Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
6.9
Before “Blackfish,” you had this film to convince you not to go to Sea World, for fear of being trapped in an underwater walkway with strangers while you wait to be devoured by a killer shark. The underwater restaurant looks pretty badass, though.
It’s in 3D, like every other horror movie around this time, and has one of the most laughable finales in cinematic history. However, still an entertaining watch, if you’ve never seen it before.
8.1
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…
The first one was just too good… they had to make a second one, right?
In one of Hollywood’s better sequels, Universal made the accidentally genius decision to switch to an action oriented director, who took this film in a different enough direction from the first that it actually works really well. The helicopter scene is a thing of beauty, cheesy as it may be. Chief Brody comes back for another round with his finned foe. The action gets cranked up to an 11, and you see A LOT of the shark in this one. A well executed follow-up to a legend, that stands the test of time.
8.4
I’ll admit, I rate this one higher than most. Call me a sucker for Spielberg’s signature wonder set to an Alan Silvestri score. I’ve loved this movie since the first time being blown away seeing it in IMAX. Not only is it one of the most beautifully rendered CGI films I’ve ever seen, but my heart was warmed by the attention to detail as every frame was filled with film references that had me going “No way! That’s ____!!! From ____!!!” almost the entire runtime. Strong story, strong casting, and no shortage of action. Adding to the score, was a soundtrack overflowing with deep cuts you couldn’t help but groove to.
The “Back to the Future” nod in the score gave me chills! It was almost as subtle as the DeLorean and Doc Brown cameo in “A Million Ways to Die in the West.” It’s the little things…
7.9
There’s a bomb… on a bus.
Short, sweet, and to the point. Much like this movie. “Speed” walked so “John Wick” could run. The entire cast rocks it in this fast paced (pun intended) thriller. Another man with a phone and taste for revenge who terrorizes society with a sinister plot endangering an aspect of everyday life. Things go fast, and things go boom. Great directing keeps things paced just right, with just the right dash of humor to let off the gas before the next buildup.
8.4
Much better than expected! And I expected a lot. Costner and Harrelson shine in this film about vigilante justice, the sometimes thin lines between right and wrong, and the toll that living the life of an old school lawman could take on one’s soul. The storytelling of their early days together as Texas Rangers opened up a window into the two main characters’ souls. Well veiled exposition. In the vein of “titanic” and other works of historical fiction, knowing the ending had very little bearing on my overall enjoyment, as this film was just so damn well done! Netflix movies and series tend to have a cinematic richness to them that is often unrivaled in modern entertainment, even with their recent uptick in content output volume. Well worth the watch, even if I am a little late to the party on this one.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 