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Reviews
The Unforgivable (2021)
So many holes
There are so many flaws and holes in this movie, but the bottom line is this - the younger sister.was five at the start, add the 20 years in prison (plus however long it took to go to trial), Katie is a minimum of 25 years old! It's one adult seeking out another adult. The adoptive parents would have no control over any of this anymore. Not to mention, a city the size of Seattle - who would really still be harboring a 20 year old grudge? And why is the PO only ever antagonistic toward Ruth? Did anyone put any thought into writing this tripe?
Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss (2004)
Ivan, Ivan!
Of all the made for television movies I've ever watched, this was one of them. Jamie-Lynn DiScala gave a performance worthy of this film. She showed her range, moving from the known quantity of Meadow Soprano to the sleazy world of satisfying Hollywood players. But even still, this movie was all about Jason Stewart. Slap another mole on that boy. "Ivan, Ivan! Just a couple, please!" When I heard that line, I truly believed he was a paparazzi. Now it doesn't even matter that I didn't really see any photographers themselves, so I couldn't point him out. But all I needed was to hear that line. Perhaps we are better off having not seen him, but the outside of that nightclub came alive when JStew shouted. Well done, phone-slap.
Jersey Girl (2004)
Hey Kevin, I want my 102 minutes back!
Okay fine, so Kevin Smith and all involved with this project got my money - fine. But I want my time wasted on this tripe back!
Once again, Ben Affleck shows himself to be among the worst actors ever. No, he didn't overact in this movie - that would imply that he can act in the first place. Many people (aside from me) failed to keep from laughing out loud at his most poignant scenes - he's just completely unbelievable. Liv Tyler gives a nice performance, and the bit parts of Steven Root are quite funny. But at this point, George Carlin is not the funny man he used to be, but just a bitter old man.
I truly hope Kevin Smith doesn't feel like he's got to keep casting Ben Affleck. I'd like to be able to enjoy his films again. This was complete garbage from start to end.
Love Actually (2003)
What was with that ending?
Among chick flicks, this one was amusing. But what was with the ending? It's like they suddenly realized they were out of time, so let's just throw everybody into the airport. There was little explanation as to what most of the people had to do with one another outside of Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant. Most of the rest, just at the end, were suddenly all lifelong friends. It didn't exactly take away from the overall enjoyment, but still left me feeling off a bit about the movie.
The Italian Job (2003)
Fun ride
I've read plenty of negative comments about this movie, but I found it quite entertaining from start to finish. Good action and some good one liners (Seth Green making his own conversation between Rob and Becky was great!).
Really, you've got to be taking things way to seriously and being far too analytical to tear the movie apart. Just let it be a fun ride.
The French Connection (1971)
Why the continued fuss?
I must say, I was expecting a whole lot more from all the hype I've heard. Of course the most constant comment has always been "best chase seen ever!" Well, maybe at the time, but now I'd have to say movies have come a long way, and I've seen many better chase scenes in many worse movies. I'd call it "Best chase scene of it's era". Come on, even the Blues Brothers went speeding through busy streets under an elevated train.
Overall, there was not much to make this movie any more engrossing than any 70's television crime drama. None of the imagery nor the story line are any more gripping to me than any 70's James Bond or Dirty Harry film. The French Connection is a fine film, but I was disappointed due to all I'd heard prior to watching it.
Igby Goes Down (2002)
Man I hated this movie
From the first minute to the last, there was not a single likeable character in this film. Are we really supposed to be rooting for pathetic Igby? The slutty women he comes across? His philandering God-father? Not to mention his mother or brother. I hated every person, as not one of them had a single redeeming quality. Oh, Bill Pullman's character wasn't a bad guy, for what that was worth. Awful, awful film.
Unfaithful (2002)
Unfaithful - Unwatchable
Wow, that was bad. Slide that one right onto my list of all time worsts. Just a movie about an affair. We all just kept waiting for something to happen. Once the police started to come around, we waited for the other shoe to drop. It never did. Nothing happened. Just a poor piece of moviemaking, but at least Diane Lane was, as always, very nice to look at.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Hysterical!
In a sentence, simply one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Most folks in the theater came out saying the same thing. My sides ached from laughing so much. If you liked Rushmore even remotely, you'll be floored by The Royal Tenenbaums.
Clear and Present Danger (1994)
Good as a stand alone
This film would have been better had I never read the book. It does fine on it's own, but there is so much more detail (as usual, I know) in the book that it makes it much more gripping than the film can be. The twists and turns in the plot keep you turning pages, where there are only the basic plots twists in the film.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
What an ending!
Wow - what a great film. It seems like merely a very good film, riveting, spellbinding, and well played, until the end ties it all together and you realize that this is an outstanding film. More what I would consider suspenseful than scary, it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Even my wife, who always seems to know how movies will end was thrown for a loop. Very well done!
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Good chick flick
While there's no official category for "chick flick", this would fit into that genre. But this film is much more than that. It is filled with great comedy throughout, Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow share a great screen chemistry, and the other players are a very nice fit.
There is so much going on in this film that it remains consistently entertaining. This is not a film one should have to worry about being forced to watch - it is rather enjoyable for a wide variety of audiences.
Se7en (1995)
Disturbing - at the least
A rather good movie, but disturbing isn't quite strong enough to describe it. This movie made me want to go home and stare at the wall. Those who enjoyed The Silence of the Lambs or Copycat should enjoy this as well, but be prepared for some gruesome scenes.
Aliens (1986)
The real deal
This is one of the best action/sci-fi movies made. With far more action than the original, Aliens is enjoyable throughout. The battle scenes, the marines' "witty" barbs, and the ever annoying Burke - if they're not fighting aliens, they're fighting with each other. Ripley shows she can kick a little tail, too, and doesn't take any guff from anyone.
For fans of the genre, this is a must own film.
Alien (1979)
See the sequel
This is one of those rare cases where the sequel (ONLY the first, mind you) is better than the original. Alien is, to me, dull, dark, shock-horror, trying to scare you with sudden noises and camera turns. I sat there waiting for something to happen for most of the film, mostly bored to tears. To me, the only purpose for Alien is as a set up for the far superior Aliens.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Bad ending? I blow my nose in your general direction!
If this is not the funniest movie of all time, it is then only because there might be others tied with it. I have sat with friends who were straight-faced throughout, obviously because they could not turn off their analytical side for a short while and enjoy pure silliness.
For those who berate the ending, what did you expect? It's perfect - it fits right in with the rest of the quest and results the knights had achieved previously.
For those who don't like it at all, perhaps you just consider yourself too cerebral. Relax - it's meant to be nonsense.
Notting Hill (1999)
Notting Hill - try nodding off
Of all the "chick flicks" I've ever sat through - this was one of them. Nothing to hold my attention, nothing to make me care one bit about the main characters. I enjoyed all of Hugh Grant's friends and family in the film, but it didn't take long for me to want to smack him off the screen. And all Julia Robert's character did was again make me wonder why people want to hold celebrities in such high esteem.
Don't get me wrong - this is far from the worst movie I've ever seen. But then again, I've seen Mitchell without MST3K...
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
Tagline - IT'S SHOCKING
Yeah, it's shocking that a movie this bad was ever allowed to be made. At least the writers of South Park admit that they use hallucinogens to come up with some of their material - what was the excuse here? How can anyone possibly sit down and take the time to write something so unbelievably boring, uninteresting, and just plain stupid? Thank God for Joel, Tom and Crow...
La vita è bella (1997)
Among the best
Simply put, this is among the best films I have ever seen. To the bitter-sweet end, I found no flaws in this film. Benigni was absolutely magnificent, and made me really care about his family as much as he did. I just cannot say enough good things about this film.