movie reviews by PvtCaboose91

"I wouldn't sell my bike for all the money in the world. Not for a hundred million, trillion, billion dollars!"

Pee-wee's Big Adventure is Tim Burton's first feature length movie...and it is FANTASTIC!

From start to finish the film is a total riot. There are stacks of visual gags that had me in stitches, and a great script that also had me in stitches for every second of the running time. Tim Burton's visual imagination proves to be a perfect match for Pee-wee's fanciful exploits.

The whole movie is goofy, silly and just plain hilarious. Pee-wee Herman (Reubens, under the pseudonym of Pee-wee Herman) is simply a 9-year-old boy trapped in the body of an adult.

When his beloved bike is stolen one morning in broad daylight, Pee-wee embarks on a big adventure across the U.S. mainland in order to get it back.

I can't believe how underrated this movie is. Most people pass it off because of the silly title (as I did, but wanted to see it because of Tim Burton's involvement), but in all honesty the film is pure comic genius.

Reubens is absolutely hilarious in the title role. He always looks incredibly cute whenever he delivers a line, and his flamboyant antics had my sides aching with laughter.

The kids will absolutely adore this movie, and the adults might love it even more. While I was watching the movie it felt like it was okay to be a kid again. All the silly gags left my cheeks aching because of so much non-stop laughter and scenes filled with hilarity.

Face it, this isn't your usual Tim Burton movie and many will give it a pass because of this. But Burton's imagination, along with the witty screenplay penned with Paul Reubens among others, just makes for sensational entertainment.

Danny Elfman's score was just perfect here as well, and set the tone rather nicely. The bright music assisted in the film being as much fun as it is, especially during scenes that contain extensive visual gags. And the visual gags are so incredibly clever that it will take many viewings just to pick them all up.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure is little gem of a movie that you cannot afford to miss. The characters are quirky, the gags are cartoonish and the whole film is wildly inventive as well as being perfect entertainment for the whole family. This is a film that everyone can enjoy.

He chose you, honey! From all the women in the world to be the mother of his only living son!"

Roman Polanski's classic horror film Rosemary's Baby is the best and most terrifying supernatural horror film of all time bar none.

This movie is an example of the horror genre done right; there are spine-chilling moments, satanic images and horror themes that will stay with you forever.

A young couple named Rosemary (Farrow) and Guy (Cassavetes) move into a new apartment in the city of New York. The couple have plans of raising a family there, and start trying for a child.

But the two soon meet an elderly couple living in the same building who seem peculiar but caring. When Rosemary ends up pregnant, Guy strikes a deal with a group of devil worshippers unbeknownst to his wife. Rosemary's pregnancy is plagued by troubles - odd pains that last for extended periods of time, ill health and lack of good advice from the people around her.

Slowly, and surely, Rosemary learns to realise that she may be having the son of Satan.

Polanski has made this film nothing short of perfect - the film is effective, terrifying and spine-chilling. Some of the satanic images and black magic rituals will leave you terrified...and towards the end it's impossible to feel bored or to tear your eyes away from the screen.

The themes of witchcraft and devil worshipping are the icing on the cake. Mia Farrow's performance was astounding. It's obvious that she put everything she could into portraying such a pivotal character.

John Cassavetes is just brilliant here as well. He is able to play his character so well and believably. Both Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer are superb as the very strange neighbours.

Rosemary's Baby is unmissable for any horror fan. It's incredibly creepy, atmospheric, eerie, brooding and creates an incredible sense of unthinkable danger.

Heck, Polanski even tops a bunch of Hitchcock's classic thrillers...and this is coming from someone who adores Hitchcock's work. Adapted from the novel by Ira Levin, and basically a modern take on demons and witchcraft.

In a nutshell, it's absolutely unthinkable to miss this movie. It's just an incredible experience and one of the most terrifying movies of all time.

"Thanks a million, Maximilian."

Ridley Scott was the perfect choice for the director for this absolutely sublime, entertaining drama.

I never really had an interest in seeing it because of the mediocre reviews it received, but it came as highly recommended by my uncle (a man obsessed with wine). I am extremely glad that I finally saw it.

Russell Crowe plays snobby expert businessman Max Skinner who has dedicated his life to his crucial career. Max learns that his uncle (Finney), a man who essentially raised him, had died and left him his French estate.

Max heads to France to visit the estate with intent to fix it up, and sell it. But once there, nostalgic memories are invoked when he views the estate and remembers all the great times he had with his uncle before he died.

There are many intriguing sub-plots that appear, but it's a lot more fun if I don't spoil it for you.

Russell Crowe's performance was absolutely exceptional. This isn't his usual performance, but rather an interesting twist and with a brilliant accent. This could well be his best performance to date.

Abbie Cornish was superb here. Her great acting skills really shine in her performance.

Albert Finney was also really, really great.

At a glance, not many people would expect someone like Ridley Scott to be at the helm, but his direction is absolutely perfect.

The score, though, just blew me away. The music was just perfect in every scene and set the atmosphere magnificently.

I can't believe how underrated and overlooked this movie is. It's such an underrated gem and one of the biggest surprises of 2006 for me. The film is extremely bright, well made, refreshing, charming and indescribably entertaining.

Marred only by a bit of a tedious ending. Other than that, A Good Year is a delightful way to spend the evening with the family. Highly recommended!

"Everything you create, you use to destroy."

I found The Fifth Element to be an extremely enjoyable and entertaining experience; without being the greatest sci-fi film ever, it's bucket loads of fun.

The plot is about a great evil that comes to Earth every 5000 years with the intent of destroying it. The only way to combat this evil is using four stones and a "fifth element", a perfect being.

In a colourful vision of the 23rd century, a N.Y.C. cab driver named Korben Dallas (Willis) comes into contact with the "fifth element", named Leeloo (Jovovich), who drops into his cab. Dallas is ex-military, and is called upon to battle the evil forces that descend upon Earth.

I will not waste your time writing a more elaborate plot synopsis, because if I did then I'd spoil the whole movie for you.

The film moves at a slick pace, and contains some absolutely outstanding visual effects and amazing set design. The vision of the future is just fantastic; many clever ideas, great designs and some of the best costumes you will ever see in a sci-fi movie.

Bruce Willis is in one of the best performances of his career. This can be classified as a Die Hard of the 23rd century due to the traits exhibited during the movie; he's in the wrong place at the wrong time, and gets mixed up in some rather large plot that threatens the lives of many. Willis was nothing short of exceptional.

I could barely recognise Milla Jovovich in some very exquisite costume design, and delivering such peculiar dialogue. Nevertheless, she is superb. Chris Tucker shines like always. He plays a flamboyant radio host who steals the spotlight in every scene he's in.

One of the film's biggest strengths was its sense of humour. Into the second half there's some great action mixed with a host of hilarious gags. Chris Tucker in particular is just downright side-splitting as always.

The great visual images are accompanied by an excellent score by Eric Serra.

The Fifth Element is nothing short of great entertainment. There's action, great sci-fi images, has some great humour mixed in...and it's just a whole lot of fun. Highly recommended.

"As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster."

Martin Scorsese is a director who will always be remembered for a long list of classic mob dramas. The beginning of his career was marked with the brilliant Taxi Driver. Since then, Scorsese has continued to produce great quality work. It's a rare occasion if he produces a faulty product.

GoodFellas is arguably Scorsese's best film to date; this slick, fast-paced crime drama is engrossing, captivating and riveting. Before GoodFellas many had regarded The Godfather to be the best mob drama in existence. Since the release of this film, that statement continues to spark debate.

GoodFellas is based on the true story about a gangster named Henry Hill (Liotta). As a teenage local boy Henry becomes part of the mafia. He becomes partners with gangsters Jimmy Conway (De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Pesci). The film is a tale that follows this certain mafia family over the course of about 30 years; chronicling the rise and fall of Henry and his two counterparts.

Even with its 140-minute running time, GoodFellas is exceptionally told. The film encapsulates everything that should be present in the genre; strong characters, heavy profanity and lots of repulsive violence. Each performance is engaging and compelling with a smart script to boot.

The script is smart and enthralling. The whole film is told with outstanding voice-over narration that gets us into the mind of the character being portrayed.

This could be Robert De Niro's finest hour. His screen presence is brooding and unnerving. Because of his character's reputation there is good reason to fear him. De Niro plays Jimmy Conway as terrifying and intimidating.

Ray Liotta is a realistic gangster figure. At times his bitter anger seems very genuine. He spits out a tonne of profanity during the compelling drama that frequently occurs during the film's running time.

Joe Pesci pretty much stole the show. De Niro may be terrifying, but on the other hand Pesci is the epitome of sadistic gangsters. He frequently swears and cannot hold his temper. Whenever he's in a fit of rage it is quite menacing.

GoodFellas is a film that exposes gangsters for what they truly are - people who preach loyalties, respects and principles. But when it comes down to it they are just a bunch of two-bit criminals that will stab each other in the back for money, power or otherwise. They have an outward persona of being calm and tolerant. Underneath they are capable of incredible rage and are quite detestable people.

Martin Scorsese is very talented when he is at the helm of a mafia drama. His directing makes everything seem so authentic like it's actually happening. Of course this is the beauty of Scorsese's work - that nothing ever feels contrived or staged.

GoodFellas is an exceptional movie powered by remarkable performances and great directing. The R rating truly signifies the film's nature. The profanity levels are through the roof, the violence is off-putting, the experience is unnerving. But despite its ghastly nature the film is a brilliant mob drama. For aficionados of Scorsese or the genre, this is a must.

"Can't rain all the time..."

The Crow is a film I approached because of its cult following and massive popularity.

I had also heard of the tragic story regarding actor Brandon Lee during filming. For those of you who don't know said story, Lee tragically passed away before filming concluded. While a scene was being filmed a prop gun fired a live round into the actor, causing his imminent death.

Lee's death didn't prevent director Proyas from creating a remarkable action movie based on a series of comics. The Crow is a film with an atmosphere of dread and decay; its gothic set design and visuals look incredible.

The film is also quite repulsive and heavy. There are scenes showcasing heavy violence, strong profanity and disturbing images.

Brandon Lee plays Eric Draven. Eric is a musician who comes home on Devil's Night (a tradition among those who commit crime in the city) to find his fiancée Shelly (Shinas) being savagely beaten and raped. The hooligans kill Eric and Shelly that night.

One year later Eric returns as an invincible undead vigilante ready to avenge the death of his beloved Shelly. And so Eric hits the streets one night with plans to kill the group of urban criminals.

The simple plot is executed with phenomenal style; featuring amazing stunts, plenty of action and fascinating gothic imagery. This makes for a memorable movie experience.

Brandon Lee's final performance is unforgettable. When he becomes the invulnerable vigilante he seems relentless and evil. The beauty of his performance is that his character also has a softer side that is shown during flashbacks when his character was still alive. This softer side is also visible when he meets people from his past. It's hard to recognise him beneath the heavy make-up that almost looks like a darker version of The Joker.

The Crow also boasts an array of highly impressive visuals. The special effects are stunning to look at. The action scenes are complimented with these incredible special effects. Said effects also needed to be utilised to complete a few scenes that required the use of Brandon Lee's face after he had passed away.

Proyas establishes a tremendously sophisticated style throughout the film as well. There are fast flashy cuts and some bizarre uses of the camera. Needless to say, this added to the gothic feeling of the production. In addition, most of the movie takes place at night when it's raining quite heavily. The action scenes do feature some ultra fast cutting but the action is still dazzling and brutal; displaying a high level of graphic violence. This fast cutting isn't as distracting as the style used in modern action films.

One thing that I realised while watching the movie is the very little shadow detail during the darker scenes. I'm not sure if this can be attributed to a creative decision by the director or the transfer that was available to me. The visuals are accompanied by an aggressive soundtrack featuring some dynamic music. This is usually played over the action scenes. I thought the soundtrack was fantastic; keeping in the dark gothic atmosphere of the movie.

The Crow is an action film that is smart and taut; over its 95-minute running time I never found it at all boring. Some of the dialogue is a bit contrived and there are a few clichés, however the film is profoundly good entertainment. If you have not seen The Crow then I suggest you get your hands on a copy immediately.

"Have you ever seen blood in the moonlight, Will? It appears quite black."

Michael Mann is a director who went on to get a number of big titles against his name. Heat and Collateral are my personal favourites of director Mann.

However, little do people remember that he directed this classic mystery thriller back in the 1980s. After the success of the movie Silence of the Lambs audiences never really realised that it was the sequel to Manhunter; a film that introduced us to the psychotic genius known as Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lector (incorrectly spelt as 'Lecktor' in the film).

I had seen both Silence of the Lambs and its eventual follow-up Hannibal before laying my hands on this film. In hindsight I really wish that I watched them all in order because I guess my opinion has been tainted with the image of Anthony Hopkins playing Hannibal Lector as menacing and unbeatably brilliant.

Because Hopkins walked away with an Oscar for his portrayal in Silence of the Lambs I approached Manhunter with caution because Brian Cox portrays the role. Manhunter is an exceptional film on its own merits without taking its sequels into consideration.

The film's style is vastly different to the style utilised by those who helmed the sequels. Mann skilfully uses long shots, full faces, large spatial separation, or cutting from one character to another in isolation, all with slightly out-of-focus backgrounds. Because of Mann's unique directorial style Manhunter is a film with something new to offer with each new screening. Clues are easier to pick up, more cinematic techniques noticed, etc.

The character of Hannibal Lector (Cox) takes a sideline position in this film. He appears very rarely throughout the film's duration because the focus is on other characters. The main character of this story is a former FBI agent named William Graham (Peterson) who has been hurt physically and mentally while in the process of apprehending the serial killer Hannibal Lector.

In this film, Graham is coaxed out of retirement to help the FBI track down a serial killer nicknamed "The Tooth Fairy" (Noonan). Graham seeks minor assistance from Lector while he tries to solve the case.

Manhunter is a chilling thriller as well as a captivating character study. Mann is notorious for expertly crafting dialogue scenes that drive the movie with incredible pace. Some may find the pacing slow because of so much dialogue. If you listen to the lines you won't find the pacing as painfully slow as some people have complained.

William Peterson is very skilled in the leading role. The purpose of his character was to dissect all the clues that will lead to revealing the identity of the serial killer. As his character tries to get into the mind of the killer he's tracking, he says a lot of strange things out loud that help the audience understand what he is thinking about. This is an intriguing character trait without making things too blatant.

Brian Cox plays a very unique Hannibal Lector. While my personal preference is Anthony Hopkins' more menacing image, I thought Cox still did a fantastic job.

Tom Noonan's performance is chilling and intimidating. The film is powered by not only the performances and proficient direction, but the right script is also vital. The dialogue was sometimes convoluted but becomes easier to decipher when you watch the production multiple times. This dialogue is realistic; however I would have preferred some lines that were easier to understand.

At first I thought that there were a number of useless dialogue scenes. With closer inspection I realised that these were pivotal scenes to include in order to get into the mind of the characters.

Manhunter is a film with very few flaws. Mann is a director who rarely delivers a faulty product. Definitely worth seeing!

"He's not your husband, not anymore."

The Astronaut's Wife had two things going for it that eventually persuaded me to commit to a screening.

One is that it's a thriller. I love watching thrillers that can successfully send a chill down my spine and was anxious to see if the filmmakers had done a good job this time.

The other thing, of course, is Johnny Depp in the lead role. I make no effort to hide the fact that I admire Depp because he is a versatile actor capable of executing any role if he puts his mind to it.

When I read the synopsis for The Astronaut's Wife I thought it had potential and sounded quite chilling, although I couldn't shake off the feeling of déjà vu in relation to Roman Polanski's classic horror film Rosemary's Baby. And so I settled in with lunch and a great friend of mine to watch this thriller.

Regrettably I must have raised my expectations too high because the film turned out to be quite dreadful. This film had a very intriguing concept but ultimately failed in its execution.

The Astronaut's Wife is a trip into clichéd territory where the scares are predictable and the characters are stupid. The writer/director appears to have no problem with travelling from obvious plot point A to even more obvious plot point B. I lost count of the plot holes and loose ends that are never addressed.

There isn't much you can say about the plot without spoiling the whole thing (not that it would be a bad thing - by all means save 100 mins of your life for something more productive) so I will attempt to outline the plot with very little detail. An astronaut named Spencer (Depp) leaves his wife Jillian (Theron) to embark on a mission into space. After a lapse in communication following a mysterious problem, Spencer returns home to his wife in good health.

But Jillian soon realises that her husband has gone rather peculiar since he returned from his dangerous mission; acting strangely and never wishing to discuss what happened while in space. Although I didn't go into much detail, you can pretty much predict what is going to happen from there.

The film is sort of a cross between Rosemary's Baby and perhaps a little bit of Species II mixed with The Omen. The combination could have produced something a little better quality than this ineffective thriller that missed all opportunities to be something decent.

The cast were at least some compensation for bad scripting. Johnny Depp steers away from all his prior characters; developing something fresh and innovative. It seems that Johnny tried to add some intensity to his character. This is ultimately let down by some poor filmmaking. The editing and cinematography, not to mention the special effects, are what I refer to in that statement.

Charlize Theron sports a haircut that suitably mirrors Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby. Like Depp, she tried and you have to give her credit. There were some scenes when the terror in her performance seems genuine.

One of my central complaints about the film is that evidence is sometimes spilt out far too blatantly. From about an hour into the movie we know that the crazy ravings of Joe Morton's character are going to be right; and can suitably predict the film's subsequent events. I thought it was tradition for thrillers to spill the beans a few scenes before the climax. The film also ends with an uncertain whimper rather than something conclusive.

I am happy I watched The Astronaut's Wife as I am an avid fan of Johnny Depp. I enjoyed the pleasure of being in the company of one of my best friends as well. Thank God for these two things to overshadow the shallow, predictable writing.

"Maybe you just don't see me for who I am."

I expected good things from Dreamgirls - mainly because of the large amount of critical acclaim it received - but at the end of the day I was vastly disappointed.

The movie is the story of a (fictional) trio of sisters who search for their big break. Once they find a manager (Foxx) and hit the road for a tour with hit pop singer (Murphy) their experiences only end in tears as they encounter several major struggles.

First of all, I appreciate the fact that it's a musical based on a Broadway production. But the first 35 minutes sets up the film as a potent drama that tells its story through the powerful performances and poignant dialogue.

But then the film takes a turn for the worst...and the style shifts unnecessarily to that of a musical as the characters begin arguing through song. There were only about 5 songs like these, which in the long run was the film's biggest downfall. The musical style appeared to be the film's second self that only appears very rarely. If it's a musical, it has to stay a musical for the tone to suit the film for its running time. Instead the film begins as a drama that has a number of annoying songs throughout which could instead be just scenes of drama and dialogue. If they want it to be a musical, they should have made the film a musical. Not a drama with songs!

Also, the film loses steam about 40 minutes in. The first 40 minutes moved at a brisk pace, with little chance for us to actually get to know the characters. And hence, when the troubles begin piling on top of each other it was impossible to care simply because we don't know the characters enough to care about them. It's like plummeting into the turmoil and troubles of a group of complete strangers. This detracted from my overall enjoyment of the movie.

Still, the singing was done exquisitely and the production design was purely dazzling! There's no denying that the whole cast did a fantastic job, but another of the film's multiple downfalls is that trying to empathise with such a large cast is essentially impossible. With films like Ray or Walk the Line we have a central character moving through major struggles in their life. Here the major shift in central characters on so many occasions was just frustrating!

Dreamgirls wrote a cheque it couldn't cash, unfortunately. In the long run it just isn't worth your 2 hours. I have no idea how this film got so many awards. Leave it on the shelf, and rent something better.

Good morning Baltimore!"

First of all: musicals are not my thing. The latest The Producers remake equalled poison for upcoming musical movies due for release.

Hairspray, however, is a different story. The film is clichéd, predictable, cheesy, corny beyond all belief, childish, features a few annoying teenager heart-throbs with no acting skills - but it is fantastic!! I don't think I could possibly suggest a better way to joyfully spend two hours of your time.

Hairspray is a knockout movie musical that provides two hours of sheer enjoyment and pleasure. Its production values alone warrant a screening. The whole technical aspect of this film is top notch; showcasing scenes of magnificent musical numbers, cute characters and catchy music.

As the film opened I stared in disbelief at my screen and wondered what I had gotten myself into. The first song is really cheesy but colourful and joyous. What was to follow was a film of laughs, delight and absolute enjoyment!

Tracy Turnblad (Blonsky) is an overweight local teenage girl with dreams of becoming part of her favourite television program. Despite her weight she's a lively, dedicated dancer. When Tracy's dreams are finally realised, trouble follows when one of the show's managers (Pfeiffer) strongly resents an overweight dancer being featured in the cast. To make matters worse this is also the time for many other social situations - i.e. integration of African Americans on mainstream television programs.

The film succeeds phenomenally because of its technical merits. First of all, the cast. John Travolta was unmistakable but barely recognisable as he plays an overweight mother. Because we all know Travolta as being part of the classic musical Grease, it came as no surprise that the hit musical of this generation would feature a cast member of his stature. I am very familiar with Travolta's work, but I've never known him to play a woman so well. I was laughing whenever he delivered a line. His make-up was enough to send me into stitches when he first appeared. The accent and voice only made it even more hilarious.

I detest a lot of the teenage heart-throb talent (I use the term loosely) that became involved with this project. I refer to people like Zac Efron and Amanda Byrnes who are sometimes painful to watch. But in amidst all the delightful musical chaos it's very hard to recognise them. And hence my initial concerns with the cast were quickly alleviated.

The direction and cinematography are sublime. As a result the film looks great. Filled with colourful imagery, typical bright costumes and traits from the 50s that are quite authentic (my mother confirmed this as we were watching). But my hat goes off to those who took the time and effort to choreograph all the dancing. It's filled with energy and is great to look at. Needless to say, my brain hurts when I think about how long it would have taken to get all the dancers in such perfect sync (I can't imagine how many outtakes hit the cutting room floor).

Hairspray ended up being an audience favourite for 2007. The music is lively, the imagery is colourful, the film is entertaining.

This is why audiences go to the movies: to be entertained. It's corny, it's cheesy and it's childish but at least it's fun. Hairspray is a triumph for movie musical/comedies. I hope that we'll see more energetic films like these to follow.