Chief Delphi - So...What Movie Did You Just Watch?

The last few movies I have seen up to now:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I have never read the books but I had heard so much about them so I had fairly high expectations. I was soundly disappionted. I never really laughed out loud once during the film and Sam Rockwells character got on my nerves big time. The movie is interesting and inventive but it seems arrogant (when it has no reason to be) and flat in it's delivery.C-

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
After two tries George finally got the new Star Wars right. Right at the end. The action was fine in the other movies as it was in this one but what those other films lacked was emotional weight. Now while it isn't on the level of LOTR Anakins fall into the Dark side was truly interesting and emotionally compelling aided by a far better performance by Hayden Christensen who managed to unclench his teeth and mouth words.Truly this was Lucas finest hour.

P.S: One big complaint I had about this movie was the treatement of General Grievious in the movie. He was just plain cool in the Clone Wars series and here he is this slimy little coward who scurries off during a fight instead of the butt kicker we saw in Episode 20. Real lame George and it cost you a point.B

Madagascar
An enjoyable romp helped by a short and sweet running time and good vocal performances to compensate for a plot that isn't much. This could have been a much better movie than it was.B-

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
This movie also thrived off of the performances of their leads to patch up an unremarkeable story. Particularly Regina King who is a very underrated actress. Standard by the number stuff hit and run entertainment really.C+

The Interpreter
A solid thriller with some good tense moments that unfortuinately paints itself into a corner late. I was actually distracted by Nicole Kidman's amazing animated hair in the initial interview with Penn (one scene it's in front of her face another its on the side of her head. Hmmmm).B-

Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Although hyped for the wrong reason (I am not onlu sick of all the Brad/ Angelina hype but ALL celeberty couple obsession. The celeberty media is really pathetic. When they were in Africa on an actual mission to help people those idiots could only talk about their rendevous like they were eloping or something instead of doing some good. I would reccomend burying these idiots in an ant hill but I thinkit would be better served to force these vapid souls to give half of their overpaid salieries to helping the cause that Brad and Angelina were in Africa for in the first place. Maybe then these peopple would actually get some real purpose to their existence. But I digress ...) there is actually great chemistry between the two stars thanks to a snappy, quick iwtted and clever script. The movie is very fun and funny. The action scenes are OK but it's the two characters playing off of one another that makes the film really fun even though the ending is just plain slapped on.A-

Batman Begins

Although the movie lacks Anton Furst's spectacular production design Batman Begin's trumps the original movie in every way and the series went down from there.
Christian Bale easily makes the best Batman (though the Val Kilmer and George Clooney could sue for directorial incompetence against Joel Schumaker). His intensity just plain rings true. The movie has the approproate grit and I just love the new Batmobile.
The action scenes are muddy and difficult to make out and the film feels too cookie cutter for a Christopher Nolan pic (this is easily his worst picutre but Memento and Insomnia were brillant so there's no shame in comming in third).B

Howl's Moving Castle

Though it is not as complicated and fascinating as Princess Mononoke or as out and out beautiful and fanciful ad Spirited Away or as absolutely charming as Kiki's Delivery Service Miyazaki strikes again with a beautiful piece ( Miyazaki does not make ugly movies. It's almost impossible for him to do)that is far superior to most of the computer generated stuff out there (save for Pixar who actually understands that the strength lies in the story not just the visuals). Though the story here is more scattershot than his usual work and the ending is fairly weak (though not nearly fatal to the movie as the agonizing unforgivable ending to Nausica Valley of the Wind was). It is really too bad his brillaint work doesn't get the audinace it desreves in America but I always said we have no taste so I guess it's a simple pleasure the informed few can keep for themselves.B

Crash

A terrific observation about how people often relate to one another about their fears and frustrations through life with the posturing and acidic hate that pours from our mouths. It can be pretty raw and there are some seriously harrowing moments here with a good mixture of knowing humor and emotions depths thanks to great performances from the entire cast. Haggis' script is terrific and I truly hope it is remembered come Oscar time. A