Quick Movie Reviews: Volume Two

A few more quick reviews for you all, just in time for the holiday crunch.

(Other editions: Volume One, Volume Three, Volume Four)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Pros: Indian Jones + Harrison Ford + Stephen Spielberg. Need I say more? The story did a good job, for the most part, of keeping with the feel of the originals, which is good.
Cons: I think they took it one step too far by actually having an alien spaceship show up. I think the ending would have been better if they had left some of the mystery, you know? Don’t show us a spaceship, just have the temple crash or something and leave us to decide whether they were really aliens or just weird statues. Also, too much CG, and I’m getting tired of Lucas using it for everything. Stop it, Lucas.
Rating: 3.25/5

Hancock
Pros: Will Smith + drunk + super-hero. Good graphics, decent story, and I really enjoyed this one despite what the critics have said.
Cons: I think the major plot point came a little out of left field and I was left wondering what exactly had happened or who Hancock really was.
Rating: 3.5/5

Rambo (2008)
Pros: This testosterone infused Stallone film takes me back to the days of the original Rambo flicks. Lots of action and people being killed by the still muscular and manly Rambo.
Cons: While it’s nice that it hearkens back to the good ole days, it does leave much to be desired. There wasn’t anything necessarily “new” about this movie, and that’s one of the problems. I don’t think I fully know who Rambo is at this point.
Rating: 3/5

Sicko
Pros: Disturbing, thoughtful, and important. As much as you might hate Michael Moore for his methods of manipulating things to serve his personal agenda, you can’t fault him for pointing out the ugliness of a flawed health system. This film is perhaps one of the most important “documentaries” on America’s progressive failures in matters of human rights.
Cons: Well, it’s Michael Moore. We all know how he can manipulate things to fit what he wants to say. A lot of important points are ignored, such as the flaws in universal health care systems in other industrialized nations. Those missing points would have helped make his film more rounded and honest to the entirety of the issue.
Rating: 4/5

The Spiderwick Chronicles
Pros: Good graphics, decent plot, and overall a very compelling children’s fantasy adventure. One of the better of its genre in the last few years.
Cons: Potentially scary for a younger audience and could have used some tightening in the story.
Rating: 3.5/5