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Reviews
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Not much new to add EXCEPT... (poss. spoilers)
By now, just about all of the ridiculous and illogical parts of Battlefield Earth has been covered, so, I'm not going to go there. What I have not see brought up is the rather ugly message that seems to come up near the end of the film. In their plan for freedom, the humans decide that they must destroy the Psychlo home world. In other words, what this movie (and, I presume, the book it's based on) is saying is, genocide can be rationalized! It's presumably okay to try to destroy an entire race, as long as it's the "correct" race. This idea really disturbs me. I certainly hope that this is not one of the messages inherent in Scientology. But, it make me wonder...
Warriors of the Apocalypse (1984)
Everything you'd want..... (minor spoilers)
Warriors of the Apocalypse has everything you could possibly want in a post-apocalyptic action move; a band of unkempt guys in overly elaborate leather outfits, guns that will kill you even if the bullet strikes a tree four feet away, Polynesian warriors, immortal pygmies in King Diamond makeup, a village populated almost exclusively by women in fur bikinis, a telepathic jungle princess in jewels and high heels with a rocket launcher-equipped throne, a hydroelectric plant masquerading as a nuclear reactor operated by hideous, radiation scarred mutants, and a plot with absolutely no point whatsoever. Oh, and it's dull too.
The Pledge (2001)
Wonderful character study (contains spoilers)
I'm very interested to see that so many people found this movie, especially the ending, to be a disappointment. One cannot go into this movie expecting a traditional 'whodunnit.'
Many commented that the film lacks closure, and that the identity of the killer is left unknown. First of all, the killer's identity is not really relevant, as, in my view, this film is not a traditional mystery. If one pays attention, one can figure out who the killer is. The real story of the film is about a man who makes a rather rash promise, and how this promise eats away at him and threatens to cost him his very soul.
If you're looking for a police procedural, look elsewhere. This film is an almost existential story about a promise, and the terrible price that it exacts from him.
Grounded for Life (2001)
Nice try
Despite engaging performances by Donal Logue and Megyn Price, this show has a long way to go. Most of the elements of the show are far too derivative of other, better shows. The two sons seem as though they wandered in from 'Malcolm in the Middle,' the grandfather is a mixture of Red Foreman of 'That 70's Show' and Stacy Keach from 'Titus.' The creators of the show also need to get rid of the stupid, Christopher Walken wannabe best friend character. (Does EVERYONE on television have to have a moron as a best friend?) They also need to rethink the 'Titus'-esque flashback sequences.
I'm going to give the show a few weeks, but they had better find a more distinctive voice for the show, and stop ripping off elements from other shows.