I have now seen three of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films and this one was my least favorite thus far. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the movie, but I just didn't think that it had the magic of Amélie or Delicatessen. The beautiful, and I do mean beautiful, cinematography* and set design was still here, but the pacing of the film was a bit slow at times. I found myself looking at the clock only 30 minutes into the movie. That's not usually a good sign.

The film does follow Delicatessen quite nicely. Both films are about a dystopian world and both have riveting characters. I'm not sure if he was just looking to build off his pervios success or if this was intended to be a sequel of sorts, but the two go together quite well.

There's not much else to say about this film. If you know and like Jeunet's style then there is no reason not to see this movie. It is not cute like Amélie, but there are certainly enough similarities to warrant a viewing. Although, the little boy in the movie is ridiculously cute, so that may appease those looking for cuteness.

*The cinematographer, Darius Khondji, has a very impressive portfolio, by the way.

Cartoons are so much fun. They appeal to both the kid and the adult in me. The Powerpuff Girls is one of the shows that I particularly enjoy. And so I liked this movie.

I thought the music was particularly good and I liked how the movie gave the backstory for the Powerpuff Girls saga. The movie won't blow you away, but it's cute and fun and good for everyone. That is my stellar in-depth analysis.

Oh my fucking God. I am at a loss for words. I couldn't possibly begin to dissect this film as I was paying so little attention to the details while watching. I was totally engulfed in the story and the telling and the amazingness. It was just so good.

Here is a brief synopsis. A woman writes an amazing book called The Orchid Thief, about a terribly interesting man whose current love is the orchid. The book is critically acclaimed and people want to option to movie rights. Charlie Kaufman agrees to write the script, knowing full well that the book is going to be nearly impossible to adapt. He is already the third person giving it a go. And so, Adaptation is the film about the adaptation of a book into a movie as well as the actual adaptation. Confused? You should be.

On its face it is ridiculously confusing, but since Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze are completely awe-inspiring, you'll have no trouble following the film. I don't want to say anything about the plot or the way things unfold, because you HAVE to see it for yourself. The only thing I will tell you is that you shouldn't be afraid to laugh during the last 20 minutes. You are supposed to laugh. Don't let the fools in the theater sway you.

This is the best movie of the year.

I love Harry Potter. I did not watch this film with a critical eye, so don't expect much real commentary.

This movie was definitely better than the first one, which I did like. I don't think that the quailty was higher or the directing was better, I just think this one was better suited for a translation to film. Tons of excitement and tons of new adventures. I only have two major complaints. The first, which is minor, is that the kids are just average actors. Still, they're kids so it's ok. The second is that Chris Columbus is a boring director. He took zero chances and it was noticeable. I blame the studio as well, but it's not all their fault. I'm curious to see what Alfonso Cuarón, the director of Y tu Mamá También, will do with the next one. I just hope it will not involve any threeways.

After falling in love with Ticker, one of the BMW Films, I decided I should see Joe Carnahan's first film. And so I did. It is exactly what you'd expect: a mediocre film that showed an incredible amount of promise.

The acting was, generally, poor. The cinematography was average, but that seemed to be mostly an effect of a small budget. The story and the shot selection was really good. I liked the pacing of the story and I liked the style (pulp fiction-y). Oh, and I haven't told you what it's about. It's about two used car salesmen caught in a bind and then caught in a mess. This brings up the best part of this movie: the characters. The two main characters were just alright, but all of the supporting cast was really interesting. They made the movie worthwhile.

That brings me to my final thoughts. Like I said eariler, this movie is mediocre and not worth the time of the average moviegoer. If you're interesting in seeing the beginnings of what may be a great director, give this a shot.

A coming of age story about a 28 year-old man. I love it. The movie is a little off, but in the best way. Buck (the star) is developmentally challenged, but not in a debilitating way. It is in more of a annoying, depressing, and oddly endearing way. All he wants is to go back to the way things were when he was young, and still best friends with Chuck. Even though he has serious problems, you can't help but sympathize. Everyone longs for the time when things were simple. The difference is that Buck believes he can actually go back.

The more I think about it, the more I liked the film. An original story shot in a very honest way. Definitely better than Miguel Arteta's most recent film, The Good Girl. Recommended.

Ian McKellen was just brilliant, and I'm not using that word just because he's British. Brendan Frasier was just fine. Most importantly, the story was definitely worth being told. James Whale, the man the movie is about, made some amazing monster movies in the thirties (most notably, Frankenstein) and was a very...different man. I didn't know much about him beforehand, but the movie made me want to learn more about him. Thankfully, there was a documentary included with the DVD that was less artsy and more informative than the movie.

To cut this story short, the movie was good, but it falls somewhere in the middle. Interesting storytelling, average cinematography, great story, and some brilliant acting.

It took me a while to actually watch this, cuz I thought it'd be depressing. I didn't think it was at all depressing. Yes, it portrayed a version of suburban family life that was very unpleasant, but in the end the family comes back together. Life is ugly and crappy things happen, but a strong family bond holds everything together. I'm sure there is something deeper to the film, since it was set right during the Watergate Scandal, but to me this was more important. That's the mushy stuff.

Seeing as this is an Ang Lee film, it is beautiful. It all feels very cold, in a good way. There's more to this, but I don't feel like writing much more. So know that I liked it and Ang Lee directed it. That should be enough.

Owen Wilson and Janeane Garofalo in one movie? Is this a combination for success? Yes, it is. The movie is about a guy who happens to be a serial killer. He is certainly not your run of the mill killer, but that seems to be the point. There are plenty of people who do horrible things without outwardly showing their craziness. They don't all eat skin for breakfast. Owen Wilson's character seems completely harmless and his manner of killing is completely nonviolent. It's eerie.

Despite all this killing, this is definitely not an action flick and isn't even a thriller. There is no chase, there is no grotesque murder scene. This movie is a drama and we get a whole lot of character development. That's why I really like this movie. I love taking a typical topic (mass-murder) and pursuing it through unconventional means.

Film folks will definitely find it interesting, others might be turned off.

My grandpa loved this film. I visited him yesterday and we went to see this, despite him being a bit skeptical. He, like most people I know, is now telling everyone he knows to see it.

The movie is about gun violence in America, with Columbine as a focal point. The central question asks why America has so much gun violence when we don't have more guns, a more violent history, or more violent movies and videogames than other countries. Amazingly, he is able to give a fairly concrete answer, which I completely agree with. I'm going to tell you, but don't worry, it won't spoil the film. He explains that the media and the government work to instill fear in the public, so that they can easily control them. An offshoot of this is that people tend to become more violent, since a lack of control often leads people to their most primal instincts.

My point is, duh. He makes the answer so easy to understand but tells it to us without any condescention. In fact, it is fairly clear that as he shot the film he was coming at the question without a clear answer in mind.

So, as you can tell, I agree with my grandfather. Moore does an incredible job of weaving a interesting and often humorous narrative into such a difficult and often perplexing issue, which makes the film very easy to watch, even with a 2 hour running time. Please go see this film, and if you don't have time convince everyone you know to see it. For the sake of the country.

It's official -- I'm hooked. I know Buffy the Vampire Slayer gets a lot of flak, but if you watch a couple episodes it is very easy to get hooked. Hearing people talk about the premise of Buffy (young people killing vampires) doesn't do it justice. The best part of the show is the writing, as the wit and sarcasm poke fun at the horror genre throughout the series.

This season is supposed to be one of the best in the series and it really shows. It was early enough to avoid any crappy scripts or superfluous charaters. It's also a solid 24 episodes with a great season finale. Really strong. I'd almost recommend starting with this season, but I personally prefer to have the whole backstory; you tend to care more about what goes on.

Now that the first two seasons are on DVD and the third is coming in January, you have little excuse to check out a phew episodes. Oh, and the reruns air twice a day on FX.

A truly honest love story. This also happens to be my new favorite film of the year (sorry Secretary). I was nervous, anxious, excited to see Adam Sandler in a dramatic role, especially since it could theoretically ruin a movie by one of my favorite directors. He was really fucking good. He plays a man (Barry) who is inundated by his seven sisters' nagging, which has knocked a few screws loose over the years. Barry sells novelty plungers. In his other films he was always goofy and funny, but there was an awkward side to him that was ever present. In Punch-Drunk Love, that side takes over completely and he becomes an awkward, socially dysfunctional nutcase, who manages to be incredibly likeable.

I won't give away the plotline, because the way it exposes itself is brilliant and I don't want to ruin that. I won't go on about the shot selections or character development because P.T. Anderson is a genius and he needs no support from me. The only thing I will do is recommend you go see this, for two reasons:

1. It is a fantastic movie, that really makes you feel a lot of emotion, even if you cringe sometimes. Really wonderful.

2. People come to this movie expecting to see Billy Madison 2 and watching them cringe is funny (in a hoighty-toighty, artsy-fartsy kind of way).

This is the "Jerry Seinfeld movie." Although he is definitely in it, he is only one of two main characters. The film is really about a young comic finally breaking it big and a big comic trying to reinvent himself. Thankfully, the director (Christian Charles) decided to focus more time on Jerry Seinfeld. Orny Adams, the other main character, was annoying, generally unfunny and a real dickhead. It was interesting, but almost painful to watch. Thus, it was the saving grace of the film. If this had just been about Jerry, it could have devolved into an E! True Hollywood Story.

The movie was definitely entertaining, but I feel like it fell short of its goal, or maybe not. I just didn't learn anything earth-shattering about the comedy business or either of the two comics, but maybe that wasn't the point. If it wasn't, then it was interesting to watch Seinfeld put together a new act and see him fail a number of times. It was also a lot of fun to hear some good comedy.

And to sum it up, Orny Adams is a dickhead.

Jake Gylenhaal is a force to be reckoned with. He out-acted Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon and Holly Hunter. He has definitely lived up to his potential thus far. Oh, and he's funny. He was on The Daily Show last week and was definitely entertaining. He made the movie.

Speaking of the movie, I liked it. It was an interesting, realistic depiction of how people deal with death. Not to imply that everyone will act like these characters, but they weren't just grieving and crying for a week; they had a variety of real emotions, and that's always refreshing for a Hollywood film. Unfortunately, the director did not do the best job, er, directing. The pacing of the film and the story was great, but there was something off about Sarandon and Hoffman's acting. They are both amazing actors but it's clear that Brad Silberling (also the director of Casper and City of Angels) could not properly translate the character to these actors. Too bad really.

Nonetheless, I do recommend the movie. The writing is very good, also by Silberling, and the filmmaking goes unnoticed, in a good way.

Oooooh. I liked this one. It has the sensability of The Royal Tenenbaums, but is darker, more artsy and humor is only a portion of the film's purpose. The comparison between the two films may seem easy since they both deal with the underbelly of the upperclass, but I think it's more than that. Moving on, I though the acting in this film was very good, being carried by Susan Sarandon, Amanda Peet and especially Kieran Culkin. This performance was even better than his in The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, which was a phenomenal movie by the way. Amanda Peet played a self-serving, heroin junkie perfectly and I have good feelings about her for the future. Oh, and she's hot.

The movie made me uncomfortable a number of times. I won't give away any plot points, but the movie focuses on death and futility of life, which was pushed to an awkward place by a number of the "jokes." Still, I thought this was done well and added to the film.

Burr Steers, the director, has made a poignant beginning and I look forward to what he will bring in the future. Still, I would like to see this movie again to really say it's one of my favorites. You shouldn't worry though, because it's worth seeing if you enjoy...the cinema (said with some flair).

This certainly won't make my top ten. I saw this as a pt. 2 of a doubleheader and it is worth every bit I paid to see it. To be fair, it was good for what it was -- a movie that is meant to be seen as a distraction from life and not a stimulus. The love story was solid, the acting was fine and it was entertaining enough. I was disappointed by the fact that Reese Witherspoon decided to do another useless film like this. I loved Legally Blonde, but it was not an earth-shattering concept or style, and this new one certainly didn't break any ground either. But once again, it served it's purpose. I'm sure someone would enjoy this film like I enjoyed Iron Monkey or Blade 2. Clearly, it's not meant for my demographic, but that was obvious since I was the only guy there who didn't have a female movie partner.

Oops. The only reason I saw this is because I accidentally went to the wrong theater while trying to see 24 Hour Party People. And, I thought it might be entertaining as Jackie Chan is amazing and J. Love* is relatively attractive. I was so wrong. This is the worst movie I've seen in a few years, Deuces Wild included. There were only 3 fight scenes in an action movie, there was absolutely no plot (seemingly a theme this summer), the bad guy was not so bad, the love subplot was completely unbelievable (J. Love and Chan? Phtpt.), and Jackie Chan's english is still too sloppy for a lot of dialogue.

So don't see it, no matter how much you're tempted. My drive home from the theater would have been more interesting.

An interesting perspective on teens and pedophilia. The nicest character in the film was a pedophile. Everything was backwards and upside down, but the story itself ran smooth. I liked the characters a lot, but I really disliked the ending. I'm just glad it was only about 90 minutes because if it were a really long film then I would have been pissed instead of disappointed.

See this movie if you're interested in teens and "real-life" pedophilia. This is not the kind where it's all hardcore sex, but instead someone to look up to and trust. It's interesting.

Brilliance. This is the newest film by Hayao Miyazaki, who directed the famous anime film Princess Mononoke. The story, the animation, everything was completely breathtaking. If you even remotely like animated films, then you must see this. If you hate them, you should see this because you will likely change your mind. It's that good.

This is the first time I saw two amazing movies in one weekend. I love it.

The Best Film of the Year (so far). The only one that comes close is The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. It's about a young woman played by Maggie Gylenhaal who has mental issues and is looking for a job. She takes a job as a secretary for James Spader (well, his character). I'll leave it at that because you need to see it all unfold.

The acting is truly wonderful. Spader could have given a touch more but Gylenhaal couldn't have been any better. The story was good, the art direction was good, and there were a ton of great little touches. Oh, and it's really funny. It's a dark comedy, but you definitely laugh out loud a lot.

Please, go see it. Please.

I couldn't get into this. Actually, I can't really get into David Lynch. I respect what he's doing and I think he's talented, but it's just too much for me. I should watch this again though, when I can really concentrate. Eh?

Watching this again, I realize it is a really funny movie. The whole product placement thing is done well. In fact, it's the only time when I've enjoyed seeing product placement. Zoolander and this seem to be trying to accomplish the same thing. Zoolander is funnier but Josie is much more accurate. No need to go into a diatribe, but the music biz is peddling a product and that is all.

If you want a goofy comedy, this one is for you. Perfect rental when there's nothing else you can find and you want something fun.

This is Robin Williams' best dramatic performance yet. It certainly beats out Bicentennial Man. Aside from that, I really liked the art direction. A lot of white and great pale colors. You just have to see it. It's a lot like Diesel's last ad campaign. Overall, a good movie. Definitely recommended.

Oh man, this movie was better than the original. So good, I'm going to buy it. It is mindless action, but is really well done. It's got an anime, comic-y feel to it. Oh, it's about vampires.

Good a second time, but not nearly as good as the first time around. Of course, given that there were a ton of surprises in the movie, that makes perfect sense.

If you haven't seen this yet, rent it. The chemistry in this movie is amazing and the DVD has 2 commentaries -- one with the director and writer, and one with Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Andy Garcia. It's amazing how different they are. Despite differences, they both are filled with a lot of gossip.

Blah blah, go see it.

I didn't read the box first, which ended up being a mistake. Now it's not that the movie was bad, I just wasn't expecting it to be so slow. If I had known that going in, it would have been better. A lot better.

Anyway, the surprise ending was a surprise, but I wasn't shocked-excited, I was shocked-glad-it-was-over. So if you like ghosts then go see this. If you REALLY like Nicole Kidman, see this. If you want an in-your-face, kick-ass thriller, watch something else.

The first PT Anderson movie is really good. I think I liked it better than Boogie Nights, if that's possible. It doesn't rival Magnolia, but not much does. There are some of the familiar faces from PT's movies, and a whole bunch of other people. Anyway, as the title suggests, its about gambling. The story is good and the characters are strong. I just really liked this one. I think I'll be buying it.

It was in rumorville forever, and then I finally rented it when it came out. It is a really interesting adaptation of the original Metropolis, done by Fritz Lang. The visuals are breathtaking and the DVD is awesome. A lot of cool features and amazing sound. It was a great way to break in my new speakers.

This has drawn me further into the world of anime. I am excited.

I had completely forgotten about this movie, which made it much more entertaining. I watched it over the weekend with some old friends and it was perfect for the occasion. So if you're in the mood for a good adventure film with gov't/spy twists, this is for you.

This remake of Othello made me want to read Othello, and that's a good thing. It was directed by Tim Blake Nelson, who may be an up-and-comer. Anyway, the movie was much better than I thought it would be and I'm glad I rented it. You should give it a go.

Tom Tykwer is truly a great director. I stayed away from this for a while, and it was a mistake. I liked it better than Run Lola Run, which is a pretty big statement. Although the story is amazing and the glue of the film, the camerawork is beautiful. An excellent film.

Note to movie producers: A great website can sell movies. As you may have guessed, I was first introduced to Donnie Darko via its website, which is a creation of the folks at Hi-Res. The site is a piece of entertainment in itself and is twice as entertaining after seeing the film.

And on that note, the film was wonderful. It's a dark look at a boy's relationship with an imaginary man in a bunny suit and the coming end of the world. Sounds deep, and it is. The movie has the style of David Lynch and PT Anderson, with a twist of Christopher Nolan (of Momento fame). It's just amazing that this is his first film.

It's rumored that Jason Schwartzman was supposed to pay the role of Donnie, but I'm glad he didn't. Jake Gyllenhaal was perfect for the role. He had these dark eyes that made the plot very believable. Speaking of plot, I like that the movie wasn't impossible to figure out. I need a little closure.

On a scale from 1 to Good, the movie was great.

I am surprised, but this movie was great. It seems like an unlikely choice, especially based on the way it was originally marketed, but it was a well done action movie. There were the typical faux pas (plural??), but nothing atrocious. It is definitely my second favorite vampire movie, right behind From Dusk 'Til Dawn.

Oh, and this film was recommended by Loeb. If you don't know, he only has two opinions when it comes to movies: "fucking amazing" and "worst movie ever," so I was glad that he was only slightly exagerating when he expressed the former.

They say curiousity killed the cat. Well I didn't die, but I shouldn't have been so eager to see Steve Martin in a dramatic role. This movie really fell apart at the seams. The plot was boring, the acting was subpar (even Helena Bonham Carter) and the cinematography was a joke. Oh, and if that isn't enough, the ending to this mystery is totally contrived.

So if you're smart, you'll steer clear. Don't get sucked in like I did.

Drivel. Really, what's the point?

Well, it seems the point is to make sure we don't forget about Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd because the film really has no other redeeming value. Wait, I lied; Amanda Peet is in this movie. The plot is half-baked and the visual style is nonexistant. Avoid.

Two things learned as a result of this movie:
1. A drive-in movie makes a horrible movie tolerable.
2. Some people like movies and some like to be entertained. If you are in the latter category then you, like my friend Jena and her roommate, may (cringe) like this movie.

Warning: This movie is wonderful and there's lots of sex. So, if you're averse to great films or graphic nudity then this isn't for you. If you fit the bill, look forward to a really engaging story of two Mexican teens living it up in this coming-of-age story. Although the story is wonderful, there were a couple things I noticed.

First, the sex and nudity in this movie is totally unglamorous. Unlike Hollywood, there is no sultry music or chiaroscuro lighting. All you'll find is buck naked people doing their thing. It's incredibly refreshing because a lot of sex doesn't have background music or art directors. It lends the film more authenticity.

The other point is regarding all of voice-overs. I have no problem with the style employed, but I am curious about their narrative purpose. Oftentimes they helped move along the plot, but occasionally it would give an obscure fact about the city or the characters that didn't seem to fit. I wonder if speaking Spanish or knowing Mexican culture would have helped to determine what the director's intentions. It seems I'll have to just guess until I become fluent.

So I really liked this movie, especially because it was a very voyeuristic experience. I don't live like these boys and I am generally unfamiliar with Mexican youth culture. It is highly recommended.

The first good suspense movie I've seen in years. Don't people get that suspense does not mean gore and scary music? There must be a viable plot and characters you genuinely care about. It makes me realize that the suspense genre is dead; hollywood is only making action and pawning it off under a different name. But I digress.

There were a few plot holes, but overall it was a really great movie. I only question whether or not Fincher is overusing his now defining stylistic technique, the floating camera. I like it, but it is almost a novelty at this point. I also wish that Forest Whitaker would try playing a full on bad guy. Even though he was a burgular it was clear from the beginning that he had some good in him. Come on Forest, don't get typecasted. While I'm on the subject of Hollywood, I wish that Fincher could have ended the movie when he wanted to. It was clear the studio had him tack on an ending with more closure. The only solace I have is that he made it blatantly obvious, to those who care, that the ending was tacked on and not his doing.

All in all, it's a good movie to see. It definitely had me breathing hard. Not in that way, you're gross.

This movie is really, really, ridiculously good. It also has a number of great outtakes and a commentary track. If you kinda liked this, or loved it like me, then the DVD is worth a rental (or purchase, he he).

A wonderful twist on the romantic comedy. Boy meets girl becomes girl meets girl and you will laugh. The director gave the film a great sensability and the jewish jokes make things a lot funnier.

I saw this movie at the Wisco Film Fest and I thought it was a great flick. It is a Taiwanese film about a man whose father has just died and he becomes obsessed with this woman who buys his watch. It becomes this very funny (dark funny) movie and is unlike anything you would see out of the states.

The other interesting thing is that the director always uses the same actors and characters in all of his films. I really want to see more of his stuff.