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The Secret Circle (2011)
An Amazing Show with Unlimited Storyline Potential (Minor Spoiler Alert)
Just a quick review to applaud this T.V series and it's high quality cast. These youthful characters (the next generation of witches) come together in alliance to deal with the inevitable challenges and adventures that come their way (witch hunters, demons, adulthood). Their alliance feels very similar to the group that supported Buffy in last decade's BTVSlayer series (friendship, drama, loyalty).
Minimal spoiler alert here: Two of the young women (Cassie and Diane) turnout to be half sisters who share an element of "dark magic" within them (inherited from their Dad). Diane is mature and careful, whereas Cassie puts herself out there and follows her instincts (sort of like a Marine - first to fight). The problem is the more one uses dark magic, the more it changes you. This sister dynamic is fascinating in that Cassie is an orphan who finally has a sister, and Diane is constantly trying to reign-her-in from using her extremely potent dark magic.
The CW taketh away: Unbelievably, this show is now on waivers, contingent on fan uproar or another network choosing to pickup. I cannot understand how a show like Vampire Diaries which seems to focus entirely on clothes and hair could survive- while a show with great plot potential is canceled. CW lures you in with no guarantees of finishing.
Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure (2010)
A Very Enjoyable Sequel (Rich with Scenery, Adventure and Friendship)
I continue to be amazed at the breadth of quality provided by the cast and production of these Mandie movies (which are mostly based on the book series). These movies are fun for the entire family!
The scenery, costumes, mansions, train, and the wonderful use of imagery and lighting, are all high points!
The plot is full of adventure, as three different groups (John and Ned, Mandie and Polly and Joe, and the Bad Guys) all strive to complete their various goals. Ultimately this requires entering and surviving an abandoned cave mine, filled with danger and intrigue:)
It is best to view the first movie, "Mandie And The Secret Tunnel" before this sequel, although some background flashbacks are provided to orient the viewer.
The youthful actress playing Mandie (Lexi Johnson) continues to display the qualities of an experienced performer (attention to detail, nuanced expressions, superb articulation and presence).
Note: I believe that movies based on books of fiction, should be judged solely on their own merit. Producers should have license to adjust the plot if needed (to expand the maturity rating for a family audience, etc).
Mandie and the Secret Tunnel (2009)
The Story, Performers and Imagery were Magical
More than a typical family film, this is one of the highest quality "small studio" films I have ever viewed. Providing an excellent blend of history, drama, mystery and a touch of humor. It is a G-rated movie that is highly entertaining for both children and adults.
The producers used rich Imagery and Lighting to heighten the viewer's interest and intrigue, whenever they focused on Mandie during the flashback scenes when the "Indian Story" was being told.
An absolutely outstanding performance was given by Lexi Johnson (who played Mandie, both in this movie and in the first sequel). Her prior experience as a child actor can be seen in both the attention to detail and nuanced expressions she brought to this role.
The entire cast and production deserve much credit for a great effort.
The Iris Effect (2005)
The Iris Effect: Surreal and Complex
Many Russians and Europeans seem to have a deeply rooted need to create surreal and complex books/movies/art. Misery seems to be the norm in the Russian way of life, and this movie makes sure to keep happiness to a minimum! The movie is based on a script entitled "Brown Moscow", by Yuri Kamenetsky et al. There really needed to be a "Directors Comments" segment on this DVD. The movie is Surreal and Complex: My 8.5 rating is based on this genre.
Here is my description of the plot: Sarah laments her missing son Thomas, who ran away years before. She finds a clue of his whereabouts in a catalog of a painting exhibition in Russia, and she goes there. In Russia, a young boy keeps watching her at at distance and she is confused. Eventually we get to the main mystery, where a woman (Katya) is cared for by her husband, who protects her from memories of the death of her past lover (Thomas) for the last 10-years with gentle care, and drugs when she needs them. Katya has occasional episodes where she goes to Thomas' drowning-site and is puzzled.
The movie's mystery is finally revealed, when at this drowning-site, the husband once-and-for-all convinces Katya that Thomas was long dead - and she jumps into the water. Sarah and the boy (revealed as Thomas re-incarnated) are late arriving on the scene. Thomas jumps in and saves her. (In the water his shape shifts to adult form for dramatic effect).
Katya (her hair flowing) and her rescuer are cast in quite striking imagery, floating slowly down into the deep. The movie ends with Katya evidently going her own way (back to caring husband), and Sarah joins with Thomas the boy. He is painting a picture of Katya and Sarah says "You really miss her ... don't feel bad ... maybe you'll be with her next time".
The Woods (2006)
Cool Mystery with Surreal Mood Throughout
I loved the low key, surreal mood present throughout this movie! Heather (Agnes Bruckner) is required to go to a boarding-school during the 1960's era, by her very proper and upscale mom (Emma Campbell). This is to help reform her after a fire-starting incident involving Heather and an evidently irksome forest close to home. The very proper instructors at this school, behave very mysteriously (they must know something:).
The head mistress who is named Miss. Traverse (Patricia Clarkson), both takes an interest in Heather and seems to know something of her powers. Heather tries to do her time, but then the strange stuff starts happening - one student disappears, another has an accident.
Heather eventually realizes that she has a supernatural power and that destiny has led her here - because these woods really do need a good burning!! The ending is both exciting and re-uniting.
Rick (2003)
An Original Comedy, urh, Tragedy
Well, since the movie is a spin on "Rigoletto" the tragic clown, you strongly suspect that "Rick" is going to cause someone decent to be extinguished. After about 15-minutes it's fairly certain that the daughter, Eve will be the unfortunate one - because she is the only gentle character in the movie! And since she is also the only person that Rick cares about and conspires to protect, her fate is sealed (the Rigoletto duality).
The movie is both entertaining and outrageous. The "morbid ending" isn't to be taken seriously (Rick's grief is brief - in the movie), because that is the whole point of a Rigoletto-style comedy, tragedy. No time for tear jerking - the movie ends with Rick just sort of throwing up his hands in a "why me" gesture, cognizant of his loss and also that he has a lot of explaining to do.
Agnes Bruckner (Eve) and Bill Pullman (Rick) give excellent performances - with a very believable father-daughter relationship, as well as interactions with the other characters. The boss played by Aaron Stanford had to love his role as the young weasel:)
Dreamland (2006)
Satisfying Movie: Daughter Rehabs her Dad and Gets a Life
Agnes Bruckner plays Audrey, a self-sacrificing friend and daughter. Audrey dreams of leaving the Dreamland cocoon and experiencing life. Instead of acting on her college and life's desires, she puts herself at the disposal of others (her devastated, widowed father and her chronically ill best friend).
Pragmatically speaking, she simply has to nudge her dad out of his comfort zone. Teach him how to live again by dragging him out of the trailer and going places - initially with her. Like many challenges in personal relationships, this is easier said than done because feelings trump practicality.
In the end the father helps himself in order to help his daughter. When he finds her letters of acceptance to the various colleges that she has kept hidden from him, he realizes he MUST step-up, and transform from being Audrey's dependent to being her dad. This is a very satisfying Dad and Daughter movie with an interesting cast, nice music and scenery.
Venom (2005)
Indie Horror Movie with Mystery/Voodoo/Friendship Themes
Venom is a classic-style horror movie with elements of mystery, adventure and minimal gore. It is also an "Indie" type of movie, in that it stars a group of young actors with lots of energy, who are having fun, planning their lives (and getting killed-off:) I rated it a Nine within this context.
The mystery theme, involving a group of young friends, reminds me of a Nancy Drew type story line. These young friends, with their whole lives ahead of them, are forced to learn about Voodoo quickly (to avoid getting killed-off:)
The horror/Voodoo theme is well-known: A Voodoo Zombie is created when a dead body becomes "possessed" by a legion of escaped bad souls. These souls had previously been extracted from unfortunate victims and "confined" by a good Voodoo priestess during intervention/cleansing rituals. Unfortunately the bad souls escaped their confinement during an accident).
The adventure theme is classic rockem-sockem: Obviously the Zombie is out for a hellish romp, and killing people left-and-right to strengthen it's evil occupants. Who is going to step-up and kick it's butt?
This movie was deliberately made to be fun and entertaining, as well as provide some Voodoo folklore. A great Friday night romp in the swamp with an evil Zombie! Where Friends get to gather at Voodoo temples, get chased thru a bona-fide Louisiana Swamp, and often get to die!! There's even a hero at the end:)
Vacancy 2: The First Cut (2008)
Excellent Actress in a Watchable B-Movie
"Vacancy 2" is a prequel that occurs before the original "Vacancy".
It is also a "20-something" version of the original because the main actors (victims) are young and have lots more energy! Therefore, the dementos are hard-pressed to kill them all:)
There is also a surprise ending! Agnes Bruckner works really, really hard in this one (both to stay alive, and to avoid paying the hotel bill). Will she succeed on at least one out of two? Will she raid the continental breakfast?
The chase, hide, seek, and combat scenes are actually suspenseful and exciting. Just fast forward past the mercifully brief contrived gore.
The movie is about 1-hour and 25-minutes long, and does have an interesting directors-actors commentary. It points out a major strategy for some "straight-to-DVD" movies is speed (Using experienced actors to quickly get a followup movie released).
Blood and Chocolate (2007)
Fantasy Adventure Romance (Includes Metaphor and Movie vs Book Discussions)
The opening scene is a soft narration by Vivian as an adult, while you view her as a child, making angels in the snow:) You then flash to the present, where you see the adult Vivian (played by Agnes Bruckner) jogging to her job at the Chocolate boutique.
It is fascinating that this particular movie became a battleground for the movie-vs-book war in general! The movie producers made the Deliberate decision to Not try to mirror the book. There are a myriad of legitimate reasons for this (for example,the movie is for a mature audience, whereas the book is slanted towards an adolescent audience). I guess there needs to be an industry convention to identify this so the book advocates won't feel betrayed and seek to damage the movie.
The movie is a nice fantasy adventure romance with interesting scenic locales. It's an artistic movie with a fairly straightforward plot, but with a glaring moral theme: everyone should be entitled to freedom of choice.
Vivian is put under pressure as the next-to-be-chosen by the Alpha male werewolf. She decides to be contrary, in wanting the freedom to marry whom she chooses. Besides the chosen locale, the European bent can also be seen in their continued fascination for Rave-style Discos. In one scene many young people (perhaps half of them part of the werewolf nation) gather after-hours to socialize, network, drink, and dance to sweat it off.
"Blood and Chocolate" is a very good movie and is suitable for most audiences. The European flavor may feel unfamiliar to some, many had horror expectations and simply couldn't tolerate a romance:) A lot of effort was put into the production, and the actors were stellar.
ADDENDUM The Blood and Chocolate Metaphor:
Blood and Chocolate signifies a metaphor for Werewolves and Humans. Aidan represents tasty chocolate (what Vivian wants), whereas Gabriel represents healthful blood (what Vivian needs).
The movie's director decided to DIFFER from the book, in that Vivian ultimately chooses Chocolate. (This is THE major irritant to the book vigilantes, who came out to comment in force:)
In the book: Gabriel is the alpha male who is responsible for leading the pack. He loves Vivian but she initially favors Aidan. HERE Vivian eventually concludes that Aidan is fleeting and non-essential - and therefore Blood is better than Chocolate.
In the movie: Vivian says "I have the taste of blood AND chocolate in my mouth". HERE Vivian eventually concludes that Gabriel is just too cold and domineering to be with - and therefore Chocolate is better than Blood. (It seems to be assumed that the audience would be curious and listen to the director's commentary, to divine the meaning of this single utterance).
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Incredible Historical Fiction Spectacle (Superb Audio/Visual and Romantic Sub-Plot)
I just recently (2004) saw this movie and now regret not having seen it earlier. This was a truly entertaining HISTORICAL FICTION, and much more than merely a war epic. It was an Audio/Visual extravaganza - where no expense was spared, and tremendous attention to detail was paid on the scenery, costumes, buildings, room decor, music, etc.
The movie included an excellent romantic side-plot (with amazing nostalgia such as: bidding farewell thru old fashioned revolving doors). I thought the Affleck, Beckinsale, Hartnett interactions were very well acted.
The entire Cast gave absolutely 100 percent and I believe this movie will be valued as a HISTORICAL FICTION.