2006, Year of Al Gore
ratings: **** (a must see), *** (worth the ticket), ** (kind of wonder), * (if time is money, I lost some bucks with that one)
December 2006
Francis is a successful director in the french branch of a US company. When the latter decides to downsize and close the french office, Francis, who is in his forties, does not want to tell his entourage. He visits a fortune teller, who "predicts" his future but also gives him some ideas....
my call: A comedy, which will never be seen outside of France....Unfortunately!!! I am still a big fan of "Les Inconnus". Their tricks are definitely still working on me. The movie gets sometimes "lengthy" but it was a good laugh and a nice moment...
my rating: ***
December 2006
Into the world of the Emperor Penguins, who find their soul mates through song, a penguin is born who cannot sing. But he can tap dance something fierce!
(after imdb.com).
my call: I never thought I would see so beautiful images in an animated movie, all the more when those are produced by a computer....The music contributes to making this movie a very good pre-Xmas entertainment. A good investment...not too funny but which swings:)
my rating: ***
December 2006
In his first mission, James Bond must stop Le Chiffre, a banker to the world's terrorist organizations, from winning a high-stakes poker tournament at Casino Royale in Montenegro.
(after imdb.com).
my call: I know Olivier will not agree with me....but I only have one comment> THEY KILLED JAMES! The James I loved is gone....instead, we got somebody who's not fit for wearing a tux....Leave me alone...I am crying...
my rating: **
December 2006
Kazakh TV talking head Borat is dispatched to the United States to report on the greatest country in the world. With a documentary crew in tow, Borat becomes more interested in locating and marrying Pamela Anderson.
(after imdb.com).
my call: That was the dumbest movie I have ever seen...not worth a kopek...Ok, I admit I liked the satire over the US society but there are other ways to make a point...Not even shot in Kazakhstan but in Romania...what a disastrous effect on the Kazakh image abroad!!!
my rating: *
November 2006
Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities.
(after imdb.com).
my call: The scenario is well written, the actors play very nicely....I am no fan of Leonardo but I must say he really surprised me with his role here....Nice job Leo! I though have mixed feelings about the movie, probably because of the violence, the abundance (necessary?) of blood and an end which leaves me unsatisfied....sorry...could have been much better.
my rating: **
October 2006
A documentary on Al Gore's campaign to make the issue of global warming a recognized problem worldwide.
(after imdb.com).
my call: Bravo!!!!!!!! no more, no less...High five!
my rating: ****
October 2006
"Click" focuses on a workaholic architect who finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices.
(after imdb.com).
my call: The quality of Adam Sandler's movies is not consistent according to me. That one, for instance, is pretty good. The movie ends without me noticing it, which is always an encouraging sign :) An entertaining movie! Go see it if you need some cheerful moments...and some deep thoughts on all those moments we overlook in our everyday lives
my rating: ***
October 2006
Boog, a domesticated 900lb. Grizzly bear finds himself stranded in the woods 3 days before Open Season. Forced to rely on Elliot, a fast-talking mule deer, the two form an unlikely friendship and must quickly rally other forest animals if they are to form a rag-tag army against the hunters.
(after imdb.com).
my call: My opinion is biased on that one cause I saw this movie while in NYC for the first time. You could have given me any movie....I would have liked it....:) Seriously, I laughed a lot. I enjoyed myself. This is a movie, which does not claim to be a hit...discrete but efficient.
my rating: ****
October 2006
A naive young woman comes to New York and scores a job as the assistant to one of the city's biggest magazine editors, the ruthless and cynical Miranda Priestly.
(after imdb.com).
my call: The dialogues deserve an oscar: they're acid, funny and reflect a huge amount of work. A nice movie I watched in the plane enroute to NYC. I laughed a lot...the woman in the seat next to mine must still remember me. The end, though, is a bit too conventional...
my rating: ***
September 2006
A disgraced special agent to the White House (Douglas) endeavors to foil a conspiracy to assassinate the U.S. President.
(after imdb.com).
my call: A strong feeling of "Déjà-vu"...."Murder at 1600" ressembles this movie quite a bit...Not totally boring but I almost gave the movie one star
my rating: **
September 2006
A magistrate investigates a corporate executive of the oil company ELF. Soon she discovers that the hole goes much deeper then what she initially thought.
my call: A movie that only Claude Chabrol can shoot. A dive into the disgusting relationships between economy and politics. Sometimes lenghty but makes you think...
my rating: ***
July 2006
Jack Sparrow endeavors to settle a blood debt to Davey Jones, the infamous captain of the ghostly ship, the Flying Dutchman. Faced with a potential afterlife of servitude and damnation, Jack also has the upcoming wedding of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann to consider ...
(after imdb.com).
my call: A pirate's life for me...I was so enthusiastic about the first episode that this sequel had to be good: rhum, sun, pirates, battles...I ended up being rather disappointed: the movie is quite long and some scenes are really useless with respect to the scenario...or will be understood in volume 3 only. This second opus suffers from too many special effects and from the success of volume 1. I am definitely still a pirate but will need some more rhum to see volume 3!
my rating: ***
July 2006
A scheming raccoon fools a mismatched family of forest creatures into helping him repay a debt of food, by invading the new suburban sprawl that popped up while they were hibernating...and learns a lesson about family himself
(after imdb.com).
my call: If only all movies were that funny and refreshing!!!
my rating: ****
June 2006
The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967
(after imdb.com).
my call: A beautiful story with great vibes, great machines, great scenery and no vilains....Simply brilliant!
my rating: ****
May 2006
The "Little Red Hiding Hood" fairytale gets an imaginative update. Furry and feathered cops from the animal world investigate a domestic disturbance at Granny's cottage, involving a girl, a wolf, and an axe. The charges are many: breaking and entering, disturbing the peace, intent to eat, and wielding an axe without a license. Not to mention, this case might be tied to the elusive "Goody Bandit" who has been stealing the recipes of goody shops everywhere
(after imdb.com).
my call: Low budget animated movie, which blew my head off....I knew there was more to the story than what the book said....little red hiding hood, a poor and shy little girl? yeah...right!
my rating: ****
May 2006
Ethan Hunt comes face to face with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer while trying to keep his identity secret in order to protect his girlfriend
(after imdb.com).
my call: The kind of movie you know you've watched...you have this flash of a building exploding but...gee....which movie could it be? To sum up, not much to say! Just hope there won't be a fourth opus...it tends to be boring after number 2...
my rating: **
May 2006
An affair between the second in line to Britain's throne and the princess of the feuding Irish spells doom for the young lovers
(after imdb.com).
my call: Will I remember this movie in 2 years...? Hmmm....not quite sure. Love beats everything...A bit too "eau de rose" for me. Even the fighting scenes are a bit boring. Not to mention the accent of Isolde, which constantly oscillates between british, irish and american...
my rating: **
May 2006
A murder inside the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years -- which could shake the foundations of Christianity
(after imdb.com).
my call: Heard too many reviews of this movie not to make myself an opinion. Veni, Vidi, Vici...Nothing spectacular...just another thriller...which is definitely not worth the world enthusiasm it launched. Lucky for me that Audrey Tautou had a role...Maybe not so good for her after all. As for Tom Hanks, he really does not fit in such a movie...!!!
my rating: **
April 2006
Paris, 1912...the first motorized police brigade, named after Georges Clemenceau, the Tiger, then interior minister. "La Belle époque", marked with many technological and social advances, was also a period of international tension, which would internally shake France, as a prelude to WWI.
my call: I missed that particular music so much....Heard it as a kid when "les Brigades" were on TV...That special "Belle Epoque" atmosphere is well rendered, not to mention the old streets of Paris...Well done!!!
my rating: ***
April 2006
In turn-of-the-century Mexico, two very different women become a bank-robbing duo in an effort to combat a ruthless enforcer terrorizing their town
(after imdb.com).
my call: Penelope and Salma are two of the most beautiful and talented actresses of their generation. Luc Besson as a writer is a warranty for action, fun and special effects...Mission accomplished!!!
my rating: ***
March 2006
Syriana is a thriller of corruption and power related to the oil industry that proves, if necessary, that all roads start and end in the oil fields, whether they are politically, economically or military related.
my call: Great shooting scenes in the desert do no compensate for a messy plot. We know where the movie wants to go but, gee..., what a ride to follow it.
my rating: **
