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You think EAGLE EYE is your standard, paint by numbers thirller? Massawyrm say NONONONONONO!
Hola all. Massawyrm here.
Eagle Eye is exactly the kind of conventional thriller that I love. Tense, edgy and held together by a strong cast, this has all the hallmarks of solid entertainment. But most importantly it is a well conceived twist film that changes what it is in every single act of the film. This movie will throw you for a loop if you manage to see it spoiler free as it hinges upon an incredible conceit that rapidly unfolds and challenges what you’ve seen every chance it gets. What you’ve seen thus far in the trailers and what the advertising has shown you is the basic concept of Act 1: A guy and a girl both receive phone calls blackmailing them into acting for the mysterious voice forcing them into situations that is completely out of character for them. But who is the voice? And what are their ultimate ends? The answer to that is a fascinating, riveting timely piece of subversive filmmaking that will constantly force you to change your opinions on what is happening as the movie keeps changing the rules it is playing by.
If you have any intent on seeing and enjoying this film, I strongly urge you to stay as spoiler free on this as you can. It is one of those rare films that derives almost all of its power from its concepts, their presentation and revelation. While there are plenty of white knuckle action sequences - gun fights, car chases and explosions by the fistful – the film is about an idea. And that idea is pretty damned rockin’. By the time the third act begins, the film has become a stunning, pulse pounding adventure which causes you to actively question whose side you’re supposed to be on. And even when the film is wrapped up and all the loose threads tied into a nice pretty bow, you are still completely uncertain as to who should have won.
And that’s the true power of Eagle Eye. It is a film that wants you to ponder the ideas, question the motives and ultimately decide for yourself what the true nature of patriotism is. Yeah, it’s a politically minded film, but not a POLITICAL film. In fact, if anything, it can be described as somewhat liberal ideas presented and framed as a right leaning argument. It is a film that is very much in love with its country while openly discussing what may or not be wrong with it. And it does so while blowing enough shit up to keep you riveted to the conversation.
Shia is fantastic here, turning in a mature, leading man performance while summoning up the power of his mighty “nonononononono” (his version of Harrison Ford’s infamous FINGER OF DOOM) only once. Once again he carries the movie on his shoulders with the power of his natural charisma. As much as some folks like to bag on him, Shia is proving with each and every film to be a goto talent that you can build an entire film around. With a little more seasoning and the choice of a few edgy indie roles, he’s no doubt headed for A List fame. While he doesn’t do much “out of character” here, he is just as solid and dependable as always.
The film’s only real problem is its third act. While the idea’s are incredible and exposed to the audience in just the right manner, this movie goes the way of many of Caruso’s other films and has a bit of a fizzle at the end. It’s not the third act is lame or nonsensical - it is just that DJ Caruso seems to have a bit of a problem letting his third acts deviate from standard Hollywood fare. No matter how fresh or original his films feel, his final moments always seem a little forced and been-there-done-that. Disturbia was great fun until the clichéd chase through the house at the very end. Two For the Money comes to a close in much the same petering out fashion. And Taking Lives completely falls apart when its ending undercuts the rest of the film. Of these films, Eagle Eye is easily my favorite, but it is not the conclusion of this film that will win you over – it is the two hours before it.
All in all it is a great thriller and a fantastic idea laid out perfectly. Once you find out what’s going on, you will understand why this is more than just the standard, paint by numbers thriller the advertising is making it out to look like. Personally, I’m curious to see what I think about the film on a second viewing. Being a film that hinges so much on the mystery, I’m not yet certain if I will love it more or less now that the curtain has been pulled back. Either way, the film is solid and a must see for any LeBeouf or Caruso fans.
Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.
Massawyrm
Got something for the Wyrm? Mail it here.
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One hell of a cash machine.
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I'm all for Shia not being the standard balogna sandwitch of leads... But seriously, this thing is gonna make dumptrucks of money.
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I'm slowly starting to look forward to this.
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This movie looks pretty good. I think most people just haven't enjoyed the movies he's been in, but it's not him that people don't like. At least I think it isn't...still, I think Disturbia was pretty good, so I'll probably see this...once it hits the cheap seats. And Massa, what's up? No edge this time? No jokes or sarcasm? Are you losing your "oomph"?
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His movies so far are decent, a grade or two above the Ratners. Salton Sea - nice setup, tried to be too quirky-scary with Vincent D'Onofrio's character, and fizzled at the end. Taking Lives - actually probably liked this best, even with the obvious lifts from Seven and Silence of the Lambs. Two for the Money - thoroughly meh. Again, kinda liked the setup, but the follow-through and Renee Russo's ghastly plastic surgery ruined it. Disturbia was pretty good but had some stupid conceits (the cops with nothing better to do than to descend on this kid the second he puts a toe outside his house, for instance) and a better director would've junked the unnecessary prologue. The previews for Eagle Eye looked good, I wonder if it'll hold together. Two AICN raves so far, but I'm not convinced yet.
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What does that even mean? Like The Dark Knight in which privacy is breached temporarily for the right reasons?
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Glad I'm not the only one who's noticed the LeBeef's single most annoying trait...
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I'll definitely check this out just to see the twists.
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Sep 24, 2008 10:12:15 AM CDT
Oh fuck this.....get Shia's dick out of your mouth AICN...
by dannyglovers_dickblood
WHAT THE FUCK?!! Why continue to finance this horse shit?!!
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Sep 24, 2008 10:19:34 AM CDT
want Shia in every fucking movie for the next 10 years?!
by dannyglovers_dickblood
THEN GO SEE THIS MOVIE PEOPLE!! Together we can keep him working!
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you go dude! You are becoming the MCM--- of Shia LaBeouf.
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Shitty LeBeef!
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if you took each movie he has been in, and cast Joseph Gordon Leavitt in the same role, the movie would be 50% better.
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The "plot twists" are MST3K worthy and the whole thing is boring after the first 20 minutes. Just because they showed it at your little festival doesn't mean its good.
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And you guys will still be bitching.
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Here come the haters. These are basically the same TINO haters who loathe the Transformers partly because of Shia, even though he was fantastic in that film.I have never seen a film in which Shia wa actually bad. He has natural charisma, and you silly fucks are just jealous. Lets hope he at least got to stuff Megan Fox while filming Transformers... maybe that would help him deal with all the hate you "Damn You Michael Bay" mouth breathing, basement dwelling fuckoids gave him for it. So I say...Hate away, fatties!
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Because they've been starved for a halfway decent looking slick studio product for the past month and a half.
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Sep 24, 2008 10:51:37 AM CDT
When one of the reviewers at AICN says that a movie isn't politi
by the nihilist
...you can be sure it's practically the film version of the Communist Manifesto. Not saying their reviews aren't entertaining or that a movie they recommend won't be worth seeing, but they look at everything through the hardcore moonbat lens. Incubated in socialist paradises like Austin (where most people work for the government and never had to hold a real job in their lives), their idea of balanced is only taking 75% of your salary in taxes instead of 100%, or gas prices stopping at $10 a gallon instead of $15. Not saying I won't see the movie--it sounds pretty good--but if Massawyrm says "it can be described as somewhat liberal ideas presented and framed as a right leaning argument," I'll be preparing myself for a screed that could have come right out of Michael Moore's fat, unwashed, ignorant mouth.
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I've never seen Shia in a role and said "He did a poor job". I'm not sure of the hate.
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Can't you guys even spellcheck your headlines?
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Not an ad at all. "In fact, if anything, it can be described as somewhat liberal ideas presented and framed as a right leaning argument. It is a film that is very much in love with its country while openly discussing what may or not be wrong with it. And it does so while blowing enough shit up to keep you riveted to the conversation." I can't express how crap that sounds. Or what about "Eagle Eye is exactly the kind of conventional thriller that I love. Tense, EDGY...". Yeah, I get it. Its shockingly original, but comfortingly familiar. An intelligent film just dumb enough to brush off as fun and forget about later. No offence to the regular losers on the TB, but Shia isn't the problem here, a shitty generic thriller is. Even if AICN wants to suck its cock.
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meant Three Days Of The Condor or The Parallax View, or even to a degree All The Presidents Men...ahh, the good 'ol days...
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Who are these supposed fans, and what are they fans of? His only half-decent movie is waaay back with the Salton Sea, and even that is only slightly above average thanks to a great cast. Disturbia? Two for the Money? Taking Lives?!? Who the hell would be a fan of that shit?
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Saw this last night, and it was awful. The action sequences are shot really awkwardly, and it steals from about 12 other movies with similar premises. Save yourself the time and rent Enemy of the State.
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I dont understand.. this movie sucks, this is bull shi..t blah blah... none of you can make a movie, none of you will ever star ina movie... most of you can't get a netflix membership, and still live in mommy's future exercise room.
Stop having so much anger for others success... -
Joseph Gordon Levitt has everything Shia has and a lot more. Shia's not bad, he's just been more than manipulated by the system into a type. Levitt, on the other hand, has the potential to be a legendary actor.
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...I would also add Emile Hirsch to the list.
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who's put him in Disturbia, Transformers and now this, and has deemed him "the next Tom Hanks". And Hanks did appear in a lot of '80s crap before becoming the admired actor he became in the '90s.
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I think he's an incredible actor, and I really look forward to seeing him in movies. Moreover, I think all the unwarranted hate you guys throw his way only serves to INCREASE his popularity. There is no fame quite like infamy, and he is INFAMOUS on this site.
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Jonah Hill. Ha ha very funny. Go suck Russell Brand's purity ring. As you like to call it. When you're petting it.
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I saw it last night. First half = lotsa fun. Second half = SUCKS ASS! It ends up being ENEMY OF THE STATE meets STEALTH (except STEALTH was so bad that it was funny, making it entertaining).
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Why aren't people paying ME money and giving ME acting jobs with Megan Fox and Michelle Monaghan?!! I have charisma and charm! I look good without a t-shirt!! My Mom says I look just like Marlon Brandon before he got all doughy!
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No thanks.
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Is he in gay porn?
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I'm surprised no one mentions Harrison Ford's other constant "acting" gimmick - whenever he gets hurt, his hand goes all curled up as if it was broken. I think he first did it in The Fugitive, when the elevator crashed. It worked so well for him he pulls it out of his magic bag every movie...
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doesn't mean this one isn't an enormous piece of shit. I love spielberg and I like Shia, I even really liked Disturbia, but this thing is just a disaster from the ground up. There is a good chance that this is the single worst thing that Spielberg has ever been associated with. Well, it might be better than the Flintstones movie, but the script is equally stupid.
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Guys don't believe the hype these assclowns who get a free pass or a handout for a movie and write these kinds of promotions. The movie is shit and wait for dvd or Blu Ray or better yet 3 times a week on TnT!
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it's another 2 1/2 star movie, same as disturbia. fails to live up to the phenomenal trailer. im sorry massa but i call bullshit on this review. did we see the same movie? im not even a hater. i expected this movie to be the shit but it was just a flat out disappointment. this site is shilling so hard for this shit. when will someone stand up and tell it like it is?
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I think made it's first appearance in Blade Runner, when Ford's characters finger was supposed to be broken. But yes, I've noticed it as he jumps for cover in Patriot Games, and all throughout the final fight in Firewall...
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is kurtzman/orci. sound familiar? it's definitely not shia, although the role is a bit of a stretch for him. he's just not ready to shoulder something like this on his own. he's no will smith and caruso is no tony scott.
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I enjoyed Disturbia, and this looks good...I've only seen the trailer once. So I don't know anything about it and I like that.
Can we get a Body of Lies review up, please?!?!?!? -
Sep 24, 2008 1:34:19 PM CDT
Exactly the kind of film you can't trust Massawyrm on
by industrykiller!
If he likes low brow terrible thrillers, then of course he's going to respond like this to something trying to be smart. It may be great, all I'm saying is no one should listen to Massa about it. And as you can see he drinking gallons of the Lebeouf kool-aid. That exactly the kind of unsupported hyperbole that makes people dislike him in the first place.
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I come here everyday, but was is MST3K again? Much appreciated!
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...damn me!!!!!!
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Mystery Science Theater 3000
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Here's a clip from the show, there are many more on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGqpVzRgQfo
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You GREATLY overestimate the 'power' this site has.
Anyways, as for Shia, I have nothing against him. And yeah, JGL is streets ahead of him. What I do have a gripe with is the ever plummeting standards of this site and those who do the reviews on it. Quint is the only reviewer worth a grain of salt, whether I agree with him on a film or not. Also Moriarity. The rest of them can go to hell.
www.criticalmassreviews.blogspot.com -
You complain that action movies are shallow, and when one finally comes along that is actually about something, that is simultaneously the most ad least patriotic movie in the world, you JUST DON"T GET IT.
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It's crap marketing that no one falls for. Plus, it's career sabotage in the long run. Hypes a bitch that collects quite a few unsuspecting victims each year. Just ask Collin Farrell and Matthew McConaughey. Two talented actors with ridiculous hype, and now they're not half the stars we were led to believe they'd be. The way Hollywood is now the only guaranteed ticket sellers are comedic actors. Look at Adam Sandler, he hasn't been funny for years and somehow he cranks up high grosses every year. And pretty much every overpriced actor in the last ten years (except Russell Crowe)is a comedy star. Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, and now Seth Rogan (demanding six to ten million a picture in less than two years is pretty damn impressive).
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NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNONONONONO!
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Really? You have [antagonists goal] vs [protagonists goal] and you think [antagonists goal] might've been right? I mean, there's a certain logic to the argument, but [antagonists goal] would've generated the same amount of collateral damage seen in the pre-title sequence. Great flick, though. Heard there was a game-changing twist halfway through and it followed through.
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...but I still cannot in good conscience bring myself to watch this film. I cannot endure Rosario Dawson's shittyness any longer.
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You guys don't even try to hide it anymore. QT, Rod, Peter Jackson, Del Toro and recently Judd Apatow and co. And strangely Shia Labuf is more ubiquitous than Sarah Pallin.
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He's done that shit for years. Whenever he's cold like in RETURN OF THE JEDI or THE FUGITIVE he starts in with the seizures. Or if he's scared or some shit. The best use of it was definitely in FIREWALL. I had to laugh when he was stumbling around in the woods, falling on his ass and doing somersaults and shaking like he's got Parkinson's.
Nothing against folks with Parkinson's, mind you. -
Like that thing Richard Gere does when he's a terrible actor. Or how Angus Macfadyen always has his sleeves rolled up.
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Sep 24, 2008 9:14:53 PM CDT
The only thing I liked about Constantine was Shia Leboef
by ganymede3010
I knew he was going to be a star when he stole each and every scene that him and Keanu shared in that snorefest Constantine. Shia was the only thing that kept me awake that night, the moment the monotone Keanu started to hypnotize me into the realm of unconsciousness, Shia's smart ass antics brought me back to a level of consciousness. That's the moment I personally knew something was special about this kid. And, he banged Rhianna (Drool) and now he's banging Isabel Lucas (Drool). All he has to do now is bang Megan can create a tabloid rich love triangle between him, Megan, and Brian Austin Green. Oh lord, I shouldn't post after having a entire bottle of wine:)
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Sep 24, 2008 10:37:26 PM CDT
harrison also has the "fall backwards and lean on a wall, shakin
by ironic_name
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yes, harrison does that shaking thing.. he started witth blade runner and went nuts in return.. jedi. hasn't stopped since.
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red industrial machine destroys american military tank.
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Just came back from a showing, and still digesting it, along with my Big Mac and 1/4 Pounder with fries. On top of the large popcorn and coke I had in the film, I'm feeling like dinner won't be anything but salad. As for Shia and Caruso...they hit another one out of the park. This is a good story with some fast paced editing and some good explosary stuff. I came a little unglued at the "big reveal" half way through, but went with it, as by now, i was hooked. I hope that these two avoid the temptation of working together on EVER SINGLE FILM ala Burton and Depp, but hey, it's only early days, and i wouldn't mind seeing them do a few more gigs before the inevitable burn out.
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Sep 24, 2008 11:31:38 PM CDT
It's a friggin beginning of Fall movie. It's likely a turd.
by orbots commander
It looks like a teen version of Enemy of the State. Except for that clip of a truck flipping over, nothing else caught my interest about Eagle Eye. Like I said above, most September-Octoberish movie bite. It's a known movie dumping ground for crappy movies, like February.
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This man has no "oeuvre." He's the new Ratner.
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if I could be assured that Vic Mackey pummels the Even Stevens guy.
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Oh he produces? Well surprise, surprise, surprise! Sorry, I love the Bearded One, but he really can't end a movie anymore. And it seems that this prob is infecting his produced films as well as his directed ones.
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can't say I love or hate either Shia or Caruso but the trailer really has me intrigued...
the reason I mention The Game is because, unlike other thrillers, I guessed the twist in that movie but instead of spoiling it, I actually loved it MORE for having the audacity to actually DO IT! -
My hat is off to you, sir. I never knew what the hell was gonna happen in THE GAME. That is one of the best mindfuck movies I've seen. One of Fincher's best, pretty underrated.
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I hate the movie now. Damn and I liked it also.
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two good action sequences, the rest was complete rubbish.
The "villian" and the concept behind it was idiotic, and it was based more on coincidences than frakn prison break; can't believe both harry AND you liked it -
And that comes from a positive review, so if thats your thing..enjoy.And to use the 'ol Rotten Tomatoes crutch...30% so far.
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Is it when Ford curls up his fingers and the index finger is kinda sticking out perpendicular to his forearm? I'm not really too observant, if someone can explain it will be greatly appreciated. Also what other gimmicks do other actors use? Please do one for Bale (not the lisp), he's my fave but I can poke fun at my favorites. Also do one for DiCaprio, Clooney (headbobbing i guess), Cruise, Pitt, and Depp. They're not my favorites but I wanna poke fun at them.
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if it's 30% at rotten tomatoes. I was planning to though, but not now. I was hoping it would be good, there's nothing else to watch.
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I saw it in Chicago last night, and while not god awful, it's still kinda bad. It's techno-silly and full of "Why don't they just.." and "If this happened, then they wouldn't be..." moments.
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Saw it last night, and although it has some good moments and dialogue (like the poker scene in the beginning), overall it is a forgettable thriller. The action/chase scenes were too choppy -- there is a difference between being choppy and knowing what is happening vs. being choppy and trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Shia was good in it although he didn't have much of a character. I like him when he has clever lines spoken in a smart-ass delivery, but he didn't have enough of that because he's on the run the entire film. The movie is absolutely non-stop but that is about it. Billy Bob has some nice scenes...
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because in that one, michelle monaghan doesn't fall for shia labeuf. and they shoot at VIKI instead of crowbaring ARIA in the brain.
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Sep 26, 2008 5:00:39 AM CDT
f o doom is when he points and get this Imma gitcha look on his
by ironic_name
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http://tinyurl.com/4ydpeg
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