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Reviews13
rollo-7's rating
*** WARNING - This review may spoil your enjoyment of the film...
***...although I doubt it!
I remember laughing through most of Independence Day, so didn't hold out much hope for this latest Emmerich blockbuster... I'm glad I don't have high hopes.
The sentiments of this movie are entirely laudable, which is probably why actors such as Ian Holm and Dennis Quaid signed up. Essentially, the world is consuming too many fossil fuels, so creating a major climactic shift, endangering the future of the planet.
Tremendous special effects ensue, as you would expect - however, it's a pity that they didn't allocate a bit of the CGI budget to a good script-writer.
I'm sure that most Americans were whooping at the end, but for anyone else, this film is just pure comedy. At the screening I went to, most of the audience were in hysterics at the cliche-dripping lines that many of the characters have to deliver.
In addition, the film is full of pointless one-dimensional characters, such as the cranky, reactionary Vice President, the sick kid in need of help, the nerdy student, stock-looking hero's wife (who is actually a doctor to give her some depth)... the list is endless.
To add insult to injury, this climactic shift only seemed to be happening to America, however hard they tried to make us believe that England and Scotland, Europe and Japan were also being affected. Cue images of affected 'landmarks' such as Statue Of Liberty, Chrysler Building, Hollywood...
Thank god, they didn't get Dennis Quaid to try and send the Shuttle up to solve the problem, although I bet Emmerich considered the idea, given that a satellite always happens to be over the right part of Earth to deliver images to Houston - strange that.
Undoubtedly this will rack up huge box-office receipts, but even for a Hollywood blockbuster this has a cheese quotient bigger than the Cheddar Gorge.
Feel free to go and line Roland Emmerich's pockets further, but don't say you weren't warned.
***...although I doubt it!
I remember laughing through most of Independence Day, so didn't hold out much hope for this latest Emmerich blockbuster... I'm glad I don't have high hopes.
The sentiments of this movie are entirely laudable, which is probably why actors such as Ian Holm and Dennis Quaid signed up. Essentially, the world is consuming too many fossil fuels, so creating a major climactic shift, endangering the future of the planet.
Tremendous special effects ensue, as you would expect - however, it's a pity that they didn't allocate a bit of the CGI budget to a good script-writer.
I'm sure that most Americans were whooping at the end, but for anyone else, this film is just pure comedy. At the screening I went to, most of the audience were in hysterics at the cliche-dripping lines that many of the characters have to deliver.
In addition, the film is full of pointless one-dimensional characters, such as the cranky, reactionary Vice President, the sick kid in need of help, the nerdy student, stock-looking hero's wife (who is actually a doctor to give her some depth)... the list is endless.
To add insult to injury, this climactic shift only seemed to be happening to America, however hard they tried to make us believe that England and Scotland, Europe and Japan were also being affected. Cue images of affected 'landmarks' such as Statue Of Liberty, Chrysler Building, Hollywood...
Thank god, they didn't get Dennis Quaid to try and send the Shuttle up to solve the problem, although I bet Emmerich considered the idea, given that a satellite always happens to be over the right part of Earth to deliver images to Houston - strange that.
Undoubtedly this will rack up huge box-office receipts, but even for a Hollywood blockbuster this has a cheese quotient bigger than the Cheddar Gorge.
Feel free to go and line Roland Emmerich's pockets further, but don't say you weren't warned.
The thought of Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in the same movie almost put me off before I entered the theatre, but the prospect of a Charlie Kaufman film was too strong to resist.
In fact, both of the leads were gratifyingly good and not at all annoying, Carrey especially. (Note to Jim: do more drama and less of the comedy gurning, like Bruce Almighty!)
The basic premise of the film is that Jim and Kate's characters are together, then split up and she decides to erase all memory of him. He discovers this and then decides to go down the same route. That's where the fun starts.
In contrast to Adaptation and Being John Malkovich, this has a lot more romance in it and I imagine that many will shed a tear at the film.
Having left the cinema almost 48 hours ago, though, I'm still trying to decide whether I like this movie or not. It made me laugh at times, it definitely made me think about whether there's any real point in erasing memories of someone, but I feel that Mr Kaufman may have bitten off more than he can chew this time.
The trademark wackiness is still there, coupled with some temporal distortion, but overall I get the feeling that Kaufman's trying too hard. Undoubtedly, it'll do good box office and get good reviews, but it's no Being John Malkovich, or even an Adaption - sorry. 6 out of 10
In fact, both of the leads were gratifyingly good and not at all annoying, Carrey especially. (Note to Jim: do more drama and less of the comedy gurning, like Bruce Almighty!)
The basic premise of the film is that Jim and Kate's characters are together, then split up and she decides to erase all memory of him. He discovers this and then decides to go down the same route. That's where the fun starts.
In contrast to Adaptation and Being John Malkovich, this has a lot more romance in it and I imagine that many will shed a tear at the film.
Having left the cinema almost 48 hours ago, though, I'm still trying to decide whether I like this movie or not. It made me laugh at times, it definitely made me think about whether there's any real point in erasing memories of someone, but I feel that Mr Kaufman may have bitten off more than he can chew this time.
The trademark wackiness is still there, coupled with some temporal distortion, but overall I get the feeling that Kaufman's trying too hard. Undoubtedly, it'll do good box office and get good reviews, but it's no Being John Malkovich, or even an Adaption - sorry. 6 out of 10
Omigod. I haven't seen a film that moved me as much as this for a long time. It tells the tale of two 30-something brothers who own a dilapidated second-hand bookshop in Glasgow, and their search for different things.
The writing is effortless, but so natural and brilliant, the characters are beautifully crafted and it makes a refreshing change to see a film that is not about the location or the effects - but about the story and characters.
As for the acting - not a bad word can be said about any of the actors. The three principals (henderson, sives and rawlings) are so utterly convincing and there is so much chemistry between them all. They are backed up by two brilliant turns from Julia Davis as Moira and Mads Mikkelsen as Horst.
It may sound depressing from the title, and you may well shed a tear before the end of the movie, but I can guarantee that you will leave the cinema a wiser and more enriched person for having seen Wilbur...
The writing is effortless, but so natural and brilliant, the characters are beautifully crafted and it makes a refreshing change to see a film that is not about the location or the effects - but about the story and characters.
As for the acting - not a bad word can be said about any of the actors. The three principals (henderson, sives and rawlings) are so utterly convincing and there is so much chemistry between them all. They are backed up by two brilliant turns from Julia Davis as Moira and Mads Mikkelsen as Horst.
It may sound depressing from the title, and you may well shed a tear before the end of the movie, but I can guarantee that you will leave the cinema a wiser and more enriched person for having seen Wilbur...