bradflix

bradflix

Welcome to bradflix

Here is your one source for opinions on the DVDs that Mikey lends Brad in the "BRADFLIX" box and more!

Updated July 31, 2008

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Released 2008. Absolute genius! I rarely watch something and then go back right away and watch it again but I'm doing that right now now with Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. I'll write more about it later. It's on Hulu.

Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes)

Release date 1997. I'm told that "Vanilla Sky" was a remake of this movie. I never saw that movie and based on what I've heard about it, I won't. "Abre Los Ojos" is in Spanish with English subtitles but it is well worth it. I was literally holding onto the edge of my chair watching this and I already knew how it would end. If you were puzzled about what the other movie was about, you won't be puzzled with this one. If you have had no life experiences this movie will lose you. If you have, it will fascinate you. It's that amazing place that only movies (and dreams) can take you.

The Bucket List

Release date 2007. Absolutely astonishing. I don't know what to praise more, the acting, the writing, or the masterful craftsmanship of the storytelling. All were superb.

Madagascar

Release date 2005. Wow! Real eye candy for my new 1080p system!

I like to move it, move it! at YouTube.

Into the Wild

Into the Wild Release date 2007. Somehow I knew this wasn't gonna be "Jeremiah Johnson". I enjoyed watching this movie, but wouldn't watch it again. Although everyone in this movie liked the main character (or, if you were a 16-year old girl, fell in love with him), I thought that he was an annoying little dweeb with just enough knowledge to make him dangerous. I've met people like this and their superficial view of the world is only interesting to listen to if they're buying the drinks. This character was a typical "paperback scholar". If you've ever wondered what kind of idiot writes "Oh, yes, very true" in the margins of books, watch this movie. If it was director Sean Penn's intention to portray him this way, it was masterful. If he didn't mean it, it was a mistake.

Once Upon a Time in the West

Release date 1968. Absolutely astonishing. I had never seen this movie before and what I had read about it had my expectations very high. I was not disappointed. This is not a good movie for those with short attention spans, it is epic. Gorgeous picture, too. I look forward to watching this on my new 1080p LCD TV with a 1080p upsampling DVD player!

Bee Movie

Release date 2007. I liked it.

No Country for Old Men

Release date 2007. What interests me most about this movie is that it is a transition from the "old west" movies to the modern-day. Other movies that are westerns at heart but not set in the 19th century are "Bad Day at Black Rock" and "Coogan's Bluff". The transition from the "Old West" to "The New West" is seamless, as explained in this movie with the passing generations of lawmen. There is much lamenting about the "old days" but also acceptance that fighting to "win the west" continues. Life in the west is brutal and hard, where only the strong survive. Not a country for old men.

4 - Rise of the Silver Surfer

Release date 2007. The Silver Surfer is cool and seeing him in CGI animation is worth watching this movie (for me) once. I read Fantastic Four comics a little when I was a kid, but mainly for the Jack Kirby art. The characters of the Fantastic Four and their bad guys (like Dr. Doom) left me less than interested. The Silver Surfer, the herald of Galactus, was an exception. Although Stan Lee signed his name all over everything, and still takes all of the credit, this was definitely a Jack Kirby concept, foreshadowing his "Third World" series (Mister Miracle, The Forever People and the new Gods). The original story line from the Fantastic Four comic books that dealt with the Silver Surfer touched on issues of a cosmic scale, asking whether mankind deserved to live or die, even making references to an almighty power (although God wasn't mentioned, there was a mention of the one who has the power of love). Read more

The Legend of Bagger Vance

Release date 2000. "The Natural" of golf. Directed by Robert Redford, this movie is epic and sweeping, looking at the human condition. This movie is not about golf any more then "The Natural" was about baseball.
Read more

Nacho Libre

Release date 2006. I love this movie. This is a true classic "super hero" story, comic book style. This has nothing to do with the actors who played the roles, although they did a fine job. It is such a simple story and told through the eyes of the children (which includes the main character, Ignacio). The use of the song, "I am, I am" is masterfully woven into the score in a haunting and inspirational way. Read more

Walking with Dinosaurs

Release date: 2000. Also Walking with Monsters and Walking with Prehistoric Beasts. Absolutely incredible. I had confused this series with "Chased by Dinosaurs", which I found very annoying. This series is narrated by Kenneth Branagh, which gives it much more dignity. Everything is right with this series, the fabulous CGI dinosaurs, the music, even the compelling "storytelling".

Knocked Up

Release date: 2007. I fast-forwarded through most of this. Apparently, the humor was lost on me. I realize that this is a story of redemption and fatherhood but the setup just took too long (the whole movie). I watched it to the end to see the main character get his shit together.

Dr. No

Release date: 1962. The very first James Bond movie and I still love it. I've been watching these movies on TV (seems to me it was always the "ABC Monday Night Movie") since my teens. To see them unedited and in this beautifully digitized widescreen format is a treat. The first time I saw Sean as James Bond was in "Diamonds Are Forever", and he was ridiculous. Too old for the role and too fat. Here he is 32 - the right age for the role - and unlike "Diamonds", his toupee is perfect in this movie. After I saw this Bond, and "Goldfinger", I became a Sean Connery fan. And a fan of Ursula Andress, too! Although I don't recall seeing her in any other movie. Read more

Ratatouille

Release date: 2007. Marvelous! Another triumph for Pixar. There are so many strong points in this movie it's hard to know where to start, but what I keep thinking about is the visual and musical interpreation of taste that Remy, the main character, does when eating the cheese and the strawberry, and then both together. This harkens back to "Fantasia". Read more...

Much Ado About Nothing

Release date: 1993. Delightfully light and simple. Hey, nonny, nonny! I have to admit that I spent most of my time watching the backgrounds - the gardens and the buildings. Reminds me of California! Denzel is way cool as the prince. Link to the comic version...

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Release date: 1994. Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy gets girl back. I actually preferred this story in "Notting Hill".

Monty Python's Personal Best (series)

Release date: 2007. Best in the series: Terry Jones Personal Best. To me, John Cleese's is the most annoying. But I never liked "Fawlty Towers", either. Michael Palin's Personal Best is excellent, too.

The Battle of Britain

Release date: 1968. This could be the most boring movie ever made. Skip over "the plot" and the visuals are worth seeing.

Cars

Release date: 2006. Pure joy.

I, Robot

Release date: 2004. This movie is based on the short stories by Isaac Asimov. I had read these stories when I was a kid and was overjoyed to see the "Three Laws of Robotics" at the beginning of the movie. They are:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Wallace and Gromit - The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Release date: 2003. Highly recommended. I have watched this movie probably about 37 times. Every time I see it, I see more detail. I've always like miniatures and this miniature world is the best I've ever seen.

Meet the Robinsons

Release date: 2007. This beautiful piece of animation is also a well-crafted time travel science fiction story. It took me three times watching it to figure it all out and it stands up to close inspection. In fact, it invites it! After you figure out who is who in the past and the future it's fun to look for them. In my opinion, much of the zany antics of the family are there to distract you from figuring out the story too quickly. Excellent!