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"Sleepy Hollow" Movie Review

Tim Burton has made two horror movies: first this and then in 2007, he made Sweeney Todd. Sweeney Todd was unbelievably great. This however, was not. The film opens with the first of three murders that occur in the small community of Sleepy Hollow. The victims are found decapitated, their heads missing. These strange happenings attract scientific detective Ichabod Crane, played by Johnny Depp, to solve the mystery. The townspeople are certain that the murderer is the ghost of the Headless Horseman, who lived in Sleepy Hollow years ago. Ichabod Crane is insistent on proving that this is not a supernatural figure, but after a few more murders, even he begins to believe it as well. First of all, this movie is in no way scary. I enjoy being scared and if I intend to see a horror movie, then I would hope and expect to be scared. This did not do it for me. After the first few murders, I lost interest. The movie mainly consisted of the Headless Horseman running around, and chopping people heads off. Oh, and don't forget, yelling "Aah!" It was a bit hard to take seriously. Also, Johnny Depp was quite mild and disappointing in the lead. He has had far better roles in other films. Despite the talented people involved, this movie was a major disappointment and a dud.

4/10

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"Psycho" 1960 Movie Review

Welcome to the Bates Motel. 12 cabins, 12 vacancies. What are you doing here? Running from the police? Alright, well enjoy your stay and see you in the morning. Or maybe not. Alfred Hitchcock was one of the most influential and fiendishly wonderful movie makers of the twentieth century. Before "Psycho", I had seen exactly 22 of Hitchcock's pictures. Most of them I enjoyed but none of them were as memorable as this piece of work. It is not just a cinematic accomplishment but also of successfully portraying someone who is indeed psycho. This movie was a shock when released in 1960 because of the way the movie was laid out. For example, it was unthinkable for a main character to be killed so early in the film. The goal was to put the audience on edge to the point where they had no idea what would happen next. And Hitchcock indeed pulled it off. In fact, he was sure to make clear that no one would be admitted into the theater after the movie had begun. You must watch it from beginning to end. I am not going to tell you the plot because the less you know, the better. They don't call Alfred Hitchcock the master of suspense for nothing.

10/10

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Holiday Post

Hello, readers! I apologize for my lack of posts this last month. I have gotten busy with other things which has gotten in the way of time to watch movies and write reviews. I want to let anyone who is reading know that I have not quit doing this and that there will be movies to come. I also wanted to tell y'all that from November 22, 2012-December 25, 2012, I will be posting Christmas movies and Christmas movies only. Christmas is my most favorite time of the year and Christmas movies have been part of my childhood and my traditions. I have a lot of favorites that I watch every year and I want people to share that joy with my audience. One example, for instance, is the story of "A Christmas Carol". As a young boy, I began to notice that my grandfather would watch various adaptations of "A Christmas Carol" such as the 1951 British version with Alastair Sim and "The Muppet Christmas Carol". I began to grow quite fascinated with this tale, so much so that I began walking around with a cane shouting, "Humbug!" To this day, I own exactly 9 movie or TV adaptations and 4 or 5 copies of the novel, which I have also read. It is something that is very close to my heart and will always stay there. I wanted to share that story with you and also tell you that I am going to review various versions of "A Christmas Carol", as well as numerous other Christmas movies. In the meantime, since my last review, I want to leave you with a couple movies that I have watched, (both by Tim Burton, of course), that I will post a full review at a later time:


Frankenweenie- 6/10

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street- 10/10

"Dark Shadows" Movie Review

Barnabas Collins is a vampire cursed by a witch who is in love and, unfortunately for him, Barnabas does not return her love. He is left in a casket for more than a century and when released, he finds that he has landed in the year 1972. Johnny Depp can play almost any role that is thrown his way. A pirate, a hatter, and a vampire. The latter is shown here and it is interesting and amusing to see him play a vampire from the 1700s. Tim Burton's macabre and creepy humor comes out throughout, with Johnny Depp definitely helping with that. It is also considerably dark and while trying to maintain the comedy over the course of almost two hours, the movie has its ups and down. The sexual content is a bit much as well and would have been perfectly fine without it. However, I enjoyed it because you develop feelings for the characters and it certainly does grab you and make you want to learn how it all turns out. "Dark Shadows" is also a perfect Halloween movie.

7/10

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The Films of Tim Burton

If you have been reading my reviews, you probably know that I have been going through a Tim Burton phase. He is my personal favorite director and my goal is to watch every single one of his films. This video nicely presents the style and tone of Tim Burton's films. Note the lack of his two most recent films, Dark Shadows and Frankenweenie.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Movie Review

If only Roald Dahl had been alive to see this. One of the greatest childrens authors of all time, Roald Dahl, wrote the story of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" in 1964. In 1971, a musical film adaptation was released with the title "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory". Unfortunately, Roald Dahl himself hated the film, so much so that he refused to allow them to adapt his sequel. Tim Burton didn't like the original either and, as he does so well, he put his own familar spin on it. Johnny Depp was the perfect casting choice as the lonely Willy Wonka, with similarities to his earlier character, Edward Scissorhands. I saw this film in the IMAX theater with its release in 2005 and instantly loved it. I have enjoyed it just as much every time since and I still smile when the Oompa Loompa's sing and when Willy Wonka presents to the children his chocolate room. Although I was one of the many who actually liked the original, I find this one better because with the absense of the unnecessary musical numbers, among other things, this is closer to Roald Dahl's story in tone and in content. I believe if he had been alive he would have enjoyed it, as I did, and I hope you do too.

9/10

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"Corpse Bride" Movie Review

"I do". Those are two words that Victor Van Dort just can't seem to say. He practices and practices but saying his vows aren't an easy thing for him to do. Perhaps it's because he barely knows her and doesn't love her. Or because he is a nervous wreck. Which is it? Either way, it clearly isn't going according to plan. Victor wanders off into the forest and while practicing his vows yet again, he finally gets them right. Unfortunately, it happens at a very inconvenient time. A dead woman, buried in the ground, has been waiting for the perfect man to come and say the exact words that Victor said and she believes it to be for real. She brings him into the world of the dead which is not at all what he is looking for. Tim Burton's idea is a strange and creative one but, to me, there was clearly something missing. Johnny Depp does a mediocre job playing the selfless and kindhearted Victor but that's just it; its mediocre. Same goes for Helena Bonham Carter as the corpse bride and most of the other voice actors. But as I said, Tim Burton's ideas are creative as usual, and the animation that he hadn't used since "The Nightmare Before Christmas", works well here.

6/10

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"Captain America: The First Avenger" Movie Review

Have you ever dreamt of being an American hero? Steve Rodgers certainly has but he hasn't yet found much success in making his fantasy become a reality. Steve is small, weak, and awkward. He has tried to enlist in Army but has been refused. After meeting a friendly doctor who decides to give him a try, he joins the Army and soon after becomes part of an experiment to test drugs that will strengthen him and give him a better chance to be successful. While all this is going on, a madman named Schmidt is attempting to take over the world. This film, set in the 1940s, feels more like a war movie than a superhero movie. Either way however, director Joe Johnston pulls it off and does it very well. It is highly entertaining, with perfect acting, grand sets, and a first-class story. I especially liked Tommy Lee Jones' performance as the rough colonel. As it began, I was comparing the characters of Steve Rodgers and Peter Parker, from Spider-Man, who both are week and not at all hero-like but become powerful as the stories go on. However, there couldn't be a bigger difference between the two because Steve Rodgers is so much more of a stronger and likable character altogether. Although it starts out slow and some of it is a bit silly, the entire movie is a joy to watch and everything comes together in an unforgettable picture.

9/10

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"Frankenweenie" Short Film Review

If you keep track of upcoming movies (like I do), you may know that Tim Burton is releasing a film called "Frankenweenie" next month. It is based on his original idea of a boy that brings his dead dog back to life. In 1984, he released a short film version. Well, almost released it. Disney fired him because it scared children and they didn't want him making those kind of movies for them. It wasn't released to the public until an edited version came out on VHS in 1994. It wasn't until 2008 that the original uncut version was released with the special edition DVD and Blu-ray of "The Nightmare Before Christmas". Unfortunately, I don't think all this work was worth it. The creative idea doesn't translate very well onscreen here. I don't think most kids would be scared; just rather uninterested. And the black and white adds nothing to it and I found it unnecessary. I will be sure to see the new "Frankenweenie" next month and I'm hoping it will be an improvement over this.

5/10

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"Beetlejuice" Movie Review

Death is a strange thing in cinema because every filmmaker decides their own way of presenting the afterlife. In "Beetlejuice", Tim Burton has young married couple Adam and Barbara Maitland killed in a car accident in the first ten minutes of that film. Before they died, they moved into a large country house with the intention of fixing it up a bit. Now that they have died and are ghosts, an annoyed new family named the Deetzs' have moved into their house and the Maitlands want them out. They learn about a "bio-exorcist" who they want to hire to scare the people away. This just creates problems however. The story continues and they become friends with Deetzs' daughter Lydia who has more in common with the ghosts than her own family. Unfortunately, the movie isn't as worthwhile as it may sound because the majority of the characters just aren't interesting enough to hold the movie together. Also, with the incantations and all the references to the supernatural, it isn't even close to my Christian values. However, it is a silly movie, all done tongue-in-cheek and shouldn't be taken seriously. Still, there isn't much of a reason to see it other than Michael Keaton's insane performance as Betelgeuse which is quite fun to watch although he wasn't in it as much as I would have liked. And as always, Tim Burton's crazy visuals and ideas are always original.

6/10

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"Edward Scissorhands" Movie Review

It is movies like this that remind me why I love movies so much. As I sat and watched "Edward Scissorhands", I had a smile on my face almost from beginning to end. Once upon a time, there was an eccentric inventor who lived alone in a large mansion. Making gadgets was something he loved to do and there was something he created that was different and unique: a man with scissors for hands which he fittingly named Edward Scissorhands. The inventor planned on giving him real hands, but as he was old, he died before he could do so. This left Edward with those scissors for life. He continued to live up in mansion until a lady found him alone and decided to take him in. She showed him what it was like to live in the real world and he quickly fell in love with her daughter, Kim and became the center of attention for the whole town. As of 2012, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have worked together in exactly 8 films, this one being the first. Johnny Depp does a fantastic job as the innocent and often clueless Edward Scissorhands and his performance and acting style blends perfectly with Tim Burton's bizarre fantasy stories. Tim Burton is my favorite director of all time because he is able to produce movies with stories that are exactly what appeal to me and have appealed to me since I was a young child: dark, intriguing, creative, unique, and often creepy. I have only have one complaint about this movie: the neighbors were painful and quite annoying to watch. But the good scenes were so great that they helped compensate for these painful scenes. And Edward is not just a character; he is a symbol for those who are different than others and who don't quite seem to fit in in life and I am here to say that this alone made the him one of the most likable characters I have ever seen in onscreen. 

9/10

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"Jaws 2" Movie Review

In the words of Roger Ebert: "I hated, hated, hated this movie." Uninteresting, pointless, predictable. Those last two sentences express how I felt about "Jaws 2". I try to avoid using the word "boring" in my writing but I am forced to use it here: this is a boring movie. Dreadfully and painfully boring. It is strange to me how a brilliant film such as "Jaws" could have such a bad sequel. But this movie shows how possible it is. Not only was it uninteresting, but it was incredibly predicable. In my mind (or sometimes out loud), I would say what would happen next and, by golly, I was right almost the entire time. And to make it even worse, the story line was unoriginal. Based on what you know from the first one, it is a given that there will be shark attacks. But all that consists of the story is a group of rebellious kids who decide to go sailing and...well I'm sure you can guess what happens next. Without the talents of Steven Spielberg and Richard Dreyfuss, this movie suffers greatly. The only part of this movie that was even relatively interesting was the ending, which I am not going to give away in case, for some reason, you do end up seeing this film. But I am telling you this movie is truly a close encounter of a bad film because if you loved the first, like I did, you probably would want to see the sequel but after reading this, I hope you reconsider.

2/10

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10 Movies!

Yay! I am up to 10 movies! Internet party! I don't know how much of an audience I have but if there is anybody out there reading this, thank you. So although I have only been reviewing movies so far, I want to say that this is indeed a blog. I am hoping to do more than just review movies. I'm planning on posting movie updates about various movie-related information. Anyway, so I hope that you have enjoyed my reviews as much as I have enjoyed writing and posting them.

"Big Fish" Movie Review

Has someone ever told you a story that was so awe-inspiring and so fantastic that you wondered if it could possibly be true? This is how William Bloom feels about his father, Edward Bloom. So much so that he doesn't even talk to him anymore. Edward Bloom is a storytelling, eager to tell everyone about his life adventures. Will knows they can't be true and so as his father grows close to death, he decides to set things straight. This film, based on Daniel Wallace's book, is one of my favorites because it clearly portrays a life well lived. Edward Bloom is one of the most inspiring characters I have ever seen onscreen because he puts so much into life; and gets so much out of it. Tim Burton's usual films are quite dark in tone, but with this, he takes a break from that style, while still managing to put his unmistakable creativeness and true sense of wonder into it. I also highly recommend Daniel Wallace's book which is just as good, if not better, than the movie.

10/10

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"Contagion" Movie Review

One night, a woman steps into a casino in Hong Kong to have a drink and play some games. The next day she flies home to her family, unexpectedly has a seizure and died. What happened? That is what her husband and the rest of the world are asking as this unknown virus multiplies in "Contagion". This frighteningly real film continues in this fashion as more and more people die from this infection, which places the world in a state of panic. There are some aspects of this movie that well done, and it is quite gripping but the many characters are not as deep as they should be. There were only a small few characters that I actually cared about. For instance, I would have been fine with the writers completely removing Jude Law's character from the script. I found him uninteresting annoying. This movie is not great but it accomplishes what its set out to do: showing the affects of a deadly virus that creates a disaster, while scaring the audience a bit.

6/10

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"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Movie Review

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to combine the holidays of Christmas and Halloween? If so, Tim Burton answered it in 1993 with his release of "The Nightmare Before Christmas". The film opens in Halloweentown with shots of ghosts, skeletons, vampires, and witches. Jack Skellington is the pumpkin king and a highly respected citizen. He is lonely and sad, though, because he wants something more than scares and frights. When walking through a forest, he comes across a door that takes him to Christmasland and he instantly knows; this is what he has been looking for. What he decides to do is this: replace Santa this Christmas and put his own spin on things. To do it his own way. This movie, inspired by Tim Burton's poem, is enchanting to look at and the animation is unbelievable. However, don't be expecting a lot of Christmas cheer in this holiday story because it is lacking in that aspect. Also, being a Christian, I found the lack of any mention of the birth of Christ disappointing. However, Christmas is portrayed as something special, so much so that Jack can't even explain it to his friends. And that in itself shows that Christmas is not a regular holiday like any other. Jack's intentions also are good, for he wants to give and make people joyful. Though it is not perfect, I still think it is quite a good movie, primarily because of its creativeness and originality, both of which are qualities that always appeal to me. I also highly recommend reading the original poem or even better, listening to Christopher Lee read it with the animation and art from the movie. You can watch it on Blu-ray or DVD and I actually enjoyed it even more than the movie. I also found it on YouTube (I will provide the link below). The poem itself is available in a beautifully animated storybook that I will be sure to purchase.

8/10

Tim Burton's Original Poem read by Christopher Lee:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbPCwc_Cdz0

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"True Grit" 2010 Movie Review

I ain't seen a western 'fore I set my eyes on this 'un. I must say it had some real grit. Some "True Grit". Story is of a darn feisty young'un with the name of Mattie Ross. Her pa was shot and killed by Tom Chaney, a runaway with a mission of not gettin' caught. She hires a drunkard called Rooster to capture and come to see he being properly hanged. With the help of LaBoeuf, they go on a adventurous search fer this criminal. Jeff Bridges does a fine job as Rooster, as does Hailee Steinfeld in the role of Mattie. Only problem I found with this film was much of it was slower than molasses. It's not real easy to get thru at times. That being said, its not a bad movie and if you remain patient, I think you will come to enjoy it like I did.

7/10

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"Jaws" Movie Review

Some movies have such a powerful effect on someone that it makes them take action. Or, in this case, not take action. For instance, after watching "Jaws", I may never go into the water again. And if I do, splashing is not an option. The first time this was a few years ago and frankly, I remember it being boring. I am here to say I no longer think that. Yes, it is a bit slow at times but as a whole, that takes nothing away from this movie. Martin Brody is a police deputy on a popular resort island. One morning, he discovers a woman has been killed by what looks like a shark. He panics and plans to shut down the beach, but the mayor just dismisses it as a boating accident. When another shark attack occurs, a search team goes to find and kill the shark but a specialist named Matt Hooper discovers it's the wrong one. This leads to another bigger search involving a man named Quint and together the three men go on a mission to find this shark. With good acting, a good script, and an excellent plot, this is a fabulous film that is definitely a must see.

10/10

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"The Mask" Movie Review

"You gotta ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya?" The answer is: not really. At least, I could have felt a lot luckier if this film was a lot better. Jim Carrey plays Stanley Ipkiss, a nice guy who can't stick up for himself. One day, he finds a mask that transforms him into the man that he wants to be but doesn't have the courage to do so. The mask even makes his crush fall for him. Although this all may sound creative, which to me it does, this movie was disappointing. I expected more from Jim Carrey and despite being amusing at times, it should've and could've been a lot funnier. There were only a few scenes when I genuinely laughed and when you have Jim Carrey in a comedic role with a story as wacky and creative as this one, it is no doubt there should be more.

5/10

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"Hugo" Movie Review

I went into this film, not knowing much about it other than it has been much loved since its release last year. And rightfully so. "Hugo" is one of the most unique and captivating movies I have ever seen. Hugo Cabret is a young orphan who isn't quite sure what he wants to do with his life, except for one thing he is absolutely certain of: fixing a strange mechanical man that could not be completed due to his fathers death. One day, when trying to steal from a toy maker, his plan backfires and the toy maker takes something very important to Hugo: his fathers notebook. In his attempt to get it back, he meets a young girl and together they find out that there is more to this toy maker than what meets the eye. Throughout the first hour, I wasn't sure where it all was going but everything couldn't have come together in a more enjoyable or astounding way. I can see how this movie would appeal specifically to film buffs, like myself, because of the numerous direct references to the early history of film and how cinema really is how it is portrayed here: dreams coming alive.

10/10

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"Anatomy of a Murder" Movie Review

After watching and reviewing more recent films (they are from the 90's, yes, but I still consider those somewhat recent), I thought I would watch an old movie. The one I chose was "Anatomy of a Murder" starring James "Jimmy" Stewart, one of my favorite actors. The plot focuses on lawyer Biegler, played by Stewart, and a new case he has taken on. One night after going to a bar, Laura Manion is raped by Barney Quill, the bartender of that bar. After her husband Lt. Manion learns of this attack, he goes to the bar and calmly shoots and kills Quill. Biegler is hesitant to take the case at first but decides to take it, with Lt. Manion pleading insanity. The plot is straightforward which was nice to see, with spectacular acting by the entire cast. I especially liked the performances by Stewart and George C. Scott and I thought the scenes with them going against each other in court were very good. With all that said however, I felt that the ending was quite weak. After spending more than two hours in the courtroom, I was hoping for a better conclusion to the story. Although that was disappointing, I think that this is a worthwhile film to see, primarily because this is Jimmy Stewart at one of his best.

7/10

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"The Truman Show" Movie Review

Truman Burbank leads a normal life. He wakes up and goes to a normal job, kissing his normal wife goodbye, and greeting all of the normal people in his normal little town. However, I cannot say that "The Truman Show" is normal. Far from it. It is the originality and uniqueness of this film that makes it so memorable. One day, after years of this ordinary life, he decides he wants to take action and actually gain experiences. To have an adventure or two. The problem is, that as much as he tries, everything is getting in his way. That is when he becomes suspicious about why the world seems to be revolving around his life. All of this pointing to the fact that he is being watched around the clock by the entire world. This is one of those movies that sticks with you long after the credits. And as you drive to work the next morning, you will be careful to avoid smashing the camera on your windshield.

8/10

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"Patch Adams" Movie Review

There are some movies that are difficult to review because they fall between the barriers of good and bad, with specific reasons for both. That describes "Patch Adams" in a nutshell. Robin Williams plays a man who, like many in life, is trying to find a purpose. After admitting himself into a mental hospital, he finds that his gift is helping people by making them laugh and lifting their spirits. With these techniques in mind, he doesn't quite fit in at his school of medicine. Williams is likable as Hunter "Patch" Adams but there is something missing. Williams' true talent and humor just doesn't seem to come out here. However, being based on a true story, I found Patch's intent and his heart to be inspiring. I was disappointed, though, to find out that the real Hunter Adams was less than pleased by his portrayal. Despite being somewhat inspired, I felt that this movie had a weak plot and, besides Patch, not very strong or likable characters. Like I said, this isn't a bad movie, but it is far from being a good one either.

5/10

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Introductory Post

My name is Josh and I am 15 years old. While all of my friends are playing video games, I am reading movie reviews and watching movies. I have always loved films and I want to get my opinions out to the public. You may wonder my purpose in writing movie reviews, for there are already many film critics. The majority of them are adults and I believe it is helpful to get a teen's perspective on movies, old and new. I am new to this so I hope that I do a good job. I am open to new movies to watch, so if you have any suggestions, make sure and let me know!