I loved it. This movie is sophisticated and thoughtful filmmaking that is so much more than the simple title. Wanna know where Coppola, Spielberg, and Lucas got some ideas? Watch this movie to find out. The acting is sublime -- the expressions and vocalizations are effective even to someone like me who knows absolutely no Japanese. The music is wonderful. The cinematography is subtle and effective, with angles and focus chosen to emphasize the plot elements and mood. It feels highly realistic; the samurai aren't holier-than-thou lords of the sword wielding mystical powers -- they're merely trained men in a profession, men with thoughts and feelings. The weak and helpless villagers aren't necessarily really that week and helpless. And we aren't inflicted with atrocities perpetrated by the baddies so that we have evidence to make us pick a side. There are no tiresome epic battles with the the characters drawing upon mysterious wells of strength to finally prevail -- they're just fights that happen as they happen. I could go on. Dang, this movie was good!
Reviews
4 Reviews
Splendor
(1999)
overall a different, decent, sincere, mildly funny film
9 July 2001
Likable romantic menage-a-trois (if that's how it's spelled)... will she dump crazy "them" for steady "him"? Find out! Girls may like this for brief hints of guy-on-guy action. Guys may be relieved that the hints of guy-on-guy action are brief.
Reasonably daring and assertive without being particularly pretentious nor overly deep.
Reasonably daring and assertive without being particularly pretentious nor overly deep.
Lost Souls
(1998 TV Movie)
Spoiler Alert: TV McMovie is a ghostly ripoff of a Southern classic
3 March 2001
Warning: Spoilers
I'll just be vague about my potential spoiling comments. There are enough canned plot elements in this movie that it's essentially pre-spoiled.
This movie derives a few ideas from a Southern classic, To Kill A Mockingbird. I suppose maybe TKOM got its ideas from some source.... at any rate, after you watch this, you'll say, "Oh yeah, that is a ripoff".
I think the truly entertaining thing about these McMovies is once you've identified a plot element, is to figure out whether they'll stick with the original, or try to twist it around. Not a lot of twists in this one.
This movie derives a few ideas from a Southern classic, To Kill A Mockingbird. I suppose maybe TKOM got its ideas from some source.... at any rate, after you watch this, you'll say, "Oh yeah, that is a ripoff".
I think the truly entertaining thing about these McMovies is once you've identified a plot element, is to figure out whether they'll stick with the original, or try to twist it around. Not a lot of twists in this one.
Star Trek: Generations
(1994)
Feels more like a TV show than a movie
3 March 2001
Typically of a decent Star Trek movie, this is like a particularly good TV episode. I must say that it has some triteness, but I could say that about 50% of any TNG episode. Certainly acceptable.
In this one, the acting rather than the story sticks with me... Patrick Stewart was particularly good, Brent Spiner deserves a nod, and Shatner delivers.
Everyone would have preferred a lot more Kirk... maybe even a Kirk/Picard partnership throughout the whole movie, rather than just part.
In this one, the acting rather than the story sticks with me... Patrick Stewart was particularly good, Brent Spiner deserves a nod, and Shatner delivers.
Everyone would have preferred a lot more Kirk... maybe even a Kirk/Picard partnership throughout the whole movie, rather than just part.
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