A backlog of reviews

I thought I might start writing some movie reviews as well, so as a starter, here’s a few I’ve watched over the last couple of months:

• Superman Returns – 2.5/5 This was a bit too family for me. Apart from the odd flash of dark humor and a great turn from Kevin Spacey this was a bit hum drum for The Newts
• Eagle vs Shark – 3/5 – A wonderfully quirky movie, it only rated a modest three due to the thorough unlike ability of one of it’s main characters. Which was the point I suppose, but we thought he just didn’t deserve Lily who should have dumped his arse.
• Clarissa – 2.5/5 – Normally I love period pieces, and this had all the right ingredients except that I couldn’t quite muster up sympathy for the pious leading lady.
• The Last Samurai 4.5/5 – Despite this having Tom Cruise in it (normally this makes me wary), this movie was absorbing from start to finish. The sets were believable, as was the story and characters – even when their behaviour wasn’t that endearing.
• The Break Up 3/5 – We thought this one was better than it’s reviews. Although it was hard to see what the characters had in common, some of the final scenes elicited quite an emotional response – who hasn’t been in that situation?. Great to see they didn’t settle for the predictable finish.
• Little Miss Sunshine 4/5 – Really reluctant to see this family movie with a kid as it’s main character but was pleasantly surprised.
• Saint Ange 4/5 – Actually quite a dark, low key creepier that keeps you guessing…
• Return to House on Haunted Hill 2.5/5 Moderately enjoyable but throwaway with predictable scares that add nothing much to the story.
• The Curse Of King Tut’s Tomb, 2/5 Pretty tame, forgettable if momentarily enjoyable
• Finding Never land 4/5 – Sweet inspirational tale. Is there any character that man Johnny Depp can’t play?
• Root of All Evil? 4/5 – Documentary from the man who wrote The God Delusion. Very thought provoking. Not entirely balanced, I would have enjoyed a bit more even debate. Scary in places.
• Click 2/5 – Oh they could have done sooo much more with this one, but took the easy route. Poor casting sees gorgeous Kate Beckinsale in an unlikely liason with Adam Sandler. Would have been more believable if teamed him with someone a little more in his character’s league.
• The Pursuit Of Happyness 4/5 – Wonderfully inspiring tale that tugs at your heart strings at times.
• Misbegotten 1/5 – Exactly as the title suggests.
• The Departed 3/5 Not quite as good as it’s press, the individual characters played well but didn’t think they or the story gelled well enough for me to care if the bad guys died at the end. A bit pointless
• Bad Blood (1981) 4/5 – An oldy but a goody. Brutally real and gives you a taste of what rural NZ would have been like at the time. Hard.
• Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind 4.5/5 Wonderfully original tale, started off disliking the main characters but grew to appreciate them and relish in the subtle alternate mind-reality.
• Blades Of Glory 1.5 Oh dear.
• Requiem For A Dream 3.5/5 A sometimes disturbing trip of a movie. Show it to your kids – it might just put them off drugs. Or game shows.