| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
B+ |
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| Acting: |
B+ |
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| Direction: |
A |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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CRITICS GOT IT WRONG ON THIS ONE!! (Proper Review)
by Cassandra (movies profile)
Jun 17, 2008
22
of
26 people found this review helpful
Yes, that's what I said. The critics, who generally only review a movie in terms of how THEY would perceive its entertainment value anyway, are wrong when it comes to "21." I was looking forward to seeing this movie a month ago when I first heard about it. I went with my mother, who doesn't really like R-rated movies (simply on principle) but who does love to gamble, so I thought this would be a good one to see with her since we were both interested in the story. We were definitely not disappointed either! I just have a couple of points to note, without giving away too much detail, for anyone thinking of seeing “21.”
1. It is a true story based on the book "Bringing Down The House" by Ben Mez...Mez...Mez-something (not Campbell, like in the movie). Anyway, that said, OF COURSE they deviated a little (or a lot, I need to the buy the book now) from it, but so do most adapted book-movies. Interestingly enough, they DID actually get roughed up. The point is, despite the fact that some major changes were made in the interest of dramatics, the story in the movie doesn't suffer, nor does the movie itself as we both found it quite entertaining. Which is kind of the point of watching a MOVIE.
2. Neither does the lack of "sex, drugs and violence" detract from the movie at all. There is one scene in a strip club (in Vegas!? Surprise surprise!) but there's nothing that anyone over the age of 13 would find questionable. Which I suspect is why the movie is rated PG-13. There's very little bad language, but the acting and some of the dry humor, was still up to par. In other words, there's no reason you couldn't see this movie with your kids/family and not feel like you as parents were bored out of your mind watching The Little Mermaid. It really is that entertaining...for a PG-13 movie.
3. And finally, the only problem I had with the movie wasn't anything aesthetic (acting was good, directing was good, visuals in this film are REALLY good, notice in the credits Kevin Spacey also produced the film, and the music used was actually bearable) but rather with the plot. I would have liked to see more about how they actually counted the cards (no this is not a plot spoiler, that's what the movie's about for anyone who doesn't know yet)...notice they didn't spend a great amount of time on HOW they used the theories, for lack of a better word, to win at the tables. Now yes, they showed SOME, but I get the feeling, we as the audience didn't get the whole scoop so to speak. Which I suspect has something to do with the casinos in Vegas not wanting everyone in the country knowing how it's really done. People see the movie, get wise, and all of a sudden Sin City is overrun with people trying to beat the system. As I said before, I will definitely be buying the book now.
Overall, really good film, very entertaining even if some details were changed, and definitely ok to take the wife and kids...you know, unless you two want to neck in the back of the theatre...then I'd leave the kids at home...but nobody wants to see that right? :) |
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