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slynn32
Reviews
Mildred Pierce (2011)
It was fabulous...no matter what the other reviews say.
Kate Winslet is a terrific actress, of that there is no doubt. She exquisitely portrayed a struggling mother, torn between her want of independence and her desire to lavishly support her children. Every scene with Mildred and Veda was filled with such tension it vividly showed this split that plagued this mother.
The level of love, dedication, heartbreak, duplicity, forgiveness, betrayal, and reconciliation seen in this miniseries is off the charts. It is certainly one not to be missed.
For those comparing to the '45 version, all I have to say is if you liked that one so much, why watch the new one? If your ultimate standard of the depiction will never be reached, why waste your time and then turn around and complain about it?
In actuality, there is simply no denying that HBO has hit the mark once again.
House M.D.: Simple Explanation (2009)
Reason for Penn's Removal from Show
For those of you who have not heard, Kal Penn left House for a position in President Obama's administration as the Asian liaison. I was heart-broken to see Kutner's death; however, I have to give credit to the writers- having Kutner kill himself brings such a spotlight to suicide and the mystery and sadness it brings. If it had been 13, people would have said it was because of her illness. If it had been Taub, they would have said it's because of his marital problems. Kutner was such a shock. I think this episode was one of the best- the filmography was great, the acting (of course) was superb, and the writing was over the top. I am highly impressed with the show.
Vantage Point (2008)
It makes you hold your breath and say "Whoa"
I thought this film was excellent! I heard some people complaining and saw some of the complaints here on IMDb, but this film is genius. Of course it shows the same scene over and over- that is the entire premise of the movie! So for people to say that it bothered them...well, they must like more uninformative plots, i.e. Jumper.
The film starts off with a stickler of a news producer shouting off orders to camera men as the President enters for a speech at a world meeting in Spain. The President, obviously, is shot, but it was the loud and unexpected BOOM that caused me to jump. From there the story rewinds to 23 minutes earlier at 12:00. It replays from all the different vantage points several times. Seeing it over and over is not annoying, though, again, those who might prefer a less engaging story might think it is. Each time the scene rewinds we learn something new about the conference, the people attending, and where the "gunmen" are located. Each scene leaves you on the edge of your seat exhaling slowly as you wait for your adrenaline to slow. The ending is also so explosive and heart-pounding, I held my husband's hand with the "grip of death" in anticipation. This film is definitely worth the overpriced ticket at the box office. It deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Jumper (2008)
More promo hype than the movie delivered
For months, my fiancé and I have looked forward to this movie. I have seen commercials and previews for it everywhere. (How many times did you see the little jumper character appear during the Superbowl?) I liked the special effects. They were pretty awesome, actually. I just wish the plot was as good. It seems the producers put a lot of money into effects and found scriptwriters at the lowest bidder. I left the movie theatre with so many questions about the characters and their motives, not to mention the origin of the Palidin company which chased down the Jumpers. When we found out that the movie was actually a derivative of a book, we immediately planned to read the book to hopefully fill in the holes. I think the movie will be most enjoyed as a $3.99 movie rental instead of a $20.00 night out.
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Surprisingly Good Western
I was shocked by how much I liked this film. I have to say, I saw it mostly because it had big names; well, that and my fiancé wanted to see a "man" movie. But he and I both were doubtful because of the movie's western theme. Neither of us had seen the original, and we went in with our eyes wide open. I was completely enthralled from beginning to end! The acting (ironically, the two main characters are not played by Americans) was superb, the screenplay was brilliant, and the directing was amazing. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe nailed the "western" accents and demeanor. The story moved at a steady pace and had good 'ol cow-boy music to back it up! I was most impressed by the directing. This was a small scale masterpiece in film directing! Of course, I immediately called some fellow movie-goers and heartily recommended the film. I don't think an old-fashioned western could have been introduced to a modern-day society in a better way!
The Invisible (2007)
It was nothing what I expected- it was a lot worse.
This was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. There was no development of character and there were so many scenes that were irrelevant to the plot. i.e. The opening scene, though well acted and interestingly shot, had nothing to do with the main theme of the movie. At first I thought it was to illustrate how he felt invisible to create some sort of irony in the fact that he soon would be invisible, but there was nothing more about it. It was just that. The Annie character could have been a very interesting and perplexing character but became completely ruined and superficial as soon as she took off her beanie in the club scene. Which, by the way, also didn't make sense since she said she needed "a roof" then went to party and later sleep in the high school. Also, there was no basis for the male character to feel attraction for the female character except for the fact that they are opposite sexes. There was no development of a relationship. Sure, they did a good job at showing their similarities, but, no offense to anyone, I'm not going to feel sorry for someone and fall in love with a person that just killed me. What the screenplay writers and directors should have done was show more about Annie and the cause of her demise. They should have humanized her during the scenes with her little brother and not during a club scene. They should have left the beanie on and taken it off only at times the audience was supposed to feel for her. There was too much of a connection between the beanie and her "badness" and that left too quickly. There were so many subplots that were left unanswered. What about the two goons that helped her kill him? What about her boyfriend who was still alive when she left him? What about Pete, the bad best friend, and his attempted suicide? There should have been follow-up to these because a consequence is expected. Other subplots that were left untouched- her mother's death, sudden or long and drawn out? Annie's relationship with her father; did the bruises on her arm mean that he beat her? Were we supposed to infer that? Annie's father used to be a policeman; why mention he got fired and that it's "a long story" if we never get to hear it? Annie and her life was a pivotal character to the story that was left dry.
Just a few other things that irritated me: The previews did not give a true synopsis of the story line. There was no mystery to be solved. It is perfectly clear who kills him. Also, this has been compared to Ghost, or, at least, the writer's and PR people have compared it to Ghost. There is no connection, and Ghost, obviously seen through it Acadamy Award nominations, was a well written piece of fiction as opposed to this....not well written piece of fiction. Main difference, and the most important I believe, is that Demi Moore didn't kill Patrick Swayze!! This movie had such great potential and had me thinking it was going to live up to it's expectations, but it ultimately left me utterly disappointed.