News, reviews.

Some new stuff about my recent movie reviews. (Sounds so prominent, hee). First off, we all know what discrepancies my opinions have with that of the knowledgeable critics, so I'm including their precious marks with my humble ones. What I'll do is I'm going to tally my grade for the film, and beside it, I'm going to tally the grade given to it by critics (courtesy of Metacritic). And in this special edition, I'm going to include the Gutierrez-Locsin starrer Let the Love Begin even though I normally don't include Filipino films. (Don't ask me why I don't include Filipino films, what I'm going to say won't probably be nice.) Let the Love Begin gets special mention because 1) it's a hilarity that cannot be ignored; and 2) it brings my list of recent films to 5. Now, let's proceed!

(By the way, check out the old list of movie reviews. The changes mentioned have been applied there, as well.)

Kerwin - C+: Critics - F (I'm assuming this, of course.): Let the Love Begin. It's in one of my latest entries. Go read. :)

Kerwin - C+/B-: Critics - D: Elektra. I've read the reviews, and as I've said in one of my previous entries, Elektra isn't that bad. I don't even think it's bad at all. It's just... lacking, for lack of a better word. It would have been more engaging if it had better fights, and better endings for fights. I myself thought that the enemies were cool, what with their living tattoos, penetrating poison, super speed, and brutal strength. When Elektra did her stuff, though, they all came out as losers. The battles were too quick; the enemies' death were too easy and convenient. It's like the film-makers just got lazy and decided to get the whole fight scenes over with. Those scenes were the only things memorable in the film, don't they get that? The rest was pure drama bullshit. (Boredom was not a problem, though, so that's why I'm giving this a C+/B- instead of a C-.)

Kerwin - C+/B-: Critics - C-: Meet The Fockers. Once again, the original is better. The jokes have been rehashed relentlessly, and most of them fall flat. I think I have had enough of Ben Stiller's stupidity. In fact, I think I have had enough of Ben Stiller. Sigh. If not for the superb and hilarious performances by Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand, as well as the subtle performances by Ben Stiller's wife and mother-in-law (I forget their names, I'm too tired to Google.), this movie would have been a C-. The critics and I would finally have something to agree on. Stuff to watch out for: Watch it for Hoffman and Streisand.

Kerwin - B: Critics - B+: The Aviator. The latest Scorsese-diCaprio movie proves to be better than the last one they collaborated on (Gangs of New York): this one didn't bore me. And as I always say, boredom is a sure way to get a C-/D/F in my reviews. I'm sorry to hear that Scorsese got edged out by Eastwood in the Best Director Oscar Award; it must be hard having all those nominations and getting none. The directing wasn't the thing that got me, though-- it was the performances. I thought Leonardo diCaprio has finally grown. His acting as the mentally-disturbed Howard Hughes was convincing, to say the least. Alec Baldwin played the Pan-Am mogul with an evil flair which I loved. And as usual, John C. Reilly played his part with perfection. The women were not to be left out, either. Kate Beckinsale exuded sexiness as the feisty Ava Gardner. And Cate Blanchett, an actress who I already love, I loved even more as the loud Katharine Hepburn. That twang really got me! How can an actress so flawlessly slip into a role, and a well-known character at that! Wow. I really think she deserved that Oscar she received (I haven't watched the films of the other Best Supporting Actress nominees, so I can't rightfully say.).

Kerwin - B+: Critics - C: Constantine. At first I had my reservations about this Keanu flick because, well, we all know what Keanu's acting's like. But I went on to watch it all the same because of Rachel Weiss who I think is divine. But as it turned out, Rachel Weiss is not the only thing divine in this movie. Keanu was perfect for the role, as I found out later on. Furthermore, the whole concept of devils and angels battling it out on our world, the fast pacing and movement of the plot, and the breathless yet dreary cinematography made this one of the best films I've watched since Kung Fu Hustle. That may not be saying much, considering the span of movies between Kung Fu Hustle and Constantine, but believe me when I say that it is saying much. Stuff to watch out for: Angel Gabriel, the cockroach monster, and the possessed Filipina.

That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed this week's edition of 5 movies!