Some Quick Movie Reviews

I've watched quite a few movies lately--some I write full scale movie reviews for, while others I feel like I don't need anything more then a few comments.  These are a list of movies that I have watched and put a few comments for each one:

A Knight’s Tale (2001, PG-13): C

The anachronisms are meant to be funny--the rock music and funky hair styles don't work.  Did have a beleivable plot--but wanted the anachronisms out!

Ace Ventura, Pet Detective (1994, PG-13): C+

Funny, gross and crude.  It's all Jim Carrey. 

Ace Ventura, When Nature Calls (1995, PG-13): C+

Same as before, and in Africa. 

The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl (2005, PG): F

So bad it was hilarious.  Seriously.

Airplane (1980, PG): B

Silly and hilarious, I had some fun watching this.

Anzio (1968, PG-13): C

Anzio is an ordinary and otherwise senseless war film. 

The Babe (1992, PG): C-

The Babe bombed at the box-office, based on the life of Babe Ruth.  John Goodman, who starred in the title role, was disappointed in his own performance. 

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973, NR): D+

How many Planet of the Apes movies do we need?  The weakest and most pointless of the series.

Battle of the Bulge (1969, PG): C-

A bland 60s war film that trades in history for entertainment.

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970, G): C

A disappointing sequel to its very good predecessor

Big (1988, PG): B-

Though the ending was unsatisfying for me, I mostly liked the rest of it

Big Jake (1971, PG-13): B

Entertaining western flick starring John Wayne.

Blackbeard (2006, NR): C

This biopic about the famous pirate could have been just as well acted out as a theater or stage performance production.

The Blue Max (1966, PG): A-

Surprisingly well done.  Impressive flying sequences.

The Bourne Identity (1988, NR): B

Overlong, but this version is more true to the book then the 2002 version.

The Client (1994, PG-13): C+

Shallow climax, and semi-engaging plot about a kid caught up in a murder.

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972, PG): C

Yet another poor sequel, that nevertheless offers a stronger ending

The Core (2003, PG-13): C

Not as good as it promised, despite a good premise.  Special effects aren’t dazzling at all. 

The Cowboys (1972, PG): B+

One of the Duke’s better crafted westerns.

Crocodile Dundee (1986, PG-13):  B-

Iconic Australian comedy that’s funny but never hilarious

Crocodile Dundee 2 (1988, PG): C

A senseless action flick made after the whopping success of the original.

Dave (1993, PG-13): C+
Eh, it’s an all right but seriously overrated dramedy. 

Don’t tell Mom the babysitter’s dead (1991, PG-13): C-

Not very funny or entertaining.  Expected to have a fun time, but didn’t. 

Dragonheart (1996, PG-13): C-

Poorly acted, scripted and clichéd. 

Dumb and Dumber (1994, PG-13): B+

Very funny and very clever, if not appealing to everyone.  Arguably Jim Carrey’s best role to date.

El Dorado (1967, PG): B

One of the more entertaining out of John Wayne’s various westerns. 

Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971, G): C+

Actually it's arguably the best out of the many pointless and needless sequels to the original Planet of the Apes

The Family Man (2000, PG-13): C+

Predicable with a few humorous scenes, the formula used in the Family Man is has already been done in other and better movies.

Field of Dreams (1989, PG): B

Enjoyable though not completely inspiring dramedy.  Entertaining. 

Forever Young (1992, PG): B-

One of Mel Gibson’s weaker films, but its heart is in the right place.

The Great Outdoors (1988, PG): C

An occasionally funny backwoods comedy starring John Candy and Dan Aykroyd.   

The Great Waldo Pepper (1971, PG): B

Surprisingly, this shallow flying drama managed to soared kinda high.

The Guardian (2006, PG): B

Underrated and entertaining.  Cool rescue scenes in the Bering Sea. 

Hang em High (1968, PG-13): B

Eastwood’s first American western is good but not among his best

I Dream of Africa (2000, PG-13): C

Contained rough editing.  Wasn’t the beautiful, flowing African drama I wanted

Inkheart (2008, PG): C+

A so-so family fantasy adventure flick

Invincible (2006, PG): B

A little predictable from the start, but it’s an appropriate family film

Liar Liar (1997, PG-13): B-

Not Carrey’s best role, but this is a funny, and sometimes crude, movie. 

The Man from Snowy River (1982, PG): B-

Falls short but still a little memorable

Marley and Me (2008, PG): B

A nice and pleasant family picture

Memphis Belle (1990, PG-13): B

An entertaining war picture that shows its dedication to World War II pilots.  However, it did not come out as strong as it could have.

Men in Black (1997, PG-13): C+

It’s a fun little movie, but is also cut way too short and pulls off too many simple gags.

Mission to Mars (2000, PG): C

Overall, it’s sort of corny.  Had a good start, but became hocus-pocus after that.

Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995, PG): B-

Far from flawless but good enough drama

My Girl (1991, PG): C+

This story about a young girl tackles some big issues, but is not entertaining or engaging.

The Naked Gun (1988, PG-13): B

Clever and very funny comedy spoof.  Like most comedies of its era, it’s shallow and thin, but fun.

October Sky (1999, PG): A-

One of the most inspiring dramas I have ever seen

The Pelican Brief (1993, PG-13): C

Too slow and too overlong.  Wasn’t an overly dreadful experience but also not that appealing

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Lightning Thief (2010, PG): C-

Didn’t make that good of cinema

Quigley Down Under (1990, PG-13): B+

A different kind of western, being set down under in Australia.  Nevertheless, it's a very entertaining 
'western' starring Tom Selleck. 

The Red Baron (2008, PG-13): C

Hopefully, someday, a definite movie will be made about the Red Baron’s life.  This pic had potential but didn’t use it to its advantage

Rio Bravo (1959, NR): B

A handsome John Wayne western that has been overcalled as a classic

Rush Hour (1998, PG-13): B

Funny and effective buddy cop comedy.  Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker form a great duo together

Rush Hour 2 (2001, PG-13): B

Surprisingly just as funny as the first.  It's a fun movie. 

Rush Hour 3 (2007, PG-13): B-

Not as fresh as the first two, despite a change of scenery to Paris.  Chan and Tucker continue to deliver the laughs.

Secretariat (2010, PG): B

Predictable though entertaining enough, Secretariat is a fun little family picture, based on the true story of the fastest race horse.

Shining Through (1992, R): C

A mildly entertaining World War II thriller, but does not have convincing acting or a believable plot

Sleepless in Seattle (1993, PG): C

Overrated romantic-comedy

Smoke Signals (1998, PG-13): B

Honestly one of the more entertaining independent movies

Space Cowboys (2000, PG-13): B

It uses a familiar plot but it’s a fun movie featuring four older actors having the time of their lives

Speed Racer (2008, PG): F

Horribly done, badly uneven storyline, and flashy visual effects that make parts of the film unwatchable

Uncle Buck (1979, PG): B-

A pretty funny John Candy/John Hughes film.  It’s no classic and is also not entirely memorable.

Von Richtofen and Brown (1971, PG-13): D

Horridly edited and unevenly paced, this pic never took off from the ground

Who’s Harry Crumb? (1989, PG-13): D-

A stupid and dumb comedy and wastes the comedic talent of John Candy.  In addition, it’s also sort of annoying and is hardly ever funny.

Note: I realize that I have all Planet of the Apes movies on here except the 1968 original and the 2001 remake; I am in the process of writing reviews for them and will soon have them posted.