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These are two movies to see
Ryan Michaels
PUBLISHED: February 21, 2008
I am Ryan Michaels, an 11-year-old movie fanatic who loves writing reviews as much as watching movies. Below is my take on "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Concert Tour" and "Cloverfield."
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The children's TV show "Hannah Montana" is a phenomenon. From the tween girls who love star Miley Cyrus' music to the parents who love her wholesomeness and the guys who enjoy the show's humor, her appeal seems to be spreading.
And the "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Concert Tour" film demonstrates in several ways just what makes her so popular. First, she's a great performer. Second, her music is good, from my limited perspective. And third, she sure knows how to put on a show.
The film follows her sold-out concert, from the kinetic on-screen performance to the drama off stage, including a funny tidbit on changing backstage.
Some people dismiss her because she's on the Disney Channel, but every teenage girl from Alaska to Tijuana wants to be her, and truly the music is good. You want to dance in the theater.
But her movie is like the cinematic equivalent of Milk Duds. You eat it, you enjoy it, but it does nothing for you. In fact, I almost forgot I saw it the day I screened it. But, alas, parents, take your daughters and don't feel guilty.
Oh, and did I mention it's in 3-D?
I give it a "B-" rating.
Cloverfield
I'll sum this up: "Cloverfield" is the defining monster movie of our generation.
There's no, "It's alive!"
And there's no, "It came from Mars!"
It's just presented as a home video from someone's camera, detailing an attack on New York City. But it's from a fresh, new storytelling technique. And it has an unhappy ending. There is no walk into the sunset, just a realistic end.
The plot offers up a ticked-off monster, who comes out of the ocean, and a group that must survive amid a lot of destruction in the Big Apple. There's the Statue of Liberty's severed head being tossed into the streets, with people taking pictures with their cell-phones. It's one of many subtle-yet-uncompromising references to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
This movie is a truly different experience, and with very jerky camerawork. But that's what makes "Cloverfield" tick. Because of its realism and its authenticity, this feels like a credible home video, amid some very cool special effects.
And so I close with what I opened: This is the defining monster movie of our generation.
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