FROM THE BUCKET REVIEWS ARCHIVE
2004 Screening Log — original HTML edition
Danny Baldwin · 2004 · Inferred archive year; publication date unknown
Screening Log (Beginning August 2003)
August 1, 2003
Johnny English - 1 ½ Buckets - [Review]
American Pie: Unrated Edition - 3 Buckets - [I had seen the TV cut version of this one, and boy, was it a nightmare to watch. But, as expected, in form--it's delightful. American Pie is crude and obnoxious, but always entertaining. I have never found something so dumb and so stupid that I've enjoyed so much.]
August 2, 2003
No New Films Seen - :'(
August 3, 2003
Beyond Silence - 4 Buckets - [Caroline Link makes masterpieces. Beyond Silence is only my second Link adventure, but I'm already convinced that she's is one of the best foreign filmmakers out there. With a heartfelt story, stunning direction, and powerful performances--this one has it all.]
August 4, 2003
Below - 2 ½ Buckets - [It's got a great first forty-five minutes, and a killer last twenty, but the rest is either boring or painful. Below is a good low-key rental, but won't come across as very enjoyable, under any other circumstances. It's got some good writing and some good acting, but the rest is forgettable.]
Bad Boys - 2 ½ Buckets - [Well, I guess now I'm ready to see the sequel. This flick is kinda fun and kinda interesting, but it never tried anything new, and sticks with the buddy-cop formula, for most of this time. Martin Lawrence and Will Smith really aren't even very good in it, but it's worth watching on cable or renting on DVD.]
August 5, 2003
No New Films Seen - :'(
August 6, 2003
2nd Viewing of: Hollywood Ending - Original Rating: 3 Buckets - [Original Review] - [My impressions of this movie haven't changed since a year and a half ago. I still adore its attempts at comedy, and admire Woody Allen's performance. Far out! For further thoughts, read my original review.]
August 7, 2003
5th Viewing of: Dumb and Dumber - Original Rating: 2 ½ Buckets - [I don't know how I got into another situation that actually entailed watching this movie, but I guess it's my own fault that I did. I, still, after all these times, only think it's okay (and only worth one viewing, maximum). I like Jim Carey and Jeff Daniels in it, and still smirked a few times during this past viewing, but cannot stress enough how terrible the last fifteen minutes are. I enjoyed it once, but after experiencing it four more times, it's agonizing, some of the time. I haven't even seen some of my favorite movies five times! They need to get this one off of television, while I still have small respect for the humor.
August 8, 2003
Freaky Friday - 3 Buckets - [Review]
August 9, 2003
Northfork - 3 ½ Buckets - [Review]
2nd Viewing of: Bringing Down the House - Original Rating: 2 ½ Buckets - [Original Review] - [Yeah, yeah, I wanted to see it again, even though I didn't really like it much, viewing it in theatres. It looses a whole lot on the small screen, but is still kind of charming. Good little rental if you haven't seen it before. After seeing it twice, I can't say my last viewing was really worth it, though I never came close to feeling like I was in pain when watching it. If you do rent it, try to get the full-screen edition of the DVD, though. Widescreen isn't necessary, and the black bars on the top and bottom are so big--on a regular TV, the picture will only take up 1/3 of the screen.]
Agent Cody Banks - 2 ½ Buckets - [I actually had fun. Lots of it. But this is not nearly as funny, creative, or suspenseful as the Spy Kids movies. It is very entertaining, though--and is a good rental. This one makes for a very pleasant afternoon, even if you aren't a kid.]
August 10, 2003
What A Girl Wants - 2 Buckets - [Well, it's better than I thought it would be, and has a fantastic middle act. This is an average 'tween fare and nothing more. When it comes onto cable, it'll be worth a watch, but otherwise, don't bother. It's too stupid and too corny-sappy for anyone who doesn't fall into the target audience.]
August 11, 2003
No New Films Seen - :'(
August 12, 2003
No New Films Seen - :'(
August 13, 2003
S.W.A.T. - 3 Buckets - [Review]
August 14, 2003
The Lizzie McGuire Movie - 1 ½ Buckets - [I am on a mission to find a good 'tween movie. I like the Lizzie McGuire TV show, to a certain degree, but this movie is awful. The TV-cast regulars are kind of amusing to watch, and Hilary Duff is charming as always, but the script and production are train-wrecks. This is probably the best 1 ½ bucket movie I've seen all year, and will escape being on my "Worst 10" of the year list, but is still pretty bad. When it's on cable, watch it if you're bored, with the TV remote in hand.
August 15, 2003
Open Range - 3 ½ Buckets - [Review]
August 16, 2003
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not - 3 ½ Buckets - [Dramatic, comical, and thoughtful. Audrey Tautou is as good here as she was in Amelie, though the movie can't quite live up to her previous effort's standards. It's still very, very good, and definitely one of the best of the year.]
August 17, 2003
Freddy vs. Jason - 2 ½ Buckets - [Review]
August 18, 2003
Blue Streak - 2 Buckets - [Definitely conventional, and pretty awful--but Martin Lawrence and Luke Wilson completely save it. They make it watchable, and occasionally fun. It's worth an afternoon cable-watch, but not much more. Blue Streak is funny some of the time, but misses the bar, for most of its duration.]
August 19, 2003
Jackass: The Movie - Zero Buckets - [Capsule Review]
August 20, 2003
Cradle 2 the Grave - 2 Buckets - [This is probably the lowest two bucket rating I'll ever give, but I suppose this movie deserves such. It's preposterous and ridiculous, but entertaining, regardless. The end really makes the movie feel a bit more reasonable, and was what I was waiting for. At times I struggled to get into it, but at other times I had fun. Cool concept, awful execution.]
Monster's Ball - 4 Buckets - [Seriously amazing, packed with emotion, and touching. The director's style is unique, and fits the work; the entire movie flows like none other. Billy Bob Thorton and Halle Berry give fabulous performances. Words cannot describe how tremendous this work is--see it if you haven't.
August 21, 2003
2nd Viewing of: Chicago - Original Rating: 4 Buckets - [Original Review] - [When I saw this one on the big screen, I loved it, just loved it. On the small screen, it's not as magical, but still pretty damn great. I was just as entertained as the first time, but to experience the same film I saw back on the 5th of January, I'll need to watch it on a bigger TV with a better sound system. My thoughts haven't changed about it, but I cannot deny that I really needed to watch it, under circumstances as close to a movie theatre as possible. When you rent or buy it, definitely watch it on as big a screen as you can.]
2nd Viewing of: Old School - Original Rating: 3 Buckets - [Original Review] - [Still very funny the second time around, but not quite as entertaining. Definitely a good add to any DVD collection, because it's always fun to watch. A solid good time.]
August 22, 2003
No New Films Seen - :'(
August 23, 2003
Roger & Me - 2 ½ Buckets - [Capsule Review]
August 24, 2003
The Medallion - 2 Buckets - [Review]
August 25, 2003
All the Real Girls - 2 ½ Buckets - [Definitely very atmospheric, and respectable in that area, but the pretentiousness of it all is too great, for the giant amounts of emotion to actually touch us (aside from what's in the ending scene, which does get to us). It's hard to just "fast-forward" over the dull points in the movie though, because if you miss a speck of it, much of the meaning will be lost. Director David Gordon Green uses a very odd approach, and I'm not really sure if I like it. This one is hard to recommend; if you're a film buff, try it. I don't think that the average moviegoer will like it much, though. Strictly art-house.]
Head of State - 2 ½ Buckets - [Sweet, innocent fun. I laughed quite a bit, but as expected, this one relies on that contrived formula so many comedies of the nature. But, hey, I guess I should be thankful that it's not another Legally Blonde 2. It's definitely worth a rental, and offers a good time. I still prefer Down to Earth, though.
August 26, 2003
My Boss's Daughter - ½ a Bucket - [Review]
August 27, 2003
Le Divorce - 2 ½ Buckets - [Review]
August 28, 2003
No New Films Seen - :'(
August 29, 2003
The Magdalene Sisters - 4 Buckets - [Review]
August 30, 2003
From Justin to Kelly - 1 Bucket - [Awful, dreadful, horrible, and tasteless. The only thing that keeps me from giving it a zero, and calling it the worst of the year, are it's helpless intentions and good spirit. Sure, everything about it is similar to the quality of a school play, but it's only occasionally painful to watch. Simon Cowell would definitely object; despite the fact that this flick is of a lesser quality than American Idol.]
Uptown Girls - 2 ½ Buckets - [Review]
Raising Victor Vargas - 3 ½ Buckets - [A brilliant piece of realist cinema, and possesses all the traits that All The Real Girls wishes it could've had. I was emotionally involved and entertained at the same time. Fabulously stunning. One of the year's best.]
August 31, 2003
American Splendor - 3 ½ Buckets - [Review]
September 1, 2003
Winged Migration - 3 Buckets - [Review]
September 2, 2003
No New Films Seen - :'(
September 3, 2003
No New Films Seen - :'(
September 4, 2003
Spider - Need to Watch Again to Determine Rating - [How complex. It's a fabulous tale, and I picked up on almost all of it, but I need to watch it again just to study the intricacies, and discover how much I really admire it. In this first viewing, I was fascinated and intrigued by the story--I focused on it. This next time, I'll be watching it more lightly, and confirming what I feel about it. Extraordinary and unique.]
September 5, 2003
2nd Viewing of: Spider - 3 ½ Buckets - [I definitely admire it more than I enjoy it, but it's an incredible achievement, regardless. There are plot holes, but Cronenberg's story-telling abilities make up for them. This is one insane trip. For mainstream audiences, it's a "no-no," though.]
September 6, 2003
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star - 2 ½ Buckets - [Review]
2nd Viewing of: My Big Fat Greek Wedding - Original Rating: 3 Buckets - [Original Review] - [Still as charming and fun as it was a year and a half ago. Even though it deserved to make money, I still wish it would've remained an exclusively art-house movie. All the publicity has ruined half of it.]
September 7-11, 2003
No New Films Seen - :'( School Time...
September 12, 2003
Malibu's Most Wanted - 1 ½ Buckets - [Eeesh. I like Jamie Kennedy. I really do. But there's no excuse for starring in this piece of trash. A lot of the humor actually works, but the execution is undeniably flawed. If the jokes had been staged better, this could've been a pleasant diversion. But it isn't.]
September 13, 2003
Matchstick Men - 2 ½ Buckets - [Review]
September 14-19, 2003
The Rainmaker - No Rating - [I liked it, but didn't love it. I'm not going to rate it though, because I watched it for a class. It runs on cable a lot now, and is well worth catching, if you find that it's playing when flipping from channel to channel.]
September 20, 2003
Cold Creek Manor - 2 Buckets - [Review]
Anything Else - 3 Buckets - [Review]
Levity - 3 Buckets - [Moody and atmospheric...if only it were triumphant enough story-wise to back the great technical-work up. Thorton is as fabulous as he was in Monster's Ball; all of the acting is great, but the other characters aren't really that likeable. It barely earns my positive recommendation for some extraordinarily redeeming features.]
September 21, 2003
Secondhand Lions - 2 Buckets - [Review]