A middle of the road cliché that is easily enjoyed and easily forgotten...
Added 10/27/2009
It's like `An Officer and a Gentleman' meets `Antwone Fisher' meets `Rocky', but nowhere near as good as the first two (yes, we all know that I think `Rocky' is an overrated mediocre film). Yes, there isn't much new to `Annapolis', and sadly it doesn't really handle anything in a way to create anything remotely memorable. It's a cliché ridden rip-off film that has a few selected moments that make it enjoyable, but there is nothing here that would warrant any deep-seated affection.
The performances run the gamut from poor (Tyrese Gibson) to decent (James Franco) to pretty darn good (Vicellous Reon Shannon), and then you have the barely there performances, like that from the gorgeous (Demi Moore/Jennifer Connelly love child) Jordana Brewster.
The film tells of Jake Huard, a young man who dreams of the Navy. When he finally gets his chance he finds that his stubborn and aggressive nature makes it difficult for him to adapt to life in the academy. With the help of a beautiful woman, a caring Lieutenant and his own determination, Jake is able to...box? Yes, that's right; he boxes. There is a boxing competition open to everyone in the academy, which give Jake the opportunity to exact some pain on Cole, his nemesis and resident jerk.
Littered with clichés that come one right after the other, `Annapolis' never finds its own footing. It borrows far too much from far too many other films. It plays out like a poor mans `An Officer and a Gentleman', with no one able to step up to the plate and deliver something noteworthy. Vicellous Reon Shannon was my favorite part of the film, even if his character was the biggest cliché the film had to offer (SPOILER: the overweight African American who is mistreated, rises above, gets shot back down and attempts to take his own life). Shannon played the role flawlessly, and I believed in him, connected to him, and absolutely adored him.
But aside from that, I'm left empty handed.
I will say that the films pacing was brisk and the visuals were a nice touch (especially the fight sequences). It's a `pretty' movie.
With Tyrese playing just another variation of Louis Gossett Jr.'s Oscar winning role (which wasn't deserving of an Oscar in the first place) and James Franco trying to be charming while keeping an edge (which he only manages to accomplish SOME of the time), `Annapolis' falls in the middle.
It's not bad but it feels very `been there done that'.
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Great Movie
Added 10/2/2009
The trailer for this movie made it seem like it would be remarkable. Although I have to say I wasn't as impressed, I still give it 5 stars. This is a movie that stands good on it's on merits.
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Seen It All Before
Added 9/23/2009
I will start this review by saying Annapolis is not a bad film, that however does not necessarily mean that it's a good film either. The problem with Justin Lin's first major studio outing is that the viewer gets a strange sense of deja vu as he or she watches the film.
Annapolis is a hybrid crossing of An Officer and a Gentleman meets Rocky. Jake Huard (James Franco)is a blue collar worker who wants to shoe the world that he can make it as a Naval officer by attending Annapolis and breaking free of his shipyard bound friends. Given this chance he tries to do it alone and begins to fall deeper and deeper into failure. With the help of a fellow student and potential love interest(Jordana Brewster) he beins to train for the Brigades the annual boxing tournament. The boxing ring is also Huard's chance to deal with a grudge bearing senior officer.
The film tries its best to be completely politically correct and this plus every sports movie cliche in the book tends to hurt the overall film. The disc includes a making of featurette, a sequence on the boxing scenes, some deleted scenes and a running commentary from director Lin, screenwriter David Collard and the film editor.
This is not a bad one to rent but you may swear that you've seen it all before.
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The Flyboys
Added 7/19/2009
the DVD was received all scratched up, Tried to clean it up but didn't help. Was able to see the movie OK.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Annapolis
Added 6/30/2009
I received my movie before the due date and it came in great condition I had great service to receive my video.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A middle of the road cliché that is easily enjoyed and easily forgotten...
Added 10/27/2009
It's like `An Officer and a Gentleman' meets `Antwone Fisher' meets `Rocky', but nowhere near as good as the first two (yes, we all know that I think `Rocky' is an overrated mediocre film). Yes, there isn't much new to `Annapolis', and sadly it doesn't really handle anything in a way to create anything remotely memorable. It's a cliché ridden rip-off film that has a few selected moments that make it enjoyable, but there is nothing here that would warrant any deep-seated affection.
The performances run the gamut from poor (Tyrese Gibson) to decent (James Franco) to pretty darn good (Vicellous Reon Shannon), and then you have the barely there performances, like that from the gorgeous (Demi Moore/Jennifer Connelly love child) Jordana Brewster.
The film tells of Jake Huard, a young man who dreams of the Navy. When he finally gets his chance he finds that his stubborn and aggressive nature makes it difficult for him to adapt to life in the academy. With the help of a beautiful woman, a caring Lieutenant and his own determination, Jake is able to...box? Yes, that's right; he boxes. There is a boxing competition open to everyone in the academy, which give Jake the opportunity to exact some pain on Cole, his nemesis and resident jerk.
Littered with clichés that come one right after the other, `Annapolis' never finds its own footing. It borrows far too much from far too many other films. It plays out like a poor mans `An Officer and a Gentleman', with no one able to step up to the plate and deliver something noteworthy. Vicellous Reon Shannon was my favorite part of the film, even if his character was the biggest cliché the film had to offer (SPOILER: the overweight African American who is mistreated, rises above, gets shot back down and attempts to take his own life). Shannon played the role flawlessly, and I believed in him, connected to him, and absolutely adored him.
But aside from that, I'm left empty handed.
I will say that the films pacing was brisk and the visuals were a nice touch (especially the fight sequences). It's a `pretty' movie.
With Tyrese playing just another variation of Louis Gossett Jr.'s Oscar winning role (which wasn't deserving of an Oscar in the first place) and James Franco trying to be charming while keeping an edge (which he only manages to accomplish SOME of the time), `Annapolis' falls in the middle.
It's not bad but it feels very `been there done that'.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Great Movie
Added 10/2/2009
The trailer for this movie made it seem like it would be remarkable. Although I have to say I wasn't as impressed, I still give it 5 stars. This is a movie that stands good on it's on merits.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Seen It All Before
Added 9/23/2009
I will start this review by saying Annapolis is not a bad film, that however does not necessarily mean that it's a good film either. The problem with Justin Lin's first major studio outing is that the viewer gets a strange sense of deja vu as he or she watches the film.
Annapolis is a hybrid crossing of An Officer and a Gentleman meets Rocky. Jake Huard (James Franco)is a blue collar worker who wants to shoe the world that he can make it as a Naval officer by attending Annapolis and breaking free of his shipyard bound friends. Given this chance he tries to do it alone and begins to fall deeper and deeper into failure. With the help of a fellow student and potential love interest(Jordana Brewster) he beins to train for the Brigades the annual boxing tournament. The boxing ring is also Huard's chance to deal with a grudge bearing senior officer.
The film tries its best to be completely politically correct and this plus every sports movie cliche in the book tends to hurt the overall film. The disc includes a making of featurette, a sequence on the boxing scenes, some deleted scenes and a running commentary from director Lin, screenwriter David Collard and the film editor.
This is not a bad one to rent but you may swear that you've seen it all before.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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