pmedina-1 Reviews

With Honors (1994)

One of my favorite films

[9/10 · 3 September 2007]

I was once asked: "What is your favorite movie?" in a graduate school application.

I have many movies that I love and I couldn't ever decide on a favorite movie. At the time, however, I had recently watched "With Honors" for about the 20th time and I chose it for my answer. Researching the movie on this website, I was astounded when I discovered that it did not win (well, it wasn't even nominated for) any award on screen writing or acting. It was only nominated for Best Original Song ("I'll Remember", performed by Madonna).

The film centers on Montgomery 'Monty' Kessler (Brendan Fraser) a government senior student at Harvard University, who thinks his life depends on his thesis. When his computer crashes, Monty decides that the reasonable thing to do is to rush to make copies of the only hard copy of the thesis he has. But on the way to the copy shop, he has an accident and the thesis falls into the boiler room of the library and into the hands of Simon Wilder (Joe Pesci), a homeless man who has made a makeshift home in there. At first, there is tension between the two, as Monty is outraged for the deal he is forced to make with Simon: for each day of food and shelter, Monty gets one page of the thesis. As time goes by, Monty realizes that there is more to Simon than meets the eye. The relationship between Monty and Simon develops into a strong friendship and Monty soon learns that there is more to life than graduating with honors.

I am always moved by the beautiful story and the incredible acting in this film. The performances are so honest that the story seems to have been taken out of real life. The transition in the character of Monty, from a young man that considers grades and recognition to be the most important things in the world, to a man, touched by the life of a "bum" – as Simon refers to himself – who is intelligent and good-natured, and knows the meaning of love.

The last few lines in the movie always bring tears to my eyes, as Monty reads Simon's self-written obituary: "He is survived by his family: Jeff Hawks, who always remembers to flush; Everett Calloway, who knows how to use words; Courtney Blumenthal, who is strong, and also knows how to love; and by Montgomery Kessler, who will graduate life with honor, and without regret."

Rent (2005)

One of the best movies I've seen...

[10/10 · 16 April 2006]

I was recently introduced to the world of RENT by my roommates and I was completely moved and touched by the story, and the history of the show. To think that Jonathan Larson was never able to enjoy what his creation would cause in the lives of its audiences worldwide.

The performances, the songs and the added conversations were amazing. The film makes the audience want to know those people and some can relate to their pain and their situations, which are so real.

i haven't seen the show, but I imagine that the film gets deeper into the characters than the play could. That, ironically, gives it a more realistic approach.

Great story, great acting, great directing, great songs... Great movie!!! I LOVE RENT!!!!!!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

The best of the series!!!

[8/10 · 19 November 2005]

From beginning to end, I felt that the production team did an excellent job. It was all almost exactly as I imagined it when I read the book. From the beginning when Voldemort murders Frank, I felt immersed in the story all over again, as I did when I first read the book.

The actors feel more natural in their acting, and we finally get to see Fred and George's crazy personalities. I also loved that they included the part when Fred asks Angelina to go to the ball with him in a very comical way. And the part where they put their names in the Goblet and are thrown away by the Age line.

Neville is beginning to take more importance in the movies, which is significant in the fifth book. I loved the way they put him as being really enthusiastic about the Ball, dancing alone around the room. Also, because Dobby is missing from the movie, it is Neville who tells Harry about the Gillyweed for the second task. I loved when he says: "I killed Harry Potter!" The Yule Ball is amazing, and the Weird Sisters are cool!!! I loved the shot when everybody's dancing except for Harry, Ron and their dates. It was very funny.

The underwater scenes are brilliant!!!! The bodies of the people they took from the champions look ghastly, as JK Rowling descibes them in the book. And Krums transfiguration from a shark to his self is perfect. I kinda expected the bubbles used by Cedric and Fleur to be around the whole head, not just the mouth and nose part, but it was great anyway.

The graveyard scene was one of the best scary scenes I've seen on a movie. Voldemort's rebirth was incredible, just as I imagined it, although the eyes should have been red. Cedric's death is very sad. When the wands connect and Cedric, Frank and Lily and James come out of the beams is a really touching scene, especially when Cedric asks Harry to take his body back to his father. When Harry returns to school with Cedric's body, everyone cheers but then realize that Cedric is dead and scream and Harry does not want to let go of the body, just as in the book. It's a great sequence.

The only glitch I found was that the part when Dumbledore and Fudge have a Parting of the Ways, because Fudge is reluctant to believe that Voldemort is back. This is very important in the plot of the fifth book/movie, given that Dumbledore is discredited by the Ministry and is seen as a lier and a disturber of the peace. But I think the next movie can take it from there and include it in the opening scenes.

Also Hermione's SPEW campaign and her plans to get Rita Skeeter was missing, as well as Dobby. But these are minor themes to the plot of that particular book. Although the Rita Skeeter part will have significance in the fifth movie.

In general, I think this is the best film of the series. It has everything: suspense, romance, action, and, of course, magic.