mmiller1 Reviews

Thunderbirds (2004)

Where's your sense of fun, people?

[2 August 2004]

This is supposed to be fun. No it's not 100% faithful to the original, but the same exuberance and gee-whiz gadgetry is still there. The original was an entertaining use of special effects and camera trickery to tell exciting stories where courage and ingenuity save the day. It was (and is) fun to watch. So is the film.

I don't know if it's representative, but the audience where I saw the film was mostly 7-11 years old. They were NOT squirming, talking, running out for refreshments or restroom breaks. They were WATCHING THE FILM. They didn't care about anything but seeing the good guys win. (*Possible spoiler*-yeah, right) They do. The kids were pleased. So was my slightly older son. So was I. So will you be, if you take it on its own merits.

Masterpiece: The Railway Children (2000) Season 30, Episode 5

A beautiful piece of work

[13 November 2000]

Wonderful cast, excellent photography, and (wonder of wonders to an American TV watcher) a literate script! I heartily agree about Ms. Rooper - I will look forward to seeing her again. Jenny Agutter's beauty has deepened and grown since I first saw her in Walkabout 30+ years ago. Michael Kitchen, Clive Russell, Sir Richard Attenborough, and Gregor Fisher all are believable, and have that depth that British actors have (from doing more stage, I guess.) Note: unlike the previous commenters, I haven't seen Gregor Fisher often enough for him to be typecast yet. Judging from this film, I would like to.

All the King's Men (1999 TV Movie)

Why can't TV be this good more often?

[21 February 2000]

This is a richly textured story, filmed with the attention to detail that caused so many of us to plan our Sundays around "Masterpiece Theatre" starting with "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Poldark", (Not to mention "I, Claudius", "The Duchess of Duke Street",...)

In a film where the casting is uniformly superb, it is impossible to do everyone justice. As another commenter mentioned, David Jason and the always magnificent Maggie Smith remind us of a time when noble master and faithful servant were not cliches, but real people with pride, honor, and yes nobility on *both* sides. Additional shining performances from Ian McDiarmid as the vicar who stays home and Patrick Mallahide as the doctor who goes to war.

I thought that "Johnny Got His Gun" (A+ book, B- movie) had given us the last word on WWI (or the 14-18 war as some call it.) I was wrong, and this film proves it.

Dune (1984)

Not as bad (or as good) as they say.

[4/10 · 6 December 1999]

There is always a problem with taking a great book to the screen: The ideas in books are told in words, ideas in movies are mostly told in pictures with words as backup. Complicated, abstract ideas don't photograph well. When I saw Dune the first time, I had to keep leaning over to explain things to my wife. (I'd read Dune, she hadn't.) I thought it was an occasionally interesting, generally middle of the road picture. She hated it. (Patrick Stewart as Gurney Halleck is the best part, according to both of us. It's a gem in poor setting.)

Read the book first, so you can fill in the (huge) plot gaps, then try the movie, without expecting too much, and you'll probably enjoy the good parts.

A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Even my English teacher liked this one.

[10/10 · 6 December 1999]

Remember when movies used to have dialogue? And actors who could speak it? Remember when camera work was the way you were shown the story, not the whole movie? Remember when it didn't matter how pretty an actor or actress was, but how well they could convey the character? Remember when characters had enough depth to be worth conveying?

If so, this is probably the move you remember.

This might be the best overall cast ever. Aside from the brilliant Paul Scofield, there are wonderful performances all around. Susannah York and John Hurt achieve the nearly impossible by standing out in a gifted crowd.

Don't rent this movie, buy it so you can show it to anyone who thinks that great art isn't great entertainment. (Or vice versa.)