Update

Don't expect any reviews up until next week.  I'm going to an advance screening of a movie tomorrow, I am not permitted to blog about the movie until its release in November.  I will tell you it's an animated movie based on a Roald Dahl book and it's directed by Was Anderson (look it up you'll find it), I don't know what I will get in trouble for saying.  I may try to make a movie list this week or something, check back to see that.  Also, Ben and I will both try to make it to the Tribeca Film Festival in April, we'll keep you posted on that.

-Zach

I Love You, Man & The Great Buck Howard Review

Finally after 2 weeks, I'm back!  I'll start with my review of The Great Buck Howard starring one of my favorite actors, John Malkovich.

The Great Buck Howard - A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of viewing one of my favorite actors, John Malkovich, play Buck Howard!  This movie also stars, Colin Hanks, the son of Tom Hanks who makes an appearance in this movie (he also produced it).  Colin Hanks gives a fine performance, but the real star of the film is Malkovich who gives an outstanding performance as a has-been mentalist still hanging on to the little ounce of fame he still possesses.  Malkovich's performance alone is worth the price of admission.

The Great Buck Howard is currently in limited release and available on video on demand and pay-per-view.

I Love You, Man - I liked this movie a lot.  First of all, the cast is amazing, Paul Rudd, Jason Siegel, and  J.K. Simmons are all favorites of mine.  The movie is not as funny as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but not many things are.  Surprisingly, Apatow is not involved with the movie.  The screenplay is very good, it is written by John Hamburg (who also directed) who also wrote Meet the Parents.  In all, none of the performances were as good as the ones in Buck Howard, but it defiantly scores more laughs.

The Great Buck Howard - 4 out of 4

I Love You, Man - 4 out of 4

-Zach

Moviequest Finally Watches the Watchmen

Yes... I finally saw Watchmen, approximately one hour after finishing the graphic novel.  I thought this movie was a masterpiece.  Zack Snyder has shown a real development in his directing skill, it is hard to believe this is his third major film.  Every performance is spot on, including a star-making role by Jeffery Dean Morgan who plays The Comedian.  The most amazing aspect of the movie is the writing, Alan Moore should have seen the movie before taking his name off it.  One of the problems with the movie is that they couldn't fit in the Tales of the Black Freighter (look out for the director's cut) and decided to release it on DVD as a separate feature.  Also, my favorite scene in the novel involving a perfume/snow-globe metaphor has been taken out.  If you read the book and liked it, there is no way you won't like this movie; this is possibly the most faithful graphic novel adaptation ever.  Yet, the ending is slightly different than in the novel.  If you havent read it, don't start now; run out and see the movie then begin to read the book, it will seem even more amazing if you see the film first.

Watchmen - 4 out of 4

-Zach

My opinion on calling movies "overrated"

I can't stand the term overrated, mostly because it is a pretentious term.  Saying a movie is overrated is like saying that your favorite movie is automatically the greatest movie ever made because it is your favorite.  My favorite film of all time is The Shawshank Redemption, but I do not think I am in any position to call it the greatest film of all time.  Calling a movie "overrated" is like saying "A lot of people think this movie is fantastic, but it actually sucks because I don't like it."  No one is in the position to say that.  I am not calling out anyone in particular, but that's the way I feel.  I think that instead of a person using the term "overrated," they should say "I don't like it as much as most people do."  I know that takes longer to say, but what the heck?  Anyway, here are movies that I don't like as much as many people do.

Full Metal Jacket - I am really not a fan of this movie.  Although I like pretty much all of Stanley Kubrick's other films that I have seen, this is my least favorite.  It is not my least favorite war movie ever (Pearl Harbor, anyone?), but I still don't like it very much. 

2 and 1/2 out of 4

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - I do not in any way dislike this movie.  I think it is very well made, and it is a very creative story.  I also think that the performances are very good, Kate Winslet in particular.  However, I think that everyone really likes this movie a lot better than I did.  I didn't really find it interesting at all, and I found it a bit boring.  I actually liked the plot about the doctors trying to stay focused than the story about Joel and Clementine.  But still, it is not a bad film in any way.

3 out of 4

From Here To Eternity - Once again, I do like this movie, and the performances are great.  I just don't understand what all of the hubbub is about.  I like it, but I personally do not enjoy it quite as much as most.

3 out of 4

Bonnie and Clyde - Please don't hurt me.  I know how many lovers there are of this movie. There are many impressive scenes, but it just did not measure up, for me, to what many people have said.  I also did not enjoy the final death scene as mush as most people.  I still think it is great, but not phenomenal.

3 and 1/2 out of 4

Once Upon a Time in the West - I like most of Sergio Leone's films.  Although I am a big western fan, I couldn't get through this movie.  Because of my boredom and the fact that most of the time aI had no idea what was going on.  It took me about 4 sittings to finally get through it.  The cinematography, however, was great.  It was just okay. (Even though it has the best line ever, "How could I trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders?  He can't even trust his own pants!")

2 and 1/2 out of 4

That's pretty much it.  If you agree or disagree with

 either my disdain for the word "overrated" or my choices of movies, please leave me some comments.  Thanks.

-Ben