Four-Star Movies

Watchmen (2009)
I saw Watchmen twice before I wrote this review. Why? Because like many people my age, I read the comics on which the movie is based. So the first time I saw the film I automatically found myself comparing it to the source material. They changed that line, they cut out this part, they emphasized that a lot more, etc. The second time I saw it I already knew what it was, so I was able to enjoy it simply for itself and not as an adaptation. It is that 2nd viewing that I now review. [Full Review]

The Fall (2008)
Not since Julie Taymor's brilliant Titus way back in 1999 have I seen a film so overflowing with such rich, imaginative imagery. Titus tied for my favorite film of 1999 (with Jim Jarmusch's stunning Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai). It's going to take a miracle of a film to top The Fall in 2008. [Full Review]

Juno (2007)
I saw this movie almost a week ago, but I'm only now reviewing it because I was at a loss as to how to accurately describe just how phenomenally good Juno really is. I still am. But I'm willing to give it a try. [Full Review]

Hot Fuzz (2007)
When I saw Grindhouse earlier in the year I was absolutely convinced that I would not see a better film all year. Hot Fuzz sorely tries that assertion. [Full Review]

Grindhouse (2007)
How is it that Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino took a genre of film that is best known for producing crap, and managed to produce what is undoubtably going to be the best movie of 2007? [Full Review]

A Prairie Home Companion (2006)
When I saw this movie, I experienced a similar phenomena as when I saw Good Night, and Good Luck last year: my movie-going companion Brandy and I were by far the youngest people in the theater. [Full Review]

Brick (2005)
Brick is a gimmick movie. In order for a gimmick movie to be any good, either (a) the gimmick has to be so fantastic that watching it for 90+ minutes is plenty or (b) the movie has to be more than its gimmick and stand on its own as a good movie. Since I am giving Brick a four-star review, I think it's safe to assume that it does one or the other. [Full Review]

Serenity (2005)
The best movie I have seen so far in 2005. How's that for an opening sentence to a review? [Full Review]

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
I'm one of the few people I know who actually likes The Phantom Menace, and who absolutely loves Attack of the Clones. As such, I guess I really can't call myself a real Star Wars fan. Star Wars has never had quite as much meaning to me as it does to real Star Wars fans. I just thought they were fun, entertaining movies. [Full Review]

The Incredibles (2004)
Brad Bird directed the best giant robot movie of all time (1999's The Iron Giant). Is it now possible that he has also directed the best superhero movie of all time? [Full Review]

Kill Bill (2003)
There is an undeniable giddy joy in watching this film. A film that has no real sense of story, no attachment to the real world. It exists only so much as it exists. This is a film where a woman can be in a coma for four years, wake up and escape the hospital, and somehow is able to buy plane tickets, clothes, and a motorcycle. In the real world how would she come upon the money to do all this? It's easy to do in this world, though; she needs all those clothes and that motorcycle becuase that's what would be the coolest for her to have for that particular moment in the movie. [Full Review]

Lost in Translation (2003)
This is the best film of the year. A film of almost infinite delicacy and beauty, and at the same time roaring comedy. It is dreamy and delicous, at once involving and distant, emotional and cold. I can't imagine liking any film better this year. [That's the whole review]

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
What a horrifying yet absolutely captivating and somehow freakin' hilarious film. With the possible exception of Luis Guzman's character (and occasional very minor characters), there is not a single "normal" person in the whole endeavor. [Full Review]

Adaptation (2002)
There are times when you are watching a movie and it gradually dawns on you that you are watching something truly, truly spectacular. It must be similar to witnessing a miracle (one of the ones you gotta witness in order to be made a saint). [Full Review]

Catch Me If You Can (2002)
There's something just infinitely joyous about this film. I sat through almost the entire film with a big grin on my face. And when I wasn't grinning I was on the verge of tears with either laughter or genuine emotion. [Full Review]

Lilo & Stitch (2002)
I actually saw this movie several months ago. I'm not sure why it took me so long to write the review. I still don't have any idea what I'm going to say, so forgive me if this is a little rambling. [Full Review]

The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002)
Thinking about this movie got me thinking. Normally in my positive movie reviews I say what I liked about a movie, and then say a few things that bothered me or dissappointed me or that I didn't like. After watching this movie I thought back on it and realized that there was NOTHING that bothered me or disappointed me or that I didn't like. [Full Review]

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Spectacular.
Wait. I didn't do that right.
SPECTACULAR!
[Full Review]

Panic Room (2002)
Panic Room is nearly a perfect movie. It reminded me a lot of a classic Hitchcock movie, with its small number of characters, all of which are extraordinarily strong, a single location, evil intentions and a suprising amount of organic humor. I laughed out loud several times during this movie, which is something that I didn't expect. Although perhaps I should have; Fincher's Fight Club I thought was absolutely hilarious through and through. [Full Review]

Ghost World (2001)
This is the only movie so far in the year 2001 to earn Four Stars in my book. It is my favorite movie so far this year and it is doubtful that any other movie will surpass it. It is simply a great movie. [Full Review]

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (Unedited) (2000)
I've watched the various warner brother superhero shows ever since the genre was re-invented by Batman: The Animated Series in 1992. I've even seen all the episodes of Superman, even though they're generally not all that good. And the Batman Beyond series has the most inconsistent track record of them all. While all the episodes are of good production quality (ulike Batman: TAS), fully half of them are pretty much crap. [Full Review]

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
This movie is a musical. It has musical numbers. But it is the best kind of musical: the musical numbers are worked organically into the plot. When people in this movie sing, its when people would actually sing. They don't just spontaneously break out into song-and-dance numbers that nobody in the real world would ever witness, let alone participate in (in one of several hilarious scenes, a musical number intrudes on a conversation, and one of the characters remarks, "What the Hell is all that singing?"). All the numbers help reinforce a very specific, stylized world. [Full Review]