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drsfiddle
Reviews
Roving Mars (2005)
The Real Mars and How They Did It.
I was fortunate enough to see the first public premier of this IMAX movie given to Lockheed-Martin Employees. The public reception was warm but not overwhelming. The images of Mars and the Rocket Launch were magnificent and the animated segments were indistinguishable from the filmed segments, very accurately using the photographs sent by the Rovers to create the landscapes. One note about a sequence that made many in the theater groan - THERE IS NO SOUND IN SPACE!!!!! Much of the movie consisted of often young enthusiastic engineers telling us how impossible the task was and (indirectly) how brilliant they must be. I do not belittle the accomplishment, it is awesome to be sure, but this standard Mantra we get with every film depicting a technological accomplishment is getting repetitious. On the other hand, I understand the wall NASA is up against every day to get and keep funding for these very important programs, so any salesmanship is forgiven. It is also, I suppose, important for the general layman to understand why these programs are so difficult to pull off so they can truly appreciate the success. I was impressed by the humor and humbleness that the engineers displayed in the face of test failures. This is an interesting, and at times, visually striking documentary, definitely worth seeing. Take the kids, they'll be wide eyed as the public gets its first truly satisfying look at the red planet.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Doesn't let us down.
If these movies keep getting better, the academy of motion pictures will eventually have to recognize them . . . Nah,will never happen. But just remember, the same critics that panned, downplayed, or just plain ignored Star Wars back in 1976, are today using it as a benchmark movie. I like Epert and Ropers comparison to these movies (specifically Chamber) to the Wizard of Oz. They definitely are succeeding in creating Rowlings world for us to visually enjoy.
If you are a true faithful hoping to see the book word for word, you'll be let down. (Hope for a 7 year Masterpiece theater television type of project some years down the road where they have 24, 1 hour episodes to do each book.) However, if you can appreciate the impossibility of transferring a thick, well written, action packed book to the wide screen in a reasonable amount of time, you will be taking your hat off to Steven Kloves. I believe that he has hit his stride in his comfort level with the books and with Ms. Rowlings world. I say this because he successfully rewrote most of the details of the end action to compress and even heighten the suspense, while preserving the feel of the book.
The dementors were even more menacing than Rowlings descriptions, and the Werewolf, while it just ran off in the book, became an important element in the action of the final scenes.
The ensemble of Daniel Radcliff (Harry), Rupert Gint (Ron), and Emma Watson (Hermione) have matured very nicely, both physically and as actors. Rupert especially raised the bar on his performance compared to Chamber. The interplay was top notch, especially between Hermione and Ron, starting to hint at the Romantic interest that appears to be developing there. I'm glad to see that the HP casting directors did such a fine job in spotting and developing such talented young actors for these roles, (unlike the Star Wars casting fiascos - i.e. both Anakins) I hope they can be enticed to stay to finish out the series. Come on Warner Brothers, promise these kids breakout acting roles once this gig is up.
The new Dumbledore was a bit disappointing only when compared to the late Rex Harrison. He didn't seem to capture the same charismatic presence that he gave as Gandalf in the LoR series, but he is a fine actor will serve the role well.
The special effects were every bit as good as chamber, with Buckbeak and the blowing up of Aunt Marge being the best efforts yet.
Some seemingly important details to the plot of the books were not divulged here, such as who Prongs, Padfoot, Mooney, and Wormtail were, but it will be easy enough to do this when the information becomes directly relevant to the plot. Another missed event from the book was Harry sending his patronus at Malfoy and Slytherin cronies dressed as dementors, but the way the movie plot was developed, and the way the action climaxed, it wouldn't have worked.
We do get to witness Hermione punch out Malfoy (twice actually).
Some details were bothersome. Hagrid's Hut and the Whomping Willow seem to have been moved, and the general landscape of the school grounds seemed very different. But the wonder and magic of Hogwarts was not only maintained but heightened.
All in all, this was a thoroughly entertaining and magical movie from start to finish. I look forward to Goblet. I don't see how it could have been done better in the limited format of an under 3 hour movie.
Big Trouble (2002)
If you have a pulse and a brain, this is funny.
I'm baffled by the negative reviews for this film. This is as funny a film as I have seen, and it has been a long time since. No it's not particularly cerebral, but it's not stupid adolescent humor either (though stupid adolescents will find plenty to laugh at). It's a ride of pure fun. Not overdone or dumbed down. Cleanly told and shot, with wonderful tight, witty dialogue and solid acting. I guess I'm glad I'm not like so many other movie buffs and can only enjoy movies with subtitles or story lines so esoteric that that you need a PHD in philosophy to begin to catch (or invent) the symbology (i.e. Mulholland sp? Drive). This is just pure fun. Entertainment. It will make you laugh. Rent it.