Filmsy - Movie Reviews Blog

Ripe for a Remake: Marathon Man

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It’s often been said that Hollywood is out of fresh ideas, therefore, old flicks are constantly getting refashioned.  But many movies, ones that DESERVE to be remade, have been left alone.  Our new series will highlight movies that the Filmsy gang would love to see get a second go at the box office.  Your feedback is encouraged.

Topping the list of fear for many of us is a trip to the dentist’s office.  So when “Dr.” Szell wields a drill with evil intention’s in the 1976 Dustin Hoffman thriller Marathon Man, the anxiety level rises. [Read more…]

Love-Hate Relationship With the Drive-In Movie Theater

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With only a little over 400 drive-in movie theaters still operating regularly in America, many of today’s  younger generations have never experienced the thrill of watching a movie from the comfort of your own vehicle.  The economics of real estate have forced the closure of hundreds of drive-ins across the United States.

This past weekend I checked out a double feature of  Iron Man 2 and Shutter Island at the drive-in.  And it was a treat.  Part of me thinks this is the way movies were meant to be watched.  The other part thinks not.  Here are a few pros/cons of the drive-in movie theater.  [Read more…]

My Movie Mindset

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When I watch movies I almost always go with a positive mindset. I go to watch movies to enjoy it and not to find flaws. For this reason I do not call myself a film critic but a movie enthusiast. I guess as corny as it sounds my enthusiasm for movies makes the title more apt.
I know movie critics actually exist to critique a film and not criticize it but sometimes critics can get on anyone’s nerves, mine included. Granted that all movies are not equal and a lot of movies deserve the bashing they get (I have given bad reviews for such movies myself) but in my opinion movies should just be enjoyed as they are. Sure we’ll give reviews and notice both the great moments and the really dumb ones but what matters to me is my mindset when I go to watch a film. Am I setting too high an expectation? If you know that a movie sucks and still go watch it then I think it’s your fault for being dumb enough to waste your time and money. If you go watch something and find out that it isn’t enjoyable to you then I guess you have the right to grumble. That to me is just fair.

Not all movies need to be great ones with very deep stories and/or super cool cutting edge animation. What matters is that there are movies that we can all go to and relax for a while and forget your worries for an hour or so.

How about you? Why do you watch movies?

Gran Torino: More Than Dirty Harry

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Premiere Of Warner Brothers'

Who doesn’t love Clint Eastwood? Men admire his tough characters. Women gush over his manliness. It is always a win-win situation for this veteran of the movies. With his latest stint in the movies, any doubts as to his versatility and star power are certainly dispelled.

The advertising posters for the move Gran Torino portray the usual scowling face of Clint Eastwood, giving the impression that his Dirty Harry character would be coming alive on screen yet again. However, even Eastwood himself says that the movie is more than the bad boy dirty Harry image he became famous for.

Gran Torino is all about a recently widowed Korean War veteran named Walt Kowalski, whose greatest challenge at the moment is to sit back and watch his neighborhood evolve. The issue of race is at the center of this movie as much as the struggle of one person as he recalls his own dark deeds in the past.

And where did the title come from? Eastwood’s character, Kowalski, has this most prized possession of his sitting in his garage – a 1972 Gran Torino.

I have not seen the movie – but I will definitely see it as soon as I can – but judging from the trailer and what other people have been saying, Gran Torino is something worth watching. It is bold, it does not hold anything back. Just try listening for all the racial slurs that you can catch and you will know what I mean. Probably not for those with delicate sensibilities. But that’s Dirty Harry for you.

The Dark Knight Disappoints

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You all have probably seen The Dark Knight – who hasn’t, right? I just read an article from Popwatch, written by Mike Bruno, which highlights how disappointed the writer was with the movie. Apparently, he only saw the movie over the weekend due to a busy schedule. His main message is this: he thinks that all the hype ruined the movie for him. He writes:

Don’t get me wrong: I enjoyed The Dark Knight, and I was not disappointed in the slightest by Ledger’s freakish, lip-smacking fiend. But at the same time, I was let down given the movie’s gargantuan box office haul, the almost universal critical praise, and the Oscar buzz surrounding it and its fallen star. I could see Ledger taking Supporting Actor, but while I haven’t yet seen all the other Oscar contenders this year, I would be a bit surprised if The Dark Knight took Best Picture.

Mostly, I think this movie was successful –- as well as hugely popular –- because it featured a character that we couldn’t take our eyes off of played by an actor who recently died way too young. Before it appeared on a single screen this summer, the movie was already larger-than-life because of Ledger’s passing, and six months of the hype machine working at full steam had no doubt set my expectations way too high. So maybe this really is an Oscar-worthy movie and I just need to hire a babysitter more often and catch movies earlier and with less context. But if I’m to be honest, I was disappointed with The Dark Knight and hope for more from this year’s other Best Picture contenders.

I have to agree with him that one reason behind the movie’s success was Heath Ledger’s untimely death. In fact, that was one observation I made right after seeing the movie – The Joker overshadowed Batman. However, I do think that the movie deserves an Oscar. How about you?