Reviews by jasoncarulli

It is hard to admit when a sequel surpasses the original, but as bad as the first was, I guess it is not that hard to believe. I think the introduction of the cruel and sexy principle Newman did it for me. And although spirit of holiday romance is one not likely to be overlooked, those damned little elves/children sure did know how to spoil the romantic fever.

This is the movie that started it all, the movie that launched Tim Allen's holiday leap to the top of the box office. Not that this is a good thing, unless of course you fall under the age of 10. But in the spirit of the holiday season, I might have enjoyed this film more if I didn't have to suffer through it on the Disney channel and there torturous commercials. Nevertheless, this movie may rest comfortably in the genre, but it will never be a Christmas classic.

In the spirit of Christmas, there is no classic more fitting for the Holidays. Edmund Gwenn turns in the most believable and traditional Santa Claus performance ever on the silver screen.

Final Destination 3 completes a trilogy that will in all likelihood continue on in the spirit of the Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street franchises. It is hard to believe that a film with the exact same plot as the previous two could be entertaining, but FD3 wasn't half bad. The death scenes were not nearly as creative or gory as FD2, but the introduction to the photograph concept kept interest in how each member of death's plan would finally meet there maker.

This film kind of tore me into two different directions where on one hand I marveled at perhaps one of the most brilliant acting performances I have seen by Philip Seymour Hoffman in his role as Truman Capote, and on the other I restlessly craved for a more engaging storyline.

Without a doubt, Truman Capote's works are of literal genius and gripping beyond what any film could ever capture. And though this fact weighs heavily on my views of the film, I feel that overall, the story did not do Capote's life and work justice.

An American Haunting begins as a typical haunting thriller with all the mystery and intrigue surrounding its loosely based story around true events. But the plot quickly reveals a dark and twisted fate by the movie's end and we are almost fooled into believing that this would be Donald Sutherland's first attempt at a role that did not end like every one of his other films (I tried not to reveal the ending but if you have seen any of Sutherland's films, you may know exactly what I am getting at).

In the spirit of Lost in Translation, Bill Murray rekindles his role as he searches for the woman that potentially mothered his son. Broken Flowers boasts some subtle humor and engaging mystery as we follow Murray through his past but the ultimate ending left little resolve and more questions than answers.

The hype alone wasn't enough to save this film as the star power failed to deliver the goods. The action sequences were over the top, and anyone who believes that this is the what SWAT goes through is out of their minds.

Wallstreet is an intense look into the real world of corrupt corporate companies controlled by the stock market. Charlie Sheen plays the perfect patsy to Michael Douglas's slick, corrupt character. Sheen's rise to the top of the corporate traders gambling ring is as good as it could have ever been protrayed. I highly recommend this one.

The search for One-Eye Jimmy is a hilarious indie gem featuring a big name cast. The storyline follows a local wannabe filmmaker's search for a recently disappeared one-eyed man. His journey takes him across town in search of leads to Jimmy's whereabouts but only leads him through a cast of quirky characters. Don't expect much from this film, but do expect some low-brow laughs.