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Reviews
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Where's Chevy Chase?
I'd have to agree entirely with sem-2's comments. The Terminator series ended with T2: Judgement Day.
This seemed to me to be more like a National Lampoon's version of the first two movies, both of which carried the distinctly darker atmosphere you would expect from a movie that concerns the end of mankind. Arnie spouting off ridiculous one-line gags ("talk to the hand" - please?) and using those dated but "oh so funny" catchphrases throughout the film, gave it a cheesy feel and really takes the edge off. There were simply far too many laughs.
Visually, it is spectacular with plenty of explosions, death, destroyed buildings and car chases but the absence of James Cameron really tells - that integrity of keeping some sense of realism even in the most unrealistic of sci-fi scenarios, which he does so well, is completely absent in T3.
The loss of Sarah Connor from the plot was a blow. On-screen, she embodied the sense of fear and impending doom for the human race in both of the earlier movies and that was definitely lacking here. It is a shame also that Edward Furlong could not have reprised the John Connor role, if only for the sake of continuity and a sense of familiarity with the character. Taking nothing away from Nick Stahl, who I consider to be a fine young actor (he puts in a safe performance in `Rise of the Machines').
Major fans of the first two movies will be disappointed, as I was. However, the film had a lot to live up to, attempting to follow its predecessors and given that I was extremely sceptical before even getting to the movie theatre, maybe I'm being overly critical.
If you liked "Starship Troopers" and you're not a Terminator "fanatic" then you will quite probably love this film.
As far as I'm concerned, the story of the Connor family and the end of the human race was told satisfactorily in 2 parts.
6/10
Gangs of New York (2002)
So much potential...such a disappointment
The potential for the making of this film was tremendous but, in my opinion, ultimately failed to deliver. The setting for the picture - an incredibly interesting chapter in the history of New York City - was not utilised to it's full potential by Scorcese.
I was fascinated by the small historical lessons that were drip fed to me throughout the film. Although, I appreciate that the studio is not in the business of financing 3-hour history lessons, I felt that the viewer could have learned a lot more and still have been entertained at the same time, had the movie been structured in the right way.
The visual effects of the film are quite stunning and in this respect it truly is an epic. The performance of Daniel Day-Lewis is, as you come to expect from this fine actor, quite extraordinary. His screen presence alone makes up for most of the film's shortcomings. By this, I mean that I would recommend seeing the film purely to experience this particular performance. It is fair comment to say that Leo DiCaprio was miscast, although, I also feel that his character, Amsterdam, was out of place in this mid-19th century New York setting.
I couldn't help but feel, as the final credits were rolling, that this movie falls into the same tragic category as `Pearl Harbour'. The time, place and high emotions running in these settings provide a background with endless possibilities for intriguing characters and riveting plots but both, for me, fail miserably to deliver. Similarly with "Pearl Harbour", the inclusion of the Amsterdam & Jenny characters and their sickly-sweet romantic tale seems wildly out of place in this violent and crude setting.
Would not tales of the earlier, on-going battles between Bill the Butcher & 'Priest' Vallon and their respective gangs have made for a more realistic and interesting film in this particular background? Particularly as the wonderful talent of Liam Neeson wouldn't have been so tragically under-utilised (imagine, DD-L and Neeson in a running battle of wills & arms, head-to-head throughout the majority of the film!). I suspect that it is the `money men' of the industry who insist upon including these soppy romantic sub-plots, maybe it is the writer & director themselves, but they only serve to drag down movies in which, they have no place.
An acknowledgement to Jim Broadbent for his convincing portrayal of "Boss Tweed" is also well deserved. Along with Day-Lewis, his performance virtually saves the movie.
Apologies to those of you who enjoyed `Pearl Harbour', by the way, but I figured the numbers would be so few, that the damage done would be minimal :-)
Only just makes 7/10 (thanks to Daniel Day-Lewis).
Wit (2001)
Sublime
There are many comments already entered here that very expertly dissect and appraise this remarkable piece of film, so alternatively, I would simply like to express my love for the work, about the impact it had on me and the roller-coaster of emotions I experienced during its screening.
I feel I must start by underlining that the principal reason for this production having such a profound effect on me was the breathtaking performance of Emma Thompson. I don't recall ever having seen a piece of televisual drama portrayed so perfectly as this. So convincing was she, that it was easy to lose sight of the fact that this was in fact a portrayal of a terminally ill woman and not of a real life account.
Throughout the film I found that I was repeatedly asking questions of myself, in respect of the abhorrent circumstances of Vivian Bearing, particularly geared towards how I believed I would handle such a terrible situation. Not only that but how would I handle the fatal disease in Vivian's position i.e. no family or friends to comfort and care for you.
Vivian's almost entirely independent, personal fight against the inevitable was as challenging as it was distressing and it brings home to the viewer how much is taken for granted, by so many of us, on a day to day basis...family, friends, a sense of perspective and good health.
Again, I cannot eulogise Thompson's performance enough...a truly exceptional picture.
9/10