Man, I almost passed out when I heard the premiere finally hit theaters. Can someone please tell me how long this is going to be playing and which theaters have it? I'm not based in Washington, D.C., so I need to figure out my travel plans before it's gone.
😍
It’ll be playing for a long, long time. The premiere was just the other day, so I assume it’ll stay around forever. You can catch it at AMC Theatres in downtown or over at Avenue Mall, so pick one. By the way, I ducked into the theater for a second just to check the setup, and I gotta say, it's pretty impressive. You really get the feeling you're right there on stage with them. The best part is when Bono sings directly into the camera. It feels like he's standing right in front of you, reaching out his hand. I tried to corner him to get some alone time, but no luck. If I can make it back, it’ll be perfect. 😛
The first movie was great, the second was a bit of a letdown—mostly because that opening chase scene looked so fake due to cheap special effects—but the third one was a complete disaster. Why? For the exact same reason as the start of the second one... except instead of an opening chase in the States, everything just looks artificial. As someone who actually loves cars and racing, that stuff just doesn't work for me. Then there’s the dialogue, which is just plain stupid. Look, I get it, a movie like this doesn't need deep philosophical discussions, but here they tried way too hard to make it happen, and it feels totally forced. The acting is an absolute train wreck (honestly, *Step Up 2* has Oscar-worthy performances compared to this)... this movie has zero quality, even in the parts where it's supposed to have actual substance. If they shoot a fourth one with the original crew, it’ll be way better since those actors actually have some credibility. Regarding what someone mentioned about where they got those cars and garages from... this takes place in Japan or America. People have money. It’s just like how some 18-year-olds in the US have a BMW ready to go thanks to their dads.
Look, the plot is predictable from frame one, but that doesn't stop it from being a kickass comedy. Honestly, if it wasn't for Jack Black, this movie wouldn't even come close to being good. He was practically born for this role. It’s a celebration of rock in its own way, and frankly, they should be playing this in School of Rock classes just to give kids a little taste of the real thing—maybe then some of them might actually save themselves from becoming total losers.
I have to admit, I hadn't heard much about this movie until I actually sat down to watch it, and frankly, it didn't impress me one bit. The direction is... well, messy? To my mind, the editing is a complete disaster; the plot jumps around so abruptly, and certain things aren't explained at all. MILD SPOILERS: like the aforementioned sinking into the lake and then suddenly finding oneself in the snow. I can play along with the whole divinity angle if I want, but what am I supposed to believe here? That God just teleported him from a frozen lake a mile away and dried him off on the way? Then there’s the scene where the priest is walking through the desert and drops dead; next scene—a woman wakes up and tells her kid they have to leave; next scene—they're standing over the dead priest (all within a single minute of film). What, does the woman just have a sixth sense for dead priests? Did God lead her straight to him? It's terrible. It feels like they only introduced the concept of divinity to patch up all the holes in the script. As for the acting, in my humble opinion, it's mediocre to poor, and the worst part is the leads. Uninspired, lacking any convincing emotion, almost indifferent. The only character who felt somewhat believable and well-acted was Temujin's "brother." And that brings us to the film's biggest flaw: the characters aren't developed enough. Too much time is wasted on minor events while crucial moments are cut entirely, and yet you never truly get a sense of what Temujin is thinking, feeling, or why he's doing what he's doing. The only thing that genuinely impressed me were a few beautiful nature shots and that impressive final fight scene. You might walk away thinking the movie is a total catastrophe, but honestly, it's just average.
Honestly, this Film is such a breath of fresh air. People complaining about the pacing shifts—why does that bother you so much? In my opinion, the writing is excellent (aside from a few physics hiccups if you're the type who can't handle a little cinematic leeway), and the acting is top-tier. Especially Cillian Murphy; I'm becoming a massive fan of his work. Regardless of what you think of the director, he’s the reason this piece has such a unique dimension. He consistently brings something fresh to the genre with almost everything he touches. And for those whining about "logic"... jeez, just use your imagination a little. Not every single plot point needs to be spoon-fed to you. 9/10
I scan the reviews here and there in the papers—usually just catching the previews in that Friday supplement in the New York Post—and I regularly check IMDb for new movie reviews and ratings. If I see a film that everyone is tearing apart, I’ll pass. But if a specific actor, director, or subject matter catches my eye, I’m watching it regardless of what the critics say. To be honest, reviews mostly just serve to pique my interest in movies I probably wouldn't have looked at otherwise. Generally speaking, I find IMDb ratings to be a pretty solid guide for what's worth the time; anything above a 7 is definitely worth it, maybe something between a 6 and 7, but anything lower than that? Not really. Of course, there are always exceptions (for instance, I think Artificial Intelligence and Constantine are way too underrated by all the critics).