Change Your Image
chrissythecat
Reviews
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Eternally My Favorite Film
I don't know how to describe "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Cliché, I know, but there doesn't seem to be words to describe just how exquisite a film I think it is. I feel like I shouldn't even comment on it because I can't do it justice. There don't seem to be enough adjectives, in any language, to describe how amazing a movie it truly is. But, I guess I have to begin somewhere. Eternal Sunshine is an indescribably marvelous film (isn't that an oxymoron? No, I think I'm probably the moron here,lol). It's a love story unlike any other I've seen before. It isn't filled with the typical Hollywood melodrama that so many so-called "love stories" possess where the perfect girl and the perfect guy love each other and want to be together, but they don't know it at first, and somehow, despite their perfection, they can't admit their true feelings until the end when they live happily ever after. Cue the doves flying into the sunset. Eternal Sunshine is nothing like that. It isn't the love story of two otherwise perfect people living in this ethereal and ideal world where the problems are so easily solved. It's a love story between real characters with real faults and flaws, quirks and idiosyncracies. Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) are human. He's shy, timid, and introverted, she's outgoing, vivacious, but yet somehow broken and sad, unable to maintain a sense of normalcy and familiarity. Clementine becomes bored quite easily, and Joel is threatened when Clementine cannot be exactly what he wants her to be. He gets annoyed at her for the very same reasons he fell in love with her, and their relationship suffers as a result of their incapacity to be what the other needs, and to keep their romance fresh. Clementine opts to undergo a new procedure to have her memories of Joel wiped clean, and he has to come to terms with that and decide if he really wants to erase her from her memories. I don't want to spoil the movie for those of you who haven't seen it, so I'll wrap it up here. You'll fall in love with them both. So, watch it because it's a great story, it doesn't have a linear plot but you will be mesmerized by the acting and the vivid visuals and the overall beautiful cinematography of the film. This film has left me with Eternal Sunshine of my Spotless Mind.
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
An Eye-Opening Film
I have to say that Fahrenheit 9/11 really struck a chord with me, and was, in my opinion, even better than most of the critics had claimed it was (and quite a few thought it was brilliant). I honestly don't get why so many people seem to hate Michael Moore when I don't think he has anything to gain by going against this Presidency. I mean, I didn't even think he was a Democrat, he was just a man, a citizen of this country, who decided to make a documentary about the negative side of President Bush and his politics that so many of the mainstream television stations never aired on their "news" programs. Sorry if people don't like an opposing view point, but unless the U.S. turns into a dictatorship, we are allowed to have differing opinions than you. People just assume that what we see on the news on television is accurate, or what we read in a magazine or newspaper are all the facts. Something like 6 different companies/corporations control all of the channels in the U.S., and it's a wonder that there are biases? The Sinclair Group plans on forcing it's channels to air an anti-Kerry slander campaign (propaganda is more like it) the day before the election. In a totally free, impartial society, a company wouldn't be allowed to force it's political views on us. I don't care how people vote because I can't control what other people do, but I can't comprehend why people won't at least give this film a chance and watch it. You don't have to agree with me that Fahrenheit 9/11 is an amazing film that shows the complexities of our nation and the world that we have impacted, a side that is often brushed under the carpet so that we can hear more of the same. That's it.
Cherish (2002)
Amazing Film
I just saw the film "Cherish" on television the other day, and I have to say, I think it's a brilliant little film. I think Robin Tunney and Tim Blake Nelson are highly underrated actors who deserve our praise for their amazing performances. I absolutely recommend this film if you tend to like slightly off-beat, almost campy movies. It's not really a mainstream movie, but if you have the chance to see it, check it out. It's about this woman (Tunney) who people see as weak and helpless. She's quirky and her style and appearance match her personality. She loves music and throughout the film, songs are used to convey the theme and mood, almost acting as another character. She ends up attracting this guy who basically is stalking her and ends up ruining her life. I don't want to give away the entire movie and ruin it, so I'll leave it at that.
House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
Horrid Horror Film
I'm sorry, I generally like to be open-minded and not try to force my opinions on other people, but I have to say that this has to be the absolute WORST movie that I have ever seen in my entire life. The film bears no resemblance to the trailer or commercials I had seen advertising it. I was surprised that I hated it that much because I am a huge horror movie fan. Not only was it graphic, disturbing, and beyond gory, it was poorly acted. Obviously it's trying to follow in the footsteps of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (a film I didn't really like but at least respected for it's originality at the time of it's production", but only succeeds at making a third-rate version of the cult classic. Words cannot describe how awful this film is. I'm not trying to offend anyone who might have liked it, It's not like I'm a prude who would be opposed to any scary movie, I just think that this particular movie went above and beyond the norm and crossed that boundary of good cinema. Aside from the excessive violence and gruesome bloodshed, this film has ABSOLUTELY NO PLOT. There is no reason for anything, nothing makes the slightest bit of sense. You can't relate to the characters you're supposed to relate to because they are less human and more caricatures of different types of people. Aside from the shoddy acting, pitiful special effects, and excessive graphic violence, there is no movie. It seems like Rob Zombie just thought up every possible disturbing situation and turned them into scenes that he dumped into a blender and mixed up because the final product is completely incoherent. If you're an average person who likes a good scary movie every once and awhile, then DON'T RENT THIS. This isn't your typical scary movie and you might be disappointed by the campy attempt at recreating the hype surrounding "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." That's it.
Dead Like Me (2003)
Why do the negative comments always pop up first?
I love the new Showtime series "Dead Like Me." A lot of people have criticized it as being unoriginal or trying to capitalize on the ideas and success of HBO's popular dramatic series "Six Feet Under." I think that's blatantly ridiculous. People really like to reach sometimes. Sure, both deal with death, but in entirely different ways. It's like saying one show has the same premise as another because both are about living. It's just a bit of a stretch for me to say the two are alike because I have seen both and I enjoy both. "Six Feet Under" is more about the relationships between a family who have grown up in, live in, and work in a funeral home. It's not solely about the "dead people." They are struggling with their own lives and trying to make the right decisions and they are constantly being faced with the grim reality of life and death. Life can be crappy and unfair, and it can be wonderful and beautiful. Death is painful but it can be redemptive and show everyone living that despite all their problems, they still can wake up every morning and do things. As far as "Dead Like Me" goes, I have to say that it's my new favorite show, even over "Six Feet Under." "SFU" is a great show in it's own right and it has the distinct pleasure of being the first of it's kind, pushing limits and bringing a whole new dimension to the idea of the television series. However, it tends to be a bit whiny. Every episode seemed more depressing than the next and there was never any hope. There's only so many times you can watch a person get knocked down and I think those characters get knocked down so much. Not that life is a bed of roses and that we should sugar coat it, turning the show into a warped but ever perky version of "The Brady Bunch," but life isn't always all bad and I think they fell into that cynical rut where it was easier to depict life as being unbearable than to admit the upsides. "Dead Like Me" is surprisingly lighter. It isn't so heavy handed. There is a definite balance between the bad and painful side of life, and the truly heartwarming and humorous aspects of life. It is an incredibly witty show. Unlike Matt Roush of the TV Guide, I don't think "Dead Like Me" is wrapped up in itself or doling out heavy handed messages. I like that it's campy and off beat. It's not trying to be an imitation of another show. If you haven't watched it, give it a chance. And as a last note, I just want to say that I love the entire cast. They each play their characters so well. Mandy Patinkin is hilarious and real. Ellen Muth is subtly sardonic and a believable apathetic teenager. You really feel for her. In life she was unhappy and sort of going through the motions, and in death she realized how much she cared about the people in her life and just her life in general. Callum Blue is so incredibly funny. I love the episode when his character Mason is with Rube (Patinkin) at the airport and the drugs he's smuggling have burst. He executed that brilliantly. Plus, he's gorgeous. Rebecca Gayheart is great. She plays Betty. Her character is one of those people who don't look before they leap or think before they speak. She says what she means and does what she feels and it really adds to the show. Jasmine Guy is hilarious as Roxy. Absolutely love her. She's this little petite lady with a huge attitude and this energy of her own. Cynthia Stevenson is great as Joy, Georgia's (Muth) mom. Anal retentive, controlling, and devastated at the death of her daughter, Joy is really a great character.
Halloweentown (1998)
Cute film to watch with the family
I just have to say that I have seen both Halloweentown and Halloweentown 2 with my nieces and I found them to be very cute and all around wholesome entertainment. I'm 21 and I've seen quite a few movies in my life from dramas to horror films to comedies and action flicks, but I find that family movies are my favorite. I don't know if it's just me, but I like watching a ridiculously happy movie sometimes instead of always watching something "heavy" or philosophical or even too realistic. I like Halloweentown because it's something I can watch with my nieces that they think is sort of scary without it really being scary. It's just a fun little tv movie. I'd also like to comment on what a self-proclaimed witch/wiccan posted earlier. Of course, real-life witches do not fly on brooms or cast spells or do most if not all of the things done in the film. In many ways, Wicca is a sort of religion. It's a way of looking at life and focusing on the energy of nature. It goes back to paganistic times and the rituals and ceremonies of that time. With that said, I also see no harm in portraying witches as capable of magic and the ability to fly. Where's the harm in it? Now if the film portrayed witches/Wiccans as devil worshippers or evil people, I would have been upset, because that simply is not the case. I myself am not a Wiccan, but quite a few of my friends are and I've read a lot of literature on the subject. Halloweentown isn't an autobiographical film or a documentary, and I think it has every right to take artistic license when portraying the fantastical world of witches. (Sorry for writing so much, but I tend to go off on tangents.)
What Girls Learn (2001)
I don't think anyone should be too critical of someone's life story.
I would just like to say that this movie is based on a true story and I think people should take that into consideration when commenting about it. I'm not saying that you can't dislike it or even hate it, but take into account that this is based on a novel written by the real-life "Tilden" and that these were her personal experiences during the time when her mother passed away.