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Reviews
Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
Very touching movie
My son loved "Marley and Me", which is cool, he's 10. His Father (me) liked it but loved this movie more. Being Japanese American I had heard about the original story from my Mom. I thought the movie was very well done, not going for cheap sentimentality but showing very well the bond between Hachi and the Professor. I have read some other posts where the readers took the family to task for seemingly "abandoning" Hachi after the professor died. For one, it's a MOVIE. Also, we don't know where the professor's wife was going, maybe dogs weren't allowed. Also, the daughter had more of a bond, so that is why Hachi went with her. I also don't think she "abandoned" him either. She was wise enough to know that she and her family would never replace the professor in Hachi's heart and would be miserable if he stayed.
I really liked the way the "reunion" was handled. They say your life flashes before you before you pass on. In Hachi's case, he remembered the happy times with the the professor. When the professor "steps" through the door and they are reunited, it's like Hachi's 10 year wait has paid off. They are back together and now he can move on as well.
The coda with the grandson telling the story to his class and getting a puppy of his own (which he called Hachi) was a nice touch, but not really necessary. The last scene of Hachi in his final "sleep" after seeing his master again would have been more powerful.
My wife and I had tears in our eyes. My son liked the movie, but made me laugh when he said, "It's just like Marley and Me only the owner died" 10 year old kids are sometimes sharper than grown ups!
Crazy for Christmas (2005)
Not a classic, but a nice way to spend 2 hours
The reason this "Type A" male watched a movie on 'gasp' Lifetime was because of the two leads. I loved WKRP and it was nice to see Howard Hesseman again. I also love "Rescue Me" and wanted to see how Andrea Roth did in a very different role.
The story itself was no classic, and you could see the ending coming a mile away, but the characters were all nice people and the movie zipped along at a pleasant clip. How nice to have a movie where there is no villains or terrible crisis. Howard Hesseman played his character like a lovable kook... picture Dr. Johnny Fever as a millionaire with no hangover. It was interesting to see Andrea Roth as a loving mother figure and not the oversexed shrew that she is on "Rescue Me" (She is very good in both roles). She handled the role of a struggling single mom dealing skeptically with sudden good fortune very well. Yannick Bisson played his role as the reporter just right. While hoping to make it to the "big time", he comes to realize that everything he needs is where he is at.
The theme of forgiveness in the holiday season was nice but not too heavy handed. I liked the "34th Street" reference in the last shot (a miracle... get it!? :) ) I taped the movie so my wife and son can enjoy it. While I can't say that it's a Christmas movie that I will watch again and again I will say it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours.
Secondhand Lions (2003)
A pleasant surprise!
I was looking for a movie my wife and 6 year old son could enjoy on our "pizza" night, and a friend suggested this one. I had heard about it when it first came out, but didn't see it.
What a pleasant surprise this movie was. It was clever enough for adults to enjoy the inside humor and still was very appealing for kids. My son was spellbound. As a bonus, one of my favorite cartoonists, Berke Breathed (Bloom County) supplied the artwork of the adult Walter.
Among the many pleasures was the acting of the three leads. Robert Duvall is one of my favorite actors, who can do just about anything. Michael Caine was superb and I thought Haley Joel Osment was terrific in portraying Walter's growth over the summer. Look at how timid he was when he first meets his uncles to the happy, self confident young man at the end, who "lays down the law" with his uncles at end about what they have to do now that he is staying. I loved the, "no beating up teenagers...LESS meat" speech.
Rather the recount the many wonderful moments in the movie that have already been described in other comments, one of my favorite moments in the movie was when the sheriff tells Walter, "they died with their boots on.", which was exactly what the uncles said about Jasmine when she died saving Walter from Stan. The look on the adult Walter's face when the sheriff said it was priceless.
I have not seen the original ending (which will be on the DVD) but I cannot see any other ending than the one in the movie. Some folks thought it was mawkish, but I thought it was perfectly in spirit with the whimsical nature of the movie. Here you had Walter, and the sheik's grandson, who both had heard fantastic stories in their youth, and while they had been enchanted by them, were never sure if they were true. As it turns out, the stories were true. I like that it implies that Walter and the sheik's grandson will be friends as well. The last line, "They REALLY lived" sums it up nicely.
We taped the movie and we have watched it several times and it never gets old. I guess we will have to break down and get the DVD at some point :)
Jibeuro (2002)
Very touching, but if I was that kid's parent....... :)
We adopted our son from Korea almost six years ago, so watching this film was sort of like watching him. There, the resemblance ends...
This was a very touching story, without a lot of dialog, or big "payoff" scenes, about how a loving approach will eventually break down even the most "monstrous" of kids.
The boy IS a brat, make no mistake. If he was our son, we would never let him get away with some of the stunts he pulls. However, I disagree with some of the other comments saying the kid does not change. He subtly changes throughout the movie. First, when he he takes down the wash during a rain storm, and then hangs it back up... and then re arranges it so it looks like how his grandma did it so she won't know. There was the scene when he replaces the hairpin he stole while she is sleeping. We got a kick out of his attempt to make her breakfast ("or lunch") in bed. He does learn some hard lessons, like when the local boy helps him out when he gets chased by the "crazy cow", even after he played a nasty trick on him.
The "payoff" as it was, was when he leaves Grandma. He still can't say goodbye in a way we might like, but let's not forget he IS a kid and sometimes it is hard to say goodbye to someone we love when we are that age. However, him leaving her those postcards to send him if she needs him shows just how far he has come.
True, the story does not have a "big payoff" scene, and some comments have complained about it. I agree with what another person said and think that such moments would have been out of character with the movie. As that user rightly said, it's the small gestures that build up to the big moment we hope to see.
I was surprised when I learned none of the stars were in movies before. I think having "stars" would have changed the sweet nature of the film.
We really liked the movie, but boy did we want to smack that kid early on! Happily he comes around.
Mystic River (2003)
The Best Movie of the Year
They say good things happen in threes and they are right. The past few days I have been on a movie binge. I saw "Radio" and enjoyed the story and the movie (and am still trying to figure out why critics hated it), "Brother Bear" with my son (great but not classic Disney), and now "Mystic River".
Simply put, "Finding Nemo" had been my choice (and my son's) choice for best movie of the year (and it seemed to be the critics favorite as well). Well, "Mystic River" now gets my vote. It is a tragic story, based on a superb novel by Dennis Lehane. If you read the book, the movie is very faithful to it, no "Hollywood Happy Ending" here.
Clint Eastwood and his cast have created a story that pulls you in will not let you go. The tragedy here is that the Academy Awards cite individual performances. I wish there was away the whole cast and crew could get an award as a group because to single out one or two folks from what is a truly classic ensemble seems unfair. However, if you had to I guess Sean Penn and Tim Robbins stick out. Eastwood will definitely get a Director nod. The Screenplay will get cited as well. I think and hope that Marcia Gay Harden and Laura Linney both get nominated as their roles really are the key. Marcia Gay Hardens portrayal of a wife who loves her husband but doubts him and unwittingly betrays him is a classic. The last scene of her looking for husband (Robbins) and realizing she is the reason for his fate is haunting. I saw an artile that summed up Laura Linney's character as Lady Macbeth. I think that is very apt.
This was my favorite movie this year. Sorry Son :)
Radio (2003)
An Inspiring Sports Movie Not About Sports...
I had read the original story in Sports Illustrated back in '96 and wondered how long it would take for it to be made into a TV movie. Well, When I saw they were finally making, I knew that there would be a "long lunch" being taken at work.
Reading some of the initial critics reviews concerned me but when I saw the disparity in opinion between the masses and the "experts" I knew that was one of those movies where the "head" and "heart" don't always agree.
Having said that I found myself enjoying the movie very much. Despite the trailers, this is NOT really a sports movie but it uses sports as the catalyst for a story of how two men find come to know, learn, and draw inspiration from each other. Unlike "traditional" sports flicks, there is no "BIG GAME", the "hero" does not become the "star" player, and the "football" part of the story is wrapped up early in the movie. In fact the "breakthrough" between Radio and his "antagonist" occurs not in the football stadium but during the basketball season. Instead of the Big Game Climax, the Ed Harris character actually gives up football coaching at the end of the movie when he realizes, through Radio, his family needs him more (Though I guess he did get back to coaching as the end of the film shows footage of him being inducted into the South Carolina Coaching Hall of Fame).
Ed Harris and Cuba Gooding do a terrific job in portraying their chracters with grace an dignity. Somewhat overlooked is Debra Winger in her role. She is the "backbone" of the family and in a way she represents the town. Those of you who enjoy the TV series "Without a Trace" may notice that S. Epatha Merkeson plays Radio's mom.
I also enjoyed the fact that the town was not portrayed as a stereoptypical Southern hamlet full of bubbas and bubbettes but as a place where everyone accepts people for what they are. I have read some comments that the racism angle is over-looked. I disagree, I think the issue is addressed subtly and shows how people do change their perceptions, though not a by a cataclysmic event but by simply seeing someone do the right thing and following suit. The South is really no different than most places anywhere in the USA. Racism is not something confined to the South. Neither is brotherhood and love of fellow man.
Anyway, in wrapping up, this is a great movie for the family and one to show your children how we should all treat each other.
The Man Who Saved Christmas (2002)
Touching True Story appropriate for the time
What a pleasant surprise this movie was. Those of you used to seeing Jason Alexander as George Costanza will be amzed by the totally different character he plays here. Unlike the selfish neurotic he is known for, Alexander plays Gilbert as a wonderful boss, marketing genius, and CEO with a conscience.
If anything the movie does not go into enough detail about this amazing man. AC Gilbert was a Olympic gold medal pole vaulter (nope I wouldn;t have bought Alexander in any scenes from the Olympics), Harvard cum laude med student as well as a toy maker. The Erector set was considered "The Greatest Toy Ever". It was only the first of many toys that Gilbert invented.
The movie's story is simple but touching. Man invents toy, becomes a success. He is asked to put aside his toymaking to support the war effort. The movie is very fair in presenting this issue. The Gov't types who ask Gilbert to support the war effort did not do it to rob kids of Xmas. The US got into WW1 quite suddenly and was behind the eight ball is producing supplies to support the troops. Asking factories already in production for other goods to reconfigure was teh quickest was to do it. Gilbert is forced to chose between doing what he loves and supporting his country in time of need. He does so with a heavy heart and is equally successful as an arms maker. However, the horrors of war and it's impact on one his staff as well as his own family makes him re-think his decision. How he comes around to the man of the title of the movie probably didn't really happen that way in real life, but it makes for a touching story anyway.
At a time now when many of us are torn between supporting a war overseas as opposed to enjoying the comforts of home, this moview is especially timely. I taped it for my family and it will be a moview we will enjoy during the holidays for years to come.
That God we didn't see Jerry or Kramer as a couple of Gilbert's toy makers...
10 out of 10
Remember the Titans (2000)
"True Story that takes small liberties that improve the story!"
Being a rugby player who was too small to play football and opted for soccer in high school, I was touched and inspired by this movie. Kudos to Disney for putting it out and not making it too saccharine. Those that have said it was too "clean" miss the point. Disney's goal is to entertain, not necessarily provide social commentary and they succeeded here.
When movies based on true events move me, I look up the real story. I was surprised to find out the movie was pretty faithful. For those who are interested, there is a website out there put together by the '71 Titans. As is almost always the case, the truth does not always match the story, but in these cases, the fudging of facts made the movie more entertaining. Some interesting things I found out:
1) Ron "Sunshine" Bass is not "gay" as was implied in some other comments. He works for ABC and is married with 3 kids. Unlike the movie, he actually beat "Rev" out for the starting job.
2) Gerry Berthier did get injured in a car crash and became a wheelchair athelete. However his accident took place on the way to an awards dinner AFTER the championship game. He actaully played in the game. Also the friendship between him and Julius really occurred. What's interesting is that in the Titans website there is a picture of Berthier and unlike the movie, he wears glasses and had shoulder length hair! He died when his car was hit by a drunk driver in 1981, which is when the movie begins.
3) Lewis Lasik didn't transfer in from NJ but had been a student at TC Williams all 4 years
4) Apparently, the TC Williams team blew out their opponents in every game, including the championship. In a USA Today article, one of the Titans says that combining two teams made the combined team exceptionally strong and they dominated their games.
5) Alexandria VA, is not "red neck" central. TC Williams High was, and is considered one of the most diverse schools in the VA area.
6) The last discrepancy is a sad one. It involves Coach Yoast's daughter Cheryl. Sadly, she married, had 3 kids, but died a few years before the film was made. I, for one, am glad this was NOT mentioned in the movie.
None of these discrepancies should take away from an excellent movie that has a lot to say about brotherhood and achieving a common goal. With all the crap that passes for "great movies", we need more like this one.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (the soul singing by Lasik WAS a bit corny) :)