Dreamgirls

Viewed: 06.07.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 2.5 out of 5

Plot:
Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx are the perfect complement to Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose in this film version of the Broadway smash, which has garnered three Golden Globes and two Oscars.

Memorable Quote:
"Jimmy want a rib! Jimmy want a steak! Jimmy want piece of yo chocolate cake!"

My Thoughts:
Yeah, I'm not sure why I watched this movie either. All I can say for myself is that I was bored, it was a long flight and I had seen everything else worth watching.

So to sum it up in one word: Overrated. I mean, seriously, what was all that hoopla about? Jennifer Hudson was worthy of an Oscar? Maybe if there was a "Best Female Lead Over-Actor" category. The Oscars are a sham anyway so I guess I shouldn't really put too much into it. But she also won a Golden Globe. Beyonce was a total waste of celluloid. Maybe the critics watched a different film.

The one I watched had a lot of singing (not all good), moved at a pretty slow pace, was extremely predictable and quite boring. I enjoyed Eddie Murphy's performance in it and Jamie Foxx did a great job too, but the girls were definitely no dream.

I want to say something about this awful trend of cross-over Hollywood-Broadway films. None of them are worth watching and they are usually extremely boring. Chicago was no fun to watch on the silver screen or on stage. Hairspray was a great movie that was an OK Broadway show that is now a movie again? The producers was a great movie that was an excellent show that was an awful movie.... I could find some other examples but you get the idea. What happened to originality? Why do we have to get this regurgitated crap all the time? Rant over. Thank you for listening.

Deja Vu

Viewed: 06.07.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 4.5 out of 5

Plot:
If you could save someone's life by altering the past, would you? Denzel Washington teams with director Tony Scott (Man on Fire) to explore this ticklish question.

Memorable Quote:
"What if you had to tell someone the most important thing in the world, but you knew they'd never believe you?"

My Thoughts:
This movie is absolutely terrific. It is a great action thriller with a lot of plot twists that really make you think. The acting is superb from all the lead and supporting characters and you are on the edge of your seat the entire time. If you liked the space-time continuum scenarios of the 'Back to the Future' trilogy, you're going to love this movie.

I always have a hard time getting into a Denzel film for some reason. He is terrific in almost every role he plays but maybe because he is so good every time, I find it difficult to see him as a different character. But this movie just grabs you straight from the start and you can't wait to see what happens in the next scene and how the mystery will be solved.

Tony Scott is a pure movie genius and every movie he makes is a must see for me. Ever since the early days of 'Top Gun' and 'Days of Thunder' he has churned out excellent big Hollywood action blockbusters.

I think the only reason this movie did not top the $64M at the box-office was the way it was marketed. This is a must see in my opinion.

Casino Royale

Viewed: 06.07.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 3 out of 5

Plot:
Bond is back and he's tougher than ever. Daniel Craig stars as the newly minted 007 in this thrill ride from GoldenEye director Martin Campbell.

Memorable Quote:
"Christ, I miss the Cold War."

My Thoughts:
I miss the old Bond and the Cold War, too. This new Bond was a little to weird for me. Maybe they should have called it 'Casino Royale, with Cheese' instead.

The whole film revolves around a ridiculous high stakes poker game in Montenegro (huh?) of all places. I guess with the popularity of poker these days they had to make the switch from the old-school Baccarat, but this was truly pathetic. Anyone playing in that game would scream foul pretty quickly and the Montenegro Gaming Commission would have to be called in to review the tapes to figure out how a cold deck was introduced into the game.

Yes, they still have the hot girl and they still have the fancy fast cars. Yes, it's a little dark at times and you do get a sense for the action. But it's either a little too over the top and a little too unbelievable to really grab you and get you hooked. The funny thing is I actually watched parts of it on my laptop and the version on the plane was censored pretty heavily, so maybe I didn't get the full experience. I did fall asleep a few times and ended up having to rewind and watch some parts several times until I made it the whole way through.

And I still got a pain in my nether-regions after a certain scene. You'll have to watch it to find out and I am willing to bet you will cringe with pain as well.

Blood Diamond

Viewed: 06.07.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 4 out of 5

Plot:
Solomon Vandy (Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou), a farmer, is taken from his family and forced to work in the mines of Sierra Leone. After discovering a huge raw diamond, he teams with a mercenary (Oscar nominee Leonardo DiCaprio) to smuggle the diamond out of the mine.

Memorable Quote:
"Sometimes I wonder... will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other? Then I look around and I realize... God left this place a long time ago."

My Thoughts:
I am not usually a big Leo fan, but I have to say this movie was very good and not just because Leo did a terrific job (and nailed the accent) but because the entire cast was great. This movie shines a spotlight on one kind of horror (amongst the many others) that occur in Africa on daily basis. It is astonishing to me that the so-called "advanced" parts of the world are so materialistic that they almost always forget what happens just because someone wants to spend 3 months' pay on an engagement ring. The pain and suffering that go into the diamond trade are inexcusable and I think this movie will make more people think before they blindly pay the outrageous prices that jewelers demand.

This movie reminded me a little of 'The Killing Fields' (with a touch of 'Romancing the Stone' but without the romance). Especially the scenes with the children being brainwashed. These are the same tactics that were used by the Khmer Rouge and they are completely despicable. I had moments during the movie that I felt like punching the screen, but was afraid I would either break it or wake the person sitting in the seat in front of me.

So overall, I say this is a must-see and must-tell. The injustice in Africa has to be known and the word spread. Only by educating the masses will there be any hope to change the current situation.

The Last Kiss

Viewed: 07.29.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: DVD
Overall Review: 2 out of 5

Plot:
Michael (Zach Braff) and Jenna (Jacinda Barrett) have been together for three years and have been thinking about getting married and starting a family. Jenna is already 10 weeks pregnant while Michael is worried that his life and youth as he knows them are over for good. At a wedding of a friend, he meets a free-spirited college co-ed, named Kim (Rachel Bilson), who opens his eyes and tempts him.

Memorable Quote:
"What you feel only matters to you. It's what you do to the people you say you love, that's what matters. It's the only thing that counts."

My Thoughts:
Skip it. Seriously, the only reason I got this movie is because past Zach Braff movies were pretty good and the back of the DVD cover said this was a "hilarious, irresistibly genuine comedy". I don't know who wrote the cover but he was probably watching another movie.

This film was all about heartache, betrayal, anxiety and the art of hurting the ones you care for. It was full of cliches and not even trying to hide them. The characters are all taken out of standard overused situations and have no originality. The whole premise that Kim (the college co-ed) is attracted to Michael and is basically whoring it up is baseless and makes their relationship without any credibility.

The only highlight of the movie was the above mentioned quote. It a shame, really, because the movie had lots of potential. I guess the only people who will appreciate it are the true Zach Braff fanatics:

Reign Over Me

Viewed: 07.23.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 4.5 out of 5

Plot:
A man (Adam Sandler) who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate (Don Cheadle). Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears to help the man recover from his grief.

Memorable Scene:
Me, weeping uncontrollably in my first class seat throughout most of the movie.

My Thoughts:
If you want to feel pain in your heart and unclog a tear duct or two, watch this film. I don't think there is person out there who can watch this without shedding a tear. Not only did it make me think of all the people who's lives were destroyed by the events of Sept. 11th, but I also had to deal with my own internal demons of potential loss and grief. This is by far the best Adam Sandler role (surpassing his terrific 'Punch Drunk Love' character) and he deserves some kind of recognition for an amazing job. And Don Cheadle is always excellent and nails his role perfectly.

When I got back home and hugged my loved ones I told KajaWife about the movie and by the time I finished we were both in tears. You have to watch this movie. The problem is when and how? If you are already in a dark mood this might push you over the edge. If you're in a good mood, that will definitely change. Maybe just watch it by mistake, like I did, on a plane (yeah, not the best place to watch a post 9/11 flick). But find some time and watch it. Maybe when this country comes to grips with what happened here and starts treating 9/11 as a national day of mourning and memoriam will this movie be shown on a yearly basis on national television. But for now, just find a time and go see it. You have to.

The Holiday

Viewed: 04.08.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Plane
Overall Review: 3.5 out of 5

Plot:
Two girls on the rebound from bad relationships decided to swap house for a vacation from their lives. One is in LA and the other in Surrey, England. They intend to spend some time with themselves getting over their ordeals but life gets in the way and nothing goes according to plan.

Memorable Quote:
"OK, sorry about that. Boob graze. That was accidental".

My Thoughts:
As far as romantic comedies go, this one was actually pretty good. The fact that it has very likable actors (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law & Jack Black) makes it all that more enjoyable. Kate Winslet in my opinion is tremendous in anything she does and doesn't disappoint here either. Diaz is always fun to watch and she looks cuter than usual in this film. Jude Law doesn't get on my nerves like he usually does. And Jack Black is always good.

The plot line is easy to follow and goes by quickly enough. There are a few surprises along the way which make it fun to watch. I don't think there were any 'laugh-out-loud' moments, but when you're stuck on a plane for 13 hours, this movie will bring a smile to your face.

Note:
Thank you TripJax for inviting me to contribute to your pet project. Feel free to kick me out if I get boring or annoying. I am a huge movie buff, but don't get enough time to watch serious films. KajaWife is not a big fan of action/horror/drama or anything that isn't a superficial romantic comedy and will make her cry. I've been flying around the world lately and these long flights allow me to catch up on some of the movies I've missed.

Pan's Labyrinth

Viewed: 02.08.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Theater
Overall Review: 4.5 out of 5

Plot:
A very pregnant woman takes her imaginative daughter to the mountains of Spain, circa 1944, to meet her new stepfather, a fascist military captain. As the self righteous captain and his men "hold down the fort" and fight the last of the post civil war rebels, the despondent little girl immerses herself into her own phantasmic imagination.

My Thoughts:
Pan's Labryinth is, in my mind, a masterpiece by director, Guillermo Del Toro. This movie was so intensely beautiful, yet so tragic. It grips at your heart and somehow makes you happy and sad at the same time.

It is not often a movie can be so dark and hopeless, yet magical and creepy. It is absolutely worth the price of admission to see it on the big screen. I will offer a few warnings however. First, the movie is subtitled, so prepare to do a fair amount of reading. If you aren't down with that type of movie, then move along.

Second, this movie is not some Harry Potter or The NeverEnding Story kidfest. While there are moments with fairys and such, at its core this movie is dark and, at times, disturbing. Finally, I think this movie is just different from your typical American movie. At times you can just tell it is a foreign film. I do not write this with negative intent. I think it is great that this movie is breaking into our market and I really applaud the producer for getting it done. It's easy with Del Toro's movies.

As a side note, I got my feet wet with the Del Toro movie, The Devil's Backbone, which I also loved (here is the youtube video for that movie). That movie was creepy and I really dug it as well.

The Forgotten

Viewed: 1.20.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Cable
Overall Review: 3 out of 5

Plot:
Emotions turn from sad to pissed for a mother grieving her sons sudden death 14 months ealrier, when she's told he never actually existed in the first place. Strange and supernatural shit ensues.

Memorable Quote:
I had life inside me. I had life. I have a child. I have a son. I have a son, and his name is Sam, you son of a bitch.

My Thoughts:
This movie was on one of my Starz/Encore movie channels last month, so I thought I would give it a whirl. I'd seen the previews a few years back, but never had a chance to hit the theaters or rent the dvd. Back then, it fell off the map rather quickly, so i didn't expect to be blown away.

As I suspected, this one didn't exactly leave me amazed, but I will say I did enjoy it for what it was worth. The title is rather telling as this movie is indeed forgettable. I'm guessing that is why it didn't kill it in the theaters. However, I stayed focused during the movie and found parts of it rather interesting.

The movie takes an interesting turn in the latter parts, which for me was a relief. What starts as a rather boring movie about a potentially psychotic woman, turns all transcendental on us. This intersting plot twist, while not mind blowing, gave the movie just enough gusto to keep me interested.

On a side note, there was a pretty wicked car crash scene that reminded me of those commercials from VW for their GTI. You know the ones where people are just riding down the road talking random stuff and then, blammo, they are hit by another car. I wonder which came first, the movie or the commercials.

The Forgotten is forgettable, but worth a go if you've nothing better to do. If you are looking for a mind-blowing, thought provoking experience, you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a decent movie to break the monotony, this one may be your huckleberry.

High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story

Viewed: 1.23.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: Cable
Overall Review: 2 out of 5

Plot:
Lets follow little Stuey Ungar, the poker legend, from a kid to "the kid." Mediocrity ensues...

My Thoughts:
I noticed this flick was on one of my movie channels recently so I decided to give it a whirl. I've read nothing but bad things about it, but I usually like to paint my own picture and decide for myself. I will admit I did not have high hopes when I clicked play on my DVR, but I was not completely disappointed.

Granted, this is no award winning movie (well maybe one award), but I didn't think it was as bad as people made it out to be. To be honest, there was a lot about this movie I did not like, but I stayed interested enough to see it through. Usually if I can't stomach a movie because it is so bad, I'll just shut it off or leave the theater.

If you're looking for things to critique in this movie, you'll have plenty to work with. The acting, production, directing and vision is less than appealing. And don't get me started on the soundtrack. It is truly horrid. Still, I found a way to give this movie a chance and I'm glad I did. Now I can at least say that I've seen the movie.

If you have high hopes for this flick, prepare to be disappointed. However, if you are looking to kill 2 hours of your life watching an okay movie, prepare to qualify. I rate this one as Forgettable, but worth watching if you have nothing better to do. I never plan to watch it again and will not own the dvd, but I'm glad I watched it once.

Monster House

Viewed: 1.21.07
Theater/DVD/Cable: DVD
Overall Review: 3 out of 5

Plot:
A neighborhood house is causing all kinds of havoc, eating toys, people and whatever else walks on its lawn. Three kids dare to figure that shit out.

Memorable Quote:
Girl: "No, that's not the heart, it's the uvula."
Boy: "Oh, so it's a girl house."

My Thoughts:
If you don't have a child, then chances are you've never seen or heard of this movie. I had never heard of it until this afternoon. TripBoy and TripGirl stayed at Granny's house last night and they picked it up at the movie store so TripBoy would have something to watch. He watched it last night, but wanted me to watch it with him again today.

When they got home, I was about to fire up a poker game, but decided to shut down the computer after he asked if we could watchthe movie. He told me it was really scary and I might want to get a blanket to hide under. As it turns out, it was a little scary, but in a kid kind of way. I admit to jumping at least once when a scene caught me off guard. I've never heard of a childrens cartoon horror movie, but this one comes close. Think Toy Story, but scary.

As for the guts of this movie, I decided from the get go to take this for what it was...a chance to spend some time with boy and enjoy a simple movie. I'm really glad I did because we had a fun time huddling under the blanket waiting for the next scary thing to happen. He was definitely into this movie and I was caught up in his enthusiasm.

Now that I've gotten you into the idea of seeing this movie, let me throw a few warnings out there. This movie does not go deep. It will not knock your socks off or leave you ready to watch it again the next day. Take this movie for what it is...a kids movie with a couple of funny jokes and scary moments. If you start questioning plot holes and story lines, then you've missed the point. If you have a kid between the ages of 5 - 13, rent this movie and just have a good time with it. I did.

I give this one a 3 out of 5 as I had a good time with it. Had I not been with boy, it would probably drop some, but maybe not. I'm a simple guy and I take movies for what they are. This movie won't find its way in my DVD collection, but I'm guessing I'll have to buy it for the boy. That's cool with me.

Children Of Men

Viewed: 1.06.07
Theater or DVD: Theater
Overall Review: 4 out of 5

Plot:
The year is 2027 and the world is in dissaray due to the unexplained inability of women to reproduce for the last 18 years. With each dying person, the world grows closer to extinction. Chaos ensues.

Memorable Quote: "As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children's voices."

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this movie. It is not for everyone, but really pulled me in and had its way with me. I will admit, it is a slow paced movie that takes time to build up, but the last 30 minutes blew me away. The directing and vision were stellar throughout. I came into this movie expecting a low budget, artsy flick, but was really shown the goods. Clive Owen and Michael Caine did a great job in their respective roles.

Like I said, this one is definitely not for everyone, and probably isn't "date night" material, but it worked for both ChickJax and I. It took some time for me to really understand everything that was going on, but along the way I managed to fill in the blanks. Still, I think seeing this one again will probably do me some good. We will definitely be renting this one. If you do the same, get the kids to bed before you fire it up cause their are some pretty graphic battle scenes at the end.

CineJax Rating Scale

I dated this post 01.01.07 so it wouldn't get mixed in with the movie reviews, but this was actually written 03.01.08.

1 out of 5 ~ Look away, it's hideous!
2 out of 5 ~ Erm, not so goot.
3 out of 5 ~ Not too shabby.
4 out of 5 ~ Strong to quite strong.
5 out of 5 ~ Sweet Lincoln's mullet, this movie rawked!

What Is CineJax?

I dated this post 01.01.07 so it would not show up mixed in with the moview reviews, but it was actually written 03.01.08

Hi kids, TripJax here. I started reviewing movies as a side project in early 2007. Somewhere along the way Kajagugu joined me and has basically done most of the posts for the last 6 months. I've decided to quit being a wanker and get busy reviewing.

I've updated the blog as follows...

• Only the latest post will be listed on the main page to keep things simple.
• The 5 Most Recent Posts are available on the sidebar.
• The complete Blog Archive is available on the sidebar.
• A Labels section is available on the sidebar to find movies in several different ways.
• A movie player has been embedded at the bottom of the blog for easy access to trailers of all movies we have reviewed (assuming they are available on YouTube).

If you have a movie you would like to be reviewed, be sure to leave us a comment. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy!