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Reviews
Sex and the City (2008)
Don't believe the 4.6 rating or the negative comments. Loved it!
Honestly, I was appalled when I read the initial reviews on this film. I had been looking forward to finding out what happened to Carrie and Big, as well as Samantha and Smith, but I was nearly frightened away by the really undeserved negative reviews of this film. Thankfully, I had bought advanced tickets at a Luxe theater and was committed. This movie was completely true to the characters as any fan of Sex and the City, the TV series, will know. If you loved them then, you will love them now. Each character has new challenges or different problems to deal with, except Charlotte, who truly seems to be happy and grateful for what she has. I laughed out loud often and cried, just a little. The theater we went to served Cosmopolitans and made it the event it deserved to be. New York was a minor character in the film as were the shoes and bags and fashions. Anthony Marantino's wedding planner was great and not so nearly over the top as he can be. Finally seeing Stanford for the great guy he is, was just a perk. Many of the other series characters were still represented, but this movie was, a story about the relationship between four female friends, helping each other through life and love. IMHO, this is about characters as real and flawed as American Beauty ever thought of being, but no one had to die, nor did I want to kill myself for having wasted the time watching it. If I had one complaint it was that the nudity and sex scenes were a bit gratuitous and seemed easily cut out of the film when the time comes to put it on TV, but other than that I will see this film again. I am thrilled with how the director and the actors carried forth from the series end. It was hysterical to watch the monogamous Samantha eat her way through her lust for another. Not to mention, just the teeniest bit sad. There were so many moments of pure joy and disbelief, as well as bittersweet reality So, don't believe all the negative hoopla and the woefully low rating of 4.6! Why can't a "chick flick" ever get a decent score on this site? My 10/10 hopefully will start to balance this out. So, boys, take your girl, she may just thank you. And girls, let's get that rating up. The big box office this past weekend was because of us.
The Break-Up (2006)
More War of the Roses than When Harry Met Sally.............
*********************Possible Spoiler Alert****************************
For once, the trailers did not totally give away all the plot points for a movie and many are very cranky about it. I am a huge fan of the romantic comedy and let me assure this wasn't one. It was far more War of the Roses than When Harry Met Sally. There were many funny moments and situations in this movie, but they and the romance were not the main focus of this film. The main theme was on The Break-Up. I guess the ending should be no surprise to anyone. Many have stated that is was anti-climatic, but at least they don't end up dead like Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. It was a far more realistic ending than many. I am not a big fan of the realistic ending either, but this one I could live with. It left you with a feeling of promise, ambivalence and dare I say hope. The performances by all were entertaining and had some depth. Don't get me wrong there were many hysterical exchanges and situations. My favorite was the Tone Rangers practicing in Brooke's bedroom while Gary tries to sleep. I believe that there are many women that can relate to Brooke's frustration over Gary's total inability to "get it". When he finally gets it, it is too little too late. It's amazing that Gary has a huge support system that all cater to his whims and needs. It's no wonder that he wasn't ready for the relationship Brooke wanted. This was no romantic comedy, but it was a solid, black comedy.
Hitch (2005)
Your girl will love this one, too......
Okay, so this may be the better romantic comedy so far this year. I loved this movie. It was funny and touching and there was some depth to each character that lead you to understand their idiosyncrasies. Will Smith was delightful, Kevin James appropriately nerdy, and Eva Mendes a great workaholic 21st century girl. The premise that men need a little help to get beyond the obvious barriers to asking "that girl" out is a good one. I think I finally understand "what she sees in him." The plot twists are gentle and not totally unpredictable, but it is endearing that when it comes to his own love life, the date doctor has a boat load of trouble. He can't seem to put any of his own advice into play effectively. The supporting actors are terrific and Will Smith has never been better. I am a great romantic, and even after all these years, still believe in forever love. I bet your girl does too. Take her to this one.
The Wedding Date (2005)
Do yourself a favor men and take the girl of your dreams to this move on Valentine's Day.....
If anyone's made a better romantic comedy this year, I'd like to have seen it. This was a thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy. Us aficionados of this genre rarely look for depth of character or the more depressing side of life. We want Cinderella meets Prince Charming whatever way we can get it. This movie delivers that. How in the world did this move check in at 4.9! with so many positive reviews. It is what it is boys and it is what women look for to make us feel better when you have done something completely unfeeling or male. Time to pay attention. I loved Debra Messing sans the neurotic Grace Adler. No hint of Grace here. I loved Dermot Mulroney also, wow. The only thing that did bother me was understanding how he came to the life he lived and how in truly magical movie style he came to love someone and give up an obviously lucrative lifestyle in less than a week. It is a Cinderella story, so we will chalk it up to romantic fantasy. "I'm okay with that." The supporting cast is outstanding and I love any movie set in England. It is my favorite foreign locale. If you prefer depth and character analysis and the "life sucks, then you die model go see Million Dollar Baby--an excellent movie of a completely different caliber. But if you have had enough of your real life, and don't care to watch someone else's life disintegrate on the big screen, and you just know your boyfriend or husband is going to forget the jewelry, flowers or candy for Valentine 's Day treat yourself to this gem. It is funny, romantic, fantastic, and just a bit of eye candy to give you a lift out of the winter doldrums. Boys, take your favorite girl to this movie Monday--you might just get lucky.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Weird, but wonderful look at true love and soul mates.
This movie was an interesting twist on the usual themes of love and meeting "the one." On the surface Jim Carrey's character and Kate Winslet's Clementine seem ill-suited to each other and the break up seems in inevitable. But when the sci-fi memory erasing kicks in and they attempt to erase each other from their respective memories is when this movie gets interesting. It is a colorful, wild ride. Not my favorite movie, but it was entertaining. I suppose it was inevitable that Kirsten Dunst's character turns into the woman scorned who returns everyone's memory tapes, but that whole part of the film was a little sleazy. I think all of the performers did amazing characterizations. It was truly unique and gets points just for that. If you are not fond of the weird and the deep, rent Laws of Attraction. But, if you don't mind coloring outside the lines, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is worth a look.
The Good Girl (2002)
Definitely NOT a good girl, nor a comedy of any kind.
I thought I only hated the male mid-life crisis films like, American Beauty and About Schmidt, but no, it turns out that I am an equal opportunity hater of the "life sucks then you die" genre. This was not a comedy in any form. Did anyone laugh while watching this film? I have read the Catcher in the Rye and knew I was in trouble when that was the first literary reference in the film. This was not going to be an uplifting story. It was full of angst and drama, but definitely no comedy. The one possibility of comedy was killed off in the first hour of the film. The story was complex and deep. Many layers, not all were fully explored. Possible SPOILERS: What kind of person cheats on her husband, starts an affair with a clearly disturbed young man, has sex with her husband's best friend (am I the only one that thought these two were having an affair of their own) to cover up her affair, BUT pays for the motel for her trysts with her husband's credit card! When she grows tired of the disturbed young man and his angst, she tells on him to his detached parents who try to ship him off to a psychiatric facility, when that fails, she tries to off him. And if that's not enough when she feels regret and stops him from possibly dying she turns him into authorities instead of running off with him and triggers the ultimate response from him. If I was more of a cynic, I would say that on some level she knew her husband couldn't give her a child and she went looking for someone who could, because when all is said and done this woman stays in the same lousy situation, with a husband who beats her (even though it is for cheating on him) only now she draws a new innocent life into her personal hell hole. Definitely NOT a good girl which I do realize was the irony in the whole story, but as far as I can see it was more than just a little gratuitous. Jennifer Aniston did give a good performance, but who cares. This was another depressing story about depressing, hopeless lives. Not at all entertaining.
Beyond the Sea (2004)
Captures the essence of all that was Darin........
I have loved Bobby Darin since 1960, I was six years old and saw him sing and dance on TV. I was concerned that Kevin Spacey was too old to play the young Bobby, but I was wrong, I felt that he did more than a passable job at capturing the essence of Darin at all ages. With how sickly Bobby was he aged before his time and in the sequences in his later years, Spacey was a dead ringer. I would have liked some original Bobby Darin recordings for the lead in to the movie and as the credits rolled, but Spacey did a great job with the vocals and I liked the concept with the young Bobby as part of the dying Bobby's imagination in how to film his life's story. Some of the inside joke's were not lost on the audience and there was a great feel to the movie in general. I was very familiar with the story, but still found new things in this telling. I loved Bob Hoskins, but found John Goodman disappointing, as Steve Blauner. Blauner is a bluntly, colorful character and Goodman didn't capture the importance of this man in Darin's life. I liked the big musical numbers and the big band sequences. Bobby was difficult at times, he lived large, because he knew he was living a shortened version of the life he could have had. I think this film did a great job in delivering the essence of who Bobby Darin was and is........a legendary performer ..... under-appreciated in his own time. Just a couple of other things. Many people have been trying to get this movie made for a long time, over 20 years, including Spacey. There have been many delays. He WAS younger when he first had this vision. Second, Sandra Dee was extremely young and naive when she first met Bobby. It is not out of the realm of possibility that she did not know what the Copa was. She was after all a movie ingénue,about sixteen years old, protected by her mother and the society of the times, until Bobby. Thanks to Kevin Spacey for making this movie and to Dodd Darin and Steve Blauner for agreeing to it. I loved it.
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
Don't believe the naysayers....
this film is worth seeing. It is entertaining and hysterically funny in parts. I have not read the books, so cannot comment on the omissions, but most films do not live up to their literary counterparts ...name one that does. I thought Hugh Grant gave the best performance. He was charmingly sleazy in a way that had you almost wishing he was "the one" until his true character was revealed yet again. The utter callousness with which he abandons her later in the movie is just the final betrayal, yet Bridget didn't even know that he turned his back. If there was an on-going theme of what was wrong with this movie, it was that the director never
engaged the characters the way the first film did. Much of the motivation of the characters was up to the viewers imagination rather than information given in the film. Bridget and Darcy were so disconnected from their feelings. The continuing gag of Darcy working and Bridget interrupting was funny the first time, but with each successive situation it lacked spark and went in the negative column for how could this man love this woman. All of this goes directly to my primary complaint, the lack of romance on screen. There was plenty of implied sex and Bridget alternately mooning over the new love of her life and stressing over the reasons they shouldn't be together. I wanted to see more of the Darcy-Jones relationship. I wanted to see him fight for her and have her know that he was fighting. I wanted to feel them connect, I had to infer the connection. Also, I found the actual fight scene a little staged (but amusing). Bridget didn't even know they were fighting over her at the time. There was so much in this movie that didn't connect in all the right ways, I agree it did not reach the charm of the first one, but it is still an entertaining piece of film, albeit flawed in spots. I wish they had picked a direction and stuck with it. Her friends and family giving advice on the relationship and Bridget following it unwittingly (at first) had potential. Or if they had had Daniel Cleaver really give Darcy a run for his money and then turn the sleaze factor on. I realize the scenes with Rebecca and Darcy were staged by the director to fein interest where there was none, but Darcy made them believable, so the kiss at the end of the movie was a shock, and not a pleasant one. It came out of no where for me and did not fit with the plot line at all. It was cheap and not worthy of the film that should have been. I for one am sick of two women kissing for what I can only assume are gratuitous male driven reasons. There was no lesbian love story here. I would like to see what was left on the editing room floor. But, with all that said, I still loved it and plan on seeing it again to see what I missed. I was entertained.
The Prince & Me (2004)
I expected to love this film, but it fell short.....
I did like it, after all it was a romantic comedy/fantasy, my favorite type of movie. Let's face it, there just isn't much new in the boy meets girl genre, particularly new stuff that I want to see on a big screen. But this movie had real potential as far as I am concerned. A prince, an all American girl, quirky families, both sides, Denmark, Wisconsin (?). I've never been to Wisconsin, but I don't think it looks like that in the fall. I wasn't too sure that it represented Denmark well either.... There was a real opportunity to use the unusual state and country selection as another character, but that never happened. Lots of things never happened in this movie. Seeing them fall in love for one thing.....but I did like Malbry, and Stiles was okay. (She gave a much better performance in Save the Last Dance), I think. My most ardent complaint, other than uneven storytelling (way to much focus on the Prince's need to race that could have been used to further the story and there was plenty of story to tell, it just didn't get told.) was the ending. Now I am all for fairy tale endings, let me tell you. Ever After, perfect....Runaway Bride, perfect.... Serendipity, again, perfect... you see where I'm going here. If ever there was a story that did not deserve the perfect fairy tale ending, this was it. Not that this movie gave you a perfect, fairytale ending, it most certainly did not, but for the uneducated viewer of romantic comedy you could mistake this "pat" ending for perfect. It was absurd and not in keeping with what you knew about these two people. Exactly how much time had lapsed here anyway. And, waiting years when you are the King of Denmark? I don't think so. What about an heir to the throne. And then how do you reconcile what you know she wants to do with this idiotic, untimely fluff at the end. Even though I had a lot of issues with the movie, I still gave it a solid 7/10....romantic comedy never gets less than a 6 from me, unless you want to count Gigli which was neither romantic, nor a comedy...........This movie looks even better when compared to that piece of trash. Anyway, I thought Julia Stiles character deserved more consideration in the end. What laudable goals. Now if the ending had put them several more years into the future in the Australian outback while he is on a humanitarian aid mission and she is delivering healthcare and education to the aborigines......and they have a chance meeting and one thing leads to another....well let's just say that would have been truer to this romantic fantasy.
Secret Window (2004)
Johnny Depp, the reason to see this film
When I saw the opening credits and the fact that Stephen King wrote the short story, I was concerned. I am not a fan. Most of what he writes is too freaky and violent for me. What goes on in that man's head truly scares me. It still does.But, I went to see Johnny Depp, so I stayed. I thought he was amazing as the deranged Mort Rainey, and I didn't see any hint of Jack Sparrow as others have mentioned, although I do think he had affectations for this character also. Secret Window, secret garden sounds like such a pleasant thing, not so. I was grateful for some of the more humorous moments, who says mental illness can't be entertaining. The ending, although vaguely unsatisfying.....I'm not sure why...John Shooter keeps talking about "a steaming potful of corn". Macabre, yes, Creepy, yes. Surprising no. But I really liked this crazy character and was saddened by what the story ending revealed although I knew the minute I heard the second "Pilgrim" that the ending was inevitable. I guess I didn't want it to be true. And I was entertained, for the most part... which is all I usually ask. I just thought with a tighter story, this could have been an amazing psychological thriller, the story did not do justice to Depp's performance. Go for Johnny. He is rapidly becoming one of my favorite actors. He has to be to get me to go and stay through a Stephen King movie.
Starsky & Hutch (2004)
You can't go back.........
That about sums up my thoughts on this film. It was not quite a spoof, maybe it would have played better for bigger laughs. I like the idea of including the old guys at the end. That won points. But overall, I wasn't all that entertained. The story line was, I suppose, much like the old shows. Writing this, I don't remember much of it. There were moments of nostalgia, but overall, I could have lived without the experience. Owen Wilson played his character with some depth, but Ben Stiller has done better, I think. Snoop Dogg was entertaining, actually. And for a female over viewer that's amazing. Sorry, not so entertaining, wait for the DVD.
Twisted (2004)
I was entertained.......
and that is all I really ever ask from a movie. This movie set-up a variety of characters as possible serial killers, and in my opinion they set Judd up the same way. Her blackouts could just as easily have been from a multiple personality disorder which they took appallingly little time to explore. I thought Judd's portrayal of a misfit police detective was right on. She was not born to that job, but placed there by her mentor, and TWISTED into something she was not supposed to be. I found her agony over the death of her parents believable and the tool that she knew something was not right beyond the grisly details, really part of her good performance But despite some "holes in the plot" I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to the end. Not the best nor worst movie I have ever seen and for sheer entertainment value it was solid. I noticed again that the voting history is dominated by males under a certain age, so if you are closer to mid life and female you will probably enjoy this film. Others have explained plot details, don't read them too closely, just go, enjoy, be entertained.
Calendar Girls (2003)
Bittersweet, enjoyable film
I thought this movie had heart and soul. It was enjoyable and heart wrenching. The multiple stories added depth and interest... I loved that these women had guts enough to try something so unconventional for women of their age and experience for a greater purpose. I surely would not have done it. LOL I would love to see more movies made about female role models over 19 years old who have had more than one meal in their lives. The strength of characterization was very good and mostly consistent. Helen Mirren was amazing and exactly right for her role as the female lead. John's wife, Annie was also outstanding. The Hollywood connection really struck a note with me. The beautiful intention they started with was just a bit less when jaded by Hollywood. But in the end they triumph as the strong, remarkable. caring women they are.
Lost in Translation (2003)
Warning: Another male in midlife crises flick!
I couldn't understand why the rating for this movie was so high, then I noticed that over 6,000 of the raters were men. Aha. That's why I just didn't get it, no testosterone here. Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I am no fan of the male mid-life crisis movie. Why I keep seeing them I have no idea. Others have already said the plot was abstract at best and non-existent at worst. Two lonely souls in a strange city, married to the wrong people, meeting at the wrong time in their lives, I ask you would there ever be a right time? I am sick to death of the young ingenue and the borderline old man. Enough already. Give me Somethings Gotta Give where the man is in crisis, but he actually learns something in the process and its depicted in the movie. This film did have a stark beauty where many things were inferred, but never addressed and some very humorous moments. In addition, the juxtaposition of the old and new Tokyo was not lost on me. In fact, watching Tokyo and Japanese culture were the highlights of this film in my humble opinion. As in American Beauty, the acting may have been superb, but I couldn't get past the long dragging moments where nothing happened, scene after scene. Girls and ladies, save your money. Go see Somethings Gotta Give.
Matchstick Men (2003)
Vaguely unsatisfying in the presence of great acting...
I agree, all the principles were great. Ridley Scott's direction, also good. So why wasn't it satisfying, even given the ending which should have been textbook perfect for a romantic like me. The con within a con concept was betraying somehow, which I suppose was the point and there were many clues to lead the viewer to "figure it out", but I was left a little empty. All in all Cage's character was pathetic and ripe for disaster, but still it was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I usually love a movie where the character grows and learns, especially emotionally, but I just didn't feel it here. By all means see for yourself, the acting was superb.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
Senseless violence, violence, violence, need I say more....
Okay, so I should have known this one wasn't for me. I wanted to see Depp, and he was fantastic, I think. What was he exactly? A rogue CIA operative, a psychotic one, who knew...I haven't seen the other two movies, so maybe I was missing something. Definitely not date material and NOT a chick flick. Why is every movie about Mexico like this? This is a rich interesting, diverse culture, but most movies portray the country itself badly and the people in even a worse light. Give me "Freida" with Selma Hayek as opposed to this less than satisfying excuse to shoot 'em up. There were a few light moments, but overall I spent most of the movie with my eyes closed. A murdering mariachi? Banderas is not my favorite, so I wasn't expecting much, Mask of Zorro, a far better performance. And still, not the worst movie I've ever seen.
Gigli (2003)
A 2, yet still not the worst movie I've ever seen.
If you can get past the ridiculous premise, the incredibly foul language that adds nothing to characterization(which I'm sure it was supposed to), and the lack of acting ability of the two principles, by all means see this drivel. Ben Affleck was in and out of character so often he made JLo look talented. I suspect bad direction was responsible for her portrayal of a female wiseguy who never delivers. I didn't believe for one minute that she was capable of crushing the life out of someone. The story gave her nothing to work with. By far the worst performance I've seen from her. I thought Justin Bartha was brilliant as Brian, the mentally challenged victim of this farce. A performance reminiscent of Rainman, but not nearly as refined nor inspired as Dustin Hoffman, still a bright spot in an otherwise dismal film. I will admit that I saw this movie to see what was up with Benifer. I think this film will make them yesterday's news. I know I don't care anymore.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Aye matey...Stay through the credits!
I was a drama major many years ago and always stay through the credits looking for names I recognize. It pays off about 25% of the time. Many films deliver a tasty morsel or an extra scene or an out-take to ponder at the end to keep you thinking. I live for those moments. I was all alone in the theater when Pirates of the Caribbean really ended and WOW! I can't even talk about it, because no one saw it! So stay. Watch. & Don't spoil it for others. On to the review...anyone who reads my reviews knows all I want from a movie is to be entertained. I wasn't expecting much, but Pirates of the Caribbean delivered in a big way. I loved it from start to the end after the end. Johnny Depp was fabulous as Captain Jack Sparrow. This guy has the most amazing range. I think he finally hit box office gold with this one though. He was a bit of a swishy swashbuckler with just the right comedic blend. It wasn't until near the end that I realized this portrayal had an actual reason in the movie. I thought he was just playing it over the top. Anyway, this is a pirate tale with a hero, a hero in training, a damsel in distress, a villain, a ship full of miscreants aiding the villain, a ship full of good guys aiding the hero, a worried father, a competitor for the ladies hand, hidden treasure--with a curse, and battle scenes to fuel nightmares for days! I thought the storytelling was unique and I loved the length of the movie, I'm sick to death of those 90 minute blurbs, I want something more for my nine bucks. The supporting cast was excellent, also especially Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa, the captain of the cursed Black Pearl. Keira Knightly brought a 90's flair to the film as the not so helpless damsel that added to the suspense & the fun. Do yourself a favor, see this movie on the big screen.
Down with Love (2003)
Delightful spoof of the 60's romantic comedies....
Rock and Doris? I don't think so. A medley of ALL we loved from this transitional period, yes. Since when did Rock ever have an English accent. a combinationof Rock, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, James Bond. Incidentally, if you want to REALLY hear the song Down with Love, listen to Mr. Darin's version! That could have made this an even better movie, using more artist's tunes from the time. Rene's character, too, was a conglomerate, Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood. Even the movie itself was a combo, Pillow Talk, Sex and the Single Girl, Boeing, Boeing. I thought it had a multitude of elements from many movies of the era. I thought this movie was a spoof, you know, poking loving fun at something some of us remember fondly. I loved it, it was different and better than I imagined. Barely given a shot at box office...after only two weeks out I couldn't find it anywhere. I had to wait for it to show up at the $1.75 movie house. If you love those old 60's romantic comedies, the times, the colors, the clothes, the nostalgia, and you don't mind laughing at the absurdity of the times (it was the beginning of the sexual revolution) this one's for you. The ridiculous plot twists, the affected affect of the actors is all part of the fun. It is not a serious attempt to be a Doris/Rock film. Please, would any of us really go, how could you ever remake those classics and who could you possibly cast? And, they just don't sell anymore. Sigh. If it isn't high tech, high sex, bizarre, foul, 21st century virtual reality it doesn't really rake in the cash. Oh, for the simpler, more innocent time of my life....
The Core (2003)
Pure science fiction that stretches the bounds of the genre.
I feel the need to defend this movie. I liked it. With that said, I do have to admit that it is no Star Wars (any of them, which, by the way, I hated. Yes, all of them). It's certainly not even Star Trek, but it is a unique concept. It was somewhat formulaic with the disasters that befall the crew and the sacrifices they make, but I was entertained. It would have been helpful to know more of the backstory. Let's face it Star Wars has PLENTY of story. The visual effects were awesome and the surround sound in my theater even had the floor vibrating so that helped, but I still never felt like I was actually there. It seemed more like I was watching it from the outside, like a news program. Considering the inevitability of the main concept, it's helpful to think that someone's thinking about the end of the world from this end. After all, why do you think we're spending so much creative and actual energy in the exploration of outer space?
About Schmidt (2002)
Another movie about an man and a mid-life crisis or late life in this case, enough already.
Great performances, I guess, but who cares. Another American Beauty knock-off. These are dimensional characters with sad, disillusioning lives. I don't need to go to the movies to see this. It's not entertaining. Oh, it had moments, but they were few and far between. Give me some good old-fashioned escapism, thank you.
The Rookie (2002)
Scores a home run.
A bit cliche in the making, but the casting was superb. Dennis Quaid did a great job of portraying an inspiring real-life hero, Jim Morris. Rachel Griffiths was also excellent as his wife. The contrasting father-son relationships were angst for the movie, but not thoroughly explored, especially Jim with his father. However, there was a certain efficiency in character development in the movie that delineated each character in a few lines in fewer scenes. These were not one dimensional people. I am not a baseball fan, but I seem to like baseball movies. Who can say why. It's no Field of Dreams, but I enjoyed this movie, it's lack of explicit sex and violence especially! Dear Hollywood, please make more like this one.
The Sweetest Thing (2002)
Not the worst movie I've ever seen, but close.
I reserve that honor for Eye of the Beholder, followed by Charlie's Angels. Don't get me wrong, I like Cameron Diaz, but this was not her best performance. And if "this is girls", someone had better help us all! I found the raunchy sex and toilet jokes, well, not funny. They were gratuitous and unfortunately clearly geared toward a generation that I don't understand. This could have been a harmless, entertaining movie about how girls are becoming just like guys without all the nasty stuff. I hope Cameron and Christina pick their next project more carefully. Too many like this and they will be yesterday's new. It was escapist and had some rewarding, funny moments. The ending was clever and I do like a good ending. So not the worst, but wait for the DVD!
Kate & Leopold (2001)
Finally! A romantic comedy that really is.
It's been a long dry spell between true romantic comedies, but Kate & Leopold was truly worth waiting for. Hugh Jackman was wonderful and very convincing in a heroic, romantic sort of way. The story has been explained in other reviews, so I will just say that I also liked Meg Ryan. I thought her portrayal of a more driven, not quite so cutesy heroine was right on the money and may have been a little uncomfortable for some of her fans. The supporting cast was also good as others have mentioned. I think Bradley's character was juxtaposed brilliantly with Hugh's character. The 19th century sequences were wonderfully realistic. I would have loved a few more scenes played out there. I also love the thought of... the possibility of time travel; however, I didn't like where the portal was in this film, the Brooklyn Bridge?? I've read much better ideas in about 50 romance novels. I had one other teensy problem with the ending and the photograph-- did anyone else notice? I have explained it to myself by saying that if Leopold doesn't chase Stuart then Stuart was there to take the picture. Well, it works for me. If you love true romance and believe in true love this movie is for you. Could we PLEASE have more films like this--is anyone listening????
The Tailor of Panama (2001)
Overall, disappointing "spy thriller" that also failed as a character study.
The characters had depth but they were not adequately explored. In addition, the plot was preposterous. The old Bond films were far more believable and entertaining. Pierce Brosnan's character was evil, but I was never sure why. And why he went from a career of philandering to international larceny and embezzlement was completely unclear. Geoffrey Rush's character, the tailor of the title, at least had reasons for his behavior--flimsy though they were. I kept feeling as though I had missed something in the telling of this story. What was the exact relationship between the tailor and his old friends who he implicates in the "silent opposition"? How did he manage to keep his wife in the dark about their financial problems? How could he live in and understand the corrupt Panamanian economy, but not realize his banker and his farm manager were in cahoots to bankrupt him? How did his savvy wife, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, not know her husband's background and faults? And how in the world did she manage that five second forgiveness at the end? Too many unanswered questions for me. I guess this is where others would say this movie was a spoof. After reading the other reviews, I felt that I may have taken this movie too seriously. I may try again, but not until it comes out on video. Also, I did not feel this was a "happy ending". It was completely unsatisfying! Hollywood has no idea how to end a movie anymore. The positives: I WAS impressed with the performances of Brosnan and Rush. In a more tightly constructed, plotted, and edited movie they would have been Oscar contenders. I also felt the cinematography was brilliant. Panama itself was a character I wanted to get to know better. Wait for the VHS/DVD.