Speed Movie Reviews
Posted July 7, 2007 
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Comments(0) Mid-June, I had occasion to see an excessive number of movies — 8! — over just a few days. In alphabetical order, here are my very quick recommendations on each:
- 300: I’d seen this Gerard Butler film and saw it again. What guy doesn’t like epic battle stories with a hint of sex?
- Blades of Glory: Not my favorite Will Ferrell movie but an amusing diversion nonetheless. One of the funnier comedies I’ve seen this year. C’mon, two guys pairs figure-skating? That funny sh*t sells itself.
- Breach: The critics seemed to like this based-on-reality cold-war flick about a spy for the Soviet Union in the FBI, and I thought it was engaging but not memorable.
- Bridge to Terabithia: The previews of this movie were misleading. I expected a Science Fiction or Fantasy tale involving real events. This movie is sweeter and involves imaginary events concocted by the two child protagonists. This felt like two movies, not quite tied together, and I was surprised by the ending. Somehow, the movie didn’t feel cohesive to me. But of all the movies I’m reviewing right now, it was the most memorable due to the dissonance.
- Eragon: This adaptation of precocious Christopher Pioline’s fantasy novel was as bad as critics thought. Derivative, poor special effects, bad pacing, bad acting. I am enjoying the books — I’m a sucker for fantasy tales involving the discovery of latent power — and will read the final installment of the trilogy, but I’d say skip the movies altogether. (I can’t imagine a sequel will be made).
- Ghost Rider: Wow. Worse than Eragon. Avoid.
- Shooter: I’ll readily admit I like Marky Mark on the big screen. I enjoyed The Italian Job, among others, and I liked Shooter, in which Marky Mark’s character is framed for an assasination. I’m a sucker for action films in which the hero has unrealistic, nearly super-human powers.
- Stranger Than Fiction: I just realized I saw two Will Ferrell movies that week. Not as slapstick funny as Blades of Glory but interesting in its own right. I recommend seeing this at home.
