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joshart
Reviews
Battlefield Earth (2000)
smelly, stinky, awful
I must disagree with those who equate criticism of this film with religious intolerance: there are so many reasons to dislike Battlefield Earth, I don't think it's even necessary to discuss the religious beliefs of it's makers. The film is plenty putrid in it's own right.
Okay, I kinda liked the cavemen learning to fly the 1000 year-old Harrier jets in 7 days...but other than that, the film doesn't even stand up as silly summer dreck.
I hate to quibble, but why is it that in the future everyone feels the need to tie strips of cloth around their triceps? This keeps showing up in these science fiction films, and I haven't seen any rational explanation for it. I knew I was in real trouble when Bon Jovi showed up here with an armstrip. I had a bad flashback to Alien 4, where everyone was tying strips around their arms, presumably to ward off alien attack...and then I remembered "Staying Alive" the truly dreadful dance film that Travolta made following up Saturday Night Fever, where JT posed his little buns off with the most aggregious armstrips ever put on film. What's with that?
By all means, stay home from this film...or find a second-run theatre still showing 'Pitch Black' if you have a real hankering for pumped-up B-grade Science Fiction. Amazing what Vin Deisel pulls off in that film with 25 words of dialogue and not an armstrip in sight. --josh
U-571 (2000)
What, this again?
I can't give a positive recommendation simply because a film fulfilled low expectations.
Other than to shoot for the early summer blockbuster crowds, why was this movie made? There were literally dozens of WWII submarine warfare movies that had a surer grasp of the material; U-571 adds literally nothing to the genre.
Attempts at emotion and deepening of the theme of Men-In-Combat were either abortive, or, one suspects, left on the cutting room floor to make way for another 30 seconds of depth-charge footage.
With all of the technical capabilities at their disposal, you would think Hollywood might sense the opportunity to make parallel strides in storytelling...not so. Here we have the same dang nautical blow-em-up that they have been producing ever since 1942, only with slightly better model work.
4 out of 10, and McCaughnnehey (sp?) better look for some scripts, quick.
Kenny & Company (1976)
Rave for an underappreciated film
The Genre of movies intended for viewers age 10-14 tend to be either crass exploitation or idiotic morality tales. Kenny and Co. is that rare gem of a film that transcends the limitations of it's genre.
There must have been a window in the mid '70's where it was possible to produce a "kid" movie with both heart and brain intact. The Bad News Bears (first film) is another example. In the era of Mortal Kombat and the latest Star Wars regurgitation, this well-written, fully realized, (and delightfully 'dated') work is a joy. Don Coscarelli, who went on to notoriety with the Phantasm B-Horror series, should be noted for this sensitive, aware, and charmingly non-condescending look at young malehood.
I am very interested in finding a copy of Kenny & CO. on tape, and I notice that one of the other posters on this board mentions having a copy. If you are willing to share, please contact
thanks and keep watching. jm