Movie Box Review

Director: Charles Stone III (Paid in Full, Mr. 3000)
Cast: Nick Cannon, Leonard Roberts, Orlando Jones, Zoe Saldana
USA, 2002

Seen: April 9, 2007 on DVD

Reason to see: Enthusiastically recommended by Jamie

Watching this film was such a treat, I always enjoy a film on a subject I don't know much about but has a great story and this one really hit the nail on the head. The subject, or more precisely, the context was marching bands add to that a coming of age, highly talented performers and group dynamics and you are set for a great ride. I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure you will too.

Great Quote: "You have to learn to follow before you can lead"

Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I'll watch it again, repeatedly
I recommend it to everyone

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2007

Director: Mina Shum - 'Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity', 'Drive, She Said
Cast: Sandra Oh, Alannah Ong, Stephen Chang, Frances You, Callum Keith Rennie, Greg Chen
Canada, 1994

Seen: March 26, 2006 thanks to Mpix

Reason to see: I saw a clip of this film in Weird Sex and Snowshoes, a documentary on Canadian film and I was captivating by it. It's on my List of 101 Films I Can't Believe I Haven't Seen.

I completely enjoyed this film. Its *so* Canadian. You know when you watch a film and some parts feel like a play but it wasn't actually based on a play? Bingo. Its a very interesting look at identity, be it personal identity, family identity, cultural identity or all three at the same time. It was really real. It felt like you were really seeing someones life, crazy family moments, work life, friends or dating experiences. Some moments were touching, painfully real and some were so funny I almost had tears in my eyes. A joy to watch.

Its also really cool to see Canadian actors before they hit it big, both Sandra Oh (Gray's Anatomy, Sideways) and Callum Keith Rennie (Battlestar Galatica, Blade: Trinity, Flower & Garnet) gave really wonderful performances.

Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I would watch it again
I would recommend it`

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2006

Writer/Director: Richard Kelly (Visceral Matter, The Goodbye Place)
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze, Drew Barrymore
USA, 2001

Seen: on video sometime in 2002

Reason to see: Looked creepy, indie and was reccomended by a film buff friend

Very good. Very very good. Spooky. My first thought was that my Mom has to see this as it deals with math, time, physics and being able to manipulate them with your mind.

The sound & images still creep me out though, even thinking about them after the fact.

Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I would buy it
I highly recommend it

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2006

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber (Terry Tate, Office Linebacker)
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller, Justin Long, Stephen Root, Alan Tudyk, Joel Moore, Chris Williams
USA/Germany, 2004

Seen: June 26/06 on TMN on Demand

Reason to see: It was exactly the amount of time I had to watch a movie, and the tracking on my tape of The Maltese Falcon was too messed up to watch it

Never did I think I would watch this film. Based on a game about hitting.. oh.. I mean 'dodging' balls. I should not underestimate comedies, this one really made me laugh. There is some stuff that is just plain silly/rude/slapstick but on the whole its... funny. It really is. I also didn't consider that technically you could call it a team sport movie, and once you throw in the whole underdog theme, I was totally there. I was also impressed by Vince Vaughn whom I tend to just not see his films, but in this he was believable, likeable and almost... endearing. Totally unexpectedly happily surprized.

Shannon's Overall View:
I can't believe I'm saying this... I enjoyed it
I may or may not watch it again
I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates goofball humour

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2006

Director: David Frankel ("Entourage", "Sex and the City")
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Adrian Grenier, Simon Baker
USA, 2006

Seen: July 21, 2006 at Varisty with Jamie

Reason to see: A film about fashion is *always* a must see for me. Also, I'm on my second try of #7 on my 101 list: See 1 film a week in the theatre for a year. This is week 2/52 (try 2).

Totally loved it. It's a film that isn't just about fashion but dang there are some great clothes in it! I love stories that show people coming into their own, kinda like a grown up coming of age story. The performances are so great and Meryl Streep, whom I'm not normally a fan of, is absolutely perfect. I find it really odd that I don't have more to say other than I really really liked it!!

Favorite music: Gah, I don't know the name of the song but its also on "So You Think You Can Dance" and has the line She's such a beautiful girl in it. Haha I'm like one of those evil people that comes into the store only partially knowing what I'm looking for!

Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I'll buy it
I recommend it

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2006

Director: Mikael Håfström (Ondskan / Evil, Strandvaskaren / Drowning Ghost, )
Cast: Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel, Melissa George
USA, 2005

Seen: April 20, 2007 on TMN

Reason to see: it was available on TMN on demand, I enjoy most of the actors in it

I will preface this by saying I did not watch the whole movie. It's been a while since I've actually turned a film off or better said that a film turned me off. I watched the first hour but after which it was clear that there were leading up to scenes that would contain sexual violence, for which I have little to no tolerance for, especially in 'thrillers'. I don't know who that thrills, and I don't think I want to.

Overall, I found the story a little implausible and I did not believe any of the words that Jennifer Aniston's character said would ever be said by a woman.

That being said, it did successfully create, maintain and build an great amount of sense of tension. For that I would have to give it some credit.

Warnings: Sexual violence

Shannon's Overall View:
I turned it off
I would not watch it again
I would not recommend it

This film goes under my list of "Non-Reviews"

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2007

Director: Denys Arcand (Les Invasions Barbares / The Barbarian Invasions, Stardom, Jésus de Montréal)
Cast: Rémy Girard, Pierre Curzi, Louise Portal, Dorothée Berryman, Daniel Brière, Yves Jacques, Geneviève Rioux, Dominique Michel
Canada, 1986

Seen: Aug 7, 2006 via Rogers Direct.

Reason to see: It's on List of 101 Films I Can't Believe I Haven't Seen, its Canadian and I loved the sequel Les Invasions Barbares / The Barbarian Invasions.

I walked into this film with almost no frame of reference, beyond what I noted above in my reason to see. I really really loved Les Invasions Barbares / The Barbarian Invasions which makes it a hard act to follow, or would it be to begin? I thought the settings where great, and the frank sexual/relationship discussions throughout the film very interesting, and very forward thinking for a film that came out in 1986. Some topics it broached with ease are still considered taboo, getting more generally known, but still on the fringe. The ensemble cast was wonderful at creating a believable, simple yet also complicated group of friends. That aspect of the fiml was a real treat. But throughout the film I kept on thinking "What does this have to do with the title?". Although it was addressed from time to time through intellectual discussions the overwhelming presense of the film seemed to be about the life and times of these friends. I thought it was interesting but it didn't capture my heart like the sequel did.

Shannon's Overall View:
I thought it was interesting, I wished I had liked it more
I don't think I'd watch it again
Would I recommend to? I'm not sure.

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2006