May 7, 2006

  • movies I've seen recently...

    United 93 (2006)  A-

    This movie should make you feel really sad after watching it. Ofcourse that should be obvious right? You are not watching United 93, you are experiencing it. The movie is done with no real narrative or any real social commentaries. It's purpose is to just show you the events that occurred that morning, and we are left to think or feel about it anyway we perceive it. There are information in the film that I never knew before, so in many ways, this is also an educational historical piece. The most emotional scene to me though, would be the one where the passengers of United 93 start calling their love ones on the phone, knowing that they are most likely going to die. This is definitely some powerful film making that Paul Greengrass has brought to us here.

    Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)  B-

    I've got to admit to being slightly disappointed with this George Clooney directed film. At the same time, I recognize it to be a rather good film about newscaster Edward R. Murrows battle of the words with senator McCarthy's anti-communism terror. I just found myself a little bored with how slow Good Night, and Good Luck felt, even though I found the topic of mccarthyism very interesting, as well as the politics and procedures in the business of news. I also have to point out that I also felt rather bothered by the lack of a soundtrack. The real stand out of the film though is definitely David Strathairn, who does a great acting job as Edward R. Murrow, personifying everything we come to expect of a respected newscaster of that era.

    Mission : Impossible III (2006)  B-

    For all intents and purposes J.J. Abrams' Mission : Impossible III is more or less an overblown "Alias" episode. But it actually works to it's benefit. Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt, and faces more missions that should be impossible to complete. This time around though, things get a little more personal when his wife gets put in danger because of his line of work. That concept; while not exactly unique, is a welcome addition to the Mission : Impossible mythos that usually ignores the personal lives of the agents. Don't get me wrong though, as this is still most definitely an action movie and a lot of those sequences are pretty enjoyable to watch. Sure there's a lot of suspension of disbelief, but this is a good action flick.