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michaelzstuff
"Shortcut To Happiness" and have produced and/ or wrote music for over 100 films.
Reviews
Surf Party (1964)
What respectable surfer doesn't like a Surfing Movie????
C'mon admit it, how could you not like a surfing movie where the sharks don't eat anyone or the waves don't sink your boat or drown the captain. I mean, give 'em a break. A surfing movie has surfing hotties and kissing and humping so what more do you want??? And especially since it has so many cool bands such as the Routers playing "Crack Up" and some great actors of the 60's.
Okay, all right, it didn't cost twenty million to produce (only about $30,000) and look at the quality photography. But you try to make a movie for $30 thousand and see what you come up with. And that Michael Gordon was one handsome musician and the song wasn't that bad. So please, before you hang them by the testies simply because it wasn't perfect, who is? If you can admit you're not perfect, then give them a break and "like' this movie so more of these luscious surf movies can be made on micro-budget.
Monte Carlo (2011)
A perfect Fairy Tale with Perfect Ending
What is wrong with you people???? I just read the review from the guy that said it had been done before. Duh, can you think of any movie that's NEVER been done before? What a stupid statement to make about such a cute, romantic movie. And for the record, I would love to have this buffalo head show me a movie like this one. Clever, clever story, great writing, great acting, excellent photography, just an all around sweet movie. The girls were especially great and I referred it to ten of my friends who all gave it a thumbs up. So, please, don't listen to that Wlly Nilly and go see this movie. It was my idea of a perfect date movie and my wife loved and my friends loved it. What's not to love. A perfect little romantic comedy.
Darling Companion (2012)
What a great cast for an excellent movie
With a cast like this, how can you go wrong??? Getting involved with all of these relationships was enough to make me like this film but with Keaton and Kline doing what they do best, this was an enjoyable and delightful experience. With four Academy Award winners taking on the leads, not only do you get a great performance, but who doesn't like cute little dog that sends all of the characters out on a hunt to find the lost pet. Okay, it doesn't have any gun shots, muggings or superpowers flying though the air, but it sill have me entertained for an hour and a half. We all get a chance to see horror films, thriller stories and action movies, but you don't get a chance to see a film like this very often. A must-see for anyone who has a heart.
Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)
Terrible movie
I saw the original and thought it was great. It was done on a low budget but it came out at the right time and it was successful. It was a well made movie and I really liked it. Apparently, so did many other people. When you make a good movie, why not let it be a good film for people to remember. They should have named it Trash for Cash. Cuz, that's what it was. Why try to make another one just because you want to cash in on the name value. Well, this one has no name value and in fact, this one has no value at all. It was like everyone had a different idea of how to make this movie and they all put in their two cents. What they got was a ten cents worth of nothing. Save your money. Want to suffer for two hours, get a root canal.
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
Not at all what I expected. What a terrific film this turned out to be.
I came in the theater with no expectations and I have to admit that when I walked out, I was totally blown away by this movie; it was a sensational film!
I'm a film maker so I can appreciate a film from many different viewpoints such as editing, photography, directing, etc, and this was a dream team that all came together to make the most unusual and wonderful rom-com that I have ever seen. The D.P. was incredible, the directing was ingenious, the editing was superb. I just don't have enough superlatives for this film. This was truly movie-making at its best.
And we haven't even talked about the actors. They were all excellent, but especially Zoey. Wow, she just stood out. This was her shining moment. If she doesn't get some kind of award for her acting, I would be very surprised. If you haven't seen this movie, go out and see it and if you don't think this is creativity at its best, email me and I'll buy you dinner.
Play the Game (2009)
Great story line, very good actors, but poorly executed and edited
Not having high expectation for a film that literally had no p & A so that people would even know that it's in theaters, I was pleasantly surprised by the story. I wanted this film to be good because I know that the writer/director worked for about nine years to get this film made.
It was a great idea. However, it was very poorly executed. About a third of the way into the film, I got settled in, ready to enjoy this film. Suddenly, the story line stopped as they cut to another Andy scene, and then started again. Stopped again, and then started.
We were all rooting for our protagonist to get her girl but every time we were hooked on wanting Campbell to find his girl, it diverted our attention back to the other story. It went right back to Andy doing and/or saying the same thing he said in a previous scene. By the time we were half way through the film; I looked around and could tell that the audience was getting restless. We talked with a group of viewers after the show and they all had the same comment. What this film needed most was a great editor!! And for all the money that they put into getting this film in the theaters, they could have taken that money, gone a distributor and made a deal to use that money for the p & a. At least that's what I would have done. Nice try, but no cigar.
The Visitor (2007)
A movie without an I ending?
*** Warning!! Contains spoiler!! I went into this movie with high expectations based upon reviews that we had read. For the first two-thirds of the movie I was not disappointed. It was a very good film, good editing, good direction and good acting what more could you want? How about an ending? Seeing this film was like reading a very good book, until you realize that the last twenty pages are blank!! How did this story end? What happened to the girlfriend? Did the mother find her son? Did Walter spend the rest of his days playing a conga in a subway stop? I mean, c'mon, give us something. It's too bad that the writer didn't have enough imagination to come up with some kind of ending that would satisfy those of us wanting a resolution to this dilemma.
Southland Tales (2006)
A Waste of Time
To read the lengthy review of this instantly forgettable movie, one would think "Southland "Tales" is the greatest movie never seen. Believe me, it's not even close. Far from it, this film probably spends most of its life on the shelf at your local video store, removed sporadically for viewing by some soon-to-be-disappointed film nut, checking it out for to discover what all the hoopla isn't about only to discover that this is no "Donnie Darko".
The blame for this dismal failure falls on writer-director, Richard Kelly, whose flawed myriad of confusing back stories completely undermines some mildly interesting stuff that he had going on before tanking it. Kelly's ill-conceived story renders "Southland Tales" as nothing more than a disappointing and lengthy "wannabe" of "Donnie Darko" except this is a story that lost me somewhere in the middle. But, unlike "Donnie Darko, "Southland Tales" fails dismally because in the end, one feeling completely cheated, if not, in my case, disgusted.
You can't fault the investors who shelled out hard cash for this project cuz they probably thought Kelly would come through with another gem like "Darko". The fault is Kelly's alone. He really botched this one.
Cabin Fever (2002)
Doesn't Even Rate a 1 Star Rating!! Worst movie ever/!!
I just endured the unenviable task of sitting through this piece of human waste. I would rather have had each and every hair on my arm pulled out! Well, take that analogy a step further with this irredeemable gutter trash and try to imagine the pain of getting your teeth extracted without Novocaine. Do that, and you'll have a general idea of what Eli Roth's "Cabin Fever" is all about.
I never believed any one film was capable of creating this sheer agonizing excuse for a horror film. This was absolutely the "worst film ever made."
This is yet another sad excuse for someone to make money off a crap motion picture that had absolutely no valid reason to meet with any form of theatrical release. Eli Roth and Lauren Moews have created the single most annoying and convoluted of a movie I think I have ever seen in my entire life. Roth fumbled the ball big time on an idea that could very well have redefined the horror genre.
The Illusionist (2006)
Simply a wonderful film! Absolutely stunning Cinemaptography!
I loved this movie. It's just that simple. I've seen it several times and the charm never wears off. Yes, it ultimately is a 'feel good movie', but is that so wrong? It keeps you mesmerized until the very last scene. This film is destined to be a classic.
As I read some of the other comments about this movie on IMDb, I realize that cynicism can easily get in the way of just enjoying a movie for what it is. This is a magnificent film! Edward Norton and Paul Giametti are terrific and so is the rest of the cast. The cinematography was stunning. The script was superb. The direction was outstanding. I really can't say anything bad about this film. I thoroughly recommend this movie! I could give it no less than a 10.
K-9 (1989)
One of the best canine-cop movies I've seen!!
James Belushi) is a "loose cannon" cop. He has to do everything his own way on his own time and doesn't know the meaning of the word, "team-work" But after he screws up his last bust by buying a car from a car dealer and five minutes later proceeds to crash it into a building where the bad guys are dealing dope, he is assigned a new partner, a dog! To be exact. A rouge German Shepard that wants to be treated more like a person than a dog.
Belushi is very convincing and hilarious in his role as a cop, and the dog, surprisingly (I never thought I'd write this), was a great actor and did a terrific job. Hat's off to his handler!
There are predictable and very typical cop vs. bad guy moments, but overall I thought the movie was an extremely funny cop-doggy comedy, with a very predictable but humorous ending to it.
When compared to other cop-dog movies like "Turner and Hooch," it's a credit to Belushi's comedic timing that this film wound up on the top 250!
Twisted (2004)
Ashley Judd Does it Again!!
A maniacal serial killer is on the loose, killing handsome young men left and right. Many of his unfortunate victims all had one thing in common, Jessica Shepard (Ashley), and they ended up being tortured...and killed. Inspector Shepard is an insightful but confused police inspector working for the San Fransisco police department. She has been assigned to investigate a peculiar pattern of unusual murders for only one connection, her. Shepard fails to secure any substantial leads because the only blatantly obvious suspect is herself. The detective is linked to every murder due to the fact that she slept with every victim.
Shepard's partner is an intelligent and sharp detective (Andy Garcia). Another police detective (Samuel L. Jackson) is also supporting Shpard's chase after the killer. With no clue or leads for unmasking this elusive stalker. As time goes on, Shepard begins to doubt herself as do the police because Shepard does not remember anything about the nights that the murders were committed.
The scenes are shot with a stunning film noire effect. The moody atmosphere truly enraptures the viewer into the dark San Fransisco world. The lightning is sometimes incomprehensible for the picture, but this fault adds to the disturbing effect of the movie itself. TWISTED is an excellent mystery, with the individual clues and seemingly isolated events carefully stitched together to create one whole puzzle that may just serve as the tip of the iceberg.
Thanks to a seductively morbid tone, the film keeps the viewer fascinated throughout the length of the flick. TWISTED is a sophisticated thriller since the audience never knows who the real killer may be. Even so, there is always more to the background scenery then what the eyes are allowed to see. The viewer must always eavesdrop when the leads interact with each other on screen...
The performances from TWISTED are first rate. Ashley Judd is riveting as a newly appointed police inspector whose self-doubt can make her the obvious suspect. Samuel L. Jackson establishes more integrity as a police detective, determined to let track down the real killer . The real killer, whoever his real name may be, is one that we least suspect but I would have liked to have seen more of him on the screen. . His scenes were wisely shot so that the moviegoers may suspect, but they will not find out until the very end, who the real villain really is.
TWISTED is a more than adequate movie with an array of suspects designed to keep you interested plus a decent pace to keep the story-line moving.
The Evil Within (1998)
Much better than I thought...
Starting out a little slow, "The Evil Within" is a low-budget horror film that started to pick up about halfway through and turned into a decent thriller which was quite a flop when first released (it was one of the few films Sal Mazotta not only starred in, but produced also produced) and was never seen by that many people. This is a classic horror film. Sal Mazotta's Finest! The scariest moment has to be Sal Mazzotta looking through the door in the classic horror scene. The camera, music, acting, and scares are appropriate for this kind of film! I highly recommend this movie to: Horror fans, Mazzotta fans, psychological thriller fans, and even low-budget fans. You will like this movie to death! If you like low-budget thrillers, track it down.
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
This Film Was Underrated and Misunderstood!! A Great Film!!
Most people have never heard of this movie let alone having viewed it, yet this is one of my favorite movies. As usual, Julia Roberts' acting was superb. Kirsten Dunst was mesmerizing, as always. The story is heartfelt and its something that everyone (men an women) can relate to and learn from, like how to be your own person. I've heard tell that this is a "girl's movie" and I'm a guy but enjoyed every minute of it. If you are a guy and you're not into this kind of film, then don't watch this -- but you'll be missing an important film. I felt that this movie was an excellent production with great direction and even above-average acting, and because it was filmed in a realistic manner. Try to put yourself in Julia Robert's shoes and see if you could handle it. She took on one of the most stalwart institutions of its time and changed the course of many lives during her short stay at Wellsley. I recommend this movie to Julia Roberts fans!! This will certainly rank as one of her best films!!
Dave (1993)
One of the best
First, I won't lie to you. I think Kevin Kline is one of my favorite actors of all time. Now, that doesn't mean that I instantly love everything he does (*cough*French Kiss*cough*). That said, this film really shows him off as the incredible actor that he is and also deals with a very real topic.
Many people say this film is manipulative, but I don't see it, and I'm usually the first one to roll my eyes at something being overdone. The characters were believable, though Kevin Kline easily outshines the others. Playing someone who you have to convince could be the President of the United States is very, very difficult, yet he does it so flawlessly that you really believe that he is the President -- or could be. One of my favorite movies and I've watched it several times and will watch it again in the future. 10 stars for this one!!
Silent Partner (2005)
A Good film and definitely worth watching
A good film that rates as good as any among all the other films of this genre'. Silent Partner is filled with not only good action and adventure scenes, but also an intelligent plot that commented heavily on the state of Russian affairs. Good acting performances from not only Tara Reid but Nick Moran and Gregg Henry. Well-directed by Writer-Director James Deck.
"Silent Partner" is a straight spy adventure with lots of action and the beautiful Tara Reid. It mixes the best aspects of an action movie with the necessary espionage. Recent films have moved away from the "spy-game" aspect and rely more on large explosions to dazzle the viewer. Reid is as much a partner and foil for Moran as there ever was. She is both seductive and innocent as she is unaware of the plot she gotten herself into. The villains, of course, are memorable here, all the necessary characters for a suspense film are seen here.
Worth viewing.
Our Fathers (2005)
An Outstanding Effort on Such A Controversial Film!!
My congratulations to Ted Danson, Christopher Plummer, Brian Dennehy, David France and Thomas Michael Donnelly and Dan Curtis for their brave efforts in tackling such a controversial subject. Ten years ago, this film would have never been released.
It was so disturbing to watch that I was up all night thinking how excruciatingly painful it was for the parents and the victims.
It took many brave souls to take on the Catholic Church on such a horrifying subject as the pedophilia that occurred by the very same Priests to which we entrusted our children. Not to mention the years of cover-up by the Boston diocese!
And yet, this cast and crew somehow managed to have this unspeakable subject matter come across so compellingly and tastefully that they deserve a 10 for their efforts. This is truly an award-winning effort. I can almost guarantee that this will be a critically acclaimed film.
The Devil and Daniel Webster (2003)
I Had A Devil Of A Time Watching This Film!!
I think this film is truly cursed! I wonder how much more could happen to it. But, to give the Devil its due, this is really a good film. I saw it at a screening and it had two of the makings of a successful film: Good cast and a good story.
However, the drawbacks are that Baldwin did a mediocre job directing it and an even more mediocre job playing the lead. BUT, in spite of Baldwin's ineptness, it actually turned out to be a very good film. I would go see it again and I would take my family to see it (if they edited out the bedroom scene).
BOTTOM LINE: It's a wonderful and classic story with a wonderful cast and somehow this film has been able to overcome all of the obstacles that stood in its way. Hopkins was great, Hewitt was terrific, Cattrall was excellent and Akroyd, as usual did a very good job.
Don't be put off by all the negative hype, go see it for yourself!!
In Enemy Hands (2004)
Why didn't this movie come out in the theaters????
Lion's Gate totally missed the boat (or u-boat in this case) when they stuck this on a shelf and then shuffled it off to the DVD distributors.... this was a terrific movie that could have done well in the theaters or even a world premiere on Showtime or HBO but instead, they tossed it aside with no publicity or promotion!! This is a perfect example of the mentality of these kinds of distributors!!!......
This film ranks as one of the best WWII submarine movies i have ever seen and that is saying a lot considering the fact that i am a WWii movie buff and have watched almost every one that has come out. if you like these kinds of films, rent this one. you'll be glad you did .
Shall We Dance? (2004)
A fairy tale remake that tugged at my heart strings!!
That's what it is: possibly the ultimate "feel-good" Hollywood movie. And a fairy tale. And in my humble opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I am a fan of classic films (and the opposite of a fan of the Hollywood film industry). And while I am always interested in seeing remakes, I am usually compelled to admit that the original was better.
But in this case, I honestly think that the remake is actually a far, far better film than the original (which is a delightful classic). It does not hide that it is a fairy tale - in fact, it emphasizes it - and handles it with an intelligent humour that very often surpasses the humour of the "original".
Personally, I also feel that there is more "chemistry" between Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon than between the original characters. (Or, to be quite honest, maybe it's just that I find Gere and Sarandon a more attractive couple.
Parker Kane (1990)
Much better than I thought...
This movie is surprised the heck out of me. To be honest with you, when I first saw this movie, I didn't really like it. I don't know if it was because I not in the mood at the time, but I thought it was pretty boring. After thinking about it more, I wanted to watched it again to see if I could make more sense of it, which I did when I saw it again. Now it is definitely a movie I would see again. In fact I think it gets better every time I watch it. If you're one of those people who hates this movie, try watching with an open mind and understand that this movie may be "different" because it broke all kinds of new ground. Oh yeah, and actually listen to what they say instead of hoping to see crazy explosions and what not.
Devil's Pond (2003)
Yuk!!
I can't stress how disappointed I was that I couldn't enter a vote of zero when rating this movie. It was the worst movie I have ever seen, and the directing and acting was absolutely pathetic. I wish I would warn everyone not to see it. But being as I'm probably one of the few people who ever will, it doesn't matter anyway. I read the script long before these people started making it and they totally obliterated what could have been a decent film. The dialog was a joke (only it wasn't a comedy) and the story was even worse. What a waste of time and money for the viewers, the investors and the rest of the cast and crew. It makes you wonder if these producers ever read their scripts before they put their time and money into them.
Playing by Heart (1998)
A Very Well-Written Movie That Touched My Heart
What a well-made movie! I liked "Playing By Heart". The movie's central theme is-what else-love. And how love can be found in all types and sizes. Okay, call it a bit sappy; call it corny, but also call it VERY GOOD! In a time when there are so many movies where the central themes are violence and indeed at a time when there is so much violence all around us, isn't it NICE to have a little feel-good of a movie once in awhile?
Loved all the stories and wonderful dialog. Very Well written! Now some people have said there were too many stories in the movie, I thought the writer tied all of the stories together nicely. GO RENT THE MOVIE IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT! It'll leave you feeling good. AND you will laugh hysterically and shed a few tears along the way.
Angels in the Endzone (1997)
Familiar story but entertainment for the whole family
Angels in the Endzone is a very good family movie, Christopher Lloyd, Paul Dooley, and Matthew Lawrence .... give reasonably good performances. Angels is probably not the best made football movie ever made, but it has some funny sequences and serious moments. Disney actually did a good job with this one, watch it with the kids.
Mafioso: The Father, the Son (2001)
If You Like The Sopranos, You'll Probably Like This
This is a borderline 8 movie. I don't really have a lot of criticism, but it lacks most of the ingredients required for a 9 or 10 - meaning something special.
There was really no one particular thing special about it - and the ending was not surprising but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
I thought the acting was very good - gritty and intense. This movie kind of reminded me of The Sopranos, though I liked the latter a lot better. Not too much to say. You have to accept a lot of language and violence (and I mean VIOLENCE) - blood and guts. But, if you can get over that, settle in for a reasonably good movie.