Movies 2005, Part 4 of 5

Batman Begins
I guess... you know, don’t tell anybody, but I didn’t really like this movie so much. It was okay. Okay enough.

Fong Sai Yuk
Jet Li and a lot of silly kung fu, including two kung fu moms. It’s partly because I’m about to break up with my girlfriend and a goofball kung fu movie is the exact opposite of the heaviness that I feel right now, but I love this movie. It’s one of my favorite movies I’ve seen this month, possibly this year.

The Island
That had license to suck more than it did, but I hate praising a movie because it defied rock bottom expectations. Scarlet Johannsen is pretty to look at in that movie-made-up-no- human-woman-looks-like-this way. It was a grab bag of dystopian rip-offs. The product placement was obtuse. I’m not even an evil genius and I can plan a more secure containment facility. But, you know, I stayed with it, and didn’t get distracted much. Plus, Djimon Hounsou played unexpected dignity in a movie where he didn’t have to act.

Broken Flowers
Just fine!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Pretty fun. Not a super-dee-dooper movie, but fun enough. Johnny Depp brought a little depth to the part, which was nice.

Murderball
Everybody said this was great, but I’m gonna be the dissenter. It was okay. It dragged in places.

Elektra
Man, that stank.

Enter the Dragon
Had never seen this before. It was actually pretty good. I was sort of confused about the martial arts aspect of it. Three people to fight in a tournament? Well, the tournament was just a front, but still… you’re not even trying to make it look like a real tournament if you only invite three people. And if it’s such a secret, why are you even bothering with the tournament charade? Clearly some holes. But I stayed interested, and there was some great action -– and not just the martial arts. Bruce Lee sneaking around in his black spy gear looked coo-ello.

Shaun of the Dead
Not as ROFLMAO as I had been led to believe, but it had some larfs, a decent flick. The characters stayed believeable. I totally thought Liz was going to kick the farm and Yvonne and Shaun would be together at the end tho.

Serenity
As a pestering-friends-to-watch-the-DVDs Firefly fan, I was all systems go to love this movie. But somehow, I don’t. I don’t dislike it, I just don’t love it. Wash’s death was nakedly contrived. Mal’s turning point was unconvincing. And Book, an otherwise well-portrayed (theoretically) Christian character, died without significantly addressing his faith. Disappointing.

Fog of War
Look, I slept through most of this. I’m counting it anyway.

Edward Scissorhands
Never seen it before. A bit thin. Probably would have liked it more as a teenager.

The Corpse Bride
Just makes me wish it was Nightmare Before Christmas II. I know, I’d rather weigh it on its own merits too. But if I was thinking that way, I’d be handing out demerits instead.

Horse Feathers
Marx Brothers. Not one of the best, but worth the time spent watching.

Alien3
Ugh.