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Reviews
Black Widow (2021)
I couldn't watch this any longer, I felt my blood pressure increasing.
It's just too much violence, and felt my blood pressure getting higher. The story at the beginning was interesting, but it's just not a well written story and way too much violence in place of a more cerebral intelligent thought from what little I did see till I decided to stop watching. This may not be a fair review, but I don't need this adreneline rush. Well written, intelligence, empathy, humor, I find lacking here.
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Awkwafina shows off her talent
Awkwafina gets to show a wide range of her acting talent in this movie taking on different personalities that is entertaining and delightful to see in this film.
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Terminator has heart.
This version has heart, pulling the viewer in with its three female lead characters Hamilton, Davis, Reyes. Even Schwarzenegger is likable for once. Despite its heavy use of special effects, this script has enough engagement of the heart that pulled me into the film's attention, and liking it.
Official Secrets (2019)
Excellent, attention grabber from the first moment till its end.
Excellent script, wonderful acting, grabbing my attention from its first appearance through to the finish. Thought provoking.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
Lacking a good script puts story and actors in a unsatisfactory position.
Characters and storyline one dimensional, predictable plot and actions. All fluff and no satisfaction after viewing this empty movie.
The Most Dangerous Year (2018)
Documentary on the issue of transgenders using toilets
The documentary covers the emotional and political issue of toilet usage by transgenders runs much too long, needs much tighter editing to take the viewer through their points quickly in this documentary.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
Retread, Repeat, Discard
The latest Star Wars episode 8 was entertaining enough, plenty of violence, explosions. But doesn't have the impact like in 1977 with the first one when all this was rather new.
Instead, Lucas sold his rights to Disney, and Disney's choice of director J.J. Abrams chose to retelling or rehashing a story from before, not of a storyline of substance, the ethics behind the story.
The special effects have matured since 1977, but the storyline isn't really all that strong, and frankly it's like eating popcorn, expensive concession that's good for the cinema, but leaves you looking for something of substance elsewhere.
Daisy Ridley provides a fresh face, new blood, engaging the audience, gives a nice screen performance. The top three billing of Ford, Hamill, Fisher resembles something more of a high school reunion, a reminder of how much we all aged, on screen.
King Kong (2005)
Naomi Watts, deep and enriching really brings it home emotionally
King Kong is an intelligent, well written script, wonderfully acted by Naomi Watts and it's supporting cast, brings it home for me emotionally as her lead character role develops and grows throughout this deep and enriching film. King Kong is truly King on the island as the story unfolds, but is no match for man with it's military arsenal, fear, and lack of control, ignorance and misunderstanding over the Kong is eventually doomed when transported to New York City.
She is penniless, hungry, is pulled into a movie, falls in love with the writer Jack Driscoll played by Adrien Brody, lands on an island, captured and made as a food offering by it's local inhabitants to King Kong. Initially afraid, fearful and tries to escape the giant gorilla Kong, then resorts to her vaudeville skills to entertain the beast but tires quickly of being repeatedly pushed down for falls to make the Kong laugh and decides to stand up for herself.
Communications and understanding are quickly established and her feelings and emotions are quickly transformed to one of love, empathy, sympathy, compassion by the gorilla's display of feelings, protection, love, jealousy for her and each of their facial expressions towards one another are felt by the audience viewer. She realizes Carl Denham's plot to capture the giant gorilla but is powerless to stop it and feels responsible for it's capture.
Another scene when in New York City, Kong escapes and attempts to find the blonde met on the island, they meet up again for a few precious moments of joy and laughter on ice as when they were back on the island. They develop a love bond for each other and she towards the end displays courage in trying to protect the doomed gorilla from a run of airplanes attacking.
The Notebook (2004)
A love story to cherish, a must have addition to your DVD collection.
Rachel McAdams playing the young Allie Hamilton character does an outstanding, passionate performance as a young girl falling in love for Ryan Gosling performing as the young Noah Calhoun gives the right chemistry for the audience for us to share in this experience. Their performances pulls us into their passion, their love.
This is balanced out with Gena Rowlands and James Garner playing the roles of the older couple as the older Allie and the Duke later on in years of their relationship. As the story is told about their life, seeing their love for one another develop, seeing their passionate love grow for one another is wonderful to share in this cinematic experience, more than once.
Another film comes to mind is "The Family Man" where Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni are great together with their love for each other but in a different context.
Tai Bei wan 9 zao 5 (2002)
Intersting interaction and relationships with a small niche of friends in a contemporary setting mixed with some sex and drugs.
This is a story in a contemporary setting in Taipei involving a small group of young Chinese adult friends and their relationships forming and breaking up, mixed into the story with some drugs and sex. It's fairly well done for this class of film.
Regarding Henry (1991)
Another warm hearted story
Harrison Ford does it again. This time first establishing his character as a almost heartless, corporate lawyer. Then after getting shot in the head and losing his memory, he starts life over again. This time he becomes a decent, warm human being as he re-enters life in the big city. Bill Nunn does a good performance helping Ford get back on his feet physically and then later on as a friend for advice. It's too bad this isn't available on DVD as of this writing. I have on laserdisc.
Spy Game (2001)
Redford's age shows.
Robert Redford performance is adequate but his age shows, he's not a sex symbol as he once was when he was younger. It's almost starts to be painful to watch Redford doing this movie as opposed to when he was in "Three Days of the Condor." Brad Pitt does a decent performance in his character role.
Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
Exciting, gritty, forgettable
This film has a high amount of energy and movement. Some of that effort would have been better used for character development. Constant motion, gritty photography, lots of action. Still it lacks in depth of characters/story development. I enjoy seeing Gene Hackman but like the NATO admiral character restricting his movements, so it is with the director of this movie, making Hackman character almost reduced to a backdrop of the story. The surviving pilot acts and behaves in a way that I don't really care what happens to him in the story or this movie for that matter. It's exciting movie for the moment and after it's over, forgotten. I'd prefer movies that would have me ponder over the characters and or the movie after it's over. This isn't one of them. This might make it over to the $4.99 new DVD's bin after it has its short run in the theatres.
Hollow Man (2000)
Good special effects doesn't save a poor storyline.
The premise starts out good about finding a formula to invisibility, but when the Kevin Bacon character goes on a killing spree it's time to pull the plug. This could have been better done but it turns into a cheap slasher movie.
Mei shao nian zhi lian (1998)
A beautifully crafted love story
The look of the film is glossy and polished as are the stars of the film. The story unfolds and follows the life of a young Hong Kong police officer as he gets involved with another young and cute guy. The ending line in the story is quite profound regarding love; knowing that you have found it, but not knowing where it will lead you. This is one I would like in my DVD collection.