Topic: Riches Random Reviews

[richierich]

Tadpole



Fifteen-year-old Prep student Oscar Grubman (Aaron Stanford) feels that girls his own age haven't lived enough, which is why he's coming home to Manhattan's Upper East Side for Thanksgiving to profess his love to his stepmother, Eve (Sigourney Weaver)--whose marriage to his professor father (John Ritter) has become routine and uninspiring. Unable to find the right moment to express himself, Oscar slips out to a bar after dinner and finds himself drunk and missing his wallet. Walking home, he bumps into Eve's best friend, Diane (Bebe Neuwirth), a sexy chiropractor who offers to take him home to detox. A backrub leads to a kiss, which results in Oscar and Diane spending the night together. Oscar, feeling he has betrayed his true love, must now prevent Diane--who laughs at the whole situation--from telling Eve what has happened between them.

Disjointed tale with low-budget digital production values, it is too far a stretch of the imagination to assume so many beautiful middle aged women would fall for a nerdy pretentious academic 15 year old. There are some elements of quite good wry humour, but it is lost in what can best be described as a boring immature Graduate clone.
 

[richierich]

A Glimpse of Hell



On April 19, 1989, an explosion during training exercises in Gun Turret number two of the U.S.S. Iowa, a storied battleship, created more than one firestorm; Besides the one that killed more than 40 sailors, a scandal swept the nation that put ...    Full Descriptionthe U.S. Navy on the defensive. The Navy, in what some suspected was an attempt to cover up unauthorized artillery experiments by enlisted men, accused one of the dead men of being a suicidal homosexual and setting off the explosion in a fit of jealous rage. Idealistic Lieutenant Dan Meyer (Robert Sean Leonard), a witness to the tragedy, whose father was an honored military man, must square off with the ship's longtime, but remote captain, Fred Moosally (James Caan), when testifying during the heated and nationally televised investigation by the Pentagon.

Reasonably well told adaptation of a true event, this was a pleasant surprise from a blind buy. The acting is solid throughout, for a change Caan is watchable, and Robert Sean Leonard (Wilson in House MD) gives a convincing performance as the whistle blowing Lieutenant. It sticks very close to the facts, so at times it did plod along with predictability and mediocraty, but for me the political edge was an interesting accompiniment.
 

[richierich]

Submerged



Chris Kody, the world's best mercenary, is freed from prison -- but there's a catch. Kody must use his lethal weapons and fighting skills to stop a group of terrorists who have taken over a nuclear sub.

Ageing Seagull, dishes out another tedious flick with the guise of an action movie. Overweight, over-rated and over the hill. Very little action on the diesel sub, and not a terrorist in sight, instead they are mind controlled soldiers, so my cover blurb is totally wrong.
Vinnie does his best to add a bit of humour to proceedings, but he is as bad an actor as he was a footballer. This dvd would best be left sunk at the bottom of the ocean.
Under siege wannabe - go enjoy your retirement Steven! 

[richierich]

The Day the Earth Stood Still



Epic action and mind-blowing effects rock the planet in this thrilling reinvention of the sci-fi classic, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. Keanu Reeves portrays Klaatu, an otherworldly being whose arrival on Earth triggers an unstoppable series of events that threaten all of mankind. In a desperate attempt to save humanity, governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor’s appearance. When a woman (Jennifer Connelly) and her young stepson find themselves embroiled in the alien’s plan, they become the world’s only hope to stave off apocalyptic annihilation.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda - why isn't this better?
What an opportunity, great ahead of its time original film some 50 years ago, huge budget, some amazing CGI special effects, highly paid cast - but somewhere along the line it became satisfied at being an average film, when it might have been a great sci-fi epic. From the superb originals backdrop of the cold war, emphasis is now on the issue of global warming.
Reeves never appears emotionally attached to this film (as opposed to Matrix), Jennifer Connolly is shocking, the storyline clumsy with a truly hopeless ending. Too much 'America is the only nation' message, very little thought-provoking state of our worlds health questions. The pace was ok, the film fortunately went quite quickly, and the effects at times a saviour.
However overall you will be disappointed by this remake, save your money and rewatch the original! This is Hollywood cashing-in.
 

[richierich]

Bedtime Stories



Funnyman Adam Sandler stars in Walt Disney Pictures' Bedtime Stories, the magical family comedy that's packed with adventure and lots of heart. When Skeeter Bronson (Sandler) babysits his sister's (Courteney Cox) children, his imagination runs wild as he dreams up elaborate bedtime stories - always casting himself as the hero. Entranced, the children add their own ideas to these once-upon-a-time tales of heroics and chivalry. Then...magic happens. These nighttime fantasies become Skeeter's daytime realities, leading him on a real-life adventure in search of his own happy ending. Filled with colorful characters, humor and whimsy, this heartwarming comedy will enchant your entire family again and again.

Lame, vomit inducing swill that is being churned out by the Sandler bowels at an alarming rate!
Totally unfunny, devoid of any recognisable comedy, charmless, bland, non-existent storyline, and a complete waste of time and money - for any age group.
Walt would have turned in his grave...

[richierich]

Yes Man



Carl Allen has stumbled across a way to shake free of post-divorce blues and a dead-end job: embrace life and say yes to everything. Take a bungee plunge? Yes. Accept call-now TV offers? Yes. Learn Korean? Yes. Grab the first flight to anywhere? Yes. Win your dream girl? Yes. Crack up fans with a feel-good, laugh-loaded romp? Yes! Working every funny bone in his nimble body and every muscle in his hilariously mobile face, Jim Carrey plays Carl in a YEScapade about opening up to life's possibilities - especially when those possibilities include romance with an intriguing, free-spirited musician (Zooey deschanel). From the director of Bring It On and The Break-Up comes an invitation to discover the comedy power of yes.

I'm on a bad run, another churned out bunch of twaddle from Hollywood. After hearing such great reviews of the book, it is a shame they picked an unsuitable lead, and strayed so far from the book.
Uninspiring, over-rated, mildly comedic in small sections, this is an ok film to pass a couple of hours on a rainy afternoon.
Wait for this to hit the bargain bins.
 

[Najemikon]

Under siege wannabe - go enjoy your retirement Steven! 

He should sign up to Stallone's Expendables! There's a very Seagal shaped hole in that cast...

[Jimmy]

Reeves never appears emotionally attached to this film

Are you really surprise? Keenu Reeves and emotions are 2 notions that are complete opposite. How they could have thought that he was able to replace Michael Rennie?

[Najemikon]

Reeves never appears emotionally attached to this film

Are you really surprise? Keenu Reeves and emotions are 2 notions that are complete opposite. How they could have thought that he was able to replace Michael Rennie?

Actually I think he could have been good. I'd read that he was playing him as an alien within a human form, and was therefore awkward and unsure; like driving an unusual car for the first time! But the writing has to support it and apparently the whole thing was a pile of poo so Keanu's range becomes another negative, not a positive. And he can be good. He's a movie star, not an actor, and in the right roles, he's perfect.

[Jimmy]

He's a movie star, not an actor, and in the right roles, he's perfect.

In what? The last time he was perfect was a long time ago

[DJ Doena]

I like him in Bill & Ted, Speed, Matrix and Constantine

[Najemikon]

I like him in Bill & Ted, Speed, Matrix and Constantine

Some films have a Keanu Reeves shaped hole in them and simply wouldn't work without that unique emotion range (that should be "emotional range", but in this case, the singular is accurate! ). Point Break was another. Bram Stoker's Dracula wasn't. Neither was that Johnny Watsit or Chain Reaction. 

[richierich]

The Calcium Kid



Overnight, Jimmy Connelly (Orlando Bloom – Troy, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings) has become a sex symbol in his neighbourhood, and Britain’s boxing hope. And he’s not quite sure what to do with the extra attention! Jimmy’s a milkman, you see, and he loves it. But when one day, at his local gym, he accidentally puts Britain’s contender for the boxing world title out of action, he is propelled from amateur boxer onto the world stage and set to fight against the current world champion. He’s going to have to shape up! And he’s going to need all the help he can get. A lot of it too. Orlando Bloom is hilarious in this quirky comedy that will make you laugh out loud.

It is difficult not to like this quirky easy-going film. It isn't tremendous by any stretch of the imagination, but it is engaging and good fun, and a pleasant storyline that rambles on in good humour. Bloom is clearly uncomfortable in the role, but does make efforts to convince, and the South London settings make a good backdrop.
A very short film, so a good watch after the pub.
 

[richierich]

Mr. Woodcock



Scott stars as John Farley, a self-help author who returns to his hometown only to discover that his mother (Sarandon) has fallen in love with his old high school nemesis, Mr. Woodcock (Thornton) - the gruff, no-nonsense gym teacher who had put him through years of mental and physical humiliation.

Boring rehash of a common theme, fairly unoffensive but wastes a couple of decent actors here in the case of Thornton and Saranden. More laugh an hour than laugh a minute, although several noteworthy cringeworthy moments included.
Poorly written, unenthusiastically acted, and misleading from the trailer (If you watch the trailer that is actually the sum total of funny moments from the whole film!!)
 

[richierich]

Fever Pitch



Lindsey (Drew Barrymore) is an ambitious business consultant, approaching "twenty-ten", whose spirit is as luminous as her beauty. High-school teacher Ben (Jimmy Fallon) is a good catch. He's charming, funny and great with kids, but has a small income. Sure, they have their differences. She's a workaholic; he loves his summers off, but when they first meet, and despite their differences, their attraction is immediate and true love overcomes all. Everything is wonderful, and Ben seems to be the man of her dreams, until Lindsey discovers what a 23 year long obsession with his favorite team really means. Together they must decide if they will strike out or fight to keep love alive

Marketed in the UK as 'The Perfect Catch', this chick flick written by Nick Hornby will appeal to most viewers. An easy going romantic comedy that won't offend anybody, with enough laughs to keep you entertained. Fallon and Barrymore (I like her in a lot of roles) are convincing in their parts and the switch from the original football to (the boring) baseball is handled smoothly. This isn't quite as good as his High Fidelity or About a Boy, but it is still an impressive Hornby storyline. I will watch the original later this week which starred Colin Firth, and judge between the two.