Year in Movie Reviews #4: 2001

My Favorite Flicks

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – A faithful adaption of the book. This movie introduced me to the story and characters, and I really enjoyed it. Of course the book is better, but the movies are satisfying enough.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – This is the extremely rare case where the movie outshines the book. This movie is a masterpiece. It’s a timeless tale that is told flawlessly, and George, here’s an example of how to execute modern CGI and make it believable.

Shrek – This movie was an instant classic when it came out. This is what every kid’s movie should be. It’s wonderful fun and funny throughout.

Monster’s Inc. – Another kid’s movie that was very charming. Great voice acting, cute story. The old lady behind the desk was definitely my favorite, and the bloopers at the end were a stroke of genius!

Ocean’s Eleven – This movie is almost stylish to a fault, but I have enjoyed it every time I’ve watched it. This is a perfect example of how a crime caper can be fun and humorous.

Training Day – This is a mentor-student movie with a twist. The mentor is a very dirty cop. This movie is at times very tense and other times very funny. Denzel Washington is larger than life. “I’m the police! King Kong ain’t got shit on me!”

Along Came a Spider – Morgan Freeman at his best. I find this one more enjoyable than Kiss the Girls. Decent twist at the end too.

The Score – This is a one-time watch for most people. Everybody digs it the first time and not so much the second. I like that this movie builds toward one big job (or score) detail by detail and isn’t overblown. It’s like a more subtle version of Ocean’s Eleven.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back – Silly, but still very funny. Redeeming qualities include young Hollywood stars taking the piss out of themselves (Jason Biggs and Matt Damon as well as others) and the film realization of the “Trucker’s Code.”

Memento – I also really liked the cast. Great concept. Short-term amnesia. This is one of the most innovative movies I’ve ever seen. Now where was I?

Rock Star – Marky Mark as a rock star? Yup, and it’s a damn funny movie. Look for Zakk Wylde ripping it up and making fun of Ted Nugent’s love for hunting. Road Signs beware! Oh, and the Batmobile was a kick ass touch!

The Royal Tenenbaums – You have to be in the right mood for this one. Well, you have to be in the right mood for any dark comedy I suppose. With an all-star cast led by Gene Hackman, this one has decent humor and enough heart to make it memorable.


Guilty Pleasures

Rush Hour 2 – Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan remake Rush Hour 1 in Hong Kong. Hey, making the same film in a new location worked for Ace Ventura and Home Alone. It loses a little charm from the original, but it’s still just a funny action flick.

American Pie 2 – More of the same, but still pretty funny. “Don’t forget your penis cream.”

Legally Blonde – Guilty as charged. This movie is very dumb, but it’s oddly amusing. Guys, here’s another chick flick that won’t make you run to the hills.

Exit Wounds – Steven Seagal and DMX? Really? Yeah! This movie was actually a cool action flick!

Zoolander – This is a movie that defines the category of guilty pleasures. It is really stupid, but I just can’t stop laughing at this character. Ben Stiller always seems to get the best cameos in his movies too! David Bowie as the walk off referee was a nice touch.

The One – The one and only Jet Li movie I actually enjoyed (if you don’t count Lethal Weapon 4). It has something to do with the many interdimensional versions of Jet Li, but in true Highlander style, there can only be one. Not great, but a decent enough kung fu action flick.

Biggest Surprises

Spy Game – I honestly don’t remember this one too well, but I do remember thinking it was going to suck. I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun this one was.

Blow – Johnny Depp creates a sympathetic drug dealer in a movie about cocaine hitting the U.S. in the 80s. Fun and dynamic at the same time.

Monster’s Ball – This one had a lot of hype, and this flick was ok. This is a fascinating story of a collision of two very unlikely characters. This meeting was natural and wasn’t forced, which was something that a lot of movies really fall short with.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Great rock music. Unique story. Engaging characters. Nuff’ Said.

Snatch – It takes a couple of watches to understand the dialogue, but it’s worth the effort. Almost as good as Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.

Wet Hot Summer – I wouldn’t say this is a good movie, but it’s definitely a surprise. Combining 80s campiness (no pun intended!) with quirky humor, this movie is unique. It is a lot like watching a good version of a home-made comedy. You know, the home movie your friend makes that he thinks is totally hilarious but isn’t very good, or um… funny.

Moulin Rouge! – I’m not a huge fan of this movie, but the music deserves special attention. They managed to take a lot of pop and rock music from the last three decades and rearrange them into a sort of musical theater style that was very fresh. The Tango version of “Roxanne” by the Police was a highlight. Guys this is another chick flick that is pretty decent.


Biggest Disappointments

Jurassic Park 3 – It’s one long chase movie with no purpose for existing.

Pearl Harbor – Great special FX, but this movie is plagued with awkward acting. Just listen to the song in Team America about how much this film and Ben Affleck suck and how Cuba Gooding Jr. needed a bigger part.

Planet of the Apes – This movie is just flat. Nothing exciting or provocative happens. They really phoned this one in.

The Fast and the Furious – Waste of time.

The Musketeer – How do you make Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon worse? Replace all of the characters with musketeers. I’d rather watch Biodome than this piece of shit… and I hate that movie too!

Life as a House – Darth Vader suffers from premature ejaculation!!?? C’mon dude!


Didn’t See

Vanilla Sky
Black Hawk Down
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Enemy at the Gates
Amelie
Mulholland Drive