AH......Theres the problem right there....need more beer.

I knew it!
Oh well, there's always next year.

Anamorph

Anyone here that's familiar with my taste in movies knows that I love ambiguity. There is nothing better than a movie with a good mystery that still leaves you asking questions once it's over; that doesn't tell the audience everything and leaves elements up to the imagination.

That said, there is a difference between ambiguity and just confusing the living Jesus out of your audience. Leaving more questions than answers is great, but refusing to answer ANYTHING is just lazy writing.

Anamorph isn't an awful movie by any means. The set-up is great and the acting is very good (Dafoe never disappoints). But in it's attempt to be "edgy" and "mysterious", it manages to leave you wondering what the hell you just spent 107 minutes watching.

When you really think about it I guess there are some interesting theories to come up with, but the more that I think about this movie the more I think "Why should I care?"

Inside isn't Aja... as far as I know.

Monster Squad

Tales from the Crypt (1972)

Halloween II (1981)

Young Frankenstein (1974)

The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior (2008)

>>: C

Max Payne.


First off let me say, this movie was decent at the most. Hardcore Max Payne gamer fans will argue that the adaptation has a lot less action than the games, but then again this happens in most of the game-to-movie adaptations when directors concentrate on characters more. The first half has the smooth storyline and once the shooting starts, it gets slightly better.

Character-wise, Mark Wahlberg does a real competent job of being Max. However, it feels like he's pretty loose in Max's shoes. Someone like Mickey Rourke would have fit Max's character to a T, and that is very evident. Mila Kunis looks mis-cast as Mona Sax, but tries her best with the bit she's given (which includes speaking an ill-fitted Russian accent). The rest of the characters are nothing to boast about - Chris O'Donnell hams and huffs his way through, and Beau Bridges does his best in spoiling the climax. The girl who plays a bit role, Olga-something her name was, looks gorgeous however.

Atmosphere-wise, the first 15-20 minutes are the highlight of the entire movie. It starts off so well, and then sort of hits a Stuck-mode. Once the other characters start popping in, you can't help but notice something pretty vital to the entire experience is missing. You got it right - the movie lacks depth, or a better word for it would be, it lacks a soul.

Overall, it's a pretty average movie. John Moore had a great chance to make this one of the most killer kickass game-to-movie adaptations of all time, and this could have so easily been yet another Sin City, but all it gets to be in the end is just another bland and watered down version of Death Wish. Much like The Hitman's movie adaptation from earlier, Max Payne lacks punch.

If you are an avid Max lover, go check it out. If you didn't care much for the games, this is well worth skipping.


Rating - * *

Not that I didn't love the other, but Aragami is just more my taste. Also, what really separated the two, in my opinion, was the dialogue. 2LDK's dialogue did very well in building the tension. Aragami's was alot more interesting, and a step or two ahead, though.

it really pisses me off that a game i was so passionate about, and a movie i've been looking forward to since it was rumored over half a decade ago, was ruined by a shitty director.