Reviews

5 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
possible ending?
21 August 2001
Warning: Spoilers
Beware! Spoilers for those who have not seen the movie!

I'll just question one glaring plot flaw I have not yet read, before I offer a possible ending to the movie.

In discovering the 'mayday' message on the Oberon where Leo finds that he has unwittingly caused all the events etc. We hear the female animal/chimp handler stating that the monkeys have started killing them all. If this were the case, how could humans have eventually out - populated the planet 4 -1? With this and the horses (and certain aspects of the ape civilization) these to me are the major let downs in the story. I quite liked the time paradox angle. And remakes will always be viewed with scepticism by a generation old enough to have enjoyed an original.

I watched it without any plot info on purpose (so it could unravel honestly and maybe I could enjoy it more) Anyway, I mostly did enjoyed it until the end then I got the impression there was enough plot for a sequel jammed into the last 15 mins.

So if I sum up a few of the plot twists: Apes are descendants of our genetically engineered space cadets. They are deeply religious - except for Thades' bloodline (was his great grandaddy the violent one in the cage they were talking about in the beginning?)

Ok we've got that sorted. I think that Leo's character was fairly honestly acted by Wahlberg. He didn't really care about any of the people or apes but just used them to get back to his ship (or what he thought would be his ship). So if for a minute we agree that he is a selfish individual, and that he has no choice but to rally the human troops or be killed by the approaching ape army even quicker (and ignore all that 'we can do it' crap) Heres my version of the ending:

The second pod comes down with his chimp mate onboard (this is ok as we know the cosmic whatever has cause this time displacement)

Leo doesnt just walk over to it and start man-handling the 'deity' as I'm sure the Gorilla Commander would have taken him apart. But the Space cadet bounds out into Leos arms in Friendship at least giving the still pumped up ape army something to think about for a minute.

General Thade who lets face it is not going to calm down for even Simo himself goes all out to kill Leo as he is obviously threatened by the possible shift of power.

The Fighting kicks off again and in the scramble Simo is killed, Thade has to kill his own Commander (who is religious) and Leo makes a run for the pod and escapes.

In his escape into the sky we see the human element being once and for all dealt with by Thade and his now un-opposed command.

Leo enters the cosmic anomally again and is ejected on the other side to what he can visibly see is earth (maybe just thinks he is lucky) he chooses america and flies in etc. Then the end could play out as written.

I know I've rushed that a bit but at least it would have tied in the twist ending more plausibly. It also keeps with his selfish character, the total ape population of the 'final' planet and with the overall dark tone (Thankyou Mr Burton) of the movie. The overall massage of these films is what B******s we as a species are. So why even attempt a happy ending, and then mess it up even more with a meaning less twist at the last minute?
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Why not go all the way
24 July 2001
I went to see JP3 last night to vet it before I take my 6 year old daughter. She is desperate to see it having seen JP and the Lost world and generally loving dinosaurs. I am a great movie fan so have my own opinions on the film but first I'll address the suitability of this movie for young viewers. The original film and Lost World are true 'family movies' containing elements for everyone - decent story, good acting, great (groundbreaking) effects and humour etc. There's nothing wrong with kids being scared periodically, being scared is part of the whole monster movie experience. All that said, JP3 is too 'full on' for one as young as 6 and I think I'll try to get her to wait for DVD, to tone down the whole experience. She saw the first two at home and wont be expecting the sheer sound and visuals of this movie at the cinema. I would advise other parents the same, at least with kids this young.

As for my opinion of the film - well, we've seen it all before. I've read many comments and agree with most. Its lame storyline is its down fall and this could've been so much better. In my opinion a far better film would have carried a 15 certificate at least. One they could have made for adults only, and really explored new territory and therefore could not be compared to the previous two. A huge audience loves scary films and monster movies so why not go for it with a proper modern day horror. Throw in a good conspiracy theory plot about INGEN and some realistic profanity and gut wrenching effects. In short give people what they really want. JP3 does niether for either age group.

For your children, I reccommend the BBC's series 'Walking with Dinosaurs' it's informative and has near the same quality of effects.

See for yourself.
49 out of 75 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Life of Brian (1979)
Are you the Judean peoples front?
27 August 1999
Surly one of the funniest movies ever made. I saw it in 79 when I was 7 and used to laugh at all of the bad language. But countless viewings later I could probably recite the whole movie. It is a masterpiece of writing and every scene is perfectly performed. Its one of those films that you find yourself quoting lines from to a complete stranger you may have met,say, on a plane, given you both share the same sense of humour. Better still if you don't, and they are deeply religious. Have you ever noticed the sets/costumes etc? Everything looks so dirty and realistic its amazing given the budget they had.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Mulan (1998)
Who is it really for?
5 August 1999
I just caught Mulan at the cinema on its re-release( I assume to back Tarzan up). I watched it with my 4 year old daughter who loved every second of course (she knows all the songs, names of the characters etc)But then again so do I. I am a Disney fan. No doubt about it. Ever since I was a kid, (I'm a big one now at 27)I've pretty much caught all of the Disney movies and as you get older they obviously change. Not the movies themselves, but your perception of what you are watching. As a movie fan I can appreciate all of Disneys recent movies as an adult( the direction, artwork, character selection and most importantly story selection). I like them all in different ways, Aladdin for X, Notre Dame for Y and it goes on. The point I am making is this: Does it really matter what I think? My daughter loved it. Its for her. Its for all the kids to enjoy the world over. I try not to be critical of Imbd reviews but I think people maybe aren't watching a movie like this in the right frame of mind if they are not at least entertained by its simple (ok predictable) story and the easy to listen to musical score etc. As an Eddie murphy fan I loved mushu, but I can appreciate someone not acquainted with his comedy finding him miscast in this film. But again, so what? Do the kids care? No. As adults we criticize the selection of the comedy relief and we wonder who the comedy relief will be in the next film. I'm not saying you have to have children to enjoy a Disney movie nor am I saying any person young or old, male or female, chinese or arabic etc isn't entitled to an opinion on said movie, but hey lighten up folks. I think Mulan is another solid performance from Disney and look forward to Tarzan.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Mad Max (1979)
the greatest movie a boy could want
10 July 1999
I was born in 72, so I would be 10 or 11 when I first saw Mad Max on video. As a child it was the fantasy of fast cars, bikes and violence that ingrained this movie into my mind. I must have watched it 30 times or so, gobbling up the sequels in due course. As an adult I have seen this film also a number of times(most recently in its original Aussie dialect-much better) and I can safely say it is a modern classic. Not just for launching the career of Mel Gibson, or for spawning an entire genre of "downfall of society" movies. It simply does not try to be anything that it is not. Low budget, high octane, unknowns all acting their socks off and stunts to make Hong Kong cinema green (check out the slo-mo bike crash on the bridge) As a kid it was Road Warrior that became my favorite (hey, a wrist mounted crossbow is tough to beat) but really it is Mad Max that shines today. For a first time viewer it is probably a difficult movie to watch given its age and obvious budget. But I defy any action movie fan not to thrill when he hits the blower on that car! As a kid 100/10 today a solid 7.8/10
0 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed