House of Flying Daggers
Rating: A/3 – Beautifully done (acting, music, and art), just like Hero. And also like Hero and many other Chinese flicks, it was rather sad. Not a very complex story, but the simplicity of the story adds to its beauty. (Visit website for moral review).
Minority Report
Rating: A/4 – “Most of the major ills of the world have been caused by well-meaning people [not deliberately trying to destroy America] who ignored the principle of individual freedom, except as applied to themselves, and who were obsessed with fanatical zeal to improve the lot of mankind-in-the-mass through some pet formula of their own….THE HARM DONE BY ORDINARY CRIMINALS, MURDERES, GANGSTERS, AND THIEVES IS NEGLIGIBLE IN COMPARISON WITH THE AGONY INFLICTED UPON HUMAN BEINGS BY THE PROFESSIONAL ‘DO-GOODERS’, who attempt to set themselves up as gods on earth and who would ruthlessly force their views on all others – with the abiding assurance that the end justifies the means.”
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Rating: C/4 – This show was very interesting and very confusing. If it weren’t for Wikipedia’s candid explanation of why Terry Gilliam put this together and what he was thinking, I would have thought a lot less of this film (not understanding it’s purpose of existence). Because the story was so confusing, it was hard to enjoy; and as my wife stated, “if you want to see what it feels like to be high, you’ll get it by watching this show” (not that she would know what to compare it to). –For more on the moral content of the film, come visit the site and vote on the poll.
Inception
Rating: A/5 – This movie was amazing. This is what all directors should aspire to. Occasionally it is nice to be able to sit back and not have to think, but this is more than just a thinking movie; you get totally immersed in the film as if you were dreaming it yourself! Nolan has created a totally unique story so complex and deep that it begs for multiple views. Hans Zimmer does a wonderful job with the score as well. You have to see this in the theater.
State of Play
Rating: B/3 – Like the Informant! I had a hard time getting drawn into this film. Russell Crowe does a good job as a journalist, but he’s kind of an unbelievable character in that he’s up against all kinds of trained people trying to keep the Senator from falling, and his only weapon he wields is a pen. Maybe this is symbolic because a sub theme of the movie is the difficulty the newspaper industry is having with online news sources, and the juxtaposition of Crowe and these renegades underscores it.
Gentlemen Broncos
Rating: D/2 – Don’t waste your time. You’ll get the gist of it just from the trailer.
Did You Hear About the Morgan’s?
Rating: B/4 – This was a great story of learning how to work through problems in marriage. Maybe the situations that caused their separation and frustrations were a little extreme (though maybe not as uncommon as I think). The fact that you need to expect everything from one another is very important in keeping you both (husband and wife) working towards sticking together.
The Transporter
Rating: C/2 – Not morally offensive, but no positive value, except maybe to not stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. Or better yet, don’t do anything illegal. (Cool fight scenes though).
Everybody’s Fine
Rating: A/4 – Frank knew he didn’t have the most exciting professional life and hoped and “knew” that each of his kids could be whatever they (he) wanted them to be. Because of this attitude, his kids (and wife) only told him what he was willing to listen to (never any bad news, everybody was always fine). The visit he makes to each child is very eye-opening and you learn right along side him how his link to his family is starting to fall apart. The trip turned out to be more for him than for his children, though ultimately it did bring them all together again.
Surrogates
This film accurately depicted how constantly seeking thrills, and trying to escape reality, damages real-life relationships.