Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

It’s finally over. The saga is complete, George Lucas will hopefully move on to other projects, FOX studios will start looking for a new franchise to milk (while they’re squeezing off the last drops from SW movies), and all of us fans will have to deal with this finale, and move on to other sci-fi worlds. Luckily for us, there are plenty of good sci-fi series and movies around. Unfortunately for Lucas, his last project is exceptional only when it’s not compared to its peers.

Before I start getting hate mail for bashing the wonderful world of Yoda, let me say this: the third film is truly magnificent. Darker, more mature, with breathtaking sequences, and compelling heroes. The problem is that this is the comparison I get when putting it next to Phantom Menace or Attack of the Clones. It may even be more engaging than Return of Jedi. But it does not beat parts 4 and 5. Now that Lucas managed to pull the story lines together between the first and second trilogies, these “entertainment” factors stand out even more. I liked the film, but I wasn’t entertained by it.
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Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (2005)

Don’t panic. The movie adaptation of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” (which in a way is an adaptation of an old BBC radio show) is not as bad as some people on the internet will have you believe. Sure, the naysayers have a point – the source material (a trilogy in five parts) is so big, and full of unbelievable characters and events, it’s tough to bring everything to a big screen. So, if you’re expecting to see the entire book in a movie theater – you may just stay home and read the book. But if you’re in the mood for an odd sci-fi comedy (think Spaceballs, Farscape or Galaxy Quest), you’ll enjoy this cute little film.

If you’ve read Douglas Adams’ books, just skip this paragraph. For novices, this is vital. The books were not written as one part – they were moved to paper after a phenomenal success of an stint on the radio back in the late 70s. You should also remember that just because something was popular in Britain, doesn’t make it universally popular or even interesting. But bear in mind, this brand of humor goes along the lines of Monty Python, so if you can chuckle at Pythons, you’ll enjoy “Hitchhiker”. If you take your sci-fi seriously, just stay away, spend 10-15 bucks on the books (the entire trilogy, of course), give them a shot, and then decide for yourself if you really want to see this colourful universe on the big screen. Personally, many things looked better in my imagination, when I was reading the books, but I got a lot of laughs in the theater.
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Kung Fu Hustle (2005)

Kung Fu Hustle was by far the silliest Kung Fu movie I have ever seen. It was very much the insanity and slapstick humor of the Three Stooges, Buster Keaton, and all the Warner Brothers cartoons mixed in with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Couching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and every anime, superhero and kung fu movie released recently. It was one overblown cliche after another and yet some how in the end I walked out of the theater smiling.

The movie worked because it didn’t take itself too seriously. You knew it to be true in the opening credits when you watched a bunch of kung fu mobsters all dressed in tuxedos with top hats doing the hustle all the while holding their weapon of choice-the axe. And when you saw the set, somewhere deep inside you knew, that it would be obliterated in the last half an hour of the film, and you could not wait too see how that would happen.
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Sahara (2005)

Indy might have some serious competition. Not in a direct sense (Indiana Jones franchise is well established and is set in 30s and 40s, way before this movie), but in a “charismatic-hero-who-punches-first-and-asks-questions-later” kinda way. A fast-paced, intelligent adventure movie is difficult to find these days (“The Lord of the Rings” lacked the speed, and “The Rundown” lacked the intelligence), so Sahara is a bit of fresh air in a stale genre.

A few months ago “A National Treasure” made an impressive turn in theaters (and I hope Nicolas Cage comes back in a sequel or two), but he movie ultimately took itself too seriously. The adventure was fun, no doubt, but many of its themes required a little explanation, which slows the pace down, and you don’t want that to happen. What you want is the main character to “save the f***ing day”, never losing a brilliant smile, and getting a few lethal-looking bruises along the way. In this case, the hero Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey), delivers both smiles and bruises with unlimited charisma.
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Renewed or Cancelled – 2005

Hey, it’s that time of the year again. Some shows are canned, many are officially renewed, and some – are bound to exist in between for a few weeks or months, while the ratings/costs/revenues are being mulled by the corporate big wigs. Is your favourite show going to come back in the fall? Take a look at the survivors of 2004-2005 TV season. Continue reading “Renewed or Cancelled – 2005”

Sin City (2005)

I’ve drooled in anticipation ever since I saw the trailers, and that makes me biased. However, bias or not, you gotta hand it to Robert Rodriguez – he’s known for pushing the envelope for directing style, editing style, casting decisions. And, at the end of the day, if you only know him from the El Mariachi/Desperado/Once Upon a Time in Mexico trilogy, or from the Spy Kids trilogy, if you only know him as the guy who co-wrote From Dusk til Dawn, you would be drooling with anticipation as well.

The thing about Robert Rodriguez, is he’s either a very convincing person, or he has dirt on everyone in Hollywood – how does he get these actors in his movies – is beyond me. He’s not quite a cult director like Woody Allen, or late Stanley Kubrik, so I cannot imagine actors of all levels and ranges lining up for every one of his projects. Yes movie after movie he lines up people who don’t seem to have anything in common. Except, in his universe, they make a great ensemble cast.
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Million Dollar Baby (2004)

At first I thought this would not win the Best Picture Oscar. I thought The Aviator was a lock because it was an epic and set in the past. Million Dollar Baby wasn’t an epic and is set in the present, plus was also the victim of controversy (Of which I’ll speak my ind about in a spoiler. And yes, you will be warned). But despite all the pre-Oscar accolades The Aviator won, Million Dollar Baby came from behind and took the Best Picture Oscar.

Boxing hasn’t been as popular lately. Probably because it’s not celebrated on MTV as much as basketball is. Which is a shame because boxing is one of my favorite sports. Plus a story about a woman’s pursuit in sports doesn’t always make for a crowd-grabber. But Million Dollar Baby is very much worth seeing.

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Constantine (2005)

When I went into the theater to see Constantine I thought I prepared myself for the worst. I didn’t read the graphic novel this movie was based on. I decided not to look it up. I made that mistake before—I looked up The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novel before I saw that movie. BIG MISTAKE—I almost walked out of the theater on that one. I wanted to go to the theater with an open mind. I even read a few negative reviews about Constantine, so that I would not expect much and would surprise myself by really enjoying the movie. That didn’t happen.

I was so frustrated with this movie I didn’t want to write a review. I thought, why bother. I would be too negative. I would turn people off when in reality it’s not that bad if you’re a Keanu Reeves fan.

Before I get all over Keanu’s ill-acting ass, let me state for the record that I love movies that deal with the occult. I was a fan of Buffy and Angel. And now that Medium is out I watch it too. Because of my love for the occult I sat though movies far worse—like Lord of Illusions. It was only few years ago when I saw it again I realized how bad this movie really was. Brrr.
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In Good Company (2004)

Anyone who’s been a part of a corporate takeover or merger will know exactly what’s happening here – the office politics, the economics, and the games people play from inside their cubicles. Anyone familiar with a sales job, and the pressures of tight budgets will immediately sympathize with main characters who seem to have more invested in their day jobs than their own lives and families. And finally, there;s that last little target audience group for this movie – people who found romance in all the wrong places, but kept at it anyway.

This pretty much describes the movie – three plots, three philosophies intertwined between a young ambitious sales guy (a boy, really) played by Topher Grace, his cautious subordinate, who’s twice his age – Dennis Quaid, and a love interest – Scarlett Johansson – who’s smart enough to know she’s creating a terrible situation by dating her father’s younger boss – but inpulsive enough to take the plunge anyway.
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Ray (2005)

I still have a Rolling Stone issue I bought a year ago which lists what they consider the 50 Rock N’ Roll artists whom they call ‘the immortals’. They rank them all from 1st to 50th, and Ray Charles is #10.

I’m sure most of you have seen the movie or rented the DVD by now. I’m glad that the movie was able to show Ray’s influence in music and as well show the hardships as of a musician trying to make it. It was an accomplishment that he made it through being blind. Also it was interesting to see the more personal life of Ray too. It showed that Ray not only had a lot of problems with work and at home, but also the haunting memory of the death of his younger brother.
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