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Reviews
Cars (2006)
this one gets an excellent rev-view
the theatre was filled mostly with small boys, jumping up and down trying to claim the 'best' seat until the film started. when it did, the small boys sat quite still eyes glued to the screen and jaws probably gaping. i'm guessing at that - my jaw was gaping anyway. the animation is 'right there' - you might not get the smell of the 'greasepit' but you do get the roar of the crowd. i had heard a reviewer say it had been a stretch to believe the cars as characters - not if you buy into it. it is entertainment, car culture, scenery reminiscent of Bugs Bunny and Roadrunner, action of all sorts, visual and verbal puns, and if you're not a race car fanatic, it is still really clever yet it has a loving touch. the small Pixar movie at the beginning is a treat as always. pay attention to the whole movie then sit through the end credits - the very end is worth it. there is a long-ish bit in the middle, perfect for a bathroom break, but boring to sit through and could have been shortened - otherwise, an excellent story and up to the Pixar standard (vroom-vroom!).
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
blockbuster entertainment
Only looked at my watch once, during a quiet bit shortly into the movie - otherwise the time flew by. The FX and smooth editing hold the attention of the viewer.
I have nothing but praise for all the actors; with the exception of one, they all patiently submitted to the director at the risk of what many perceive as 'bad acting' They aren't acting badly at all; they are taking direction well - it is the director who is acting badly! If you want to see any of the cast act, check out their other movies. This one belongs to George Lucas. In the case of Ian McDiarmid, he is a skilled stage actor, and with a long relationship with the Star Wars saga, I suspect Lucas didn't use any of his director-spin. That would be good, because, suitably, McDiarmid's character, Palpatine, has the best development. 'Revenge' is the progression of Anakin to Darth Vader, via the machinations of the 'dark side' prompted by Palpatine. His costumes rival even those of Padmé (but not quite; he can't compete with the hair).
This movie is 'big' - with huge cgi scenery and sets, a fast-moving story, drama, several of the best duels in film history (including Obi-Wan vs. quadruple-threat Grievous), and a great score. I would give it a 10 but a point fell into a plot hole, so 9, it is.
Ocean's Twelve (2004)
re-watchable
This is a timeless movie that can be watched over and over. I have lost count of the times I've watched Ocean's Twelve on DVD - it is pure, engaging entertainment, a 2000's version of a 60's movie. Audrey and Carey are lurking just around the corner. There is something plain likable about a bunch of desperate thieves who have a conscience, and actors who buy into the dynamic. The dialog is snappy, the situations are believable, if not entirely plausible, but not absurd either. I liked Ocean's Eleven, this one with the European connection is classier, and funnier. The music is upbeat, and attractive, like almost everything else about the production. Actually, I can't think of anything negative about it - maybe a few scenes look fudged, but that is only apparent after looking at it repeatedly. The plot switches are most satisfying. This movie is smart.
The Music Man (2003)
it grows on you
Prepared for an evening of song and dance, yes, The Music Man on DVD, delivers. Slight spoilers ahead. The costuming and sets were lavish; choreography excellent. The opening scene with the double-talking salesmen is really catchy, though yes, the lead actor is more than a little wooden - at least he can dance. Another thing puzzled me at first, why the librarian called the bigger woman 'mama' - they didn't look too far apart in age. However, once I decided to imagine it being done like a Little Theatre Group - whoever turns up, gets the part - the production became a lot more fun to watch. I would have liked Prof. Hill to have been more hammy, and less detached from his performance (haven't seen any other version, so can't compare). Possibly some of the other actors were thinking the same; they seemed to throw themselves into their roles to compensate, e.g. the Mayor's daughter's dancing boyfriend.
When the energy fizzled as Our Hero got off the train, I was prepared to wait about a half hour before giving up watching, but got more and more interested as the musical and dance numbers unfolded. They were each cleverly done - in the end, this was overall just fine entertainment.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
good show
Spoilers. The 'new look' of Hogwarts' is great, especially liked Lupin's study and the huge gothic doors - most of the FX were good but some annoying - felt like taking my quidditch broom to the bulbous head of the Dementor on the train, but the scene where they swirl down to do in HP and SB was totally cool. I didn't think the cgi on the dog and werewolf characters was as good as that on Dobby in HP 2. The aim of this movie was to keep true to the book, which succeeds at the expense of a tightly written screenplay. The young actors except for Rupert Grint are still quite wooden but then I suppose so is a lot of the dialogue in the book. Just the same I think fans of the book and fans of good movies will like this one.
Lost in Translation (2003)
excellent cinematography, intelligent film
This is a fascinating film, elegantly composed, and acted 'real'. It is a pleasure to watch something that assumes the viewer is intelligent; no gee-whiz special effects, bizarre plot twists or contrivances. Cinematography is superb; Bill Murray was his subtle best. Scarlet was great; satisfying ending. I look forward to more work by Sophie Coppola.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
I wanted to like it.
I would like to have liked Moulin Rouge but I felt as if I was being thwacked in the face with a cold trout the whole time. The musical jokes were clever, the dance numbers were great - but all too choppy. Could they really sing? I didn't enjoy listening to Nicole or Ewan trying to belt out songs with their flat voices. This film seemed to have an identity crisis - the concept was brilliant but the presentation aggravating. I should have had a glass of absinthe first.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
a good escapist movie
Like the HP books, the movie is a great escape to a fantasy world.
The film-makers have done an excellent job of bringing the book to life, in this reviewer's opinion improving upon the book which is tedious with plot conveniences (only, that is, from the adult point-of-view). The FX are very good; I liked the big dumb troll. The real and imaginary scenery excellent, and I liked the gate 'nine and three-quarters' transition at the train station, not just the running through the wall, but the change in setting from the business-like, sterile Muggle-world to the character charm - in more ways than one - of the wizard world.
The author's stipulation to use mostly UK cast permitted North American viewers to meet seasoned actors not usually seen here. The likeable cast of young actors appeared wooden at times. Rupert Grint was the most relaxed in his role, could even be Oscar material.
Some scenes dragged such as near the end when Hermione speechifies something about brains aren't everything. The veteran actors were better able to carry the sometimes weak dialogue (e.g. Richard Harris as Dumbledore, explaining how mother's love protected Harry from the hands of evil, by a lesser talent would have come off as trite). To someone who hasn't read the book, some aspects of the movie will seem pointless but it does stand alone quite well. I purposely did not read the first HP book beforehand.
Extraordinary details seem what you might expect, such as the living paintings, and the lady-ghost writing at a desk in one of the classroom scenes. I would like a brocade hat like Prof. Dumbledore wears at the closing banquet!
More highlights: Alan Rickman's threatening yet surprisingly sympathetic Professor of the Dark Arts; Maggie Smith's perfect schoolmarm demeanor; Sean Biggerstaff as the young bloke-ish sportsman. Warwick Davis was a delightful professor; David Bradley was spooky as the lanky, leather-coated caretaker; Robbie Coltrane suited the role of Hagrib, and was the clever device to disguise plot explanations by means of a running gag - "I shouldna' said that..."
Don't Say a Word (2001)
entertaining, to be sure
Entertaining, not much swearing, occasional suggestive scenes, too many corpses with pointless roles. Too many living beings with pointless roles. But - entertaining. Sean Bean is the clever, cool, desperate Baddie. Michael Douglas is the clever, controlled, desperate Goodie. So desperate, his character of a respected, skilled clinical psychiatrist develops Herculean strength and combat skills at the end. We see too much of Michael and not enough of Sean, but, this is entertainment, and Good triumphs over Bad. Don't say a word
about the plot-holes, scenes that are unintentionally funny, and the cheezy old dig-up-the-wrong-grave gag. Enjoy the actresses.I give it a 5/10 for the entertainment.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
time goes quickly...
The last movie I'd been to was 90 minutes long, and it dragged. At the end of LotR I felt like I'd only been sitting there for an hour or so. It was so gee-whiz-wow that I want to see it again to confirm what I just watched. I hadn't been paying attention until it came out in theatres and people were raving about it. My son said - you'll like this one (mom) - if everyone in a group likes a certain movie, I'm usually the odd one that doesn't. Not this time - LotR:FotR was the best! It was big! It was fun! (is this next a spoiler?) I had to find some kleenex at Aragorn's farewell to Boromir. I felt dizzy falling into the pits of Isengard. I liked the ending, or rather the pause before the next one. A year seems like a long time to wait but time goes quickly when you're having fun - I'm going to read the books, and all these reviews, take it all in. good stuff.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
time goes quickly...
The last movie I'd been to was 90 minutes long, and it dragged. At the end of LotR I felt like I'd only been sitting there for an hour or so. It was so gee-whiz-wow that I want to see it again to confirm what I just watched. I hadn't been paying attention until it came out in theatres and people were raving about it. My son said - you'll like this one (mom) - if everyone in a group likes a certain movie, I'm usually the odd one that doesn't. Not this time - LotR:FotR was the best! It was big! It was fun! (is this next a spoiler?) I had to find some kleenex at Aragorn's farewell to Boromir. I felt dizzy falling into the pits of Isengard. I liked the ending, or rather the pause before the next one. A year seems like a long time to wait but time goes quickly when you're having fun - I'm going to read the books, and all these reviews, take it all in. good stuff.