I have to say it was quite good. It actually defended him more than it made fun of him, and it was a lot more detailed than I thought it would be. I enjoyed how it gave a sweeping view of everything without focusing too much on any one person. It had some great dialogue, great structure, and astounding cinematography. I also enjoyed the fact that it was very non-partisan, choosing to focus on the people & events rather than getting caught up and losing itself in picking a side. You really do feel sorry for him by the end! So far, this is Oliver Stone’s best work! Very fine filmmaking! A+! And Josh Brolin was very well-cast! I loved how he didn’t overdo the voice!
CoCoMeister, lizardgirl: I watched Scary Movie 4 on free-to-air a few weeks back. I chuckled at some bits, but overall it’s not laugh-out-loud like Naked Gun or Spy Hard (I have yet to see Airplane). I agree that they’re kinda milking it to death like the Saw series, but that’s horror movies to you. These kinda things are not old (Halloween, Hannibal, Friday, and Elm are some examples that suffer from sequelitis). And many horror movies get remade (don’t even make me list them out).
Wboon: Can I ask how you do that ‘deadpan’ emoticon?
TS2: When I first saw the trailers, I thought they were gonna make fun of Mr. Bush and they were in for the money. But now your review made me think otherwise. I know my bro wants to see it, but it’s not getting a release in Oz as far as I know. Maybe a rental for me then, but I’m quite intrigued.
Yeah, I never said Scary Movie 4 was all-out hilarious, just worthy of a chuckle or two.
I was feeling sick the other night and couldn’t sleep because of it, but the first half of Sci-Fi’s Tin Man was on and it settled me down and helped me to sleep. I’ve been wanting to watch it again for so long, but can’t devote nearly 6 hours to a mini-series I’ve already seen several times.
Well, I ended up seeing Saw V in the cinema, and it actually wasn’t too bad. The acting was, in a way, above par for the Saw movies, and they still manage to keep thinking of new ways to kill people. I’ll give it a generous seven out of ten.
New ways to kill people? Yikes…but kind of impressive since it’s the FIFTH installment. I’m more of a fan of the “psychological” horror movie - like The Ring (speaking of re-made horror movies). I can’t stand the gore!
thedriveintheatre: True, horror movies are never new and suffer from “sequelitis” - I wonder why horror films do that more often than others (aside from, like, Rocky).
I don’t understand what all the hype is about with the Saw films … but I don’t think I’ll ever see one because, thanks to Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Scary Movie 4, I find it freakin’ hilarious.
Anyways, I plan to watch Rocky Horror tomorrow at midnight as always on Halloween Night. I’ll use my DVD though - I can’t stand commercials anymore. And this time, I’ll be able to 'cause I don’t have school.
I know what you mean, FONY. I struggle to watch the bit in the first Saw with the saw and having to chop off their own feet bit without laughing because of Scary Movie 4.
About the Saw movies : I’ve never seen one of them, and I don’t care if they’re good or bad, but I definitely want Saw V to be a success. And I’m not the only one in this situation in France. Weird ? Well, there’s an explanation.
If Saw V is successful, there will be a Saw VI. Which will be pronounced like the French word “Saucisse”. Meaning “Sausage”. And I really want that to happen. A film called “Sausage”… I don’t know, it sounds good to me. There’s a lot of French people who don’t care about these movies, and who are waiting for Saw VI for years. And we’re getting there ! Finally !
Did you see Saw V, WBoon? In my opinion, the ending was so ‘we’ve left this open just in case we want to make another one’. And if you Google Saw VI, there seem to be quite a few results, though whether or not they’re fake is hard to say.
Though, purely because of Archibald’s reason, there simply has to be a Saw VI now.
Hah, I agree. We need a Saw VI simply for that reason, Archibald! But I think that it is probably over, although, with a plot like this, it’s hard to say just exactly when they’ll end it.
I just came across and watched another movie on IFC last night, called Kiss Me, Guido. It was funny - it was about a homophobe and a gay man who wind up as roommates - a nice friendship film.
Oh, and I never got to watch the movie - I’m only 18, remember? But I think a Saw VI would be too much, as much of a fanatic I am of its series. It’s realistic (considering John’s superb intelligence), of course, but I think it would be too much, somewhat. They would need a good story to go on with it.
Yeah, especially considering [spoil]Jigsaw’s dead.[/spoil] You can only go so far with a movie when [spoil]the main character and focus of the movies is gone.[/spoil]
Well, unless Jigsaw takes up the same concept used by Quantum; having ‘people’ everywhere. Oh boy, I’d sure hate to see a ‘Hoffman’ or another ‘Amanda’ running around everywhere. xD
I recently returned from seeing Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in the cinema with my sister.
Quality-wise, the overall story and direction basically mirrored that of the first film, although thematically it was quite different from that of its predecessor. It had its occasional strong points, many of which were overshadowed by the numerous, weaker ones, one of which was more than enough to make up for the lack of admirable direction.
All of the main characters from the previous production make an appearance in this film, including Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, the penguins, and the lemurs. Each entity receives a considerable amount of screen time, especially Alex and his feline relatives… seeing as they were the primary focus of the film. (I was pleasantly surprised to find that the lemurs – namely King Julien and Maurice – popped up throughout the story more than I thought they would.) They’re just as charming (or as annoying?) as in the first Madagascar feature film, and we become more acquainted with their personalities and demeanors this time around.
Naturally, if anything was going to be a success here it would have had to be the set direction and animation, both of which are pulled of magnificently. The African environments are rich, luxurious, and teaming with life. I can only imagine how long it took the DreamWorks Animation team to render everything…
Overall, I enjoyed this sequel just as much as its predecessor, if not more so in one way or another. (There’s a tender relationship that takes place between two of the main characters that I found to be absolutely charming. I would gladly pay the $8.00 attendance fee just for that.) To be honest, I actually thought that the first film was funnier, but that doesn’t mean that this production doesn’t have its fair share of laughs, as well.
Great review of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Mitch…so it was pretty good huh?? Great to hear that.
From the trailers i could tell that it was going to be good and also rather like the first one in some ways. It should be good when i get to see it sometime soon.
I’ve been wanting to watch it again for so long, but can’t devote nearly 6 hours to a mini-series I’ve already seen several times.
I’ll give it a generous seven out of ten.
