I was very skeptical as to whether this would work; first off I really enjoyed the first film and the second film was completely violent and senseless, but inevitably, I was surprised with the end-result. To any one who has thoroughly reviewed this website and inspected its contents, I am a big fan of Edward Norton. He is a great asset to this trilogy and really manages to absorb his role. His character is naive and ultimately shy in the beginning and manages to evolve into a tougher and cooler person by the climax. I assumed he would end up being just a Clarise Starling character clone, but I was glad because he ended up being a much better antagonist towards Lecter. I enjoyed the way he had a special ability to see things on a crime scene but the writer’s never truly put a lot of emphasis on it and it never truly became the basis for his character which made him a lot more interesting.
Category Archives: Movie Reviews
Waking Life (2001)
A nameless young man walks out from a bus station calling his friend from a phone looking for a ride and in come a man dressed as a sea captain driving a boat/car. That’s where the journey begins as the man talks about philosophy which the boy merely disregards as yammering. A young boy in a dream world confronts characters who impart philosophical and existential ideas upon him forcing him to come to grips with his own purpose and existence. What he doesn’t know is where he’s going which the man is talking about in front of him. I was intrigued by where this movie was going and became truly engulfed within the context and meaning of the film itself.
Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
It seems lately, Reese Witherspoon is vying for the queen of romantic comedy throne since Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan have somewhat taken a departure over the past four years and I welcome her. Reese Witherspoon showed promise as an actress in critically acclaimed movies like “Highway”, and “Election” and starred in one of my favorites “Cruel Intentions”. She has a knack for the soft and mushy movies, never really taking anything that’s really deep and emotionally driven. She has a flair for acting and takes this character head on. Originally offered to Charlize Theron, Witherspoon makes her character very likeable and charming. The movie starts off with a weird opener setting the stages for the entire movie and then we fast forward into her adult years. I’m not one for watching “chick flicks” which is what this movie would be classified under, but this is rather charming.
The New Guy (2002)
Dizzy Harrison (D.J. Qualls) is an unpopular geek at Rock Creek High School and after an embarrassing accident with an erection, he decides to transfer schools but makes an oath to be a new man at his new school. He meets Luther (Eddie Griffith) a convict in a prison who decides to help him and teach him how to be cool and intimidate people, but can he pull it off when Rocky Creek students recognize him? “The New Guy” has barely any chuckles in it and has a ton of moments when you’re supposed to suspend logic and common sense. Why the character Dizzy would equate being a convict with popularity is beyond me.
One Hour Photo (2002)
“We fear things because we’ve experienced them.” – Sy
Sy Parrish (Robin Williams Insomnia, Good Will Hunting) loves his job at the one hour photo center in “SavMart”, perhaps a little too much. After developing pictures for many people day after day for fifteen years, he begins forming an attachment with the Yorkin’s who’ve been bringing their pictures to him for years. But after getting fired from his job, he yearns for the family’s love and discovers they’re not the people he thought they were. Disillusioned, he sets out to seek revenge on them.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
The story of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” is basically the cookie cutter romance we see in all Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts movies. It offers the illusion of originality by bombarding audiences with Greek stereotypes, but really clings to the formulaic romance comedy. Nia Vardalos is at least likable as the desperate and lonely Toula who feels pressure to get married by her parents and entire family. She’s the underdog who comes through in the end and that’s what helps this movie become likable. What ultimately drags this movie down is the pacing of the story.
Final Destination 2 (2002)
I’m a self-confessed hardcore horror addict, and I really liked the original movie which came onto the screens with a lot of mixed reviews, but managed to keep me thrilled. I wasn’t surprised there would be a sequel and wasn’t expecting much but got more than I bargained for. There’s barely any stars in the movie which makes it more believable when the characters die in their awfully gruesome deaths and there’s plenty of gruesome deaths to go around. From a ladder through the eyes, to being crushed by glass, to being spliced by a wire fence, there’s a lot of gory painful deaths shown in this movie, and the director doesn’t hold back.