2005 was a very interesting year for movies, we said good-bye to Star Wars, said hello to Narnia and observed a boy wizard begin to grow into a man. We saw a 40 year old Virgin, had some fun with wedding crashers and watched as a few people tried to stop a war for a few moments in time.
This list will have 5 main things, the best films, the worst films, the surprises of 2005, the major disappointments and the final list that I call WTF, What were they thinking when they made this film… The plot outlines are from IMDB.
My top 10 films for the year 2005
10. Crash
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375679/
Plot Outline: Several characters of different racial backgrounds collide in one incident, the different stereotypes society has created for those backgrounds affect their judgment, beliefs and actions, and this in turn causes problems for each of them. The film has been nominated for Best Picture of 2005 by the Academy Awards.
The film takes a look at one incident and how a lot of different people looked at it.
The film has an all star cast with Matt Dillon receiving a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film is first rate and is out on DVD. Please watch for the end of the film that is real snow falling in LA.
9. Elizabethtown
Plot Outline. After causing the Oregon Shoe Company he works for to lose hundreds of millions of dollars, Drew Baylor is fired for his mistake, and promptly also dumped by his girlfriend, Ellen. On the verge of suicide, Drew is oddly given a new purpose in life when he is brought back to his family’s small Kentucky hometown of Elizabethtown following the death of his father, Mitch, as it falls to him to make sure that his dying wishes are fulfilled. On the way home, Drew meets a flight attendant, Claire Colburn (Dunst), with whom he falls in love, in a romance that helps his life get back on track.
Their have been 2 school of reviews for this film, you love it or you have hated it, I loved the film, as you can see in my earlier review of the film. The film bombed at the box office but to me it told of a mans path to redemption. See it on DVD when you can.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368709/
8. King Kong
Plot Outline: Set in the 1930s, this is the story of a young and beautiful actress Ann Darrow from the world of vaudeville who finds herself lost in depression-era New York and her luck changes when she meets an over-ambitious filmmaker Carl Denham who brings her on an exploratory expedition to a remote island where she finds compassion and the true meaning of humanity with an ape Kong. The beauty and the beast finally meet their fate back in the city of New York where the filmmaker takes and displays the ape in quest of his fame by commercial exploitation which ultimately leads to catastrophe for everyone including a playwright Jack Driscoll who falls in love with Ann and plays an unlikely hero by trying to save her from Kong and her destiny.
When you remake a film you will either have a huge hit or a huge mess on your hands. With Kong you had a hit. World wide it has done great business with South Korea helping to add 22 million to the total. It will recover its cost but will this be a one shot wonder or do we get, “The Son of Kong” in a few years.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360717/
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7. A History of Violence.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399146/
Plot Outline. Based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, A History of Violence is the tale of Tom Stall. Tom is a loving family man and well-respected citizen of a small Indiana town. But when two savage criminals show up at his diner, Tom is forced to take action and thwart the robbery attempt. Suddenly heralded as a hero who took the courage to stand up to crime, people look up to Tom as a man of high moral regard. But all that media attention has the likes of mobsters showing up at his doorstep, charging that Tom is someone else they’ve been looking for. Is it a case of mistaken identity or does Tom have a history that no one knows about? Either way, someone’s about to find out if there’s a history of violence.
Wow, what a film and it was so weird when you see that his wife is attracted to the beast more than the husband that she has loved for the past 10+ years. A very hard film to watch but one that wil be enjoyed when you go see it.
6. Munich
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408306/
Plot Outline. During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and execute those responsible for the attack.
The film starts in Korea on February 9th. Please see my review of the film of the site. The film is worth a look and has been nominated for Best Picture. Please see review of film on the site.
5. Sympathy For Lady Vengeance
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451094/
Plot Outline: Lee Geum-Ja, at the age of 19, goes to prison for the murder and abduction of a child on behalf of her accomplice Mr. Baek, only to find out that she is betrayed. While in prison, she carefully prepares for her revenge by winning the hearts of her fellow inmates with her kindness, thus earning herself the nickname ‘kind Ms. Geum-Ja’. Upon her release from prison after 13 years, she finally sets out to seek revenge on Baek, with the help of her former prison mates.
The general thought of this film has been either you loved it or you have hated it. I loved it! As I said in my earlier review of the film, “It was like watching a chess match with all of the pawns being set in their place and at the perfect time, Hell was unleashed.â€
It will have a release date in the USA in March 2006 and is on region 3 DVD for rent or purchase.
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4. Capote
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379725/
Plot Outline: In 1959, Truman Capote, a popular writer for The New Yorker, learns about the horrific and senseless murder of a family of four in Halcomb, Kansas. Inspired by the story material, Capote and his partner, Harper Lee, travel to the town to research for an article. However, as Capote digs deeper into the story, he is inspired to expand the project into what would be his greatest work, In Cold Blood. To that end, he arranges extensive interviews with the prisoners, especially with Perry Smith, a quiet and articulate man with a troubled history. As he works on his book, Capote feels some compassion for Perry which in part prompts him to help the prisoners to some degree. However, that feeling deeply conflicts with his need for closure for his book which only an execution can provide. That conflict and the mixed motives for both interviewer and subject make for a troubling experience that would produce an literary account that would redefine modern non-fiction.
The film has been nominated for Best Picture, Achievement in Directing , Best Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Best Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
This film will be hard to watch because you start to see inside of why they did the crime that they will die for. Please see it when it comes to Korea or please get a copy of it where you can here in Korea, This is not a film that needs to be missed.
3. Walk the Line.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358273/
Plot Outline. A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash’s life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. You also see where he meets the love of his life, June Carter Cash.
The biggest surprise was when Oscar announced the Best Film prize, this was not on the list and I could not believe it. Nominated for Oscars were For Best Actor, (Joaquin Phoenix) and For Best Actress (Reese Witherspoon). My only complaint about the film was that it ended in 1968, when there is so much more to tell of his story. I do hope that soon they film Part 2.
2. Sin City.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401792/
Plot Outline: Sin City is a violent city where the police department is as corrupt as the streets are deadly. In this movie, we follow three stories, the central of which is Marv, a tough-as-nails and nearly impossible to kill street fighter who goes on a rampage of vengeance when a beautiful woman, Goldie (King), he sleeps with for only one night is killed while lying in bed with him. Walk down the right back alley in Sin City and you can find anything.
Certain films need to be seen on the big screen so that you can really see what a film has to offer and this one did not disappoint. With Mickey Rourke’s showing of what Marv could do when he goes to war. With Bruce Willis acting as a man who needs to save one more soul from hell and with Clive Owen showing us as, Dwight, that a man can find true love once again.
Please watch the Directors cut of this movie, it adds about 15 minutes and fills in a few blanks from the film. Sin City 2 hopefully will be out in 2006.
And the Number 1# Film of the Year…
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1. Joyeux Noel.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424205/
Plot Outline: On Christmas Eve, 1914 during World War I, the Germans, French, and Scottish are trying to make peace, so they bury their dead and play football.
For those who know me you have hear me very loudly tell of my hatred for the French. So you can imagine my surprise when I saw this film and it shook me like no other film did in the year 2005. Please see my rather long review on the site. I will add this, after 90+ years of this event happening, the French Generals refused to give permission to film on the site where this cry for peace happened, they told the director that the men were traitors and did not deserve on the field of honor. Please see this film when you get the chance.
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Now For the Worst Films of 2005.
11. Tie “Aeon Flux†and “Venomâ€
Both films were inspired by cartoons and video games, and should be avoided at all cost, the plots are silly and there stories are just as bad with no plot and no real reason.
10. Doom
Once again a film based on a popular video game, and a plot that was so bad that I could not believe that anybody actually wrote this and worse would want to watch this, I have heard that there is an Unrated version of this on DVD but I will pass on ever watching it, a real bomb that should have never been released.
9. Stealth
When an US Military films ends up on this list, you know it must have been bad. This film showed no real plot, no real story, and every cliché in the book (the black man dies first, the troubled girl, the confused young lovers) I just wanted to run away after I saw this film and try to erase it from my memory. Please do not see this film, no one can afford to lose the I.Q. points this action will cost by viewing this.
8. Kingdom of Heaven.
On the “Ain’t it Cool†web site one of the writers blast Fox’s cuts in the film and ask why this film was destroyed. He has stated that he hopes for a directors cut of this film. I can only hope so. As a history major, I view these types of films to see how many errors and can I enjoy it. This film was just so sad and I did not believe anything in this film. The real leper prince died before any of this timeline actually happened. The story, the plot, Orlando Bloom’s bad acting in this. I hope the D.C. fixes the errors that Fox made.
7. The Island
Once again, bad story, no real believable plot, the chemistry between the main stars was not there, I did not believe anything that I saw and it was a huge waste of time and a huge flop for DreamWorks in the USA. I still have no idea why they made this film.
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6. King’s Ransom
The idea was so-so at best and when you see the very bad acting and the plot just get worse and worse and side stories that just do not click. You get the mess of this film. It was sad to watch all of the young stars in this film just totally being wasted. Please miss this film at all cost.
5. The Fog.
To this day I still have no idea why the film was given the green light to be made. The film is currently #95 on the bottom 100 from IMDB. This film was a remake of the 1980 John Carpenter film and should have never been retold. From bad plot, to terrible miss- casting, this film was a bad idea from the start and only seeing it made the bad idea become a lot worse.
4. Blood Rayne
Once again a movie based off a very popular video game and what a mess this film was. As of today’s writing this film is #21 on the bottom 100 from IMDB. I kept thinking that sooner or later this film has to get better, sad to say it never did. It looked liked Underworld and you see vampires and nudity and tight leather in the film. It should have never been made and hopefully no one else will see it.
3. Tie
“The Honeymooner’s†and “The Son of the Maskâ€
To remake films lately has shown to be insane to try and remake a classic TV show as, “The Honeymooner’s†was just a bad idea that was an insult to the original cast and crew. As of today’s writing this film is #9 on the bottom 100 from IMDB. A huge disaster of a film and also a very sad film to watch. If you loved the original, this will make you very angry.
“The Son of the Maskâ€
To create a #2 film and not have the original star of , “The Maskâ€, Jim Carrey, was a huge train wreck just waiting to happen and what a mess this film was, no real plot, no real story and the special effects, that were needed to make this film work, fail at every step. As of today’s writing this film is #13 on the bottom 100 from IMDB. If you remake a Jim Carrey film and he hi not in it please do not remake or have a sequel.
2. Into the Mix
Maybe they thought, Usher, could just show up, look cute and maybe cover up what a huge mess this film was, well it failed very badly. As of today’s writing this film is #4 on the bottom 100 from IMDB, and that is saying a lot right there. The film was tying to make itself into an urban Soprano’s but ends up as a story that I just could not believe, please real simple idea, cute boy, good story, low budget, you will make money on the film. If not, you get this mess that should be never viewed by any civilized nation.
And the #1 prize for worst film of the year goes to……..
1. War of the Worlds.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/
To this day I have no idea why Steven Spielberg shot this film in the way that he did. I saw no real story except Tom Cruise was running away. The sub plots involving Tim Robbins, were a huge mistake and the films ending was just so bad that it rightfully deserves its place as the 1 worst film of the year. Please do not see this film at any cost.
The next part deals with films that were total surprises and I was so glad to have seen them.
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The Surprises in the movies from 2005.
These films are great surprises and seem to come from nowhere, you will get a look at massive hits and a few films that flew under the radar. Please see these films when you get the chance and if you can buy these on VCD or DVD here in Korea, and then please do.
11. Turtles Can Fly
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424227/
Plot Outline. Set in Ghobadi’s native Kurdistan, close to the Turkey-Iran border. Soran is a 13-year-old boy who orders other children around as he installs an antenna for villagers keen to hear of Saddam’s fall. Eventually, he falls for Agrin but is disturbed by her brother Henkov, who was left armless after he stepped on a landmine and who can now seemingly predict the future.
Selected as Iran’s submission in the Best Foreign Film category for the 2004 Oscars.
I was honored to see this film in Korea in 2005 and what a joy it was to watch, a real sad story and a very interesting look at war through the eyes of children. It got a very small release in Korea and in the USA. It is available on region 1 DVD. The end of this film will haunt you for awhile after you see it, so please be careful.
10. Kung Fu Hustle
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373074/
Plot Outline: In Shanghai, China in the 1940s, a wannabe gangster aspires to join the notorious “Axe Gang” while residents of a housing complex exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf.
The film was nominated for a Golden Globe for the Best Foreign Language Film in 2006.
This film was funny and Stephen Chow does a great job of acting and directing in it. The film took a look at gangster movies and added a Kung Fu twist and made audiences around the world laugh. They are talking about a sequel to begin filming soon. I can only hope that it will be a funny as this film was.
9. The President’s Last Bang.
http://www.hancinema.net/korean_movie_The_President__s_Last_Bang.php
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445396/
Plot Outline. A look at the life of President Park Chun-Hee and the events leading up to his assassination.
President’s Park Chun-Hee’s son took the film-makers to court to block the release as he claimed it tarnished the image of his father. Four minutes of documentary footage in the movie was censored by the courts which claimed that it would confuse viewers who may believe this film is non-fiction. The film-makers opted to leave four minutes of black screen where the scenes were cut.
The Film only received a 3 screen total viewing in the USA and will be released on DVD in USA on April 4 2006.
I recall when this film came out with the 4 minutes of black screen. It did not do that well in its Korean release. The film is a fictional account of how former President Park was killed in 1979. A very good story and plot and a very interesting look at the late President.
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8. Constantine
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360486/
Plot Outline: Based on the DC/Vertigo comic book Hell blazer and written by Kevin Brodbin, Mark Bomback and Frank Capello, Constantine tells the story of irreverent supernatural detective John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), who has literally been to hell and back. When Constantine teams up with skeptical policewoman Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister (also played by Weisz), their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists just beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Caught in a catastrophic series of other worldly events, the two become inextricably involved and seek to find their own peace at whatever cost.
I have earlier stated what happens when a comic book or video game adaptation goes wrong. This film is what happens when it goes right. Not being a huge fan of the comic I decided that this was worth watching and I am so glad that I did. This film was great due to the basic fact, I had no clue of what was coming next and I loved the ride. Hopefully in a few years we will see a #2 for this film.
7. The King and the Clown.
http://www.hancinema.net/korean_movie_The_King_and_the_Clown.php
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492835/
Talk about a surprise as of today’s writing this in now the #2 all time film in Korean Box Office history with over 11 Million Tickets sold. The film needs to be seen to believe. A great plot a great story.
Plot Outline: Two clowns living in the Chosun Dynasty get arrested for staging a play that satirizes the king. They are dragged to the palace and threatened with execution, but are given a chance to save their lives if they can make the king laugh. Keep an eye out for the one who the King loves, it will blow your mind. My translation was very bad so I will give this another chance when it comes out on DVD. The Korean audience was in love with the film. My students seem to love it so watch it with English subtitles when it is released on DVD in June 2006.
6. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0312004/
Plot Outline: It’s ‘vege-mania’ in Wallace and Gromit’s neighborhood, and our two enterprising chums are cashing in with their humane pest-control outfit, “Anti-Pesto.” With only days to go before the annual Giant Vegetable Competition, business is booming, but Wallace & Gromit are finding out that running a “humane” pest control outfit has its drawbacks as their West Wallaby Street home fills to the brim with captive rabbits. Suddenly, a huge, mysterious, veg-ravaging “beast” begins attacking the town’s sacred vegetable plots at night, and the competition hostess, Lady Tottington, commissions Anti-Pesto to catch it and save the day. Lying in wait, however, is Lady Tottington’s snobby suitor, Victor Quartermaine, who’d rather shoot the beast and secure the position of local hero-not to mention Lady Tottingon’s hand in marriage. With the fate of the competition in the balance, Lady Tottington is eventually forced to allow Victor to hunt down the vegetable chomping marauder. Little does she know that Victor’s real intent could have dire consequences for her …and our two heroes?
I knew that this would work in a short 4 minute carton but was quite surprised when it worked as a movie. The film did so-so in the USA and to be honest I have no idea why, I was laughing from the start of the film to the very end when they said that no rabbits were hurt during the production of the film. If you missed it please see it when you need a great laugh.
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5. Batman Begins.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372784/
Plot Outline: A new restart of the “Batman” franchise under the helm of “Memento” Director Chris Nolan and more in tone with the early “Batman: Year One” style comics. As a boy a young Bruce Wayne watched in horror as his millionaire parents were slain in front of his eyes, a trauma which led him to become obsessed with revenge but his chance is cruelly taken away from him by fate. After disappearing to the East where he seeks counsel with the dangerous but honorable ninja cult leader known as Ra’s Al-Ghul, he returns to his now decaying Gotham City overrun by organized crime and dangerous individuals manipulating the system whilst the company he inherited is slowly being pulled out from under him. The discovery of a cave under his mansion, and a prototype armored suit leads him to take on a new persona, one which will strike fear into the hearts of men who do wrong – he becomes, Batman. In the new guise, and with the help of rising cop Jim Gordon, Batman sets out to take down the various nefarious schemes in motion by individuals such as mafia don Falcone, the twisted doctor/drug dealer Jonathan ‘The Scarecrow’ Crane, and a mysterious third party that is quite familiar with Wayne and waiting to strike when the time is right.
When Batman is done wrong we get the horrible George Clooney Version, when it is done right we get this and much more. With the casting as Michael Caine as Alfred and the addition of Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), you get a great film. I loved the in house joke about the “Office Space†line… Did you get the memo? Keep it up; I am looking forward to the next chapter.
4. Hustle and Flow
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410097/
Plot Outline: Rapper DJay (Howard) works the angles to get his first record made, with help from assorted people in his Memphis ‘hood. And when he hears that rap superstar Skinny Black (Ludacris) is heading to his area, he throws together a supreme hustle to grab Skinny’s attention. A rap star from the Dirty South who is trying to make it in the hip hop world, he has to deal with many different types of people who try to bring him down, including strippers, baby’s mama, and all the things that try to keep a player down. This is probably his last chance to make it, he is approaching his 40′s, and his life is looking downhill.
Terrence Howard has been nominated for Best Actor from OSCAR for his role as DJay.
The only reason I even saw this film was that I was waiting for an order to come in and the crowd around me kept talking about this film and that it had to be seen to be believed. I had nothing planned for that day so I decided to take a chance on this film. I am so glad that I did. You see man realize that he has one shot to make his Rap dream come true and you get to go along for the ride. Howard with this film and his small role in the “Crash†and in the “Four Brothers†looks like he is ready to take the next step into becoming a major Hollywood actor. Get the soundtrack when you can. Oscar nomination also for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures,
Original Song
Jordan Houston
Cedric Coleman
Paul Beauregard
For the song “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”.
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3. March of the Penguins
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428803/
Plot Summary. Each winter, alone in the pitiless ice deserts of Antarctica, deep in the most inhospitable terrain on Earth, a truly remarkable journey takes place as it has done for millennia. Emperor penguins in their thousands abandon the deep blue security of their ocean home and clamber onto the frozen ice to begin their long journey into a region so bleak, so extreme; it supports no other wildlife at this time of year. In single file, the penguins march blinded by blizzards, buffeted by gale force winds. Guided by instinct, by the otherworldly radiance of the Southern Cross, they head unerringly for their traditional breeding ground where–after a ritual courtship of intricate dances and delicate maneuvering, accompanied by a cacophony of ecstatic song–they will pair off into monogamous couples and mate. The females remain long enough only to lay a single egg. Once this is accomplished, exhausted by weeks without nourishment, they begin their return journey across the ice-field to the fish-filled seas. The male emperors are left behind to guard and hatch the precious eggs, which they cradle at all times on top of their feet. After two long months during which the males eat nothing, the eggs begin to hatch. Once they have emerged into their ghostly white new world, the chicks can not survive for long on their fathers’ limited food reserves. If their mothers are late returning from the ocean with food, the newly-hatched young will die. Once the families are reunited, the roles reverse, the mothers remaining with their new young while their mates head, exhausted and starved, for the sea, and food. While the adults fish, the chicks face the ever-present threat of attack by prowling giant petrels. As the weather grows warmer and the ice floes finally begin to crack and melt, the adults will repeat their arduous journey countless times, marching many hundreds of miles over some of the most treacherous territory on Earth, until the chicks are ready to take their first faltering dive into the deep blue waters of the Antarctic.
When French Cinema goes wrong, I rejoice with glee, when they get it right, I usually love it. (Please see “The Brotherhood of the Wolves†for a great example when the French get it right) The fact that I have praised 2 French Films, this one and “Joyeux Noel†has surprised some of my friends. If you can see it please see it with the English Narration completed by Morgan Freeman. It has received a nomination from OSCAR for the Best Documentary, Features Award.
2. The Wedding Crashers.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396269/
Plot Outline: Guided by a set of “wedding crashing rules,” Washington, D.C. divorce mediators John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn) can charm their way into any wedding…and into the hearts of every bridesmaid…for one night. But at the biggest social event of the year, John breaks the rules and falls for Claire Cleary, the daughter of the United States Secretary of Treasury, William Cleary (Christopher Walken), and Jeremy is left at the mercy of her “stage-five-clinger” sex-crazed sister Gloria (Isla Fisher). Being there for his buddy, Jeremy follows John to the family’s huge estate for a weekend that may even be too wild for these professional party animals.
With a modest budget for US films ($40,000,000) this film has grossed over (209,000,000) and became a huge hit in the USA. Please see all 114 rules of the wedding crashers on IMDB site, trivia section. Rachel McAdams star also shines in this film as being the love interest for John Beckwith. Please see the unrated version with about 10 extra minutes added to the film.
And the number 1 surprise film of 2005 was
The 40 Year Old Virgin.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405422/
Plot Outline. 40-year-old Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) has done quite a few things in his life. He’s got a cushy job stamping invoices at an electronics superstore, a nice apartment with a proud collection of action figures and comic books, good friends, a nice attitude. But there’s just one little thing he hasn’t quite gotten around to doing yet–something most people have done by his age. Done a lot. Andy’s never, ever, ever had sex–not even by accident. So is that such a big deal? Well, for Andy’s buds at the store, it sure is. Although they think he’s a bit of an oddball, there’s certainly a planet full of stranger (and homelier) guys who’ve at least had one go at having a go. They consider it their duty to help Andy out of his dire situation and go to great lengths to help him. But nothing proves effective enough to lure their friend out of lifelong chastity until he meets Trish (Catherine Keener), a 40-year-old mother of three. Andy’s friends are psyched by the possibility that “it” may finally happen…until they hear that Andy and Trish have begun their relationship based on a mutual no-sex policy.
This film has been Carell’s breakout role and with Keener being nominated for an Oscar for her work in “Capote†this film could be the start of bigger things for both of the stars in the film. Please watch the unrated version of this movie with an extra 17 minutes added to the film, I was laughing all day with memories after I saw this for the first time.
Now with films that were pleasant surprises the next section deals with films that had the potential to be good or better that what showed up on the movie screen. The next sections are the films that have been the Disappointments of 2005.
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Disappointments of 2005.
13. Blue Swallow. Korean Film (ì²ì—° – é‘燕 (Cheong-yeon))
This film goes to show that huge film train wrecks also happen in Korea. South Korea Box Office: 482,962 admissions after 1 month of release. The film had a huge budget but it had one major problem, it was about Korea’s time as a Japanese Colony and the public thought that it was Pro-Japanese and it died a very quick death at the box office.
12. Typhoon – íƒœí’ (Tae-poong)
This film had the biggest release ever for a Korean film, it went head to head with King Kong and it lost to the big ape. The film lost money also. In Korea the film drew a lot of hype by focusing on the divided Korea peninsula. It’s 15 million $ cost was the most expensive Korean film ever made but it needed to draw 6.2 million moviegoers to turn a profit and as of today’s writing it has drawn under 4.2 million. Movie Critics stated that one of the main flaws of the film was its overdependence on computer graphics.
11. North Country. A film based on a true story….I really hates these words and I really was very disappointed in the film. A lot of lies and it was hard to find the truth in the film. I still can not believe that Charlize Theron received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for this piece of junk.
10. Hide and Seek
I like Robert De Niro’s acting so I was looking forward to seeing him in another scary role. I just wish that this was not it. The film had 2 different endings and was just a mess of cutting and of the final edit of the film. A sad movie role for a great actor.
9. The Legend of Zorro
Like I said in my review of this film, who in the heck did the historical fact checking in this film? Way too many errors in this movie killed this franchise, the film did O.K. in foreign box office numbers but lost a lot of $ in the USA.
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8. XXX2
Lets make another XXX and not include Vin Diesel and just maybe we can make a huge hit. Well nice idea but once again a sequel without the major star proved costly at the box office. Maybe what could have been we will never know, XXX3 direct to video?
7. The Dukes of Hazard
Now this was a very simple film, keep the cost low, show southern humor and have a very fast car. What we got was a very bad imitation of cussing and fart jokes. For fans of the show, this was very sad to watch and I will avoid the #2 film of this. A very promising franchise shot to hell with fart jokes.
6. Elektra
Once again, another comic book adaptation. The film had Jennifer Garner and no Ben Affleck (sad to say, I do like his acting) and all of the promise of a strong female super hero were wasted in a movie that to this day I really can not explain. It just made no logic at all and was a huge bomb hopefully never to be seen again.
5. Flightplan
Jodie Foster has always been one of my favorite actresses. I went to see “The Silence of the Lamb†because she was in it. I was so looking forward to her first film in a few years and if you read my review of this on the site, you will se my disappointment in this film. The plot and the story were just so sad for me to watch and to see one of my favorite actresses in it was just too much.
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4. Red Eye
I was so looking forward to this because of Rachel McAdams and when I saw this film I was the only one in the theater, this should have been my first clue. Oh what could have been, a viable terrorist, a somewhat believable plot and then I saw it and I was wondering why oh good grief why did they ruin this film. It was just too sad to watch and when it was over I wanted my $ back.
3. Hostage
I really do like Bruce Willis acting but with every great acting role you get in a year (Sin City) you get this piece of junk to counter balance it. I saw it still can not believe that I actually paid $ to see it and when it was over, I was so not looking forward to “Sin City†because of this. Why Bruce Why, was this film made?
2. Memoirs of a Geisha
Oh what really could have been in this film? If you see my review you will see that they spoke English in 1930-40’s in Japan and with bad miss-casting and a bad job of editing, when I heard that this was coming out I thought for sure, “This will be nominated for Best Picture.†Afterward I was so mad that they blew it, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon†proved that the US audience will see a great film with subtitles. Maybe the small success of “Kung Fu Hustle†in the USA has an effect on this but this should have never been shot in English and the film never recovered from that huge mistake.
Now for the #1 disappointment of the year and it should not be a surprise for anyone who knows me.
1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
What in the heck was the director Mike Newell thinking when he agreed to this. Harry Potter is at Part 4 of a 7 part epic. “Lord of the Rings†proved that the audience will sit through 3 to 3.5 hours for a great film. When I saw the film I had not read the book and even I could tell that something was missing. After I read the book, I was upset by this junk of a film. No Dobby, no house elves, no Mrs. Molly Weasley and one heck of a confusing ending. I could not believe it. The film should have been done in 2 parts; a lot of material for the next 2 films was missing from this one and could cause huge plot gaps to come. A huge mistake and hopefully a directors cut will fix this disaster.
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Next is WTF… were they thinking when they green litted this film.
Now for the final part of my review of the movies from 2005. This is the part where I say WTF. What were they thinking when they gave the word go to this film. You will see some hits and misses in this section. The one thing that all films have in common in this section is that the film should have never been made in the first place. This will go from the most to the least.
1. Herbie- Fully Loaded
What a joke this was, they actually wanted you to believe that NASCAR would let a VW Bug race and that teen drama queen, Lindsay Lohan was a race driver. I saw it and I still do not believe what I actually saw. Walt Disney Company, you should be very ashamed for making this turkey.
2. The Amityville Horror (2005)
Ok why remake this bad joke from 30 years ago? It was proven that he lied and that this never happened but oh not let do a remake and maybe milk this for what it can be worth. I still can not believe that I actually paid $ for this.
3. Sahara
Ok let’s have a cute couple (Matthew McConaughey and Penélope Cruz), Confederate gold and a plot so bad that nothing made any sense at all and by the end you are thinking, I want to file a lawsuit for losing I.Q. points for this one. Still can’t believe I paid to see this.
4. Are We There Yet?
This was not a good year for Ice Cube (XXX2 & THIS). Let’s take kids and place them in very stupid non believable action from all over the USA and the audience will love us for it. By the time the film was over I wanted to burn Cube’s Union Card so he would never make another film as bad as this one.
5. The Interpreter
Ok for this one, let’s go the U.N., have a murder discussed in a very rare language that Nichole Kidman knows because she was raised in Africa and let’s include a very moody Sean Penn and let’s see if it works. For a film to work, it must make the audience believe that what they are seeing is real. The only thing real about this film was the $ I lost by buying a ticket for this.
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6. Bewitched
Once again Nichole Kidman and once again I could not believe that they would take a childhood favorite TV show and blow it all to heck with this junk. What were they thinking when they cast this and why remake a classic TV show.
7. Cinderella Man.
I usually will go see Russell Crowe in a movie but even I had a hard time with all of the lies in this film. One of my hobbies is that of a huge boxing fan so I knew the background of this fight and when I saw lie after lie about Max Baer I just finally walked out of the movie and will never watch this lie ever again.
8. Miss Congeniality 2
For the same reasons I will go see a Russell Crowe film, I will go see any movie that has Sandra Bullock listed as a star and I am slowly starting to think that she has what I call the “Bruce Willis Syndrome.†For every good acting role she has (Crash, Speed) she has a huge bomb to follow (This, Speed 2). I guess it was time for the bomb and it blew apart my wallet for this one and the money is gone and never to return for this one.
9. The Brothers Grimm
Please see my review of this film and my opinion has not changed any about it. This eye sore needs to be avoided at all cost and as Adam said, “Watch the Korean Checkers TV Channel than watch this film†He is so right about this film.
10. Bad News Bears
Why are they remaking my favorite films from the 70’s and turning them into very bad garbage? Sad to say this was a horrible film and my only relief was that this was a free movie viewing and that I did not pay for it. Billy Bob is no Walter Matthau and the film just never could get over that basic fact.
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11. Chicken Little
After this film was released, Walt Disney purchased Pixar. I thought that it was in response to the failure of this film. It did ok at the box office but in my review I stated that the film had no soul and no Disney magic. I guess Disney thought the same thing. Let Pixar make the computer film and get the animation division back together. Howling Moons Castle proved that world –wide drawing can still make money. I just hope that Disney can realize that before they make an attempt at another bad CGI film.
12. Fantastic 4
One again a comic Book adaptation and once again I am left wondering why I spent any money on watching this. Bad casting and a very bad plot was just too much and caused this film to fail. It made money world wide and they are talking about #2 very soon. I can only hope that they actually have a plot in this one.
13. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The entire time I was watching this remake, I kept thinking, Michael Jackson and it just seemed way too weird for this film. Once again the original with Gene Wilder was a favorite of my childhood and once again a 1970’s memory is torn apart by a very bad story that I just wanted it to be over and once again very upset that I spent my $ on this junk.
And last but not least was this clunker..
14. The Cave
I GUESS THAT THEIR WAS A PLOT BUT TO BE HONEST I SURE DO NOT REMEMBER IT. All I remember is that it came to CGV, I paid $ to se it and after it was over I wanted to find the director and hit him with a brick. I love good horror films I can even handle bad horror films that are so bad that they are funny, but this was none of the above and should not be seen ever again.
Well readers this is the list for my look at the films from 2005. Hopefully 2006 is better.
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