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Memento

Memento

List Price: $24.95
Your Price: $19.96
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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Wholly Unsatisfactory By Any Measure of Value
Review: Take a 12 minute student film, chop it, recombine it 8 different ways in a moviola, toss in some hip, noirish narration, the riveting gimmick of having the guy with amnesia tattoo essential data on his body so he can never lose it, lots of artsy affectation from the MTV '90s style book, an oblique/patently meaningless story, and voila, you have the cult hit of the new century.

Was I wrong to be less than charmed by this notably fashion-conscious, arch film editor's trick flick? I will leave that up to you. It could very well be that this will prove to be the Citizen Kane for a whole generation-to-come of film makers, that style will continue being pushed over substance to a point that films that tell stories will simply cease to exist. My more modest guess, however, is that as stinting as Memento is with feeling, this will become the dust collector in most people's DVD collections, the film that one half of virtually every couple out there despises and refuses to watch a second time. It is an extremely low yield experience in emotional terms. Gimmicks wear out, even the good ones, and leave empty wireframes behind. Think of Memento as Roger Rabbit for the new millenium. The search for the perfect film continues in perpetuum.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Clean Slate II
Review: Remember the Dana Carvey comedy "Clean Slate"? if not you probably won't mind that Momento is the non-comedy version of this Dana Carvey dud. The plot is fine, the acting is fine, the backwards story isn't as good as the backward episode of Seinfeld, but still fun. Basically this movie got some good hype early on, and has been too ARTSY for anyone to disagree. Not a waste of money, but not nearly as fresh or clever or new as it would like to be. A solid movie borrowing heavily from other sources. If one is not familiar with these other works, I am sure Momento is compelling, on the other hand, anyone who watches TV or film regularly will be dissapointed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 21st Century Pulp Fiction
Review: I make the reference to Quentin Tarantino's, "Pulp Fiction", not due to similarities between the movies, rather the feeling you have after watching the films for the first time. True, there is a bit, or a great bit, of confusion, but the main feeling is one of having seen a remarkable piece of work that renews your faith that there are still writers and directors creating very thoughtful and intricately clever stories. The best stories are nothing without the talented actors to place them on film, and here, once again everyone that appears on the screen is excellent.

I would like to know who decides what films are to be promoted for mainstream audiences and which films are to be placed in to more limited release in so-called art house theaters. Audiences made, "The Sixth Sense", one of the larger box office successes of all time, and that film turned on one clever twist at the end together with an excellent performance by Haley Joel Osment. I cannot imagine why this movie would not have drawn many of the same people, and drawn them to the theater more than once. Robin Williams said that he loved the film when he saw it, but had no idea of what he had seen until he watched the movie backward. A clever comment, but also one you may find yourself making.

Guy Pearce, who audiences first met in, "LA Confidential", Carrie-Anne Moss who had a huge debut with the first, "Matrix", film, and Joe Pantoliano, who also appeared in, "Matrix", as well as the very first movie by the same directing duo of brothers in, "Bound", all give exceptional performances.

The film will have those that are eager to solve the mysteries they perceive claim they have grasped the plot repeatedly, only to then see they were wrong. I suppose there are some that may guess their way to the correct conclusion, but it would be only a guess. I have only watched the film once, but unless I missed something, there is no attempt to let the audiences in on the game until the final few minutes. If you watch it with a group, keep the arguing after the first viewing to a minimum, and start the DVD once again. The film is that clever, and certainly worthy of a second look.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: mystery with a twist
Review: This is a captivating thriller that keeps your attention from beginning to end, or should i say end to beginning. No other movie that I know of employs this technique of telling the story backwards, and it is implemented surprisingly well. Rather than wondering what happens next in the story, the viewer tries to figure out the cause of what happens, which is equally if not more fascinating. Guy Pearce plays his character superbly as does his supporting cast. Besides being a thoroughly satisfying mystery, the film also provides an interesting perspective on some aspects of the human condition, exemplified by the memory-lossed character in Pearce. Overall just a great movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic Film Noir -- With a Reverse Twist
Review: "Memento" is the ultimate movie lovers flick. It incorporates the best aspects of classic film noir (circa early 1950s) and turns it on its head with the clever trick of presenting the narrative in reverse. The movie starts out at the end, with brain damaged Lenny taking revenge by killing the man who raped and killed his wife and who left him brain damaged. But did he get the right guy? As the film progresses, it becomes more and more unclear. When the truth is revealed, the "ending" takes on a whole new meaning.

Guy Pearce, the "other" Australian actor in "L.A. Confidential" emerges from Russell Crowe's shadow with an outstanding performance as the tormented Lenny. Backing him up are fine efforts "Matrix" vets Joe Pantoliano and Carrie Ann Moss, who are Lenny's main antagonists.

Well scripted, well acted, and challengely put togather, "Memento" was the best American movie of 2001.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Brainy Thriller
Review: Finally, the trend in hollywood has moved towards brain twisting clever thrillers.

I've never seen a movie like this before. Guy Pearce plays a man who is trying to uncover his past. He has lost the ability to create new memories (Anterograde Amnesia) due to something in his past. Thus, each day he wakes up he has to relearn the fact that he can't make these new long term memories. He has the ability to make short term memories, but his "slate" is wiped clean about every 20 minutes. The movie is a series of events played in revere order, so after the current scene is over, the scene that occured chronologically prior to it is then played. It's really something that you have to see to experience, but is done flawlessly.

I highly reccomend this movie, there is nothing like it available today!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Movie Blowing Mind
Review: This movie is completely mind blowing. The way it goes is very original espicially how it goes back wards. It is a very good movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my favourite movies of this year!
Review: This movie is very intriguing and thought provoking. All the people to whom i recommended this movie enjoyed it immensely. I still to this day do not know exactly what took place and that really irritates me, but i guess the movie is not supposed to be understood or something. I still enjoyed it enough to buy and watch on a regular basis. Great movie

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT GREAT MOVIE!!!
Review: This is an insanely genius movie, I own this movie on dvd, and it has a lot of special features that give a little insight into the world of Lenerd Shelby, but then confuses you all over again. This movie twists the laws of film making, and boggles minds all at once. For anyone who hasn't seen this movie, get your car keys and drive to Blockbuster right now, and rent this movie immediately. Watch this movie a couple times, let it sink in and intoxicate your mind, it will make you question your own memory, as well as the world around you. Take a closer look into the best movie in years, Mememto is a true film worth all the hype.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best suspense movie ever
Review: What can I say about Memento??? Well, it's AMAZING!!! This movie is so fresh and sylish. Do yourself a favor GO BUY THIS DVD. You won't regret it. Guy Pearce's performanc is wonderful. Joe Pantoliano is also. And the way the movie pieces itself together is so cool.


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