ROTTEN TOMATOES: Zac L.'s Movie Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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Reviews Written:: 84

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American Beauty (1999)

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American Beauty is one of the all around best film?s I have seen in my life.
I?ll start with the acting and work my way around. I have to say, this m... More

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	Votes +7 +7 / -0 thumb up thumb down Buried (2010) Genre: Mystery & Suspense 70% Posted on 1/29/11 07:28 AM One of the most well received film's of the year 2010 (and one of my personal favorites) is 127 Hours. This is a film that consists mostly of a person trapped in a certain area. Buried is a step beyond that, taking place, literally, in one area the entire film. Ryan Reynolds plays Paul Steven Conroy, a US truck driver who is kidnapped by Iranian criminals and is buried underground, with a cell phone and a few other items to help him contact the outside world, gain ransom money, and free himself. Let me flat out say that the vast majority of this movie is great. Ryan Reynolds is superb, allowing the audience a likeable character to latch on, which is important, as he's the biggest character by a mile. Rodrigo Cortés directed the film superbly, showing interesting and creative shot's from a very confined space. And for the most part, Chris Sparling's writing was excellent. He created gripping situation's that kept you on the edge of your seat, which is incredibly impressive considering how little he had to work on. Now the problems. I can't really discuss what I didn't like about the film without spoilers, so if you're looking to avoid them, skipped the marked area. *OMGZ SPOILARS LOOK OUTZ AAAAH!* The problems with Buried are few in quantity, but huge in quality. First off, there are minor things. How does Paul's phone get such good reception? It's something I can over look, but it's still a problem, none the less. My main problem is the how generally depressing the film is. Now, by no means do I believe Paul had to live for the ending to be good. I could have lived with Paul dying. But the way they went about it was just horrible. Paul goes through so much sht trying to survive. He not only has too deal with an enormous amount of problems for someone in such a confined situation (unrealism is another of the film's problems) but every one is just against him. The Iran criminals, his company, even the government. But I could live with that, if Paul had been able to overcome it all in the end and live. But he did not. And I could live with his death, but not after all he went through to try and survive. Even if they wanted Paul to go through so much, and have him still die, they way they went about it was just cruel. Instead of at least giving Paul a death that at least would have left me with satisfaction, they chose to have the last 15 minutes of the film be on big hopeful rush. And it all leads up to and climatic sht on the audience. "You came to out movie, you got invested in our story, and you want satisfaction?!?! WELL FCK YOU!" I just feel that some type of calmer, nicer ending for Paul would have been better. Now, I'm certain I'll get people saying that the bad ending for Paul was more realistic. How so? Sure, not everyone gets a happy ending, but people do. I like to see the stories of the people who get those happy endings. Why does a film's ending need to be sad to be realistic? It simply doesn't. NO MORE SPOILARZ YAYZ* So overall, I didn't hate Buried by any means. I loved a lot of it, and it could have been one of my favorites of the year. I guess I should actually thank the maker's, for evoking a strong enough reaction out of me to get off my lazy but a write a review. Unfortunately, that reaction was negative. Overall Score: 7.25 out of 10 9 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Hawaiianguy2991 on 1/28/11 at 09:50 PM Well written review man, not sure if Im going to see this one anytime soon. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 1/29/11 at 07:27 AM Thanks, I'm certainly not going to say don't see it, since there is so much good in it. I guess it just depends on how you'll feel about the ending. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Alex l. on 1/29/11 at 01:55 PM Great Review! Can't wait to see it 0 Replies \| Report Abuse SteveTellsItHowHeSeesIt on 1/30/11 at 07:46 PM Great review. It was good for a film to watch once, wouldn't care if i didn';t see it again 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 1/31/11 at 03:30 AM Thanks, my thought's exactly. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Jhon E. on 1/31/11 at 03:56 AM taking 12 Angry Men's thunder! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rachel H. on 2/02/11 at 05:05 PM great review! I gotta see this 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 2/06/11 at 08:27 AM My problem wasn't the ending or how depressing it was. I wished it was more depressing and frightening. A man is buried alive. It should be depressing. Sure he goes through a lot to get out of the coffin, but that is what he needed to do. I liked the ending. It was a good twist. I just wish that there wasn't so much camera trickery. It took me out of the situation. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Mr. Taylor on 3/24/11 at 06:37 AM I'm divided on this one, but after your review, I think I'll give it a try. Nicely done. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +8 +8 / -0 thumb up thumb down 127 Hours (2010) Genre: Drama 100% Posted on 12/10/10 05:54 PM 127 Hours is a film that shows how so much can be done with a simple idea. James Franco plays loner mountaineer Aron Ralston. One day, while mountaineering, a boulder falls and crushes his left arm, trapping him in a desolate canyon for 5 days. The film follows his struggle for those 5 days, the different ways he tries to escape, stay alive, and just stay sane. James Franco is simply stunning in his role as Aron. As most of the film is him trapped in a single spot, he faced a huge challenge in basically carrying the whole movie on his shoulders. Well, he passed that challenge with flying colors. Since the main conflict in the film is Arons quest to stay alive, we have to care about him in order to care about the movie. This could have been difficult, given how Aron is a loner; he could have easily come off as un-relatable. Franco's quirky, fun acting in the early parts makes him instantly likable. As the film progresses, and Aron gets more and more desperate to escape, Franco shows a serious range of emotions. There's one scene near the end where, in order to keep his sanity, he has a talk show interview, with himself as the host, interviewee, and caller. The range he shows in that 8 minute segment is astounding, and if he does win the Oscar, that scene will be the one people say secured it. I also have give major props to director Danny Boyle and cinematographer Anthony Mantle. Being locked in one place for the majority the film, there are a lot of restraints that plague a filmmaker. The different, unique ways that they show the various scenes, from the large, beautiful mountains that Aron climbs, to the tight, claustrophobic scenes trapped in the cliff, there is stunning shot after stunning shot in this film. I also want to give credit to the writing. Now, though the films based on a true story, and I don't know how much truth is in the film. Regardless, the film managed to keep me interested throughout. There are a lot of interesting things happening. From the different ways Arons attempting to stay alive, to the struggle he has to stay sane, I found myself very emotionally invested in the film. There were very few moments were I found myself bored. I finally want to add that the score was great. A. R. Rahman, who won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionare, chose music that was perfect for every scene, and really added to the movie. I want to say that it's amazing how much 2010 has turned around as a year for film. Since the half year point, there have been some amazing releases. And 127 Hours ranks right up there as one of the best films of the year. Overall Score: 9.75 8 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: wxdeadpoolmwam on 12/10/10 at 05:55 PM Great review. I loved it as well. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Hawaiianguy2991 on 12/10/10 at 06:17 PM Well written review Zach 0 Replies \| Report Abuse SteveTellsItHowHeSeesIt on 12/10/10 at 06:50 PM Great review, ive really gotts see this it still hasnt came to my country 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 12/10/10 at 07:45 PM Damn, I rlly rlly want to see it 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Jeffrey C. on 12/11/10 at 05:25 AM Very nice review, I didn't like it as much as you though. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rostron2 on 12/11/10 at 11:14 AM Great review. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 12/11/10 at 07:22 PM Good review, but I did not love it. I liked it. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Alex l. on 1/08/11 at 08:54 PM Great Review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +8 +8 / -0 thumb up thumb down Network (1976) Genre: Drama 90% Posted on 11/11/10 03:24 PM News programming has a huge influence on the world. And "Network" partly deals with this influence. But this movie is about more then just that. It's also an interesting character study, with several other great elements. I feel the acting was certainly the best part of "Network". Faye Dunaway was my personal favorite out of all them, she certainly deserved her Oscar. Peter Finch was also great in his Oscar winning role, though I think William Holden was better. Finch's rants and raves were entertaining, particularly the "Mad as Hell" scene, but Holden showed a much wider range of emotion's, ranging from anger to joy to sadness. Others who impressed me were Beatrice Straight(who also won and Oscar), Ned Beatty(nominated), and Robert Duvall, who I'm surprised didn't get a nomination, as he was my favorite out of the supporting cast. Getting past the acting, there were a lot of other great things in "Network". Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon) directed the film very well. From the incredible speeches delivered by Howard Beale, the best of which was the "Mad as Hell" scene, to the simple conversations between characters, each shot was set up beautifully. Lumet absolutely deserved his Oscar Nom. The writing (won an Oscar) was also great. The writer, Paddy Chayefsky, balanced political satire with character development very well. As the characters each got more and more rapped up in the news casting world, they each went through a changed the seriously affected their lives. It was interesting to see all the different character's interact with each other, as each of their lives changed as the story progressed. However, there were some problems I had with the film that really brought it down. As good as Chayefsky is with writing characters, he's got some problems when it comes to dialogue. It seemed like he was more focused on making snappy, memorable dialogue than natural, engrossing dialogue. As a result, I had trouble getting into some scenes, since the dialogue was so unrealistic. I also didn't like the use of narration. Whenever Chayefsky didn't know how to move the story along, he had an unnamed narrator simply say what happened next. So overall, even though it has some flaws that bring it down, there is still a lot that's great about Network. It's acting, direction, and character's all warrant a recommendation. Overall Score: 9.25 out of 10 15 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Grant L. on 11/11/10 at 03:48 PM I really like this film."Im as mad as hell and im not gonna take this anymore!". Classic line 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/11/10 at 04:13 PM Thanks Grant, and yeah, that scene was great. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 11/11/10 at 03:49 PM Nice review, this is one of my favorites 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rostron2 on 11/11/10 at 04:19 PM This film is eerily prescient. We're living in the exact after effects of what was portrayed. It's no longer satire. Great points on your review. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/11/10 at 04:23 PM Thanks. I absolutely agree, it's scary how much truth this film, made years ago, holds today. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse wxdeadpoolmwam on 11/11/10 at 04:45 PM I definitely have to see this after I saw the really mediocre Morning Glory. Great review! 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/11/10 at 04:51 PM Thanks Deadpool, I hope you do see it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Matt Max on 11/11/10 at 04:58 PM Netflixed it the other day. I really liked it. Great review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rohit Ramachandran on 11/11/10 at 05:16 PM Great film I don't know why you didn't give it 100% 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/11/10 at 05:20 PM Well, as I said, the dialogue and narration brought it down, especially since they were common problems throughout. There were also some minor problems I had too, such as pacing issues, and some hammy acting. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 11/11/10 at 09:00 PM I would give this 100%. One of my all-time favorites. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Sparky on 11/12/10 at 05:14 AM Great review. The most beautiful thing about this movie is that it is as relevant today as it was 35 years ago. It should have won best picture. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Mark C. on 11/12/10 at 08:53 AM Great review man, i really need to see it. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/12/10 at 12:11 PM Thanks Mark, I hope you do. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse MovieMaster12 on 11/14/10 at 08:51 PM This is my favorite Lumet film. It's fascinating examination of the media becomes strangely funny by the end. Don't let your ratings drop everybody! And it has a fantastic performance from an aging William Holden. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +2 +2 / -0 thumb up thumb down The Terminator (1984) Genre: Action & Adventure 90% Posted on 10/10/10 07:37 AM What this film achieves in is giving you a sense of desperation. That the world is on the brink of chaos and destruction, and the two were watching are earths last hope. In a way, this is one of the greatest horror films of all time. You have the Terminator, cold, menacing, hunting down our two protagonist. There lives are in grave danger, and you're sitting on the edge of your seat right up until the end. 2 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Boatswain Egregious on 10/26/10 at 06:32 PM Good insight, I had never thought of this as anything other than action. But it really can be a great horror flick. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Alex l. on 1/08/11 at 08:55 PM Agreed, Good Work 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +13 +13 / -0 thumb up thumb down The Social Network (2010) Genre: Drama 100% Posted on 10/03/10 07:08 PM ?This is a movie about Facebook? I hate it when people say that. To say ?The Social Network? is a movie about Facebook is like saying ?Citizen Kane? is a movie about newspapers. This movie is a great character study, with fantastic performances and great direction. Jesse Eisenberg was shockingly great as Mark Zuckerberg. The only other work of his I?ve seen is ?Zombieland?, and based off of that, I never would have thought he could pull this performance off. Zuckerburg is a character that could have easily come off as whiny and nonthreatening. But Eisenberg carries himself with a very commanding presence that adds something to his character. You can believe that he got himself into the position he?s in. Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake were also great. Andrew played probably the most normal of all the characters, and he reacted very well to everything going on around him. And Timberlake was just plain awesome, nuff said. Aaron Sorkin screenplay was probably the best thing about this film. First, the dialogue was great, very realistic, very memorable. As I already said, the characters were great. Mark Zuckerberg is one of the most interesting character?s to have been written in years. I also think telling the story in a non-chronological way added to the experience. David Fincher?s direction was also great. This is a hard movie to direct, as it mostly consists of just people talking, and not much else. But he made it really interesting, through great cinematography, and unique and immersive shots. This is probably my favorite films of his, though I?ve only seen ?Fight Club? and ?Seven?. Some complaints. For one thing, the score was really odd. It?s not that it was bad, but it seemed out of place, almost to exciting for the scene?s going on. Also, like most bio-pics, the ending seemed rather abrupt, leaving you a little bit unfulfilled. There is a lot of talk about this being the front runner for the Best Picture Oscar. While I feel that ?Inception? is still the best film of the year, I wouldn?t mind seeing this take the Oscar. This is a fantastic film, I highly recommend it. Final Score: 9.75 out of 10 18 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Logan V. on 10/03/10 at 09:09 PM Amazing movie! great review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Mike G. on 10/03/10 at 09:33 PM Great review. I'm excited to see this. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 10/03/10 at 10:26 PM I liked this movie, but just did not love it like most people. I know I am supposed to not like the characters, but that made it all more disturbing to know that these horrible people are making so much money from just being horrible people. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 10/04/10 at 03:44 AM It's not that I really liked that characters, more so I was interested in them. I feel the same way about Taxi Driver, another great character study. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rohit Ramachandran on 10/04/10 at 02:18 AM Inception is so overrated. This is better than fight club but inception is better than this so inception is better than fight club? Come on man, you've got to be kidding. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 10/04/10 at 03:42 AM I haven't seen Fight Club in a while, I really liked it, but not as much as most people do. May have to watch it again soon. I loved Inception, though your entitled to your opinion. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Nick L. on 10/04/10 at 04:10 AM Great review! I also thought the screenplay was the best thing about this film! It was just so quick, witty, and memorable! And it also pisses me off when people refer to this as "the facebook movie". 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Professional Opinion on 10/04/10 at 04:22 AM I loved this movie so much. Nice review. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Charles W. on 10/04/10 at 08:19 AM I hope to God that it will take the Oscars. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 10/04/10 at 05:24 PM Excellent review, I enjoyed this too 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Hawaiianguy2991 on 10/06/10 at 12:33 PM Great review, still need to see this 0 Replies \| Report Abuse The Pieper Review on 10/06/10 at 04:04 PM Nice review. Great intro! What did you think about Fighht Club? i didn't really like it 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 10/06/10 at 06:50 PM I really liked Fight Club, not as much as a lot of people did. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Boatswain Egregious on 10/07/10 at 06:36 PM "is like saying ?Citizen Kane? is a movie about newspapers." lol Awesome line. Great review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Grant L. on 10/13/10 at 05:26 PM The best directed and written film of the year and could easily take all at the Oscars this year. Great review 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Alex l. on 1/08/11 at 08:55 PM Great Review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse The O-Critic on 2/03/11 at 08:09 PM Good review, and good rating of it, too. Personally, I'd give it a 9.9, but that's just me. Love this movie. If you love David Fincher, check out "Zodiac" and "Benjamin Button" because those are also some of his best films. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rostron2 on 11/30/12 at 03:20 PM Annnd facebook stock is worth what its worth, which isn't very much. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +4 +4 / -0 thumb up thumb down Psycho (1960) Genre: Horror 90% Posted on 10/03/10 07:21 AM Psycho manages to build suspense beautifully, with constant tension as to whats going to happen next. The plots twists and turns, stunning you in every other scene. Add in a brilliant performance by Anthony Perkins, and you have yourself a Hitchcock masterpiece. 1 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Boatswain Egregious on 10/03/10 at 09:11 AM Well said! Hitch was the best at keeping that tension the ENTIRE film. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +7 +7 / -0 thumb up thumb down Let the Right One In (2008) Genre: Drama 80% Posted on 9/23/10 04:51 PM In preparation for the upcoming ?Let Me In?, which I am really looking forward to, I decided I should view the original Swedish film, ?Let the Right One In?. The story is of a boy named Oskar, who has divorced parents and is often bullied by other boys in his school, which greatly affects him. One day, a strange girl moves next door, Eli, who we come to find out is actually a vampire. The acting was very good. Kare Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson were both played their characters well. They showed a deeper kindness under their distant behavior, and made it easier for us to latch on to their characters. They also had great chemistry, leading to some great moments between the two. I was also impressed by Per Ragnar, playing Hakan. He wasn't in the film for long, but he stood out in the scenes he was in. Tomas Alfredson direction was also really good. His use of long takes and wide shots gave the film a very creepy mood. A distant, almost depressing mood, just as the characters feel. There were also some very impressive tracking shots, which really put you on the edge of your seat, wondering what was around the corner. That leads into my problem with the film, it?s suspense. It?s not the film doesn?t have suspense, the suspense is the best thing about this movie. It?s that there isn?t much payoff for all the suspense. There were only a few moments, far between one another, where I actually felt surprised. It?s like getting on a roller coaster, riding up and up to the top of the first hill, getting to the top and it?s just a flat terrain. It?s kind of disappointing. Still, the I can?t deny that the movie put got me on the edge of my seat, plus the plot is interesting, the acting and direction is very good, and the movie is overall an entertaining experience Final Score:8.5 out of 10 4 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Nick L. on 9/23/10 at 05:07 PM Very good review. I understand why it could be a little disappointing, but I was left quite satisfied in the end. You'll probably prefer the remake, then. It definitely compensates for all of its suspense. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 9/24/10 at 01:46 PM Thank you, it really comes down to a difference of opinion. While I didn't like how the suspense in the film was set up, I can see why someone would. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 9/24/10 at 07:57 AM I agree that you will probably like the remake better. It looks like there is more action and killing. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 9/25/10 at 01:47 PM I loved this film, and I think the best part about it was that it didn't try to be rlly scary but human, and that was what appealed to me the most. But thats my opinion. Nice review 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +5 +5 / -0 thumb up thumb down Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy 70% Posted on 9/17/10 03:03 PM A good film in the series, nothing very impressive, but still entertaining. 0 Comments \| Send This \| Comments:
	Votes +5 +5 / -0 thumb up thumb down The Graduate (1967) Genre: Drama 100% Posted on 9/16/10 11:37 AM Telling the story of Benjamin Braddock, out of college and unsure of his future, who manages to not only begin an affair with the much older and married Mrs. Robinson, but ends up falling in love with her daughter Elaine, ?The Graduate? is an all around fantastic film. There are some fantastic performances in here. Dustin Hoffman is great as Ben. He captures not only the confusion, but the frustration someone in his situation would have. That being said, Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson stole every scene she was in. She managed to add a whole dimension to her character, showing not only the controlling aspect of her character, but a second, depressed side as well. Apart from those, Katharine Ross was great as Elaine, and Murray Hamilton(of Jaws fame) only had two scene?s as Mr. Robinson, but was great in both of them. Mike Nichols direction was the best part of this film. His use of long takes and music playing over scene?s put you into the perspective of Ben, feeling as if you?re in a daze, confused as all this madness happens around you. He really makes it easy to get into the film, almost as if you?re in trance. Best direction was the only Oscar this film won, and I can see why. Other things I have to say. The writing is great, with its deep characters and very memorable dialogue(the Mrs. Robinson line is my new favorite line of all time). The music from Simon & Garfunkel is also fantastic, very memorable and adds to the experience. Overall, ?The Graduate? has fantastic performances, great characters, memorable dialogue, Oscar deserving direction, and is overall an amazing experience. 11 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Zac L. on 9/15/10 at 06:46 PM Finally decided to write another review, haven't really been motivated to write one until now. I'll try to get some reviews of film's I watch but haven't reviewed up. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Sparky on 9/15/10 at 07:40 PM It has been a long time since I have seen this film, but I remember enjoying it very much. Good review. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Charles W. on 9/15/10 at 07:55 PM You're not trying to seduce me, are you? =). Figure it out. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Nick L. on 9/16/10 at 03:17 AM Excellent review. This is one of my favorite films. I just love it! And by the way, you don't have to worry about writing reviews. You should do as I do, and write one only when you are in the mood to write one. It shouldn't be a problem. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 9/16/10 at 03:25 AM Thanks man, I do tend to only write reviews when in the mood, I won't be happy with them when their finished otherwise. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 9/16/10 at 09:48 AM Good review. I liked this one a great deal. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Hawaiianguy2991 on 9/16/10 at 11:54 AM Great review, it has been a while since I've seen this one. I better see it again. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 9/17/10 at 03:46 PM Thanks, hope this get's you to see it again. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 9/17/10 at 03:32 PM Amazing review for one of the greatest, and one of my favorites too, films of all time 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 9/17/10 at 03:43 PM Thanks, glad you loved it too. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Boatswain Egregious on 9/20/10 at 04:45 PM Excellent review. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +3 +3 / -0 thumb up thumb down The Hangover (2009) Genre: Comedy 80% Posted on 9/16/10 03:26 AM The film is based around funny lines, and there are some great ones. The humor is crude, yes, but non-the-less hysterical. 0 Comments \| Send This \| Comments:

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	Votes +7 +7 / -0 thumb up thumb down Buried (2010) Genre: Mystery & Suspense 70% Posted on 1/29/11 07:28 AM One of the most well received film's of the year 2010 (and one of my personal favorites) is 127 Hours. This is a film that consists mostly of a person trapped in a certain area. Buried is a step beyond that, taking place, literally, in one area the entire film. Ryan Reynolds plays Paul Steven Conroy, a US truck driver who is kidnapped by Iranian criminals and is buried underground, with a cell phone and a few other items to help him contact the outside world, gain ransom money, and free himself. Let me flat out say that the vast majority of this movie is great. Ryan Reynolds is superb, allowing the audience a likeable character to latch on, which is important, as he's the biggest character by a mile. Rodrigo Cortés directed the film superbly, showing interesting and creative shot's from a very confined space. And for the most part, Chris Sparling's writing was excellent. He created gripping situation's that kept you on the edge of your seat, which is incredibly impressive considering how little he had to work on. Now the problems. I can't really discuss what I didn't like about the film without spoilers, so if you're looking to avoid them, skipped the marked area. *OMGZ SPOILARS LOOK OUTZ AAAAH!* The problems with Buried are few in quantity, but huge in quality. First off, there are minor things. How does Paul's phone get such good reception? It's something I can over look, but it's still a problem, none the less. My main problem is the how generally depressing the film is. Now, by no means do I believe Paul had to live for the ending to be good. I could have lived with Paul dying. But the way they went about it was just horrible. Paul goes through so much sht trying to survive. He not only has too deal with an enormous amount of problems for someone in such a confined situation (unrealism is another of the film's problems) but every one is just against him. The Iran criminals, his company, even the government. But I could live with that, if Paul had been able to overcome it all in the end and live. But he did not. And I could live with his death, but not after all he went through to try and survive. Even if they wanted Paul to go through so much, and have him still die, they way they went about it was just cruel. Instead of at least giving Paul a death that at least would have left me with satisfaction, they chose to have the last 15 minutes of the film be on big hopeful rush. And it all leads up to and climatic sht on the audience. "You came to out movie, you got invested in our story, and you want satisfaction?!?! WELL FCK YOU!" I just feel that some type of calmer, nicer ending for Paul would have been better. Now, I'm certain I'll get people saying that the bad ending for Paul was more realistic. How so? Sure, not everyone gets a happy ending, but people do. I like to see the stories of the people who get those happy endings. Why does a film's ending need to be sad to be realistic? It simply doesn't. NO MORE SPOILARZ YAYZ* So overall, I didn't hate Buried by any means. I loved a lot of it, and it could have been one of my favorites of the year. I guess I should actually thank the maker's, for evoking a strong enough reaction out of me to get off my lazy but a write a review. Unfortunately, that reaction was negative. Overall Score: 7.25 out of 10 9 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Hawaiianguy2991 on 1/28/11 at 09:50 PM Well written review man, not sure if Im going to see this one anytime soon. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 1/29/11 at 07:27 AM Thanks, I'm certainly not going to say don't see it, since there is so much good in it. I guess it just depends on how you'll feel about the ending. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Alex l. on 1/29/11 at 01:55 PM Great Review! Can't wait to see it 0 Replies \| Report Abuse SteveTellsItHowHeSeesIt on 1/30/11 at 07:46 PM Great review. It was good for a film to watch once, wouldn't care if i didn';t see it again 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 1/31/11 at 03:30 AM Thanks, my thought's exactly. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Jhon E. on 1/31/11 at 03:56 AM taking 12 Angry Men's thunder! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rachel H. on 2/02/11 at 05:05 PM great review! I gotta see this 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 2/06/11 at 08:27 AM My problem wasn't the ending or how depressing it was. I wished it was more depressing and frightening. A man is buried alive. It should be depressing. Sure he goes through a lot to get out of the coffin, but that is what he needed to do. I liked the ending. It was a good twist. I just wish that there wasn't so much camera trickery. It took me out of the situation. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Mr. Taylor on 3/24/11 at 06:37 AM I'm divided on this one, but after your review, I think I'll give it a try. Nicely done. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +8 +8 / -0 thumb up thumb down 127 Hours (2010) Genre: Drama 100% Posted on 12/10/10 05:54 PM 127 Hours is a film that shows how so much can be done with a simple idea. James Franco plays loner mountaineer Aron Ralston. One day, while mountaineering, a boulder falls and crushes his left arm, trapping him in a desolate canyon for 5 days. The film follows his struggle for those 5 days, the different ways he tries to escape, stay alive, and just stay sane. James Franco is simply stunning in his role as Aron. As most of the film is him trapped in a single spot, he faced a huge challenge in basically carrying the whole movie on his shoulders. Well, he passed that challenge with flying colors. Since the main conflict in the film is Arons quest to stay alive, we have to care about him in order to care about the movie. This could have been difficult, given how Aron is a loner; he could have easily come off as un-relatable. Franco's quirky, fun acting in the early parts makes him instantly likable. As the film progresses, and Aron gets more and more desperate to escape, Franco shows a serious range of emotions. There's one scene near the end where, in order to keep his sanity, he has a talk show interview, with himself as the host, interviewee, and caller. The range he shows in that 8 minute segment is astounding, and if he does win the Oscar, that scene will be the one people say secured it. I also have give major props to director Danny Boyle and cinematographer Anthony Mantle. Being locked in one place for the majority the film, there are a lot of restraints that plague a filmmaker. The different, unique ways that they show the various scenes, from the large, beautiful mountains that Aron climbs, to the tight, claustrophobic scenes trapped in the cliff, there is stunning shot after stunning shot in this film. I also want to give credit to the writing. Now, though the films based on a true story, and I don't know how much truth is in the film. Regardless, the film managed to keep me interested throughout. There are a lot of interesting things happening. From the different ways Arons attempting to stay alive, to the struggle he has to stay sane, I found myself very emotionally invested in the film. There were very few moments were I found myself bored. I finally want to add that the score was great. A. R. Rahman, who won an Oscar for Slumdog Millionare, chose music that was perfect for every scene, and really added to the movie. I want to say that it's amazing how much 2010 has turned around as a year for film. Since the half year point, there have been some amazing releases. And 127 Hours ranks right up there as one of the best films of the year. Overall Score: 9.75 8 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: wxdeadpoolmwam on 12/10/10 at 05:55 PM Great review. I loved it as well. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Hawaiianguy2991 on 12/10/10 at 06:17 PM Well written review Zach 0 Replies \| Report Abuse SteveTellsItHowHeSeesIt on 12/10/10 at 06:50 PM Great review, ive really gotts see this it still hasnt came to my country 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 12/10/10 at 07:45 PM Damn, I rlly rlly want to see it 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Jeffrey C. on 12/11/10 at 05:25 AM Very nice review, I didn't like it as much as you though. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rostron2 on 12/11/10 at 11:14 AM Great review. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 12/11/10 at 07:22 PM Good review, but I did not love it. I liked it. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Alex l. on 1/08/11 at 08:54 PM Great Review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +8 +8 / -0 thumb up thumb down Network (1976) Genre: Drama 90% Posted on 11/11/10 03:24 PM News programming has a huge influence on the world. And "Network" partly deals with this influence. But this movie is about more then just that. It's also an interesting character study, with several other great elements. I feel the acting was certainly the best part of "Network". Faye Dunaway was my personal favorite out of all them, she certainly deserved her Oscar. Peter Finch was also great in his Oscar winning role, though I think William Holden was better. Finch's rants and raves were entertaining, particularly the "Mad as Hell" scene, but Holden showed a much wider range of emotion's, ranging from anger to joy to sadness. Others who impressed me were Beatrice Straight(who also won and Oscar), Ned Beatty(nominated), and Robert Duvall, who I'm surprised didn't get a nomination, as he was my favorite out of the supporting cast. Getting past the acting, there were a lot of other great things in "Network". Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon) directed the film very well. From the incredible speeches delivered by Howard Beale, the best of which was the "Mad as Hell" scene, to the simple conversations between characters, each shot was set up beautifully. Lumet absolutely deserved his Oscar Nom. The writing (won an Oscar) was also great. The writer, Paddy Chayefsky, balanced political satire with character development very well. As the characters each got more and more rapped up in the news casting world, they each went through a changed the seriously affected their lives. It was interesting to see all the different character's interact with each other, as each of their lives changed as the story progressed. However, there were some problems I had with the film that really brought it down. As good as Chayefsky is with writing characters, he's got some problems when it comes to dialogue. It seemed like he was more focused on making snappy, memorable dialogue than natural, engrossing dialogue. As a result, I had trouble getting into some scenes, since the dialogue was so unrealistic. I also didn't like the use of narration. Whenever Chayefsky didn't know how to move the story along, he had an unnamed narrator simply say what happened next. So overall, even though it has some flaws that bring it down, there is still a lot that's great about Network. It's acting, direction, and character's all warrant a recommendation. Overall Score: 9.25 out of 10 15 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Grant L. on 11/11/10 at 03:48 PM I really like this film."Im as mad as hell and im not gonna take this anymore!". Classic line 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/11/10 at 04:13 PM Thanks Grant, and yeah, that scene was great. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 11/11/10 at 03:49 PM Nice review, this is one of my favorites 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rostron2 on 11/11/10 at 04:19 PM This film is eerily prescient. We're living in the exact after effects of what was portrayed. It's no longer satire. Great points on your review. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/11/10 at 04:23 PM Thanks. I absolutely agree, it's scary how much truth this film, made years ago, holds today. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse wxdeadpoolmwam on 11/11/10 at 04:45 PM I definitely have to see this after I saw the really mediocre Morning Glory. Great review! 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/11/10 at 04:51 PM Thanks Deadpool, I hope you do see it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Matt Max on 11/11/10 at 04:58 PM Netflixed it the other day. I really liked it. Great review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rohit Ramachandran on 11/11/10 at 05:16 PM Great film I don't know why you didn't give it 100% 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/11/10 at 05:20 PM Well, as I said, the dialogue and narration brought it down, especially since they were common problems throughout. There were also some minor problems I had too, such as pacing issues, and some hammy acting. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 11/11/10 at 09:00 PM I would give this 100%. One of my all-time favorites. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Sparky on 11/12/10 at 05:14 AM Great review. The most beautiful thing about this movie is that it is as relevant today as it was 35 years ago. It should have won best picture. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Mark C. on 11/12/10 at 08:53 AM Great review man, i really need to see it. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 11/12/10 at 12:11 PM Thanks Mark, I hope you do. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse MovieMaster12 on 11/14/10 at 08:51 PM This is my favorite Lumet film. It's fascinating examination of the media becomes strangely funny by the end. Don't let your ratings drop everybody! And it has a fantastic performance from an aging William Holden. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +2 +2 / -0 thumb up thumb down The Terminator (1984) Genre: Action & Adventure 90% Posted on 10/10/10 07:37 AM What this film achieves in is giving you a sense of desperation. That the world is on the brink of chaos and destruction, and the two were watching are earths last hope. In a way, this is one of the greatest horror films of all time. You have the Terminator, cold, menacing, hunting down our two protagonist. There lives are in grave danger, and you're sitting on the edge of your seat right up until the end. 2 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Boatswain Egregious on 10/26/10 at 06:32 PM Good insight, I had never thought of this as anything other than action. But it really can be a great horror flick. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Alex l. on 1/08/11 at 08:55 PM Agreed, Good Work 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +13 +13 / -0 thumb up thumb down The Social Network (2010) Genre: Drama 100% Posted on 10/03/10 07:08 PM ?This is a movie about Facebook? I hate it when people say that. To say ?The Social Network? is a movie about Facebook is like saying ?Citizen Kane? is a movie about newspapers. This movie is a great character study, with fantastic performances and great direction. Jesse Eisenberg was shockingly great as Mark Zuckerberg. The only other work of his I?ve seen is ?Zombieland?, and based off of that, I never would have thought he could pull this performance off. Zuckerburg is a character that could have easily come off as whiny and nonthreatening. But Eisenberg carries himself with a very commanding presence that adds something to his character. You can believe that he got himself into the position he?s in. Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake were also great. Andrew played probably the most normal of all the characters, and he reacted very well to everything going on around him. And Timberlake was just plain awesome, nuff said. Aaron Sorkin screenplay was probably the best thing about this film. First, the dialogue was great, very realistic, very memorable. As I already said, the characters were great. Mark Zuckerberg is one of the most interesting character?s to have been written in years. I also think telling the story in a non-chronological way added to the experience. David Fincher?s direction was also great. This is a hard movie to direct, as it mostly consists of just people talking, and not much else. But he made it really interesting, through great cinematography, and unique and immersive shots. This is probably my favorite films of his, though I?ve only seen ?Fight Club? and ?Seven?. Some complaints. For one thing, the score was really odd. It?s not that it was bad, but it seemed out of place, almost to exciting for the scene?s going on. Also, like most bio-pics, the ending seemed rather abrupt, leaving you a little bit unfulfilled. There is a lot of talk about this being the front runner for the Best Picture Oscar. While I feel that ?Inception? is still the best film of the year, I wouldn?t mind seeing this take the Oscar. This is a fantastic film, I highly recommend it. Final Score: 9.75 out of 10 18 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Logan V. on 10/03/10 at 09:09 PM Amazing movie! great review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Mike G. on 10/03/10 at 09:33 PM Great review. I'm excited to see this. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 10/03/10 at 10:26 PM I liked this movie, but just did not love it like most people. I know I am supposed to not like the characters, but that made it all more disturbing to know that these horrible people are making so much money from just being horrible people. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 10/04/10 at 03:44 AM It's not that I really liked that characters, more so I was interested in them. I feel the same way about Taxi Driver, another great character study. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rohit Ramachandran on 10/04/10 at 02:18 AM Inception is so overrated. This is better than fight club but inception is better than this so inception is better than fight club? Come on man, you've got to be kidding. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 10/04/10 at 03:42 AM I haven't seen Fight Club in a while, I really liked it, but not as much as most people do. May have to watch it again soon. I loved Inception, though your entitled to your opinion. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Nick L. on 10/04/10 at 04:10 AM Great review! I also thought the screenplay was the best thing about this film! It was just so quick, witty, and memorable! And it also pisses me off when people refer to this as "the facebook movie". 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Professional Opinion on 10/04/10 at 04:22 AM I loved this movie so much. Nice review. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Charles W. on 10/04/10 at 08:19 AM I hope to God that it will take the Oscars. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 10/04/10 at 05:24 PM Excellent review, I enjoyed this too 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Hawaiianguy2991 on 10/06/10 at 12:33 PM Great review, still need to see this 0 Replies \| Report Abuse The Pieper Review on 10/06/10 at 04:04 PM Nice review. Great intro! What did you think about Fighht Club? i didn't really like it 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 10/06/10 at 06:50 PM I really liked Fight Club, not as much as a lot of people did. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Boatswain Egregious on 10/07/10 at 06:36 PM "is like saying ?Citizen Kane? is a movie about newspapers." lol Awesome line. Great review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Grant L. on 10/13/10 at 05:26 PM The best directed and written film of the year and could easily take all at the Oscars this year. Great review 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Alex l. on 1/08/11 at 08:55 PM Great Review! 0 Replies \| Report Abuse The O-Critic on 2/03/11 at 08:09 PM Good review, and good rating of it, too. Personally, I'd give it a 9.9, but that's just me. Love this movie. If you love David Fincher, check out "Zodiac" and "Benjamin Button" because those are also some of his best films. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Rostron2 on 11/30/12 at 03:20 PM Annnd facebook stock is worth what its worth, which isn't very much. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +4 +4 / -0 thumb up thumb down Psycho (1960) Genre: Horror 90% Posted on 10/03/10 07:21 AM Psycho manages to build suspense beautifully, with constant tension as to whats going to happen next. The plots twists and turns, stunning you in every other scene. Add in a brilliant performance by Anthony Perkins, and you have yourself a Hitchcock masterpiece. 1 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Boatswain Egregious on 10/03/10 at 09:11 AM Well said! Hitch was the best at keeping that tension the ENTIRE film. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +7 +7 / -0 thumb up thumb down Let the Right One In (2008) Genre: Drama 80% Posted on 9/23/10 04:51 PM In preparation for the upcoming ?Let Me In?, which I am really looking forward to, I decided I should view the original Swedish film, ?Let the Right One In?. The story is of a boy named Oskar, who has divorced parents and is often bullied by other boys in his school, which greatly affects him. One day, a strange girl moves next door, Eli, who we come to find out is actually a vampire. The acting was very good. Kare Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson were both played their characters well. They showed a deeper kindness under their distant behavior, and made it easier for us to latch on to their characters. They also had great chemistry, leading to some great moments between the two. I was also impressed by Per Ragnar, playing Hakan. He wasn't in the film for long, but he stood out in the scenes he was in. Tomas Alfredson direction was also really good. His use of long takes and wide shots gave the film a very creepy mood. A distant, almost depressing mood, just as the characters feel. There were also some very impressive tracking shots, which really put you on the edge of your seat, wondering what was around the corner. That leads into my problem with the film, it?s suspense. It?s not the film doesn?t have suspense, the suspense is the best thing about this movie. It?s that there isn?t much payoff for all the suspense. There were only a few moments, far between one another, where I actually felt surprised. It?s like getting on a roller coaster, riding up and up to the top of the first hill, getting to the top and it?s just a flat terrain. It?s kind of disappointing. Still, the I can?t deny that the movie put got me on the edge of my seat, plus the plot is interesting, the acting and direction is very good, and the movie is overall an entertaining experience Final Score:8.5 out of 10 4 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Nick L. on 9/23/10 at 05:07 PM Very good review. I understand why it could be a little disappointing, but I was left quite satisfied in the end. You'll probably prefer the remake, then. It definitely compensates for all of its suspense. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 9/24/10 at 01:46 PM Thank you, it really comes down to a difference of opinion. While I didn't like how the suspense in the film was set up, I can see why someone would. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 9/24/10 at 07:57 AM I agree that you will probably like the remake better. It looks like there is more action and killing. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 9/25/10 at 01:47 PM I loved this film, and I think the best part about it was that it didn't try to be rlly scary but human, and that was what appealed to me the most. But thats my opinion. Nice review 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +5 +5 / -0 thumb up thumb down Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy 70% Posted on 9/17/10 03:03 PM A good film in the series, nothing very impressive, but still entertaining. 0 Comments \| Send This \| Comments:
	Votes +5 +5 / -0 thumb up thumb down The Graduate (1967) Genre: Drama 100% Posted on 9/16/10 11:37 AM Telling the story of Benjamin Braddock, out of college and unsure of his future, who manages to not only begin an affair with the much older and married Mrs. Robinson, but ends up falling in love with her daughter Elaine, ?The Graduate? is an all around fantastic film. There are some fantastic performances in here. Dustin Hoffman is great as Ben. He captures not only the confusion, but the frustration someone in his situation would have. That being said, Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson stole every scene she was in. She managed to add a whole dimension to her character, showing not only the controlling aspect of her character, but a second, depressed side as well. Apart from those, Katharine Ross was great as Elaine, and Murray Hamilton(of Jaws fame) only had two scene?s as Mr. Robinson, but was great in both of them. Mike Nichols direction was the best part of this film. His use of long takes and music playing over scene?s put you into the perspective of Ben, feeling as if you?re in a daze, confused as all this madness happens around you. He really makes it easy to get into the film, almost as if you?re in trance. Best direction was the only Oscar this film won, and I can see why. Other things I have to say. The writing is great, with its deep characters and very memorable dialogue(the Mrs. Robinson line is my new favorite line of all time). The music from Simon & Garfunkel is also fantastic, very memorable and adds to the experience. Overall, ?The Graduate? has fantastic performances, great characters, memorable dialogue, Oscar deserving direction, and is overall an amazing experience. 11 Comments \| Send This \| Comments: Zac L. on 9/15/10 at 06:46 PM Finally decided to write another review, haven't really been motivated to write one until now. I'll try to get some reviews of film's I watch but haven't reviewed up. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Sparky on 9/15/10 at 07:40 PM It has been a long time since I have seen this film, but I remember enjoying it very much. Good review. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Charles W. on 9/15/10 at 07:55 PM You're not trying to seduce me, are you? =). Figure it out. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Nick L. on 9/16/10 at 03:17 AM Excellent review. This is one of my favorite films. I just love it! And by the way, you don't have to worry about writing reviews. You should do as I do, and write one only when you are in the mood to write one. It shouldn't be a problem. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 9/16/10 at 03:25 AM Thanks man, I do tend to only write reviews when in the mood, I won't be happy with them when their finished otherwise. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse simon m. on 9/16/10 at 09:48 AM Good review. I liked this one a great deal. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Hawaiianguy2991 on 9/16/10 at 11:54 AM Great review, it has been a while since I've seen this one. I better see it again. 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 9/17/10 at 03:46 PM Thanks, hope this get's you to see it again. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse CACB on 9/17/10 at 03:32 PM Amazing review for one of the greatest, and one of my favorites too, films of all time 1 Replies \| Report Abuse Zac L. on 9/17/10 at 03:43 PM Thanks, glad you loved it too. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse Boatswain Egregious on 9/20/10 at 04:45 PM Excellent review. 0 Replies \| Report Abuse
	Votes +3 +3 / -0 thumb up thumb down The Hangover (2009) Genre: Comedy 80% Posted on 9/16/10 03:26 AM The film is based around funny lines, and there are some great ones. The humor is crude, yes, but non-the-less hysterical. 0 Comments \| Send This \| Comments:

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American Beauty (1999)

The Usual Suspects (1995)

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Showing 1 - 10 of 84 Reviews

Buried (2010)

127 Hours (2010)

Network (1976)

The Terminator (1984)

The Social Network (2010)

Psycho (1960)

Let the Right One In (2008)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

The Graduate (1967)

The Hangover (2009)

Showing 1 - 10 of 84 Reviews