CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “Night at the Museum" a hoot

Night at the Museum is a very entertaining movie with a neat concept. But I am left with the feeling that they could have done so much more with it. The movie will most likely make a bunch of money and require a sequel. Maybe in that movie they can really get into the idea of inanimate objects coming to life after hours in a deeper way. It is well worth the money to see it on the big screen but a wait for DVD is fine.

Look: 8

Story: 5

Acting: 7

Goal: 7.5

Intangibles: 6

Overall: 7

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The above scores are based on a 10-point scale.

• Look has to do with the visual artistry of the film.
• Story rates the how compelling the film’s plot is.
• Acting rates the overall performances of the actors.
• Goal measures the success of the film at accomplishing its goal… does a comedy make you laugh, does a thriller cause goose bumps.
• Intangibles score any special circumstances or accomplishments the movie deserves to be recognized for.
• Overall rating is not an average of the other categories, just this reviewer’s impression of the entire work and how I would rate the film to a friend.

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “Apocalypto" Oscar-worthy?

Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto is a very good movie, perhaps Oscar-worthy. It is very violent and gory, like the Mayan civilization it depicts. No-name actors, foreign (practically dead) language and an alien environment present average moviegoers with a lot of barriers to plunking down their movie dollars. But all who can stomach (honest) depictions of human sacrifice and the proverbial "man’s inhumanity to man" should see this fast paced and suspenseful chase movie. It is well worth the money to see it on the big screen but a wait for DVD is fine.

Look: 8.5

Story: 7

Acting: 8

Goal: 9

Intangibles: 9

Overall: 8.5

_____________________________________

The above scores are based on a 10-point scale.

• Look has to do with the visual artistry of the film.
• Story rates the how compelling the film’s plot is.
• Acting rates the overall performances of the actors.
• Goal measures the success of the film at accomplishing its goal… does a comedy make you laugh, does a thriller cause goose bumps.
• Intangibles score any special circumstances or accomplishments the movie deserves to be recognized for.
• Overall rating is not an average of the other categories, just this reviewer’s impression of the entire work and how I would rate the film to a friend.

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: “Borat...," A Date Movie? NOT!

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is a very funny and offensive movie that is only for the people who will "get it." Borat's creator Sacha Baron Cohen is a comic genius. I only hope that the wrestling shown really was fake like the professional varity. It's a "guy movie" that the ladies will most likely not appriciate. Not a date movie.

Look: 3

Story: 5

Acting: 8

Goal: 9

Intangibles: 7

Overall: 7

_____________________________________

The above scores are based on a 10-point scale.

• Look has to do with the visual artistry of the film.
• Story rates the how compelling the film’s plot is.
• Acting rates the overall performances of the actors.
• Goal measures the success of the film at accomplishing its goal… does a comedy make you laugh, does a thriller cause goose bumps.
• Intangibles score any special circumstances or accomplishments the movie deserves to be recognized for.
• Overall rating is not an average of the other categories, just this reviewer’s impression of the entire work and how I would rate the film to a friend.

CRITIQUE & REVIEW: "Happy Feet" is sad

Happy Feet is a gorgous-looking movie with a very forgettable PC-friendly, anti-human plot. Wait for it to come out on cable.

Look: 10

Story: 3

Acting: 3

Goal: 3

Intangibles: 3

Overall: 4
_____________________________________

The above scores are based on a 10-point scale.

• Look has to do with the visual artistry of the film.
• Story rates the how compelling the film’s plot is.
• Acting rates the overall performances of the actors.
• Goal measures the success of the film at accomplishing its goal… does a comedy make you laugh, does a thriller cause goose bumps.
• Intangibles score any special circumstances or accomplishments the movie deserves to be recognized for.
• Overall rating is not an average of the other categories, just this reviewer’s impression of the entire work and how I would rate the film to a friend.