Reviews

This was a great movie, which really needed to be made! There are so many liberal propaganda films clogging our theaters, seeing a well- made conservative film like this one was a real breath of fresh air. Now, I guess I'll talk about what I liked and disliked about the movie, starting with what little I disliked to get it out of the way: 1. It was a little too short. Regarding the three spirits, I felt the last two really should have had more scenes in the movie, especially George Washington. They could have had him going more in depth on the roles of faith and patriotism in the founding of America, and the scene with the Angel of Death could have done more to show America falling under sharia law and the other consequences of Michael Malone's hate- mongering films. 2. In the Angel of Death segment, the autopsy scene dragged on a bit too much, that was one scene which could have been trimmed down. 3. Maybe a little more with Michael Malone's agent. James Woods did a pretty good job with him, but it was unfortunately only a short appearance. Now, for what I liked: 1. It was simply funny! The movie relied both on political satire skewering the various institutions of liberalism (i.e. Hollywood filmmakers, liberal academia, etc.), and also on Zucker's trademark slapstick humor, with a nice balance of both, and both pulled off very well. It made me laugh a lot! 2. Great performances from the cast. Kevin Farley really does look like Michael Moore, and is definitely as funny as his late brother was, if not more so. Kelsey Grammar made an excellent General Patton, and Jon Voight was strong yet charming as George Washington. Trace Atkins was cool and interesting as the Angel of Death, too. 3. The film was appropriately moving at times. Some especially poignant moments include the scene with George Washington in the chapel, and the ending when Malone's nephew leaves for the Middle East. Scenes such as that can tug at your heart strings, but keep enough good jokes in them to keep it from becoming overly sappy (especially the latter of the two scenes), and remind you that you're still watching a comedy movie. All in all, this really was a great movie. Much of the audience I was watching it with applauded at the end of it, and I gladly joined in!

I finally managed to see this short film. It was just as I expected it to be: Cheesy, rather poorly acted, yet still funny as hell in an intentional way. The visual effects for the ghosts and makeup effects for Freddy were pretty good considering what an obviously low budget 'Freddy Vs. Ghostbusters' was made with, and I liked a lot of the pop cultural references and parodies they managed to sneak in (i.e. a pretty obvious reference to 'The Matrix' in the climax). One thing I would have done, though, is have Freddy kill one or two more people before the inevitable showdown. I mean, Freddy only has two kills that we see (Though they're both pretty funny, especially the first one), and Neil mentions that Freddy killed a few teens in the area after being released, so maybe they could have shown one or two of those. Still, 'Freddy Vs. Ghostbusters' was easily one of the best fan films I've ever seen for any film genre, and I'll definitely recommend it to my friends!

Although I missed the first five minutes or so of "Trouble in Tokyo" because I was out getting myself some dinner, I greatly loved it! Right from the beginning, when you see each of the Titans packing (It was especially funny to see the ways that Cyborg and Starfire packed), the movie kept me entertained all the way to the ending. I'll now list what I liked and disliked about it, starting with what I disliked (That way, I'll save the good stuff for last):

1. They could have done a good deal more with Raven. 2. The sudden twist at the film's climax (Don't worry, I'm not giving anything away) was, I thought, rather predictable. I could see it coming.

Now, the stuff that I did like:

1. Very, very funny! I especially liked Cyborg pigging out at that restaurant (Let's just say he looked like he'd make a good contestant on "Fear Factor"), Starfire at the arcade playing a game which looked like a bizarre combination of "Dance Dance Revolution," "Guitar Hero," and Whack- A- Mole, and of course, Beast Boy singing karaoke. I was kept laughing all throughout the film, which I'm sure was their intention. 2. Many of the fight scenes were very well- done, particularly the final one, which was really intense, and might even be too spooky for younger viewers. 3. Great character development for Robin and Starfire. 4. Very good voice acting, as usual. I'd have to salute Hynden Walch for her job as the voice of Starfire, as in this movie, she's able to display a vast range of emotions and does so in a very believable manner.

All in all, "Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo" was a great film, a great addition (And conclusion) to the series, and a definite must- have for my DVD collection, whenever it comes out.

Although it's not as good as "The Lion King" or "Beauty and the Beast," I'd say "Hercules" is still an excellent film, probably the last great Disney film that didn't involve Pixar. I'm just sorry I didn't see it while it was in theaters. There's so much to love about this movie, I don't know where to begin. OK, first, the story. The writers did a great job with Hercules. Most of the past movies about Hercules made him a macho, invincible brute, but Disney's "Hercules" actually injects some soul into the character, and makes him a very deep, rather insecure, unlikely hero. The story of his quest to become a true hero is really moving and well- done. Next, I'll certainly need to discuss the equally great supporting characters. Danny DeVito is funny and likable as the grumpy Phil. Megara, played excellently by Susan Egan, is a very good female lead. She could have easily been just a flaky love interest for Hercules, but instead, they made her a strong, independent character. However, the character who really steals the show has to be Hades. He is one of the best Disney villains I've ever seen. He is unmistakeably evil, yet rather calm about it (Other than the few occasions when he loses his temper), and also very funny. The character design for him was quite well- done (Though my mom said he reminded her too much of Ursula from "The Little Mermaid"), and James Woods is incredible at doing his voice, going from calm to menacing to completely enraged effortlessly. Next, I must talk about the songs. I loved all of the songs in it. The Muses add a sweet, Gospel feel to their songs, and my favorite song, "Go the Distance," is really beautiful. It should have won an Oscar. My favorite scene in the film would probably be when Hercules fights the Hydra. The computer animation for the Hydra works very well, it looks great. The fight itself is really exciting, too. Please, go see "Hercules." You won't be sorry that you did.

I remember seeing this on TV when I was a kid, and laughing my head off, even though I kind of felt bad for Pumbaa! Two parts in particular made me laugh, as I recall: 1. When Timon's wading through that pond, singing, while in the background, Pumbaa is attacked by piranhas, then crocodiles, then the Creature from the Black Lagoon. 2. A space shuttle falls on Pumbaa. The door opens, and Pumbaa stumbles out waving a little American flag. I thought it was a pretty funny animated short!

I was interested in this show from the moment I first saw previews for it. I watched the pilot episode for it, and was amazed! It was nothing like what I expected it to be. The cast was great, especially Amber Tamblyn and Joe Mantegna, and it was thought- provoking rather than preachy. In these first two episodes, it's been funny to see the different forms God appears to Joan in, I loved when he appeared to her as a mime in last week's episode! This show seems to have formed a perfect balance, and I hope it stays on CBS for a long, long time!

This is easily the best new show I've seen this season, and though it probably won't last very long, thanks to the brain- dead Fox executives, I'll definitely look forward to catching every episode I can, and I taped a couple for my mom, since she likes it too, but usually misses the episodes. People say that It's just too weird to have wagons and six- shooters in the distant future, but I didn't mind, I was too enthralled by the show itself to care. Also, the show's twangy theme song is surprisingly catchy, and I always smile when I hear it. The characters are all charming and cool, and pretty well- acted, too. Before, I had only heard of two of the actors in it: Adam Baldwin, who plays Jayne (It's interesting to compare the sniveling coward that he played in "The Patriot" with the tough- but- amusing Jayne); and Jewel Staite, who plays Kaylee (I remember her from Nickelodeon's "Space Cases"). These two actually became my favorite characters on the show, though not because of who played them. I loved the episode "Jaynestown", where they all visit a town whose people regard Jayne as a Robin Hood-esque folk hero. It had some extremely funny moments (Such as in the bar, when the people toast,"To Jayne!", and Jayne thinks a moment, then yells, "TO ME!"), and the end was genuinely moving. Anyways, I really, REALLY hope Fox doesn't cancel this show. It's a sci- fi where you don't need to catch every episode to get the plot of the series, and it's just a great show in general.

When I first saw the commercial for Smallville's pilot episode, I just thought it would be OK. However, When I actually started watching the show, however, I was VERY impressed. They kept the Superman references and corny catchphrases down to a refreshing minimum, and then there's the acting. John Schneider and Annete O'Toole lend a sense of quiet, down- home dignity to their roles as Jonathan and Martha Kent. Tom Welling is pretty good, but the best performance is given by Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor. He comes off as arrogant and a bit manipulative, but he's essentially a good man and is a lot more altruistic than his greedy snake of a father, who is also excellently played by John Glover. This makes Lex a very intriguing character, whose descent into evil will undoubtedly keep me on the edge of my seat (Those who saw the season finale "Tempest" get a brief glimpse of this transition in one scene). The villains for the episodes are generally great and well- acted, especially the fiendishly corrupt cop Sam Phalen who is shown in the episode "Rogue". However, not all of the antagonists on the show are as cruel and twisted as him. Some of the "villains" are actually nice, decent people (Guys you could see yourself being friends with)who have been thrust into bad situations. Examples are Earl in "Jitters" and Jodi in the highly underrated episode "Craving", which I plan on taping the next time it is shown. Anyways, Smallville is a really great show to watch, and I hope it will continue for many years to come.

First, for those of you who don't know who Owen Gleiberman is, he's one of Entertainment Weekly's movie critics. From what I remember reading in his review when "O Brother Where Art Thou?" came out, he said it was just stupid stereotypes and gave it an F. Now that I've actually seen this movie (I got it for my birthday a few months ago), I realize how stupid I was to trust the opinions of a man who also had the nerve to give "X- Men" a C.

"O Brother, Where Art Thou?" is an excellent film in all senses. I'm normally not a George Clooney fan (Until then, the only movie with him I liked was "From Dusk Till Dawn"), but his performance in this film was perfect, and he truly deserved that Golden Globe he won for it. I also really liked the actor who played Delmar. His realistically amusing facial expressions and hilarious lines ("We thought...you was...a toad!")kept me happy all throughout the film. The frightening Sheriff made an effective villain, and the equally intense scene with the KKK rally was really exciting to behold.

The references to the Odyssey were charming and well- done, although I still don't get who George Nelson was supposed to resemble in the ancient Greek story. However, the Siren scene and its aftermath were quite funny, and John Goodman is creditable as the one- eyed Big Dan Teague. Easily one of the best scenes in the movie is when the Soggy Bottom Boys sing "Man of Constant Sorrow". That song quickly brought a smile to my face, and should have won that MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Performance.

So, you can forget about what the "professional" critics at Entertainment Weekly said about it, and just enjoy this hysterical, light- hearted and worthwhile film.

I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the Lone Gunmen ever since its pilot episode first aired a few months ago. Each episode is witty, original, and very, very funny! I also like its cool opening theme song. I'd say that my two favorite characters on the show are Langly and the naive but good-natured Jimmy Bond. Jimmy is a hilarious character who is dim without being too annoying, and I am deeply surprised that Stephen Snedden wasn't nominated for an Emmy for his performance. If Fox continues the show next fall (which I hope and pray that they will), I think that they ought to do more about Jimmy's relationship with the lovely yet mysterious Yves Adele Harlow(Eve). The final scene of the episode "El Tango De Los Pistoleros" shows you what I'm talking about, as does the cliffhanger season finale, which also shows that Jimmy's not as much of an idiot as most people thought. However, Jimmmy is only one of the many fine characters on this series. Byers, Langly, Frohike and Yves are also complex, interesting characters with their own unique personalities, and all succeed perfectly in this show. If the Fox executives decide for some unknown reason not to continue this great show, I hope that they will at least do two things: 1. Provide a conclusion for the season finale. 2. Put the series on video, so that all may enjoy it.

This film was actually really good, and I can't believe some of the reviews it got. While it's not my favorite Star Wars film(Return of the Jedi holds that title), it's still pretty high up there. First, let me just say that I don't get why so many people hated JarJar Binks. He didn't annoy me at all, and I found him to be a funny, worthwhile character who played an important role in helping to defeat the evil Trade Federation. I only had two big problems with this film: 1.Darth Maul was a wasted character, which is a real pity. He could have been an awesome villain if he had appeared in more scenes and been given more lines, instead of only being in a few scenes and having three or four lines. 2. Obi-Wan did not have as big of a part as he could have had, and he should have at least accompanied Qui-Gon to Tatooine. I just felt that Ewan Mcgregor's fine acting skills were wasted.Other than that, though, I liked this movie. The film's best performances came from Liam Neeson and Jake LLoyd. Ian McDiarmid also did quite well as the suave, sinister Senator Palpatine. John Williams did an excellent job composing the film's music. I particularly enjoyed Duel of the Fates(the intense, fast- paced composition played during the climactic lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and the two Jedi) and also the festive, light-hearted music played during the final victory parade.Basically, I just really liked Episode I, and I look forward to seeing Episode II next Spring!

I have loved this film ever since I first saw it in theaters about four years ago. It is exciting and funny, with several great performances. I particularly liked Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich. Chris Tucker's character was unbelievably funny, and for those people who were annoyed by how loud and whiny he was, well, that's why so many people thought he was funny. He was such an obvious parody of Prince(wussy, worshiped by ladies) that viewers couldn't help cracking up. The special effects were great, and I can't believe it didn't get an Oscar for the visual effects. I loved the exciting flying-car chase. However, my favorite part of the film would have to be the awesome fight scene between Leeloo and the ugly Mangalore aliens. This was filmed perfectly, and is one of the best movie fight scenes ever!Still, the rest of the movie is also really good, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys action or sci-fi.

I just saw "The Mummy Returns" a few hours ago, and was pleasantly surprised with it. I actually consider it to be a little bit better than its predecessor. The graphics and creature effects were really good, with the exception of those used during the fight scene between Rick O'Connell and the Scorpion King. I particularly liked the funny pygmy monsters and the scary Anubis warriors. Freddie Boath was really good as the O'Connells' son Alex, and made me laugh in several scenes. Another character that I liked was Ardeth Bay, the mysterious nomad leader first seen in the original film (They should make a spinoff movie about him instead of one about the Scorpion King). I kind of liked the humorous hidden references that were made to the first film(Such as the scene in the first one when Jonathan has difficulty deciphering a certain hyroglyphic during a crucial moment). It was also pretty cool to finally see Evelyn really fighting in a few scenes.This movie was more exciting than the first one, and for the most part, more fun in general.

I consider this to be Tim Burton's best movie ever, except for maybe "Batman". It only had a couple of small flaws, which I will list now, so as to save the good stuff for last: 1. Many of the fine supporting actors should have been given more screen time, particularly Casper Van Dien and Richard Griffiths. Both of their characters should have been given bigger parts. 2. There is one part of the movie that I didn't get:In the scene when the Horseman goes after that family (a scene that offended many reviewers), why did Tim Burton feel the need to have him go after their young son as well? You find out later why he went after the parents, but he had no reason to try and kill that poor child. However, these two small problems are more than outweighed by the many strong points of this film, which I will now list: 1. Danny Elfman's score. I don't get why any reviewers could be put off by his excellent music. I love how he combined the various types of music which he used in Mr. Burton's other films. By this, I mean that he used scary, thrilling tunes like in "Batman", "Batman Returns", and "Beetlejuice" during certain scenes (such as Ichabod's terrifying encounter with the Crone in the Western Woods, and during the final chase scene), yet in other scenes (like the flashback sequences and the film's final end scene) he made haunting, beautiful melodies like the kind you heard in "Edward Scissorhands". 2. The costumes/ makeup/set design. The costumes were beautifully accurate, and they should have won the Oscar for Costume Design instead of "Topsy-Turvy". The makeup was great, particularly for the scenes when you see the Horseman's real face. You almost couldn't tell that it was Christopher Walken, because the makeup made him look so scary. Tim Burton has created his own little world with the sets. He actually had the village completely constructed, and the Western Woods looked even better, with the dried leaves and the gnarled dead trees everywhere. I'm glad that this movie won at least one Oscar due to the set design. 3. Johnny Depp's performance. I LOVED what he did with Ichabod Crane, and he performed with complete perfection. During the scene when he questions the Notary, he reminded me of Sherlock Holmes. He should have won more awards for his performance. So, basically, if you have a strong stomach, I highly recommend that you see this great movie.

I taped this incredible miniseries when it was first shown on TV, and have never regretted my decision. Every aspect of the movie is done quite well. The trolls' makeup is quite exceptional (The first time I saw it, I could NOT tell that Ed O'Niell played the Troll King), and I loved the costumes, particularly the beautiful gowns worn in Part 5. Now, for the awesome performances. Kimberly Williams was great as Virginia, and John Larroquette was quite funny as Tony. Dianne Wiest's performance as the Queen was a complete departure from the perky soccer moms that she played in some of her past movies(e.g. Edward Scissorhands, the Lost Boys, etc.), but she does it quite well. Also, I think that the three troll kids were underrated by most critics. I found them to be funny and entertaining, and I cannot understand why anyone could feel otherwise about them. Rutger Hauer did an excellent job as the Huntsman, and they should have made him a more major character. However,the real star of the Tenth Kingdom was Scott Cohen, whose performance as Wolf was nothing short of perfection. He had just the right mixture of humor and seriousness, and I couldn't help rooting for him. The only thing that they could have improved about this movie was maybe by making the fight scenes between Wolf and the Huntsman a bit longer and more serious.Basically, however,this was simply a great movie, and is definitely worthy of a sequel.

I just watched this great movie on video last night, and I really enjoyed it!! I'm not a Catholic, but I still thought that it was quite funny. I could really only notice one flaw in this movie: Salma Hayeck. Her character, Serendipity the muse, was funny at times, but they could have(and should have) made her part a little bigger. She needed a big, noticeable performance to save her career after "Wild Wild West", but this wasn't it. However the rest of the movie was quite good. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck show considerable screen chemistry, and they both do really well. I also couldn't get enough of Jay and Silent Bob, and I'm glad that they finally have a big part in a movie, because they were simply HILARIOUS! I feel that the movie's two best performances came from Chris Rock(This is easily his best performance ever) as Rufus, and from Alan Rickman-I laughed hard, several times during the first scene with him- as Metatron. The special effects that they used were very good, two more than any others: 1. The repulsive Golgothan monster that attacks Bethany and her friends in the bar. 2. The angels' wings ( I was really impressed in the end, seeing Ben Affleck gracefully float down to the ground) All in all, this movie was terrific, and can be loved by believers and nonbelievers alike.