South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1997)

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Spoof

Starring (voiceover): Trey Parker, Matt Stone

If your not aware of even what South Park is and if your not a very big fan of them, you might just want to turn your head the other way and not read this. However, this movie throws up very big surprises. The four kids of South Park are very excited for the new Canadian-made, upcoming movie, Asses of Fire starring Terence and Phillip. Things take a turn when the parents of these kids object towards the vulgarity and profanity projected in this movie and how it affects young children. Their protest move takes an ugly turn which turns out into a disaster and brings the world to the brink of a third world war. However the kids of South Park are not gonna sit around. Adults are stupid as usual and need to be taught a lesson, and they're out to prevent the execution of Terrence and Phillip and save the world. The movie's start is just like what you would except, typical South Park stupidity which put Govinda or Jim Carrey to shame. However the movie picks up a story and improves as it goes on, and believe it or not the movie actually gives out a good, decent, responsible social message. Matt Stone and Trey Parker's amazing voice over for almost all the characters of the movie is simply superb. South Park fan or not, its a must watch. Many people might not agree with me and would probably not be able to watch more than half an hour of this movie, hence the dual ratings.

Rating: 5.4 (Non South Park fans)
8.5 (South Park fans)

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Milk (2008)

Genre: Drama/Romance

Starring: Sean Penn, James Franco

I dont know if i did the correct thing by classifying the movie as 'romantic'. The movie is a true-life story on a homosexual activist in USA, Harvey Milk (Penn). Milk strongly fought for political representation of gays in the government, much to the dislike of many people. Along with his lover Scott, (Franco) as his aide-de-camp, he fights for equality of gays and gains a very strong support. With many wins and losses for the city seat and the assembly seats, he is finally proclaimed as the first gay man in the histroy of the United States to be elected to a political office. Sean Penns superb acting is unmacheable, especially since he is playing a role of a gay man, a very tough role to execute. Some love-making scenes between the men might repel people, but just shut your eyes and let the moment pass and enjoy the rest of the movie.

Rating: 7.6/10

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Punch Drunk Love (2002)

Genre: Drama/Comedy

Starring: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson

Bary Egan (Sandler) is a small-time businessman, whose life is a mess. He's consistently hounded by his seven sisters, which has kept him away from the family and prevented him from finding a life-partner. He keeps getting inconsistent fits of anger and ends up wrecking things which doesn't help things either. One day one of his sisters tries hooking him up with a friend of hers. A relationship is on the verge of rising, however out of desperation he once calls a sex phone line and the phone girl tries to extort money from him. Adam Sandler looks hilarious in his in-your-face blue suit and does a good piece of acting. However you need a lot of patience and time to get past this movie

Rating: 5.9/10

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Spanglish (2004)

Genre: Drama/Romance

Starring: Tea Leoni, Adam Sandler, Paz Vega, Shelbie Bruce

Flor (Vega) along with her daughter Christina (Bruce) immigrate to USA from Mexico in hope for a better living. Flor gets a job as a caretaker in celebrated chef John Clasky's (Sandler) household. The language barrier between them makes things a bit difficult to take off initially, but the family gets used to it. The family asks her to stay at their beach house for the summer and she has no option but to take her daughter along. Priorities change when the John's wife Deborah (Leoni) takes a liking for Christina much to John and Flor's disapproval. The movie has an interesting story but lacks some certain essence needed to keep you fixed in one place.

Rating: 6.2/10

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Murder by Death (1976)

Genre: Crime/Mystery/Thriller/Comedy/Spoof

Starring: Truman Capote, (Various)

5 famous detectives from all over the world have been called to millionaire Lionel Twain's (Capote) house. He announces to all his guests that at exactly 12 midnight a murder will take place. The murderer and the victim, both are supposed to be one amongst those sitting in that room. What ensues is a twisted murder mystery. The good thing about the movie is that it manages to create a lot of interest right till the very end. Its only when the entire plot gets revealed does the movie fall flat on its face. Many twists and turns remain unanswered and many reasons given in the movie for a particular incident don't sound very satisfactory and one can find many flaws in it. The weak rating given to the movie is only because of a very very poor ending. Maybe that is the 'comedy' aspect the movie is trying to bring about.

Rating: 4.8/10

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The Wackness (2008)

Genre: Drama/Romance

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck, Famke Janssen

Luke Shipiro (Peck) a college graduate is wasted in life and makes a living selling dope from his ice-cream cart. He trades drugs with his psychotherapist Dr. Squires (Kingsley) for free treatment. He finds himself being attracted to a girl from his school Kristin (Janssen) who turns out to be his therapists daughter. Eventually he gets used and dumped by her and his life is a total mess. The only person left is his doctor whose life too isn't going very well either. Like two lost souls they take up doping all day long. Its quite a wasted movie and an equally wasted performance.

Rating: 5.1/10

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You Kill Me (2007)

Genre: Action/Crime/Comedy/Romance

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Tea Leoni

An alcoholic hit man Frank (Kingsley) is sent away from Buffalo to rehab after consistently failing to do his job because of his bad habit. Rehab isn't very easy for Frank and he finds it hard to quit. He finds companionship in a recently widowed woman Laurel (Leoni) and confides in her, who in turn helps him to kick off his habit. Meanwhile things back at Buffalo aren't all that good with an Irish gang threatening to overthrow his family business. Frank needs to get back and save his business for good. Ben Kingsley somehow felt a bit out of place. He lacked the character and attitude to be a hit man and not to mention his frail, weakened and old physical appearance. Maybe some hardcore action hero with a comical twist would've been more apt for the job.

Rating: 5.8/10

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