Request follow
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
C.R.A.Z.Y
This is a film I picked up on the random due to its AMAZING soundtrack which was actually the most expensive part of this film. But rest assured, the music are classics. David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones and even a bit of Patsy Cline, infact the film is named after her song "Crazy" which describes this film perfectly.
Set in French Canada (yes, subtitles, dont be put off though!) we have our main character Zac who is a young boy growing up through the 60s into the 70s and onwards, this lad has 4 other brothers who he can rarely connect to since his father seems to have the idea drilled into his head that his special son (who was born on Christmas) is gay. This causes a rift between the family and whilst our main character lives through some of the most ecletic of music fashions we see how the world and he matures together.
Yes, this is a strange film but not disorientating. One reviewer said it was "Velvet Goldmin meets Amelie" which is a pretty accurate look at it in my opinion. Of course it's got its little kooky bits but it also has it's pretty amazing bits too. The film itself it divided into the several main stages of Zac's life with the music.
The direction is rather soft around the edges, due to the budget issues it's understandable but they do a great job with the atmosphere and since this is a period drama (in a sense!!) its got the outfits and surroundings perfect!
In all it's a rather great film, it deserves more than one viewing to truly appreciate but it's charm lies in it's somewhat damaged main character. And oh yeah, the music is amazing. Never forget this.
4 stars
Reviewed by @kisswithatear4 commentsAugust 28th, 2009
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
Match Point
Recommended by @colleen
Written and directed by Woody Allen, Match Point charts the rise of one young man, Charles Wilton, played rather excellently by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The main premise of the film rests on the concept of luck, captured at the start of the film with the following quote:
“There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net, and for a split second, it can either go forward or fall back. With a little luck, it goes forward, and you win. Or maybe it doesn't, and you lose.”
This concept of luck is one that is returned to throughout the film, as Charles marries and then begins a rather steamy affair with a smouldering Scarlett Johansson who is absolutely brilliant. The support cast are also all wonderful, involving a great deal of British actors (look out for Spud from Trainspotting!).
As with most of Woody Allen’s films, the setting of the film is just as important as the plot and characters. Set in London, the camera romanticises the city’s streets, capturing a pleasant side of the city not often seen in film these days.
As the story unfolds and the plot thickens, Jonathan Rhys Meyer superbly demonstrates the depths that one man will go in order to keep an affair secret, with several highly suspenseful twists and turns along the way. A very entertaining film overall, and definitely worth a watch.
Four stars
Thank you to @colleen for recommending
@liamu99 reviewing :D4 commentsAugust 18th, 2009
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
L.A. Confidential
Recommended by @livlives
Quite an interesting detective film, starring Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger and James Cromwell. There are three plot strands all weaved together, revolving around one crime. The acting is excellent, as expected from such big names, with James Cromwell in particular being surprisingly good.
Set in 1950’s Los Angeles, the city is nicely brought to life as the story plays out. At times the plot can get quite overwhelming, with plenty of names being thrown around and lots to take in, so attention does need to be paid but the payoff makes it all worthwhile. The story can also drag slightly in places, and does take a short while to really kick into gear as we get to know the characters.
To fully comprehend and piece together all the details and intricacies, this film will probably take more than one watch, but the first viewing is still quite enjoyable and rather entertaining. As the plot twists and turns and we delve deeper into the story, the pieces of the puzzle begin to fit together well and really a second viewing should be required to appreciate how masterfully the film has been crafted.
Three and a half stars
Thank you to @livlives for recommending =)
@liamu99 reviewing :D0 commentsAugust 15th, 2009
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
Monty Python's Life of Brian
This film was drenched in controversy when it first came out due to the belief that this film was depicting the Life of Jesus in a satirical way, but infact it's just about a man called Brian who was born on the same night as Jesus and died in a similar way, but he was a normal guy in a not so normal time due to the Romans still ruling over the Jews and this causing factions to grow within the community. This film digs at factionism more than Jesus (and its where most of the funny jokes come from).
But why am I bogging myself down on what controversies happened, this only helped to draw attention to this glorious film! And yes, it is glorious. It is hilarious. Every scene has something more hilarious happening and they never cease; as previously mentioned Brian was born on the same night as Jesus and thus in the first scene there is a bit of a mix up with the three wise men which leads to them not meeting the meek and mild Mary but Terry Jones dressed a woman. How nice.
This film takes what it was living in the era of Jesus, and brings a fresh look at it, not fresh since it starts and ends the same as Jesus but that it's something a bit more fun. Also has a cracking song for the finale "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".
It's quotable like most great comedic films, the most famous and probably the epitome of this film; "He is NOT the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!" But one must be warned! This is... for lack of a better term "Pythonesque", if you dont like Monty Python and don't really find it funny you may not like this, but it was the first film I saw by this troupe and I loved it so maybe it can change your mind as well.
Its incredibly stylistic and unique to it's own genre since it's a rarity that it has a real storyline and fewer sketches within. It's Monty Python at their best (even they say so) and so why not huh? It's fabulous and deserving of being in anyones DVD collection.
5 stars
Reviewed by @kisswithatear6 commentsAugust 13th, 2009
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club captures the lives of five teenagers during a Saturday detention. Masterfully directed by John Hughes, each character fits neatly into a stereotype and slowly opens themselves up to those around. We have Emilio Estevez playing the Jock, Anthony Michael Hall as the Geek, Judd Nelson as the Criminal, Molly Ringwald as the Princess and Ally Sheedy as the Basket Case. The acting is sublime as this oddball group confide in each other and discover their similarities, and there’s plenty of humour to be had along the way. The real star is Judd Nelson, who draws you in with such a spectacular performance that you can’t help but feel for him.
Managing to brilliantly capture the zeitgeist of the era, everything about this film is highly enjoyable and still relevant today. These characters are easily relatable, depicting teenage life frankly and honestly in a way rarely captured on film.
This film really is too good for words.
Five stars
@liamu99 reviewing :D7 commentsAugust 10th, 2009
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
I Am Legend
Set in the very near future I Am Legend tells the story of Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, a scientist who is the sole survivor left in New York City after a virus has swept the nation, turning nearly everyone into vampire zombie monster things. Trying his best to reverse the effects of the virus, and with only his trusty dog Samantha for company, Robert Neville tries his best to survive in an abandoned New York, foraging for food and trying to fend off loneliness by day, and holing up in his house by night as the vampire zombie monster things rule the streets.
Will Smith carries the movie superbly, busting out some excellent acting and really bringing a surprising amount of emotion to his role. Samantha, his dog, is also wonderful and a great addition. The special effects work best when they are hidden in the background, New York looks absolutely amazing with some really stunning shots. Sadly, the vampire zombie monster things are also all CGI, and they unfortunately don’t look too brilliant.
The story is good enough and packs a couple of surprise emotional punches, which Will Smith handles marvellously. There are a couple of plot points which seem slightly implausible, but also necessary to keep the story going. Overall it is rather entertaining, and also somewhat surprising just how good this film is in places.
4 stars
@liamu99 reviewing :D1 commentAugust 9th, 2009
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
South Park - Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Alrighty, so this is a movie version of a well loved tv show. Now I honestly believe there are pitifully few occasions where this has "worked" and worked well in the sense that there is enough material for a feature length film (from what normally is a half an hour show).
But this works. And works well.
A thing that makes it work so brilliantly are the songs. Oh my word the songs! They're GENIUS! And singable! Well not really; a bit rude but so hilarious. And thats what is great, because alot of comedy films try to add music and fail in that they either take it too seriously or not seriously enough, but the lyrics to these little dittys are fantastically imaginatve.
Another thing that has allowed this film to be called "Uncut" is the free reign for manic swearing. As we all know, American television frowns greatly upon overuse of expletives on their shows so the boys have to keep it toned down in episodes (especially Cartman) but upon seeing their favourite show (Terrence and Phillip) in a film swearing manically the kids start picking up on this ... development in language immediately. The ramifications starting a war in Canada... And more songs of course.
Some great cameos include George Clooney back to his E.R days as a surgeon and Eric Idle as a manic scientist (with a tremendous referencing to Clockwork Orange). Not forgetting lots of reminders and regular characters from the show (including the Devil, who is actually a sympathetic character if this is entirely believable).
This film will make you laugh, there are some parts that have been submerged into popular culture such as Cartman yelling at Mr Garrison all manner of rudeness ("How would you like to suck my balls, Mr Garrison?") and also of course, the song that no one will ever forget, "Kyle's Mum's a Bitch".
It's not to everyones taste, it's violent, at points quite ridiculously stupid and has alot of swearing and immaturity. But if you like thart sort of thing and the show then you will almost definitely enjoy this.
4 stars
Reviewed by @kisswithatear
The top of this box says "critically acclaimed", the real reviewers LOVED this mostly, what a larf ;)1 commentAugust 8th, 2009
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
Final Fantasy X
SquareSoft
I remember getting this game when it came out, I was damn excited, it was the first time Square had had voice actors, first excursion on PS2 and it was to be the last SquareSoft game of them all. So damnit I was going to enjoy it
And I did. Ok compared to other Final Fantasys this has voices and thats a big step up and alot of people were infuriated by the choices in the actors but I find them to be perfectly capable throuhgout (especially John DiMaggio as Wakka, also Bender in Futurama, what a guy!).
The graphics are stunning, a great big step up from the painted on backgrounds of PS1 and developed from the beginning of 3D backgrounds of IX. The cutscenes are eyeboggling for their time, the first big one depicting a rather violent looking game called Blitzball which is a blend between waterpolo and ... well wrestling... underwater in a tremendously huge sphere (it has to be seen to be believed, you also get to play this later ingame). The graphics have been honed and it does leave you quite awed by the end. Another stand out scene is The Sending which also involves alot of water and a dance :)
The battle system is very different to the regular ATB system of olden FFs and is gone even further back into their catalogue way by to Turn Based which allows you to plan out your moves since there is a counter to the side of the battle screen allowing you to see the order of fight. Another aspect is the levelling which is now done on a Sphere Grid. Everytime someone gets enough AP from fighting they get a level, a level allows you to move one space around the sphere grid and if you have the appropriate sphere fill in each node. It sounds difficult but like the fighting it's very clear and can be very rewarding to see how far your characters have gone. More importantly it has ENDLESS possibilities since every character is on this Sphere Grid, you follow a specific route initially but then it's truly up to you. This is where overtraining your characters can be fun (and it really is, I've tried, it's AWESOME!)
The story itself is about your main character Tidus being thrown into the future 1000 years to a land called Spira where he meets Yuna, a Summoner, who is on a Pilgrimmage to beat Sin (a massive whale that kills people alot). You have to go to each Temple to collect Aeons so she can summon them (and you can do this in battle) and basically train towards reaching the Final Aeon. And "Tada!" you beat Sin. That's the object of the story and game, a little linear but still, you get to go places and it rarely stops.
As a whole I really liked this game (I cried when I finished it, mainly out of relief); the characters are likeable, the story quite deep and engaging and the battle system is actually one of the better systems Square have created (alot of people disagree saying it's too much but I like going over the top :D).
If you want to invest about 60 hours of your life in a game that will make you laugh, cry, scream in frustration at the idiocy of some characters (yes Mika, I'm looking at you! and Trommell!) and just be generally moved then it may as well be this game :)
4 and a half stars
Reviewed by @kisswithatear10 commentsAugust 7th, 2009
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
Kingdom Hearts
Disney/SquareEnix
Ok this shouldn't work, no really, it shouldnt work at all... It's Disney, the biggest American Coporation for the brainwashing of kids everywhere and Square, the benevolent Japanese RPG monsters (well... when they were SquareSoft, still not convinced by Enix...)
And although it seems completely unlikely... it kind of... maybe... works... Only a little bit though!
Reasons, Square and Disney are both fantastic storytellers (ignore the DisneyChannel, they cant write for shit, no the movies that we all know and love) and they do a great job of establishing what the heck of going on here, well in the first game they did, it's got a bit convoluted... But they manage and also get to do alot of fanservice for both units (Cloud/Sephiroth fight and Mickey Mouse being a demi God and basically kicking ARSE!)
So if you like either Disney or Square you will probably enjoy those cute little reminders about how great they are.
A problem I find is that this game is easy, it is explained perfectly and quickly and it's so simplistic that you can sleep walk through most battles (even the supposedly hard ones). I know this is essentially a kids game but anyone who can do maths can manage it. Its adding up and taking away most of them time and the weapons generally get more powerful so you'd be dumb not to equip them and the general platform setting of the game is still incredibly easy. Too easy. The story is what keeps you going (and even that gets a bit boring by the end).
The music is great, the graphics are very exciting and advanced (would you expect less from Square?) and the worlds are all very explorable for the most part. It just feels like it's lacking a little bit of the Charm I oh-so-loved in KH1. Maybe it's because the characters are older :/ Riku is probably the best one; he's nothing like Disney and he's everything Enix love. Roxas is also interesting and he's the first character you control (which is also gets VERY confusing but ... well yeah)
I feel that the two narratives of Square and Disney sometimes hit the mark exactly and other times feel awkward; I'm not saying it's not enjoyable because it is, it's meant to be fun but it just feels like it's missing the... yeah it is, it's the charm. I liked floating through Peter Pan land in the first one :) Oh and it was hard sometimes! And heartbreaking half way through :')
I spend my time comparing this to the first so I'm biased
This is a fun game, great for kids and fans of both corporations, the story (although VERY complicating) is quite engaging, just dont expect anything else to be too complex
2 stars
Reviewed by @kisswithatear9 commentsAugust 7th, 2009
-
ReviewBooth snapped a picture
SoulCalibur IV
Namco
Alrighty, it's the fourth in a series so they should've nailed it by now you'd think but this doesn't feel like the case at all. Namco seem to be floundering with already established characters and systems.
The fighting is actually brilliant, no really, it's more fluid than it ever has been in any other Beat 'em Ups this gamer has experienced (better than DOA and Tekken is what I mean) because not only does it allow you to block but it doesnt focus on ridiculously complicating button combinations, making it more enjoyable and also easier for beginners *coughs*Buttonbashers... and you can also still do pretty neat combos with this route as well.
The graphics are also spelndiferous if a little anime, but then it's Japanese so there's nothing I can do about that, still, the textures are lush and the lighting is still amazing. Could I expect less from these guys? And on PS3 (or XBox 360) they can really go all out and they did.
The problems. The storyline is still unintelligible, I like games with stories and this one doesnt have one that is followable not to mention after completing all the stories of the characters (sh! I'm a geek!!) there were only two or three worth the effort (Astaroth, Yunsung and probably the Apprentice but people have disagreed with me, I still say Astaroth's is the best). More importantly do we care? (I know I shouldnt :|) And who CARES about Algol (final boss) and his tragic father/son story! I REALLY dont (and he's a bitch to beat)...
I enjoyed the Tower of Lost Souls aspect as well but this proved very tedious by the end; you really need to know you combos to even have a chance of completing it (this means knowing move sets of at least 3 characters, are there people out there sadder than me? No thats why this fails).
Unlike SC2 where we had a journey (an aspect I really enjoyed) there isnt anything like that on here, buying new weapons related to how much you complete with a character and getting "Honors" depends on how much you do so to really complete this game (some of which involve being online so if you cant do that you're screwed basically... like me... *growls*) you need to really invest into a very pointless group of exercises that you dont really care about. It's mindless. It's a beat em up... What do you expect?
So yeah, verdict. It's great if you're not expecting much other than a simple fighting game, nothing special, get TekkenTag or Soul Calibur 2 if you're after something more substantial.
3 and a half stars
Reviewed by @kisswithatear8 commentsAugust 7th, 2009
Review Booth is from somewhere in the universe.
About
This is a project started by @elizavacious, @kisswithatear and @liamu99. We'll be reviewing everything from literary classics to new movie releases for your reading pleasures, while kicking assonance and taking names. If you have a review or critique you'd like to submit, send the Review Booth a private message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Following them
They're following
Movies
Natural Born Killers, I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, I Am Legend, The Breakfast Club
Websites
facebook.com/elizabeth.theriot