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Reviews
Serenity (2005)
Sci-Fi Takes A Giant Leap Forward
Science fiction has been extremely stale as of late, and frankly, I was getting a bit fed up with many highly anticipated sci-fi films. As a casual sci-fi fan, I have to say that I get excited when good sci-fi comes around. I first heard about Serenity 4 or 5 months ago when I saw the teaser trailer, and from then on, I was intrigued. I managed to get my hands on the Firefly episodes, and I watched each one of them, simply in awe of the world that was created, but more specifically the characters. I've seen Serenity twice now. I have not stopped thinking about it since. Its the best kind of film experience...one that hits you emotionally, and yet entertains you at the same time. Having been a Firefly fan, I do have a little bit of a bias, and certainly many of the character moments were much more impacting, simply because of my previous knowledge, but don't let this stop you from seeing this amazing piece of sci-fi. Joss Whedon has done something fantastic by not letting special effects cloud the story. Story and characters are top notch, taking well known clichés, but making them unusual despite that fact. The action is intense and unrelenting, with hardly a moment to breathe in the films climactic moments. The film deserves a 10 out of 10 because of its daring, and its success on almost all fronts. Its not a perfect film, don't get me wrong, but it is leaps and bounds above anything else this genre has produced in the past 20 or so years. It deserves high marks, simply for its gumption. See this movie. The success of this film will inspire others to think above and beyond the visual effects and create engaging characters. And also, it'll get us a sequel! So, please, take the time to see this film. You will not regret it.
Trading Spaces (2000)
Great, Addicting, American Fun
This show is pure sugar coated, finger lickin', good wholesome AMERICAN fun.
Nevermind the British to American whiners who think this show pales in
comparison to its British counterpart. Lucky for me, and a good majority of the Trading Spaces viewers, I haven't seen Changing Rooms, so this show, to me,
is excellent fun. (although, if I had BBC America, I know I'd watch it) Okay, so some of the designs aren't all that great, but the best part about
watching the show is finding out if the design will turn out! There are always a few gems for every nasty design, and the patient viewer will likely agree.
Personally, all of the current season 3 designers are excellent, including Hildi, who doesn't just fancy black (although she does wear it a lot). I've seen some amazing designs of hers, but it seems some people are just too close minded.
But I am indeed grateful for the much needed departure of Dez...*shudder*. I'm sad to see Laurie gone this season, because of her maternity leave, but I hope the two new designers, Edward and Kia offer some great surprises in her
absence. Laurie and Amy Wynn make the show for me, in my opinion. Paige is
also another great insert after the departure of the bland, but sometimes
entertaining Alex McLeod. Other then that, if your amazingly bored on a Saturday evening or weekday
afternoon, and you happen to glance at the clock and see that its 8 or 4 o' clock, why not turn it to TLC and check out this wonderful show. Its guaranteed to lift your spirits, no matter how bad the designs may be. And believe me, some of
them can be pretty bad. 10/10. Great, Addicting, American Fun.
Minority Report (2002)
Thrill Ride with great performances..."Muuurrddder!"
Wow. What a rush. Two words to describe the film are "thrill ride", but not a thrill ride where all the loops and dips are seen, but one that keeps you guessing,
and can sometimes completely startle you. I was amazed, not only at the
amazing cinematography, the beautiful score by John Williams, and the pulse
pounding story, but by Tom Cruise. I normally can't stand him, but this film
allowed me to look at him differently. He didn't seem to be Tom Cruise in this one. He really embodied John Anderton. Plus, performance-wise, the
supporting cast is better then excellent, with Samantha Morton as Agatha the
Precog being the stand out performance throughout. Just her saying "Murder"
will send chills down your spine, no doubt.
One thing I will say is that this film is not for everyone. The intense nature of it may be hard for fans of Spielberg's more lighthearted fare to swallow. But, for those looking for a new Spielberg, the change is a welcome one. The cold dark future that is portrayed is one that is very, very possible, and sometimes
freightning to realize. Spielberg did a bang up job showing how technology's
advances will only increase our lack of privacy. Amazing, and very truthful
realization.
Plot holes aside (they are few, and far between, and most people wouldn't catch them), this film's plot moves so fast, that sometimes its hard to catch up. Each moment of it will keep you guessing, which keeps the audience always on their toes. You will never know what it coming, and that adds the the intrigue of this very film-noir-esque film.
One aspect of the film I found the most interesting had nothing to do with the actual film... It was the ad campaign that is seen on TV and in the Trailers. I applaud Spielberg for, how shall I say, diverting audiences attention. I won't say any more, but you may be pleasently surprised to find out that even before you even see the film, you really have no idea what its about. That's great
advertising, in my opinion.
My only problem with the film is that in the end, the plot is very familiar. You won't recognize it while watching it, but its there. I won't say what film this one almost parallels, but if you've seen this other film, you may recognize it after viewing Minority Report. But, there are enough differences between the two
films to not make it a real issue. It won't bother the average film viewer, but it kind of bothered me, but nothing to change my opinion of the film.
To sum it all up, this is not a film to be missed. If you saw A.I. and hated it, this one should redeem Spielberg for you. If you loved A.I., you should love Minority Report even more. I hope this film stands out as a breath of fresh air in the usually dull summer fare, and that it will be the surprise hit of the summer. 9.5/10
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
A Film With A Heart of Gold
The first thing I said coming out of Monsters Inc. was "Shrek? What's Shrek?" Monster's Inc. is a fantastic effort from Pixar, one the features spectacular animation, great humor, and most importantly, a heart of gold. Rarely do any
family films hit such an emotional note as beautiful as Monsters Inc.'s final line. Even after leaving, just simply thinking about it gave me a familiar lump in my throat and watery eyes. Billy Crystal and John Goodman are perfect. Enough
said. The best character in the entire movie is that of Boo, the child. She steals every scene she's in, even topping the two leads. Her big eyes and sweet voice just melts my heart. This movie, in my opinion, is superior to Shrek, in many ways. While Shrek was initially funny, the jokes got old. One thing I know about Monsters Inc. is that many jokes flew by so quickly, that a second viewing is essential to get it all in. After viewing Shrek for the second time, I realize that the jokes were only funny once. Honestly, go see Monsters Inc., with kids in tow or not. This one is a charmer for all ages and a healthy break from the usual summer and fall fare. 10/10
The Others (2001)
Classic Ghost Story
It seems that in a long line of stinkers this summer, there was no hope for any movie to wow us, like 1999's The Sixth Sense, or last year's Gladiator, but this year we have a winner. The Others is a tense, carefully crafted ghost story,
similar to the Sixth Sense, but different in so many other ways as well. The slow build up only adds to the suspense, and when finally you get to experience "the others" as I guess they are called, the whole audience burst into screams of
pure terror. The dimly lit scenes give you an odd sense, where dark is more
comforting than light (due to a disease that can kill the children if they are exposed to bright light). Nicole Kidman really knows how to act, and she shows it. It wasn't until this year's Moulin Rouge that I realized what an talented person she is, and with two incredible movies in the same year, her career looks to be going up, even without her hubby. This review is sparce, simply because there is too much that could be revealed that shouldn't. The less said is always more for the unsuspecting viewer. Go see this movie for a good scare and a great time. It doesn't disappoint.
10/10
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Don't judge a movie by its ending.
Going into this movie, I had heard all the hype, seen all the TV spots, but I not read any reviews. Thankfully so. If I had, I might of turned away. But I took the movie for what it was worth. It was a deep, complex, engrossing and all in all beautiful re-telling of Pinocchio, with Kubrickian coldness and Spielbergian warmth. The blending of these two talents creates a wildly uneven atmosphere, but one that we can see in society today, and one that is just a ball to watch. Each act of the movie has a different feel. The first being warm, the second, cold and depressing, while the third offers some thoughtful questions on our own existence. The seperation of these acts is so important, because each offers new insight, and new understanding, and the over all feeling of each makes the journey so much more poignant, because it is through the eyes of David, the boy robot so marvelously portrayed by Haley Joel Osment. We feel what he feels, and we see what he sees, and it make the end all the more worth it. While, at first glance, one make think that the last 20 minutes of this movie were over long and a waste, one must look at the source of this movie, Stanley Kubrick. He himself wanted the very ending Spielberg chose. So for all those Kubrick purists, this movie was all Kubrick. The ending itself is so beautiful, that one must be patient to understand its deeper meanings. In my opinion, I found the ending to be so enchanting and wonderful. Patience will help you get through it. Jude Law is once again excellent as Gigolo Joe, the guide on Davids journey. His one dimensional approach as a "love mecha" is just another example of the cold environment created where robots, like Joe, only know one thing: How to have sex with woman, how to get woman, and where to find woman, basically. Frances O'Connor pulls out an emotional performance as David's "mother" of sorts. She portrays so much confused emotion, that its hard not to cry at her lowest times. With so many nods to the great one himself, Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg directs this movie with so much heart and in so much reverence to Kubrick. Its obvious the apprentice has made the master proud. Don't write off this movie because of its odd approach and hard to sit through ending. After you sit and think about the ending, all will make sense. Its one to ponder, to talk about, to just look at in awe. Great filmmaking is hard to come by these days, but Spielberg proves that even he hasn't lost his touch. Don't miss A.I., or you'll regret it, for it will become a classic years to come. I give this movie a 10/10. Brilliant, marvelous and just a good time all around.
The Others (2001)
Classic Ghost Story
It seems that in a long line of stinkers this summer, there was no hope for any movie to wow us, like 1999's The Sixth Sense, or last year's Gladiator, but this year we have a winner. The Others is a tense, carefully crafted ghost story,
similar to the Sixth Sense, but different in so many other ways as well. The slow build up only adds to the suspense, and when finally you get to experience "the others" as I guess they are called, the whole audience burst into screams of
pure terror. The dimly lit scenes give you an odd sense, where dark is more
comforting than light (due to a disease that can kill the children if they are exposed to bright light). Nicole Kidman really knows how to act, and she shows it. It wasn't until this year's Moulin Rouge that I realized what an talented person she is, and with two incredible movies in the same year, her career looks to be going up, even without her hubby. This review is sparce, simply because there is too much that could be revealed that shouldn't. The less said is always more for the unsuspecting viewer. Go see this movie for a good scare and a great time. It doesn't disappoint.
10/10
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Don't judge a movie by its ending.
Going into this movie, I had heard all the hype, seen all the TV spots, but I not read any reviews. Thankfully so. If I had, I might of turned away. But I took the movie for what it was worth. It was a deep, complex, engrossing and all in all beautiful re-telling of Pinocchio, with Kubrickian coldness and Spielbergian warmth. The blending of these two talents creates a wildly uneven atmosphere, but one that we can see in society today, and one that is just a ball to watch. Each act of the movie has a different feel. The first being warm, the second, cold and depressing, while the third offers some thoughtful questions on our own existence. The seperation of these acts is so important, because each offers new insight, and new understanding, and the over all feeling of each makes the journey so much more poignant, because it is through the eyes of David, the boy robot so marvelously portrayed by Haley Joel Osment. We feel what he feels, and we see what he sees, and it make the end all the more worth it. While, at first glance, one make think that the last 20 minutes of this movie were over long and a waste, one must look at the source of this movie, Stanley Kubrick. He himself wanted the very ending Spielberg chose. So for all those Kubrick purists, this movie was all Kubrick. The ending itself is so beautiful, that one must be patient to understand its deeper meanings. In my opinion, I found the ending to be so enchanting and wonderful. Patience will help you get through it. Jude Law is once again excellent as Gigolo Joe, the guide on Davids journey. His one dimensional approach as a "love mecha" is just another example of the cold environment created where robots, like Joe, only know one thing: How to have sex with woman, how to get woman, and where to find woman, basically. Frances O'Connor pulls out an emotional performance as David's "mother" of sorts. She portrays so much confused emotion, that its hard not to cry at her lowest times. With so many nods to the great one himself, Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg directs this movie with so much heart and in so much reverence to Kubrick. Its obvious the apprentice has made the master proud. Don't write off this movie because of its odd approach and hard to sit through ending. After you sit and think about the ending, all will make sense. Its one to ponder, to talk about, to just look at in awe. Great filmmaking is hard to come by these days, but Spielberg proves that even he hasn't lost his touch. Don't miss A.I., or you'll regret it, for it will become a classic years to come. I give this movie a 10/10. Brilliant, marvelous and just a good time all around.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
A Fantastic Whiz-Bang Film
It takes a certain kind of movie to wow me, and glue to my seat. "Moulin Rouge" did that very thing. I'm a huge fan of Baz Luhrman's "Romeo + Juliet" and especially " Strictly Ballroom". His kinetic style and flashy direction give him a trademark that it seems no one in Hollywood would want to emulate. Injecting pop music into a genuinely 30s musical, just helped the movie roll along. You couldn't help but snicker when you hear incredible versions of "Like A Virgin" and even "Smells Like Teen Spirit" sung by old men. This movie moves at a pace that would make grandmothers faint, but would have 12 year olds drawn to the MTV style movements. Finally a movie that gloriously recreates something most see everyday, music videos, adding a story and placing in into a interesting environment. Thats basically what "Moulin Rouge" is: a music video.
Its these kinds of movies that make me more and more excited about the kinds of films people are willing to make these days. If there were just 3 more Baz Luhrman's in Hollywood, we wouldn't have movies like "Pearl Harbor" or "Battlefield Earth", to name a few. The whole time I kept thinking how great this movie would translate to the stage. Wow. As of now, "Moulin Rouge" is the best movie I've seen this year.
Ordinary People (1980)
Powerful
I don't think I've ever watched a movie that has made me sit up and shake. I was laying on my couch watching this movie, and when the part where Conrad calls Karen and gets the news, I just was shocked. The gritty reality of it all was just so well done. I'm 17 years old, about the same age as Conrad, and I just connected so well with the character. Finally, a movie that makes you connect. American Beauty is pale in comparison to this movie. I personally loved the Ice Storm better than Beauty. But, all in all, Ordinary People is better than both. I love character studies, where movies are character based, and that there is pretty much one character in the movie you can relate to. Tim Hutton's Conrad was so perfect, so intensely real it made me sick to watch. Mary Tyler Moore was just excellent,and deserved an Oscar for it. Donald Sutherland played the father so softly and so calmly that at the end when he breaks down, it is so poignant and powerful, you can't help but feel for him. Robert Redford did such a great job at capturing emotions on film, something I think Beauty lacked. That film was more plot based as someone wrote earlier, and I can agree. All I have to say, is that I've found a new favorite film, right up there with Billy Wilder's The Apartment (again a great Character movie) and Fight Club (just an all around great film). See this film. If your 17 or 45 you'll find some connection. I give Ordinary People 10 out of 10.