Change Your Image
Doogeylover
Reviews
Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
How I wish I had my own Mr. Holland
What a wonderful movie. I just watched it and am in awe of Richard Dreyfuss' amazing acting. Only being 15 but an avid music lover myself, I sat there wishing I had a teacher like Mr. Holland that inspired me like so many of the students in the movie, that made learning fun by connecting with the students, by doing everything Mr. Holland did. The stories of the students were real and believable. I connected with the girl that played the clarinet, Gertrude Lang, because sometimes I even feel that I'm never good at anything.
Every person of every age can appreciate and love this movie. At the end, when Mr. Holland's goodbye party was discovered in the gym and he took the stage, I was crying.
What a wonderful movie. History-wise, music-wise, and story-wise.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
One of the best movies ever made, in my opinion.
Great movie. Teenage classic. As a teenager myself, I relate to many of these characters. Everyone was perfect in this movie. I have no problems with it whatsoever. It is probably one of the closest relations to actual teenage/high school life that I have ever seen on the big screen (Most of those movies are totally exaggerated and idiotic. People aren't setting fire to things in the school lawn and there aren't massive Junior girl fights in the corridors,at least not where I go to school). All of my friends love this movie and, like me, can see themselves in each one of the characters, even though they are all so different. That is what makes this movie so profound and excellent. Perfect. I can't say too much else. I'm going to buy it as soon as I can get to the mall again.
And to those who don't like it, I have one thing to say. "Eat my shorts." :)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Wonderful. Best one yet.
I love this movie. As a devoted Harry Potter fan, I was disappointed with a few things, but you can't always match your vision with the vision of the director. All of the Harry Potter main characters, played by Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint, were much better this time around (I still like to laugh at their acting jobs in the first two movies, but they were kids). The replacement Dumbledore I actually liked BETTER than the first one because he seemed more quirky, more like the Dumbledore that I picture and that is represented in the books. David Thewlis and Gary Oldman were fine, though I see them differently as well. Not that he is ugly, but Sirius Black is supposed to be very, VERY good-looking, and you could not see a trace of a good-looking man (that I pictured) in the withered Oldman.
Also, the ending was rather stupid for me. I did not like the whole Harry-got-a-broom-and-is-whisked-away ending with Daniel Radcliffe's blurry face.
Great movie. I cannot wait for the next one! (November 18, 2005!)
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Can you say brilliant?
I loved this movie to no end. I have the DVD, read the book, seen the play twice, own the Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman soundtrack, and seen the silent movie. Of course, Gerard Butler was fantastic. I don't mind that he is not the greatest singer in the world, because he plays the Phantom exactly the way I have always seen the Phantom in my mind. Emmy Rossum was very good as Christine. Her voice is beautiful and pure. Though, again, its not the best singing voice, Butler's and Rossum's voices sound beautiful together. Everyone was great in this movie. The add-ins (like the sword-fighting sequence in the graveyard) and changes (the Phantom's Don Juan instructions during the Masquerade sequence) were great. If you are devoted to the play you might not enjoy it as much, so go into it knowing that it is not the ALW version you might know. Brilliant. What more can I say?
Timeline (2003)
Acting could have been better....
First of all, I must confess that I have not read the book but am planning to. I have no idea what differences there would be between the two medias.
With that said, I REALLY liked this movie. I truly did. The acting could have been a bit better. Paul Walker was absolutely awful... I'm sorry, but he needs some acting lessons. Being good-looking isn't everything.
Gerard Butler as Merak was awesome. I loved the plot twists (which were probably in the book... duh). I loved the authenticity of the sets. David Thewlis was also very good. I enjoyed those actors. Everyone else did an okay job.
Now I'm going to have to read the book, of course, but I truly loved this movie.