Reviews

Sex Drive

Just watched “Sex Drive“. The ruder, cruder, nuder, unrated version of it. While I’m not a big fan of teenager movies – I guess I am a bit out of that age now – I still had a blast watching this one. It has everything a teenager should have and then some more – lots of hot naked chicks and parties, jokes, a bit of romance, a road trip and adventures.

I have to separately compliment this film on the humor part. While there were plenty of little silly things spread across the film, a few things were quite funny. I mean, I had to control my out loud laugh at three o’clock in the morning. That was something.

Also, an extra bonus for not having any drugs in this movie. Actually, it’s quite surprising for a teenager movie these days not to have any at all. I mean there was a drunk girl in there, but not more than that. I think that’s cool – there’s enough crap out there already to keep promoting it. (And yes, with drugs in kids movies – that’s promotion).

Overall rating – 4 stars. Pretty good stuff.

Natural Born Killers

I just finished watching “Natural Born Killers“. I’ve seen it before, but it was a really long time ago, and it was with a horrible Russian translation. Plus, I don’t think it was a director’s cut version that I got my hands on today.

The film was shot back in 1994. That’s 15 years ago. And it still looks quite well, despite all the advances in the moving pictures industry. I guess that’s because the true values are hardly ageing – interesting story with drama, true love and romance as well as humor; and tonnes of good acting and directing. Of course, some special effects are outdated, but that doesn’t spoil the experience even a tiny bit.

Overall, a highly recommended movie if you haven’t seen it yet. And still recommended if you saw it a long time ago. 5 stars.

Hangover

I went to see “Hangover” yesterday. That’s actually one of the films that I was waiting to see. Firstly, because I am a fan of Todd Philips comedy films (particularly, “Old School” and “Road Trip”, both of which I have probably seen a gadzillion times by now). Secondly, because the trailer was funny and promising. And, thirdly, because it’s summer time and I am all for more entertainment.

My expectations were pretty high for this film, and they were all well met. It was hilarious. Interestingly, it was funny in a different way then I expected it, but it was very funny non-the-less. The comedy was evenly distributed across the film, with a bit of build-up effect towards the end. By which time my belly was hurting and my eyes were wet of laughter.

Highly recommended, with my rating of 5 stars. Just remember, that this one is not for kids. Everyone else should watch it.

Every Which Way But Loose

Clint Eastwood has been directing too many dramas recently, so I thought I’d dig out something from the years long gone, something where he acted one of his superman roles. “Every Which Way But Loose” is one of those films.

Now, I don’t have much to compare this film to, because it’s from the year 1978, and I was only born in 1978. But it has more packed into it than most of the action films I’ve seen during my childhood – fist fights, biker gangs, corrupt police, exotic animals, car chases, and a true friendship and a true love with a broken heart.

Of course, now this film looks way aged and most of the special effects cause no reaction but a smile. But if I saw this in the 80’s, I guess I’d be all over this film. And even in these modern days, I’ll give it a 4 stars rating. Not bad at all.

Changeling

I deliberately avoided going to the cinema to see “Changeling“. Why? Because, I probably knew too much about it and whatever I didn’t know, I assumed. What I knew was that this film was a drama about missing children, directed by one of the most dramatic directors ever – Clint Eastwood, and starring Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich. While I do appreciate drama, it’s had for me sometimes to take all the sadness in the film, especially when there is a beautiful woman who is sad.

With missing children somewhere in the story, I thought, it was almost guaranteed that Angelina Jolie would be sad for a significant chunk of the screen time. That’s hard to watch on its own. Multiply that by Clint Eastwood’s directing, and add to that John Malkovich, who is a sort of actor that can multiply anything happening on the screen ten-folds, and the result would be something so sad that it would border with depressing. That’s why I was trying to avoid this film a bit. But I knew that I’d watch it anyway. And so I did.

This film is a beautiful piece of art. It is an interesting, slowly unfolding, story. It’s an authentic look back at Los Angeles during 1920-1930’s. It’s an excellent cast, with some really talented actors. And its an excellent directorship.

It is a sad movie, yes. But not as sad as I thought it would be. It is in sad in a very sensible way. Plus, it gives a lot to think about. The film brings topics of family, humanity, social responsibility and bureaucracy.

Overall, highly recommended. My rating: 5 stars.