GoldenEye

One line review: A film that keeps the action up throughout the entire film, mostly to hide what little else it has to offer.

Movie Title: GoldenEye

Actors: Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Izabella Scorupco, Famke Janssen, Joe Don Baker, Judi Dench, Robbie Coltrane, Gottfried John, Alan Cumming, Tchéky Karyo, Desmond Llewelyn

Director: Martin Campbell

Year: 1995

Genre: Action

Method of Viewing: DVD

Location of Viewing: Home

Viewing with: No One

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% – Pierce Brosnan turns in a fine performance, establishing himself as a fine heir to the Bond throne. The plotting isn’t as solid as in the best Bond films, but this is still a good time.

My rating: ***

My assessment (the first 101 words at least): I have included three bond movies on my list, to try to compare the different styles that the character has taken over the years. If this movie is to judge all of the Pierce Brosnan films, then James Bond movies are loud, action packed, and never let up the pace for a second. There’s little else to this movie. If I were asked to define a summer blockbuster, this would seem like the perfect definition. It also doesn’t leave much of an imprint, nor any desire to see the film again. A decent action film, but not very memorable or unique.

Friday the 13th

One line review: The film that represents so many of the horror genres has not aged well as it’s shock value diminishes.

Movie Title: Friday the 13th

Actors: Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan , Kevin Bacon, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram, Mark Nelson, Peter Brouwer, Rex Everhart, Ronn Carroll

Director: Sean S. Cunningham

Year: 1980

Genre: Horror

Method of Viewing: DVD

Location of Viewing: Home

Viewing with: No One

Rotten Tomatoes: 60% – …perhaps more than any other film, it helped to popularize the slasher genre and codify the formula.

My rating: **

My assessment (the first 101 words at least): I think this movie servers as a good example for why psychological horror movies deserve to be promoted so much higher over those that rely on shocking, gruesome deaths. Nightmare on Elm Street shows some of it’s age, but it’s still a unique idea that can haunt you when you sleep. Friday the 13th seems to have had almost no impact on me. It probably doesn’t help that some of the more memorable scenes are ones I’ve already seen clips of, just because this movie was so iconic. It may have influenced many before, but it seems to lack something original.

El Mariachi

One line review: A fun and interesting story, that also seems to just breathe with the idea that this film was a man’s dream.

Movie Title: El Mariachi

Actors: Carlos Gallardo, Consuelo Gómez, Jaime de Hoyos, Peter Marquardt, Reinol Martinez, Ramiro Gómez

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Year: 1992

Genre: Action / Drama

Method of Viewing: DVD

Location of Viewing: Home

Viewing with: No One

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% – Made on a shoestring budget, El Mariachi’s story is not new. However, the movie has so much energy that it’s thoroughly enjoyable.

My rating: ****

My assessment (the first 101 words at least): This was just an enjoyable film. Perhaps it’s cheating that I read up on some of the tricks that Rodriguez had to use and how much he struggled just to fill his dreams. Still, I firmly believe that when so much passion is poured into something, it shows. You can tell that someone poured a lot of passion and love into this film, just from the combination of minor details and in between bits. Though the rest of the Mexican Trilogy isn’t on my list, I’ll probably look into it anyway, just because I want to see more. Very big recommendation.