Review of House of Games (1987) by Budda F — 17 Jan 2005

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3][i]The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie[/i] (2004).

Entertainment Value: 6 :fresh:

Film Quality: 7 :fresh: [/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3]Sometimes to sappy but this film has its share of laughs. It was a good blend of zaniness for its demographic with a lot of wittier humor for adults (that's not really mature in any way). So my little sister (8) and I enjoyed alternating laughs back and forth. The end (for the most part) became too over the top to be funny or touching and ended the film on a poor note.[/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3][i]Ocean's Twelve[/i] (2004).

Entertainment Value: 6 :fresh:

Film Quality: 5 :rotten: [/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3]I went in with low expectations for this sequel to a mildly amusing film. I was, for the most part, pleasantly surprised. It's nice just to have fun with the characters. It is, in many ways, predictable and unimpressive as a sequel but I can't deny that I enjoyed the experience. Thankfully, it doesn't fall in the category of Hollywood trash, but it is just a rehash of its predecessor without the novelty of being first.[/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3][i]Collateral[/i] (2004).

Entertainment Value: 6 :fresh:

Film Quality: 7 :fresh: [/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3]After building up two interesting characters and an intense relationship, the film then becomes way too Hollywood cliché. I don't care what way a film justifies doing this, even when its done really well (like [i]Adaptation[/i]) its feels forced and weak to me. MILD SPOILERS: I can't stand all those personal epiphanies about how much this night has changed them and then the cell phone, the chase, and the train. It wasn't handled poorly but it could all have been better.[/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3]Despite this, the film is still pretty solid for the reasons I mentioned before.[/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3][i]American Splendor[/i] (2003).

Entertainment Value: 4 :rotten:

Film Quality: 6 :fresh: [/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3]I hate how some people like to refer to this character as an 'ordinary man' when he feels more to me like an 'uninteresting man'. He, and most of the people he knows, aren't that funny or amusing and I never got attached. It is one of the better bio-type films I've seen, but that just means I hated it less then the others.[/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3][i]House of Games[/i] (1987).

Entertainment Value: 6 :fresh:

Film Quality: 7 :fresh: [/size][/font][/b].

[b][font=Times New Roman][size=3]It's age shows a bit too much and its psychology seems weak at times ("if we invert lirg we get girl") but the film is mostly intense and fun, even with its on and off predictability. [/size][/font][/b].