ohthehorror Reviews

Scarlett (1994)

a romance-novel cliche to avoid

[3 May 2004]

I was disappointed with this film, though I have to disagree that it was a "porn" film. I found the first half a lively, light-hearted, historical film with fabulous costumes and interesting characters, true to Alexandra Ripley's book. The second half, however, was a melodramatic, disturbing-without-being-thought-provoking, shallow and clichéd piece of made-for-tv crap, merely BASED on the characters written about in Ripley's book. What disappointed me most was the departure of the second part from the first: from lighthearted to seriously disturbing, from book-true to overuse of "creative" license, all to the detriment of the film...

If you hate romance novel clichés, this is a film to avoid. It's all there: the "real" man, who prefers contemptuous remarks and domestic violence to communication, the forceful, manly kiss that magically solves all problems (that, and the Child, who can repair any marriage, no matter how damaged and dysfunctional, by her very existence) when communication fails, the convenient death of an inconvenient second spouse, the passion that can last 4 years of estrangement and overcome the simple fact that these 2 people do nothing but fight with each other...and last but not least, the heroine who gives up her successful, happy life for her TRUE LOVE, because simply being with the man she loves (and who treats her with such contempt) is the circumstance for happiness...right.

Terribly sexist and riddled with flaws. Avoid this film.

So Fine (1981)

Merchant of Venice...

[31 March 2004]

this movie is a modern remake of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice", with Eddie as Shylock. Other references to Shakespeare in this movie include the "pound of flesh" quotation during the scene where the professor is being grilled by the university board, the professor's various "Henry IV" quotations to the employees of the dress store ("we the happy few..."), the Othello production, and the ending -- which takes place, of course, in Venice.

Hm, anybody else see the "pound of flesh" reference flashing through some see-through jeans?

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