It might come as a surprise but I really wasn't all that taken with this movie. It featured an alright enough and original concept but it did far too little with it to let this movie work out as a greatly entertaining and also truly original genre movie as well.

Problem for me was that the movie really was being too simplistic and straightforward. It's basically an adventurous traveling movie, in which the main character travels through a video game world and meets all kind of fantasy, video game characters and gets in some crazy situations with them. This still sounds perfectly fine but I wish I could also say that the movie handled its concept well. It's just a tad bit too childish all and I never felt that the movie showed me, or did, anything new.

This really should had been a more fantasy orientated movie, which would had allowed the writers and animators to use some more creativity as well. There is so much they could had done with its video game world and characters but I never got to see enough of any of them. At least not to my liking.

Perhaps this was an even bigger problem than its story; the characters weren't quite likable and involving enough. Ralph himself should had been a warmer and more sympathetic character really. Perhaps that way I would had cared a bit more for the story and all his motivations as well. The story and motivations never came across as all that important and relevant, probably also because it too often got handled in a too shallow and forced way. The movie besides was lacking a strong and good villain, that could had given things a bit more depth, meaning and excitement.

Not that the movie as it is is boring or horrible to watch but nothing about it works out as well as it potential could had and that's all very obvious and really harmed the movie. The movie as it is is too shallow, simplistic and not involving enough. Luckily it's still entertaining to watch, which for most part is thanks to its fast pace and great animations.

6/10

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A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Rich Moore

Starring: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch and others

Current release date: November 2, 2012

Well, lets just start of by saying this movie is no way near as good as the original movie "Nattevagten", of which this movie is a remake but it's still being a pretty good and fun whodunit to have a good time with.

Kind of weird to notice how different this movie is in atmosphere and approach, since it actually got directed by the same director who made the original, 3 years prior to this American remake. And it's not just different but also most definitely less effective. There is not as much tension and mystery in this one, also due to some pacing issues (it's too fast paced at times) and a poor buildup to things.

And all while this movie in essence is still being just like the original. Not much had been changed in its story really and I was therefore also quite surprised to find out Steven Soderbergh was involved with the writing. Guess it was an easy paycheck for him, since really not all that much had been changed or added to the movie, when compared to the original movie.

While the original was being a whole lot of different things, this movie is just being a more simple and more straightforward thriller, or rather said whodunit. So really, don't expect this movie to provide you with any horror but as a mystery/thriller, I can still see this movie entertaining a whole bunch of people out there, of course especially those who aren't familiar with the original movie already.

And really, the movie on its own is really being quite good and entertaining for what it is. It really doesn't handle everything well, mainly stuff concerning the earlier mentioned pacing and buildup to things but as a whole it's still being a better movie than just the average genre attempt. There are plenty of thrills and surprises in it, that help to keep you invested in the movie.

It also has a cast to die for. Really an all-star cast, of which some actors are better known now days as back then. Ewan McGregor plays the main lead, while the movie further more stars Patricia Arquette, Nick Nolte, a still very young looking Josh Brolin, Brad Dourif and John C. Reilly. Not that this movie features any of their best or most interesting and challenging performances but still, it's always good to see so many talented people together on screen.

A definitely good enough movie as a straightforward thriller.

7/10

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The bad-guy character in a classic game who longs to be a hero brings trouble to his entire arcade after sneaking into a new first-person shooter game and unleashing a deadly enemy. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Rich Moore

Starring: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch and others

Current release date: November 2, 2012

The bad-guy character in a classic game who longs to be a hero brings trouble to his entire arcade after sneaking into a new first-person shooter game and unleashing a deadly enemy. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Rich Moore

Starring: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch and others

Current release date: November 2, 2012

(Review originally written at 14 April 2008)

I like a good dumb simple comedy from time to time but I don't really see this as a good and fun enough movie to watch over and over again.

First of all I really like Will Ferrell as a comedian actor. Unfortunately his movies are often of questionable quality and the reason these type of movies still remain watchable is thanks to the very presence of Will Ferrell and often lots of other fine comedy actors, such as also is the case with this movie.

This is just not the greatest made comedy. Of course the movie its story is rather weak and simple but the movie makes the mistake that in its middle part mainly focuses on the more personal and emotional aspect of the character Ricky Bobby. almost as if it starts to take itself too serious, even though the movie keeps its silly comedy style all over it all of the time. If you cut the first part of the movie and you glue it back together with the last part of the movie you'll have one movie and if you cut out the middle part of the movie and release it on its own you'll have a whole other movie. Some characters suddenly disappear in the middle and then suddenly pop up again for the last part of the movie. This is the case with the Sacha Baron Cohen character, who is the main 'villain' and Michael Clarke Duncan.

It remains a technically well made movie though. Also the races themselves are good looking and well captured on camera and brought to the screen. I like this new sort of comedies that are being made this decade. It often are movies with both hits and misses but throughly know to remain perfectly fun and watchable, mostly because of their overall silliness.

Of course "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" is also a silly movie. I mean, just look at the title. It's mostly a movie that will amuse you but not really one that will make you laugh out loud all the time. Also the story and mostly the storytelling prevent this movie from being a true successful comedy.

Thank goodness for the cast, that makes up so much and are the main reason why this movie remains so very amusing to watch. Will Ferrell is good as always, as you would expect and really in his element again, this time as a NASCAR driver. He forms he good comical duo within this movie with John C. Reilly, who had his share of serious roles but seems to feel most at ease within comedies these days. The movie also has some truly great supporting actors such as Gary Cole, Michael Clarke Duncan and Amy Adams among others. Sacha Baron Cohen shows up as the movie its main villain, a French Formula 1 driver who has turned over to NASCAR and becomes Ricky Bobby greatest new sport competitor. Baron Cohen with this movie, perhaps for the very first time, shows that he can really act and he is a great comical talent and he is not just good for playing his characters Ali G, Brüno, and Borat. No wonder that he is a much wanted actor these days and not just only for comedy roles.

Yes it's a watchable amusing movie for on a rainy afternoon when you have nothing else to do. But it's not really a movie I would be anxious about watching again any time soon.

6/10

(Review originally written at 30 March 2008)

How can this movie be even regarded an horror movie? It lacks some serious tension and scares and even though this movie is made in a typical horror movie style, this just is no horror movie. This was a real disappointing thing to me and definitely surely more was to be expected from a movie based on a Japanese horror movie, that however, as it seems, is just as much of a lackluster as this movie is.

This movie jumps all over the place with its story. The one moment it's some pure drama and the other it tries to include some horror elements but it just never pushed through. It's like they trying to head into a certain direction at times but then suddenly stop and say; 'Nah, this is not going to work, let's try something else now'. It to me made this a pretty inconsistent movie to watch. Also the story its time-line and the way it progressed just didn't seemed right to me. The movie at times makes some sudden jumps with its scenes and it often feels like 2 or 3 scenes are missing from the movie at times. It really doesn't makes this movie a satisfying one to watch.

But no, I still can't rate this movie really low, since it's definitely a good looking one with also some great actors in it. Even though it's a real lackluster, it's not a movie I hated watching or anything. The movie just left me hungry for more all the time, for something that just never came. The movie is like one big build up to absolutely nothing.

It's fair enough to say that the actors are the ones that keep your interested throughout. Jennifer Connelly is a true great, already Oscar winning, actress. But also the supporting cast seems pretty amazing, considering the type of movie this one is. It features acclaimed actors such as John C. Reilly, Tim Roth, Dougray Scott, Pete Postlethwaite and Camryn Manheim in its supporting cast. A cast most in Hollywood would be jealous about.

So this is not really an horror, does that mean that this movie should be regarded as just merely a drama? I don't think so. As a drama this movie in its core might be solid but with all of those 'supernatural' elements thrown in, you just can't really regard this movie as a serious drama attempt. The movie got also made too much into a typical distinctive horror movie style for that.

A good looking movies that follows all of the usual Japanese horror remake steps but only forgets about its tension and scares. I even prefer "The Grudge" over this, at least that one had still horror elements in it.

6/10

(Review originally written at 25 December 2007)

"The River Wild" isn't among the best or most exciting thriller/action movies ever made but it's a very well made one by acclaimed director Curtis Hanson and with a great cast.

A movie set entirely on a river, with as the central piece of the movie a family, complete with kids and a dog. How exciting does that sound? It sound like a 'based on true events' Hallmark type of movie. But don't be fooled. "The River Wild" is a movie that has plenty to offer, despite its very restrained concept and settings of the movie.

The movie is also more original than you perhaps would expect. The movie also does a fair job at keeping things sort of a mystery for a long time. I especially like how 'the bad guys' try to set up the family against each other to create disorder and different camps, of which they can profit from for their own benefit. It's perhaps not as good and prominently executed as it could had but nevertheless the movie gets points for the attempt, that also I must say mostly works out due to Kevin Bacon's fine role.

Watching this movie sort of makes you think what a shame it is that Bacon doesn't really play villainous roles anymore. He only played these sort of roles in the early '90's, though he had an obvious talent for it. Not that he plays crappy roles now but nevertheless it remains a shame he doesn't play more often the bad guy. He is perfectly good in his role in this movie. He knows to portray a likable character that you're also able to hate at times. A real achievement. But also credits have to go to Meryl Streep, who plays a fine strong female lead and other great actors such as David Strathairn, Joseph Mazzello and John C. Reilly.

Despite that it's not the most exciting movie in its genre it still is one that is always fast going and never boring to watch. The movie mostly features nature action, set on the river. So it's a pretty original movie in its genre but I don't know, movies set at mostly the same locations are just never among my favorite or most exciting ones to watch, such as for instance in my personal experience also was the case with movies such as "Speed" and "Phone Booth".

The movie is of course a great looking, thanks to its nature settings. Also the musical score by Jerry Goldsmith is really worth mentioning.

It's just a fine movie, that is perfectly put together and has a great cast but it's just not the finest exciting genre movie thinkable and it perhaps is also a bit too simplistic, also due to its restraints.

6/10