Quote by U7ysses S Gr4nt:
10/14 - 10/20
Movies
Ninja Assassin (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – Once I accepted it for what it is, I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I would have expected. The violence is a little over the top sometimes, but it’s good, dumb fun. I wouldn’t let the name fool you, as this is more of a pure action movie, and less of a kung-fu flick. Fans of violent, bloody actioners that don’t make you think too hard will definitely enjoy this.
6.5/10
Jurassic Park (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – It doesn’t carry quite the nostalgic factor for me, as I was a wee lad when this was released. I may have caught bits and pieces as a young child, but this was my first time ever watching the whole thing in one sitting. It’s not my favorite Spielberg movie, but it’s a good action/adventure film that doesn’t fit neatly into one genre. It has moments of humor, terror, and even drama, a rare combo in movies, and something Spielberg does quite well. I know a lot of people rank this much higher in their favorite films than I do, but seeing it so long after its release hampers the enjoyment a bit. The CG work here holds up relatively well; definitely doesn’t detract from the experience.
7/10
Jurassic Park: The Lost World (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – It falls into sequel syndrome, trying far too hard to emulate what worked in the original. Most sequels, this one included, would be far better served trying to be their own movie. What worked in the original feels a bit tired here, and though it’s possible it felt that way because I watched them in consecutive nights, the whole movie just has the “been there, done that” vibe. It’s a decent action/adventure film, but a definite step-down from the original.
6/10
Jurassic Park III (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – Another decent entry in the series, but again fails to match the original. It makes use of a strong cast, and bringing Sam Neill back was a great decision. Because it’s a newer release, the CG work is pretty solid; the fight between the two large carnivorous dinosaurs in the beginning is still awesome. Overall, it’s a little too short and much like II lacks the depth of the original (primarily with the characters), but it still makes for a decent action/adventure film.
6/10
Pacific Rim (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – I’m a fan of Del Toro, and this particular genre – the monster movies – hasn’t been explored too much recently, so I was excited to finally see this. The battle sequences are some of the greatest visual treats you’ll see, but I felt like the scenes between them (the character interactions primarily) were a little weak. You can make summer blockbusters that are both highly entertaining and have depth; this does just an okay job in that regard. I wasn’t disappointed, but I had thought this could transcend just the popcorn sort of flick.
7.5/10
Drag Me to Hell (Blu-ray, 2nd viewing) – I wasn’t crazy about Raimi’s Evil Dead films, but I do enjoy this little combo of horror and comedy. It gets a little crazy sometimes, but it’s a fun watch.
6.5/10
Disturbia (Blu-ray, 3rd viewing) – I’ve always been pretty lenient with movies starring Shia (I’ve always liked him), but I’ll be the first to admit that Disturbia borrows heavily from superior films. I still like it, though it’s not holding up as well with repeat viewings. It blends some different genres pretty well, but doesn’t really excel as either a coming of age film or horror/thriller.
6.5/10
T.V
Watched another 10 episodes of Arrow this week. It did get off to a slow start, but the last 3-4 episodes have improved the season overall. This isn't shaping up to be as good as I had hoped, but I'm hopeful the rest of the season will follow trend.
Movies
Ninja Assassin (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – Once I accepted it for what it is, I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I would have expected. The violence is a little over the top sometimes, but it’s good, dumb fun. I wouldn’t let the name fool you, as this is more of a pure action movie, and less of a kung-fu flick. Fans of violent, bloody actioners that don’t make you think too hard will definitely enjoy this.
6.5/10
Jurassic Park (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – It doesn’t carry quite the nostalgic factor for me, as I was a wee lad when this was released. I may have caught bits and pieces as a young child, but this was my first time ever watching the whole thing in one sitting. It’s not my favorite Spielberg movie, but it’s a good action/adventure film that doesn’t fit neatly into one genre. It has moments of humor, terror, and even drama, a rare combo in movies, and something Spielberg does quite well. I know a lot of people rank this much higher in their favorite films than I do, but seeing it so long after its release hampers the enjoyment a bit. The CG work here holds up relatively well; definitely doesn’t detract from the experience.
7/10
Jurassic Park: The Lost World (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – It falls into sequel syndrome, trying far too hard to emulate what worked in the original. Most sequels, this one included, would be far better served trying to be their own movie. What worked in the original feels a bit tired here, and though it’s possible it felt that way because I watched them in consecutive nights, the whole movie just has the “been there, done that” vibe. It’s a decent action/adventure film, but a definite step-down from the original.
6/10
Jurassic Park III (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – Another decent entry in the series, but again fails to match the original. It makes use of a strong cast, and bringing Sam Neill back was a great decision. Because it’s a newer release, the CG work is pretty solid; the fight between the two large carnivorous dinosaurs in the beginning is still awesome. Overall, it’s a little too short and much like II lacks the depth of the original (primarily with the characters), but it still makes for a decent action/adventure film.
6/10
Pacific Rim (Blu-ray, 1st viewing) – I’m a fan of Del Toro, and this particular genre – the monster movies – hasn’t been explored too much recently, so I was excited to finally see this. The battle sequences are some of the greatest visual treats you’ll see, but I felt like the scenes between them (the character interactions primarily) were a little weak. You can make summer blockbusters that are both highly entertaining and have depth; this does just an okay job in that regard. I wasn’t disappointed, but I had thought this could transcend just the popcorn sort of flick.
7.5/10
Drag Me to Hell (Blu-ray, 2nd viewing) – I wasn’t crazy about Raimi’s Evil Dead films, but I do enjoy this little combo of horror and comedy. It gets a little crazy sometimes, but it’s a fun watch.
6.5/10
Disturbia (Blu-ray, 3rd viewing) – I’ve always been pretty lenient with movies starring Shia (I’ve always liked him), but I’ll be the first to admit that Disturbia borrows heavily from superior films. I still like it, though it’s not holding up as well with repeat viewings. It blends some different genres pretty well, but doesn’t really excel as either a coming of age film or horror/thriller.
6.5/10
T.V
Watched another 10 episodes of Arrow this week. It did get off to a slow start, but the last 3-4 episodes have improved the season overall. This isn't shaping up to be as good as I had hoped, but I'm hopeful the rest of the season will follow trend.
Jurassic Park only being 5 points higher than the likes of Disturbia is unsettling.
The Big Hit - 7.5/10
The Corpse Bride - 6.5/10
Carrie (2013) - 6/10
