Totally slacking here so here’s the skinny on the plethora of movies I’ve watched recently:<br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372784/” target=”_blank”>Batman Begins</a> – Having slogged through the last few Batman titles, I was very reluctant to see this one in theatres let alone buy it! On Caitlin’s recommendation, I picked it up at Blockbuster. I will forever value her opinion on movies. This thing rocked! Easily one of the best movies of the past couple years. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out. <b>9.4/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443453/” target=”_blank”>Borat</a> – Doesn’t live up to the hype if you have a sense of humor greater than your average 6th grader. Don’t get me wrong, I love Borat, and I own both boxed seasons from the <a href=”http://www.hbo.com/alig/” target=”_blank”>Ali G Show</a>, but Borat and his antics are not worthy of a feature length film. This is just a guy trying to make a buck off of a fad he created. Can I blame him? No. Can I recommend this movie? Not really. <b>5.5/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388795/” target=”_blank”>Brokeback Mountain</a> – Yes, I own it. After a year, I had to see what the hype was all about. After all, my stack of unopened DVDs was down to movies my special friend would not watch. So yesterday we popped it in and I was quite surprised. The whole gay thing felt entirely too forced. It’s as if one night they just went at it for no good reason. I only know a few gay persons and I can’t imagine that is how it all comes about. I dunno, maybe that is the way things go down on mountains when you’re herding sheep? I don’t know. Anyway, the movie kind of sucked. After winning tons of awards I expected a truly great movie. Perhaps critics base merit on shock and awe? The fact that is pushed the envelope? I don’t know, it just didn’t come across as a great movie. <b>6.4/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379725/” target=”_blank”>Capote</a> – Really weird cover, and I knew nothing about the guy so I stayed away from this one for quite a long time. I’m a bit disappointed in myself as it turned out to be an entertaining movie. Many people I’ve talked to were annoyed by Capote in the movie and therefore disliked it, but I didn’t feel that effect. <b>7.9/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113101/” target=”_blank”>Four Rooms</a> – I’m a sucker. This was recommended to me by Amazon when I was on a big Tarantino run. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I wasn’t expecting much. To my delight, I managed to get a bit more than that, but nothing overwhelming. The movie is four short stories written by a few different people, all rolled in to one setting. It’s interesting, entertaining, and very different. I can’t highly recommend it, but I also can’t tell you to not borrow it from me. <b>6.0/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093177/” target=”_blank”>Hellraiser</a> – Either I’m growing up, or I’ve already seen all the truly great horror movies. This certainly wasn’t bad, and I felt obligated to see it since “Pinhead” is one of horror’s greatest personas, but it was far from great or even scary. If I were one to suffer from nightmares it’d probably effect me more, but I grew out of that about a decade ago. I’ll have to watch the sequels as I felt a lot of story was left unanswered. Then again, that is what Clive Barker wants me to do, isn’t it? <b>6.2/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138704/” target=”_blank”>Pi</a> – A classic mind f’r; my favorite type of movie. I really can’t say anything about a mind f’r because it’ll spoil the movie. Anyway, well done + low budget + effective = Winner. <b>8.0/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0180093/” target=”_blank”>Requiem for a Dream</a> – Very much in the same boat as the above flick. This is one that I could watch many times and still pick up new things. It’s the kind of movie that leaves you talking about and wondering about for days after viewing it. Better than Pi… Even more disturbing. <b>8.5/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076716/” target=”_blank”>Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger</a> – The last of the <a href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&amp;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSinbad-Collection-Voyage-Golden-Tiger%2Fdp%2FB00004TJK0&amp;tag=mikeylikesit-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325″ target=”_blank”>Sinbad Collection</a>, I previously had watched 10 minutes of this and turned it off. Several months later (yesterday) I had the day off and didn’t feel like venturing outside so I popped it in while Ms. Caitlin was busy with homework. Not as bad as I was expecting following my first viewing, but still a very crappy movie. The main character is simply awful, but a scantily clad (and young) Jane Seymour makes up for it a bit. <b>4.3/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293662/” target=”_blank”>Transporter, The</a> – Having seen the sequel, it was time to see the original. I thought the sequel was pretty good so naturally the original should be even better. Right? Wrong. This movie is truly craptacular. I won’t nitpick too much, but a luxobarge cannot do the things that Jason Statham has them do in this movie. I really like the guy, but this film was simply embarassing. Gratuitous sex scenes? Come on, leave it to Bond. <b>5.4/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401855/” target=”_blank”>Underworld: Evolution</a> – Didn’t pack the same punch as the original, but I love me some vampire/lycanthrope action. Oh yeah, a really sexy main character is a nice added bonus too! Lots of blood, lots of action, an interesting twist on the story that we knew from the original. If you liked the first, you’ll enjoy this one. <b>7.6/10</b><br/><br/><a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384680/” target=”_blank”>Weather Man, The</a> – One of those movies that you expect to be crap, but that turns out surprisingly well. Perhaps the monologue stuff was a bit much, but I really enjoy a movie that sheds some light on life and gets you thinking about your own. <b>8.0/10</b> <br/><br/>Aww what the hell, why spend two hours of your life seeing a subpar movie when the following is the only gem you’ll really get out of it? <br/><br/><i>I remember once imagining what my life would be like, what I’d be like. I pictured having all these qualities, strong positive qualities that people could pick up on from across the room. But as time passed, few ever became any qualities that I actually had. And all the possibilities I faced and the sorts of people I could be, all of them got reduced every year to fewer and fewer. Until finally they got reduced to one, to who I am. And that’s who I am, the weather man.</i>