We Don't Live Here Anymore

We Don't Live Here Anymore

Front Street Pictures etc.

3 September 2004

Drama

DVD
D+

I didn't care about these couples.  This is based on a couple of short stories by Andre Dubus, and directed by John Curran, fourteen years before Chappaquiddick.

We Bought a Zoo

We Bought a Zoo

Vinyl Films etc.

December 23, 2011

Dramedy
DVD
D+

I didn't care about this family.  Director Cameron Crowe co-adapted Benjamin Mee's memoir.

Wayne's World 2

Wayne's World 2

NBC Films etc.

December 10, 1993

Comedy

DVD
C

I gave this half an hour, rooting for it to get better.  But there's too much recycled plot and humor, some of the latter punch-down at that.  My review of the original is here, https://reviewingeverymovieiown.blogspot.com/2015/02/waynes-world.html.  Stephen Surjik directed this one.

The Way, Way Back

The Way, Way Back

Sycamore Pictures etc.

July 26, 2013

Dramedy
DVD
C-

Bumped up a notch or two for the always marvelous Allison Janney.  Nat Faxon and Jim Rash co-wrote and co-directed.

Way of the Wicked

Way of the Wicked

Matt Kelly Films

May 20, 2014

Horror

DVD
D

Thoroughly unoriginal.  Kevin Carraway directed.

The Way of the Gun

The Way of the Gun

Artisan Entertainment

September 8, 2000

Action

DVD
D

Some movies make me say, "What?", but this one made me ask, "Why?"  Because no one's motivation made any sense.  Christopher McQuarrie wrote and directed.

The Way Home AKA Jibeuro

The Way Home AKA Jibeuro

Paramount etc.

5 April 2002

Drama

DVD
D+

The main character is such a brat that I couldn't even enjoy the scenery.  Jeong-hyang Lee wrote and directed.

Way Down East

Way Down East

United Artists

September 3, 1920

Drama

DVD
C

This must've felt hokily old-fashioned even at the time, but I did like the fashions, live animals, and of course the "eccentric" aunt (who's probably a benign lesbian).  Director D.W. Griffith co-adapted the play based on Lottie Blair Parker's novel.

The Way Back (2020)

The Way Back (2020)

Warner Bros. etc.

March 6, 2020

Sports Drama

DVD
D

Sports and alcoholism.  Gavin O'Connor directed, and this is the fifth of his movies I've rejected in this project, the most recent being The Warrior.

Waterworld

Waterworld

Gordon Company etc.

July 28, 1995

Sci-Fi

DVD
D+

The movie opens with Costner's character drinking his own urine and improves somewhat after that.  Kevin Reynolds directed, eleven years before Tristan and Isolde.

Waterboys (2016)

Waterboys (2016)

Venfilm etc.

1 December 2016

Dramedy
DVD
B

This is one of those rare movies I enjoyed without actually liking any of the characters.  They're funny, poignant, and believable.  I'll admit this might've been a B- without the Scottish scenery and the music by the Waterboys, whose one-hit "The Whole of the Moon" is one of those songs I haven't thought of in decades but instantly remembered.  Robert Jan Westdijk wrote and directed.

Black Water (2007)

Black Water (2007)

AV Pictures

3 August 2007

Drama

DVD
D+

This presumably turns into a horror movie, since it's on a "Water Monsters" four-pack.  (Anaconda skipped, so I'm skipping it.  And the other two turned out to be TV-movies.)  But the first quarter hour was about a young couple going on holiday with her sister.  David Nerlich and Andrew Traucki co-directed and co-written.

The Water Man

The Water Man

ShivHans Pictures

September 19, 2020

Children's, Drama

DVD
C

I liked the setting and the main character, but the mother with leukemia plot made me tune out.  David Oyelowo directed and plays the dad.

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants

Fox etc.

April 22, 2011

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

The script, based on Sara Gruen's novel, is stupid, including about American history.  Francis Lawrence directed, four years after I Am Legend.

The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

The Watcher in the Woods (1980)

Disney

April 17, 1980

Children's, Horror

DVD
D+

I didn't think this worked as either horror or a kids' movie.  This is based on the novel by Florence Engel Randall, and co-directed by John Hough and Vincent McEveety.

Watch the Sunset

Watch the Sunset

BarrLipp Productions

30 August 2017

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Definitely not my kind of movie, but I guess the one-take gimmick is worth something.  Tristan Barr and Michael Gosden co-directed, and co-wrote with Chelsea Renee Zeller, while all three appear in the movie.

The Watch

The Watch

21 Laps Entertainment

July 27, 2012

Comedy, Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

Uneven and never quite funny, but I could see it working with a better script.  Seth Rogen co-wrote, and Akiva Schaffer directed.

Warrior

Warrior

Mimran Schur Pictures etc.

September 9, 2011

Sports Drama

DVD
D+

While I didn't enjoy this, it was nice to have random stuff like a high school Science lesson thrown in there.  Gavin O'Connor directed and co-wrote, before The Accountant and Jane Got a Gun, but after Miracle.

The War With Grandpa

The War With Grandpa

Marro Films

October 9, 2020

Children's, Comedy

DVD
D+

Stupider than it has to be.  This is based on the Robert Kimmel Smith book, and directed by Tim Hill, nine years after Hop.

War Room

War Room

TriStar etc.

August 28, 2015

Drama

DVD
C-

Alex Kendrick directed and co-wrote with his brother Stephen again, and I guess I prefer this to their other works because the women have more to do.

War, Inc.

War, Inc.

First Look Studios

June 13, 2008

Satire

DVD
D+

Not nearly as funny or insightful as it thinks it is. John Cusack stars and co-wrote.   Joshua Seftel directed.

War Horse

War Horse

DreamWorks etc.

December 25, 2011

War Drama

DVD
B-

I liked this more than I expected, especially the scenes set in Devon, although I don't think every thread works, and of course I was more interested in the horse than the war.  This is based on the Michael Morpugo novel and directed by Steven Spielberg.

War for the Planet of the Apes

War for the Planet of the Apes

Chernin Entertainment etc.

July 14, 2017

Sci-Fi, Action

DVD
D

Yes, I've reviewed a couple other Planet of the Apes movies, but they're so far apart alphabetically, and I figure it's like the James Bond movies that I keep rejecting, since the amount of rejection varies.  Matt Reeves directed and co-wrote, three years after Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

War and Peace AKA Voyna i mir

War and Peace AKA Voyna i mir

Mosfilm

14 March 1966

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

A little stilted, and I'd forgotten what a jerk Prince Andrei is, especially to his wife.  But the costumes and sets are nice.  Sergey Bondarchuk directed, co-adapted the Tolstoy novel, and played Pierre.

War (1994)

War (1994)

Island World etc.

November 4, 1994

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

The home-front stuff is a nice change, but the writing is a little cliched.  Jon Avnet directed.

Wanted (2008)

Wanted (2008)

Relativity Media etc.

June 27, 2008

Action
DVD
D-

Unappealing on multiple levels, but I did like the cereal display.  Timur Bekmambetov directed.

Wander

Wander

Wango Films etc.

December 4, 2020

Action?

DVD

C-

I was somehow simultaneously uninterested and mildly intrigued.  April Mullen directed.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Aardman Animations/ DreamWorks

2 October 2005

Children's, Animation, Fantasy, Comedy

DVD
C

While there are things I like about this world, like the set designs and inventions, I just have never been able to get invested in the characters.  Steve Box and Nick Park co-directed, and co-wrote with others.

The Wall

The Wall

Big Indie Pictures etc.

May 12, 2017

War Drama

DVD
D-

Definitely not my kind of movie.  Doug Liman directed, a dozen years after Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie

Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie

Reliance Entertainment etc.

19 December 2013

Children's, Fantasy, Historical Comedy

DVD

D+

This feels like an unfunny educational videogame with nice graphics.  Barry Cook and Neil Nightingale directed.

Walk the Line

Walk the Line

Fox

November 18, 2005

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

The glimpses of music were nice, but I didn't care about the story or its execution, not unlike the similarly highly praised Ray (which I gave a C-).  Director James Mangold co-adapted a couple of Johnny Cash's autobiographies, between Kate & Leopold and Logan.

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods

Route One Films

September 2, 2015

Comedy
DVD
C-

I was looking forward to this, in part because I've enjoyed the Bill Bryson books I've read (not yet this one).  Unfortunately, the execution felt lacking, and if even Emma Thompson can't make me laugh, there's not much hope.  Ken Kwapis directed, six years after He's Just Not That Into You, which was a more enjoyable nonfiction adaptation.

Waking Ned Devine

Waking Ned Devine

Tomboy Films etc.

15 September 1998

Comedy

DVD
B-

I saw this in the theater and enjoyed it, and it holds up pretty well at home a quarter century later.  The story is slight and it's never hilarious, but I liked spending time in the tiny village with the gorgeous scenery and the oddball residents.  Kirk Jones wrote and directed, seven years before Nanny McPhee.

Waking Madison

Waking Madison

Annapurna Productions

May 2, 2011

Drama

DVD
D-

Creepy and possibly racist, but I did like the trolleys.  Katherine Brooks wrote and directed.

Waking Life

Waking Life

Independent Film Channel Productions etc.

January 23, 2001

Animation, Drama

DVD
C-

I didn't really get this, but it was kind of interesting.  Richard Linklater wrote and directed, before Before Sunset and Me and Orson Welles, which were of course live action.

Waiting to Exhale

Waiting to Exhale

20th Century Fox

December 22, 1995

Dramedy
DVD
D+

The acting (especially by the actor playing the cheating husband) and the writing, with Terry McMillan helping to adapt her own novel, are both laughably bad, but at least the women are pretty and well-dressed.  Forest Whitaker directed.

Waiting...

Waiting...

Element Films etc.

October 7, 2005

Comedy
DVD
D

I wanted to give this at least a D+ because I sometimes like Justin Long, but no one in this movie is likable and/or funny.  Rob McKittrick wrote and directed.

W.

W.

Global Entertainment Group etc.

October 17, 2008

Drama

DVD
D+

Not a president I'm particularly interested in.  Oliver Stone directed.

Vulgar

Vulgar

View Askew etc.

September 13, 2000
Comedy
DVD

D

Lives up to its title.  Bryan Johnson wrote and directed.

Voyagers

Voyagers

Summit Entertainment etc.

April 9, 2021

Sci-Fi

DVD
D+

A creepy but mildly intriguing premise.  Neil Burger wrote and directed, after The Illusionist and Limitless.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

Windsor Productions etc.

July 12, 1961

I honestly don't know the genre because nothing happened the first quarter hour but ironically I'll have to go with "Action"

DVD

C-

Nothing happens in the first quarter hour, except for drippy "clever" dialogue and overuse of the word "Congressman," but at least there's Peter Lorre training a shark, and Barbara Eden dancing to Frankie Avalon's trumpet.  Irwin Allen directed and co-wrote.

Vox Lux

Vox Lux

Killer Films etc.

September 7, 2018

Drama

DVD
D+

I like that they put the closing credits on early.  Brady Corbet directed and co-wrote.

Vortex: The Dawn of Sovereignty AKA Vortex, l'aube de la souveraineté

Vortex: The Dawn of Sovereignty AKA Vortex, l'aube de la souveraineté

Studio Unknown

5 April 2021 [Internet]

Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

I wasn't that into the story, but it was nice to see a mother-daughter relationship in this genre, for a change.  Michel Rousseau wrote, directed, and stars.

Von Richthofen and Brown AKA The Red Baron

Von Richthofen and Brown AKA The Red Baron

The Corman Company etc.

June 30, 1971

War Drama

DVD
D+

Nice scenery.  Roger Corman directed.

Vitus

Vitus

Sony Pictures Classics

2 February 2006

Drama

DVD
B-

My first (and probably only) Swiss movie in this project, this story of a child prodigy who's smart enough to fake his own cognitive decline doesn't work in every aspect (some of the characterization was unclear), but it's watchable throughout.  Fredi M. Murer directed and co-wrote.

The Visit (2000)

The Visit (2000)

Sony Pictures Releasing etc.

December 15, 2000

Crime Drama

DVD
D

Not interested.  Jordan Walker-Pearlman directed and co-wrote.