I'm not a professional. I just tell you about what I've seen. So,
here this is, starting with the last movie I have seen....
Meet
the Parents
(Seen on DVD 7/30/2001)
This was the second DVD that I had gotten from the Blockbuster sale (the first
was "Remember the Titans" listed below.) Yes, it was
funny. It wasn't side splitting, laugh out loud until I cry funny, but it
was funny. This one also has the obvious sequel built into it.
*sigh* I get a bit disgusted about that... Anyway, there are
definitely scenes in this movie that made me laugh, and I think that if we were
in a theater it would have been funnier. It's the "Something About
Mary" syndrome -- it's just not as funny in a room with two people as it is
in a room with hundreds. *shrug* It was there, I watched it, and
will probably eBay the movie. Though it was nice to see Teri Polo
again. (She was Rebecca on the late "Sports Night")
Planet
of the Apes
(Seen in theater 7/28/2001)
For a brief summary, I'm glad I saw this, but don't really need to see it
again. The old PotA had a certain feel to it. This movie is
decidedly different. As everyone already knows, it's not a rehash of the
old PotA movie. I just think I expected more out of a Tim Burton
film. Don't get me wrong -- this was still an enjoyable film. I just
don't see that it will become a classic like to old one was. My advice is
to see this on a reduced ticket price showing once. Then, rent the
original to get it out of your system. Then, sit back and wait for the
inevitable sequel...
Remember
the Titans (Seen on DVD 7/20/2001)
This was a movie I picked up from Blockbuster on DVD when they had their $15 for
two used DVD sale. Figured that I heard good things about it, so might as
well get it. Besides, if I didn't like it, I could sell it on eBay and
still probably make a profit. Well, this isn't going on eBay, because I
liked this movie. Denzel Washington again proves that he is an excellent
actor, and the story was a perfect match of real life and Disney. Yes,
there is a little Disnification going on in this move, but it was moderate and
non-obtrusive. All in all, a very good film that I would recommend to most
people.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
(Seen in theater 7/14/2001)
I wasn't expecting much out of this one, because it's computer generated and
based on a video game. Those are usually fatal items by themselves, with a
few exceptions. Combined though, they'd have to work extra hard to make it
work. And, to me, it didn't work. While the scenes in the trailer
looked quite good, when you get more than five seconds at a time, it loses all
of the effect. And the plot, what little there was of it, just had me
wondering if I was somehow transported in MST3K. As my friend Robert
Torres says, "We just saw a two hour cut scene." Yeah, and it
wasn't even that well done. If you are thoroughly bored and want to rent a
video, see something else. If this is on HBO, fine, since you've already
paid for it. Just be aware that it'll be two hours of your life that you
won't get back.
