Your Movie Friend

Touch (TV Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:26:00 +0000

Keifer Sutherland is back in a mystery numerology show. What do the numbers add up to?

The Secret World of Arrietty (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:03:00 +0000

Studio Ghibli films are usually extremely beautiful and surreally confusing. Arrietty fits into one of these categories, but which one?

The Vow (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:49:00 +0000

The story told in "The Vow" is a great story, but is it a great movie?

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:17:00 +0000

The Rock takes over for Brendan Fraser in the Journey franchise, but the rest of the movie is very similar to the original. Is that a good thing?

The River (TV Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:20:00 +0000

Everyone wants to be the next big serialized show. Can "The River" use found footage to claim that title?

A Critical Shift

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I’ve enjoyed almost everything about this past year of doing full time pop-culture reviews; screening so many movies, getting my thoughts on the record, the Hollywood parties... and of course by “Hollywood parties”, I mean those Saturdays I throw a couple Hot Pockets in the microwave and chew through three consecutive Netflix offerings with just me and my meatball marinara. My point is it’s been a great year, but if you traverse all the way back to the beginning of that first run on sentence you may notice the word “almost”. There is one thing I haven’t enjoyed about reviewing films and TV full time, and it’s being called a “critic”.

Now, it’s not that I don’t enjoy thinking critically about film. I over process much of the world around me, entertainment and otherwise. I am a classic over-thinker. It’s just that I don’t identify with the critic’s goal. Critics tear things apart to assign an objective rating, as if they can define the absolute worth of something through their own deliberations. I don't see that as within my purpose (or to be honest even my ability). My goal is to offer the information you need to make sure you’re investing your time and money wisely. Everyone has that person they know who watches WAY too many movies and WAY too much TV, but when they want an honest opinion on what’s good they seek them out. That person that can give perspective on whether or not it’s worth the $20 and 120 minutes to see. That person that even though you don’t always agree with on what’s good or not, you can gauge how you might feel by how they feel.

You know, a friend.

So today aarondicer.com also becomes yourmoviefriend.com

I’ve always found reviews from friends to be so much more valuable than reviews from critics, for many reasons.

A friend is personal.

Critic reviews always seem to be cold assessments, but when I talk to a friend about a movie, I get a sense for how their own personality played into the experience. In journalism, you’re taught to avoid the words “I” and “me”. That ain’t happening here. Part of why we love movies is because they are so personal, not because some sort of abstract art math equation has deemed them valuable.

A friend is singular.

This hasn’t always been the case, but so much of modern movie criticism has become about averages. Rotten Tomatoes percentages have become the go-to source for movie ratings. My cell gives me a viewer average and a critic average when I look up a movie. But what does that mean? It’s not that I don’t think it’s valuable, I often use Rot-Tom scores to get a general sense for a film’s buzz. It’s just that it doesn’t give me a decent sense for how “I” will feel. When I go to a friend, I know what they like, where we agree on things, and where we disagree. This allows me a level of confidence in how I process their opinions.

A friend is biased.

Wait? Isn’t bias a bad thing? Nope, it’s a life thing. The way we see the world by necessity affects the way we see everything in it, and that includes entertainment. It’s not that objectivity is bad, it’s just dishonest. We all have proclivities to love certain things and hate others. Knowing those things is what allows us to honestly evaluate when a friend rants or raves about something. When a critic represses those biases they are disallowing their reader/viewer the ability to fully understand their perspective. We are all fanboys of something, let’s just get it on the table and take it into account.

A friend is selective.

There must be a list somewhere of all the aspects of a film you are supposed to cover as a critic. A checklist I’m sure that includes cinematography, script, acting, directing, score, visual effects, and so on and so forth. But not everyone of those things is necessarily important to every review. Sometimes I feel like critics can spend time expounding on things that really have no impact on whether or not I will enjoy a movie. But a friend eliminates those things. They have a built-in idea economy that connects to the things about the movie that are interesting or of note.

I want my reviews to be “friend reviews”, a place you can come and find personal pop culture opinions from a biased, selective, singular source. At their most basic these “friend reviews” will answer three questions; “What is it about?”, “Did I like it?” and “Will you?” My hope is that I can quickly give you my personal, specific take and the best shot at seeing only the things that are worth your valuable minutes and monies.

As “Your Movie Friend” my goal is simple: to record 2-4 minute unedited, unfiltered, takes on pop culture you might want to hear about from a friend...

not a critic.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some anticipated FAQS:

Are you only reviewing movies now?

Nope, there will still be plenty of TV reviews and even the occasional Video Game or Tech review as well. However, since the majority of the site will be dedicated to film reviews, yourmoviefriend.com made the most sense.

Are these Christian reviews?

Not really. Granted, the fact that I love Jesus is bound to come up because it impacts how I see the world (the bias thing again), but my goal is not to tell you if a movie is “Christian enough”, “clean enough”, or “family friendly”. My goal is to tell you if you might enjoy it. We all have different convictions and thresholds for content appropriateness and there are already plenty of sites around that have the information needed to gauge those avenues. Quality and Message will play the largest part in my assessment, with content only mentioned when it is worth noting.

Why videos?

I love to write, but just don’t have the time to invest in that creative process as often as I would like. Occasionally I will develop an opinion I need to get down in print, but those posts will probably be few and far between. I will also still write my TV previews and year end lists, but the heart of this blog will remain daily short video reviews of pop-culture items.

Can I use your reviews for my own site?

Yes, you can embed the videos on your own blog or site. If it is a commercial site, I would appreciate you asking permission. If you got here from seeing my reviews on hollywoodjesus.com or cmcentral.com, welcome! All content remains in my sole ownership and discretion, but you are more than welcome to ask to use it.

That’s it! Thanks for letting me be “Your Movie Friend”!

Aaron Dicer
YourMovieFriend.com

Final Destination 5 (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Rube Goldberg would be proud of the creators of the Final Destination movie. A little grossed out probably, but impressed.

Big Miracle (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The preview makes it clear that there is plenty of cheese to be had in this "Save the Whales" tale, but is there also some meat?

A Quick Thank you and a Hint of What's Next

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:31:00 +0000

2/14/2007 was my first post here. Thanks for popping in over the last 5 years it's been a blast! Here's a hint of what's to come!

Safe House (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds give great performances but does it add up to a great movie?

The Woman in Black (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:34:00 +0000

It's going to be a long haul for Danielle Radcliffe to break free of his Harry Potter casting. Does he make any ground in his first attempt?

Chuck (TV Series Finale Review and Thoughts)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Chuck got a chance to end its run on its own terms, was it a satisfying conclusion?

Hangover 2 (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:43:00 +0000

Because humor is subjective, comedy might just be the most difficult genre to perfect. How does "Hangover 2" fare?

Napoleon Dynamite (TV Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Sometimes you capture lightning in a bottle, and when you do sometimes you should just leave it there.

Chronicle (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:18:00 +0000

I thought the "found footage" genre had run it's course. Does "Chronicle" prove me wrong?

Alcatraz (TV Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

So many shows want to be the next LOST, is this the one that finaly gets it?

One For the Money (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

My mom said, "If you don't have something nice to say, then don't say anything at all." I hope she doesn't watch this review.

The Artist (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

A lot of fuss has been made about the making of this modern "silent" film. Can you truly make a great modern movie without dialog?

Man on a Ledge (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:45:00 +0000

Sometimes it just takes the smallest things for me to enjoy a movie, is there enough to like about this one to come away happy?

The Grey (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:56:00 +0000

Liam Neeson has now had more #1 hits over the past 3 years than Pitt, Jolie, Smith, Cruise, DiCaprio, Damon or Denzel. Does he prove worthy of his latest #1 hit?

Favorites of 2011: Top 41 Movies of All Time (2011 Update)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

If you're anything like me, you only skim "Best of" lists. In fact, it's very likely you didn't even read that sentence, let alone this one. When I click to see a list, I want to see a list. I don't need commentary. What I need is simple, I need to validate my own favorites by finding them on your list and at the same time scoff at you for the ones that shouldn't be there. Yet here I sit, typing away, compelled to offer some rationalization to the choices below and a perfunctory introduction to our journey through my favorites of the last year. Creatures of habit we are (apparently when I don't think anyone is reading type in Yoda speak I do).

A few other things to skim past:

- No honorable mentions this year. They are a cop out. If it doesn't make the cut, it deserves no mention.

- I have expanded my TV list to 15 and my movie list to 41. I'm seeing more stuff (150 movies this year) so naturally more will get ranked.

- This is for newly viewed items in the calendar year 2011. This means the final half of last season, and first half of this season for many TV shows, and also means there will be movies that came out last year that I am just getting around to seeing. But for me these things were new this year.

- This is a "favorites" list, not a "best of" list. Embrace the subjectivity of art. This is my list and it is influenced by many factors that might be unique to my perspective. Having said that, I'm pretty sure its also completely infallible.

Here's what to expect over the course of January:

Favorite 15 TV Shows of 2011 (Jan. 6th)

TV "Have you not seen..." Video (Jan 6th)

Favorite 41 TV Shows of All Time (Jan 13th)

Favorite 41 Movies of 2011 (Jan. 20th)

Movie "Have you not seen..." Video (Jan 20th)

Favorite 41 Movies of All Time (Jan 27th)

(note: 2011 marks the 10th year I've updated this list, if you want to see a spreadsheet detailing my entire decade of sickness you may click here, you've been warned.)

(note: 2011 is the first year in the history of this list that no new movie has cracked the top 41.)

The Top 41:

41. Iron Giant (*)
40. Shadow of a Doubt (-3)
39. Gattaca
38. Shawshank Redemption (*)
37. Moulin Rouge (-4)
36. Groundhog's Day (+4)
35. Wall E (-1)
34. Searching for Bobby Fischer (-5)
33. Ratatouille
32. Liar, Liar
31. Sound of Music (+4)
30. Gran Torino (-3)
29. Monsters Inc. (+1)
28. Swing Kids (+3)
27. Apocolypto (+1)
26. Inception (-2)
25. Toy Story 3 (+1)
24. The Passion of the Christ (-4)
23. Dial M for Murder
22. Star Wars
21. How to Train Your Dragon (+4)
20. Vertigo (+1)
19. Unbreakable (-1)
18. Titanic (+1)
17. Up (-3)
16. Apollo 13
15. Avatar (+2)
14. Signs (+1)
13. The Incredibles
12. United 93
11. Toy Story
10. Toy Story 2 (-2)
9. The Matrix (+1)
8. The Hudsucker Proxy (+1)
7. The Truman Show
6. The Princess Bride
5. Quiz Show
4. North by Northwest
3. Finding Nemo
2. Singin' In the Rain
1. Lord of the Rings

Red Tails (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II is fascinating and inspiring, certainly this movie couldn't mess that up, right?

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Though the previews use Tom Hanks to promote it, he's really barely in it. How do the actors that do get more screen time fare in this emotional story?

The Iron Lady (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Streep may be the Michael Jordan of actors, but even MJ needed some help from Scottie Pippin.

Underworld Awakening (Movie Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Dicer) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:39:00 +0000

Vampire and Werewolves and Hybrids, Oh My.