of tony diterlizzi and holly black 's series of books will find themselves scratching their heads at the omission of several key plot points and characters .", "the MOV is fast , funny , and clever , with memorable creatures to sweeten the deal .", "condensing five short juvenile novels into a single 90-minute film , the screenwriters have done a decent job of constructing a tale that will entertain tots without insulting parents ' intelligence .", "its simplistic and occasionally juvenile plot is at odds with its more mature subject matter . the MOV is flashy and diverting , but also ultimately insubstantial .", "between a jurassic park-style monster chase and some legitimately creepy critters , spiderwick is a lot trippier than anything in strange wilderness .", "director mark waters keeps spiderwick moving like crazy , which frees it from the overblown quality that bogs down some of these fantasy epics .", "after conquering the teenage girl market with lindsay lohan 's freaky friday and mean girls , director mark waters turns to teenage boy fantasy -lrb- and potential franchise -rrb- ... and proves quite adept at handling large scale special effects without", "be warned , parents , that younger children , under age seven , may have a problem with the often scary creatures that inhabit the spiderwick world . older kids , teens and adults , though , will have a good and entertaining time .", "as movie fantasies go , the MOV has a modest , almost ramshackle aggressiveness that , against all odds , manages to enchant , if not exactly transport .", "brevity works in the film 's favor , turning a potential franchise headache into a delightful winter diversion brimming with revolting creatures , magical spells , and entertaining acts of mass goblin death .", "an engaging , adventurous tale filled with all sorts of intriguing and entertaining characters .", "that perfect nexus of childlike wonder and the terrors of the id . in other words , the perfect fairy tale that is about much more than the magical creatures", "spiderwick is set in the present , but goes for an overall design look of dainty , cozy , william morris-y arts-and-craftiness .", "the monsters seem to be psychological projections as well as special-effects creations , with the scary lead ogre emerging to fill the void left by the absence of the resentful children 's neglectful father .", "it 's easy to see what 's coming , but the payoff is still touching . the MOV finds its magic .", "the MOV is great family fun . its edge-of-your-seat action , charming cast , clever script and direction , and excellent special effects is something is everyone can enjoy .", "at its heart is a sly imagination that fascinates and thrills .", "a jolt of personality and above-average effects make this kids ' fantasy adventure entertaining enough to overcome the cliches in its premise .", "like `` terabithia , '' willfully darker than most children 's fare .", "the MOV is a terrific ride for children who crave genuine excitement , not that tepid scooby doo stuff .", "here 's the recipe for a delightful family film .", "it 's always a pleasure to watch highmore , one of the best child actors working today , and this time that pleasure is doubled because he plays a dual role .", "... a lively children 's adventure ...", "the overall supernatural conflict amounts to nothing more than a jumble of noisy , fast-moving cgi beasties .", "if you 're going to compete in an arena already owned by the `` harry potter '' and `` narnia '' franchises , you 'd better enter that fray determined to show you can compete favorably with them . and that 's where `` spiderwick '' runs into trouble .", "unexpectedly gripping .", "fast-paced and filled with neat special effects , it 's a sure kid-pleaser , albeit one that suffers from the very elements that make it go down so easily .", "the screen ca n't get enough of 16-year-old freddie highmore .", "MOV provides lots of thrills and chills -- so much so that it may be too scary for younger viewers -- but it works best when it implies instead of showing .", "displays a lighter touch than other fantasy films of this nature , meaning that its thrills are all the more unexpected -- and effective .", "a late entry in a crowded field , spiderwick works hard to set itself apart from the competition , and almost entirely succeeds - no mean feat these days .", "as spiderwick keeps time with the notion that kids ' fantasies must feature bad , absent , or otherwise troubling parents , it also offers precious little in the way of clued-in adults .", "it 's inevitable with such fantasies , the storylines begin to have a familiar ring . rry as they might , the filmmakers here are never totally successful in narrowing the gap between reality and fantasy as live action and fantastical special effects converge", "... imaginative fun , derivative , to be sure , but amusing and entertaining and just a little bit scary by turns , at least for kids .", "at 97 minutes this not just a great saturday matinee for 10 year-olds , but one for their indulgent parent -lrb- s -rrb- or handy dandy favorite gay relative/babysitter as well .", "good enough to keep you and an older child entertained , but do n't expect the next harry potter fever to emerge from this movie .", "tosses together hobgoblins and home-alone latchkey kids with tomato sauce baggies as instruments of battle , bad parenting , and boy and girl savior daydreams fulfilled on screen .", "based on the series of five serial children 's novels , the MOV is a hollow spectacle that 's good for the action and effects but light on everything else .", "for a movie about magical beasts , the MOV does an awfully good job of pegging childhood emotional realities , particularly in a context of divorce . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "seen through the eyes of a child , this adaptation my lack originality but is fast paced , contains enough fantasy to balance the family drama and is , at times , very scary .", "sacrifices its undercurrent of pain and abandonment to big-budget special effects", "lord of the deathly thingamabob", "soy troei miamisi ora gia na se taksidepsei sto asfales symperasma poy eihe psiliastei sto pentalepto , oti i pasifismos san haraktiristiko toy floroy , einai epilogi mi biosimi , kai to kalo gia na epikratisei , prepei na brei kako na polemisei kai na katats", "fatherless children are the order of the day , but the film develops this theme no more than the absolute minimum , instead content to stage swordfights and races-against-time between its plucky child protagonists and their monstrous enemies .", "an enjoyable adventure fantasy sure to cast a spell over its audiences . but just as importantly , it weaves a story that resonates with spiritual truth .", "it is n't quite the world of the books . but it 's a perfectly magical and exciting one in its own right .", "in its way , the MOV is a ripsnorting , computerized update of e. nesbit 's old fantasy novels for children .", "it 's got thrills but is not allegorically deep or daunting like the harry potter or narnia flicks . it skews young .", "part of what keeps this from being just another children 's fantasy is director mark waters ' sensitivity to the way the enchanted elements deepen the emotional journey .", "fans of the books will be pleased with the film version , which is equally as action packed and fast paced . it 's doubtful they will begrudge the story changes .", "it 's a movie i can imagine kids actually liking , as opposed to one that clueless studio executives merely want them to like .", "passably entertaining if derivative .", "this adventure of preteens encountering a mythical realm lacks the scope of the other entries in the harry potter sweepstakes , but it still manages to provide scares and action for the under-12 set .", "it has plentiful whimsy , a big enough heart and joan plowright in one fine scene , burbling magnificently . it treats its archetypes with all due seriousness : good must engage evil in a final stand . and fatherless children must try to save the world .", "the effects , the pacing , the mood and the stunningly professional job the ubiquitous child actor freddie highmore does playing utterly different twins are enough to make you forget about what 's not there .", "the characters lack shadings -- nolte 's ogre is loud but uninteresting -- and the tone of the fantasy world is n't witty , like harry potter 's , or satirical , like lemony snicket 's . it 's all just silly .", "sloppy , secondhand pander .", "the story generates surprising emotional power .", "happily , highmore has no trouble grasping the task at hand . as both the thoughtful simon and the brash jared , he transports himself into this literal faerie tale with such convincing enthusiasm , he turns us into believers , too .", "i kept wishing for another scene with mulgarath in the form of nolte , because , well , you can never have enough nolte , and because his particular brand of kinetic insanity would have been just what the movie needed to shake up its clockwork smoothness .", "a swiftly told and sturdily built speculative story .", "as a swashbuckler for youngsters it 's colorful , diverting and , every now and then , genuinely magical .", "MOV , thanks to its fine craftsmanship , is very much more than the same old bedtime stories , digitally gussied up for profit if not fun .", "the MOV is filled with ogres , trolls , griffins , brownies , boggarts , goblins , hobgoblins , sprites and faeries . but its best special effect is young freddie highmore in the dual lead roles of jared and simon grace .", "as kids ' movies go , this is no harry potter , but it 's an enjoyable enough adventure -- with just enough scariness .", "the film is graced with a mostly superb cast , superior special effects , a sparkling musical score by james horner and a fantasy-filled plot with a bit of moralizing , but , fortunately , only a bit .", "the degree of talent attached to MOV is exceptional . it 's an unlikely assembly of people for a studio fantasy film , and perhaps that 's what makes the picture so fresh .", "for the uninitiated ? man , it 's a bummer .", "the movie , based on the best-selling series by tony diterlizzi and holly black , tells parallel tales of fathers who abandon their children , but it glosses over the trauma of those sagas in favor of special-effects-laden escapism .", "the story , frankly , is dull . it 's essentially a siege tale , watered down for youngsters and interrupted by side trips .", "the MOV exemplifies a problem with many of today 's fantasy-adventure movies : the sense that narrative values , such as the artful building of suspense , can be slighted because the computer-generated special effects are so good .", "the director does a nice job of juggling and blending the movie 's tricky tones and storylines , which could have gone badly wrong at any juncture .", "book-based family fantasy is magical and fun .", "the MOV may not be in the same fantasy league as the tales of j.r.r. tolkien , c.s. lewis and j.k. rowling . yet the family flick based on the books of tony diterlizzi and holly black is an all-around class act .", "there 's enough here to keep adults engaged , which is an important component of any motion picture that wants to be known as ` family entertainment . ' i would place the MOV comfortably in that category .", "works well-enough as a cgi adventure aimed at the kiddies , but grownups will probably be indifferent to this otherwise average story that features some pretty cool monster effects , but not much else .", "for a story aimed at the moppet market , the MOV is one that holds the interest without unbalancing the i.q.", "a top-drawer cast , sympathetic script , a director known for delicious teen edge and one of the great cinematographers of our time have conjured up a topical , whimsical and occasionally magical action-romp through a world we know , but do n't fully see .", "while the film is essentially an action flick for kids , it 's nice that the script is willing to tackle real-life sources of pain for both parents and children .", "the MOV , while not without its virtues -lrb- including a genuinely sweet ending -rrb- , goes too far on the frightening front , especially for a young audience .", "the MOV is a sturdy , family-friendly adaptation of the popular series of children 's books by holly black .", "an exciting and refreshing adventure that 's shorter -lrb- and less melodramatic -rrb- than another harry potter film .", "after so many failed attempts to fashion new harry potter-like franchises from children 's books ... it 's nice to encounter one that actually works .", "the result is effective , if too intense for younger children .", "young moviegoers will like the way the film empowers their cinematic peers in this battle of good against evil , though smaller children will probably be scared out of their wits .", "enjoyable , well made children 's fantasy adventure with likeable characters , impressive special effects and a decent script .", "como fбbula , nгo й das mais originais , mas ainda assim tem seu charme em funзгo do carisma de higmore , dos bons efeitos visuais e do desfecho tocante .", "what charm it does have rests largely on highmore 's shoulders . as family friendly fantasy movies go it 's pretty solidly in the middle , its resolve to take no chances whatsoever keeping it from ever being more .", "oh , great -- another kiddie fantasy film . how exciting !", "a run-of-the-mill fantasy adventure .", "the storytelling is economical and brisk . in some ways , waters approaches it more as a pre-teen horror movie .", "we just do n't get good children 's entertainment like this anymore ...", "this movie did n't really blow me away , but it was mildly enjoyable and should keep all of the fantasy fans happy" ]
a talented cast goes to waste in the improbable national treasure : book of secrets , which is eerily similar to the first film .	national_treasure_book_of_secrets	632295045	[ "unfortunately , `` national treasure : book of secrets '' falls under the category of been there , done that .", "absurd second installment in the indiana jones-for-idiots franchise ...", "it 's like doing a puzzle a second time . it 's familiar , it 's redundant and it 's rarely exciting .", "if you can set aside the movie 's countless flaws and just go to watch a stupid mindless movie , then you are good to go with this film .", "the derivative national treasure : book of secrets is a smooth , lightweight action film for undemanding audiences .", "a slight improvement over its agreeable forebearer ...", "national treasure : book of secrets is a pretty typical blockbuster sequel , focused intently on appeasing what it thinks the audience wants , and missing out on what it takes to make a truly good movie .", "national treasure : the book of secrets is an absurd adventure , but its absurdity is wacky and warmhearted . you have to suspend your disbelief , but so what ? national treasure : the book of secrets delivers on what it sets out to be : lively and", "if you can put all sense of realism on hold , you 'll be rewarded with a moderately pleasing diversion .", "over-stimulating brain bubblegum guaranteed to take kids under ten straight to adrenaline heaven !", "too bad such a stellar combo cast had to get dumbed down for such inconsequential pandemonium .", "let 's not kid anyone here . this franchise is all about dumb fun .", "the word `` shambles '' comes to mind .", "it 's wonderful how much real history they sandwich into this ham and cheese on wry .", "national treasure : book of secrets , like its predecessor , would probably be a distracting piece of dumb fun if it were n't so insistent on trying to convince you that it was smart .", "this sequel is what you would expect : if you liked the original , you 'll probably enjoy this retread . but be warned : it bogs down in a drawn-out scene near the end .", "it 's too long and too loud and filled with historical disinformation .", "as much as you want to applaud the movie 's winking commitment to its own looney tunes logic , it 's frustrating when lazy and illogical plot devices are used like cattle prods .", "the first in this series was truly idiotic , but it grossed $ 347 million ! so bruckheimer made virtually the same movie again and it 's still dreck .", "pile on enough action set pieces -lrb- which genuinely thrill -rrb- and comic relief -lrb- which genuinely tickle -rrb- , and let 's all giggle together at the whole mess .", "it 's not like the indiana jones movies were exactly deep and impenetrable : so why do we need indiana jones for dummies ?", "i just could n't get past the preposterous material , behavior and developments , no matter how hard i tried to suspend my apparently ample disbelief", "cage brings so much enthusiasm to the character , it 's hard not to get wrapped up in the history he 's geeking out over hunting .", "unless you really love déjŕ vu experiences , there 's no legitimate reason to sit through national treasure : book of secrets in a theater .", "it 's a treasure hunt , and frankly , book of secrets does n't care if the hunt is improbable .", "since book of secrets does n't take its faux-intricate story seriously , there 's no reason this review should either .", "book of secrets is a perfect family or holiday movie -- one that will keep parents ' attention but not terrify their kids in the process .", "-lsb- the film is entertaining , but -rsb- the best part is a goofy cartoon that is running ahead of it .", "they say that time heals all wounds . well , apparently it heals mediocre movies as well .", "the clues seem sharper this time around . maybe they had more time to perfect the script or maybe i just got smarter in the last few years .", "you wonder how anyone involved could possibly have thought what they were doing was coherent .", "monumentally silly ... but viewers looking for the dumbest sort of escapism are likely to be satisfied .", "almost unconscionably lousy sequel to 2004 's equally bad dan brown rip-off is only made worse by its staggering waste of talent .", "the clues here are less interesting than before , and their explanations slow the film down like molasses .", "even though it 's wildly unbelievable and rather hokey at times , this is total entertainment from start to finish .", "this is a mouth agape movie , during which your mouth hangs open in astonishment at one preposterous event after another .", "book of secrets is n't just outlandish or ludicrous -- these are embraceable qualities -- but stupefying lazy .", "nothing more than a series of add driven vignettes held together by the flimsiest of plots , helmed by the dude who made 3 ninjas .", "you will probably want to spend some time with wikipedia after watching this film , and you may never look at famous monuments and presidential furniture in quite the same way again", "some of book of secrets is quite ridiculous , but in a film that plays fast and loose with history and reality , nothing is impossible .", "it 's all pretty inane if you stop to think about it , but director joe turteltaub works tirelessly to make sure we do n't .", "as long as it 's galloping along , the movie 's perfectly good popcorn -- in itself a rarity these days -- but eventually you get down to the burnt kernels at the bottom of the bag .", "with just as many locales , historical landmarks and secret codes as the original , book of secrets is just as much implausible fun .", "tepid and predictable though the action largely is , bartha provides intermittent comic relief and mirren is her usual droll self .", "it does n't cheat series fans but it does n't offer many thrills or surprises or lingering puzzles , either .", "as with the first movie , book of secrets leaps around like a choppy travel documentary .", "an action adventure flick that careens from one preposterous plot development to another .", "it 's all diverting enough and holds your interest without ever getting too exciting .", "all you can do is sit and watch , and wish there was more wonder .", "it 's another flick about maps , landmarks and buried treasure that makes the da vinci code look like tolstoy .", "a film that 's less about academic research than it is about breaking and entering .", "the film is baffling -- the scheme that links the conspirators throughout three centuries would flummox the illuminati -- but as a sort of vacation scrapbook of the lovely places where the cast spent last summer , it 's pleasant enough .", "this american history-themed action thriller does n't get many points for realism , but it makes up ground in so many other areas that you probably wo n't care .", "the movie 's convoluted hide-and-seek plot also demands a white house break-in that makes about as much sense as subprime mortgage rates .", "the hyperactive sequel national treasure : book of secrets sends its archaeologist hero on a globetrotting quest that might have been devised after a long night of wikipedia surfing .", "is it possible to enjoy book of secrets ? obviously , although its lunacy requires a level of suspension of disbelief that some will be incapable of attaining .", "uma diversăo esquecível ; algo que vocę consome , digere e elimina sem conseguir se lembrar posteriormente do que passou por sua garganta .", "just like the original , it 's too caught up in its mythological zeal and furious pacing to do much for our `` indiana '' jones . a capably filmed diversion that 's breathlessly wired for whiplash but instantly forgettable .", "even sillier and less entertaining than the first film in this series .", "if you desperately need to escape the house this holiday season , avoid this treasure and see something else .", "ultimately , book of secretsis an embarrassingly by-the-numbers rehash of the first national treasure , lighter on the swirly , emotion-cuing music but still well-trafficked in ridiculous feats and worse dialogue .", "the first installment was a moronic , overblown scavenger hunt masquerading as a high concept social studies lesson . the sequel is bigger , louder and , implausible as it is to believe , even more preposterous .", "keeps us entertained with the sheer spectacle of the thing , rather than anything actually interesting .", "this movie is n't much different from the original `` national treasure . ''", "the gimmicks have worn off and the performances have gone stale in this uninspired sequel to a surprisingly fun adventure film .", "less twisty than its 2004 predecessor and yet somehow more incoherent , national treasure : book of secrets plays like a duplicate schematic of the first .", "we 've seen most -- if not all -- of this done before , and done much better , in both the first film as well as the indiana jones movies .", "... dumb popcorn fun that dishes out more of the same for those too overwhelmed by the holiday to seek more challenging fare .", "this second jerry bruckheimer national treasure adventure , feebly directed by jon turtletaub , is no better than the first -- which means it will probably be creamed by critics and make a jillion dollars .", "if someone read this script out loud on a street corner , they 'd be arrested immediately . not for being a conspiracy theorist , just for the improper distribution of garbage .", "it 's virtually the same movie with new locations . oh , plus helen mirren . not a bad addition , but the popcorn fun is gone .", "all you want from a movie like this , really , is a little brainless fun , and it keeps holding out on you .", "when you can tell the cast is having fun , it 's kind of hard not to yourself .", "national treasure : book of secrets has the same director as national treasure , the same writers , and nearly all of the same lead actors . this is no surprise , since it is basically the same movie .", "the cinematic equivalent of the guy who runs up to a cop , grabs the cop 's hat , throws it to the ground and takes a s-it on it . one is left a bit speechless .", "those who did n't appreciate the original wo n't find anything more in this fantasy treasure hunt . let 'm look for eggs at easter .", "worth seeing if only for the locations -lrb- paris , london , washington , mt. rushmore -rrb- even if it goes downhill after the brief opening scenes from 1865 .", "this national treasure sequel , like its 2004 original , is a dumb movie about smart people that uses just enough historical trivia to make you feel like you 're bettered by the experience .", "... an absurd story that invites you to sit back and go along for the ride .", "this diminishing-returns sequel sends nicolas cage on another quest to strike it rich , get young auds excited about history and solve puzzles that are generally less stimulating than yesterday 's sudoku .", "a thumping , gabby slog .", "more than content to simply toss the same exact formula into the microwave and deliver its lukewarm cinematic leftovers to an always-hungry audience .", "a nice confidence and easy energy , three oscar winners happily chewing every piece of scenery in sight , and one great action sequence with four characters trying to maintain the balance of a swaying platform .", "little seems to be designed to make a lasting impression , though the movie may achieve its modest goal of providing mild fun .", "a clearinghouse for things you would n't expect to see a-list actors say with a straight face .", "everything has been significantly amped up -- bigger , louder , further removed from reality -- but it also feels that much more forced . cage and kruger seem like they 're not having much fun this time around , and bartha still gets the best throwaway lines .", "secrets could easily lose 20 minutes , especially once it runs out of energy toward the end . but it 's fun , goofy , and fleet enough to merit a third go-round .", "helen mirren provides adequate distraction from justin bartha 's insufferable ad-libs . yep , he 's still comedy poison . three years has n't changed that .", "an exercise in silliness , but it 's also undeniably a great deal of fun", "familiarity does n't breed contempt here , but it 's so familiar as to keep us from getting caught up in the scavenger hunt this time around .", "there 's sounder logic and more genuine sleuthing in a ` scooby doo ' cartoon .", "you get the uneasy feeling that they 're making it up as they go along .", "leave it to coproducer jerry bruckheimer to revive the indiana jones cycle without the period setting , the camp elements , or spielberg 's efficiency ; director jon turteltaub just plods along .", "probable box-office success does n't keep it from being a largely uninspired concoction .", "in a story even more far fetched than the last one , nic cage and company prove that enjoyable characters can make up for a lot of bad plot .", "this just might be the silliest movie ever to feature three academy award winners .", "continuing the whodunit/where-is-it/what-does-it - mean formula , it 's a fun-filled romp , chock-full-of-historical trivia .", "mirren and voight provide much of the fun here as their characters argue about who 's responsible for their divorce and longtime estrangement .", "it 's never a good sign when you can figure out a movie 's secret plot before the characters involved .", "solve the p vs. np problem or figure out the plot of book of secrets .", "i 'd stop well short of calling it a cinematic treasure , but it 's better than the first one , and that 's worth at least a few gold doubloons in my book .", "% u03ac % u03bc % u03c5 % u03b1 % u03bb % u03b1 , % u03c0 % u03c1 % u03bf % u03c7 % u03b5 % u03b9 % u03c1 % u03bf % u03c3 % u03c4 % u03b7 % u03bc % u03ad % u03bd % u03b1 % u03b4 % u03b5 % u03af % u03b3 % u03bc % u03b1 % u03c4 % u03b1 % u03b1 % u03ba % u03af % u03bd % u03b4 % u03c5 % u03bd % u03b7 % u03c2 % u03b4 % u03c1 % u03ac % u03", "there 's some fun ... but the budding franchise seems already out of steam .", "practically a duplicate of the breezy -lrb- and bloated -rrb- original , national treasure : book of secrets is not without charm , but it lacks the thrill seeker 's joy of discovery .", "given the emphasis on history ... -lsb- it -rsb- reminded me of a line from the herman 's hermits tune about that jolly historical figure henry the eighth : `` second verse , same as the first . ''", "a national embarrassment .", "a little sillier than the original , and a little stupider , and somehow it still manages to be shockingly enjoyable .", "now our heroes are off to the library of congress , which is as close as most of this audience will ever come to a book that is n't filled with stamps ." ]
though perhaps no film could fully do justice to the fascinating life and personality of muhammad MOV , mann 's direction and smith 's performance combine to pack a solid punch .	ali	14265	[ "... ultimately more admirable than enjoyable", "definitely worth seeing because of exciting scenes with smith and voight sparring verbally as MOV and cossell .", "had a chance to be a joyous celebration of this special athlete , but for much of the running time the atmosphere was funereal .", "para michael mann significa mantenerse como un cineasta eficaz , pero lejos aún de sus mejores trabajos .", "a challenging , uncompromising film with the same hardheaded integrity as the man it profiles .", "what we get is what would happen if monet tried to pass a paint-by-numbers work off as a stroke of his brush . yet , just like monet , mann has personal touches that make the film stand out .", "una obra maestra .", "an intimate , personal film , not a lumbering , mass-market paperback distribution of dates and names .", "but you still can admire director michael mann 's fortitude in trying to present the boxing world 's `` black superman '' on the big screen in the dazzling but spotty MOV . mann 's project is ambitious and rapid fire in its presentation .", "it 's great art cinema masquerading as a mainstream film .", "mann 's attempt to notate every historical event in a decade dense with them detracts from his biographical subject", "-lsb- the director -rsb- picks scenes of little interest and lets them drag on and on , long past the time the audience has already gone to sleep for the count .", "MOV does the unthinkable : making its complex and dynamic subject smaller than life .", "the supreme accomplishment in mann 's career .", "a curiously unsatisfying piece which reveals far less about its subject than you want to know ... overly schematic , more hagiography than history .", "this is a not a celebration of the boxing champ 's life but a kind of gloomy eulogy that seems to have been compiled by strangers .", "one of the few remaining icons of the 1960s , muhammad MOV remains larger than life in our time . mann 's portrait of the boxer brings him down to earth .", "the three-part story reaches its grandest point with the staging of events around the famous rumble in the jungle .", "more a history lesson than bio-pic -- but is well worth seeing for its supporting performances .", "we 've seen MOV as the charismatic star of the real-time drama of his life . MOV , for all its flashy filmmaking , just does n't compare .", "for all smith 's dedication and mann 's abilities , MOV remains a figure too big for even the big screen to contain .", "not the greatest , but awfully darn good .", "even though the movie is too long and suffers from an inconsistent tone , the narrative is compelling , as are the performances .", "scene after ponderous scene is presented in a nausea-inspiring conflagration of pointless close-ups , out-of-focus expositions and handheld `` wobble '' shots", "` MOV , '' despite some fine performances and well-staged fight scenes , is a major disappointment .", "the end to mann 's plodding film only brings relief that it ends", "it is admirably made , but it is never deeply moving .", "it 's not a tko per se -- where did this will to power come from , anyway ? -- but it is a helluva fight .", "despite it 's faults , it 's definitely worth a looksee .", "when an 158-min . film fails to provide less insight into the legend than the barber shop arguments in coming to america , then its not worthy of our attention", "a tko of face-acting his from the outset , smith adds spot-on re-creations of MOV 's perpetual head-bobbing and the semi-hoarse vocal cadences with which he delivered his infamous rhyming provocations .", "as an accurate biopic , MOV might not be that great , but visually , it 's pretty damn amazing .", "highlights to either a more ambitious treatment or a more traditional one , living a half-life of borrowed images and stolen verve in the grey zone between .", "an intelligent and well-stylized biopic .", "it 's just a good movie and not the greatest .", "mann and smith deliver this powerhouse with the urgency of a champ 's left hook .", "knowledgeable , evocative , and occasionally excessive , the film jumps right into its big subject and bold concept and never looks back .", "fails to do more than colorfully skim the surface of its subject 's life", "MOV 's greatest failing ... might be that it rarely shows what a charismatic figure MOV was .", "MOV 's unabashed determination and belief in himself through extremely trying times ... this is what really makes him `` the greatest . ''", "smith 's towering performance can only be fully appreciated on a suitably large screen .", "it 's good -- but MOV himself was the greatest . so a reluctant , kind of mild thumbs up for this .", "i wondered whether the shouts of `` get off the ropes ! '' were aimed at MOV or director michael mann , whose film spends much of its 167 minutes at risk of getting knocked out .", "the onetime fresh prince surpasses himself in michael mann 's MOV , physically , vocally and emotionally meeting the challenge of this biopic of the charismatic athlete .", "it 's the boxer you enjoy , not the sluggish 15 rounds the filmmakers put him through .", "any feeling of regret that mann and roth did n't quite pull it off must be tempered with gratitude and admiration for the fact that they dared make the effort in the first place .", "though technically polished ... it feels curiously ordinary , a word one never associates with muhammad MOV .", "like the fighter himself , MOV dazzles with its technique -- this is a big , impressively mounted movie , packed with meticulous , you-are-there details .", "how do you capture an entire life on two hours of film ?", "we see a lot of events , and hear a lot of talking , but it never seems to mean anything in terms of who these people are .", "dazzling , flawed , achingly ambitious .", "the movie reminds you of muhammad MOV 's boxing style -- elusive , showy , feigning this way and that , but always out of range .", "an interesting look into the life of boxer muhammad MOV with a wonderful performance by will smith .", "the film was obviously structured to require very little acting from smith .", "MOV is n't a bad film , in fact , it 's ok . but the bottom line is , the man everyone called ` the greatest ' deserves better than an ok picture .", "MOV is an avant-garde pay-per-view boxing match , but where 's the soul ?", "a joltin ' powerhouse of a movie that deals more in fleeting impressions than pat answers .", "it lacks much of the flash , fire and humor of muhammad MOV and is shot more in the tone of a eulogy than a celebration .", "an intriguing failure that ultimately leaves you disappointed , rather than inspired or invigorated .", "MOV is played brilliantly by will smith .", "too much style , too little substance , too many questions left unanswered ...", "a thrilling account of pugilism 's poet-laureate .", "it 's got just enough oomph to qualify as a victory by a split decision .", "it does connect solidly more often than not .", "succeeds on many levels : as a historical drama , a personal journey , and -- most importantly -- as a boxing movie .", "here smith is not the gangly charmer beloved by his fans , but a solid mountain of a man .", "a clothesline rundown of muhammed MOV 's life ... so preoccupied with realism , it neglects to have a thesis .", "full of abstractions that are sometimes distractions ... the film 's structured schizophrenia , if occasionally wayward , still bears some undeniably tremendous fruit .", "mann has emerged with only a few cuts and bruises , while smith , to paraphrase his character , has n't a mark .", "mann 's MOV is too concerned with cramming all of the benchmarks of his career into three hours to take the time to understand the true joy and compassion of the man .", "michael mann reminds us why muhammad MOV was the greatest -- inside and outside the ring -- in 2001 's best film .", "a 154-minute film that is both too much and not enough -- too much boxing , too many hours to sit , and too few connections .", "exhilarating , stylish , intelligent historical drama .", "mann gets most of the basics right but does n't quite capture MOV 's soul or spiritual growth and commitment .", "the film gives MOV his due by refusing to idealize him or to gloss over his failings .", "michael mann 's muhammad MOV film is not only a terrific biography of one of the 20th century 's most important sports figures , it could well be the finest boxing movie ever made .", "very good and definitely worth seeing , if only to be reminded of the extraordinary life of one of the most extraordinary figures of the last half of the 20th century .", "smith makes contact with enough of MOV 's swagger , sweetness , wit , and pride to convince us that justice is being done to the boxing champion .", "if michael mann 's new biopic of muhammad MOV is not right up there with the gold standard of boxing biographies , martin scorsese and robert de niro 's raging bull , it misses by only a whisker .", "clearly a triumphant labor of love for its star , will smith . credit director mann , above all , for recognizing the performance for what it is : a knockout .", "smith has MOV 's beautiful body language down pat , from head to toe .", "even though smith is nothing at all like MOV in either looks or temperament , the young actor has obsessively willed himself to become muhammad MOV .", "loaded with bravura filmmaking flourishes , and exceptional performances .", "MOV lands a few solid blows , but , sadly , it 's no knockout .", "will smith 's muhammed MOV is n't an impersonation , it 's a transformation . there is no narration to tell us the story , no treacly music cues to tell us when to cry . some audiences might be disconcerted at being treated so intelligently .", "plays more like a celebration than an examination , emphasizing hagiography over history .", "if you have any interest at all in the subject , MOV is worth your time .", "a padded and considerably dull biography of one of sport 's most engaging characters .", "with all due respect to will smith , you do n't send a fresh prince to play a king .", "smith ... demonstrates not only impressive boxing prowess ... but a maturity and subtlety that he 's never before shown on screen .", "an exhilarating travelogue through 10 of the most turbulent years of american history , with a rivetingly magnetic personality as its focus .", "the champ deserves better .", "the film is good , but not great .", "mann ... makes a valiant attempt . and with the loose-limbed will smith in the title role , he gets surprisingly far .", "the most impressive and persuasive rendering of a late-20th-century icon since anthony hopkins turned on that old nixon charm in oliver stone 's 1995 biopic .", "mann 's first movie with feeling ; his overwhelming love of its subject will turn audiences into exuberant , thrilled fight crowds .", "this overlong but sketchy biopic by michael mann , in which style repeatedly tramples substance , actually does the great man a disservice .", "raging bull is artistically superior , but the fight scenes in MOV are just as visceral and more technically accomplished .", "michael mann balances the personal and the political , one man 's story within the racial conflicts of his era .", "this could be the only movie we 'll get on the fighter , and it 's just not good enough .", "MOV is a far more complex creature than this movie allows for .", "it is well-intentioned , sketchy , sprawling and unremarkable . at two hours and 38 minutes , it is also long-winded and exhausting .", "mann 's compelling account of legendary boxer muhammad MOV captures the considerable impact and charisma of the man who literally punched his way into the american consciousness .", "MOV is an impressive documentation of a man and an era .", "there 's great material here , but the end result plays like a highlight reel -- an intriguing introduction to a man 's life for people not fully acquainted with it .", "the problem is that none of these very well-directed scenes manage to fit together into any kind of collective whole .", "mann directs the movie with a calm and original approach ; smith gives a surprisingly convincing performance", "long , unfocused and too often plagued by the curse of the biopic .", "smith , who has a well-developed ego of his own , not only looks like the young MOV but also sounds like the brash louisville lip .", "smith 's transformation is nothing less than astounding .", "more than competently mounted , with a hollowness just discernible in its core ... feels like the first draft of whatever film michael mann set out to make .", "the challenge of dramatizing the celeb 's life is only partially met nby mann in this flawed biopic that narrowly focuses one one decade -lrb- 1964-74 -rrb- , while gliding over MOV 's private life and negletcing crucial aspects of his turbulent yet fascinating life .", "brutal fight scenes and frank racial issues .", "mann vs. machine .", "while making a great looking biopic that is filled with detail , michal mann forgot to make a film that entertains , creating an emotionally void , tone flat portrait of an athlete whose contribution socially and culturally has yet to be matched .", "you can almost see him thinking his way through his fights ...", "it 's stirring to be reminded of what a glorious and galvanizing figure MOV was .", "no matter how good smith and the other actors are , they seem at times dwarfed by the movie itself .", "MOV contains much information , lots of emotional depth , and a triumphant performance by smith , but its dragging pace and tendency toward digression often seem to work against its good intentions .", "like the real-life MOV did in the ring during the height of his career , the film floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee .", "does pack plenty of punches , most notably the mesmerizing turn by smith .", "aside from a lack of story and meandering direction , the thing i liked least about MOV was the guerrilla-style cinematography .", "smith and MOV are hobbled by mann 's decision merely to skim the surface of muhammad MOV 's larger-than-life life .", "the new film should n't serve as a history lesson , but it will show young folks -lrb- and remind us old-timers -rrb- what made him the most famous athlete on the planet .", "the film 's fight sequences are straightforward ... and effectively convey MOV 's agility and lightning speed .", "MOV is no disgrace , but it 's not much of a performer , especially considering that it is one of the few hyped year-end releases that coulda been a contender .", "filled with vivid cameos and set to an infectious soul beat that effectively covers the underlying hum of calculated precision .", "it captures the impact and the charisma .", "it 's a slick , powerful , visually arresting movie , but ultimately mann 's MOV is a movie about boxing rather than about the boxer .", "quite accomplished but finally distant .", "how do you make a dull movie about one of the most interesting people on the planet ?", "a movie that , at its best , is as brashly eloquent in cinematic expression as MOV was with his fists .", "intelligent , exquisitely acted though ultimately unengaging .", "-lsb- mann -rsb- manages to dissect the sport visually , transcending the brutality cliché to reveal how speed and power and courage combine with fatigue and desperation and fear .", "smith inhabits MOV -- his power , grace , ego , humor and body language , inside and outside the ring -- as well as any actor could .", "the fragments of MOV 's life that the movie does provide manage to give us a tantalizing look at a man whose life seemingly defies summation ." ]
MOV brings a beloved children 's character into the 21st century without sacrificing his essential charm , delivering a family-friendly adventure as irresistibly cuddly as its star .	paddington_2014	771366608	[ "MOV 's journey from south america to london is just droll enough for adults - qualifying as a gentle parable about xenophobia - and exuberant enough for the youngest viewers .", "a gloriously whimsical big-screen debut that 's closer to the madcap spirit of the muppets and the lovingly rendered style of a wes anderson film than to standard multiplex family fodder .", "`` MOV '' is , ultimately , about how a newcomer can become part of a family , and about how good manners and marmalade can get you out of any tricky situation - delightful messages , at any age .", "a series of rough and tumble encounters with life in london guaranteed to charm and delight children from 5 to 55 that raises family fare to a new level of entertainment value .", "here 's a kids movie mostly stripped of manufactured , go-nowhere plot crises !", "it 's a clumsy bear , this movie , but ultimately agreeable and even slightly cute .", "king keeps the laughs coming without ever losing touch with the characters .", "a quality family film likely to stand the test of time , `` MOV '' is practically impossible to dislike .", "utterly charming , inimitably british", "MOV is a good kind of sweet , a slightly unusual sweet .", "droll and delightful ... the best family movie of its kind since ` babe . '", "an incredibly charming family flick that , if it were a toy , would come in a box marked , `` recommended for ages 3-90 . ''", "it 's a relief to say that - as films based on fictional animals go - MOV is better than merely bearable .", "`` MOV '' is a mostly smart update loaded with charm , and it preserves enough of the fuzzy feelings for purists to walk away with a smile .", "in the hands of king and a well-chosen cast , the spirit of bond 's books remains intact .", "MOV is engaging and gentle , and while it wo n't win any awards for originality , it manages a few laughs and a surprising amount of warmth .", "an irresistible charmbomb . the in-jokes are verbal and visual , managing to reference themes as diverse as immigration and insider trading . it 's all very droll and quietly , memorably dazzling .", "it 's the right kind of big screen rarity - the good kind .", "it might even boost the market for marmalade .", "such is the chipper goodwill of both MOV and `` MOV '' that you forgive the flaws .", "MOV is absolutely , positively delightful .", "everything about this movie is fun and entertaining . it 's the kind of family film that shows everyone a good time , regardless of age .", "... the word that repeatedly comes to mind is `` charming . ''", "the bear and the brown family get a fair amount of real laughs and also manage to weave a touching story .", "this delightful live-action adaptation of the series of children 's books by michael bond has a relaxed pace that shows affection for both its title character and his audience .", "if your children say they do n't want to see MOV send them to their room sans supper .", "a remarkable work -- so far ahead of any live-action -lrb- well , mostly live-action -rrb- family movies that it would be disgraceful to mention it in the same breath with them .", "`` MOV '' is mostly live action but the little bruin is a mastery of convincing and effective cgi .", "rarely does a film come along that i simply can not wait to see again . `` MOV '' is one of those films -- so , i 'm off !", "`` fun for the whole family '' is an overused cliche when it comes to movies . but in the case of `` MOV '' , there is no better description .", "leaves a nice , warm feeling in your soul and smile on your face .", "the filmmakers behind this magnificent movie adaptation of MOV have indeed looked after the bear . for this is one of the finest family films of this , or any other year .", "has well-timed hilarious action sequences and london twinkles with wes anderson-style production design .", "what struck me most about the film was the quality of animation . i make this statement about so many animated features but the bar keeps being raised higher and higher .", "the film is a brightly wrapped christmas present that has been assembled with love and care , and its message about the importance of welcoming strangers could n't be more timely .", "if it spikes the interest of small children to read more of michael bond 's books then maybe there 's lasting value in the film .", "king is obviously a true fan and he 's made a true and wonderful MOV movie ... the themes and concerns of michael bond 's original series of books and television shows are all there , and the personalities are too .", "the slapstick feel is right for its young audience , and adults should enjoy its bouncy spirit and bonneville 's comic timing . two claws up .", "wildly entertaining , genuinely funny and exuding a heart as sticky as a marmalade sandwich , this happy film , whose furry star is the much loved character from michael bond 's best selling children 's books , is every bit as good as expected .", "through it all runs the touching story of an outsider making a new home for himself , and discovering that in the end , whatever our differences , `` anyone in london can fit in . ''", "this brings MOV beautifully to life and keeps it faithful to the spirit of the original while skilfully updating it .", "we 're just pleased to have a family film in the truest sense of the word , one that 's genuinely hilarious , touching and inventive to both kids and their parents", "`` please look after this bear '' , says the tag around MOV 's neck . rest assured , they have .", "endearing , hilarious , and for humans of a certain vintage , tearfully nostalgic .", "it 's difficult not to go into a movie like this with a sense of dread , as the beloved children 's book becomes a live-action movie with a digitally animated , eerily realistic-looking bear .", "marmaladen with gloriously silly jokes , pitch-perfect performances and incidental detail , this is a warm , witty and wondrously inventive great big bear-hug of a movie .", "it 's hard to see how the new MOV could be bettered as an all-ages caper .", "michael bond 's bestselling books have been brought to life in a film that is slight , silly and awfully british but also warm , funny and just a little bit magical .", "MOV is n't just the film of the year , it might actually be one of the finest family films ever made .", "a delightful children 's film that adults , too , will thoroughly enjoy .", "it 's the kind of film too dignified to play ` lady marmalade ' but not dignified enough to not play ` i got you -lrb- i feel good -rrb- . '", "in the spirit of the best disney classics , MOV is one for the ages and all ages .", "MOV sets the bear -- uh , bar -- very high for any and all family films that will come out this year , but more importantly , you and your kids will love it .", "if the film seems head-and-shoulders above the average effects-driven family-matinee flick , it 's because it never gives the impression that it 's trying to be anything more -lrb- or less -rrb- than good-natured and fun to watch .", "the film is a treasure , presenting a simple story about casual xenophobia as an imaginative , witty family movie about opening one 's heart and making incredibly stupid bear puns .", "he is described as being around three feet six . its ideal viewers will be of similar height .", "the film recalls its stylistic forbears at their best : flowing with whimsy , but never at the expense of the beating heart of its human -lrb- and animal -rrb- characters .", "one of those amazing films that perfectly blends heart and humor , with a gigantic quantity of whimsy .", "the film 's director , paul king , has put together a cast who make a happy marriage of predictability and professionalism . in other words , it 's typecasting done with flair .", "it 's a relief to report that the final film is actually quite charming , thoughtful and as cuddly as a plush toy , albeit one with a few modern gizmos thrown in .", "you wo n't see a better family film this year .", "a charming and sweet-natured family film , full of wit and fun , skewed towards young children but cheekily speckled with sly gags pitched at the older audience .", "MOV is enchanting .", "this one-for-the-ages family movie based on the books by michael bond is a full-blown christmas triumph .", "adorable . so witty and compassionate and bittersweet and just the right little bit of snarky that you will cry tears of joy from the perfection of it .", "MOV is a marvellous -lrb- and politically brave -rrb- piece of cinema that never puts a paw wrong .", "where family films so often falter , choking on their own contrived sentimentality and/or cool , MOV is sweet and silly and , at times , edge-of-the-seat stuff .", "MOV is the very definition of fun for all the family , coupling visual spectacle and guileless action set pieces with a strand of wry , occasionally subversive humour .", "this first-ever movie take on peru 's furriest export is a cuddly triumph .", "king has both paid homage to MOV 's roots and made him relevant for a modern audience .", "filled with wit , adventure , comedy , and lots of heart , ` MOV ' should make most everyone who sees it feel all warm and fuzzy inside . -lrb- full content review -- sex , profanity , violence , etc. -- for parents also available -rrb-", "somehow the new MOV movie seems modern while at the same time holding firmly to its quaint , lovely ideals .", "a respectable screen version of michael bond 's classic children 's books .", "charming story about beloved bear has some scares .", "despite its terrible trailers , the movie is a surprising delight .", "MOV ... comes off as a charming character . the kind of character that children around the world have fallen in love with ... but even with all the bear 's charm , a plodding pace and a questionable plotline leave the film version less desirable to watch .", "with quirky british humor , inventive production design , a terrific turn from hawkins and even an ` in-house ' 5-piece calypso band , `` MOV '' makes january film-going a whole lot brighter .", "a good-hearted film ... as witty and clever as it is charming ...", "it manages to be both old-fashioned and high-tech . it remains faithful to the character 's roots while also placing him firmly within a contemporary setting . it 's charmingly funny and shamelessly punny .", "find yourself a small child and go - but be sure to stop for tea and biscuits after .", "a film that has an accessible , and yet significant message running through it , while never losing sight of the enchantment and frivolity that makes for such an entertaining piece of cinema .", "a total delight , as warm and welcome as a hot pair of socks on a winter morning .", "MOV runs gamely through a heightened , picture-book london , stumbling on occasion through a mess of caffeinated , slapstick set-pieces , but keeping its head as it spirits us along for the ride .", "has charm , fun and a glossy sense of adventure to spare .", "affectionately honoring the everyday quirks of bond 's stories , while subtly updating their middle-class london milieu , king 's film may divide loyal paddingtophiles with its high-stakes caper plot , but their enraptured kids wo n't care a whit .", "the heart of this sweet-natured ursine klutz beats strong and true .", "if MOV is to turn into a movie franchise , one suspects that marmalde sandwiches under hats and scenes of mayhem in kitchens and bathrooms wo n't be quite enough . far more attention will need to be paid to the storytelling .", "funny , touching and surprisingly topical , this is an utter delight from start to finish .", "-lsb- the -rsb- ancient , well-worn form is done with such a light touch , enlivened by the absolutely terrific cast .", "` MOV ' could have used more looking after .", "nicole kidman 's slinky , kinky , stiletto-heeled dominatrix is a villain to die for .", "proves that great children 's films do n't need to be childish , you will want to cuddle ` MOV ' all the way home .", "pleasingly preserves a marmalade-ish brit-flavour but adds subversive spice . a scrumptious rarity -- a film of critical , optimistic patriotism , championing the outsider and his newfound nation-home while taking the stuffing out of its stodgy imperial past .", "the film is filled with inventive and imaginative ways of telling its story ... the animated bear fits perfectly in this idealized portrayal of london .", "it 's a nice family-friendly flick that balances some zany visual comedy against an understated british sense of humor .", "... could have been made with half the creativity and wit that it was and not lost a dime .", "sweet , charming , amusing , and classy . the sort of movie kids will still love when they 're old and cynical .", "`` MOV '' stuffed with charm .", "this delightful family film is the `` the lego movie '' of 2015 . it 's clever , funny and beautifully distinctive .", "the film expertly manages to be adorable and completely enjoyable without making MOV `` edgy '' .", "MOV is a wonder : warm , gentle , well-acted , funny without being stupid .", "engaging and enchanting , it 's a charming , compassionate family film .", "what 's so magical about this setup is the perfectly british attitude : no one is fazed by MOV 's ability to speak , stand on two legs and discuss the moral consequences of one 's actions .", "the movies can still be worth it , despite considerable evidence to the contrary . if you need proof , look no further than MOV .", "true to the gentle humor and sweetness of the books .", "while it 's not quite as charming as it wants to be -- the climax is needlessly frantic -- it manages in its quieter moments to capture some of the author 's old-fashioned whimsy .", "thanks to its playfully idiosyncratic , yet thoughtful nature , MOV maintains the innocence and charm of the MOV character for a new generation .", "pulling off a photorealistic talking cgi bear movie is no easy task , but MOV is warm and winning and earnestly british .", "a good part of the film 's charm is that , even in the face of this cynicism , MOV remains unchanged ...", "a delight from start to finish .", "because of its adorable protagonist , laugh-out-loud gags and touching premise , `` MOV '' succeeds in a way most cgi/live-action hybrids do not .", "the surprisingly joyful MOV is a fun and frolicking family movie that celebrates families at the same time it pumps some much-needed fresh air into the increasingly stale and saggy genre of children 's movies .", "-lsb- it -rsb- feels like victory - sweet , but with a bit of bite , much like MOV 's favorite marmalade .", "utterly beguiling and totally eccentric , MOV is the first theatrical movie to tell the story of the beloved bear from darkest peru .", "true , a lot of marmalade gets spread around , and at times the zaniness gets a bit too slap-sticky , but it 's all good clean fun .", "he 's a bear you care about from the first candy-colored frames of the film , which teems with delightful images in a seamless mélange of live action and computer animation .", "there are so many terrific things going on in the film -- rapid-fire wordplay , split-second visual gags , and some veddy , veddy british punning -- that , frankly , MOV deserves more than one viewing .", "kindness wins out in the end , naturally , but a specific and prescient form of kindness rather than the glib , one-size-fits-all brand usually seen in children 's movies .", "just about perfect , at least as a collection of sketches without any particular direction .", "this is a charming film whose underlying message of tolerance and acceptance strikes a palpable chord in today 's world -- both for children and adults .", "for parents looking for a film that 'll please them and their kids in equal measure , MOV is -- as goldilocks would say in that other bear story -- just right .", "it also contains the most important ingredient from -lsb- michael -rsb- bond : a sense of humor , from the slapstick to the droll ... this film will evoke laughter , not tears .", "`` MOV '' is as pleasant and comforting as tea and a biscuit , and it takes place in a contemporary fairy-tale version of london , which glows warmly and wraps MOV in its multicultural arms .", "a charming , witty , gentle mix of live action and cgi that will delight children and parents .", "` MOV ' is an absolute delight , visually inventive , thoroughly goofy and goosed by a mix of dry british wit and pratfall shenanigans .", "this is not only a dandy , playful movie about a talking bear , but one that gives pause for thought , too .", "despite the kid-gloves sensibility , `` MOV '' delivers a knockout blend of fluid animation and live action .", "artfully and cleverly , the sweet spirit of that young bear from darkest peru and his many london misadventures materializes brilliantly on screen in the very good hands of writer-director-conjurer paul king ." ]
though lensed with stunning cinematography and featuring a pair of winning performances from meryl streep and robert redford , MOV suffers from excessive length and glacial pacing .	out_of_africa	10091	[ "the film runs for 161 minutes and does not have a strongly defined narrative .", "the film is so preened and self-satisfied .", "the movie is not drama and far from a compelling romance . needless to say , the prestige and technical polish on display here were enough to win this flick a passel of oscars .", "as the academy found before awarding it seven oscars , it is easy to be seduced by the lush cinematography and barry 's score . more difficult to tolerate is the slushy love story between streep and redford .", "MOV is , at last , the free-spirited , fullhearted gesture that everyone has been waiting for the movies to make all decade long . it reclaims the emotional territory that is rightfully theirs .", "fantastic acting or not ... seven oscars or not ... i was bored . and i ca n't get past that .", "dull biopic of the strong-willed danish writer isak dinesen .", "nominated for 11 academy awards , this earned seven , including best picture and best director ... but no best actress , alas .", "sydney pollack applies craftsmanship and restraint to a classic plot curve of longing , fulfillment , and loss , and although the denouement is a bit overextended , he never yields to facile , insistent sentimentality -- his effects are honestly won .", "maybe the problem of the pacing is simply the nature of the beast these days with expensive period pieces . once the difficult details are all in place , it may be too much to expect a director to resist milking every scene for more than it 's worth .", "MOV is a great movie to look at , breathtakingly filmed on location . it is a movie with the courage to be about complex , sweeping emotions , and to use the star power of its actors without apology .", "MOV captures , beautifully and bittersweetly , the last exciting time in the last wild place on earth , making me feel as if i really missed out on something wonderful by being born too late .", "it tells a grand love story in less-than-grand fashion but is nevertheless worth seeing because of all the other things it does right .", "not even the meticulous meryl can breathe life into a movie that never really gets started , and takes almost an hour to end .", "despite its technical assurance and some strong performances , this is a film that favours spectacular landscapes over emotional depth .", "luedtke and pollack bought these high-priced literary sources only to chuck them for a conventional , largely fictionalized movie romance .", "the relationship between karen blixen and her british lover , denys finch hatton , may fail to catch fire . but the production itself is so exquisitely served that you ca n't help but be grateful for this extraordinary visual treat .", "the relationship of karen and denys is a prickly and , despite the era in which it is set , curiously modern one . it 's also at the heart of this understated movie .", "what the movie loses in emotional realism , it gains in sheer epic audacity .", "MOV is a splendid example of that persistent genre , the coffeetable movie . it 's big , beautiful , and imposing . but there is n't much to it , and pretty pictures -- replacing ideas , not supporting them -- are its only real attraction .", "streep may convince us utterly that she is in love with africa , but our views of it are a little too stately to really feel the place .", "my basic problem with this otherwise sumptuous and well-acted film is that i never was able to accept redford in character .", "MOV has the sheen of artsiness and the gloss of two big-name actors . unfortunately , that ` s not quite enough in the absence of a story with vigor and passion .", "epic filmmaking at its most lushly romantic", "long and tedious at times , but redford and streep shine .", "beautiful but overrated", "a lyrical and meditative movie about a strong-willed woman and the place she loves .", "a sumptuous romantic drama , MOV spans continents and partners in while relating the tale of how karen blixen grew to become the world-famous author .", "with the exception of miss streep 's performance , the pleasures of MOV are all peripheral -- david watkin 's photography , the landscapes , the shots of animal life - all of which would fit neatly into a national geographic layout .", "despite a long-winded approach to moviemaking , MOV is a sumptuous romantic epic with a wonderful lead performance from meryl streep .", "bloated and tedious , pollack 's attempt at epic cinema is hampered by failure to provide clues about the meaning of africa for dinesen as writer and woman , and watkin 's cinematography is impressive in the manner of national geographic .", "for all that it may come MOV , the film 's final destination is not many miles from disneyland .", "meryl streep trots out a classic performance in this 1985 oscar-winner about isak dineson/karen blixen , a writer who lived in africa for a short time and experienced all manner of adventure and heartache , dutifully recorded in this sydney pollack epic ." ]
the MOV combines taut direction from david cronenberg and and a rich performance from christopher walken to create one of the strongest stephen king adaptations .	dead_zone	13367	[ "chrisopher walken gives a thoughtful performance as a psychic-in-spite-of-himself who must save the world from a mad politician .", "one of", "is n't about anything really save the crushing disappointment of ambition and the unbearable lightness of being .", "mr. cronenberg 's direction is vivid and effective ; his pacing is a little unemphatic at times , but the film 's individual scenes are very well staged .", "an unusually thoughtful and engrossing horror flick with a terrific performance by walken .", "a dud .", "brilliantly creepy walken", "... near perfect ...", "one of king 's better cinematic adaptations .", "cronenberg 's most accessible film . very good , but not great .", "an accomplished psychological thriller .", "arguably the best adaptation of a stephen king novel .", "cronenberg attempting a little mainstream with this stephen king yarn and really pulling it off .", "this is a welcome straightforward adaptation/improvement of king 's original , minus cronenberg 's visceral flourishes .", "the MOV ultimately ranks as one of the best king adaptations to date .", "-lsb- an -rsb- engrossing yet strangely unembellished adaptation of stephen king 's bestseller by director david cronenberg .", "director david cronenberg 's sense of pace is acute , the editing by ronald sanders is seamless and suspenseful . and , if nothing else , the movie establishes that chills can be generated without explicit gore and violence .", "it 's both moving and quietly unsettling as it builds towards a forceful climax .", "by no means a bad film , just a disappointingly bland and superficial one .", "a thing of dark , twisted , ironic beauty .", "in the MOV , cronenberg 's visual sense is n't as evident , but his smart choices in letting stephen king 's compelling story unfold without excessive distractions more than makes up for it .", "david cronenberg 's direction -- his first mainstream job , after videodrome -- is apt and creepy , though the story never really goes as far as it could have . still , it 's a creepy little mystery , especially for a king flick .", "on the surface , the MOV looks like a very good film ...", "despite the reputation of both stephen king and director cronenberg -lrb- videodrome , scanners -rrb- there is very little blood and gore in this film .", "the MOV is not a story that is particularly suited to cronenberg 's fascination with , and adeptness at portraying , body horror ...", "spurred on by christopher walken 's sincerely moving and warm portrayal .", "the MOV does what only a good supernatural thriller can do : it makes us forget it is supernatural .", "the classic walken role , by which all subsequent ones are measured . possibly the best stephen king adaptation too .", "a gripping thriller done with intelligence . one of the better film adaptations of stephen king 's work .", "walken revels in the lead ... intriguing", "cronenberg pulls it off , but you ca n't help feeling it 's a movie in search of a tv series .", "chilling .", "do n't let the fact that visible breath and frosty misery take priority over exploding heads and fetus-licking snow you .", "cronenberg tells the story with measured strokes and a sure emotional touch as well as nifty blasts of horror ." ]
dark , cynical , and subversive , MOV gently applies a chainsaw to the conventions of the high school movie -- changing the game for teen comedies to follow .	heathers	15577	[ "a scathing lambasting of the american teen in the late 1980s , but its presence will be timeless .", "you can be more popular dead than alive", "this film is dark as night but great fun , taking teen issues by the scruff of the neck and holding them up as the rather unpleasant exhibits they are .", "the points it makes about the violence-prone absurdity of american adolescence are perhaps even more incisive today than they were -lsb- in 1989 -rsb- .", "a wonderful savage satire on high school life .", "a poisoned candy apple that 'll bring a sardonic smile to the lips of those who remember it and entertain those who have n't experienced it before .", "the perfect 80 's film , and it has the legs to still do it today .", "lehmann ... made a stunning debut with this sharp satire of teen cliques .", "more than just one of the best movies so far this year , it is a revolution in young-adult entertainment .", "for a long time , we 're not even sure of the point of view : is this a black comedy about murder or just a cynical morality play ? the traveler in the foreign country is not sure , but he knows the film inspires thought .", "MOV , with all its flagrant masochism and violence , is a throwback to a more innocent time , where such films could be made and still be deemed over the top fantasy .", "a super-smart black comedy about high school politics and teenage suicide that showcases a host of promising young talents .", "MOV locates the emotional totalitarianism lurking in a prom queen 's heart .", "after columbine , this dark comedy is n't as funny .", "dark , cynical , but deliciously funny , heathersis a fascinating look not just at high school but at the way we look at high school .", "so grab your croquet mallet , load up on `` ich luge '' bullets , and crank up the big fun : MOV is a motion picture that continues to impress and disturb , even 20 years after release .", "two decades later , MOV is so on the money , with its vague but unmistakable parallels to several school shootings , that it could never be made today .", "... the film paints high school as a veritable hell where the only way to alleviate suffering is by making others suffer more .", "its inanities and glib pretensions are so thick that it mainly comes across as tacky and contrived .", "a super-smart black comedy about high school politics and teenage suicide that showcases a host of promising young talents .", "may be the nastiest , cruelest fun you can have without actually having to study law or gird leather products .", "blistering comedy run aground by cop-out ending .", "director michael lehmann and writer daniel waters keep things dark and tasty , and the dialogue and high school politics still resonate with a sharp sting .", "viciously delicious cult classic , flip side of `` the breakfast club . ''", "scathing and hilarious .", "an amazing black satire filled with vicious biting words that snap like firecrackers .", "the film uses an intimate knowledge of teen-movie clichés to subvert their debased values from the inside .", "lehmann 's audacious feature debute transforms teen suicide into a wild and mean satire with a giddy tone . good year for indies : the movie premiered at sundance in 1989 , along with sex , lies and videotape , thus heralding gen-x cinema .", "fantastic", "as snappy and assured as it is mean-spirited .", "lehman 's delightfully dark and deranged take on adolescent angst and isolation . MOV is heuristic in its haughty examination of teenaged alienation" ]
while it has moments of inspiration , MOV is often too self-referential for its own good .	gnomeo-and-juliet	770807381	[ "it 's one of the most unoriginal movies to come down the pipe in a long time , but gnomeo & juliet manages , just barely , to rise above these obstacles and carve out an identity of its own .", "kids will fall in love with it as a movie treat full of heart , laughs and fantastic songs , and it could have crossover appeal as a valentine date night treat thanks to all its pointy-hatted romance .", "this lively little film , a comic take on shakespeare 's tragedy , is really entertaining .", "much of the play 's dialogue is updated . jokes fall flat . and a ceramic gnome by any other name is still a kitschy little figure .", "adults will be consistently amused by all of the references and in-jokes to the bard 's famed works , while children will learn a little about the original play as they get swept up in the likable characters and fast-paced , heartfelt story .", "it 's a little bit funny . not much more than a bit , but enough to make this a cheerful , likable children 's picture with a big heart .", "what makes the film most endearing is its unabashed eccentricity .", "... way this film is the `` mama mia '' of garden gnomes !", "gnomeo & juliet wo n't change any paradigms in animation or in depictions of shakespeare , but it will certainly keep kids in stitches and their parents smiling for its short duration . perhaps that 's enough .", "if only the 3-d had n't been wasted on the claustrophobic trappings of a backyard feud .", "tolerable but forgettable , gnomeo & juliet is a halfway clever idea executed with minimal effort and ingenuity . it continuously reaches for the lowest-hanging fruit -- in its jokes , in its animation style and its brazen , narrow appeal to tykes .", "quite short and mildly appealing , much like a garden gnome .", "the logic seems to be that the bright colors and half-hearted attempts at plot will be enough , but even the youngest kids know better by now .", "... this primary-colored parable about feuding lawn-ornament clans is easy on the eyes and good for some laffs . ducking tragedy , -lsb- it -rsb- still dives into some surprisingly dark waters .", "as an earnest and mostly successful stab at what seemed like a flawed idea , gnomeo & juliet somehow manages to evoke fond memories .", "though a stodgy script means the people at dreamworks and pixar wo n't be having any sleepless nights , there 's still much to like about this colourful `` gnomance '' for kids .", "far too much of the film is devoted to eye-rolling pop-culture gags and long montages set to recycled elton john songs .", "too clichéd and clumsily assembled to provide entertainment value to anyone except the rarified demographic of moviegoers that automatically finds garden gnomes charming .", "it 's easy to imagine the voice cast headlining a terrific romantic comedy for adults , but gnomeo is strictly a kids-only enterprise .", "the result is like watching an over-extended sketch . the first few minutes make you laugh . the next bring a slight smile . the rest of the time you are silent , the joke and the accompanying freshness having long gone stale .", "playful , inventive and endearing , this 84-minute epic is smart enough not to overstay its welcome as it steers clear of the fatuous and the formulaic .", "the film is sparky and offbeat , but the script - credited to seven people , not including the bard of avon - is n't consistently funny or imaginative and too much of it seems camp rather than amusing .", "while the gimmick of sending up shakespeare may be lost on kids -- who will enjoy the movie 's colorful palette , silly characters and overall cuteness -- older and more literate viewers will appreciate the satirical bits peppered throughout the film .", "the film needed a whole lot more of humor relevant to its world .", "this fun flick has tongue firmly planted in cheek , a trove of elton john songs , an excellent voice cast , and nifty animation .", "defiantly derivative and groaning from joke overload , this disney pickup takes more than half its running time to find a distinctive tone , a reason for being .", "wait for the next elton john-themed lawn gnome shakespeare adaptation .", "it 's all really a bit cheeky ... to have -lsb- elton -rsb- john substituting for the insight and authority of william shakespeare . tragic ending ? that 's rubbish ! you ca n't hop and bop to the crocodile rock if you 're dead by poisoning !", "as enjoyable as non-pixar kiddie flicks get , a high-spirited , high-end comic revamp of big bill 's eternal tragedy .", "are we in such a hurry to introduce preschool kids to `` romeo and juliet '' that they need to see a computer-animated , bowdlerized version featuring garden gnomes and a happy ending ?", "despite the novel approach to shakespeare 's oft-told tale of doomed love , this 3d animated garden gnome variation never fully comes to life .", "every movie about cuddly dwarf statues in an english garden should have music this big .", "`` gnomeo & juliet '' is n't a great movie but it 's fun . ca n't wait to see what they do with `` turtles andronicus . ''", "elton john songs and love-struck garden gnomes .", "in this bright , bouncy shakespeare take-off , animated gnomes tell the tale of the classic romantic tragedy .", "shakespeare with lawn ornaments turns out to be an unexpectedly winning proposition in gnomeo & juliet .", "the good news about this sendup of the classic is that it 's better than you might think -lrb- even terrific for some fans -rrb- ; the bad news is that you ca n't get away from the foolishness of even trying such a thing .", "... possibly the worst animated feature ever to be distributed under the disney banner .", "the cleverness and humor pretty much stops at the title .", "feuding tribes of gnomes freeze into inanimate objects whenever a human looks at them . too bad that does n't hold true for the humans in the audience .", "... shenanigans play out to a score of classic elton john songs -lrb- and two new ones -rrb- and a script crammed full of pop-culture references and shakespeare puns .", "and thus the old joke has finally been fulfilled of someone pitching romeo and juliet to hollywood and hearing in response , ` could n't they live at the end ? i mean , it 's kind of a downer . ' -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a daft and mostly deft low-budget animated `` romeo & juliet ''", "sophomoric humor and a lack of substance make MOV a rather forgettable flick .", "`` toy story '' goes shakespearean in this animated retelling of the tale of the star-crossed lovers of verona .", "a plethora of talented voices and some silly shakespearean references make this cartoon a winner .", "gnome matter what , i try not to pre-judge .", "one of the most charming and kid-friendly animated offerings in quite a while .", "for all the difference it would make , they could have just booted the elton john tunes and instead employed , say , gerry rafferty 's `` baker street '' or cee lo 's '' **** you . ''", "for a movie about inanimate objects , gnomeo & juliet is quite animated .", "rest assured the ending here is very 21st century : cheap , predictable , and witless .", "gnomeo & juliet was not a good idea to begin with .", "there is something unbelievably cool about tapping your toes to tiny dancer , rocket man , and bennie and the jets while adorable little gnomes cavort about and ultimately wreak havoc on screen .", "shakespeare is hovering , rolling , and leaping in his grave , folks ...", "for all the clever writing buried in the gnomeo & juliet script , the end result is a bit disappointing . but i could n't hate it .", "uneven is the course , as the bard might say , but the ride is plenty of fun .", "it 's a diversity of talent befitting the melding of shakespeare , elton john , and garden gnomes ; those unopposed to a little lunacy will enjoy the adventure .", "gnomeo & juliet stays too low to the ground to become an animated classic , but if there 's a fairer midwinter 's tale , wherefore art thou ?", "the nine writers involved -lrb- this took nine writers ? -rrb- wussed out on the tragic ending in a way that wo n't bother the kids but might feel like a cop-out to some of the older audience members .", "what would have saved it , if it had been saved , is the design and animation .", "the film 's adherence to irony becomes tedious , especially with the supporting characters planting more adult references in almost every conversation .", "a kitsch and colourful animation whose one-joke concept has its fun moments but only works in a limited , one-dimensional way", "discounting william shakespeare and the two guys who wrote an earlier screenplay it took seven writers to come up with the script for this .", "a fun , disposable animation designed for short attention spans and lovers of garden ornaments .", "sadly , the music is largely wasted on the material , as somehow gnomes racing a lawnmower does n't organically translate to a song about fighting and getting a little action in .", "to go or not to go , that is the question you must ask when considering gnomeo 's third act . it 's boring . acts one & two , however , are hilarious .", "a hit , a very palpable hit .", "a lot of thought , love and -lrb- on the part of the animators -rrb- hard work has gone into this picture ...", "entertaining animated comedy that succeeds thanks to a witty script , a decent gag rate and terrific voice performances from an impressive cast .", "executive producer elton john 's indelible stamp is all over this colorful family film .", "totally crackers but it gets powered by pure invention and eccentricity alone .", "gnomeo & juliet is romeo & juliet ... but with gnomes ? that 's terrible . it 's like doing moth-ello , a kids ' film about a moorish general who hatches from a cocoon , flies towards lightbulbs and eats jerseys .", "offhand you might imagine that doing an animated version of ` romeo and juliet ' with the characters played by lawn gnomes ... would be a terrible idea . now you have unassailable proof that you 'd be right .", "a disney toon seemingly born solely from a bad pun , this computer-animated trifle pieces together its bard adaptation from the spare parts of superior shakespeare-for-kids predecessors .", "a surprisingly entertaining animated caper ...", "it 's all snarky dialogue and whizzy action . but it 's also silly enough to keep both adults and children chuckling .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- tragic alright , but not in the same way as the bard intended .", "parting with it is not such sweet sorrow .", "seriously , have most small children here even seen a garden gnome ? outside of a website commercial , maybe , or the cover of grandpa 's old `` all things must pass '' album ?", "... has its cute moments , but it 's the cuteness of desperation ...", "thanks to the guiding hand of director kelly asbury -lrb- shrek 2 -rrb- and sweet voice work in the leads by james mcavoy and emily blunt , it 's not bad at all .", "rather than staying completely faithful to shakespeare 's literary work , the screenwriters appear to be more concerned with cramming the film full of tired sight gags , humorless pop culture references and uninspired wordplay .", "there 's enough going on to make you wish the movie worked better than it does . a few more drafts , along with a title change , and it could have been great , rather than merely muddled .", "creative , much less tragic take on classic love story .", "much of the charm of this film lies in the fairy tale lives of these backyard fixtures . the attention to detail is masterful .", "an inoffensive but entirely unmemorable kiddie version of the bard 's classic romance .", "chances are this movie would be just as effective in good , old 2-d . but let 's face it , today 's younger audiences are drawn to the promise of what they might see once they don those oversized glasses .", "boasting plenty of chuckles and a bubbly charm , there 's a lot to admire about this kid 's toon .", "as well as adding colour to the characters , the animation nicely captures the textures of the backyard which in turn bring an engaging simplicity to some of the cuter sight gags .", "disposable , garden-variety entertainment .", "even if it does n't quite gel , it 's admirable that a film made of such weird ingredients is even vaguely palatable .", "it 's a bit of colourful fun that fast turns into a surprisingly guilty pleasure , to be honest . you 'd have to have a heart of stone not to be entertained .", "charming , puntastic and entertaining .", "it 's cute , all right . but even as shakespearean tragedies aimed at kids go , gnomeo & juliet is a slender conceit that stretches itself way too thin .", "a vibrant bit of cheeky entertainment , a beautifully animated romp that plays better cute than clever , offering miniature merriment and cheerful blasts of classic rock while pantsing the bard .", "this is romeo and juliet with a happy ending -- which ca n't have been easy . asbury does a good job of unifying the whole and preserving the english humour .", "-lsb- video -rsb- sharing only a smidgen of a resemblance to the legendary storyline of shakespeare 's tragedy this animated children 's movie is an abomination by any standard .", "might be more enjoyable if it were n't so conspicuously constructed as a showcase for elton john 's music catalogue . the two `` new releases '' are particularly ear-scalding .", "kids will enjoy it , adults will survive it , and the final credits will leave you in a better mood than when you started . not bad for a bunch of home depot escapees .", "the greatest film ever made about living , breathing garden gnomes .", "what is there to say about a movie that beats its eccentric premise to the ground in the first scene , and does n't stop ?", "there 's nothing here as clever as you find in pixar fare , or dreamwork 's successful shrek franchise , although co-writer/director kelly asbury did helm the oscar-nominated shrek 2 .", "what is there to say about a movie that beats its eccentric premise to the ground in the first scene , and does n't stop ?", "-lsb- a -rsb- delightfully silly animated flick , which does n't wear out its welcome .", "no doubt producers/partners elton john and david furnish responded to the story 's notion that love and ` matrignomy ' are matters of the heart that deserve respect rather than interference and condemnation .", "not to be confused with troma 's `` tromeo and juliet '' -lrb- 1996 -rrb- or anything from pixar , disney 's `` gnomeo & juliet '' is likely to be the worst gnome movie you see this year .", "given the size of the writing staff , it 's no surprise the script feels like a committee job , overstocked with a high ratio of groan-to-grin quips .", "exactly the kind of movie you wish for when you 're the parent of small children . it 's fast , funny and smart enough to tickle the tots and amuse the adults .", "it 's a sorry spectacle , watching garden gnomes being robbed of their dignity .", "creator kelly asbury has discovered imaginative ways to freshen up the timeless material and introduce it to the next generation .", "this retelling of the bard 's tale is tedious stuff , in the way that second-rate animated movies tend to be .", "the filmmakers fully acknowledge how utterly silly their concept is and the result is a playful movie that is much more entertaining than it has any right to be .", "novelty alone does not a good idea make , and in the case of MOV , it 's rather a disturbing , even fetishy one .", "if the movie , which starts out shakily , improves in the second half , it is a discombobulated grab bag of jokes peopled with characters who have little emotional resonance .", "the animation is bright and appealing -- and it holds up in 3-d , which is always nice . and the voice cast is rather remarkable .", "it 's directed with flair and energy , spirited , funny and charming .", "what 's happening beneath the surface , though , makes for more than escapist fun ; gnomeo & juliet also serves as a smart tribute to camp and , as such , carries some clever , subversive comments on modern society ." ]
MOV may appeal to fans of dark , risqué comedy , but it 's ultimately too rough and uneven to hang together as a wholly satisfying viewing experience .	the_little_death_2014	771387985	[ "lawson either needed to flesh out these characters or view their failings with stiffer cynicism .", "... this hypersexualized riff on wild tales is at its best when depicting the tenderness and sweet intentions of maeve and paul .", "it 's perched uneasily on a fence separating a rote comic sketch film from something weirder , stranger , and less engaged with offering reassuring domestic homilies .", "`` la ronde '' this is not .", "a brightly performed , amusing and provocative entertainment that might have you rethinking what constitutes a normal sex life .", "the set-up is a bit like that old woody allen 's farce everything you always wanted to know about sex crossed with love actually , though it 's better than either because there 's a disarming depth and poignancy here as well .", "there are moments of bad taste black comic brilliance in this feature debut .", "the film is truly much more than it reads on its surface , a far cry from the tired and formulaic rom-coms moviegoers have come to expect from hollywood .", "overcooked at times and not always cohesive , josh lawson 's debut feature about intimacy is a case of hit or miss , but in its favour , there are some very funny ideas coupled with some priceless moments", "MOV is just a mostly laughless tour of unlikeable , depressive suburbanites .", "relatively experimental in its structure but conditioned like a sitcom .", "the film itself is so contrived it 's ridiculous . and not in a good way .", "australian actor josh lawson writes , directs and appears in this middling ensemble comedy about the wacky sex lives of four suburban couples .", "it 's quite a trick lawson has pulled off , creating a film that 's as genuinely sweet as it is borderline offensive , and funny throughout .", "sometimes funny , often just cringe-worthy", "a game cast , including kim gyngell as a former sex offender with baking skills , goes a long way in selling lawson 's hard-working material .", "darkly funny , occasionally poignant and teeming with the unexpected .", "the vignettes ... manage to be funnier than not .", "a winning humanity seeps through the high jinks . lawson comes not to judge , but to assess the unintended consequences of sexual free play .", "this is apparently a comedy , and yet only a few of the characters ' exploits are even mildly humorous .", "MOV never feels remotely of a piece , and is likely to find its proper audience months from now when the individual sketches show up on youtube .", "sex comedies work best with light touch , and as the ponderous title -lrb- a literal translation of the french term for orgasm -rrb- indicates , australian writer-director josh lawson mostly does n't have it .", "sad and often laugh-out-loud funny .", "MOV intriguing , provocative , a little frustrating -- sounds a bit like a relationship , does n't it ?", "in formulating the screenplay , lawson has blended both comedy and drama . it works in some places . it does n't work in others .", "... morphs from very good to instant classic in its final stretch ...", "an uproariously funny and honest sex comedy , MOV is an absolute laugh riot .", "with one or two bright spots , this is a mostly uninteresting , occasionally uncomfortable affair that is simply not as subversive , enlightening , or as taboo-breaking as it sets out to be .", "in lesser hands MOV could easily have been a misguided mess , yet -lsb- writer/director -rsb- lawson shows an uncanny sureness of touch with difficult scenes and is able to toggle the tone from story to story .", "an erratic episodic comedy about just how funny a fetish can be .", "MOV is bold , brave and original .", "the film relies mostly on verbal exchanges for its comedy and its sexual content and while it is very explicit it is only sporadically funny .", "a loveable , clever and feel-good film despite the fragmented structure .", "for all of the comic potential of a broad and bawdy farce , lawson 's story does n't meet its own brief and , much like the lousy sex had on screen , it ends up being a frustrating letdown of uneven pacing and mismatched mood .", "erin james and t.j. power get the least amount of screen time of all the couples in the anthology sex farce MOV , but they create the most lasting impression .", "in the end , the film does n't work .", "there is simultaneously too much and not enough going on in writer/director/co-star josh lawson 's feature debut .", "the mood will be too mild and shock-free for fans of todd solondz or early neil labute ; yet the film is sufficiently cool and quizzical to make you wonder where lawson will turn next .", "-lsb- b -rsb- racing bursts of unlikely honesty in overlapping vignettes about five couples , their sexual hopes , fetishes and downfalls , with a sequence of endings that come together in a ravishingly sustained comic climax .", "the entire enterprise is more annoyingly quirky-perky than truly sexy or psychologically probing .", "-lsb- e -rsb- xactly the sort of cheeky morbid you might expect from the title ... -lsb- t -rsb- his is n't a sexy movie in the least , for all its bold and very welcome frankness . instead , it 's funny in a way that critiques romantic dysfunction .", "frequently funny and sometimes perhaps offensive in the darkness of its humor .", "MOV is a cautionary tale to selfishness and sexual conservatism ; told with a desire to be cringe-worthy . it 's clever , but it knows it .", "it goes down as easy as junior soprano on bobbi sanfillipo , which is both a blessing and a curse for lawson 's hollywood-slick romantic comedy .", "MOV is -lsb- lawson 's -rsb- feature film debut , and it 's beautifully scripted , each of its five story lines working out the comic implications of a perverse urge ." ]
guy maddin perfectly recreates the look and feel of a 1930s in this bizarre picture .	saddest_music_in_the_world	13635	[ "it 's a work of art -- crazy , touching and utterly unique .", "the concept is high , the humor lowbrow and the joy of experimentation evident in every frame of this wonderful picture .", "maddin frustrated and self-immolating , forced to toil in a medium he sees only the death of and for an audience he disdains .", "bizarre , baroque mix of soap opera , song-craft , sorrow and substance abuse is an unpredictable knockout .", "the costumes , the sets , the music , the choreography , the dialogue - all are beautiful and from the eye of a genuine vision .", "the best movie you 'll see this month and a contender , with the possible exception of eternal sunshine and kill bill vol . 2 , for the best film of the year .", "if i were to recommend one work to someone who had never seen a maddin movie it would be saddest music .", "an insanely audacious satire", "any film where a beer baroness 's glass leg -lrb- filled with beer -rrb- shatters when a high note is struck is okay by me .", "a perfect entry point for viewers looking to explore the weird world of maddin , who should be anointed the cinematic poet laureate of winnipeg , if he has n't been already .", "guy maddin 's concocted a film that looks like it 's been exhumed from a long-abandoned dusty archive , and that follows the logic only of its own internal interconnections .", "the MOV is a hard little movie . which does n't mean that it 's hard to watch , just that it 's hard to describe and classify -- and harder still to critically analyze .", "hang with it and you will be handsomely rewarded , not only for its absurdist humor but for the way maddin creates a cinematic world where such sublime lunacy is ... logical .", "little more than an elaborate stunt , created almost exclusively in post-production .", "if the intention is to transport the audience to a world we 've never seen , mission accomplished . you 'll either find it extremely creative or an insufferable bore .", "provocative title , provocative premise , provocative direction , routine movie .", "to fully appreciate the lunatic possibilities of the film medium , consider the spectacle of isabella rossellini frisking around on hollow glass legs filled with sparkling beer .", "the amber-refracted comedy can serve as an introduction to the work of canada 's most original filmmaker or as a culmination of everything he 's done before", "narratively and spiritually , the movie is bankrupt , even though it 's so packed with stuff ... that you can hardly bring yourself to believe that it all adds up to nothing .", "it 's a rare film today that does n't assume audiences are stupid . weird as they might be , maddin gives us credit for being in on his esoteric jokes .", "the film 's expressionist style and lighting design provide it with an immaculate richness of visual textures .", "here is magic-realism filtered through an oddball sensibility , chilled in the snowdrifts of winnipeg and bottled in amber-hued frames of celluloid .", "crammed with cinephilic allusion and rendered in an obsessive `` authentic '' period style ...", "the finest portrayal of a double-amputee beer baroness outfitted with glass-encased , beer-filled legs that i could imagine .", "one of those metaphoric weird-out flicks that takes mors pride in shocking than telling an interesting tale .", "when a director 's `` primitive '' style is as developed as maddin 's , your aesthetic response can seem like all the emotion you need , his thrill your thrill .", "requires an acquired taste for such inspired but unwieldy madness .", "a guy maddin film is so visually inventive , so full of rich detail , and so prismatic in appearance that attempting to describe it is like trying to explain the color blue .", "guy maddin 's snow globe cinema , hermetically sealed in ghostly adoration of silent cinema , is well matched to this darkly comic fable .", "vital and delirious , the MOV hurtles along on twin tracks of vaudevillian humor and gleeful bad taste .", "i got a strong sense of guy maddin 's sense of his own talent , but i 'm not as convinced as he is .", "from time to time during the 99-minute running time , i kept thinking of those old off off broadway impositions on wriggly audiences -- or was it just me who was the transplanted village square trapped among all the hipsters ?", "beckons with a seductive and unforgettable melody .", "some of the funniest surreal moments on film since being john malkovich", "everyone overacts to beat the band , in time to maddin 's madcap and totally original beat .", "... so stuffed with maddin-ess that it never manages to get past the glorious surfaces .", "the weirdest movie of the summer . ok , the year .", "silly , sick and surreal , it 's a triumph of style over message or entertainment value .", "infuriatingly obscure ... a bit of rarefied madness that proves that maddin 's films are an acquired taste most of us are unlikely ever to acquire .", "at moments the taste is flat , but this brew has a head on it . it 's the strangest canadian export since glenn gould .", "maddin 's novel filmic imagination is exceeded only by his sense of superiority to his source material .", "watch this movie for its imagination , not its logic .", "chances are that those who have n't bolted for the door after the first 15 minutes will love it ; others could be driven to drink .", "offers idiosyncrasy in spades .", "... a little bit like what matthew barney 's cremaster cycle might have been without the illusions of grandeur or pretentious aftertaste .", "the best film of 2004 . a throwback in more than just its look , guy maddin 's latest brings new life to the melodrama .", "maddin seems to have picked up a loose string from somewhere in cinematic history and started knitting a tapestry of an entirely original design .", "shake this snow globe , and after the swirling stops , there 's nothing to see .", "greil marcus has described the folk and `` race '' records of the 1920s and 30s as expressions of `` the old , weird america . '' guy maddin seems obsessed with `` the old , weird cinema . ''", "the effect is so distancing that all but the most adventurous filmgoer will have trouble sitting through all 100 minutes of it .", "a viewer takes in this circus of bizarre characters and absurdist images ... with an appreciation for the inventiveness , but a wish that one might be more involved or at least entertained by the stylistic workout .", "it shows the positive side of cinematic weirdness . it 's weird in an accessible , amusing way . it 's bizarre filmmaking that regular people can enjoy , too .", "that the actors manage to find resonance amid this romantic-musical-comedy chaos is a minor miracle , but their complex interrelationships actually mean something .", "-lsb- maddin 's -rsb- campy style of writing ends up at odds with the emotional power of the images .", "mckinney 's cheerfully cynical zealousness and de medeiros ' waiflike quality provide some pleasures , but the film 's chief glory is rossellini 's inspired , imperiously vampy turn .", "each frame of maddin 's saga will have yielded a memory of cinemania past , even for those with no clear memory of the old movies that echo in this alluring new one .", "proudly outside the mainstream , but adventurous audiences looking for a uniquely diverting time will be glad guy maddin is staying the course .", "like everything in maddin 's oeuvre , the MOV is a contribution to the imaginary history of our times .", "... obtuse and impossible to penetrate ...", "as delirious and idiosyncratic as maddin 's past works , the MOV benefits from more robust pacing , greater narrative coherence and less preciousness overall .", "this feature from the antiquarian avant-gardist guy maddin is a sublime , hallucinatory musical , full of surprising humor and genuine sorrow .", "a deliciously weirded-out picture by guy maddin , a deliciously weirded-out canadian filmmaker .", "-lsb- maddin 's -rsb- best and most imaginative picture to date .", "the style is so overdone it 's nearly suffocating .", "there 's no mistaking saddest for anything but a maddin production . an exceptional one , at that .", "the script is hilarious and the cast , particularly mckinney and fox , are superb .", "a giddy celebration of despair in all its wretched glory .", "maddin speaks in an almost lost , elusive and poetic language of filmmaking .", "discerning filmgoers searching for a truly original voice , need look no farther .", "what 's really riveting is how effectively maddin creates a singular , cinematic world .", "another slice of bizarre , movie-mad brilliance from winnipeg 's guy maddin .", "saddest music is like a saturday night live spoof that has a promising beginning , but does n't know how to end .", "maddin , like beer , is something of an acquired taste , best appreciated by those with an affinity to mainstream cinema 's silent past and independent cinema 's occasionally absurdist present .", "enough leaden whimsy to resink the lusitania .", "maddin 's nostalgic whimsy wears out its welcome well before he wraps", "virtually gushes with an overflow of ideas and images and razzle-dazzle", "the grainy black-and-white cinematography gives the film an otherworldly feeling .", "surely the oddest 1930s musical ever made , in or out of the 1930s .", "the MOV does n't just re-create 1933 through costumes ; it actually looks like a 1933 picture .", "it 's a great work of absurdism , cynicism , and terrific madness .", "this is arguably maddin 's finest work to date - as funny , twisted and visually astonishing as anything he has done before .", "deliriously eccentric .", "a strange , finely-wrought movie out about the perversity of art , the hell of families and the chains of commerce , coming from a director who wallows in the former two and ignores the last . it slayed me .", "... shrill and annoying ...", "chester 's productions -- `` abolition blues , '' `` san francisco quake of ' 06 '' -- rearrange history as lurid , self-promotional displays , huge and irrelevant .", "to say that the MOV is not for everyone is to state the obvious . but who 's to say whom it is not for ? not me .", "maddin has reached a new expressive plateau .", "there 's atmosphere and absurd wit , but the surreal style creates a distance from the characters that 's only likely to be appreciated by fans of maddin 's self-conscious artistry .", "you 're left , as with certain vivid dreams , filled with memorable images but not completely able to account for what you just experienced .", "to see this film , to enter the world of guy maddin , is to understand how a film can be created entirely by its style , and how its style can create a world that never existed before , and lure us , at first bemused and then astonished , into it ." ]
the well-acted a MOV is both a moving love story and a revealing look at mental illness .	beautiful_mind	10240	[ "a must-see for film junkies .", "roger deakins ' handsome cinematography gives the film the look of a leather-bound classic . what keeps mind from greatness , though , is some awkwardness in the screenplay , and the film 's odd relationship with the true story of john nash .", "nicely filmed by roger deakins and magnificently performed by crowe , who never fails to surprise .", "whatever the final verdict is on a MOV 's faithfulness to the story which inspired it , crowe 's performance will weather the storm . it 's the real deal .", "a brilliant performance by russell crowe , who takes his audience on a terrifying journey inside a man tormented by self-created mental demons , propels a MOV .", "it is a thought provoking study of mental illness and the struggle to overcome it .", "successfully lures the viewer into the mind of a character who is portrayed as defining everything in his world in mathematical terms .", "a MOV is one hell of a movie .", "a cinematic puzzle with missing pieces , a state of being that would drive any mathematician crazy .", "since love conquers all , you know everything will turn out okay . it 's practically a mathematical formula .", "a play for the fickle attentions of middlebrow moviegoers looking for an easy cause they can champion .", "best film of 2001 .", "russell crowe steals the show as john nash , the 1994 nobel prize winner for economics", "it 's crisp and well-organized and thoughtful .", "a significant film , one that is at various times uplifting , thought-provoking , and emotionally devastating .", "nash 's subterranean nightmare takes on the gripping elements of a psychological thriller .", "clear the academy award decks . here comes this year 's winner .", "howard smashes through the conventions of the damaged-hero tale to recount the struggle of one man to stand upright on quaking ground .", "both nash and the audience deserve better .", "well-made film with some deservedly oscar-nominated performances -- it takes some shocking liberties with its subject matter but remains engaging and enjoyable throughout .", "director ron howard has created a moving masterpiece , elegantly guiding the audience through john forbes nash jr. 's life .", "the film shows the triumph and tragedy of life , as well as the beauty of the human spirit to overcome and survive .", "` as straightforward fiction , this is solid feelgood fare , but the fact that it 's based on a real person , real success and failure opens it up to far greater scrutiny . '", "a different film might have been made about a wider sampling of nash 's experiences , but it would n't necessarily be a better film , and it certainly would n't be this film .", "exceptionally acted , smartly scripted , superbly directed -- a beautiful thing .", "this film is a puzzlement in its inconsistency , especially coming from ron howard ... still , good performances abound .", "a pretty good tear-jerker .", "one of those formulaically rendered important subject movies .", "the pieces fall into place with the precision of one of nash 's confounding mathematical theories .", "the movie can -- indeed , should -- be intellectually rejected , but you ca n't quite banish it from your mind .", "the success of this effect , which helps elevate the movie above a classy disease-of-the-week saga , rests firmly on russell crowe 's performance , and it 's a strikingly good and moving one .", "much as i admired the performance and the intelligent script , i could n't help thinking of how much money a schizophrenic can save on movies !", "the biggest load of hooey to stink up the screen this year .", "there is more to admire in a MOV than you might suspect , but less than its creators believe .", "crowe and crew deliver top-flight performances to keep the madness gripping .", "among the most affecting ever made about co-existing with mental demons .", "howard softens the hard edge of real schizophrenia with movie gloss as cotton candy , shaping the troubled history of mathematical genius john forbes nash , jr. into feel good escapism .", "howard 's sappy movie covers some of the material , but is far more concerned with box office and oscar glory .", "crowe 's performance alone is worth the admission price .", "a MOV is at its best when its subject is at his worst .", "until the unbearably sappy final minutes , the film moves at an absorbing pace and -- in the rarest of qualities - allows the bulk of its sentimentality to emerge honestly .", "love story , or math problem , a MOV is without a doubt one of the finest , most genuine films of 2001 .", "an inspiring story of courage and triumph .", "formula hollywood at the top of its form .", "... howard 's duty is not journalistic , yet it seems a much more interesting movie could have been made about this nash fellow ...", "this is a lovely film , crafted with attention to detail and assembled with real skill .", "it is truly sad how the masses will seem to fall for any movie that wraps serious , probing subject matter around a conventional love story .", "the movie fascinated me about the life of this man .", "mind 's inarguably greatest strength is a beautiful performance by russell crowe , whose depiction of schizophrenic genius john forbes nash jr. is continuously compelling .", "one of hollywood 's very few really classy or ambitious offerings this year .", "crowe ... defines and builds a characterization which centers the film and , indeed , enables it to transcend its weaknesses .", "ron howard as director has fashioned a drama about the slow hatching of nash 's heart .", "fascinating , clever and surprisingly heartfelt , a MOV is easily one of this year 's best films .", "the script gets us so inside nash 's head that it makes us a party to his illness and the paranoia that it spawns ... but howard does n't know how to show us this without , ultimately , making us feel cheated and jerked around .", "goldsman 's script fictionalizes the bare framework of nash 's life in a way that sneaks us into the mind of a madman .", "fascinating , inspiring , oscar-worthy .", "inspirational to be sure , tightly-wound and secure with outstanding performances , this film is likely to please audiences all over the place .", "crowe , goldsman and howard are n't trying to solicit love or tears for john nash , as detractors bitterly claimed . `` a MOV '' sought only acknowledgement of the silent , invisible and brave struggle that so many with mental illnesses endure each day .", "a masterpiece .", "a typical oscars movie . solid , middle-brow and worthy .", "consistently engrossing as an unusual character study and as a trip to the mysterious border-crossing between rarified brilliance and madness .", "crowe pulls out the stops , but he looks too bullish and controlled for such a pitiable victim .", "the result is mainstream moviemaking at its highest , most satisfying level .", "cynics will hate it , but others will rightfully see it as a great cinematic accomplishment which is backed by excellent performances , great direction , a moving score and exquisite cinematography .", "oscar-winning biopic is too intense for tweens .", "i ca n't deny how solidly it 's crafted , how well-acted , and , wonder of wonders , how intelligently written and directed .", "i particularly enjoyed the fact that nash comes across as quite fallible in the film despite his attempts at perfection . his character in the film is as unpredictable as i would expect the real nash to be .", "for all his capraesque aspirations , howard 's movies never really leave the ground because he never really takes any risks .", "harrowing , heartbreaking and deeply human .", "this is a precision story as told by filmmakers who are shooting at the side of a barn with water balloons filled with syrup .", "all the pieces are there and ron howard fits them all together as if playing the perfect game of go .", "an engaging , rousing , well-made film about a brilliant man whose life was almost completely devastated by mental illness", "as strong a performance as russell crowe has ever delivered .", "in this case at least , mathematical genius has inspired moviemaking genius .", "i really do n't know who i would recommend this film to . it 's worth seeing for crowe 's performance , i guess , but for pity 's sake do n't pay anything for it .", "crowe proves he 's the pre-eminent actor of the moment , discarding his gladiatorial macho to inhabit the gawky , tormented nash with harrowing conviction .", "you ca n't believe russell crowe is the same actor who won an oscar one year ago for gladiator . the film has a reveal so startling i almost got whiplash , shaking my head in amazement .", "the strength of the film arises in the second half .", "crowe ... disappears into the character just as he did when he played tobacco whistleblower jeffrey wigand in the insider .", "in every facet , it should have an automatic date with oscar .", "it presents itself as a biography of the flesh-and-blood john nash . and in fact , it is really only a flashy , sentimental hollywood movie , inspired by a few particular details of the john nash story .", "at its most effective when it seems to lose the plot in a scrambled second act that posits the cold war as a collective paranoid delusion , the film reverts to type -lrb- and to fact -rrb- for a sentimental anti-climax .", "a pedestrian film with a rudimentary script that forces the actors to create believability where there might otherwise be none .", "if this were fiction , it would be an example of superior storytelling , and it 's certainly gripping .", "director ron howard 's deftness in suggesting the subjective experience of crowe 's character , who 's later diagnosed with schizophrenia , makes for inspirational narrative , but certain plot points are so reductive .", "unfortunately , as the picture goes on , the haunting of nash by figments of his troubled mind becomes a trifle simplistic .", "... crowe disappears into the role of john nash and proves again that he is one of today 's most versatile actors .", "a tedious exercise in manipulation that once again proves hollywood is short of vision .", "... one beautifully made film .", "neither aesthetically pleasing ... nor intelligent .", "where the film attempts to visualize nash 's thought , it is not perfect but does a very interesting job .", "a grand hollywood drama .", "an absorbing movie from start to finish .", "who 'd have thought algebra could be so exciting ?", "ron howard trashes the true story of the mentally troubled nobel prize-winning mathematician genius john forbes nash jr. ...", "director ron howard uses interesting visual techniques to show how nash makes his amazing mathematical connections .", "i 've never seen an actor try so hard to look like he was a disturbed character .", "a light veneer of condescension hangs over a MOV .", "in a good cast , jennifer connelly earns your complete admiration .", "the preview is misleading , but as a drama of a man 's pretty interesting life , it is somewhat pleasing .", "an excellent film with an interesting and surprising twist .", "practically a one-man show , but russell crowe makes it an entertaining one .", "through enormously convincing performances , a masterful screenplay , and aggressive direction , this movie takes us on an extraordinary journey into the mind of a fascinating character .", "a beautifully written , effectively acted , and meticulously crafted effort .", "a frequently disappointing cut-and-paste job ... it fails to find any sort of smooth rhythm or dramatic arc .", "in a performance that wavers between deserving an oscar nomination and one that 's overacted in the hopes of getting one , russell crowe delivers an intense performance as nash .", "the movie illustrates with poignant -lrb- if reductive -rrb- clarity the awful no-exit paradox of a paranoid delusion -- that its most incapacitating aspect is its terrifying realness .", "what it lacks in ingenuity , `` a MOV '' makes up for in superb performances , potent emotions and graceful , emblematic -lrb- if safe and conventional -rrb- filmmaking .", "screenwriter akiva goldsman has fashioned a powerful narrative that 's brought to life by the outstanding cast and howard 's assured direction .", "ron howard 's relentlessly sunny direction is an unusual fit for this often fascinating portrayal of one of our century 's great math minds .", "crowe is called upon to do not much more than stare solicitously at the heavens , from where inspiration duly arrives , to the accompaniment of some predictably celestial music .", "crowe 's interpretation of this tortured genius is textured and complex .", "the second , idealised , sentimentalised half of the film is torture , as we plod through the routine i 'm - here-to-help psychiatrist , the walls plastered with cut-up newspapers and the what-happens-when-he-stops-taking-the-medicine stuff .", "you 're well into the story before you can sift the facts from the hallucinations , a process that 's made compelling by russell crowe 's performance in the lead .", "despite problems of structure and tone , and some crucial omissions from nash 's actual life , a MOV has emerged as one of the season 's most enjoyable and popular films .", "the story also comes up with a clever way for nash to fight his problem : he uses his mind . his illness is a puzzle , after all , and he 's good at figuring out puzzles . you 'll root for him .", "a MOV is the best film yet from director howard .", "a MOV is howard 's best movie , and easily one of the best movies of the year .", "kudos to crowe , who can go over the edge without going over the top .", "it 's not a crime for the script to gloss over the thornier aspects of nash 's story , but the film seems totally unconvincing , squeezing a real life into a formula that 's simultaneously more palatable and less interesting .", "crowe reaches within and recreates himself once again , as he did in the insider .", "-lsb- crowe 's performance is -rsb- still one of the better roles you 'll see all year and seems a shoo-in for a hanks-like third nomination in a row .", "a MOV is like a brick to the head to anyone who ever winced at the utterance of `` infinity plus one . ''", "the most interesting thing about this film is figuring out where all the oscar buzz is coming from .", "the kind of movie that makes you wish they 'd just do away with the oscars altogether , a MOV is as tasteful as a dentist 's office , and about as exciting .", "it makes you understand what it feels like to have a serious breakdown in powerful , empathetic ways that no movie has ever done before .", "opie may know how to spin a good fable , but he 's no match for this brilliant , complicated couple .", "it 's the kind of project that should have been awarded to a writer-director team of true vision , and not to akiva goldsman and ron howard .", "there 's no mathematical equation that can produce the number of stars this film deserves ; it 's infinite .", "howard makes it much more bearable by keeping the tension to a maximum and the potential for nausea to a minimum .", "the first two acts of the film are strong enough to merit a recommendation , as is the consistently impressive work of connelly .", "a triumph of the cinematic spirit .", "this might have been a great film , if director ron howard had been more daring both in terms of the film 's perspective and its style .", "it is n't the device that 's so crude , but the execution , which turns nash 's persecutory demons into nuisances that wo n't leave us alone .", "russell crowe is a sensational actor who can apparently do anything he sets his own MOV to , and he brilliantly portrays nash from college days to retirement age .", "a MOV is not an insult to the intelligence , not quite . but it makes every effort to celebrate that uncommon faculty and at the same time play it down to the lowest common level .", "rich and stimulating , occasionally frustrating yet equally rewarding , and definitely one of the best films of the year .", "screenwriter akiva goldsman 's clever solution is to turn the story of a troubled academic into a hollywood thriller . how ? he makes things up .", "the result is one of the most successful attempts to make math look sexy , even if the movie strays - gallops , really - from the details of the actual life of nobel prize-winner john forbes nash jr. .", "a MOV reveals only glimpses of the dark story beneath its sunny imagery , but the performances carry enough weight for it to stand for something .", "crowe is convincingly skittish and bounces enjoyably off paul bettany , while jennifer connelly earns her oscar in the would-be thankless role of suffering wife . but this is as dishonest as hollywood biography gets .", "the film 's strength is certainly the towering performance of crowe as nash ; he inhabits the man from the internal organs out and jennifer connelly 's performance as alicia is also outstanding .", "tthe film 's overweening desire to be taken seriously gets in the way of the story .", "the humor of his rough-edged socializing and courting make a much more interesting film than that which `` MOV '' actually becomes ... a psychological thriller .", "how ironic that russell crowe won his oscar last year for `` gladiator ''", "it 's not only intelligently conceived and smoothly crafted , but also manages be be emotionally resonant without degenerating into mawkishness .", "this is blatant histrionic mugging directed squarely at oscar voters .", "shows us the joys and terrors of seeing things that others ca n't .", "a beautiful movie .", "it 's everything most movies this year have not been : deeply felt , genuine , gracious .", "russell crowe sometimes summons up one of the most powerful depictions of mental illness i have ever seen with barely an eyelid flicker separating manifestations of sickness from utterly sane displays of creative concentration .", "as nash , crowe could hardly be more convincing .", "though director ron howard 's populist style makes its first third feel simplistic and forced , the film deepens in the final two acts , and proves worthy of its unique and difficult material as the credits roll .", "russell crowe , el gladiador de la pantalla ofrece sin lugar a dudas , la mejor actuación de su carrera .", "a MOV is not about ideas per se , but about the experience of living in a world defined by ideas .", "as john nash , russell crowe projects the ` warts-and-all ' persona of a genius trying to conquer mental illness . but i ca n't help reacting negatively to most biopics . i never know what 's real and what 's made-up -- kinda like nash himself .", "the acting is what truly shines here .", "emotiva , personal y entrańable , es un triunfo en todos sentidos .", "a rare film when the random elements of filmmaking align in a formula equaling near-greatness .", "a MOV , a beautiful heart - a beautiful movie .", "nash and alicia are played by russell crowe and jennifer connelly , both of whom give performances that border on the spectacular . neither has ever been better or created a richer , more multi-layered characterization .", "it 's sad to see a MOV whittled down by such a plain one .", "ron howard consegue transformar até mesmo a matemática em algo emocionante .", "crowe 's performance is miraculous , absolutely oscar-worthy .", "a deeply eloquent film with sparkling performances by both crowe and connelly .", "good , old-fashioned storytelling , with both a twist and a heart .", "it is moviemaking at its finest because it plays as powerfully and effectively to the heart as it does the mind .", "howard gives crowe the space he needs to build a memorable character .", "an affecting motion picture that confronts its subject head-on yet does n't lay its life-affirming message on too thick .", "thanks to stirring performances from crowe and connelly , MOV might rest on a foundation of theoretical mathematics , but its real lessons come straight from the human heart .", "it too neatly pigeonholes the complexities of the dramatic situation , but the performances carry the show .", "tells us little about paranoid schizophrenia , less about genius , and next to nothing about nash .", "despite a shaky west virginia accent , crowe does exemplary work here , his best since the insider .", "despite the ` hollywoodization ' of nash 's personal life , a MOV is a thoughtful , provocative film about human frailties and human strength .", "throughout this movie we not only see this man go through hell , we feel it , thanks to crowe 's complete immersion in the part .", "sadly , howard blands out in the final third , using old-age makeup and tear-jerking to turn a tough true story into something easily digestible . until then , you 'll be riveted .", "a compelling tale with some terrific and touching individual moments , just the right directorial touch , and what 's arguably the best performance of the year .", "terrific , surprisingly gripping true-life tale of a math genius battling madness .", "humanistic and engaging piece of popular entertainment .", "in the hands of a better director than ron howard , such a protean mix of reason and madness could have made for a tale of shakespearean complexity . instead , all we get is a feel-good flick .", "russell crowe 's sweating and facial tics are always entertaining , but ron howard never lets you enjoy them , so busy is he directing everyone into a state of uplifting bliss .", "director ron howard and writer akiva goldsman have reached the apex of their careers with mind .", "-lsb- crowe 's -rsb- work here is indeed a thing of beauty .", "quite possibly could be the best thing ron howard has ever directed .", "-lsb- a -rsb- plodding , pedestrian hagiography .", "schizophrenics , notes a psychiatrist in the movie , are pathologically incapable of recognizing the truth . if so , a MOV is schizophrenic .", "it may be a film which salutes intelligence and the power of love , but it 's also a symbol of cinematic cowardice and fear .", "the best action film of the year .", "it 's a performance that 's not just great ; it 's amazing .", "here 's hoping that the academy awards recognize this articulate , intensely entertaining gem . a MOV would indeed be a terrible thing to waste .", "pedantic and sophistic .", "i really wish the last third had been less sketchy , because before it the movie had seemed to be building to greatness", "if you watch it with your heart instead of your head you 'll be privy to a profoundly moving experience .", "howard directed this moving tale without caving in to the temptation to over-sentimentalize .", "you can practically feel director ron howard standing over your tear ducts , straining to extract every last salty drop .", "a film that gives only the tiniest insights into its main character .", "like a good college education itself , a MOV broadens your perspective on life .", "director ron howard and screenwriter akiva goldsman play fast and loose with nash 's illness to spice up the story .", "darned if howard does n't make -lsb- nash -rsb- as neat and warm as a tea cozy .", "as bold and searingly imaginative as it is substantive .", "-lsb- howard 's -rsb- most accomplished , most mature and least-compromised movie , ` oscar-worthy ' in every way .", "the complexity of the brain -- and its effect on human behavior -- has seldom been explored with as much lyrical passion and engrossing intensity .", "crowe and connelly 's work rises above the mush ." ]
all style and very little substance , MOV boasts eye-catching dance sequences -- and benefits from an appealing performance from jennifer beals -- but its narrative is flat-footed .	flashdance	13133	[ "a stylish , fast-paced let 's - get-physical movie", "i do n't know whether to love it or hate it , procedure for anything scripted by joe eszterhas .", "one of the shallowest things you ever will see .", "well that was a stunning portrayal of the human condition .", "silly but energetic .", "virtually plotless , exceedingly thin on characterization and sociologically laughable , pic at least lives up to its title by offering an anthology of extraordinarily flashy dance numbers .", "nothing but glossy fluff .", "a simplistic fairy tale , directed by lyne in a trashy , superficially glitzy style , with pretense to realism in its on-location shooting and a woman who works as a welder , and the kind of postmodernism that 's mostly evident in the heroine 's name , alex.", "there 's something real in here , and it could have made it to the screen , but the people involved were too shortsighted to see it through .", "depressing to think that this was a huge hit on the back of the irene cara hit single , since there 's absolutely nothing to it .", "`` what a feeling '' indeed .", "jennifer beals should n't feel bad . she is a natural talent , she is fresh and engaging here , and only needs to find an agent with a natural talent for turning down scripts .", "step-setter of its time .", "the story does n't help miss beals either , because she 's at her least convincing when having to register any emotion other than rapture .", "an utterly preposterous piece of reagan-era bootstrapping propaganda .", "cinderella tale with sex , spandex , and '80s pop .", "unlike its grittily romantic predecessors , MOV is pure glitz .", "MOV might be considered one of the first signs of hollywood 's apocalypse .", "crudely-made in just about every possible way , MOV has only nostalgia going for it .", "this spirited rock musical about a young factory worker go-go dancer in pittsburgh who aspires to be a ballerina is the best kind of adolescent fantasy : colorful , involving and full of leaping , prancing energy .", "director adrian lyne caught the post-disco visual mood of the time to win over even the most cynical viewer .", "punchy , cleverly stylized , but utterly empty .", "it 's the electrifying body-doubled dance numbers that really stick .", "as far as date movies go , this is effective enough , especially the scene where beals demonstrates how to change her top without taking off her sweater .", "a beautiful piece of retro culture" ]
with its impressive action sequences , taut economic direction , and relentlessly fast pace , it 's clear why the MOV continues to be an influence on sci-fi and action flicks .	terminator	16340	[ "the movie 's scares are intense , but the notion that the MOV would move on to politics is even more frightening .", "arguably among the very best science-fiction contemporaries .", "this was the film that demonstrated to the dubious everyone that the musclebound fellow with that outrageous accent might be more than just another passing blip on our pop culture radar screens .", "relentlessly entertaining", "as a souvenir of a kind of b-grade action cinema that has all but vanished , the MOV should find a small place in the heart of every movie addict .", "gritty , clever , breathlessly paced , and dynamic despite the dark shadow of doom cast over the story , this sci-fi thriller remains one of the defining american films of the 1980s .", "more than enough violence to make it a profoundly moral film ; and arnold 's a whizz .", "a sci-fi actioner as relentless as its cyborg title character . the megabudget sequels are very good , but the low-budget original is still the best .", "this is a monster movie , and the monster 's role fits mr. schwarzenegger just fine .", "at the end of both movies , i find myself overcome by an extraordinary swell of emotion .", "the body-building actor scores by combining his iconic physique with a compellingly told story that requires him to speak very little dialogue .", "-lsb- an -rsb- excellent piece of science fiction cinema .", "the MOV is a blazing , cinematic comic book , full of virtuoso moviemaking , terrific momentum , solid performances and a compelling story .", "a tense , slickly executed thriller , which sent a relatively unknown austrian bodybuilder screaming into the world 's spotlight .", "the movie 's strength is that , like the matrix , it combines action with ideas .", "the MOV -lrb- 1984 -rrb- , the first of two science-fiction action-thriller films , is considered by most film reviewers to be a better-crafted film . .", "to my mind better than its successor -lrb- for pure freshness -rrb- this film shows a keen understanding and love of the sci-fi genre .", "the MOV was james cameron 's second film and remains his most crisply written in every respect .", "seamlessly melds the best narrative mind tricks of science fiction literature with the visceral violence of the best action movies", "... remains the quintessential schwarzenegger movie ... a high-octane , tech-noir adventure .", "this rip-roaring action adventure has already carved out its niche as one of the major hits of the pre-christmas season . and with good reason .", "a surprisingly vicious little film , filled with indiscriminate , un-pc killings and a rough-edged feel that makes it utterly compelling .", "the birth of a genre unto itself , followed by an even more ambitious sequel .", "the film that put james cameron on the map and made arnold schwarzenegger an international star , the MOV is a high-potency distillation of a bunch of sci-fi concepts into one package .", "the original and best film from the franchise -- iconic , heady , dark and exciting .", "it 's a work of pulp art to see the future guv of california rip out someone 's heart .", "while many feel the sequel is superior , i 'd contend that t2 was merely more expensive . if you 're building a sci-fi collection , this one should be on your top ten list .", "the ingeniousness of the MOV is in giving us one of the most memorable and brilliant villains ever printed on celluloid .", "james cameron 's fast-paced , downright propulsive directorial sensibilities ensure that there are few lulls within the narrative .", "as for schwarzenegger , he nicely fleshes out the convention of a soulless gun for hire . with his choppy hair , cryptic shades and state-of-the - '80s leather ensemble , he looks like the incredible hulk gone punk .", "an efficient , cold-blooded sci-fi splatter movie that never makes the mistake of forgetting that on some level it is deeply ridiculous .", "one of the most effective science fiction films of recent decades .", "throughout his extraordinary , legend in his own time career , james cameron has done very little that can not be legitimately considered well ahead of its time .", "i remain perpetually amazed by how magnificently cameron keeps the tension up ... there is not a single moment that is n't operating at 100 % .", "a cyberpunk picture that flirts with emotional resonance but mostly focuses on the gut...testosterone-fueled , estrogen-boosted action melodrama .", "a brilliant sci-fi film that cleverly combines strong storytelling with suspense and killer set-pieces .", "`` tech % u2022noir '' indeed . he 's a futuristic machine and this movie is pitch black with menace .", "still one of the most harrowing science fiction films in james cameron 's repertoire ...", "remains a surprisingly meditative work , its concentrated visceral bursts not unlike punctuation marks among something more brooding , even prayerful .", "damn close to perfect .", "cameron maintains the heedless , non sequitur pace of a nightmare without resorting to cheap tactics . the frights of these nightmares , those cracked reflections of reality , hardly feel manufactured or inauthentic . and neither does `` the MOV . ''", "the havoc makes for a genuine steel metal trap of a movie that may very well be the best picture of its kind since the road warrior .", "getting the extraordinary physical specimen of arnold schwarzenegger for the lead was a stroke of genius and a stroke of fortune . each of his pecs is the size of a bull 's flank .", "-lsb- cameron -rsb- keeps things under control nicely , though , right through the final confrontation .", "still a toss-up between the MOV and aliens as to which james cameron picture ranks as his best , this propulsively exciting yarn about a murderous cyborg has long staked its claim as a classic -- science fiction or otherwise -- for the ages .", "wittily written with a nice eye for sharp detail , it 's hard sci-fi action all the way .", "a nerve-bludgeoning , relentlessly exciting action movie masterpiece ." ]
it may not live up to its classic source material , but the MOV transcends its limitations often enough to offer some mildly entertaining post-apocalyptic thrills .	omega_man	10526	[ "as a suspense film , there 's virtually zero .", "heston -lsb- is -rsb- an uncompromisingly masculine presence as well as multi-layered mind who 's always riveting . the MOV affected me in a way few movies ever had .", "reasonably good cheese .", "averagely competent exercise in comic strip sci-fi .", "despite being baked in early '70s cheese , the MOV is easily the most entertaining film version of richard matheson 's sci-fi novel , i am legend", "an extremely literate science-fiction drama .", "another misfired adaptation of richard matheson 's fine science fiction novel i am legend .", "a breezy film about the death of mankind in a way that only the '70s could have provided .", "not bad , but far from a classic .", "despite not having aged particularly well , the opening sections of this sci-fi allegory remain potent , although the rest of its apocalyptic storyline is decidedly leaden .", "... not an awful film , just a remarkably dull one .", "unsatisfying sci-fi thriller , though it 's not charlton heston 's fault", "sadly another film to file under ` not as good as the book . '", "ainda eficaz , mais de 30 anos depois de seu lançamento .", "lacks the power and cleverness of the matheson book , but worth viewing just for heston 's sake .", "peppered with some sharp , even amusing dialogue , the story temporarily shelves the heavy allegory and slips into good , slam-bang suspense . but it does n't last .", "lights on ! not bad sci-fi with heston in hiding .", "the ghouls are a little too ridiculous to quite fulfill their function in the movie . they make all the wrong decisions , are incompetent and ill-coordinated .", "entertaining and tacky .", "at times astonishingly awful .", "so-so last man on earth flick that looks pretty quaint today .", "a historic relic most significant for being part of the heston sci-fi genre and its landmark place in interracial sexual relationships .", "a fondly remembered sci-fi thriller" ]
a goofy , old-school sword-and-sandal epic , MOV mines greek mythology for its story and fleshes it out with ray harryhausen 's charmingly archaic stop-motion animation techniques .	clash_of_the_titans	10212	[ "MOV will still hold a place in the heart of anyone who 's old enough to have seen it in the theaters . yes , i 'm that old .", "silly togas and hammy performances still ca n't derail this fitting swan song for effects legend ray harryhausen ; the sequence in the medusa 's lair is his finest moment .", "though star-packed the film is sleep inducing .", "i learned much of my mythology from this film .", "a poignant eulogy to harryhausen 's handcrafted illusionism in a decade of increasingly synthetic effects", "let your mind go , forgive the wear and tear of time and enjoy the adventure", "os efeitos criados pelo lendário harryhausen podem parecer frágeis diante dos avanços atuais , mas săo perfeitos para esta obra que permanece descompromissadamente divertida .", "for harryhausen worshippers only .", "the visual effects are clearly the only thing here that 's worth bothering with .", "... a camp-infused fantasy flick that will probably work best among younger viewers and those with fond memories of its original theatrical release .", "teenage boys will love it , but the rest of us will be frustrated by the storytelling , the shaky camerawork and the dubiously effective 3d presentation , which distracts more than it offers", "... the last hurrah for the master of stop-motion animation , ray harryhausen , and it 's unfortunate he went out on a less-than-perfect note .", "fine , vintage harryhousen , but it 's too old for when it came out .", "though MOV can hardly be called a good movie , it has a certain quality -- a combination of camp and nostalgia -- that makes it appealing", "fun spin on the greek myths despite its general goofiness", "olivier chewing up scenery as zeus ? heck yeah , where do i sign ?", "visually striking", "a minor classic in fantasy film circles with marvelous harryhausen effects .", "dull adventure about greek gods , despite ray harryhausen effects", "offers an opportunity to see shakesperean actors -lrb- olivier , maggie smith -rrb- playing mythic roles in a frivolous , campy way .", "gloriously goofy fun", "ray harryhausen 's homely visual effects evoke sights unseen since hoyt 's the lost world ." ]

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