Amazon.co.uk Review
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, triumphantly completed by the 11-Oscar-winning The Return of the King, sets out to show that Tolkien's epic work, once derided as mere adolescent escapism, is not just fodder for the best mass entertainment spectacle ever seen on the big screen, but is also replete with emotionally satisfying meditations on the human condition. What is the nature of true friendship? What constitutes real courage? Why is it important for us to care about people living beyond our borders? What does it mean to live in harmony with the environment and what are the consequences when we do not? When is war justifiable and when is it not? What things are really worth fighting for? These are the questions that resonate with a contemporary audience: to see our current social and political concerns mirrored--and here finally resolved--in Middle-earth is to recognise that Jackson's Lord of the Rings is both a parable for our times and magical cinematic escapism.
As before, in this concluding part of the trilogy the spectacle never dwarfs (sic) the characters, even during Shelob the spider's pitiless assault, for example, or the unparalleled Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where the white towers of Minas Tirith come under ferocious attack from Troll-powered siege weapons and--in a sequence reminiscent of the Imperial Walkers in The Empire Strikes Back--Mammoth-like Mumakil. The people and their feelings always remain in focus, as emphasised by Jackson's sensitive small touches: Gandalf reassuring a terrified Pippin in the midst of battle that death is not to be feared; Frodo's blazing anger at Sam's apparent betrayal; Faramir's desire to win the approval of his megalomaniac father; Gollum's tragic cupidity and his final, heartbreaking glee. And at the very epicentre of the film is the pure heart of Samwise Gamgee--the real hero of the story.
At over three hours, there are almost inevitably some lulls, and the film still feels as if some key scenes are missing: a problem doubtless to be rectified in the extended DVD edition. But the end, when it does finally arrive--set to Howard Shore's Wagnerian music score--brings us full circle, leaving the departing audience to wonder if they will ever find within themselves even a fraction of the courage of a hobbit. --Mark Walker
Customer Reviews:
Buy the extended version, not this one ..... best scenes are missing........2008-02-04
I love Lord of the Rings and truth be told i love this movie, but this version of the movie is too heavily edited. Too much has been left out like Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-King, and the 'Mouth of Sauron' at the gates of Mordor. Buying this version is a waste of time, go and buy the extended version .... not this one.
A Fantastic Final Act To One Of The Best Trilogy' Ever.......2007-09-28
Plot:
The saga continues. Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mount Doom, but the deceitful Gollum plans to lead them into a trap and have the ring for himself. Meanwhile, the armies of Mordor are marching on the Gondorian city of Minas Tirith, where Gandalf finds Denethor, father of Boromir and Faramir, losing his sanity...
My Review:
Why do all good things 'have' to come to an end? During the last three years in a row, Peter Jackson has amazingly resurrected winter from its boring blues with the individual instalments of his Tolkien fantasy trilogy, ultimately changing the perspective of our cinematic excitement from the summer months to the end of the year. Now that it's over and done with, what will be the lasting effects of this groundbreaking achievement?
What ROTK does well is that it marks the first time in the series when Dir. Jackson's roots as a horror filmmaker come into the spotlight, or the light of ereniel, his skill greatly used in the right places, whereas other filmmakers just throw the scare at you for no reason. As the orcs attack and head beyond the walls of Minas Tirith, flesh-rotted ghosts draw swords alongside Aragorn and stalker ensues on Frodo through dark, web-shrouded tunnels, pushing the boundaries of its' given certificate.
However, that's not a problem as far as it being the last of the epic trilogy; correct word use there, the look and tone must and does necessarily grow darker as the Hobbits approach Mount Doom and Mordor's evil tightens its grip on Middle-earth.
The tinges of the characters have been moulded over an extraordinary ten hours-plus of great cinematic storytelling. The only characters that have reverted more are Legolas and Gimli, screen time-wise, to perhaps a more subtle and evolved set-piece archer and comedy sidekick correspondingly. Andy Serkis for his Gollum voice work, is rewarded with an early flashback that gets his face on screen, as well as warning us of just how powerful the ring is.
The momentum of the series has kept on rolling on and on though to delivering a climax to the story that's neater and more affecting than what Tolkien managed on the printed page.
With such a long journey, our heroes deserve the emotional pay-off as well as the action peaks, and they will be genuinely touched as the final credits roll. Long live King Kong.
Verdict:
A cleverly crafted climatic ending to a landmark trilogy in cinema history. No other Director would have had the time, patience and skill to bring justice to this. 10/10
Great ending to a great trilogy.......2007-09-16
Thrilling end to the trilogy. The action scenes and special effects are out of this world. Its true when they say they keep the best till last, especially when you relate it to The Return of the King.
The best lord of the rings movie.......2007-07-23
This movie was my favourite in the lord of the rings trilogy, it was the most gripping and most exciting out of the three movies. It has a great ending and a few character die, making it a little bit sad.
Frodo and Sam are being led by Gollum to Shelob ( the giant spiders ) layer,while the rest of them are fighting battles and travelling far to get to mount doom where they fight the main battle in the film.
If you thought the other LOTR movies were just ok you'll probably like this one because while I liked the other ones I still think that this one is the heart of the franchise and emphasises how good the whole thing is.
"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here...".......2007-07-20
Follow in "The Lord of the Rings" creator's (J.R.R. Tolkien's) footsteps. Project a malevolent universe. Invent a world and animate it with creatures in conflict. Make the conflict a battle between good and evil, but don't identify clearly the moral value or purpose of either side. In fact, remove morality's essence altogether by eliminating the power of choice for your characters. Emphasize the corruptibility of men. Glamorize the supernatural. Dwell interminably on the preparations for and the wreaking of violence and destruction, on the fragility of hope and happiness. Name the scene of action: Middle-earth. Sound like an environment you'd care to envision? Would you "live" there? If so, fate alone will decide its survival and your own. You can visit this predetermined "paradise" by watching/enduring/suffering Peter Jackson's elaborately filmed adaptation of Tolkien's epic trilogy, which concludes with "The Return of the King."
I hold it is true that what is not worth contemplating in life is not worth contemplating in art. For its dismaying lack of meaningful moral definition, its pervasive pictorial ugliness, the quantity of its scenes of mind-numbing graphic violence, and its minimizing of the value of happiness, "The Lord of the Rings" films--including this one--ought to be shunned and damned.
Amazon.co.uk Review
An unexpected marriage of big-budget production values and low-budget instincts, The Ring offers chills to be savoured. Usually when Hollywood indulges its cash-hungry game of remaking foreign films the result sacrifices much of what made the original so special. Clearly, the supremely eerie supernatural vibe that permeated the legendary 1998 Japanese horror film must have done something to those Hollywood suits, because Gore Verbinski's remake is actually rather good. Certainly, it's not superior to the original, but it's undoubtedly a cut above most modern horror efforts, expertly wringing every drop of suspense. The impressive Naomi Watts (Mullholland Drive) plays a journalist investigating an urban myth of a videotape that kills the viewer a week after watching it. Succumbing to curiosity, she watches it herself--big mistake--and has a week to solve the mystery or fall victim to its sinister power.
While transferring the action from Japan to modern-day Seattle may weaken the impact of the plot's mythological elements, and the film may be guilty of pointless padding (belying the original's lean format), Verbinski's effort is no less squirm-inducing, bolstered with a tremendous shocker of an ending. Exquisitely utilising the strong visual sense displayed in The Mexican, Verbinski creates a thick atmosphere of dread and suspense that never lets up, thankfully favouring old-fashioned scares, rather than retreating to blunt CG spectacle. In Watts, the film has a horror heroine who far exceeds the average wide-eyed scream queen, perfectly conveying the endless stream of bone-chilling moments. --Danny Graydon
Customer Reviews:
Read Twaddles Review.......2008-01-15
As Twadle said, What scares, this was the most hyped rubbish I have seen. I must have been watching a different film, in my view don't waste your time and money, as we were, you will be very disapointed.
One of the best.......2007-12-11
A fantastic horror. Light on blood and gore and special effects. It is a haunting film and petrified me!
Twaddle.......2007-11-15
I think i watched the wrong film, where were the scares? a strange eyed wet girl crawling out of a tv? is this the same film that scared the wits of out most people? why?
i was really looking forward to a film that made people seriously jump, i am fed up with films that think because there are gallons of blood it must be scary, so when i heard of the ring my sick spooky side got very excited, by the end of this film i almost wished for the wet girl to crawl out of my tv, alas it did not happen, the most disappointing and hyped up film in our horror history, the guy was goodlooking though, that was a plus x
Good for a modern horror.......2007-11-03
(3.5 stars)Fine, I wasn't scared or creeped out by this movie, but the only movie that scared me a little bit was Silence Of The Lambs, and lets face it, modern day horror isn't quite as good as that, but for a modern day horror, this movie is really good. It has a clever plot ( instead of just pointless gory scenes ) and scenes that would probably scare a lot of people.
The plot basically goes like this, two girls are having a sleepover party, and one of them is killed by a girl ( with hair covering her face ) that crawls out of the tv. The dead girls aunt decides to investigate her mysterious murder, because nobody believes what actually happened, and the aunt soon discovers unbelievable things.
This movie is nothing epic, and nothing amazing, but I still recommend it because it is good, nail biting entertainment.
Oh, Good Lord, I didn't know they were still doing movies THAT good and scary! .......2007-09-24
I didn't see the original Japanese movie of which this one is the remake and I do not think I ever will - I am not certain if I will have the necessary courage and fortitude, because it seems it is even scarier that the American version and this thing is already TERRIFYING!! And the best thing is, that actually there is no monsters in this movie. Instead, there is an atmosphere of permanent bone freezing terror, like I didn't see since the 70s, when both "Omen" and "Alien" appeared. Every scene in this movie is just perfect, every early scene is a necessary introduction to the later shockers (so watch carefully - there is no dead times in this movie), and everything just clicks in the right place at the end, like a Swiss clock mechanism. I just couldn't believe the incredible quality of this major horror. In fact, even more than scared, I was so totally shocked by this movie, that I didn't dare watching it a second time. In fact, I didn't need it - after just one viewing I still can remember almost all the scenes, and I am concerned that I will never be able to forget them .... especially the one in which we finally understand, why the heck a movie about a VHS tape is called "The Ring". A great, incredible horror movie. Very smart, very dark, very surprising. Watch it if you dare - and if you dare, you will be rewarded by the highest quality nightmare of those last fifteen years or so!
Customer Reviews:
Ok action film.......2005-08-21
Well this is nothing stunning and nothing new to the gerne but this is an ok cool film to watch to pass a little time. A good mix of stunts, fights and explosions without a great plot, but there rarely is in most action films. A good car chase at the start sets the pace for the film as good as the Ronin or Bourne identity car chases. The fights are ok, a good bit of martial arts used but they feel over staged to me. Overall not great but far worse out there!
A million times better than XXX!!!.......2005-04-01
Jason Statham is superb and it's him alone that really distinguishes this film from th erest. The fighting scenes are realistic and enjoyable. The car chases are brilliant benefiting from Luc Besson's 'Taxi' experiences. You get the perfect dose of everything - not too many explosions, etc. Jason like Jet Li & Jackie Chan, but unlike most, does all his own stunts. The script is a bit weak but the talent on show makes up for it. Overall, a very enjoyable action film with plenty of fighting (but not than much shooting) that puts most of the recent Hollywood action films to shame. The critics have been comparing this XXX, but in my opinion, beacause of the way it was made (little special-effects, actors trained in fighting, well thought out, etc) this film is in a different class! So, buy it now!!
Good action film without challenging the brain!.......2005-01-10
This is basically a Bond type film, if you like them, you'll like this! Great action scenes, good explosions, good car chases, but a simple plot! It's a good action film, with good effects, just lacking something to make it that 5*!
Worth watching, or maybe buying at a good price!
Hmmmmm.......2004-07-06
My oh my, how bad is this? so bad it's laughable, or perhaps that's the point? kind of like watching someone else play a computer game "beat em up" for 90 minutes. Appalling.
Atmospheric action film with very good fight scenes.......2004-03-28
I was surprised to see how many ingeniously choreographed and very well executed fight scenes can be found in this film. Although overall directorship is not the best of the best (one might find one too many exaggerated explosions), this film has enough attitude and atmosphere to almost be cult; a definite must if you like your martial arts.
Good sense of humour, speed and surprise are constant elements and - as it says on the box - it is better than Triple X. Watch it!
Amazon.co.uk Review
Though it bears little resemblance to the celebrated 1969 original starring Michael Caine, this 2003 remake of The Italian Job stands on its own as a caper comedy that's well above average. The title's a misnomer--this time it's actually a Los Angeles job--but the action's just as exciting as it propels a breezy tale of honour and dishonour among competing thieves. Inheriting Caine's role as ace heist-planner Charlie Croker, Mark Wahlberg plays straight-man to a well-cast team of accomplices, including Mos Def, Jason Statham and scene-stealer Seth Green in a variation of the role originally played by Noel Coward. As the daughter of Croker's ill-fated mentor (Donald Sutherland), Charlise Theron is recruited to double-cross a double-crosser (Edward Norton in oily villain mode), and once again, speedily versatile Mini Coopers (this time, the modern BMW versions) play a pivotal role in director F Gary Gray's exhilarating car-chase climax. It's perhaps the greatest product placement in movie history, and just as fun the second time around. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Not perfect, but very good........2008-01-27
Film about a company of master thieves who plan the perfect heist of millions of dollars worth of gold bullion in Venice and pull it off, only to be double-crossed by one of their own, Steve (played by Edward Norton), who kills the leader of the company John Bridger (played by Donald Sutherland) and leaves the rest of the company for dead, making off with the gold bullion. But the other members of the company do not die, and, led by former second in command Charlie Croker (played by Mark Wahlberg) vow to avenge their leader's death and recover the gold bullion. When a year later they track down Steve living the good life in Los Angeles, they enlist the help of John Bridger's daughter and highly skilled safe cracker Stella (played by Charlize Theron) to help them avenge their leader's and her father's death and also recover the gold bullion. The heist is on.
Comments: I found this to be a commendable movie. There are good action sequences in the two main locales of Venice and Los Angeles in which the film is set, the heist scenes are very clever, the main characters all gel well, there is some wry humour and the iconic elements from the 60s original - such as the Minis and the gold bullion - are all in place. I have not seen the original so I cannot compare the two films but this film was very good, although I felt the ending could have had more impact. Nonetheless this is a very well made - if not perfect - film. Go and see it.
A sickeningly awful travesty of a classic film.......2008-01-20
I must admit, I was against this movie from the outset but I tried my hardest to be impartial, I really did, but the very idea of remaking a sophisticated, witty, entertaining, quirky British classic full of character has to be dubious from the outset.
People in my house were watching this so I swallowed my pride and told myself to be professional about films (I have studied them at Uni after all).
As expected for an American film of this sort, the movie began with a chase which wasn't bad. Indeed, many of the action sequences are credible and this alone lifts the mark.
Yet the characterisation was abysmal, the set-pieces could very easily have been spliced from any American schlock blockbuster you might have had the misfortune to watch and it lacked all character.
Seeming to take a skewed angle on the original film with a failed initial robbery, the US version does the predictable thing and introduces an emotional factor with the death of Donald Sutherland's character. This allows our US cousins plenty of opportunity for sycophantic, dewy-eyed vengeance-seeking against the 'evil-doers' which it milks to predictable excesses. This is never more so evident as in the scenes featuring Charlize Theron (oh pretty! oh so pretty! Look at her pretty, wounded Bambi eyes, everyone!) which were thoroughly nauseating. Her entrance scene, particularly, was like something out of Resident Evil or Tomb Raider which were both a) more entertaining and b) had better beginnings because they couldn't mess up a game like they could with British cinema which was already chock-full of spark, people you genuinely feel something for and moments of inspiration. But I digress, the whole inclusion of a pretty girl for the sake of it just seems like the most ham-fisted manoeuvre I've seen in some time and exposes cynical Hollywood blockbuster-lust for what it is.
If you like any of these actors, by the way, and you agree with any of the above comments, DO NOT GO TO SEE THIS FILM! If I had the opportunity of watching 'Fight Club' or 'American History X' after seeing Ed Norton in this, I would have declined. Likewise Jason Statham with 'Lock Stock' (and I suppose 'The Transporter' is okay if you like that sort of thing).
Sadly, all the set-pieces are designed in the most transparent possible way to get you thinking, 'Wow! He's smart!', 'Coo! He's cool!', 'Hey! What a tough guy!'. Then there's the 'funny PC guy' who has 'comic relief' splattered across his forehead but whose humour content can be anticipated two minutes in advance. To be honest, if you've seen one or two films like it, you might easily confuse the two as clones from the Jerry Bruckheimer stable. Not that Jerry is irredeemably awful, by the way, but he just uses the cliches to excess as everyone knows (or should).
This is where I have to come clean. I didn't manage to make it to the end, so I couldn't even say whether the brilliant ending in the Michael Caine version made it but, I'm sorry, it's just one of those extremely rare films that, if I'd seen it at a cinema, I would have walked out and staged a small protest outside. It's not just that it is another identical by-the-numbers Ocean's 14 or something (Ocean's Eleven was fine but don't bother with the rest!) with all the glitz, glamour, fake sass and pantomime heroics of such a film but I couldn't recognise anything from the original at all.
So, if you are expecting 'THE ITALIAN JOB' and not 'OCEAN'S 14' albeit badly written with a less established cast and characters, some disingenuous elements and cardboard cut-out script-writing then DO NOT WATCH! I don't mind people liking a bit of mindless fun but this is a criminal hatchett-job that does not deserve in any way to parade itself under the title of a classic. Seriously, show some pride! I felt thoroughly justified in my outraged and sickened reaction when I first heard that the film would be made. Avoid at all costs!
Fantastic, an action movie with a great plot!.......2007-11-09
I love the original italian job movie and so was wondering how they would approach a modern remake. Well i have to say that this is NOT the italian job. that is to say it is not a remake of the original film, it is simply inspired by the original in as much as minis are used and it copies the idea of a great plot and lots of action. Other than that, there is no similarity. The plots of both movies are entirely different, the charactors are completely different and this movie stands on its own two feet as a great family action movie.
I would urge you to buy this at the great price ive seen it for sale at, before the shops realise what a great movie this is and put their prices up! Seriously, get some pop corn, some friends or the whole family, pull up a sofa and settle in for the ride. Action, Laughs and a great story, what more could you want?
LEAVE THE CLASSICS ALONE.......2007-10-24
Why did they do it? YOU CANNOT COPY THE ITALIAN JOB.
They tried to put a slightly different spin on the story but the updated technology, including new shpae Mini's just didn't work.
HANDS OFF HOLLYWOOD
A POOR COPY OF THE ORIGINAL MASTERPIECE........2007-09-16
Considering the canvas that Gary Grey had to work with, it is a miserable result that has been created. A highly talented cast, and no doubt, an equally high budget should have produced at least something worthy of being called a remake. Unfortunately, what we have is a very "iffy" rewrite that leaves much to be desired. The only resemblance to the original is the three Mini Coopers. All in all a pathetic film that does no justice to the movie industry and should be avoided at all cost.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, triumphantly completed by the 11-Oscar-winning The Return of the King, sets out to show that Tolkien's epic work, once derided as mere adolescent escapism, is not just fodder for the best mass entertainment spectacle ever seen on the big screen, but is also replete with emotionally satisfying meditations on the human condition. What is the nature of true friendship? What constitutes real courage? Why is it important for us to care about people living beyond our borders? What does it mean to live in harmony with the environment and what are the consequences when we do not? When is war justifiable and when is it not? What things are really worth fighting for? These are the questions that resonate with a contemporary audience: to see our current social and political concerns mirrored--and here finally resolved--in Middle-earth is to recognise that Jackson's Lord of the Rings is both a parable for our times and magical cinematic escapism.
As before, in this concluding part of the trilogy the spectacle never dwarfs (sic) the characters, even during Shelob the spider's pitiless assault, for example, or the unparalleled Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where the white towers of Minas Tirith come under ferocious attack from Troll-powered siege weapons and--in a sequence reminiscent of the Imperial Walkers in The Empire Strikes Back--Mammoth-like Mumakil. The people and their feelings always remain in focus, as emphasised by Jackson's sensitive small touches: Gandalf reassuring a terrified Pippin in the midst of battle that death is not to be feared; Frodo's blazing anger at Sam's apparent betrayal; Faramir's desire to win the approval of his megalomaniac father; Gollum's tragic cupidity and his final, heartbreaking glee. And at the very epicentre of the film is the pure heart of Samwise Gamgee--the real hero of the story.
At over three hours, there are almost inevitably some lulls, and the film still feels as if some key scenes are missing: a problem doubtless to be rectified in the extended DVD edition. But the end, when it does finally arrive--set to Howard Shore's Wagnerian music score--brings us full circle, leaving the departing audience to wonder if they will ever find within themselves even a fraction of the courage of a hobbit. --Mark Walker
Customer Reviews:
Buy the extended version, not this one ..... best scenes are missing........2008-02-04
I love Lord of the Rings and truth be told i love this movie, but this version of the movie is too heavily edited. Too much has been left out like Gandalf's confrontation with the Witch-King, and the 'Mouth of Sauron' at the gates of Mordor. Buying this version is a waste of time, go and buy the extended version .... not this one.
A Fantastic Final Act To One Of The Best Trilogy' Ever.......2007-09-28
Plot:
The saga continues. Frodo and Sam edge closer to Mount Doom, but the deceitful Gollum plans to lead them into a trap and have the ring for himself. Meanwhile, the armies of Mordor are marching on the Gondorian city of Minas Tirith, where Gandalf finds Denethor, father of Boromir and Faramir, losing his sanity...
My Review:
Why do all good things 'have' to come to an end? During the last three years in a row, Peter Jackson has amazingly resurrected winter from its boring blues with the individual instalments of his Tolkien fantasy trilogy, ultimately changing the perspective of our cinematic excitement from the summer months to the end of the year. Now that it's over and done with, what will be the lasting effects of this groundbreaking achievement?
What ROTK does well is that it marks the first time in the series when Dir. Jackson's roots as a horror filmmaker come into the spotlight, or the light of ereniel, his skill greatly used in the right places, whereas other filmmakers just throw the scare at you for no reason. As the orcs attack and head beyond the walls of Minas Tirith, flesh-rotted ghosts draw swords alongside Aragorn and stalker ensues on Frodo through dark, web-shrouded tunnels, pushing the boundaries of its' given certificate.
However, that's not a problem as far as it being the last of the epic trilogy; correct word use there, the look and tone must and does necessarily grow darker as the Hobbits approach Mount Doom and Mordor's evil tightens its grip on Middle-earth.
The tinges of the characters have been moulded over an extraordinary ten hours-plus of great cinematic storytelling. The only characters that have reverted more are Legolas and Gimli, screen time-wise, to perhaps a more subtle and evolved set-piece archer and comedy sidekick correspondingly. Andy Serkis for his Gollum voice work, is rewarded with an early flashback that gets his face on screen, as well as warning us of just how powerful the ring is.
The momentum of the series has kept on rolling on and on though to delivering a climax to the story that's neater and more affecting than what Tolkien managed on the printed page.
With such a long journey, our heroes deserve the emotional pay-off as well as the action peaks, and they will be genuinely touched as the final credits roll. Long live King Kong.
Verdict:
A cleverly crafted climatic ending to a landmark trilogy in cinema history. No other Director would have had the time, patience and skill to bring justice to this. 10/10
Great ending to a great trilogy.......2007-09-16
Thrilling end to the trilogy. The action scenes and special effects are out of this world. Its true when they say they keep the best till last, especially when you relate it to The Return of the King.
The best lord of the rings movie.......2007-07-23
This movie was my favourite in the lord of the rings trilogy, it was the most gripping and most exciting out of the three movies. It has a great ending and a few character die, making it a little bit sad.
Frodo and Sam are being led by Gollum to Shelob ( the giant spiders ) layer,while the rest of them are fighting battles and travelling far to get to mount doom where they fight the main battle in the film.
If you thought the other LOTR movies were just ok you'll probably like this one because while I liked the other ones I still think that this one is the heart of the franchise and emphasises how good the whole thing is.
"Q: Where Would You Rather Be? A: Anywhere But Here...".......2007-07-20
Follow in "The Lord of the Rings" creator's (J.R.R. Tolkien's) footsteps. Project a malevolent universe. Invent a world and animate it with creatures in conflict. Make the conflict a battle between good and evil, but don't identify clearly the moral value or purpose of either side. In fact, remove morality's essence altogether by eliminating the power of choice for your characters. Emphasize the corruptibility of men. Glamorize the supernatural. Dwell interminably on the preparations for and the wreaking of violence and destruction, on the fragility of hope and happiness. Name the scene of action: Middle-earth. Sound like an environment you'd care to envision? Would you "live" there? If so, fate alone will decide its survival and your own. You can visit this predetermined "paradise" by watching/enduring/suffering Peter Jackson's elaborately filmed adaptation of Tolkien's epic trilogy, which concludes with "The Return of the King."
I hold it is true that what is not worth contemplating in life is not worth contemplating in art. For its dismaying lack of meaningful moral definition, its pervasive pictorial ugliness, the quantity of its scenes of mind-numbing graphic violence, and its minimizing of the value of happiness, "The Lord of the Rings" films--including this one--ought to be shunned and damned.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Though it bears little resemblance to the celebrated 1969 original starring Michael Caine, this 2003 remake of The Italian Job stands on its own as a caper comedy that's well above average. The title's a misnomer--this time it's actually a Los Angeles job--but the action's just as exciting as it propels a breezy tale of honour and dishonour among competing thieves. Inheriting Caine's role as ace heist-planner Charlie Croker, Mark Wahlberg plays straight-man to a well-cast team of accomplices, including Mos Def, Jason Statham and scene-stealer Seth Green in a variation of the role originally played by Noel Coward. As the daughter of Croker's ill-fated mentor (Donald Sutherland), Charlise Theron is recruited to double-cross a double-crosser (Edward Norton in oily villain mode), and once again, speedily versatile Mini Coopers (this time, the modern BMW versions) play a pivotal role in director F Gary Gray's exhilarating car-chase climax. It's perhaps the greatest product placement in movie history, and just as fun the second time around. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.co.uk Review
An Army-base comedy about soldiers "with nothing to kill except time", Buffalo Soldiers invites casual comparison to Catch-22 and M*A*S*H. It's 1989: the Berlin Wall is falling, completing the Cold War's thaw and Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix)--a clerk with the 317th Supply Battalion, stationed in west Germany--combats boredom with a variety of black-market schemes, from cooking heroin for the base's corrupt MPs to dealing stolen arms to the highest bidder, in addition to having a shallow affair with the two-timing wife (Elizabeth McGovern) of his outgoing commander (Ed Harris). Elwood's new CO (Scott Glenn) clamps down on his illegal activities while protecting his daughter (Anna Paquin) from Elwood's advances.
Fine casting and positive buzz couldn't prevent this movie's ironic fate: acquired by Miramax one day before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Buffalo Soldiers was shelved for nearly two years, by which time this dark and defiantly amusing exercise in political incorrectness--based on the novel by Robert O'Connor--had been overshadowed by world events. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
[THIS SPACE FOR RENT].......2007-05-26
Here's a story about some buffalo soldiers who are not, as far as I could tell, also dreadlock rastas. Instead, this one is about a bunch of army types larking about and making a mess of things during those times when there's no actual fighting to be done. Mostly, this centres around Joaquin Pheonix as Elwood, a guy who steals and sells whatever he can get his hands on, so he's a bit like Milo Minderbinder but without the chocolate covered cotton.
I liked this one, but I would have preferred a more even tone. It starts out well, and the first half hour or so is a very funny little black comedy about the awful things soldiers do when they're bored, but it becomes more serious as Ellwood gets in over his head with some criminals and has to deal with a new commanding officer who is bent on shutting down Ellwood's operation. It's still good, but I missed the laughs when they were gone.
My memory of the book on which this is based is pretty vague, but this big screen adaptation seemed very different. Mind you, I didn't like the book much, so this is a definite improvement. Buffalo Soldiers offers a decent insight into the inevitable inward collapse an army faces when it has no wartime duties to perform, and even if it could have done with some more humour in the latter half, I liked this enough to recommend it.
Jet black humour.......2006-04-19
A satire of the blackest hue featuring a raft of great performances, most notably Ed Harris, hilarious as a henpecked, incompetent officer. Not to be taken too seriously as a portrait of the US army (think Bilko on acid), but nonetheless hilarious viewing.
Brilliant!!.......2006-02-03
Like I said brilliant. Dont know what the last 2 reviews were about. Tennis??. Sense of humour breakdown perhaps?. Great film, decide for yourself, but don't pass it by!
Very dull!.......2006-02-01
I gave this film an hour before I had to turn it off, its unfunny and pointless. I wasted an hour of my life!
Not A Grand Slam.......2006-01-29
Not much to add to the sagacious earlier reviews. Yes, this film was full of gratuitous violence, hopeless amorality, dopey and doped characters incredibly abstracted out of a military that I hope to God is in no way a simulacrum of our fighting force as it exists today. I viewed this just prior to turning to the finals of the 2006 Australian Open tennis championships and was immediately struck by the physical resemblance of Joaquin Phoenix to the eventual men's singles champion, Roger Federer. That's Joaquin Phoenix, the actor, not his character, Elwood, for Elwood, in his cynical, immature, mendacious mercenary hejira through military service could not be more different than Roger Federer, so earnest and self-effacing in his pursuit of tennis fame and fortune, willing to work hard for his gains and not holding back from giving of himself. But that impression aside, I have to say that there was one thrill for me in this film provided by Phoenix at the very end when banged up and scarred he's up to his old tricks in his new unit with his new C.O. as he presents his requisitions with that wry, complicit leer of his. Remind you of someone? How about Hannibal Lector at the end of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS picking up the trail of his hated and hateful wardener? Some little chill there? Other impressions: was there ever a sluttier presence than Anna Paquin's character packed into a slatternly body that's like no diver's I've ever seen. And what of Elizabeth McGovern's henpecking the very amusing Ed Harris? He was all but cuckholded publicly by her; more's the fun if there were a scene depicting her really screwing Ed's foot soldiers, hmmm?
Amazon.co.uk Review
Although it's enjoyable as a brainless diversion, National Security is one of those forgettable entertainments that denies its own considerable potential. It's a police action comedy in the mould of Beverly Hills Cop, tailored to the buddy-flick formula and laced with racial tensions of the post-Rodney King era. It's set in Los Angeles, where dedicated cop Hank (Steve Zahn) does jail time for allegedly beating Earl (Martin Lawrence), whose only real assailant was an overzealous bumblebee. As fate and lazy screenwriting would have it, the two adversaries reunite as security guards, teaming up to crack a team of violent smugglers led by bleached-blond Eric Roberts (further proof that this movie's got nothing new to offer). Routine stunts distract from the comedy's mostly untapped resource: Lawrence pointedly riffs on racial profiling, and his prolific ad-libs play well against Zahn's by-the-book straight man. If their partnership had been allowed to develop more believably, National Security might have been more than a blip on the box-office radar. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
AT LEAST YOU COULD ASK ME KINDLY.......2007-08-16
Well, "National Security" has many problems, but it is still none-the-less very funny. Despite what the movie reviewers think this movie has laughs, action, and great acting. This movie is always entertaining, even if there are some irritating flaws. For example, one scene in the movie showed Zahn being on trial for beating a black man, and most of the trial was black. Even though it was presented in a funny way, it was still annoying. In a case involving race between white and African-American people, the jury would be half white and half African-American. When this movie was made, the director probably knew this, he just thought it would be funny anyway, which it was, but imagine this type of thing happening through the entire movie. Having said that, I'll end talking about what was wrong with the movie by just saying that this movie is not for anyone who likes movies to have realistic situations, a believable story, or a non-cliche script.
However, even though the movie rehashes many jokes from other movies, they are all presented in a new form, some better and some worse than before. In my opinion, most of them were better, probably because of the actors who reincarnated the jokes. Lawrence is said to be copying both Eddie Murphy and Will Smith; well the movie reviewers are really stupid, because Martin Lawrence is who he is, and he's perfect for the part he plays in the movie. I'll repeat, Lawrence portrays this part very differently than how either Murphy or Smith would have played it; and I'm talking about for the better. And as for Zahn, I'll just say one thing; He has never been in a movie that I didn't like him in, and, he's never been in a movie that I just didn't like in general. Now for the last thing on the list, the action. The movie has many cool car stunts and gun-play, and it's mixed flawlessly with the comedy. I liked all the stunts except for the fight scene at the end with Lawrence and one of the bad guys; it was lame, cheesy, slow, and boring. But the rest of the movie was great fun. I wasn't disappointed in the least.
cooooooooooooooooool.......2005-11-04
This film is as funny as it is exciting.
I think you'll probably be surprised at how funny Martin Lawrence is. Like I was.
The funny story between black and white people is based about false racism.
The best film in years!.......2005-10-20
This film is as funny as it is exciting!
It blends thrills & comedy in a Jackie Chan kind of way.
If you liked Blue streak & Nothing to lose you will luv this film!
SHEER ENTERTAINMENT!
What the problem is?.......2005-10-18
I usually don't like Martin Lawrence and I find his anti-white humor to be quite offensive as well as his string of bad movies. But compared to his other movie of 2003 (that would be the shockingly awful Bad Boys II), National Security is a rather easy-going and light-hearted cop comedy flick with quite a few good laughs. A lot of them, surprisingly, coming from Lawrence himself.
Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn)is a cop who is unfairly thrown in jail for apparently beating a black suspect (Lawrence) who just got kicked out of Police Academy. With his career in tatters he emerges from the slammer with only one job opportunity available; a lowly guard for a lowly security company. Determined to follow up on the big case he was involved with before serving time, he crosses the path of fellow security guard Earl Montgomery (Lawrence again) and the two reignite their old conflict.
The old love/hate buddy thing may be old and the plot may be silly but it's a great excuse for loads of action set-pieces and humor. The potentially dangerous comedy of black vs white never becomes offensive and is handled with such lightness that it never becomes an issue. Both men have their failings and bonuses and are as equal as each other. You really do feel a great partnership between them despite their arguing and fights.
Give National Treasure a try. It's slick and fast-moving and is a helluva lot better than Bad Boys II. You'll probably be surprised at how funny Martin Lawrence is. I was.
The DVD is in great looking 1.85:1 widescreen with pretty good Dolby 5.1 sound. The scenes where Lawrence uses his automatic pistol really pack a heavy punch in the .1 LFE channel. The usual deleted scenes and commentary are included on the DVD but I was surprised the extended ending wasn't included in the film. It would have been better with it.
Very Funny and Clever Film.......2003-10-02
I found this film to be a refreshingly funny film. So many films are being loosely badged as being comedies. This one is both visually and vocally funny. Some of the best lines are spoken quietly and off camera, so it is worth-while giving it your full attention. The humour was both offbeat and ingeneious. It had me in stitches. Definately NOT a film to watch whilst others are chatting in the background though. (Tell them that if they want to talk, go outside). You will NOT regret watching this film.
UK DVD:
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