To make this page faster, I've taken out the gifs and indexed the hyperlinks. They are still in chronological order by (re)view date.
Procrastination is my middle name. =)
The Matrix is a dark action flick that is centered around the Matrix and the pursuit of its definition. On the whole, I really liked it. Picked apart bit by bit, I'm undecided. While certainly not boring, parts of the script was cheesy and relied on tried and true Hollywood formulas. I'm immediately annoyed when I can know the exact words that're about to be spoekn. Two or three parts are skewing my opinion and I will most likely have to see it again to get scenes I missed while groaning. On the upside, the action was terrific! Classic shoot-em-up fare with great graphics.
Entrapment was another fun action movie starring my favorite, Sean Connery, and another cool actress, Catherine Zeta-Jones, who had a genuine playfulness that reminded me of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. A thief teams up with a seasoned pro to make the heist of their lives. Back-stabbing and mistrust fill some of the more comedic moments...definitely recoomend this for the big screen. Lots of fun, just try not to get gouged by $8.50 movie tickets.
The Deep End of the Ocean hit an iceberg and sunk. By the end of the movie, I was extremely sick of Michelle Pfeiffer's weepy face and constant crying. That's not to say that she wasn't believable...she was. I just didn't want to see it anymore. The plot is simple: her child gets kidnapped and is returned to them 10 years later. The family tries to cope with the kidnapping first, then when the kid is found. Nice to see Treat Williams get more screen time and the older brother is very good...hope to see more of him. Whoopi was cool, would've liked to see more of her.
8mm was disappointing. Call me desensitized but I wasn't all that shocked by the material that was supposed to be "taboo". The snuff scene and the final scene was gruesome but really, I've seen worse. The only thing that captured our interest was all the undercover work and piecing together the clues. That part was intriguing, well scripted. The violence at the end was unnecessary IMO and seemed to cater to the blood-thirsty moviegoer. They also seemed to imply that once you're into that "scene", you become more and more depraved the deeper you get, which I thought was a terrible stereotype and/or mistaken parallel. Nicolas Cage was good as usual, but hard to believe as a father. The wife was way too whiny and weepy. Get a grip. Loved Joaquin Phoenix. Liking his work more and more.
The Other Sister is a delightful movie that totally took me by surprise. Juliette Lewis is the mentally challenged woman that, despite all her mother's protectiveness, wants to experience life and figure things out for herself. Diane Keaton is the over-protective mother that just wants what's best but ends up smothering her daughter's independence. Definitely rent this, it's cute.
A Simple Plan was anything but. I really disliked this movie because it's high stupidity factor. You know, the one where the audience is going, "well, duh, if he had just done this, he would've gotten away!" Yes, there wouldn't be a movie but then I wouldn't have wasted my time either. Paxton is as dry as ever and Billy Bob is as unattractive as ever. Both put in good performances but the story was so dumb, I was pissed off. Paxton and his not-too-slick brother and his redneck friend find $4.4 million and plot to keep if for themselves. Of course, the lie goes deeper and wider until several people are killed to keep the secret and everyone's being hunted. Shocking violent scenes jolted the viewer awake but that's a bad way to keep us interested. I gave this movie the finger it was so dumb.
1.20.99
Saw A Bug's Life again just to see the second set of outtakes. Loved it all over again...can't wait for the DVD release.
1.18.99
Watching A Thin Red Line was like watching a nature show, except I'd rather be watching the nature show. Painful collage of young soldiers stuck in a war. Big names, tiny scenes, not even worth the effort. Tried to be too profound, lost my interest quickly and tolerated the rest. Was there a point? Only Terrence Malick knows and he had a horrible way of conveying it. I didn't miss the fact that there was a deep message behind it all, I just didn't particulary think it worked well with a war movie.
11.30.98
Whoo, we've been working killer hours and haven't been to a movie in weeks! Highly recommended: A Bug's Life. Simon Birch. Pleasantville was ok, but so not worth full price. Reviews to follow soon...hopefully!
8.24.98
There's been another dry spell because we've been working a lot. Unfortunately, Blade did not end that drought. It was so bad, we had to come up with a list of good things about it. Soundtrack and some scenes that had a bleached look. Ok, some of the graphics were cool, like when he exploded a couple people. One weapon was kinda neat. The plot sucked, but I did enjoy Kris Kristofferson. Wesley Snipes was just plain horrible. He tried way too hard to be the strong, silent type so whenever he had a line, it came out forced and choppy. I guess that's how you talk when you've got the weight of the world on your back. Just say no. If you don't just say no, at least be prepared for alot of blood. And don't say I didn't warn you.
7.28.98
Spectacular, but depressing movie about a mission to find Private Ryan, a WWII paratrooper somewhere behind enemy lines and bring him home. 3 of his brothers were killed in combat and in an effort to assuage (the movie's word but works nicely here, don'tcha think? =) ) mom's grief, the Chief of Staff sends Tom Hanks and his company on a wild goose chase. Very, very gory, this movie is not for the faint-of-heart. Spielberg, unfortunately but correctly, depicts it like it is. If you don't walk out within the first 30 minutes, the rest is a great movie. Large screen for the effects, but again, be aware that it is very gory.
7.23.98
OH MY GOD!!! I don't believe I've ever laughed harder in the movie theater! A simple story about a man pursuing his high school crush 13 years later gets exponentially complicated when the PI he hires to find her falls in love with her. Add a mentally handicapped brother, a psycho stalker ex-boyfriend, a pizza boy, a man-hating dog, a big dose of clumsiness and you've got one crazy, hilariously funny movie. I didn't care for Ben Stiller, (would've liked Affleck only because I think he's cuter) but he delivers a good performance as a nerdy dork who's well-meaning but slightly off-key. I loved Cameron Diaz, who has a terrific, genuine laugh and is perfect for quirky, perky and bouncy roles. Great in My Best Friend's Wedding and A Life Less Ordinary, I hope to see more of her. You'll recognize alot of people from TV. Go see it! Don't need the big screen but it was so good that I'd pay theater prices to see it again.
6.9.98
An odd movie. Truman Burbank is adopted by a corporation and brought up in a controlled setting. Everything is scripted/cued by Cristof, the man who made the show out of Truman's life. Even the weather and the rising of the sun is controlled. 5000 hidden cameras broadcasts Truman's every step to the rest of the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All goes fine for 30+ years until Truman finally figures it out and makes a run for it. I don't know what I was thinking but I expected more. I wanted to see more cover ups, like when Truman noticed that Mt. Rushmore was much smaller than normal and more wacky stuff when he figured out that everyone revolved around him. Interesting concept, but failed. Matinee only.
5.29.98
What a long movie. A nice, solid tale about a girl, her horse and an eighteen wheeler. Just kidding. After a traumatic accident in which the girl loses part of her leg and the horse is damaged beyond anyone's hope, the girl's mother takes her and her horse to Tom Booker, the "horse whisperer", in an effort to save the horse and, hopefully, their lives and relationships. Beautiful scenery. Cute moments. Especially liked the little cowboys. Kept me awake. There was nothing wrong with this movie, unless you're looking for adventure and exciting action.
I saw Bulworth again! I might even be persuaded to see it a third time! =)
5.28.98
What a seriously fucked up movie. We walked out of there completely stunned. 1. that people actually spent money to make this, 2. that puke didn't take third billing and 3. we actually sat through the whole thing. Like Trainspotting, this movie serves more as an anti-drug PSA than entertainment. Parts were funny but it left me feeling like I should pay a visit to the white enamel throne. If you've never dropped acid before (and I haven't), I would imagine this movie would be close to conveying the weird hallucinations and mind trips. This movie ranks up there with Eraserhead on my list of movies I just didn't get. Sometimes I wish theaters have a money-back guarantee...I'd like my money back!
5.25.98
Wow! One of the best movies I've ever seen! Brilliantly written, Beatty does an outstanding job as Jay Billington Bulworth, in the middle of a nervous breakdown, orders a hit on himself. Figuring it's the end, he gets hammered and tells it like it is, with brutal honesty and hilarious results. Supporters are shocked but come around when they actually listen to what he's saying. Halle Berry (yum!) is excellent as the street-smart chick and Beatty is perfect for this movie as the producer, writer, director AND star. Consider this: I don't like rap and I can't stand Warren Beatty. After Bulworth: I got Will Smith's Big Willie Style and have a new found respect for Beatty and I'm going to see it again. It's that good. No lie. No need for big screen effects but I'll gladly pay another $7.75 to see this again.
5.11.98
Graphics weren't awful. Acting wasn't great. Lots of big, recognizable names, Robert Duval, Tea Leoni, Morgan Freeman, Elijah Wood, etc. No use. A story about a life-ending comet hurtling towards earth and how the US (and one Russian nuclear physicist) stops it. Lots of tear-jerking moments which wrestled a few tears from my ducts, but for the most part, pass. The story is much bigger than can possibly be conveyed in two hours. You're left with a lot of disjointed plots and storylines. Matinee only for special FX, but if you don't care, make it a Blockbuster night.
Whoops, I saw this movie over 2 weeks ago and forgot to put up a review. What makes the difference anyway since no one's reading these pages...it's like I'm just talking to myself.
Good, solid movie. Slightly creepy, but sweet and innocent. The ending, while not totally predictable, was obvious the minute it started. As soon as you think, Boy, that's *really* stupid, that's the beginning of the end. Meg Ryan was good, Nicolas Cage was strange but entertaining. Nice appearances from our favorites, Dennis Franz (Sipowicz on NYPD Blue) and Andre Braugher (Pembleton on Homicide), both seem to be making a move towards the big screen. Matinee is fine.
4.28.98
Produced by John Woo, this flick delivers lots of explosions, crazy action and great fights. Four bumbling assassins with nice bodies and butts work as a team but Marky Mark ends up doing all the work while the other 3 do little and take the credit. Lou Diamond Philips is the team lead who dreams of sailing his boat. He's the one who plans a side job for extra cash...kidnap a rich businessman's daughter and get the cash he needs to get his dream. Unbeknownst to him, the businessman lost everything when he financed a movie with him as the star and the girl is his boss's goddaughter. In an effort to save himself, LDP fingers Marky Mark as the mastermind. Mark, who has his own share of problems, is just a nice guy who wants everyone to like him. His future in-laws are in town and disapprove of him because he's not Jewish. His mistress plans to drain him of his money and skip town with her boyfriend. Throw in a smart alek girl as the hostage and you get an interesting and funny movie. Everything I need to entertain me was in this movie...comedy, action and a little drama. See it in the big screen for the action but matinee is recommended.
4/14/98
The only thing I liked about this movie was the strong women characters and the special effects. Unfortunately, FX can't save a bad script, which this movie relied on. The story was choppy, very rough and I found it hard to stay focused. William Hurt turned in a very uninspired performance as the Professor John Robinson. He didn't seem to put any effort into this role. Matt LeBlanc was very awkward as Mr. Testosterone, aka Major West. He also seems to be carrying the entire Samsonite line under his eyes. Gary Oldman is just plain weird. His role was mediocre as the saboteur of the mission, but he was ok. This leaves the strong women and boy genius, Will Robinson. Both Mimi Rogers (ex-Mrs. Tom Cruise)and Heather Graham continually balanced testosterone poisoning with wit and quick thinking. Breaking the stereotypical Hollywood female, both are highly educated, intelligent and respected by others. It's unfortunate that we don't get to see much of them. Jack Johnson (Will Robinson) is excellent as the boy genius who can't get his father's attention. He saves the day many a time and is grudgingly respected by the Professor. Penny is not worth mentioning except that she's the normal annoying sister who sounds like she's sucked down 10 canisters of helium.
The movie itself is not worth full price but the special effects need the large theater and is worth matinee price.
3/22/98
Eerily parallel to Clinton's career, this spoof on the world of politics is scary and downright dirty. The sincere liar will get more votes than the opponent, while both sides are dredging up the sordid past and fabricating lies towards each other's demise. This was a good solid movie, but I would've like it a bit shorter. Emma Thompson is good as the weary, forgiving wife. Travolta was excellent as the smooth, sweet-talking presidential candidate. (Rumor has it that Clinton called and asked Travolta if he would play the president's role in a less harsh light in return for a deal with Scientologists, of which Travolta is a member. Rumor, of course.) But it was Kathy Bate's role of Libby that I wanted more of. I've always been a huge fan of Bates and this is no exception! She was wonderful and my only complaint was that is was too short! She showed the side of politics that no one sees...the heart and doing what's right. This movie has it's moments and it not dependant on a big screen...rental.
3/20/98
Jackie Chan at his best! Amazing action, crazy stunts! Jackie Chan comes to the rescue of a reporter who's filmed a mob kill and is hunted for the videotape. Slapstick comedy follows as normal for a Jackie Chan hit, complete with stunts and outtakes. Don't bother looking for plot or consistency, that's not what his movies are about...ACTION is the only reason to see Jackie's movies. A must see for the large screen!
3/12/98
The drought has ended! Good, intriguing movies were finally released.
It was wonderful to see these 3 powerhouses back in action! Unfortunately, the movie isn't as impressive as the cast. But, that doesn't mean the movie wasn't good! This mystery/suspense is about the past never going away. You can live with the guilt and the secret, but eventually, something happens to bring it into the present and when it does, you have to clean the mess again. And sometimes you make more of a mess trying to clean the mess. Liev Schreiber (Sphere, Scream2) was hilarious as a criminal wannabe...it's nice to see more of him. Susan Sarandon was terrific as the sultry actress whose devotion to her husband is admirable. Newman, Hackman and Garner do great jobs in their roles. There's nothing worse than seeing an old actor trying and failing to act young. This was perfect. If you're a fan these actors, go see it matinee. Doesn't necessitate a big screen but why not?
The movie itself wasn't great. But Jeff Bridges (and his hair), the bowling scenes and the out-of-body experiences were terrific! In a case of mistaken identity, Jeff Lebowski, aka the Dude, gets beat up and his rug pisssed on. The Dude tries to appeal to the real Lebowski to have his rug cleaned but instead, gets roped into a crazy ransom scheme. It's all very convoluted and contrived. You'll laugh hysterically but those moments are off-set by "what the...?". I have new-found respect for Jeff Bridges, who is just excellent here. I could've done without John Goodman and would've liked to see more of Steve Buscemi. Julianne Moore was part of the "What the...???" of the movie. So, like I said, I liked everything about this movie, except the movie.
I really didn't enjoy this movie. Baptists have always scared me. I'm not used to the loud sermons or congregation feedback. Second, anything that was intriguing in this is completely squelched by the religious theme. That said, Robert Duvall is outstanding as Sonny, a tireless preacher who's a godsend to his followers but is a wanted man for murdering his wife's lover in a fit of drunken rage. Duvall's energy is exciting and deserving of an Oscar but I personally was creeped out by the emphasis on religion. I couldn't determine if he was really a religious man or he figured out that religion brought a great deal of power and he used it to his advantage. The movie was somewhat interesting but not worth matinee prices. Rental is the way to go. One last thing...I do admire Robert Duvall for his role as director, writer and star. He was terrific, but again, the subject matter wasn't.
2/18/98
Wow, what a surprise! We were laughing throughout the whole movie! A pleasant romantic comedy that'll take you back to the 80's, Adam Sandler does a great job as the wedding singer, a rock-star wannabe that now does weddings. He's always wanted to get married but gets dumped at the altar. He falls for the ever-cute Drew Barrymore, who's engaged to a huge jerk. Mostly predictable, but still definitely enjoyable. Not a must see for the large screen but definitely a good matinee flick.
I confess, on our way out, we snuck into Sphere, the movie we previewed a month ago. I wanted to see the final product and the much publicized reshooting of the ending. Unfortunately, we snuck in during the beginning and thus, had to sit through the whole movie again. Conveniently, they snuck in a line about being able to swim 16 leagues under the sea because of already being pressurized to that depth. Too bad it was way too fast for proper comprehension. The ending was redone but it was the same dialog from before, just in a different location. Whoopee. It's didn't make much of a difference, I still didn't like it. I think I need to read the book. Not worth the big screen, tho' it'd be nice. Matinee if necessary, but worth sneaking in. But I didn't say that. =)
2/7/98
Wasn't awful but I squirmed in my seat for it to be finished. I was unexcited by this movie, probably as unexcited as I was by the original one. On the whole, it was ok, typical Blues Bros. slapstick, recycled plot...nothing new. Go see it if you're a major Blues Brothers fan. It was really cool to see the old cast, including Aretha Franklin. The best thing about this was the jam session with the Louisiana Gators and the major car pileup. Nia Peeples must be really hurtin' for parts. Oh, and the music ain't bad. =)
2/4/98
WAIT!!! Before you go to the official site, I must warn you that it SUCKS! First, I couldn't view the dynamic site because of a javascript error, then they hardcoded the classic site's window to fit an 800x600 screen. Yeah, well, thanks but it's all screwed up on my 1200x780. Don't worry, I let Akimbo Design have it.
For a much BETTER time, go to Junfan Production's Hong Kong Heroes site dedicated to Bruce Lee, Chow Yun Fat and Jackie Chan. His Replacement Killers site is much easier to handle.
So, onto the review, I'll be honest. For people who haven't seen a good Hong Kong action movie, you'll love it. For those that have, it's not awful. The real difference is better music and Mira Sorvino, whom I just love. The action is nothing new or surprising. Chow Yun-Fat is the big name draw and Mira holds her own...I really like her versatility. He does speak a little and not as bad as I thought. There're subtitles, which I was grateful for since my pet peeve is the asian accent. Contrary to mis-name associations, John Woo did NOT direct, he produced. Antoine Fuqua, whose past experience was music videos(???), directed. He did a decent job but it sounds like a mismatch. Go see it on the big screen...it's worth it.
2/2/98
Despite the heavy rains in California, there's been a drought of good movies. I'm trying to be more selective in choosing which movies to see but nothing good is out! Oh, I saw Sphere before it was released...I don't recommend it. Well, since it's almost out, I'll review it. We saw a sneak preview...you know, the one where they solicit the audiences reactions? No one liked the ending so they reshot it. The most unacceptable scene had a person swimming miles below the surface without any pressure suits...bullshit.
Hokey plot that's been done many times before...you know the one where your fears are "manifested" just because you thought it? Think Ghostbusters and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Now put that power miles under sea and see what people can "manifest". Inconsistencies abound but the audience was expected to just believe since it's under the guise mysterious psyche that no one understands. Yeah, whatever. Matinee if you must but all you need is the 6meg trailer. Personally, I'm glad I got in free because I'd kick myself if I paid money for it. The only bright spot is Sharon Stone, who was very cute. Unfortunately, her role was stupid.
1/16/98
Typical Hollywood testosterone action with Christian Slater, Morgan Freeman and Minnie Driver. $3M is at stake and everyone wants a piece of it, except Mr. Integrity, Slater. Lots of rain, decent action, bad computer FX, annoying guy-saves-girl but hilarious cameos from Betty White and Richard Dysart. Not worth the $7.50 but a good matinee. Should definitely see it on the big screen, unless you have one at home. Two things that kept going through my mind...1. aren't they swimming in raw sewage? and 2. I have to pee.
1/13/98
A smart and often hysterical look at how and what spin doctors do to control political issues. Weeks before the presidential re-election, a scandal surfaces about the president and a young girl. Conrad Brean (DeNiro) is called in to deal with it until re-election. He recruits Hollywood producer, Stanley Motss (Hoffman), a frustrated man that wants, but never gets, credit for his work. Lots of cameos. The rest is a funny, yet scary look at how easily the public believes what they hear on TV. Look below the fluff for the meaning of this story. Cynical? Maybe. True? I'm too scared to believe it. I didn't care for Hoffman...babbled too much like Raymond Babbit. Interesting to see how older actors take on characteristics of previous roles. Matinee, if you must. Video's better...nothing happens that needs the big screen.
1/12/98
Wow. Another excellent movie! This time, Matt Damon, last seen in the Rainmaker, co-wrote and stars in this drama about a math genius who regularly gets into trouble but argues his way out...until he hits a police officer. He's on his way to do serious time, except that he's solved a math problem that's eluded a big-time MIT professor for years. The prof bails him out with the condition that he does math for him and sees a counselor. But Damon's Will Hunting is too smart or too scared to let anyone into his life until, after 5 psychiatrists have given up, he meets Sean, prof's old roommate and last hope. Robin Williams and Minnie Driver are stellar as they get to know Hunting and try to break that hard, candy-coated shell called life. Ben Affleck, Hunting's best friend, co-wrote as well as co-stars, is terrific. I expect lots more from him. Excellent movie all around...full fare!
We saw Titanic for a second time...STILL good!
12/31/97
This movie was painful. Lacked the energy and quick wit of Pulp Fiction, but had 70's fashion down pat. I was unprepared for this looooong movie. Approx. 2 hours and 40 minutes, I might've enjoyed this movie more if it was an hour less. All about double-crossing, it did get interesting but by that time, I just wanted the movie to end. It was nice to see 70's icon, Pam Grier, (HK cinema fans will remember her from Black Momma, White Momma trailers) who did a decent job, along with Robert DeNiro, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton and Bridget Fonda but really, I didn't care. Not even enough to give it the finger. Disappointment all around.
12/30/97
Wow. Go see it! I admit, I wasn't too excited to see a depressing 3 hour epic about a sunken ship...I mean, how good could it be? Boy, was I wrong! It was GREAT! More to do with a love story than the ill-fated liner, this movie grips you like a tenacious bulldog and doesn't let go. Jack, a poor but passionate young man who lives life to the fullest, falls in love with Rose, a woman born into money but is suffocated by it. Parties, yachts and the rich don't interest her...she wants to experience everything. At first suspicious of Jack, for they are from two different circles, Rose falls in love with him, much to disdain and anger of her fiance, Cal, rich from daddy's money, and her mother, a widow left with nothing but a good name. Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane and Kathy Bates give stellar performances and transport you to the nightmare called the Titanic. The only thing that detracted (slightly) from this movie is its use of blue screens and computer-generated scenes were rough but you'll soon forget about them. The scenes from the past seemed to have a white glow or tint but we decided it contributed rather than took away. This wonderful movie was fully worth the $250 million price tag and 1.5 year delay...the theater has been sold out for at least the 2 days I was trying to get in. Full fare!
To learn more about Molly Brown, go to www.mollybrown.com
12/25/97
Excellent movie! Jack Nicholson is at his best here as Melvin Udall, an obsessive-compulsive, best selling author that makes comments that mean well but has disastrous results. He avoids stepping on sidewalk cracks at all costs, turns his locks 5 times and brings his own plastic utensils to the restaurant where Helen Hunt's Carol is the only waitress AND person who puts up with his abusive behavior, patiently tries to understand him and becomes the object of Melvin's love. Greg Kinnear's Simon, Melvin's gay artist neighbor, completes the cast with his great performance. Everyone has their own problems but they eventually work them out...no review can do this movie justice so go see it! This is one of the best and deserves full fare.
12/20/97
Ugh. Coming out of this movie, we all had one thought: it must've been a damn good book! It won the Best Screenplay at the Cannes...I wonder if they were watching the same movie as we were?! Two neighboring families jump into deep water at the start of the 70's sexual revolution and very nearly drown. As if pheromones were released over the two houses (and the town), parents swap spouses (husband is already cheating but wife reluctantly agrees to attend a swap party where the men drop their car keys in a bowl and the women fish out a set and go home with the owner) and, while just short of having sex, the kids begin their own exploration. I was just plain uninterested. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen but like premature ejaculation, it left everyone disappointed. This would probably do better as a porno.
12/15/97
Before you see this movie, I recommend that you see Scream, the first one. Inside jokes and the story line are more understandable if you have a little history. Scream2 is a spoof on sequels and, by definition, its own self! Funny and scary, Wes Craven has brought back the cheesy scary movies. Predictable, but entertaining. I definitely liked it, but I wouldn't get food, not because it wasn't worth it but because I jumped a few times!
12/8/97
Despite the star power of Robin Williams, I was *so* bored with this. The highly anticipated Flubber was a huge letdown since we didn't get to see much of it. The story was lame, even the Flubber Mambo was disappointing, not to mention out of place. The writers obviously didn't believe in consistency. I realize that this was only a movie but c'mon, there are only so many allowances the audience should make before the whole movie becomes a ridiculous waste of time. For instance, if applying Flubber to the soles of your shoes causes you to jump high in the air, HOW are you supposed to walk or run without smacking into ceilings? Yet everyone was. The funniest scene was when Flubber accidentally jumps down the throat of the nemesis and shoots out the other end. The coolest thing was WEEBO, the flying personal assistant. Unfortunately, nothing is worth watching. Certainly not worth matinee prices. It'd be best to split the video rental between 5 friends...that way it'd only be about 50 cents.
Hmm, what to say? Like the first movie, the graphics were way cool, great fighting choreography, characters were woefully underdeveloped, plot lines were not fully told or used. The plot is the same with these movies...evil has found a way to take over earth, humans fight back. Lots of extraneous characters come and go in a blink of the eye with no time to think but, afterwards, you wonder why they didn't do this or do that. Night Wolf and SubZero could've been great additions but were cut, I'll assume, to make the movie shorter. The evil guys were killed way too easily. James Remar's constipated Rayden replaces the better Christopher Lambert, but the new Sonya is much better. Jax, another new edition, was by far the best character with all the lines. Entertaining and impressive, see it for the graphics on the big screen, but don't expect much.
11/28/97
Ahh, another installation of Aliens to keep our violent, gore-loving brains alive! Full of typical suspense and action, it was not a typical night. We were in Philly visiting Nikki, an old friend from school. Reg flew in to surprise Nikki and to see Alien 4 with us. In a death-defying move, we went to the 12:20am showing on Penn's campus, where flying bullets are the norm. Almost predictably, the movie stops (luckily during a non-key scene) and the lights turn on...projector malfunction? In a theater anywhere else, maybe, but here, our fantasy induced state was interrupted by 2 cops and 2 theater personnel to yank a guy out. Luckily, only on-screen violence happened that night. Thanks so much for making the movies an experience!
Now my thoughts on the movie...I loved it! I'd almost say that it's my favorite among the Aliens series. Yes, it's very predictable, but you come to expect that from horror/thriller sequels. This one was the most entertaining of them all. Funny, darkly twisted, even touching. Beautiful, computer generated scenes of the Alien replace the quick, 2 second model shots we've become accustomed to. You can even see them swim! Sigourney Weaver delivers another excellent performance...I am so glad she decided to do another one! I was worried about Winona Ryder but the sparks flew when they were on screen together. Their scenes bordered on HOT! Dan Hedaya is in the running for Actor with the Most Bit Parts. I really enjoyed this movie and recommend full fare!
I found this page by a devoted Aliens fan and thought it deserved mention...
11/21/97
Another excellent, excellent movie. This drama pits underdogs, Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon) and Deck Shifflet (Danny DeVito), one just out of law school, the other can't pass the bar, against an insurance company's bigwig team led by Leo Drummond (Jon Voight). Gripping side story about spousal abuse makes this a thriller until the end. I'd say it's the best of the courtroom dramas from the 90's. Chalk another homer for John Grisham!
11/18/97
EXCELLENT! SEE IT! Absolutely marvelous...scenery, story, acting, everything! Told from Eve's point of view, this movie encompasses the whole range of emotions. Samuel L. Jackson is the adulterous dad, whose social life is great but has no family life to speak of because he's out chasing women. Lynn Whitfield is terrific as the mother trying to keep her chin up and raise her 3 kids. Lots of big TV names but the person to watch is Jurnee Smolett's Eve...she is AMAZING! She makes this movie and carries it well. Amazing, amazing actress, she made us laugh and cry and most importantly, transported us into her life. This girl is someone that won't be ignored and I hope she isn't. Full fare!
11/18/97
Many inconsistencies to this thriller. Bruce Willis is good, not great, and only because his role didn't require much acting. He spends most of his time in several disguises, which is interesting to watch as he changes personalities. Richard Gere can't do an Irish brogue to save his life. Sidney Poitier was mediocre. The brother of a slain man hires the Jackal to kill a major government figure. FBI man, Poitier teams with a Russian intelligence officer, who does a far better job than the seasoned actors, and enlists the help of former IRA operative, Gere, to find him. The Jackal was unbelievable because he was sloppy. C'mon, would a highly paid assassin continue a job if there's a serious possibility that his job would be compromised? There are plenty of assassin-themed movies out there that would put this one to shame. This could've been so much more than it was and for that reason, I say matinee or video. I was disappointed.
This hokie movie, from the writer of Scream, was actually not as bad as I thought. A couple cheap attempts to scare but some seriously creepy moments had the audience on edge and screaming. Of course, *I* didn't flinch...=) The action is unbelievable, as in, yeah right, there's no possible way that can happen. Seriously, there's not much to say about this except don't pay full fare for this...maybe a matinee. Video is ideal.
11/13/97
We've been extremely busy and haven't been going to the movies as much as we would've liked but we ended the drought yesterday with the exciting thriller, SwitchBack. Predictable only because it was a Hollywood product, an FBI agent is tracking a serial killer, until his child is kidnapped and he is thus removed from the case. It becomes a race to save his son. We had a hard time accepting the bad guy and only did so reluctantly. You'll recognize the deputy from Silence of the Lambs and Lane Dixon from My So-Called Life. It took me awhile to place him and even then, only got the connection from the credits. Gory and bloody with lots of action...good matinee or at the Oaks.
11/1/97
The Chinese government wouldn't allow this controversial movie to be filmed in China and timed its release with China's visit with Clinton. After seeing this movie, I can see why. This movie does not paint a pretty picture of the Chinese and their lack of human rights. A business man is caught with a dead woman, framed and sent to jail, in a country where "face", loyalty and respect is more important than evidence. What appeared to be an open and shut case becomes a major scandal when the defense lawyer questions the evidence. Interesting and bleak, I recommend this movie just to see a glimpse of how the other side of the world lives.
You've seen the plot before...the angel's mission is to get two people to fall in love, yadda yadda yadda but writer John Hodge takes a different and hilarious approach to this tired theme and SCORES! But the movie isn't about how the angels do their magic (well, ok, in one or two scenes) but how the 2 people actually, genuinely fall in love. A bit gory and more violence than you'd expect, I still recommend this sweet movie...full fare if you like.
10/26/97
10/20/97
Eh. To quote my friend, Reg..."I laughed, I cried, I hurled". David Duchovny, wooden as ever before, does a decent job of portraying Eugene, a pill popping addict who's lost his medical license after a patient dies under his tripping hand. After he performs emergency surgery on a gunshot victim in the bar where he gets his heroin, he gets involved with Timothy Hutton's Raymond, an over-the-top smuggler who "encourages" Eugene to fix his injured friends. Along the way, he predictably becomes infatuated with Raymond's girlfriend, some collagen enhanced piece of fluff. I was SHOCKED that Eugene didn't sleep with the Fluff before the end of the movie. Apparently the writer did not take Stupid Plot Twists 101. Some funny lines make this worthy of a rental...if everything else is rented and your friend has a certificate for a free movie rental.
10/8/97
The Matchmaker was a sweet hoot. Jeneane Garafolo's sarcastic, caustic wit and deadpan delivery is excellent as usual. Sent to Ireland to find her boss, Senator McGlory's, relatives in a shameless play to get re-elected, Jeneane lands smack in the middle of a matchmaking festival. She predictably falls in love with the most unlikely guy and the rest is a cute tale. Not a must see, but makes for a nice matinee.
Gang Related. In Tupac Shakur's last dance for the camera, I was more disturbed by the audience than I was by the film. The movie itself was ok. One rogue cop goes around killing drug dealers, rationalizing that he's "taking out the garbage". Until he kills an undercover DEA agent. Jim Belushi spends the rest of the time trying to pin the murder on someone else, tampering with evidence, and making sure he and his partner gets away. Until Tupac's conscience bugs him too much. I'm surprised I even got that much since the audience was yelling throughout most of the movie. They particularly protested loudly when Belushi delivered a tirade on drug dealers and how they're garbage. Tip o' the day: If you ever walk into a movie and there's a cop stationed by the doorway, turn around and see another movie. You will thank me. At the very least, sit in the front of the theater.
10/5/97
Suspenseful and creepy, this movie gripped the audience but not as tightly as Silence of the Lambs did. Recycled plot (killer on the loose, cops thrown off the trail, finally pieces it all together, race to the scene, save the day), flat in some places. Morgan Freeman was, as always, very solid but I'll save my praise for Ashley Judd. Never a big fan of hers when she was on the TV show Sisters, I wasn't expecting much but from this performance, it’s obvious her talents were stifled on that show! Her big, expressive, brown eyes will draw you in and make you feel her emotions...I expect to see more of her. Fans of the Princess Bride will recognize Cary Elwes in this twisted story.
10/3/97
Much better than I expected. This mystery/adventure about 2 men's fight for survival after their plane crashed in a remote forest is educating, intense and gory. If only school was this exciting! Lush scenery and dangerous environment makes us all appreciate nature. Alec Baldwin is excellent as a self-centered fashion photographer who relies on Anthony Hopkins's vast reservoir of useful knowledge. Hopkins, the billionaire, is also excellent as a introverted, almost reclusive thinker. Not much of an outdoorsman, Hopkins rises to the challenge when they are lost and must find their way home. Elle MacPherson is quite the babe as Hopkins' much younger wife.
10/1/97
I am so sick and tired of Jessica Lange's choice of characters. She's always doing some weepy, naive woman (Losing Isaiah, Men Don't Leave) who suddenly "wakes" up and begins to live. I was quite disappointed in this movie about an old farmer who incorporates his land and signs it over to his 3 daughters and their spouses before he becomes senile and petitions the court for the return of the farm. Lange is the most naive and weepy oldest of 3, Michelle Pfeiffer is the angry, bitter middle child, and Jennifer Jason Leigh is the youngest and daddy's little girl. What follows is a contrived story of incest, anger, adultery, alcoholism and death. All disjointedly weaved and without focus, I don't recommend this. You'll recognize Robert Carradine from the Revenge of the Nerds. Matinee, no; video if you must; full fare, absolutely not.
9/26/97
[NOTE: Before I review this movie, I should warn you that their web page is a bitch to view. You have to install several plug-ins and if you're like me, you won't have the patience for it.]
Reused plot, tho' packed with action. Train carrying nuclear bombs gets stolen. Spend the rest of the movie getting them back. Cool [possibly exaggerated?] technology is used to find the bad guys. Moved fast enough that I wasn't bored. Not a must-see but if there aren't any other movies more appealing [and there are. See next review.], then have a look. Matinee is good.
9/27/97
EXCELLENT!!! Terrific! All thumbs up! Need I say more? This movie may very well make it to my top not-yet-compiled 10 movies. Perfect movie...nothing was wrong with it (except my pet peeve of adultery). This beautifully written story is about a family struggling to stay together after Big Mama, the matriarch, dies. I was in awe as the credits were running...GO SEE IT. Worth the full price of admission, hot dog, popcorn, Junior Mints and a large soda.
9/24/97
[Subtitled] Ballroom dancing in Japan is a source of embarrassment since men and women aren't supposed to stand too close to each other in public. This sweet movie is about a man, bogged down by life's responsibilities, who becomes infatuated with a woman looking out the window of a dance school and impulsively takes dancing lessons as a way to get closer to her. He falls in love...with dancing. This movie is more about a man enjoying life again than it is about dancing. Won [all] 13 Japanese equivalent Oscars. Nice movie...go ahead, see it.
9/20/97
Very funny. I was surprised! A teacher's life is turned upside down when a former student outs him during his Oscar acceptance speech. He struggles with the press, homophobic colleagues and once trusting, now suspicious students. This movie is the candy version of how hard it is to be out and does a nice job of showing discrimination, but doesn't shove it down the audience's throats. Joan Cusack can do no wrong! See it!
Very violent. If you're into murder, lotsa violence, elaborate story line, this is the movie for you. An ambitious cop rats his way to the top and solves a major homicide case. Little does he know that he barely scratched the surface. A web of lies goes further than anyone can imagine. Big names, big budget. As a lover of action and violence, even I was a bit nauseated.
9/15/97
Sweet movie about a transsexual who accidentally meets up with her high school protector and their unexpected romance. Prentice, a loveable bonehead, is a motorcycle messenger who gets run over by the taxi that's driving Kim to work. They recognize each other and begin to hang out. He has lots of difficulty dealing with his friend's male-to-female transformation but eventually overcomes it. The rest you'll see when you rent it.
9/12/97
Aside from having the most difficult name to search for, I wasn't too excited about this movie. Terrific, intriguing idea, it didn't grab my attention as well as Seven did (same director). A logistical nightmare, The Game is tailored to your life and personality, involves everyone you know and depends on everything about you. Every detail is planned and accounted for. Quite big brotherish. The build-up took too long, the action scenes were spaced too far apart and well, the whole thing was way too risky for me! I found it difficult to follow since so many things were interlaced and after awhile, didn't care. Sean Penn's tiny part was good...I really forgot about him. Glad to see him back. That said, it still was interesting. Worth the price of a rental but not the whole movie deal.
Also this weekend was Mrs.Brown. Very slow, this is about the friendship between the Queen and John Brown, the head of security. Good job of showing all the properness and strict policies of the monarchy, Queen Victoria's grief over her husband's death and John Brown's attempt to get the Queen to live again. She just needed an enema. The part that showed their friendship at the best was excellent but the movie dropped its energy after their falling out. A good, solid movie, not particularly cheery but good. My biggest difficulty was dealing with the accent.
9/7/97
What a hilarious movie! Set in England, Scheffield, once a booming steel town, is now a poor shadow of itself. Gaz, a former steel worker who's too good to take a security job but doesn't hesitate for welfare, is a trouble-making father who needs to pay child support in order to keep seeing his son, who's more often than not, embarrassed by his father's cheating antics. On the way home after a botched attempt at stealing a girder, he passes a Chippendale review and after some slow math, realizes that strippers make a lot of money. He plans to make up a male review of his own...talking his friends into "dancing". The rest is the sweet, funny, touching story of how they manage to pull together (and off!) to make a few quids. I like close captioning.
9/5/97
She's So Lovely was a strange movie. Wasn't at all what the trailers hinted at. It looked like John Travolta would have a bigger, much bigger role...I expected more angst from the plot, but it didn't deliver. What I did get was an intense, funny movie, with excellent performances from Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn. John Travolta's role was very brief but quite funny in a sad way. There were moments that were really funny but the jury is still out as to whether the director meant for us to laugh or not. Harry Dean Stanton was completely slimy and rather gross looking.
We saw G.I. Jane again. *Still* good!
8/31/97
As with most mafia movies, the plot is nothing we haven't seen before. Violence, blood, numbers. 'Nuff said. Filled with deceit, lies and backstabbers, Laurence Fishburn dominates this action/drama with his easy-going style. Tim Roth is as shady as ever as Dutch Schultz, a little boss trying to become a big boss. He pisses off just about everybody and in the end, has his own men turn on him. At the very least, this was entertaining...and I mean *very*.
8/30/97
A strange but nice movie. Neither offensive or striking, this movie just is. John Turturro is a very regimented EE who takes a side trip after being laid off. He befriends a young man who's "off the grid" and benefits from his disregard for rules. A sweet movie that's, like I said, strange but nice…and random
8/27/97
Big, scary, genetically engineered and invincible bugs. Squishy, genetically unarmed humans. Mix in the dark underground of the NY subway. Add loud, creepy music. Bake for 2 hours. Result: Somewhat intense movieentomology which capitalizes on the general public's fear of bugs. With most bug movies, I was totally creeped out by the creepy flying cockroaches. Mira was slightly unbelievable as a doctor in , Charles Dunning was an added bonus. For another good creepy crawly movie, see Arachnaphobia.
entymology 8/22/97
Ridley Scott directs another excellent movie involving bald women, action/violence and stark images (remember Aliens 3?) Anne Bancroft, a tough equal rights for women senator, bargains to include more women in the military. The deal is to admit a woman, run her through the same test cases as men and if she passes, the armed forces would have to admit more women. Anne would pick the woman, the Navy would pick the test case...the SEALs program who boast a 60% drop-rate. With that, Demi Moore, a buff Navy lieutenant who finds that women don't advance as fast as men do, becomes an unwitting pawn in a game of politics. Most of the movie is predictable...the men despise her, she perseveres and eventually wins their respect. She even overcomes a laughable "don't ask, don't tell" scene and political ugliness to become...a SEAL! Excellent movie, many unnecessary close-ups but otherwise, enjoyable and thrilling.
8/15/97
Kiss Me, Guido...re-enforced my theory of "just because there's gay content doesn't mean it'll be good." A fag needs rent money, takes a straight, movie quoting, actor wannabe guido (who mistakes GWM for Guy With Money) as a roommate to make his playboy ex-boyfriend jealous. The guido, first very homophobic, eventually relaxes and gets his break when circumstances force him to take the lead part in a gay play. This film was important in that it was a gay indie film distributed by a big studio...Paramount? Well, they picked wrong film to promote because this just wasn't all that compelling. Pass.
Aside from constantly thinking it was about Aaron Copland's life (who the hell designed that title anyway?!), the most exciting thing I can say about this movie is...it wasn't awful. Big, powerful, untapped cast...much like a Robert Altman film, Stallone packed on 50 lbs for this role and said he wanted to be considered for more serious roles and was trying to break out of the action hero he's continually cast for. He's done nothing except gain the weight.
He's Freddy, the sheriff of a sleepy NJ town where the NYPD blue live. Complacent at a dead-end job with no hopes of promotion due to a deaf ear sustained while trying to save a girl from drowning, repeatedly sneered at by "real" city cops, who looks to Ray, the crooked cop with more connections than the Mayor...the same crooked cop that set up the little haven away from NYC and gave Freddy his job, he finally has the chance to do the right thing. Like my problem with Con Air, this movie boasts a huge cast but most are unused because there's just not enough room for everybody. Even Janeane Garafolo was boring...and she's *never* boring! Stallone needs to either get action out of his life (I *liked* Stop...or my momma will shoot!) or go all out on the action. The little action from this movie was as quick and bad and satisfying as sex with a 15 year old boy.
Because Cop Land left us with an empty, unfulfilled feeling, we saw My Best Friend's Wedding, a much more fun and interesting story. Here, Jules (Julia Roberts), a food critic, realizes she's in love with her best friend and sports writer, Mike, 4 days before his wedding. She tries everything in her power to break them up...takes the couple to a karaoke bar (which he loves but fiance, Kim, hates), and even gets the tone-deaf Kim to sing, gets Kim to convince her baseball team owning dad to offer Mike a PR job...Jules really does try everything to break them up but alas, none work. Julia is at her quirkiest best but Rupert Everett, Jule's devoted and handsome editor, steals the movie with easy grace. Whatta babe!
8/1/97
What a hilarious movie! I didn't expect to laugh so much. Tim Robbins is an excellent actor, dramatic Shawshank Redemption as well as comedic...he's fast becoming one of my favorite actors. Though predictable, this movie is about two paths crossing at the wrong time...Martin Lawrence does the holdup guy in familiar style, Tim Robbins is the husband reeling from discovering his wife's affair. A "deeper" message of racism and "family values" is buried under good action, great acting, and funny lines. I definitely recommend this, if only to see Tim's "hot foot" dance. The soundtrack isn't bad but I haven't sat down and concentrated on it yet. Definitely a fun movie.
7/27/97
Exhausting day! After hours of shopping at the Gilroy outlets and hours of indecisiveness, we finally decide to haul ourselves over to the Garlic Festival. If that wasn't enough for one day, we decide to see Watermelon Woman, the controversial film funded by the NEA. A good, solid first effort from Cheryl Dunye, who stars in this engaging tale of a budding film director who becomes obsessed with the beautiful woman who plays the "Watermelon Woman" in an old B&W. Through her relentless research, Cheryl is intrigued to find out that the Watermelon Woman was involved with the woman director of her films. She touches briefly into interracial relationships, but drops the plot line abruptly. The negative attitude towards anything interracial was very accurate for that area. I was also way more interested in the movie location, which was set in Philadelphia where I went to school and worked for 5 years. I was excited to recognize many of the places in the background and felt a big pang of nostalgia when a few scenes were shot at her workplace, the TLA Video store! It is the absolute BEST video store I've ever been in. While finding a movie is slightly more difficult than at Blockbuster, the selection will never be beat! Cult classics, foreign films, Japanese animes...even a huge selection of g&l porn! I have dreams of opening a store out here just so I can see non-mainstream movies without paying $15+ at the Cameras. (Having a girlfriend automatically doubles all prices no matter who pays.)
7/20/97
After humming the damn tune for the better part of a week, we saw it Sunday afternoon. Although certainly entertaining, this movie wasn't all that. I mainly went to see Brendan Fraser, one of my favorite actors. He was suitably handsome, even in a skimpy loin cloth. The writers were very heavy handed in the branding...I felt like I was watching a Nike/UPS commercial! Slapstick humor and narrator interaction made this movie all the more fun. Everything wrapped up nicely in the end like a proper cartoon, good special effects with Ape and Shep, loved Shep, the "dog" and voice of John Cleese as Ape. All in all, worth the matinee price but not worth full price, a hot dog and a soda.
We had nothing better to do so we thought, eh, what the heck, it's at the Oaks, what could it hurt? Marin, my friend and Oak's manager, expressed sympathy when we purchased the tickets. Uh oh, what were we in for?! A ride back to high school and a few hours of laughs. Two h.s. best friends who live and play together after graduation, takes us back to those years of hell called high school. On the outside of the "in" cliques, Romy and Michele survive h.s., only to be dragged back for their reunion. They decide that they haven't accomplished anything worthwhile so they make up another life...they invented Post-its. Hilarious scenes...Mira Sorvino and Janeane Garafolo are great! I'm going to make it a point to follow Mira more. Lisa Kudrow was ok, but I didn't see much of a difference between this role and her dizzy Phoebe from Friends. She seemed off and was unimpressive. Despite that, this was a totally fun movie...worth the $2!!!
Wow. This could be one of the very few *perfect* movies I've seen! Almost flawless. However, once was enough. Jodie Foster was predictably EXCELLENT, with another outstanding performance. Matthew McConaughey (sp) was good but his character was irritating. Jodie, obsessed with contacting other beings, gets massive help from S.R. Hadden (brilliantly casted, John Hurt), a wealthy eccentric man dying of cancer. He's instrumental in helping Jodie solve the code, which leads to building a transportation device. Tom Skerrit, one of my favorite actors, Angela Basset and James Woods were terrific but I thought Angela overacted a little. I'm not going to go into anymore details except to say that the alien scene was well done and that the treatment of women in science is abhorrent. Jodie has to fight every inch for grant money, respect, and credibility, while her former mentor takes the spotlight and control with typical male dominance. An excellent movie clocking in at 145 minutes.
Ok, I admit it...I went into this movie thinking the worst...another testosterone movie with mediocre graphics and awful acting. The testosterone level was relatively low, the graphics were impressive and the acting surprised me. Tommy Lee Jones hasn't done anything I haven't liked. He was a loveable single parent who takes a week off to spend with his daughter, who lives with Mom. Invariably, he gets called to work when a tremor hits LA. His warning bells go off when Anne Heche, a geologist, tells him that it's more serious than a mere shift in the earth's plates...way more serious. Together, they figure out a way to save LA. Packed with chaos and tons of molten lava, this movie was worth the matinee price of a movie. Nothing thrilling or particularly deep, plus an unashamedly attempt to grip your heart by putting kids in danger. All said, I wouldn't NOT recommend it.
7/4/97
GREAT movie! Opening on the Wednesday before the July 4th weekend was a very good move, since most shows were sold out when I went to get tickets 2 days early and several showings were sold out Friday, 2 days after opening! Totally loved it...Will Smith was fun and loveable, as usual, and Tommy Lee Jones is one of the most underrated comedic actors of Hollywood. His straight-faced, dead pan delivery is the perfect fit for this movie. Linda Fiorentino was ok in this but I know is too tough for this seemingly fluffy role that calls for more screams and squeaks than she should be allowed, given her movie history. Excellent FX, the movie moves along at a very fast pace, almost seemed like they were trying to add more FX to make up for lack of plot and it definitely feels too short at 1 hour and 38 minutes. They're already planning a MIBII...looking forward to it!
6/29/97
We decided to skip the SF Pride festivities and go to the movies instead!
Terrence McNally's play-turned-movie was an excellent effort, chronicling the life of seven gay men through three summer holidays spent at an old secluded house in the country. The original cast from the play were also the movie cast, with the addition of Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) as a broadway buff who charges $5 every time AIDS is mentioned. The transition from stage to screen was seamless and if I may take a leap tho' I didn't see the play, was probably better since the screen extends so much further than a stage. A "Big Chill", "Chantilly Lace" concept, this movie shows how 7 men deal with issues of conflicting personalities, supporting their friends dying of AIDS (as opposed to being infected with HIV), adultery, sibling rivalry and their own mortality. A beautiful movie, I immensely liked it.
I was prematurely cynical with this movie...another poor attempt at capitalizing the 'lesbian chic' theme...straight boy falls for a lesbian who ends up falling for him. Uh huh, yeah, right, whatever.
Written and directed by Kevin Smith, the same genius who did Clerks, this movie had the quick wit of Clerks but dealt with more emotional material. Short synopsis, they meet, he falls in love, best friend doesn't approve, she falls next, they sleep together, her past catches up, he becomes suspicious, she gets mad and leaves, he tries to make up, she can't, the trio split up. Again, a brilliant job,
excellent script, surprisingly insightful...wonderfully done! I absolutely recommend this movie.
When people said this film was violent, I said pshaw. Yeah right, "they" said "Bound" was violent but I wasn't moved. Face/off was pretty violent and I loved it! Terrific choreographed stunts and moves a la John Woo kept me on the edge of my seat. With the latest laser technology, John Travolta (good guy) switches faces with Nicolas Cage (bad guy) in order to find the location of a bomb set to flatten LA. Lots of bullets, lots of explosions, excellent stunts...another exciting John Woo masterpiece.
6/20/97
The only reason I paid money for this was to see Arnold, Uma and Alicia. It wasn't worth it. The opening didn't grab me (or Liz) at all and I don't know how but we were bored within the first 15 minutes! Nice props, cool FX, doofy plot which tries to make us care by putting Alfred on the brink of death and bad guys that have a higher mission (Arnold has to find the cure for his wife, Uma is trying to empower plants). George Clooney did better than I expected but my biggest pet peeve with him is the way his head is angled...he's always looking at things through the top of his eyes instead looking squarely ahead. And when he gets caught in an emotional situation, he grins a tired grin and does this...head wiggle, which might be cute but I've seen him do that so many times, I'm kinda tired of it. Chris O'Donnell was very cute, very bratty...almost like a child trying to be an adult before its time. Arnold was cool (pun intended), Uma was good but it was totally wasted talent, and Alicia was an exciting addition. Those that criticized her for her weight gain should shut up...she looked great! A disappointing experience despite the great cast.
6/16/97
This has been a weekend full of movies!
The *best* movie I've seen in a very long time. Set in the future, Bruce Willis is an unwilling retired major sent on a seemingly impossible mission...pull 4 ancient stones from the Diva's thoracic cavity to save the world. Every 300 years, evil, in the shape of a massive talking ball of fire, comes hurtling towards earth, hell bent on massive destruction. The 5th Element, the most perfect being, is the only weapon against this evil mass, but along with this perfect being, the 4 stones are needed to activate it. This adventure is full of laughs, great FXs, terrific characters and some excellent acting. It drags in some areas but the whole picture makes up for it.
[yawn] Nothing thrilling. Sandra Bullock is really cool, Jason Patric is so emotionless he makes Keanu Reeves look good, Willem Dafoe makes a great evil guy, although unconvincing as a software engineer gone postal.
More fun than I expected. Lots of great but wasted big names whose parts weren't diverse enough to do anything more than be a big, murderous lug. Nicholas Cage, as always, gives an impressive performance in his first action movie, and John Cusack, who makes an interesting U.S. Marshal, are two of my favorite actors. Not serious or deep but worth the matinee price.
Pre-5/97
Grosse Pointe Blank was very entertaining. I was periodically reminded of John Cusack's character from Say Anything. John Hughes' films were also popping into mind. Joan Cusack, the ever wacky sister actress of John, was terrific and definitely contributed positively to the overall fun of the movie. Definitely entertaining, see it!
Crash - SUCKED. Nice try but it got carried away with the shock theme. James Spader was lacking, Holly Hunter...what the hell was she doing in this movie? Her acting was very good, don't get me wrong, but this was just an awful movie. This movie is *so* bad, I'm not even going to provide you with a link to it. You're welcome.
