Milkduds

Google goes to the movies!

Since this blog is movie-centric, I thought it should be noted that Google now does move-based searches. Basically, just type in “movie:” proceeded by your zip code (to find movies playing at theatres near you), an actor, a movie title, a quote from a movie, or anything else, and you’ll get special results relating to movies that relate to your search string. Each result comes with an average movie rating for each movie based on reviews on the Internet. If you click the movie title, you’ll get a page that lists all of the reviews it takes into account and has very simple Gmail-like navigation and filtering. Go to their blog post to find out more info on how to leverage this new searching power.

Add comment March 2nd, 2005

Ed Wood (5/10)

I like Tim Burton movies, I’ll admit it. Usually, you’ll find that most people either like all of his movies or hate them all, because his movies are all very unique in style and taste. I think that’s why I like them - they are original, imaginative, and entertaining. But, Ed Wood, which most critics claim as Burton’s best work ever, I could have stood to never have seen. The movie is based on the true story of the cross-dressing Hollywood director, who is known to have made some of the worst movies of all time.

The acting in the movie was SUPERB, which I’m sure was due mostly to the direction of Burton. Martin Landou played Bella Lugosi and deserved the best supporting actor Oscar hands down. Johnny Depp played Ed Wood and also did a great acting job since he plays a character that seems to be so far removed from his true persona. There were more great actors in the movie, but it has to be noted that Vincent D’Onofrio had a short part as Orson Wells, and he was a dead ringer. Great acting aside, I just did not like the story at all and thought it was pretty boring. The only thing that kept me watching was the acting and wondering how Ed was going to finish his movie. I just hope Burton impresses me with Corpse Bride this year.

Add comment March 2nd, 2005

Saw (7/10)

Saw was a great screenplay and original movie idea, had just the right amount of gore for a horror movie, but had some serious acting issues. The premise is basically that a serial killer has chained up two men in a large bathroom and tells them that in order to survive, they have to figure out a way to kill the other by a certain time. In the mean time, the police are trying to figure out who the killer is before their time is up.

I really liked this movie, but after seeing that it was shot on a tight budget in only 18 days, I appreciate it even more. The content of the movie is pretty dark, so check your stomach at the door before popping this one in your movie player of choice. I thought the writer, Leigh Whannell did a decent acting job as one of the men in the bathroom. However, Cary Elwes (who played the other man) did a relatively horrible job acting. I recognized him as Westley, my favorite swashbuckling hero from The Princess Bride, but he just didn’t cut the mustard on this flick. Aside from that, this was just a good old-fashioned horror movie with a twist at the end to make room for a sequel.

2 comments March 2nd, 2005

The Notebook (7/10)

If you like romantic, sappy, sad movies, then The Notebook is for you. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but if you don’t like those kind of movies, then you should steer clear of this movie. The Notebook is a story about an old man (James Garner) that reads a love story out of a notebook to an old woman (Gena Rowlands) in a nursing home. The story he reads her is about the enduring love between a boy named Noah (Ryan Gosling) and girl named Allie (Rachel McAdams).

This movie was really good and definitely tugs at the heart strings - especially at the end. I thought the chemistry between Gosling and McAdams was really good, but wasn’t that impressed by McAdams acting. The story and idea of the way the movie unfolded was ambitious, but very well executed. I also thought the script had some dialogue that didn’t fit for the period that Noah and Allie’s story was set in. I was really impressed with Gosling in this movie and also recently saw him in Murder by Numbers. He seems to be a good change of pace for leading male roles, so I’ll be interested to see how he does in future films.

Add comment March 2nd, 2005