The Package: * ½
Release Date: 1989
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Andrew Davis
Hackman provides us with another good performance in this otherwise completely dull, familiar, outdated and unentertaining thriller.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Clint Eastwood
A rerun of Shane, though with more mystic and religious overtones. Filmed attractively against the backdrop of Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. A western that leaves us thinking by the time the credits roll, and one that will depart with most of us mystified.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Mel Gibson
Disturbing, realistic and graphic look at the last hours of Jesus, which means it's as real as it could ever get. Saliently made with incredible production value, cinematography and art direction. Probably no other film will leave such a striking impact on you as this one.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Roland Emmerich
You won't learn that much history about the American Revolution in watching this. Focuses excessively on melodrama, and has a villain that feels out of place. Nevertheless well shot, generally well acted, and is entertaining.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Phillip Noyce
It should be noted that Tom Clancy, the author from which this book is based, disowned his own movie because the ending differenced considerably from his book. Otherwise, the movie is poorly scripted but well-acted, well-told, and most everything other then the ending is loyal to the novel.
Patton: *** ½
Release Date: 1970
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Ambitious, impressively mounted and very well acted onscreen biography. Bits and pieces feel a bit rushed though, despite the three-hour running length, but a cinematic accomplishment that vividly portrays the life of the man of the title role in epic formation.
The Pelican Brief: **
Release Date: 1993
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Long, prolonged, and seriously uengaging for a thriller, though it's well acted. Based off of the novel of the same name by John Grisham.
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Chris Columbus
Pretty ridiculous. Doesn't really qualify as a good piece of cinema at all.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gore Verbinski
A heck of a fun, piraty movie that takes us back to some of the old pirate films from the 40s and 50s. Memorable characters make the film ever more entertaining and witty. More special effects driven then it needs to be, but again, this is a very fun movie.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gore Verbinski
Any joys of the first film are sucked out in this dry sequel. Depp deserves a gold star, but how much more depressing could the story get? Reclaims a flaw in the first film by being more special effects driven then it should have been.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gore Verbinski
Substantially overlong, confusing, weird and drawn out unbearable lengths. More special effects driven then ever. All of the characters become treacherous and end up betraying each other for personal gain. End battle sequence is totally incomprehensible. Consistently goes too far to be epic. Completely bizarre.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Rob Marshall
Completely unnecessary, but returns back to the fun found in the Curse of the Black Pearl. Even though it is yet another sequel, it does in many ways feel like a reboot. Ending is anticlimatic, but gratefully this is shorter and quicker paced then the previous two sequels.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: John Hughes
A warm-hearted, classic comedy with lots of crude laughs. Creatively directed by Hughes; Steve Martin and John Candy work great to each other and crack off the laughs constantly throughout.
Planet of the Apes: *** ½
Release Date: 1968
MPAA Rating: G
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
An interesting look at humanity in the future. Great looking costume, art and makeup designs even by today's standards. What it lacks in characterizatin it makes up for in a gripping plotline and above passable acting. Impressive production values for such a modest budget.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Tim Burton
Nothing at all is an improvement over the original classic. Considering that this has been turned into an action sci-fi movie, filmed against the backdrop of dark and deadening colors, ends in an epic battle between apes and humans. The love triangle subplot is also rather awkward.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Terrible overuse of CGI; everything in this movie is computer generated, the ship, helicopters, the ocean—everything. Weak on characterization. For all we care, this is the Titanic in action mode. Interior shot of the Poseidon's fancy deck hall is nice looking.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Christopher Nolan
A dark, complex and compelling tale of rival magicians at turn of the century England. Well-acted, well-shot, and a film that requires multiple viewings, which means it's not too different from other Nolan outings, and so it's suitability for people will vary substantially. The entire third/last act of the film just doesn't work at all.
Prince of Persia, the Sands of Time: ** ½
Release Date: 1989
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Andrew Davis
Hackman provides us with another good performance in this otherwise completely dull, familiar, outdated and unentertaining thriller.
Pale Rider: ***
Release Date: 1985MPAA Rating: R
Director: Clint Eastwood
A rerun of Shane, though with more mystic and religious overtones. Filmed attractively against the backdrop of Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains. A western that leaves us thinking by the time the credits roll, and one that will depart with most of us mystified.
The Passion of the Christ: ****
Release Date: 2004MPAA Rating: R
Director: Mel Gibson
Disturbing, realistic and graphic look at the last hours of Jesus, which means it's as real as it could ever get. Saliently made with incredible production value, cinematography and art direction. Probably no other film will leave such a striking impact on you as this one.
The Patriot: ** ½
Release Date: 2000MPAA Rating: R
Director: Roland Emmerich
You won't learn that much history about the American Revolution in watching this. Focuses excessively on melodrama, and has a villain that feels out of place. Nevertheless well shot, generally well acted, and is entertaining.
Patriot Games: ** ½
Release Date: 1992MPAA Rating: R
Director: Phillip Noyce
It should be noted that Tom Clancy, the author from which this book is based, disowned his own movie because the ending differenced considerably from his book. Otherwise, the movie is poorly scripted but well-acted, well-told, and most everything other then the ending is loyal to the novel.
Patton: *** ½
Release Date: 1970
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Ambitious, impressively mounted and very well acted onscreen biography. Bits and pieces feel a bit rushed though, despite the three-hour running length, but a cinematic accomplishment that vividly portrays the life of the man of the title role in epic formation.
Release Date: 1993
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Long, prolonged, and seriously uengaging for a thriller, though it's well acted. Based off of the novel of the same name by John Grisham.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Lightning Thief: * ½
Release Date: 2010MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Chris Columbus
Pretty ridiculous. Doesn't really qualify as a good piece of cinema at all.
Pirates of the Caribbean, the Curse of the Black Pearl: ***
Release Date: 2003MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gore Verbinski
A heck of a fun, piraty movie that takes us back to some of the old pirate films from the 40s and 50s. Memorable characters make the film ever more entertaining and witty. More special effects driven then it needs to be, but again, this is a very fun movie.
Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest: **
Release Date: 2006MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gore Verbinski
Any joys of the first film are sucked out in this dry sequel. Depp deserves a gold star, but how much more depressing could the story get? Reclaims a flaw in the first film by being more special effects driven then it should have been.
Pirates of the Caribbean, at World's End: * ½
Release Date: 2007MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gore Verbinski
Substantially overlong, confusing, weird and drawn out unbearable lengths. More special effects driven then ever. All of the characters become treacherous and end up betraying each other for personal gain. End battle sequence is totally incomprehensible. Consistently goes too far to be epic. Completely bizarre.
Pirates of the Caribbean, on Stranger Tides: ** ½
Release Date: 2011MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Rob Marshall
Completely unnecessary, but returns back to the fun found in the Curse of the Black Pearl. Even though it is yet another sequel, it does in many ways feel like a reboot. Ending is anticlimatic, but gratefully this is shorter and quicker paced then the previous two sequels.
Planes, Trains Automobiles: *** ½
Release Date: 1987MPAA Rating: R
Director: John Hughes
A warm-hearted, classic comedy with lots of crude laughs. Creatively directed by Hughes; Steve Martin and John Candy work great to each other and crack off the laughs constantly throughout.
Planet of the Apes: *** ½
Release Date: 1968
MPAA Rating: G
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
An interesting look at humanity in the future. Great looking costume, art and makeup designs even by today's standards. What it lacks in characterizatin it makes up for in a gripping plotline and above passable acting. Impressive production values for such a modest budget.
Planet of the Apes: **
Release Date: 2001MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Tim Burton
Nothing at all is an improvement over the original classic. Considering that this has been turned into an action sci-fi movie, filmed against the backdrop of dark and deadening colors, ends in an epic battle between apes and humans. The love triangle subplot is also rather awkward.
Poseidon: **
Release Date: 2006MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Terrible overuse of CGI; everything in this movie is computer generated, the ship, helicopters, the ocean—everything. Weak on characterization. For all we care, this is the Titanic in action mode. Interior shot of the Poseidon's fancy deck hall is nice looking.
The Prestige: ** ½
Release Date: 2006MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Christopher Nolan
A dark, complex and compelling tale of rival magicians at turn of the century England. Well-acted, well-shot, and a film that requires multiple viewings, which means it's not too different from other Nolan outings, and so it's suitability for people will vary substantially. The entire third/last act of the film just doesn't work at all.
Release Date: 2010
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Mike Newell
Disney escapist fun in the tradition of Pirates of the Caribbean. Lazy acting and a so-so script is made up in the fact that this is an almost axenic delight in terms of light popcorn entertainment. For a video game based movie, it's not bad.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Michael Mann
Based on a true story about John Dillinger. Superb acting by the three leads, and not bad directing by Mann, who tells the story adequately, but also draws out the film to some length. Doesn't leave that much of an emotional impact, and we would all expect more from a cast and director of this caliber. Shootouts are well placed.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Will Smith's best role to date as a poor, out of work father struggling to raise his only son out on the streets. Inspiring even if there is a hint of predictability. This one is a nice treat.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Mike Newell
Disney escapist fun in the tradition of Pirates of the Caribbean. Lazy acting and a so-so script is made up in the fact that this is an almost axenic delight in terms of light popcorn entertainment. For a video game based movie, it's not bad.
Public Enemies: ** ½
Release Date: 2009MPAA Rating: R
Director: Michael Mann
Based on a true story about John Dillinger. Superb acting by the three leads, and not bad directing by Mann, who tells the story adequately, but also draws out the film to some length. Doesn't leave that much of an emotional impact, and we would all expect more from a cast and director of this caliber. Shootouts are well placed.
The Pursuit of Happyness: *** ½
Release Date: 2006MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Will Smith's best role to date as a poor, out of work father struggling to raise his only son out on the streets. Inspiring even if there is a hint of predictability. This one is a nice treat.
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