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Created Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST

Title Released Trust Weighted Summary Viewable
1st Harry Potter and...
2007 Really Great 32 Points
We come upon Harry (Radcliffe) as we do in the beginning of most Harry Potter films, at the Dursley’s. He is sitting on a swing when his cousin Dudley and his friends approach him. Harry and Dudley take shots at each other. Dudley verbally attacks Harry on the subject that is most sore to him, the death of his parents. Harry doesn’t have too much time to worry about this though. A handful of Death-Eaters appear. They start sucking away Harry and Dudley’s good memories. Harry knows that if he doesn’t do something to stop them that they will suck their soles out until the…
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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st 28 Weeks Later
2007 Really Great 7 Points

Shockingly enough, a great sequel to my favorite not-zombie movie. This one definitely goes bigger, dealing with the early stages of Britain's repopulation after the Rage virus is supposedly decimated, although no chances are taken and American soldi…(read more)ers man every corner. The plot comes down to one family that brings the Rage back in vogue, but also may hold the key to curing it. The action is intense throughout, but the special effects are uneven. The firebombing looked great, as did a certain helicopter sequence that is now my favorite zombie scene ever, but certain smoke and…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Behind the Mask:...
2005 Very Good 16 Points

Taylor (Goethals) is a journalist who has managed to get serial killer, Leslie Vernon (Baesel) to agree to a documentary showing his process of killing. With her film crew, Taylor starts interviewing Leslie about what he does. The condition of allowing her access to him is that Taylor is not aloud to interfere with what Leslie is doing. He takes her to a near by school to show her how he picks out his targets. There must be a virgin who will be the survivor girl and it is better if she has jocks as friends. The friends will be targeted to kill first and the survivor girl will be the one who…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Maschera del dem...
1960 Very Good 16 Points

The movie takes place over two centuries ago. Princess Asa Vajda (Steele) is being sentenced to death from accusations of witchcraft. She is tied up and is forced to wear a mask. This mask is made to look like the devil. The towns’ people say that she doesn’t deserve to deceive people with the face she has. So they force the face of the devil on her, which they see as her true face. Unfortunately, shame isn’t the only pain when wearing this mask. There are nails all through out the inside of it, facing towards the face. The executioners force it on her and hammer it in to her head. Pr…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Dawn Of The Dead
2004 Really Great 21 Points

The best of the recent group of Hollywood remakes, this is a genuinely good genuinely scarey horror film.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Evil Dead II
1987 Perfect 2 Points

This movie is great, it is a horror comedy of the best quality. There is cheese just dripping from this movie and the way they make it work within this horror spoof is just terrific.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Halloween
1978 Really Great 32 Points

A classic that remains as powerful and amazing as it was nearly 30 years ago. This low budget masterpiece is what horror was originally all about, and spawned generations of imitations, a remake and 7 sequels that never lived up to the same level. This film has developed a cult following and to this day Michael Myers remains of the scariest film characters of all time.

Set in the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, the story begins as 6-year-old Michael Myers inexplicably stabs his sister to death on Halloween night and is institutionalized. Fifteen years later, he comes home…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Halloween
2007 Barely OK 18 Points
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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Day of the Woman
1978 Great 16 Points

Jennifer (Keaton) is an aspiring writer. She is staying at a house by herself near the wilderness for the summer in hopes to finish her writing. However, this is interrupted when she comes across a few dangerous men. As Jennifer is canoeing in the river one day these men pull her canoe away with her still on it. When they get to the woods they pull Jennifer off and strip her of the bathing suit she was wearing. Then they shove her on the ground of the field. One of the guys forces his way on her and rapes her. Jennifer tries to get away, muddy and bloody. It almost seems like she might, but…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Last House o...
1972 Good 3 Points

Anyone who finds themselves a particular fan of horror and more so Wes Craven, will find this film quite good. But in saying that, there seems to be no other reason to give it a higher score as the overall atmosphere and story presented in this 1972 horror shocker, is one of those rare films where the actual plot and horrifying scenes make you not want to like it.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Motel Hell
1980 Great 16 Points

Farmer Vincent (Calhoun) owns his own farm out in the country. He butchers meat as well. This meat is thought of as the best there is. It is only administered to those who live in the area though. This is because he has a limited amount of meat. What most people don’t know though is that this meat consists of more than one animal. Sure he uses the typical cows and pigs, but he also uses the meat of humans. Farmer Vincent and his sister, Ida (Parsons), are on the look out for human flesh. They trap any humans who happen to be roaming around. This is where they get creative though. They don…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Murder Party
2007 Good 16 Points

Chris (Sharp) is very much a loner. He doesn’t get respect from anyone. His dog doesn’t even obey him. When Halloween comes around he doesn’t want to stay home alone, he wants to be with others who he can celebrate the holiday with. When he finds an invitation titled “murder party”, he assumes it is just a themed Halloween party. Chris decides he would like to attend this so he prepares for the evening. He even makes his own costume. He makes a knight costume with armor made of cardboard. When Chris shows up he is surprised that there aren’t that many people there. Quickly, he l…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Lookout
2007 Really Great 16 Points

Chris Pratt (Gordon-Levitt) had it all in high school. He was the star of the hockey team. Even during his first game, he shined and spent the next three years living to his potential. He had great friends and a great girl. His senior prom should have been a highlight of the last four years, a chance to have fun with all those he was close to. Unfortunately, fun is the last way that that night would be described as. He wanted to impress his date, Kelly (Laura Vandervoort). On their way to prom, Chris shuts off his lights. Suddenly, little glowing lights emerge everywhere. It is a beautiful …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st A Nightmare On E...
1984 Perfect 25 Points

Nancy (Lagenkamp) begins having horrible dreams. A burned man with knives for finger nails is out to kill her. These nightmares seem so real. The only cure seems to be to avoiding sleeping. After her friend, Tina (Wyss) is murdered she begins to fear these nightmares even more. The suspect for the crime is Tina’s boy friend, Rod Lane (Garcia). He was the only one in the room with her when she was killed but he insists that he is innocent. Nancy wants to believe him and is persuaded further when he tells her that there was someone else in the room and describes a nightmare he had been h…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Hills Have Eyes
2006 Barely OK 19 Points

Absolutely and incredibly disturbing. It is so cool to see such a daring movie like this, knowing there haven't really been many of its type lately. I adore movies like this, Last House on the Left and I Spit on your Grave (although this isn't nearly as sickening as those two). This was just a fun movie that went a little further than simply stupid kills.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Texas Chain ...
1974 None Yet Points
Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Texas Chains...
2003 None Yet Points
Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st High Tension
2003 Perfect 5 Points

An ultra-violent claustrophobic horror that confirms Alexandre Aja's standing as one of the most provocative and talented genre filmmakers working today, "High Tension" (or "Haute Tension" in it's native France, "Switchblade Romance" in the UK) inserts into it's mad, frightening 91 minutes set-pieces both original and classical as Marie (Cecile De France) battles to save herself and friend Alexia (Maiwenn) from a mysterious, violent stranger who's interrupted a stay with Alex's family by beginning a brutal slaughter. Fierce, visceral and appropriately tense, "High Tension" is one of the bes…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Silence Of T...
1991 Perfect 44 Points

Silence of the Lambs set the standard for the psychological crime thriller. As Hanibal, Anthony Hopkins does 'evil' like nobody else, and if that wasn't enough, Jodie Foster and her law enforcement brood need to find and deal with Hanibal's sick protege. This movie deserved all of the Oscars that it received.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Spider-Man
2002 Perfect 13 Points

Yeah, yeah, yeeaahh!! Bash this movie all you want!! Bash it for its cheesey goodness and its popcorn movie fun, but this is a childhood favorite of mine. I have so many good memories with this film. This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. Even though another comic book film called "X-Men" came out a couple years earlier, this is the film that TRUELY started the new wave of super hero films in the 21st century. After years and years out of the public eye, Evil Dead helmer Sam Raimi made a return to movies. He brought one of the greatest super heros to the silver screen.

The film b…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Spider-Man 2
2004 Perfect 4 Points

Peter finds great success in his superhero duties, but can’t seem catch a break (or even a snack), as he rides an emotional roller coaster while trying to balance his personal life, attend college, and make a living. Wait I don’t think Spider-Man has enough challenges…how about a nemesis to battle against? In this episode, Dr. Otto Octavius (a.k.a. Dr. Octopus), well played by Alfred Molina ("Maverick"), fits the bill.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Batman
1989 Perfect 11 Points

One of the greatest comic book films of all time(its at least in the top 5). Told through a dark story and complex character development, visionary director Tim Burton excellently tells the story of the caped crusader. The film to me comes off as a character study of a man who is psychologically torn between two worlds of his own. One: a life of crime fighting and hiding behind a mask. The other: hiding all of his pain on the inside while trying to lead a normal life. Michael Keaton plays our hero and Jack Nicholson plays our villain, the Joker. One made the other. The Joker killed Batman's…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Batman Begins
2005 Great 22 Points

After the mega disaster of a certain cinematic abomination known as Batman and Robin, there were quite a few rumors going 'round 'bout a new Batman movie. There was talk of Joel Schumacher helming a fifth film known as Batman Triumphant. The plot was going to involve Scarecrow(played by Howard Stern), Harley Quinn(Madonna, of all people), and Man Bat(Willem Defoe) and they were going to resurect the Joker. In my opinion, that's one plot line too many. However, there was then talk of a prequel based on Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. And let me tell you, my friend, a prequel is what we got….

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Wild Things
1998 Very Good 17 Points

What do you get when you mix babes/hunks like Neve Cambell, Denise Richards, Kevin Bacon, and Matt Dillon with some classics like Theresa Russel, Robert Wagner, and Bill Murray — then put them in a crime/thriller with lots of plot twists and plenty of action? An very entertaining movie! I'd put this movie in a 'watch it on TV on a lazy Sunday' category, but it is definitely worth your time.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Night of the Liv...
1968 Perfect 16 Points

Barbra (O’Dea) and her brother, Johnny, have just made a long trip to visit their mother in the country. Once they arrive there, we find out that their mother is dead and buried. They are visiting her grave when Barbra starts to get a bit freaked out. Johnny jokes about her fears until he soon shares them too. A man tries to strangle Barbra, Johnny saves her, but he doesn’t make it. She runs as fast as she can away from this man and ends up in a house nearby. She finds a dead women’s body lying at the top of the stairs when another man, Ben (Jones), finds her. He informs Barbra that t…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st 30 Days of Night
2007 Very Good 24 Points

An interesting and original idea that was well presented, but did not fully live up to the potential the story had.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st 28 Days Later
2002 Great 2 Points

This is a pretty accurate portrayal of what would actually happen if this type of a plague would hit our planet. beautifully done.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Little Miss Suns...
2006 Perfect 71 Points

A contemporary classic: bracing, funny and ultimately heartwarming. Little Miss Sunshine mines the modern American family – in all its dysfunctional glory – for more than enough laughs to lighten a harshly judgmental movie. The result is something lovable, real and durable, not unlike most families.

This effects-free movie creates movie magic by combining a first-rate ensemble cast with first time writer Michael Arndt's Academy Award winning screenplay.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The 40 Year Old ...
2005 Great 18 Points
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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Knocked Up
2007 Great 50 Points

Seth Rogan "Ben" and Katherine Heigl "Alison" have a drunken fling that winds up getting her pregnant. Only thing is, she's the belle of the ball and he's the unemployed stoner type. The film provides lots of laughs and touching moments as well all made possible by a very versatile and genuinely funny cast. All in all a very enjoyable and smart comedy that stays consistent even through the serious parts.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Superbad
2007 Really Great 108 Points

Superbad is still super funny, super filthy and super telling. That last is somewhat inadvertent, but the movie is more than just a lens into the fetid minds of unsupervised boys. The porn-powered self-absorption it observes among millennials dates it as Origin of the Snowflakes. "Just how I feel" justifies everything.

Sociological observations aside, Superbad is a hall-of-fame high school movie that slays comedically. Plus it launched several notable careers, including Jonah Hill's, even as it kicked Seth Rogen's into overdrive.

Brilliant from the opening credits, where white …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Anchorman: The L...
2004 Very Good 99 Points

More SNL than it should be, Anchorman nonetheless lives up to its legend as a modern comedy classic. Snarky humor aside, it's almost as fun watching it now to pick out the bit players who have gone on to comedy stardom – Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen and Vince Vaughn among them.

"Jason says":http://www.viewguide.com/movie_reviews/238 the movie gets funnier with multiple viewings. "By the beard of Zeus!"

"Stay classy, San Diego."

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Hairspray
2007 OK 80 Points

High gloss musical fantasy can't escape its lame dialog and unfortunate casting. The song and dance numbers, however, are terrific.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Notebook
2004 Great 2 Points
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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Titanic
1997 Great 93 Points

King of the World combination of teen dream romance, larger than life disaster and mechanical intrigue. Pushes the entertainment buttons of most every demographic.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Reign Over Me
2007 Good 84 Points

Perfect music, emotionally loaded material and an attractive production can't rescue this manipulative 9/11 movie's cliche characters. Like outcasts from writer-director Mike Binder's Mind of a Married Man show and an Adam Sandler arrested-development movie, they never go beyond their essential immaturity, even in the face of culture-altering pathos.

The movie does generate initial goodwill by tackling the personal aftermath of 9/11, though it soon squanders it, as I explain in "Film":http://www.viewguide.com/movie_reviews/1469-reign-over-me#film.

While I didn't expect greatness, *…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Crash
2004 Very Good 66 Points

High quality, reasonably engrossing production that seeks to annoy, and succeeds.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Departed
2006 Great 95 Points

High quality Scorsese with a bold faced cast operating at the top of their games, this movie misses serious greatness due to the ultimate absurdity of its plot and its numerous circoreality liberties.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st American Gangster
2007 Really Great 123 Points

Frank Lucas (Washington) is living in Manhattan in the 1970’s trying to make a profit selling drugs. However, he doesn’t seem to be able to make any real profit off of it. By the time he pays off people, he doesn’t have anything else left for him. Frank thinks the solution to this is to eliminate the middle man, to get his heroin right from a direct source. People think this to be impossible, but Frank goes to the jungle and attempts it. He makes a deal for the drugs to be sent to him through the planes of soldiers from Vietnam back to America. Frank is able to get large amounts that …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st United 93
2006 Perfect 29 Points

United 93 takes place the day a tragedy occurred, September 11, 2001. It seems like a normal day to everyone. No one has any idea how big of an impact this day will have. At first everything goes as scheduled through the airlines. However, those who monitor the airplanes do become suspicious. They realize that there could be a possible hijacking situation on one of the planes. People are cautioned by this, but it is surprising to them since this hasn’t happened for 40 years. Soon they find out that several of the planes are in fact being hijacked. The workers try to do what they can to fi…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Zodiac
2007 Very Good 22 Points

I've often heard about the famous Zodiac killer but never knew the story in detail. This movie does a great job of telling the story, but you never feel like you are getting to know the characters.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Death Sentence
2007 Perfect 18 Points

On a way home from a hockey game, Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) and his eldest son Brendan (Stuart Lafferty) meet the Darley gang led by Billy Darley (Garrett Hedlund) when they stop at a gas station. During some gang initation, Brendan is killed and leaves their newest gang member [and Brendan's killer] behind. They also leave Nick alive, making him a witness to a crime. However, justice wasn't gonna punish Brendan's killer too harshly, causing Nick to refuse testifying against him. Dissatisfied with the law, Nick decides to take the law into his own hands and murders the gang member who killed …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Poltergeist
1982 Perfect 1 Points

My favorite film of all time on so many levels…
Of course every year i have a favorite movie of the year but Poltergeist has been at the top ever since i saw it in 82. From the direction (by Spielberg obviously, not Hooper) to the grippling and often touching music of Goldsmith, from the perfect acting to the amazing effects…i can't even count the number of times i've seen it. A classic.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Garden State
2004 Perfect 2 Points

Authentic and brilliant!

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Romeo And Juliet
1996 Great 2 Points

William Shakespeare's words with a wonderful modern twist!

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Blood Diamond
2006 Very Good 66 Points

Terrific movie that works primarily as a classic Hollywood action drama, yet also delivers a lesson about recent evil in the real world. Thankfully, the preaching rarely supersedes the story, making this a message movie that keeps its priorities straight: entertain us and the message will be easy to swallow.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Last King of...
2006 Great 14 Points

The Last King of Scotland was a terrific study of character evolution. Its about a young, dumb boy looking for an adventure who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. His intent is good, but by the time he kisses the 2nd married woman, you just have to think "this kid is not smart." The story follows Dr. Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) and the changes he goes through purely due to his circumstances. He is young and dumb, but you sympathize completely and absolutely want to follow him to the end of road. While I don't have any knowledge of Amin's rule in Uganda, I was thoroughly…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Harold & Kumar G...
2004 Very Good 1 Points

Despite the UK audience being given the dumbed down title of Harold & Kumar Get The Munchies, (We are aware of White Castle – US film distributors!!!).This film perfectly fits the niche of 'frat' boy/road trip style movies that have in recent years proved popular at the box office, and even more popular on the home DVD market.

A laugh out loud comedy with a great supporting cast (notably Neil Patrick Harris), our lead duo will let nothing get in the way of satisying their stoner appetite for those little burgers.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Pan's Labyrinth
2006 Really Great 93 Points

A brave girl's amazing fantasy, stupendously well told. Monumentally effective FX bring to life fauns, fairies and all manner of fantastical creatures, making Pan's Labyrinth both technically and artistically engrossing.

Faced with a horrific family situation, the brave Ofelia (played with plucky fortitude by then 12 year old Ivana Baquero) maintains her spirit by spending half the movie in a fantasy world where she is a princess of the underworld, called upon to conduct important missions of daring and courage. This allegorical counterpoint to the real-world calamities of the "Spanish…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Happy Feet
2006 Good 66 Points

Funny, not too preachy, and of the pop culture moment.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Little Children
2006 Really Great 83 Points

Post-feminist Bovary: Closely observed, brilliantly crafted tale of suburban angst, full of knowing looks, requited lust, and post-modern self-awareness.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Blades of Glory
2007 Really Great 8 Points

Take Will Ferrel, Jon Heder, and put them in a story about the world's first male pairs figure skating team. Got an idea about what that'll be like? So did I. Imagine my suprise when I saw it!! This movie is actually very, VERY good. Not a childish gay joke (or any gay-baiting for that matter…) in sight. Just Will and Jon's odd brand of 'Stupid/smart' humour. A fantastic surprise. This movie particularly shines during the actual skating performance scenes which are choreographed fantastically.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Clerks II
2006 Great 75 Points

Worth an effort, if this sort of demented juvenilia is your cup of tea.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Gwoemul
2006 Good 16 Points

The film starts with the toxic waste being poured down the sewers, knowing these deadly chemicals will go straight to the river, as it really happened. We then meet up with our main character, Hie-bong (Byeon). On the outside he seems to be somewhat of a slacker. He is still working for his father and seems to be falling asleep constantly. The one thing that does really matter to him though, is his daughter, Hyun-seo (Bong). Little does he know, that she is about to be ripped away from him.
A creature emerges from the chemicals in the river. It creates a horrifying monster. Everyone is …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Slums of Beverly...
1998 Great 29 Points

An Alan Arkin classic movie that adds humor to a stressful existence. This movie has lots of wit and memorable scenes. Natasha Lyonne is the main character in this film, and along with Alan, Melissa Tomei, and Kevin Corrigan add a healthy amount of sarcastic wit that will have you laughing uncontrollably despite the depressing undertones. Want to see Natasha Lyonne and Melissa Tomei dance with a vibrator to "we want the funk"? Just one wacky example from many…. This is a must-see movie for any Arkin fan.

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Talk to Me
2007 Great 16 Points

Petey Greene (Cheadle) has just been released from prison. Through out his time there he was able to have his own radio show. Now that he is out he wants make this his career. He finds a connection to the industry through a fellow convict, Milo (Epps). His brother, Dewey (Ejifor) is in charged of bringing in the talent for WOL-AM radio. However, when Petey approaches him, Dewey completely blocks him out. Petey is loud and rude and feels that he would only risk Dewey’s job. After Petey continues to try, Dewey decides to give him a chance. He convinces the owner of the station, E.G. Sonderl…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Driftwood
2007 Great 16 Points

David (Ullman) was very close to his older brother, Dean (Sams). He was in a rock band called 27. Dean always showed David a good time. However, Dean didn’t know how to slow down. He was addicted to drugs and went in to rehab. After he got out, he overdosed. David blamed himself for this since he wasn’t there when it happened. He thought that if he was maybe he could have saved his life. After he lost his brother, David became very depressed. He lost his best friend. This made him examine death. David thought that he might be better off if he was dead so he could be with Dean again. His…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Waitress
2007 Very Good 24 Points

To Jenna (Russell), baking is an art and pie is her favorite canvas. She uses precision and care into each step. Jenna works at a local pie shop where she waitresses and makes the pies. There are nearly 30 regular flavors not to mention that she invents a new flavor and makes it every day. Jenna is very creative and combines foods that don’t seem like they should go together. However, everyone claims that her pies are the most delicious thing they have ever tasted. To some it is really an experience to eat one. Jenna works with two good friends of hers, Dawn (Shelly) and Becky (Hines). T…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Namesake
2006 Good 99 Points

Ashima (Tabu) is a young Indian, Bengali classical singer. She lives in a very large, tight knit family. She knows that changes are coming though. It is the time in her life where she must be married. A couple of suitors seek her out. The one she says yes to though is Ashoke Ganguli (Khan). He was raised in the same area as her but 2 years ago he moved to New York. After a large and very festive Indian wedding, they move to Ashoke’s home in the United States. Ashima tries adjusting, but she ends up missing her family very much. Soon Ashoke and her begin to make a family of their own. She …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st December Boys
2007 Very Good 33 Points

The December boys are also known as Maps (Radcliffe), Misty (Cormie), Spark (Byers), and Spit (Fraser). They are four boys who were sent to a Catholic orphanage in the outback of Australia in the 60’s. Also, they were all born in December. Over their years of staying in that orphanage and not getting adopted, they grew towards each other. They became very good friends and more like brothers than anything else. One December, they are told that they are going to be sent away on a holiday. The boys stay with a couple who is friends of the church at Lady Star Cove, bordering the sea.
The b…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Better Off Dead...
1985 Great 2 Points

Hey, I don't really like John Cusack either, but since he's always trying to off himself in this movie, I don't mind him as much. Better Off Dead is actually one of my favorite 80's movies. It's full of 80's teen movie charm, but in that random, whacky way that demands multiple viewings (not like with Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club… I mean, seriously, how much does anyone need to listen to Molly Ringwald whine about her life? The answer is never). Besides zat, zere eez an adorable French exchange student played by ze lovely Diane Franklin, who ultimately saves John Cusack from…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Hatchet
2006 Good 16 Points

Victor Crawley (Hodder) was a mutant child. His father (Hodder) hid him away from the rest of society. Anytime other kids saw him they would tease him for his looks. One Halloween night, a few of the town’s teenagers decided to give Victor a bit of a scare. So they lit his house on fire, while he was inside. Mr. Crawley was out at the time. When he got home and saw the burning house, he tried to get inside to save Victor. He was trapped out though and resorted to slamming a hatchet against the door to attempt to tear it down. What he didn’t know though was that his son was on the other …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Juno
2007 Really Great 158 Points

Juno (Page) is a 16-year old, very easy going girl. She doesn’t care much about her appearance but loves old rock music and gory horror films. Juno is close friends with Olivia (Thirlby), a cheerleader, who has a thing for just about every teacher. Juno’s best friend though is Pauly Bleeker (Cera). He is very much like her and has had a crush on her for quite some time. One night, Juno decides to have sex with him. This leads to an unwanted teenage pregnancy though. Her first reaction is to get an abortion. She is even in the clinic ready to do it. Something comes over Juno though and s…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Orphanage
2007 Great 52 Points

Laura (Rueda) is now going back to the orphanage where she grew up. She is with her husband, Carlos (Cayo) and their adoptive son, Simon (Princup). Simon doesn’t know that he is adopted or that he is HIV positive. Laura really sees Simon as her own though. She does want to help others and give orphans a place to call home. Laura is planning on bringing in four or five others, particularly those who are at a disadvantage whether it be disabilities or disease. However, Simon is the first one who meets children. Laura is concerned that he has so many imaginary friends. These friends seem to …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Great Debaters
2007 Great 104 Points

The Great Debaters takes place in 1930’s Texas is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tonson, the professor and advisor of Wiley College’s debate team. Melvin Tolson (Washington) is a very rigid professor, but an even tougher couch. With a new year it is time to hold auditions for this year’s debate team. Many people audition but only four people actually make it, two of them being alternates. The team is made up of Henry Lowe (Parker), Samantha Booke (Smollett), James Farmer Jr.(Whitaker), and Hamilton Burgess (Williams). Henry had just recently came back to school. He would really…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st King of California
2007 OK 84 Points

King of California is a dark comedy centered around a small, dysfunctional family. The film is a wild ride, in which most of the time is spent going on a treasure hunt in modern day California’s suburbia. Whether the treasure is attainable or real is not the point. It is the journey and how it’s representation that really means something to the characters.
Miranda (Wood) has much more independence than most teenagers her age. Her mom left her father and her when she was young. For the past two years, her father, Charlie (Douglas) has been in a mental institution. She didn’t want to…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Girl Next Door
2007 Really Great 33 Points

The Girl Next Door is a horrific film based on the novel by Jack Ketchum, which was taken from the abuse and eventual murder of a young teenage girl. This girl was Sylvia Marie Likens. The police responded to a call made about this, but she was already dead at that point. She was covered with cigarette burns in nearly a hundred places on her body. Sylvia was even marked with scars that spelled out “I am a prostitute and proud of it”. The crimes committed to Sylvia were done by a group of kids some as young as 11 years old, led by the current caretaker of Sylvia and her younger sister w…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Undead or Alive
2007 Very Good 16 Points

Luke (Kattan) is a very caring and sensitive man living in the old west who desires to have the life of a cowboy. He thinks that he has a committed girlfriend that he will marry soon and start a life with. Unfortunately, this girl that he has such high hopes for is a whore. As he sees her dancing on stage, being ogled by practically every man in town, Luke starts a fight with the piano player, Elmer (Denten). This lands them both in jail by the greedy and power driven Sheriff Claypool (Besser) and his idiotic yet loyal sidekick, Cletus (Coppola). This becomes too much when Elmer’s money i…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Into the Wild
2007 Really Great 50 Points

Into the Wild is based on the non-fictional book by Jon Krakauer, depicting the adventures of Christopher McCandless. The book as well as the film adaptation, wonderfully directed by Sean Penn, show the countryside and the world outside of our society. We see the rugged atmosphere of the wild. Majority of the time, brutality isn’t an element of this. The sense of peacefulness is shown more than anything by Chris who completely flips his lifestyle upside down.
Chris McCandles (Hirsch) has just graduated college and he has excelled with nearly all A’s. He says that he thinks his grades…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Gone Baby Gone
2007 Great 124 Points

Gone Baby Gone is a very successful film adaptation of the novel by Dennis Lehane, which Ben Affleck says is his favorite novel. This is Ben Afflecks directorial debut in a major motion picture. His ability to take this material and transfer it with great conviction proves himself as a director and his passion of the material is shown. He also shows the Boston atmosphere accurately as he in addition to his brother, the star of the film, Casey Affleck, are both Boston born. 4-year old, Amanda McCready, has been kidnapped. The police, including Captain Jack Doyle (Freeman) are doing all they…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Brave One
2007 Barely OK 96 Points

The Brave One is a very effective revenge film that doesn’t stick to the norms of the genre. It actually started out as more of a genre film just with a female vigilante rather than the typical male role. Other changes were than made to make this a battle of body and mind. It shows us that revenge doesn’t always have to be directed at one person, it can be towards violence in general. However, when you fight violence with violence you may not like the person you become; the person you are stuck with.
Erica Bain (Foster) is a radio broadcasting on a talk radio show. She is happily ant…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Elizabeth: The G...
2007 Great 99 Points

Elizabeth was a film that displayed Queen Elizabeth becoming the leader of England. This turned the England in to a Protestant nation, which caused great turmoil. The new Queen was threatened constantly living in a state of immense danger. So many people were conspiring and working against Elizabeth. She managed to keep her mind straight and prove that she was a worthy Queen. Nearly a decade later, the sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, has been released. This works mostly because it takes place much later in Elizabeth’s reign. More so than time though, Elizabeth: the Golden Age, is a goo…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Across the Universe
2007 Great 91 Points

Across the Universe is a dramatic musical, built with the work of The Beatles. The songs are used through different characters and even different situations. The time period is similar as the film takes place during the Vietnam war. It would have been easier to make this a film about The Beatles. The songs came from their lives anyway so it would just be a matter of recreating those situations. Across the Universe gives the thoughts and feelings of the music to completely different characters in different situations. It shows us that one song can mean so many different things to other peop…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Chronicles o...
2008 Great 25 Points

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian takes place one year since the ending of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and is based off of the fourth book in C.S. Lewis’ epic series. The films are being released in a different order of the chronological order of the books. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is actually the second in the series. However, they do go in order that C.S. Lewis wrote them. This second film will still make sense without seeing the first, but watching both does add more depth to it. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian takes on the same sense of battling f…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Harold & Kumar E...
2008 Very Good 21 Points

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay isn’t quite as good as the previous film, but as far as sequels go it is one of the better ones and is a very funny and enjoyable movie overall. It follows almost immediately after the first Harold and Kumar movie. It is still that same morning as Harold and Kumar are on their way to Amsterdam so Harold can be with his long time crush and now potential girlfriend, Maria (Garcés). Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay follows certain patterns and elements of the first film while still emerging with a tone original from the first. The film …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Diving Bell ...
2007 Perfect 34 Points

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is based on a novel written by Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor if Elle Magazine, about his life after suffering a stroke. As he became completely paralyzed after this, he completed the novel just by blinking his eyes. It took thousands of blinks to complete it and the French alphabet in order of frequency of use to translate these thoughts. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly shows what this process was like and what Jean-Dominique’s life had become after his stroke.
The film opens up when Jean-Do (Amalric) has just awakened from his coma after 3 weeks….

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Smart People
2008 Great 82 Points

Lawrence Waterhole (Quaid) has become a very cynical person since his wife died. He is a college professor, but doesn’t even have that same passion for teaching that he once thrived upon. Teaching is just a job to him now that he attends to, blind to his students. One night after Lawrence falls attempting to climb a gate, he ends up in the hospital. His doctor, Janet Hartigan (Parker), was one of Lawrence’s old students. Janet had a crush on him, but Lawrence still doesn’t even know her or remember who she is at all. Lawrence gets to know her soon enough, as they begin dating. As this…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Lars and the Rea...
2007 Perfect 112 Points

Lars (Gosling) stays to himself as much as he can. There is no one in his life aside from his brother, Gus (Schneider) and Gus’ wife, Karin (Mortimer). Lars’ and Gus’ parents have been dead for quite some time now. After their mother died, their father became very secluded and to himself. Gus and even more so Karin, see this in Lars now. Karin is very worried about him, thinking that he must be far too lonely. It is obvious that Lars is lonely, but he also doesn’t like certain human interactions that most people do. For example, he describes hugging as a burn through your body. At …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st The Kite Runner
2007 Perfect 116 Points

The Kite Runner is the film adaptation of Khaled Hussein’s novel of the same name. The film seems to at least follow the basic plot very closely. More importantly, it brings life, humanity, and surges of emotion and struggle to the screen. The atmosphere of Kabul, Afghanistan is shown to us through several different stages in the history when our characters lived. This is the town of our main their childhood and a critical element in the story that we end up going back to. Being in Afghanistan this is a very intense, violent, and at times very hard to watch film. Forster and Benioff manag…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Walk Hard: The D...
2007 Very Good 98 Points

Dewey Cox (Reilly) didn’t always have it easy, especially growing up. He was very close to his brother as a kid, but accidentally cut his body in half with a machete. Particularly his father from that point on would always tell Dewey that “The wrong son died”. Dewey always had to live with the guilt of this and trying to really live his life to the fullest. Right before Dewey’s brother died, he told Dewey that he had to accomplish twice as much for the both of them. Dewey took to music very early on, being able to play the guitar and sing very well basically upon his first try. He w…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Wristcutters: A ...
2006 Really Great 16 Points

The whole point of suicide is supposed to be an escape out of the misery that life can pile up on you. However, what if suicide really wasn’t a way out of anything? What if after committing suicide not only did your existence continue but it led you to a more depressing world void of anything and everything that you did love in your past life? This is the setting of Wristcutters: A Love Story. Goran Duvic created this very unique and intriguing film based on the short story, Kneller’s Happy Campers, by Etgar Keret. Duvic builds off of Keret’s ideas of the afterlife with a mix of gloo…

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Teeth
2007 Great 24 Points

Teeth spurs its’ story through the mythology of vagina dentata that is believed by many cultures around the world. All of these tales feature women having toothed vaginas, as a warning against sex. Teeth takes this myth and applies it to a young confused girl, who isn’t quite sure whether this is a curse or a blessing.
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Dawn (Weixler) is a teen who is a promised virgin until marriage. She does public speakings to encourage her point of views on others, particularly the younger crowd who haven’t made that decision yet. Dawn even wears and hands out promise rings as well as …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Charlie Bartlett
2007 Very Good 33 Points

Charlie Barlett is a high school coming of age story, reflecting on all of the different types of kids who seemingly have little in common with those outside of their social circle. However, a little understanding reveals that no matter how different they all may seem on the outside, they all still have their problems. The feeling that they are the only one is the very thing that brings them together. As they unite, they find a power within themselves that they use to be heard and to take control of what they want in their school. They become like disgruntled citizens overthrowing their …

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST
1st Be Kind Rewind
2008 Very Good 20 Points

Be Kind Rewind takes great actors and puts them in an amateur setting to center itself around us; the fans. Even though, having to remake all of the big budget films in Be Kind Rewind, is done by mistake, it spurs a realization of purpose, pride, and passion. The bottom line is they end up having a lot of fun adding their own creations and creativity to make their version of films, causing them to become even more enjoyable and in return fun for the audiences to watch.
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Elroy (Glover) owns a small video store, Be Kind Rewind, in a poor neighborhood that is in very bad condition….

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Added Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST • Updated Dec 16, 2010 02:22AM PST

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