Knowing - a brief review by Camilo Arenivar

3 great disaster sequences with great graphic special effects that make it seem very real.

Scary weird guys. Prophetic numbers. Whispering voices.

Nicolas Cage.

Ok that usually ends it there, and some may argue that's the case with this movie. If you agree, I don't think you'll blame it on Nicolas Cage this time.

Overall, "Knowing" is an enjoyable sci fi/thriller/disaster film if you like that kind of a movie. The people disappointed with the lack of special effects in "The Day The Earth Stood Still"will not be disappointed.

I liked this movie, despite the lingering questions that even the films questionable plot twist (and it's a twist that audiences usally groan and scoff at) failed to answer. And well, it sort of broke the formula as far as movies go(although movies like The Watchemen seem to be breaking that formula, which might be a trend but I doubt it with the summer feel good movies about to hit us this May). But for this movie's uniqueness, I also give it points.

I don't think everyone will like this, but I thought the suspense and special effects delivered just enough to make up for what it lacked in story cohesiveness.

Rating: 81

The Day The Earth Stood Still - Review by Camilo Arenivar

This remake/re-telling of the 1950s classic was bombarded with bad reviews from both critics, who disliked it for various reasons, and from people who went to see it. The audience backlash was largely due to trailers and previews that made it look like Independence Day or something with a lot more action. When they got to the theater and had to follow a story and a plot that involved little special effects beyond what was shown in the trailer, they were angry and disappointed.

I went to see this movie a couple of weeks after it had been released, and all the bad reviews were known. So maybe my low expectations helped with my enjoyment of the movie.

It had elements of a psychological thriller; the action was mostly relayed to chase sequences and the stress of trying to avert a disaster. Keanu Reeves makes a perfect expressionless alien, really was it a stretch for him?

And just as the original was preachy with its anti war message, this one takes on another popular potential catastrophe.

Overall this movie is not bad when you think of the context of the original, just don’t expect it to be a fast paced sci fi action film because it is none of that. Definitely worth the DVD rental if you are a sci fi buff or Keanu Reeves fan, otherwise, skip it.

Rating: 77

MILK - Review by Camilo Arenivar

Milk is a combination of a biography and history story. It tells the story of a young NYC gay man who moves to San Francisco in the 1970s’ and becomes a big part of turning it into the gay capital of the U.S. that it is.

Love, sex, and mostly politics are huge themes throughout this film, all based largely on true life events that occurred, culminating in the shocking assassinations of both San Francisco’s Mayor, George Moscone, and the man the film follows, Harvey Milk who becomes the first openly gay elected official in the U.S.

The movie is very well done, Sean Penn is phenomenal in recreating the spirit and mannerisms of Harvey Milk. I believe he’ll take the Oscar for this role.

The impact of this film will definitely relate to it’s meaningfulness to your life. So depending on where your politics and sexual orientation lie, your enjoyment will be tied. Objectively speaking, it creates much of the spirit of Hope that President Obama created through his historical campaign for President, and hope is something that all walks of life should be able to feel. One of the better films of 2008.

Rating: 90

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-Camilo Arenivar

The Happening - Review by Camilo Arenivar

Wow. We waited how long for a new M. Night Shyamalan movie and this is what we get???

Now, unlike most people and film critics, I have been a fan of all of his movies that I have seen. I really enjoyed SIGNS and especially LADY In The Water, films so many others pooh-poohed. I actually LOVED Signs. I loved the way he connects things, how his stories are masterpieces of connections. Well, all of that is gone with his apocalyptic near-thriller, The Happening.

I can't even call it a thriller.

I mean, it's Sci Fi original movie at best. Not A&E though. I mean, bad Sci-Fi original movie with BAD dialogue.

What about the ending? Isn't there a cool ending where everything is tied together and even though it's far-fetched, it's cool how he did it?

Um, no. It's quite anti-climatic. It isn't even a real ending.

I don't know. I love the movies this guy makes. But this time...crash, thud, plop.
It's just...LAME. It has a very cool beginning, but that is really it. It creates a great tension, but he loses it.

I don't know. I just, thought it could have been WAY better. Really, his most weak work ever.
I'd give it a C-. And it gets higher than a D only because of the cool beginning, which really wasn't THAT cool.

Hopefully, the next one will be better.

Rating: 70

On the Downlow (DVD review)

This movie I was interested in seeing because the music of the gay rapper Deadlee is in it and well, the subject is kind of interesting. A latino gang story with quite a twist. Two male gangbangers fall in love and their biggest problem isn't that they're gay but that they're from opposing gangs.

Alot of corny dialogue, not so great acting. It has a strong indie feel, and I also commend the Director for tackling this unique subject. It does drag. Definitely not for the Attention Deficit generation!

Deja Vu (DVD)

Alright...this movie got alot of bad reviews and I don't necessarily think it deserved them. I mean, it's a Denzel Washington action movie. And no, it's not a repeat of all his other ones. It actually has a cool weird story. I mean, if you don't hold movies too accountable for beleivability, it should work for you. I thougth the story was cool and interesting. Worth a rental if you like action/suspese kind of movies. Skip if you are the overanalytical type or skeptical.

January Drought

There are no current movies out right now that interest me, and frightening to say, the only one that in the least bit interests me coming out this weekend is Big Momma's House 2. Really, is this as good as it gets? Looks like I should spend my time catching up on Good Night and Good Luck, Capote, and Walk the Line, sure to be nominated Oscar films I have not seen yet. Which should I see first? Any takers?

Oh yeah. I am seeing King Kong on Friday at my work! That should be cool...

Does anyone actually read this? Click on comments below and let me know if you do!

Last Holiday

by Camilo Arenivar



Well, this is the kind of movie one would expect released from Disney. Sugary sweet, sappy and mostly non-offensive to anyone, it is the feel good movie of the year for anyone that leaves their brain at the door. That being said, I want to make it clear that I did like Last Holiday, however that doesn’t prevent me from noticing it’s most obvious shortcomings.

Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) is the kind of New Orleans woman that works in a department store and watches her weight diligently, never straying from her diet of Lean Cuisines. She has dreams of marrying a hot co-worker (LL Cool J), traveling to a beautiful resort in Europe, and meeting great chefs. She also sings gospel on her church choir. Georgia Byrd is very content with her life until she finds out that she only has 3-4 weeks to live.

The movie is best at conveying how a person thinks of all the things that others and they have made important, and then looks at them with the eyes of a person about to lose their life. It is also liberating to see her let go and do things she wants, say things she wants. She is empowered by the information of her soon demise. She ends up at the beautiful resort in the European mountains she always wanted to go to and she meets a bunch of rich people from the states. The movie makes a statement on class wars in a sense, showing the wealthy as materialistic egomaniacs.

Last Holiday fails as a morality play, but works in making us think about what REALLY is important to us. The story is extremely predictable, and totally unrealistic. However, it is pleasurable if you can stomach the implausibility of much of the story. This is the kind of movie my mom would like. There is minimal cussing, everyone acts the way you think they would, and the story ends up…well anyway. It is just a nice little happy family film that will bring a smile, if not a smirk to your face. This is like an old-school Disney film with obvious antagonists and protagonists and everything happening in a very predictable way. Despite this, you really wouldn’t want it any other way. A good movie for those who like this kind of stuff, but a must miss for more astute moviegoers!

Rating: 75

Hostel

by Camilo Arenivar




Sometimes, a film will push the envelope to see just how far it can go with grossing people out. Will shock value translate to dollars? Hostel is a movie that shows us the depths of human depravity quite vividly; however as a film it falls short of being worth the price of a full price ticket for several reasons.

Reason #1: It takes too long to get interesting. Initially, it is like Porkys or American Pie in Europe. College buddies clubbing, partying, and sexing in Amsterdam. Nothing interesting there.

Reason #2: You don’t really care about the characters; they are like your basic dumb shithead college age idiots who deserve to be killed by the monster.

Reason #3: The ending 10-15 minutes is so totally contrived and unbelievable that it is irritating. It loses some of the intensity of the movie. This would have been a better movie with maybe a different kind of ending instead of the one given in this one.

If you like tits and nudity and can stomach a few squeamish gory torture moments, this movie is right up your alley.

What the movie does effectively: It shows just how evil, depraved, and greedy some people can be.

I wish there was something I could say about Jay Hernandez’ performance but there isn’t. It’s a very typical protagonist in a horror film role. He does it well but it’s nothing special.

I highly recommend waiting for DVD for this one. Maybe even Pay per View.

Rating: 70

Transamerica

by Camilo Arenivar



What do you get when you mix an L.A. pre-op transsexual and the NYC hustler son he/she never knew he had? Then throw them on a cross country road trip with a few twists and you have an interesting and entertaining film.

The movie stars Felicity Huffman, as the pre-op tranny undergoing tons of psychotherapy to make sure she is ready for the permanent transformation. A week before her scheduled surgery, she gets a call from NYC Juvenile Hall saying her supposed son was in jail there. When she tells her therapist about this, the therapist makes her deal with it or she won’t authorize the surgery. That’s when things get funny.

I have mixed feelings about Huffman’s performance. I thought she looked really different, and that transformation was great. Maybe I am just being picky but I don’t think she sounded like a pre-op tranny as much as she sounded like a woman trying to sound like a man. It’s a good performance nonetheless..

The movie has weaknesses and there are times you are frustrated with the characters but overall it works as an interesting and entertaining story. Not a movie of the year, but if anything about this storyline or the people in it interest you, check it out.

Rating: 85

Brokeback Mountain

by Camilo Arenivar


OK, a lot has been said about this film. The critics are all over it. The Religous Right is horrified by it. As far as I am concerned, it is much ado about nothing.

It's a beautifully filmed movie, that much is true. The story is definitely eyebrow raising.

But um, it IS a little slow. Maybe because it's a "love story" but I almost dozed off more than once.

And I am sorry but it is definitely OVER rated.

Heath Ledger portrays the role of a tortured man wrestling with his demons excellently. Don't get me wrong, he definitely deserves his nomination and maybe even the statue for his performance.

The story, however was a little...weak.

And here's the part I mean.

Spoilers below:

One minute they're drinking fellow sheep herders and the next they are screwing in a tent. I mean come on, its like wow, he puts his arm around him and then boom he screws him and now they are into each other. I just think that part could have been handled not so...callously.
There was nothing convincing to me about their relationship except that they kept seeing each other. I don't know. I did not feel that the movie effectively conveyed what their connection was or how deep their love was. Many people see it. I don't.

I thought the visuals (scenery/cinematography) were great. I did LIKE the movie, I just didn't feel very moved by it. I have been more moved by other love stories (Moulin Rouge and The Fisher King come to mind) than by these two cowboys. As far as I was oncerned, it was lacking passion and intensity.

A very well done movie but not the epic or great film some are making out to be.

Rating: 82