Review of Rize (2005) by Milhouse V — 27 Nov 2005

[b]Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:[/b] Contrary to most people, I don't think this movie is rushed. With the exception of the surprisingly abrupt ending to the Quidditch World Cup, this is a thrill-a-minute film with excellent effects, a perfect portrayal of Mad-Eye Moody by Brendan Gleeson, and plenty of stuff for a Harry Potter fanatic to go gaga for.

[b]Rent:[/b] Team America was right. Everybody in Rent does have AIDS. Tracie Thomas, a newcomer to the show, is better than most of the original cast members. Chris Columbus can't capture the bohemian spirit that would bring the film to life, because the characters sure aren't helping. Maureen is a crappy performance artist, Mark's films suck, and Angel, while likeable, isn't the spark of life that everyone makes him out to be. The music is okay, but pours on the rock-opera tones a bit too much; notice how the first, simplest version of "No Day But Today" is the best.

[b]Walk the Line:[/b] Does a terrible job of conveying what makes Johnny Cash special. Mostly, he's a drug-addicted jerk who can't keep his paws off June Carter. Why do prisoners identify with his music? Hell if I know. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon deserved a better script and a better director.

[b]Rize:[/b] How do you keep kids in the Watts neighborhood of L.A. from joining gangs? Put some face paint on them and teach them to dance! And by "dance" I mean a combination of acrobatics and spasms. You can't make this stuff up, folks. You also can't make it into a full-length movie. The material is interesting, but gets repetitive quickly. Clowning and krumping are only impressive for so long.

[b]The Godfather Part II:[/b] The first one is better. This one isn't bad but its story isn't as compelling. The acting and camerawork are, of course, nothing short of fantastic.