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癲狂院 Vixen Owl Cigar..。o○

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□■□ One of Jarmusch's Funniest and Most Touching Films...

Long Single Take Scenes That Feature Superb Acting.. A tale of 5 cities... As with many of Jarmusch's films ("Coffee & Cigarettes", "Ghost Dog", Down by Law, etc.), "Night on Earth" is simultaneously endearing and mindboggling. The film centers around five short cab rides in five international cities in a single night. From a lurid confession in a Roman cab (with Roberto Begnini) to an impromptu audition in LA (with Gena Rowlands and Winona Ryder) to a hysterical ride through New York with a retired East German clown (Armin Mueller-Stahl), this film will keep you laughing, crying, and thinking so deeply, that all you want to do is rewind and watch this night again.Jim Jarmusch's film, "Night on Earth ", has that feeling about it a person gets driving around the town they know at three in the morning. The streets are bare and you feel like you are the only one to experience this. It is the emptiness and that holds you in wonder, the silence that keeps your attention. "Night on Earth " seems to work in much the same way (and not just because there are stories of driving through empty cities at night ).We are presented with five stories that form no large conclusions together, but present characters and vignettes of the world that attract us in their silence. It presents a world at three in the morning."Night on Earth " is a movie which works as a collection self-contained short stories. It starts off with a simple scene, and a simple concept. A camera shows us a wall with five clocks, representing the time in five different cities; Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki. The camera zooms onto one clock, and tells us the story of a twenty minute cab ride in that city.Then, the time is run back, and we are given the same twenty minutes in a different cab in a different city. My favorite is, however, the Rome vignette, starring Bennini as a crazy Roman cabby who drives with sunglasses in the dark. You should at least rent this film if you don't decide to buy it, but I feel a personal need to own this film. In the end, nothing has really happened, but we can see the subtle change in the characters that has made the difference. 【Winona Ryder】Night on Earth【Gena Rowlands】 On balance, I really liked this film: Five little vignettes, all at the same time, all in different countries, all involving conversations in taxicabs. It starts off well with Winona Ryder as a young, strangely confident cabbie who drives a middle-aged talent scout to her Beverly Hills home. An interesting dialog develops during the ride, thus leading to an even more interesting climax at the vignette's end. Each vignette is entirely self-contained, and wholly different in form and scope from the other four. From Los Angeles to New York to Paris to Rome to Helsinki, the purity of the conversations envelop the viewer.. The film works almost entirely off one hinge; characterization.. The camera rarely even leaves the cabs, except for a few scenes (the most notable on being the final scene), so the film seems to trap itself to only be able to draw its characters.. And this is does, and does very well.... It also does paint the locale of each of the stories, but this also is done entirely through characterization. And when we feel we have been well introduced to the characters, we must reluctantly leave them to go onto the next story. The film works on a pleasant level, and each simple story is a pleasure to watch. Personally, I found Roberto Benigni's scene to be quite overdone. It was the only one of the five that I didn't enjoy. While amusing in its own right, it was a bit too much of a Benigni-barrage to keep my attention. After a while, I just got sick of listening to him drone on and on and on. Jarmusch could've centered on one particular city (as he did in Mystery Train) and then tried to connect them all in the end. He didn't. This is why I feel the film is successful. Rather than tying all the stories together in plot, it causes the viewer to try and metaphorically connect the events and characters together. The result is a Gr8 hour and half of film. Each one of these stories has a very distinct and unique atmosphere, ranging from comedy to drama, and revealing, often, the different mentalities of the different countries; the humanity, though, runs all the way through.All of Jarmusch's characters are different and yet the same; they are all equally human, and he understands them all, but each one on their own terms. Jarmusch's observation is always brutally frank and sincere, and always loving and forgiving, for all of his characters equally. Night On Earth is sometimes sad, often funny, mostly touching and always beautiful.There may not be much going on, but it never fails to fascinate. I do agree with critics whom say that some of the stories seem to move faster than others. The Paris short is probably the weakest link.There are a ton of gr8 performances in this film. Armaud-Stahl and Giancarlo Espisito are magical together. They interact wonderfully on screen as two New Yorkers with bizaare first names. Roberto Bernigni(sp) is fabulous as an italian driver who has an in-cab confession. The last segment in Helsinki is a story of co-workers, after their night on the town, they ride with a colleague who got fired and all he has is his severance pay...His buddies share his sad story, but the driver tops them in his story of his wife and their dead baby .... Sad.....

Feb 25, 2008

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◆◇◆Metaphysical allegory disguised as a Western......

Dark Movie, Dark Music, Excelent Experience... Becoming Dead...Its a that we have the likes of Johnny Depp, no not for his cheekbones & smouldering good looks (the blighter ), but because he chooses some very interesting films, and in the case of this film, "Dead Man ", it would be difficult to imagine who else would have filled the role so admirably. Featuring the penmanship & directorial skills of Jim Jarmusch, the man who brought us "Permenant Vacation " and "Stranger Than Paradise ", "Dead Man " is a difficult film to categorise. In its setting it is obviously a western, but that is really just a superficial outer layer and the film works in so many other thought provoking ways on a myriad of other levels. The outline of the story is that William "Bill" Blake (Depp) relocates to the frontier town of Machine to take up a position as a book keeper for the local factory.. On arrival he finds that in the time it took him to travel there from Cleveland, the position has been reassigned and he finds himself broke, homeless and without the job and hence the regular income that he was promised.. Neither his would be employer, John Dickinson an eccentric and brutish character played by Robert Mitchum nor his right hand man, played by John Hurt are sympathetic to his plight and he finds himself taken under the wing of a prostitute.. Upon the return of the prostitutes occasional lover a series of events unfold that find Blake wounded and on the run from the local townsfolk. His heartless boss that never was sends out bounty hunters after Blake and a chase across the badlands ensues.. It is here that Blake meets "Nobody" (Gary Farmer) an indian wanderer who helps Blake evade his followers as the two travel towards their yet unknown destination... The slow pace of this black and white movie, punctuated throughout by lonely riffs on a guitar, create an atmosphere of deep sadness and poignant sweetness. Nobody's tending of Blake, at first seemingly undeserved, gives him purpose and an opportunity to show his ability as a guide, nurse, protector and negotiator. Nobody and Blake wander through a forest of surreal and threatening encounters, each one bringing them closer to the culmination of their own fates and binding them tighter & tighter to each other.For both Nobody and Blake, each are born to "Endless Night..." 【Gary Farmer】 Dead Man 【Johnny Depp】 Depp & Farmer, Slyly Questions Existence, Moments of Violence.. I would like to say that placing this film in the western genre was a mistake.It more closely represents classic art films and is a dark, symbolic, and heart touching film. Unlike many of the classic western films in existance, this film does not glorify or falsify the west. This film criticizes the west and points out the dismal and difficult times that were faced by all. It is not a bang bang shoot'em up film and has no equivilant of Dodge city as it were. It is merely placed in the time and place of those films. I first saw this film in a small theater in a small college town. I was walking by the theater and I saw the poster. Though advertising rarely catches my attention, I saw this poster and new that I needed to see this film.Shot in black and white, this film is wonderful not just for the heart but for the eyes.The cinematography and the scenery is excellent. The use of contrasting images and symbolism is present all the way through this film, not to mention the ever present light and dark play. To some this film may seem a bore , it is a thinking film, not an action film. You need to pay attention to understand what is going on, although it is meant that you never fully understand.."Dead Man " often unfolds at a glacial pace which can be confounding to most viewers accustomed to a much quicker paced movie, yet patience will ultimately be rewarded.But for cineastes the use of symbolism and metaphors in the movie will have leave them spellbound. Johnny Depp, who is wrongly associated with the pretty boy image, plays the character of William Blake flawlessly. Teamed with Gary Farmer (nobody)is not only and odd copeling, but a winning one. Farmer, who always does good work, bring this film alive with his play on culture and astute observation.The film carries with it a quiet dignity and leaves the viewer questioning their views and life journey. The symbolic death is ever present but never obvious.!! It is a gr8 film, a lot of fun and a lot of work.Overall a Gr8 film. I saw it twice in the theater and then searched for it on DVD to buy until it came out. This movie spoke to me on a very profound level, but it is not for all. It is a long film with little action and little dialogue. It fits in with few films. This is one of those movies, like Stranger Than Paradise , which makes me want to thank the director. So, to Mr. Jarmusch, thank you so very much. You've made my life richer with this movie. I could go on and on about it, but if the film tought me one thing, it is that you need not say much to mean much.So its an Existential Western and that's a category that you wont find in Blockbuster, but its a worthwhile watch.. .. But what you get out of it depends on how much you think the film through, it should come with the label, WARNING : This film may make you think ?

Jan 28, 2008

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▽▲ Everlasting Beauty??? NOT !!!!! ▼△

Gripping Plot ; Good, Dark Atmosphere... Willis, Streep, and Hawn shine in this hilarious spoof !!!!If you're in the mood for alot of laughs then "Death Becomes Her " is a gr8 film to check out.The all star cast includes Bruce Willis, as a nerdy plastic surgeon, Goldie Hawn as his scorned wife who he cast asides for the more beautiful and becoming Meryl Streep. But what is Streep's secret to eternal youth ?At first, she relies on Bruce Willis' services as a plastic surgeon but when that relationship becomes sour , Streep has to find another way to retain her youth, beauty, and vanity. In the meantime, Goldie Hawn is making a few changes of her own and is determined to destroy the woman who she believes destroyed her beautiful marriage. The sparks begin to fly as both women decide they will do anything to keep their looks and Bruce Willis is along for the ride to provide the touch ups. The wonderful thing about this film, is that it puts a gothic horror story into a gothic world, only occaisonally reminding us that it is infact set in the 20th century.It's the kind of film that you could just watch, forgetting the comedy and being completely sucked into the story. I wouldn't have cared if this film didn't provoke so much as a single giggle; the fact is that the story was so entertaining who needed humour !!!! Meryl Streep is a hoot as stuck-up, age denying "actress", Madeleine Ashton. Throughout the first quarter of the movie, we see the character frantically going to any lengths to regain her long lost youthful looks, and pitting herself against friend-enemy, Helen Sharp. Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn) is bitter over losing her once-lover, Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis) and many before him, to Madeleine, and vows to get her vengeance. When Madeliene meets Helen, after a fourteen year "long time no see ", and finds her looking young and beatiful, she frantically tries to better her own appearance, and as a result falls into the hands of Liculle, a millionaire, living in a castle. This woman sells her a potion which gives her eternal youth and immortality. Only one snag, Madeleine has to look after herself. As this happens, Helen and Ernest have a get together, and decide to remove Madeleine from the equation, in order to be together.Hilarious movie with hilarious special effects and funny spoof of the lengths women will go to to obtain eternal beauty. 【Meryl Streep】Death Becomes Her【Bruce Willis】 Who Would Have Thought Death Could be Funny？"Death Becomes Her " is your all time funny movie of the secret of staying young. And who better to play the two women who want to stay young then Goldie Hawn and Meryl Steep. The two together make the movie a hilarious show for everyone to view. It all starts out so simple. Meryl Streep who plays Madeline Ashton, is a broadway actress in shows that one has to aquire.. And Goldie Hawn who plays Helen Sharp a shy, yet angry woman.. The two who have known each other since college, and have always competed with one another, Madeline winning all Helen's boyfriends each time there is a slight chance that Helen thought she won.. Helen assuming her life was different, decides to go to one of Madeline's shows with her new fiance Ermest, who is played by the ever so talented Bruce Willis.. This is the test for her fiance.. If he can stay in love with her without falling for Madeline, then he is the one she will marry.. But as always, as soon as he lays eyes upon her, the love goes from Helen to Madeline instantly..... After years of Madeline being married to Ernest.Time has taken it's toll on the best of both of them. Their looks are shot, and Ernest being a popular surgeon, can no longer perform because of his drinking problem. Helen who is overweight and in a psycho ward vows that she will get back at Madeline for all the damage she has done. She meets an enchantress (Isabella Rosselini) and changes Helen's life forever. Helen writes a book, a the book becomes a best-seller. She holds a party in the books honor, and invites Madeline and Ernest for the show of their life. Madeline who thinks Helen is over-weight and grotesque, soon finds out that Helen looks 20 years young, and looks better than she will ever look. Determined to look that good. Madeline goes to her spa to get facial treatments. Instead of getting the normal treatment. She is approached by a man with a business card. Deciding to go or not, she decides to find out just what it is. Her life will change forever, and so will your thoughts of ever lasting life. It's all going quite well, until Madeleine is pushed down the stairs by an angry Ernest. Surprises come when, Madeleine survives the fall, despite a broken neck, and no pulse Thinking it to be a miracle, Ernest suddenly regains all interest in Madeleine. Helen arrives on the scene, and when Madeleine discovers of their plot to kill her, she takes it into her own hands to blow a gaping hole in Helens stomach with a rifle.Surprises come again when Helen survives this, despite a hole right through her body.And then, the thread is found, it's not a double miracle, it's a case of two people who have taken Liculle's "eternal youth " potion. Problem is, both parties have now suffered traumas which would usually have killed them, and now, thanks to the potion, they are decomposing alive. With a plot like that, you'd think that there would be no time for humour.But there is, as it manages to naturally creep in. Most of it comes from Madeleine Ashton, or the hilarious special effects (Titanic eat your heart out ). But as the film doesn't make a point of being funny very often, it doesn't live up to its "black comedy " status. ............But What The Hell ???

Aug 31, 2007

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*** Snapshot !!!!! *** - AUTO FOCUS -

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN CRANE Paul Schrader (American Gigilo, Raging Bull) directs this movie.. Rated R for strong sexuality, nudity, language, some drug use (cocaine), 107 minutes run-time....... A Kodak Moment To Be ForgottenWhich is really a shame, because AUTO FOCUS is an altogether absorbing and very disturbing account of "Hogan's Heroes " star Bob Crane (Greg Kinnear ), who on the surface appeared as Boy Scoutish as can be (All American nice guy, doting family man ) but secretly indulged a sex-addict double life of Caligula style proportions which may or may not have resulted in his death by bludgeoning in 1978 (A case, like that of Tupac, which has sadly gone unsolved ). Adapted by Michael Gerbosi from the book THE MURDER OF BOB CRANE by Robert Graysmith , pic opens in 1964 when Crane, a sometime actor and disc jockey, lands "Hogan's " and coasts to celebrity on the success of the cheesy, unorthodox POW comedy. Although there is some mention that Crane is into smutty pictures at this point, his participation in full blown sex-capades really takes off upon meeting John Carpenter (Willem Dafoe ), an electronics whiz who turns Crane on to the video industry and recruits women for their numerous rendezvous. Rest of pic concentrates on their relationship as Crane degenerates further into a quagmire of sin after the cancellation of "Hogan's ," when the actor struggles to maintain a career amidst circulating rumours of his deviant behavior. Pic concludes with dissolution of the Crane-Carpenter union, and Crane getting whacked. Pic's main strength lies in its principal casting.Kinnear is a revelation as the seedy Crane, who maintains a remarkable air of wholesomeness even as he descends further into Motley Crue decadence. Besides the actor's preternatural charm, he brings a winning aloofness to the role, which strikes an alarming and cogent contrast as Crane morphs into a lecherous buffoon (The sequence where Crane makes an appearance on a cooking show is particularly painful to watch ). As superb as Kinnear is, Dafoe practically steals the film from him as Carpenter, Crane's Mephistopheles-esque partner in crime who was tried and acquitted for Crane's murder.Watch Dafoe in his final scene, after Crane has essentially "dumped " him: the psychological unravelling the actor projects is intensely mesmerizing (It helps that pic's superb photographer Fred Murphy shoots this with erratic movement ). Together, the pair make up a unique, pre-Mick and Keith Glimmer Twins set whose relationship (The sequence where the two masturbate while watching one of Crane's several "home films" feels absurdly touching in its warped domesticity ) is the singular heart of the film: an ostensible same-sex marriage made in debauched heaven. 【Willem Dafoe】 Auto Focus 【Greg Kinnear】 Don't Drink, Don't Smoke, Don't Swear, but I LOVE MY SEX.. The story begins at Crane's "gig" as a disc jockey at an LA radio station, where he is most successful, due to his charm and likeability.. He gets his biggest break while taking a role on a seemingly controversial television show, "Hogan's Heroes".. The film showed us that with fame comes corruption.. Crane was originally a man who could pass for a member of the Brady Bunch, but was consumed by sexual deviancy.. However, through both his need to be liked and to please everyone, he fell deeper and deeper into trouble.... Who killed Bob Crane? That's perhaps the one question "Auto Focus " asks that is never answered and left to speculate. Some say his best friend John Carpenter was responsible, while other suspect it could've been his ex-wife. Or a jilted lover, an angry husband or boyfriend, or just a total stranger. But this is one thing that is never answered in "Auto Focus ", but is portrayed as the one puzzling question that will perhaps never be resolved. What is most interesting about the film was throughout the deviancy, the audience maintains a sense of hope, and after each failure, we feel sympathetic to this man who is seemingly oblivious to his problems..... Eventually, Crane's views changes from consuming himself with likeability, to sex. His later 'life lesson ' was, "A day without sex, is a day wasted ." He shared this view with a newfound friend, John Carpenter. Carpenter, subtly strange, was played magnificently by one of the best actors in work, Willem Dafoe ("Boondocks Saints," "Shadow of The Vampire," "Spiderman" ). The relationship and adventures of Crane and Carpenter is the focus of the majority of the film. They would go to orgies, troll strip joints and go to bars. Auto Focus doesn't look a whole lot like any other Paul Schrader picture. The film itself compels much interest in full exploration of these questions -- not to mention how its a brilliant, exotic and celebratory entertainment all its own. From the opening credits - admittedly the most expensive part of the entire film, by Kinnear's recollection - to the final brutal scenes, the film looks unlike anything Schrader has before attempted. Which is not to say that he doesn't succeed, he most surely does - his telling of Bob Crane's story is at once fascinating and disgusting. Schrader is attracted to making pictures about complicated men, men in conflict with themselves. Well, he'll be hard pressed to come up with a character, fictional or not, that is in such conflict with themselves as Bob Crane was. Schrader depicts his downfall, showing it step by painful step, and in the process winds up making a gr8 film. Though you'll probably feel the need to take three to four showers after watching it. Wrapping things up, "Auto Focus" is a lurid film and it's depressing and twisted !!!!! It's upsetting to see someone with his head straight such as Crane , lose sight of what mattered in the face of temptation. But through "Auto Focus ", Crane's bruised humanity is shown on screen as a genuinely nice guy swallowed up by excess. It was said that Crane wanted to be a movie star, and through Kinnear's performance, he got a taste of movie stardom from being portrayed by someone else.

May 27, 2007

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●○ G.I. Jane is rated R for adult situations, profanity, and violence.

More than just "Girlpower !!!!!" G.I. JANE Good Cup of Joe"G.I. Jane " is about a female intelligence officer who goes after Navy's elite, the Navy S.E.A.L.S. One place no woman has entered before, until now. Jordan O'Neil (Demi Moore ) is hand picked by Senator DeHaven as a test run for full integration if Lt. O'Neil can make the cut. Most of the Naval officers bet that she would not last a week. Senator DeHaven basically makes a deal with the devil for this opportunity, if it works she will be placed on political pedestal and keep her office, yet if it fails, she will still be placed there for attempting to get full integration into all non-women placements. Lt. O'Neil's "boyfriend " is also in the Intelligence Department , and he is not gung ho about the idea, yet deep down he does not believe she will make it. The movie is almost numbing in its effort to cover every possible feminist issue.. O'Neal is married to a naval officer who has served less time and yet ranks above her.. Most of O'Neal's cohorts are resentful of having to share their quarters and lifestyle with a woman.. O'Neal becomes a political pawn in a fight with the senator.. There are so many sub-plots, you get the feeling this could have been a TV mini-series ..... But the most overwhelming fear is that O'Neal will become a whiny martyr.Her complaints don't even make much sense at first. When she fails a certain physical test, rather than being concerned for her own groundbreaking career, she complains when a fellow officer who tested better than she did is drummed out of the program. (So she'd rather that *he* was brought back in and she was kicked out? ) Small wonder that a head honcho starts referring to O'Neal as a "Joan of Arc for the Navy ." But once the movie quits trying to parallel contemporary lone-woman-in-the-military situations, the story itself proves enough to carry the day. When O'Neal's master chief (Viggo Mortensen ) gets carried away with O'Neal's physical training and causes even her peers to turn on him, you find yourself rooting for her at last... 【Demi Moore】 G.I. Jane 【Viggo Mortensen】 A Genuinely Good Movie - Demi with a Shaved Head.. Now this is one of those movies I'll be watching more than once or twice !! Demi Moore plays Jordan, the first candidate for the navy SEALs program , and whoa does she have her work cut out for her She has the perfect "never say die " attitude, which I'm sure helps her endure the stresses they put upon her in trying to get her to quit Anything from false accusations to down right physical attacks plague her as she goes through the training program. I won't say too much about what she goes up against because to do so would ruin it for anyone who hasn't yet seen it, but suffice it to say that you can't possibly be disappointed in this movie. "G.I. Jane" should've gotten her first Best Actress award.Not only was it a stylish action flick but she did a Robert De Niro in playing the part. I'm not a tabloid or fanzine reader, so I can't vouch for which scenes were shot using stand-ins or not. I'll tell you this, though: she didn't have any doubles in the nude scenes, and that shaved head wasn't a latex job. This lady makes sacrifices for her art, and if half of the training scenes were pure Demi, then move over Sylvester Stallone. This gal has out-Rockied Rocky. Jordan O'Neil is duped by politicians into entering the Navy SEALS as their first female candidate. She overcomes impossible odds in a battle of the sexes to survive the course, and successfully beats a phony charge orchestrated by the pols to remain on active duty with the commando force. She saves the day during an international crisis and hopefully lives happily ever after, because we hope she doesn't ever endure all that again for a sequel we probably wouldn't want to sit through ...you know how that goes. One big plus for the flick is the realism of the training that the SEALS undergo to join the ranks of the world's best elite force. I'm a military buff and have read tales similar to what "Jane " has to overcome, though never seeing anything quite as authentic onscreen. This isn't the horror story we get from "Full Metal Jacket", because these are peacetime candidates who are constantly implored to step up, ring the bell , and spare themselves further torment. It is the grim determination of the candidates we have to admire, O'Neil's even more so , and Demi's most of all because most leading ladies would have laughed themselves sick at the idea of taking such a part. Poor Demi is so alone in this one that everybody gets tagged as antagonists, though they all do a gr8 job.Viggo Mortensen is fantastic as her overbearing master chief , and Anne Bancroft is at her best as a Southern Congresswoman who plays an excellent chess game on the Pentagon floor.There's nothing lacking in this one: conflict within the interest, fine acting, gut-clenching action scenes, an intelligent plot, and an incisive look at relevant issues facing women in uniform. For Demi fans or those (like myself) who underestimated her ability, this DVD's for you. Action fans and movie buffs who well-crafted action movies need to grab it as well. Need I say Moore ?????Point blank to this story is that I really enjoyed this movie. Seeing how women fight for their rights to be equal, makes me feel proud to be a woman Sure we go through a lot, and men may seem that they have it easier than woman, but if you look at it another way...both genders have it difficult in this world !!The movie just gives the "real world " another limit. I recommend anyone to catch it and see what's really going on.

May 16, 2007

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■ Seven Samurai ( Shichinin no samurai ) ■

Twinkle Twinkle, Killer Kikuchiyu.. Ronin On Empty: Kurosawa's Seven SamuraiAkira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai " begins with a stark credit sequence: muted white letters on a velvety black background, scored by ominous koto drums.It is the last time this film, so much more complex than your average samurai flick, does anything in pure black and white. Seven Samurai is an epic tale of seven heroes that stand up to fight for a town of farmers under threat of attack from 40 bandits. These bandits come through on a yearly basis, taking the crops (rice) and killing those who would resist them. With the harvest season coming soon, some of the elder members of the village have decided that enough is enough, and wander to a far off city in a quest to find samurai. The rumor has been that a group of samurai helped a village survive some years ago, and that if the village could find a way to pay these men, they too could be saved by the swordsmen. The thing working against them though, is that they do not have much to offer, and without the upcoming crops, they are going to starve. So they give up eating healthy in order to use their current rice as an enticement to possible defenders. It's not a successful quest at first, but as luck would have it, the journeying party comes across a man who takes pity on the farmers. He is of high moral standards, and carries himself in a very distinguished way.With early scenes that he has, you can see immediately that this is someone of strong character, who could really do a huge service for this village. Though the going is very difficult, he takes on the task of putting a team of samurai together in order to go back and defend the village from the impending attack of the bandits. Among them is a friend from the past, a kid just learning how to use his sword, and several other highly developed characters that each has their own unique attributes within the story. They put together quite a good group of seven samurai, and head back to defend a village for no other reason than to do what is right... 【Akira Kurosawa】Seven Samurai【Toshiro Mifune】 The Heart is Stronger than the Sword Kurosawa expanded the samurai movie concept by introducing themes of significant interest over and above the obvious superhero conquers all potential.Perhaps the most important theme developed in The Seven Samurai is one that echoes through Kurosawa's entire oeuvre. Kurosawa was the most westernized of Japanese directors of his generation and became increasingly so over the course of his career, much to the consternation of Japanese film critics and, to some extent, audiences. In his early films, Kurosawa pretty much adhered to the relatively rigid Japanese precepts of culture that view the individual as a cog in the machinery of the society.Kurosawa's later films increasingly emphasized the more flexible humanism and emphasis on individuality characteristic of western culture. The Seven Samurai stands at the threshold of Kurosawa's gradual shift in view. We are shown, in this film, mainly the detrimental consequences of the strong Japanese insistence of acting on social obligations. The farmers rigidly adhere to cowardly unwillingness to fight, the bandits can't abandon their raid on the village when they find it well defended, and even the samurai can do nothing other than fight and die for honor. It all seems so futile in the end.We are also shown the stubborn persistence of caste divisions, even when the samurai and farmers must join together in defense of the community. The romance between the young samurai and the village girl is still scandalous and Kikuchiyo must shamefully hide his heritage as the son of a farmer. Only Kambei, who symbolizes reason and wisdom, is able to bridge the gap between the castes to any extent. A second important theme in The Seven Samurai is the transience of bonds and community. In the middle segment of the film, the farmers and the samurai gain mutual respect as they become more acquainted with one another. In the end, however, the villagers go about their business in disregard to the warriors who saved their village and their lives. They prove as deceitful and selfish, in their own way, as the bandits. Even among the samurai, we gain a sense of the fragility of their bond. They come together in temporary alliances that form based on battles lines but the bonds are broken by either death, victory, or defeat. In the end, the transience of human ties is linked to life and death itself. The bonds that each person forms are dictated by the chance of when and where he or she was born and who happens to be there concurrently. Then we die alone. The Seven Samurai offers a complex message of human honor, decency, striving, and endurance, along with a sense of futility and the ultimate emptiness of glory. It may not quite qualify as a theme, but it is also worth observing the Kurosawa's film work is mainly male cinema. His are rooster-flicks, not chick-flicks. Women in Kurosawa films are mostly abominations; either uncontrollably sexual or pathologically vicious..... I can never find any faults in the film and I have looked. There are few if any wasted shots to fill time. There is no useless subplot and no fluff. Each scene builds either on the plot or on the characters depth.There are no "hit " songs of the day, a trait of modern films which generally makes such modern films little more than glorified music videos or TV commercials. If you enjoy action films and can tolerate reading Japanese sub titles you need to see this film.If you are a film fan and enjoy the art of film making you need to own this film. All other films can be measured by the quality of this masterwork.What a pity modern film makers seem to rely more on technology and star power rather than the use of artful camera and direction work. Akira Kurosawa-There is no Equal

Apr 21, 2007

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● The Intentions Are Cruel, Yet The Result Is Satisfying..○

Depravity among Bored Elite Teenagers A Sexually Charged Film about Teen Angst for the Upperclass..Cruel Intentions is a movie that you either or you . You can't be stuck in between and say it was . I was first introduced to this movie when my sister rented it as soon as it came out on and watched it and said it was Gr8. Cruel Intentions is a movie that a lot of people seem to hate , but I think those looking too deeply into it are completely missing the point. This isn't a movie that claims to be "Academy Award " material, nor does it boldly go where no movie has gone before. It is simply an entertaining movie that is meant for just that; entertainment.Obvious problems occur with the script in some parts like how Sebastian gets all of the ladies. No guy is that sly. It's almost impossible. And I think some characters should have had more back-work filled in with them and also I think that the whole Selma Blair-Sean Patrick Thomas-love-affair thing was filler because it was just too…too…something. It just didn't fit with the rest of the story, but nevertheless, the plot is really good and my favorite part about it is the glorious dialogue especially between Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe since a majority of it is funny even though their intentions are cruel. I hate Joshua Jackson, but his small role is definitely the funniest in the movie and the best to watch. He plays a gay guy that helps Sebastian find out who's badmouthing him to Annette and his dialogue was ingeniously written and hilarious to watch. First of all, he talks in a high-spirited, overly happy voice that’s just hysterical to hear (but a little too stereotypical and rude to homosexuals ) and he just has a sort of way of words with people. I only wish that he had a bigger part. 【Sarah Michelle Gellar】Cruel Intentions【Reese Witherspoon】 To be Young & Evil in New York City.. The best scene in this movie occurs when Annette leaves the house to stay with friends.Sebastian wakes up in the morning and finds out she left. He takes off to find her, and from a friend he learns she is at the train station. It cuts to her walking towards an escalator. She steps on, and begins going upstairs. Then, at the top, stands Sebastian. She reaches him, mentions that she is impressed, and they kiss. It's a good kissing scene too. When adults are being this cruel, manipulative and downright sinful, it looks to be the result of bitterness and boredom with cunning calculation.When teenagers do it, they look like ditzes that are experimenting with things they have no idea about.This is not meant to blame the actors or the writing.This is an expected prejudice that most audiences tend to have, and it's a proper one. For teenagers to be this evilly adult-like seems unlikely. You have to overcome this leap of reality to enjoy the picture more. The modern background of New York City is appropriate for a script that was originally written for a 17th century French setting, because both are realms traditionally full of decadence. In spite of this, "Cruel Intentions " is the weakest version of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses " because the script has obvious logical problems of translating some of the most bothersome details of an adult society into a teenage world. The ideas of marital infidelity and dueling simply have no adequate substitutes here. Nevertheless, the script of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses " is strong enough to overcome some of the awkwardness of this film. The sinful pleasure of watching good-looking teenagers act naughtily is also appealing.The film adds a couple of elements to try to make up for these problems. The fact that Kathryn and Sebastian are related in this film makes their relationship incestuous. The lesbian kiss between Blair and Geller in this film was much celebrated and convincing done. As you can probably see, this is a teenage picture that isn't appropriate for teenagers. It's full of very adult themes, and young minds might think it would be gr8 fun to emulate the actors, without truly realizing the consequences.Some see the weakness of the "Les Liaisons Dangereuses " script to be that there is no true hero, or even anyone you can sympathize with.I see this as a strength, since the hero is the universe. You hope that society or nature will meet out its punishments appropriately. The fact that the universe tends to do this imperfectly is part of the enjoyment of such a script.As far as teen movies go, I really did enjoy "Cruel Intentions ." I went into it expecting another cliche teen movie like "She's All That " or "Boys and Girls ", but instead I got a dark twisted movie with witty dialogue and an amazing soundtrack.If you don't over-analyze or look too deeply into this movie, you may just end up liking it.Every time I watch it, I get caught up in the story line again and again. I would recommend this. Don't Be Cruel

Feb 28, 2007

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○● Oh My - Watch A Puppet Master At Work - In【O】

"O": Dunking For Columbine.... Modern-day Shakespeare Done Right.O is a controversial, contemporary interpretation of one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, Othello is intended solely for a very mature audience. Teens can be very mature people, but it is the middle-aged directors that continually release films that are insulting to teenage intelligence, and the teens cheerfully accept them. Although the characters in O are teenagers, the movie is not really for teens. Unlike 10 Things I Hate About You (an adaptation of Taming of the Shrew ), Get Over It (Midsummer's Night Dream ) and even Clueless (Jane Austen's Emma ), O is a tragedy. And if my high school English teacher taught me anything , she taught me that you can tell the comedies from the tragedies by the number of bodies on stage. Of course, if you are unfamiliar with Othello, I will not ruin the movie by saying who dies. The movie follows Othello almost perfectly.Even the character's names are somehow related to their Shakespearian counterparts. Mekhi Phifer plays Odin James (Othello ), the African-American star of his prep school basketball team. Julia Stiles plays Desi (Desdemona ), the beautiful daughter of Dean Brable (Brabantio ) who loves Odin. Hugo (Iago, played by Josh Hartnett ) is jealous of Odin because he (Odin ) has absolutely everything. Furthermore, Hugo's father, the basketball coach (Duke), treats Odin better than Hugo. So, Hugo decides to ruin Odin's life by telling him that Desi is cheating on him with Mike, a fellow basketball teammate. And thus, chaos ensues. Everything about this movie was excellent.As I mentioned before, the plot was almost a flawless adaptation of Othello. The transition from Venice to Charleston, SC worked well. There is however, the issue of violence in O. In case you are unaware, O was actually made two years ago but was never released because of the feared backlash after the school shootings (Columbine, in particular ). In my opinion, the violence in O was rather shocking - even if you are familiar with O, but not because it takes place in an academic setting but rather because the adult characters from Othello have become teenagers. 【Julia Stiles】●O (Othello)○【Josh Hartnett】 A Dark & Tangled Web of Deceit... "O" takes place in an exclusive boarding school in Charleston, South Carolina, where star-player Odin Jones (Phifer) is awarded an MVP award for his incredible basketball skills. Him and his girlfriend, Desi (Julia Stiles) have a truly special (and realistic) relationship, and he is like a family member by the team's coach, The Duke (Martin Sheen, hamming it up, but he does it so well ). Of course, Coach Duke already has a son, Hugo (Josh Hartnett, who finally gives a great performance after slumming it film after film ). But Hugo and Duke don't seem to have a solid relationship, but rather a passive one. Hugo then sets off an intricate scheme to bring Odin down. The deception is lead to convince Odin that his girl is sleeping around behind his back with his buddy Michael (Andrew Keegan ). There is no real justification for Hugo's plot to bring down Odin, but you sense the cold, callous, heartless man that Hugo is with each blank stare. This sets off a downward spiral of events that leads to one of the most gut-wrenching climaxes I have ever experienced. Sure Im aware of the outcome, and I expect tragedy to ensue, but the material is so expertly directed by Tim Blake Nelson, that I was viscerally effected by everything that takes place. He handles such important issues as teen sex, drug use, and doesn't alleviate it with conventions that you'd expect from a major Hollywood director. He delves deep into each character, but more so with Odin that you feel every searing emotion that breaks through. Consequences are presented, and the very final outbreak of violence is so unsettling and realistic, that most audiences will shun the harsh authenticity that is presented. Every performance is exquisite, but the real standout is Phifer.After walking out of his debut performance in "Clockers ," I was more than certain that he was destined for greatness, and he most certainly proves me right in "O." What's also truly unsettling is that you don't normally want to sit through a movie where young adults do the things they do in this movie. Adults especially, don't want to even imagine that eighteen year-olds even conceive the notion of murder, or engage in such bludgeoning brutality. In the end, its audacity alone should be rewarded. There very well could've been some studio compromises done in order to tone down the brutality, but the end product is something that will not only never leave your mind, but leave with you ideas as to why this epidemic of teen violence has recently swept the nation. More importantly, it also examines the timeless definition of the importance some people feel of gaining more power over another. Hugo never even considered the possibility of being Odin's equal.. He couldn't accept the fact that Odin could've been better than him, so his fear transformed into hideous rage.. Slowly but surely, he hurts everyone around him.. He always felt the need to be above and beyond Odin, when instead he should've just been his friend for life.. But what do you do when you're left alone in the dark when instead you'd rather soar like a hawk Because of rumor, jealousy, and greed, instead, he crashes, burns, and we're left with the scars and the questions as we walk out... I highly recommend "O" to everyone, but I do offer this caveat: O is not American Pie 2 with guns, so please do not expect that. There were several young people in the audience who found many parts of the movie incredibly hilarious. They laughed during the love scene between Desi and Odin Why??? Because sex is funny !! Even more disturbing, they laughed when people died. Why??? I don't know. Of course, malcontents may say that they were laughing because the movie was so shlocky, but I think that it really ruined things for everyone else. All in All, O is an Excellent Film that Everybody should see. It is Dark & Sinister and an All-around Good Film.

Feb 11, 2007

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■ Murders & Executions on Wall Street ■

Journey through 80's Nihilism...You like Huey Lewis and the News???If nineteenth-century satirist Jonathan Swift ("Gulliver's Travels", "A Modest Proposal" ) had written a novel about New York yuppies in the late 1980s, it might have looked something like American Psycho . I refer not to the ultra-violent novel by Bret Easton Ellis but the film adaptation directed by Mary Harron ("I Shot Andy Warhol" ) starring Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, the twenty-seven year old Harvard graduate who stands as a metaphor for the glossy emptiness of the "me decade ." The public outrage caused Simon and Schuster publishing to drop the book (while allowing Ellis to keep his considerable advance) which was then picked up by Vintage and eventually released.. The book has been revered and reviled by critics and the masses alike most of whom fail to realize that the novel is little more than a cleverly conceived satire.. And now, nine years after its initial publication, Mary Harron (I Shot Andy Warhol) has brought the book to the big screen?with surprisingly good results..... Christian Bale (Swing Kids, A Midsummer Night's Dream ) stars as Patrick Bateman, the Jekyll and Hyde "hero " of the film. Bateman is an intriguing character literally a personification of the banality of evil -- moving through life as little more than an empty shell at the mercy of his murderous impulses.For Bateman, life is little more than an endless stream of elaborate gourmet dinners at fancy restaurants , designer clothes , the quest to acquire the perfect business card , rough sex , and violent murder not particularly in that order. Bateman is the living embodiment of the mid-80's Wall Street culture'a young, disaffected urbanite who is driven to excess because its ultimately the only way he feels anything. He's shallow, self-centered, and incredibly full of himself (as witnessed through the hilarious dissertations that he gives on 80's pop music acts like Whitney Houston, Genesis, and Huey Lewis ), and probably not too unlike corporate raider Michael Milken when he was that age.【Christian Bale】American Psycho【Chlok Sevigny】 Lifestyles of the Rich & Sane-less... "American Psycho " is probably one of the strangest films I have ever seen. It is a fascinating film with an intriguing, if not bizarre lead character. It is certainly an interesting character study of a man with more oddities than any one person on the face of the earth. Anyone who has read the book knows that as the story with no apparent plot progresses, Patrick gets into some trouble with the local law enforcement.. The magnitude of the situation allows him to make up his mind that he will come clean about all he has done.. Of coures, no one believes him.. That there is no resolution to the story should come as no real surprise as there was no real story to be resolved.. The film raises the same questions the book did....Did Patrick do all these things for real or just in his mind ?I would like to also mention one spot where the film actually makes a better joke than the book. Throughout the novel Patrick is referred to by a variety of names. The goof here is that all Wall Street yuppies look alike. The message is never completely clear in the book, but the last scene of the film does a fantastic job of bringing the idea to the forefront. As Patrick spans the room all he can see is what is effectively the same face and suit of every single guy in the room. Kudos to Harron for the brilliant little bit of cinematography. Christian Bale reminds me very much of Tom Cruise, a favorite of mine, and now Christian will be too. They are both handsome and good actors. As far as the plot goes, it probably is not that far from the truth, although exaggerated when it comes to the jealousy over the business cards, but there are probably many such killings that are done by frustrated stock traders when they've just seen their twenty million turn into ten million over night. The call girl murders are again not an unusual thing in Manhattan, and the police are not eager to roust the boys on Wall Street over these molls. Most of the homeless murders are not even investigated, let alone solved. Just written off to natural causes. As for the call girl murders, they're usually written off to angry drug dealers and organized crime revenge killings. "American Psycho" is by no means a Gr8 movie.The lack of plot is evident and causes the film to drag a bit at times. Some of the jokes are a bit too over the top and Bale overacts in several instances. However, it is one of the better adaptations from a novel I've seen in the last few years and is maybe the best satire since "Wag the Dog ." The high level of violence that Harron does leave in the film will keep a good many viewers away , as will the at times graphic sexual content of the film. That said, I would most definitely recommend this flick to any lover of a different kind of comedy. Ultimately, American Psycho is a very pleasant surprise'a film adaptation of a book I that manages to capture most of the novel's mood and feel. I went into this one expecting the worst and was rewarded with a fairly faithful adaptation that entertained me for over an hour and a half. People who hated the novel will most likely despise the movie too, but if you're a fan of gore films, scathing black comedy, or Bret Easton Ellis' work then American Psycho is well worth checking out. As you may see from my blog for this movie, you can tell that I didn't dislike this movie much. I couldn't find something significantly wrong with it. I didn't even want to see this movie; I thought that the trailer didn't make this movie look interesting or deep. I was wrong and now Im here to say that this movie is like none you have ever seen. A Movie about a Schizophrenic Psycho makes such a Great Movie. If You are Squeamish, Beware !!!!!

Feb 2, 2007

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■ Joe Versus the Volcano ■

Jump ... and See ... Bad Start, Great Finish..I admit it. I'm a movie snob.I don't like a lot of "Hollywood " films, the kind that do nothing but make us pay high prices for popcorn and end like "Rocky".I assume that when this movie was released it probably made the big bucks. (At least enough to pay the salary of its stars ).Those stars, of course being the couple of the '80's, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. That alone might have made me me pass it up. Not to mention the dubious plot: Joe (Hanks) has 6 months to live. He is hired by Lloyd Bridges, who owns an island that contains a rare mineral. Joe is supposed to sacrifice himself by jumping into a volcano located there and thus appease both local god and natives. Joe Verses the Volcano is an art film, kind of, and a romantic comedy, sort of.Joe's workplace is reminiscent of Metropolis: a large, gray human machine from which there is no escape.. The film is stunning to look and is breathtaking, particularly on the big screen.. It was thought provoking, well crafted, and visually amazing.. The acting ability of Meg Ryan shines in this film as she plays the roles of the three women in Joe's life.. Tom Hanks is wonderful as well.. Their chemistry is amazing, it is no surprise that they have been paired up twice since.... What gets me the most about this film is the overall message. No, I shouldn't have to leave everything to discover happiness like Joe. Honestly, thought, if I'm too caught up in the monotony of life, so unhappy that I'm sick, miserable and hate life, maybe Im better off jumping into a volcano. This all sounds so pessimistic, but there is so much hope in this movie. There is time for all of us to follow our dreams. Even if we don't quit our soul sucking jobs, we can still express ourselves, find happiness and may be even enjoy life before it's too late.【Meg Ryan】Versus the Volcano【Tom HanksJoe】 Loopy, Literate and Fun !!!!! You either it ... or you it. Not a big hit at the box office I believe but I have seen it several times since I saw it on the big screen and each time it reminds me that it's an allegory for life. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut, in a dead end job with your life somehow going along on auto-pilot. It takes a kick in the pants to get you ... kick started.The score is gr8. The music fits so well and the chauffeur is a gr8 character. I'd love a chauffeur like that of my own. Well, you can wish !! Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are gr8 together as always. (Watching the film yesterday made me think of the number of films they've been in !! "Sleepless in Seattle", "You've Got Mail". I must be forgetting others too. The Doris Day and Cary Grant of the 90s and the noughties ).The truth is, "Joe Vs the Volcano" is a heroic journey and a very symbolic one.At times it can even seem overwhelming how much thought has been put into this film.Joe Banks is a man trapped in a horrible job. He is like so many corporate underachievers, losing his soul and with it, his will to live. Joe a man frightened by his own past becomes a hypochondriac. It is only with his persistence of medical testing that he find his time is coming to an end.And with it, his journey begins.If you're looking for anything akin to "Sleepless in Seattle " or "You've Got Mail ", you probably won't find it here. There is gr8 romance, but it's not a story. If you're expecting a lot of laughs on the first viewing, put those thoughts aside too. I'm not saying it isn't funny, it just escapes any common comedy slots. If you laugh, you'll be laughing at something more than the movie, and that's too.Although it took me time and experience to embrace this film, many people see it for the first time and it. A few even it without getting into all this gr8 pondering and mumbo jumbo I've gone on about above. But if you don't it, or even like it, just give it awhile. Maybe even years. Sure, that's a long time to wait, but isn't it worth even the chance of being this happy.The fishing scene alone is worth the price of that popcorn.Even the music is kind of a kick. (Can you imagine the song "On the Street Where You Live" done mariachi style? ) And any movie that casts Abe Vigoda as a minor league "god" can't be all bad. The moon scene shows just what Hanks is capable of in filmdom and he helps carry it through its weaker spots. Overall, I would say this is good, (not Great mind you ), but good entertainment. A final note: This was filmed during the period in Hanks' career where he was not only young enough for leading man status but wise enough to pick and choose to perfect his craft ("A League of Their Own", "Big" ). So if you have seen those and enjoyed them, I think you will also find this one worth a view.Nobody knows anything, Joe. We'll take this leap, and we'll see. We'll jump, and we'll see. That's life, right?

Jan 17, 2007

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*** Celebrate the ANNIVERSARY PARTY ***

The Death of the Party...Be a fly on the wall at "The Anniversary Party" The Anniversary Party is by any definition, a tremendous accomplishment. The sheer triumph of making a film with numerous "name " Hollywood actors for less than $4 million is jaw-dropping in today's environment. The fact that this film was filmed solely on digital video, and that this is relatively transparent to the viewer, is another technical accomplishment that bodes well for future independent filmmakers. But perhaps the highest achievement of The Anniversary Party is that it is not only thus far the best film of the year (not tough with the competition ), but one of the best films I've seen in a few years. Don't get me wrong -- there are people out there, perhaps many of them, who will not like this film. There is a copious amount of drug use in the film, and it's not laced with the usual political correctness and Nancy Reagan-esque messaging that most films seem compelled to intertwine with any such scenes. As a testament to the film's independent spirit, the ending is not tied up in big studio bows, and this also will irk some viewers. (Sorry - I've been trying to figure out a way to use the word "irk" for awhile now, and it just seemed like a good opportunity. ) But, I've gotten ahead of myself. A little background is in order here. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cummings wrote, starred in and directed this film, which is plausibly about several Hollywood actors, directors and hangers-on, during one day of their lives. That day is the sixth anniversary between actress Sally Nash (Leigh) and writer cum director Joe Therrian (Alan Cummings) -- the couple has recently gotten back together after a very public separation. Joe ended up in London where he admittedly had some affairs -- potentially with both men and women -- but he states emphatically in one of the opening scenes that he is back for good. The veracity behind his statement is left in doubt for the viewer, as well as for Sally. In fact, when she finds out that in addition to their closest friends, Joe has also invited Skye Richardson (Gwyneth Paltrow) to their anniversary party, she is outraged. Not only does it feel suspicious, but Sally is jealous of Skye -- not only is she a hot young actress, in contrast to Sally's fading fame, but Joe has cast Skye in his film -- an adaptation of a novel he wrote based on Sally. Other guests include Sophia Gold (Phoebe Cates) and her husband Jack (Kevin Kline). Jack is a Hollywood legend, just coming off an Oscar, while Sophia was a famous actress who retired from film to raise their children. (This, by the way, is exactly what Cates did in real life, after marrying Kline in real life -- but it does not appear that either of them is merely playing themselves. More on this later. ) Jack and Sally are starring together in a film, directed by Mac Forsyth (John C. Reilly), whose wife Clair (Jane Adams) is also a famous actress, just learning to deal with her child who she is incredibly protective of. Judy Adams (Parker Posey) is there with her husband Jerry (John Hickey) who is Sally and Joe's tax attorney. 【Gwyneth Paltrow】Anniversary Party【Parker Posey】 X-Rated Anniversary Party Jennifer Jason Leigh is ALWAYS good on screen but, her first time behind the camera as director with co-star Alan Cummings they triumph I feel the 'co directing ' brings a balance of yin/yang that keeps this character driven film together and on course. What I found was paramount was we had to like and believe the characters and we did. All of them. Hollywood actress Sally Nash and her hubby writer/director are reconciling their yearlong separation on their sixth Anniversary. They celebrate with their closest friends and 'dolphins '. There was an 'awe ' many fellow viewers in the audience had when the 'dolphins ' were presented. This is when the film got even more truthful and honest. This drama with comedic overtones and a stellar cast were a joy to watch for two hours. Moreover, when it was all said and done, I was happy to have been an observer of these people experiencing all they had to experience that night. I felt privileged to be a 'fly on the wall ' of their party. Now, I miss them. If I were the king of the world, I would consider this a contender for some awards. I won't reveal anything more, but I must say this : all of the actors' portrayals of being high on Ecstasy hit the mark to a "T".I don't know if they actually tried it together or not, but Im betting they did. I was constantly seeing little nuances here and there that just blew me away. Not that "I've ever done it myself or anything ". "The Anniversary Party " outdoes itself again with the ending. Much like life, many of the problems that arise during the film (and life ) just don?t have easy answers, so Cumming & Leigh don't create them. I highly commend them for that, as the easy way out certainly was an option. A special note needs to be said about the caliber of acting that we see in this film.Everyone is in top form in this movie, down to Cates who I haven't seen in quite a while. The overwhelming feeling I got was that everyone involved with this film really wanted to be involved with it, which translated extremely well into the final product. Every nuance, joke, and dilemma felt genuine and interesting, and had me gripped for the entire duration. In short, The Anniversary Party is a worthwhile moviegoing experience, and a promising start to potential careers for Leigh and Cumming behind the cameras. I highly recommend this film, I think you'll be really impressed.

Jan 3, 2007

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+++ Nicolas Cage Discovers It's a Wonderful Life +++

WHAT IF YOU GOT A SECOND CHANCE???But can I Just Keep the Ferrari??? Examine the what if. What if that oh so important decision that made your life had not happened? What if you had done things different? Took a different road? Well, Jack Campbell gets a chance to see a glimpse of what could have been, one Christmas Eve, 13 years after leaving his girlfriend at the airport for a year in London, he goes to bed alone and wakes up to another life. He has entered Jack's what-if life. Screwing around with the human memory has really been "the thing to do " lately. Only in the rarest case is this concept ever attached to a warm, funny story. Fortunately for us, The Family Man is.The way I felt leaving the theater after seeing this movie , that's exactly the kind of feeling that made me start going there more often. An extremely simple, bare-bones story is the biggest reason Family Man works. Much like It's A Wonderful Life, Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage) is given a "glimpse " of what his life might have been but for one decision, which we see him make at the beginning of the movie. He and his girlfriend Kate (Tea Leoni) are standing at the airport, and he is on the verge of going to London to become one of the richest, baddest dudes alive. She asks him not to do it, to "flush the plan " and stay with her. 【Tia Leoni】Family Man【Nicolas Cage】It's A Wonderful Life 2000: DJ Brett Ratner Club Remix Nicholas Cage is Jack Campbell, a hard-driving Wall Street executive who jokes about working late on Christmas Eve and thinks nothing of calling an emergency strategy session for noon on Christmas Day. A chance encounter with a mysterious gun-wielding man, Cash (played by Don Cheadle ) gives Jack the unbidden opportunity to experience what his life would have been like if he had married his college sweetheart, Kate Reynolds, instead of becoming a Wall Street tycoon. Hmmm... sounds familiar...This movie clearly parallels It's a Wonderful Life in that the protagonist sees how the world would have been different without him. At least we know clearly that Clarence the Angel and his superiors are responsible for what happens to George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. Although Jack's mysterious Cash is never clearly identified, I dubbed him "Fate " -- as in the movie's trailer ... when fate stepped in on Christmas Eve. Ah, The Material Pleasures in LifeJack experiences what life would have been like if "Jack the Wall Street tycoon " had never existed and "Jack the family man " had evolved instead. We experience Jack's frustration as he realizes that everyone who knew (and sucked up to ) him no longer recognizes him and even threatens him with the police. Upon waking as Jack Campbell, family man, his first reaction is to go look for his Ferrari. Then he goes to his apartment and office -- trying to validate all the material trappings by which he had previously measured his life. It's clearly evident that material things are most important to Jack Campbell at that point in his life. DVD ExtrasSpotlight on Location: You know what these are all about, cast interviews, the making of the movie and so on. There is a marvelous commentary with the director Brett Ratner and the two writers David Diamond and David Weissman. There is the music video to Seal's underrated gem "This Could Be Heaven ". Also there are outtakes and some gr8 deleted scenes. One of my favorite deleted scenes that I really think should've been left in the movie was one near the end in which Rich Jack, after having seen the "glimpse ", returns to see his would-have-been friend Arnie. Of course the guy doesn't know him, and Jack says something like "I think we could've been friends. " then Arnie's eyes light up and he says "Oh, Jack Campbell! We went to high school together!! " If you like Memento, 50 First Dates, The Butterfly Effect, or Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind then my bet is that you'll this one. I thought the ending was good but could have been better, it left me hanging. What happens next? Where are the kids? Will they have children? Will they be the same children or different ones?I wanted the kids to be in the ending. That would have made it perfect. Overall the movie was gr8, Nicholas Cage plays a great confused and astounded character. He was perfect for this part. This is one movie that I will watch again. The supporting cast (which contains a number of new faces) is helpful, especially German-born Sommer, Cheadle, and Paul Sorvino, who all turn in doubly and beautifully deceptive performances. The photography of Dante Spinotti (LA CONFIDENTIAL, WONDER BOYS ) catches the Christmastide snowy scapes of both Wall Street and New Jersey.Danny Elfman's musical score is The kids are adorable, and -- oh, yes -- there's a Big Dog. Compared to the giddy chutzpah of LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and the flattened farce of MEET THE PARENTS, THE FAMILY MAN is a comic masterpiece, about a man trying to become a father and a husband, in roughly that order. (I wonder if, like the first two, it will gross a hundred million or more? ) Although the last two minutes of the action finesses the movie's philosophical bonafides...What the hell -- it's Christmas!!!!! I'm giving the film FIVE STARS.

Dec 27, 2006

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■ Joseph: King of Dreams ■

You've Got to Give More than You Take Another Masterpiece From DreamworksWhen this movie came out we had to get it. For one because of the gr8 job they did with Prince of Egypt and for two because we are born again Christians who believe in the bible and want to raise our children with the same faith. Joseph, King of Dreams, was a hit at our house. We rented it before buying, and it.!!!!With "The Prince of Egypt " being such a big hit with us, we knew this one would be too. My lovers cartoons, and I them being able to learn about the Bible while being entertained.The movie captures the biblical story with such gr8 quality that every person watching will be enlightened by it. The songs are amazing, and the animation is spectacular The theme teaches that when God makes a promise, it will come to pass in time, no matter what the circumstances seem to be.Dreamworks is quickly becoming a favorite in our household for quality family entertainment. so the animation is as high tech as Toy Story or any Disney movies. But where did Disney start out ?Exactly right where they are and the producers are doing wonderfully Its a gr8 movie and that is all I can say.Now they did take some events a twisted them around, but if you have a Bible in your home you can follow along with it as my parents did and tell your children if that is true or not. And you only have to do it once because they know its not all exactly going to happen the way the movie goes. 【Ben Affleck】Joseph: King of Dreams Subtle, Serious, & Inspiring; Big-screen-worthy Art & Animation. Joseph-King of Dreams is certainly not your average cartoon. It provides a well outlined plot based upon the Old Testament story of the trials and accomplishments of Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel (Genesis 37 ). This story is retold in the magic of wondrous bright color and enchanting song, which will delight viewers of any age group or belief system. This serious but inspiring movie, teaches children about overcoming the odds that seem to be against them. Joseph is the youngest of his brothers at the time he is sold into slavery, and has an uncanny gift for foretelling the future through dreams.. His father, Jacob, cherished him as his favorite openly, which intensified the jealously among the brothers.. Not to mention, that Joseph often told his family about his dreams which portrayed himself as ruler over them.. Then one day, Joseph had told their father that the brothers were off swimming while Joseph was left to watch over the family's sheep, which ended up being attacked by wolves.. This lead Jacob to scold the brothers which furthered the hatred they had for Joseph.. Therefore, the brothers plotted to sell Joseph into slavery as to prevent them from being responsible for his fate, and to rid themselves of their spoiled brother.... Joseph was to become a slave to Potiphar, captain of the royal guards. He quickly gained Potiphar's trust and respect, which enabled him to gain responsibility over all household matters. The admirable young Hebrew slave was also quite good-looking, a fact not lost upon Potiphar's wife. In an erotic episode, the besotted woman tried to seduce Joseph, who protested as not to dishonor his master. The enraged woman, whom had snatched Joseph's clothing as he ran from her, proclaimed to the servants and her husband that Joseph had tried to force himself upon her.Her furious husband ordered Joseph's death for his supposed betrayal, when his wife admitted that he did not deserve such punishment. Potiphar, realizing suddenly what had taken place, banished Joseph to the royal prison, as to protect the honor of himself and his wife for what she had done. Upon entering the royal prison, Joseph encounter two men; the Pharoah's chief butler and the Pharoah's baker. He soon learned that both men were troubled by mysterious dreams. Acknowledging God's help, Joseph interpreted the butler's dream as meaning that he would be freed and restored to his office within three days; the baker's dream foretold his death by hanging.Both men appeared upset by his interpretations, but Joseph asked the butler to remember him when he was freed. The prophecies came true, but it was some time later before Joseph was remembered for his ability. Pharaoh was troubled by two eerie dreams and sought the help of Joseph after his butler finally remembered him. Joseph was able to reveal that the dreams predicted seven years of abundance in Egypt followed by seven years of dire famine. Pharaoh appointed Joseph to a position to set up a program nationwide for stockpiling reserve grain during the fertile years and distributing during the famine years. This eventually enabled Joseph to be in higher power above his brothers as predicted in the dreams as a youth. His brothers came to him during the famine years for food to feed the family, and Joseph used that opportunity to demonstrate to his brothers how he had forgiven them, after coaxing them into confessing their sins against him. The music is the movie is beautiful and spiritual.The graphics are outstanding. This is the perfect movie to sit and enjoy with your whole family. It will teach your children about faith and entertain them at the same time. This movie is sure to be a classic.

Dec 25, 2006

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◆ Red Planet~A Red Dead Planet.......no way ◇

Everything But the Kitchen Sink... Red Can Be Scary... After watching the suck-fest Mission 2 Mars earlier this year, I wasn't expecting much from Red Planet , but what I got was an exciting action flick with some pretty convincing characters.Yeah, I said it. I this movie. People who haven't seen it, and maybe a few people who have seen it may think they're supposed to hate this movie based on that other Mars movie that came out this year. I strongly advise that you drop that notion and take the film for what it is. First, let me lay down the plot for you: It's the near future, and humans have severely helped to deplete Earth's O-Zone layer and natural resources. So humans look to Mars and launch probes carrying payloads of algae in the hopes that the algae will grow and thus give off oxygen, thereby terraforming the planet to support human life. Well, the plan works, and all looks good until the oxygen level drops mysteriously, and that's when they decide to send a team of scientists to find out what happened, which is where the movie begins. Carrie-Anne Moss's character leads the team with actors Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Benjamin Bratt, Simon Baker, and Terrance Stamp under her command. Also along for the trip is an artificial robot called A.M.E.E (sorry, the meaning of the initials escapes me ), who is basically a 'navigator ' that is to help the team find stuff on the planet.She has this cool helicopter camera thing that comes out of her back and helps to scout the land. But besides 'navigator ' mode, AMEE has a 'military ' mode that- well, I don't want to give too much away. And on that note, without giving much of the movie away, I will say that once their ship gets there it's hit by a solar flair that damages ships systems and forces Moss to stay on board to conduct repairs while the other five go down to the planet. Obviously some sexual tension is built up between her and Kilmer before they get there (hell, she's the only woman onboard, and seeing her naked in the shower sure helped ). While trying to land, the team is forced to jettison their landing gear (containing AMEE ) and one of the crew members is a goner right from the get go. From the previews you can extrapolate that AMEE goes haywire and starts using her military mode to hunt and destroy the other team members, which adds a unique sense of excitement into the mix. Also, the team discovers they can breathe on Mars, but I will not reveal the answer to that conundrum.【Val Kilmer】Red Planet【Carrie-Anne Moss】 "HELLO? We're the guys on Mars!!" I read Red Planet last year and was quite pleased with the hard science fiction technology throughout it, no more soft sci-fi fantasy bologna, but strong characters, harsh reality scenerios and fantastic plot line. So when the movie was released, I avoided seeing it at the theaters. (I hate having a good book torn apart in a film ) I was pleased, point blank. The film stuck with the books strong lines, rarely did it extend outwards. (of course, it didn't dig into some of the characters, but that is standard play with all films ) The heavy conflict between characters kept me on edge, and the sudden atmospheric changes had me chewing a fingernail. As I watched the characters struggle to survive on the harsh red planet, I refused to get up and move from my seat. The first 10 minutes of the film is a bit slow. A dragging on bringing the viewer into the concept of certain characters, but do not fast forward, there might just be something important there to listen to. Basically what the movie is about: Earth is dying.. It is now the year 2025 and mankind is trying to find a new home to live on.. For the past 20 years, they have been putting certain types of "oxygen plant life" on Mars so that eventually humans could breath on it.. But something happened, and a group of "astronaunts" are send to Mars to discover the problem..... What this group didn't know is that a problem would happen to them and their ship. Eventually one person is left on the ship that "just might not be able to work ", and the rest of the crew is aborted down to the planet's surface. Soon all of them are struggling to survive on a distant planet that holds unspeakable terrors for them, and not the terrors of "monsters " as we know it. Red Planet reminds me a little of Pitch Black, which was also released last year. They're both strong sci-fi movies with mod-notch efxs set on a planet with characters trying to get from A to B while being chased by something and avoiding the physical dangers of the planet they're on. Red Planet wasn't perfect, but in the right mindset turned out to be a gr8 movie that just gets better every time I think about what I watched, which has been a very rare phenomenon with the overall movies I've seen this year, not to mention sci-fi films period.I highly appreciate that they kept the woman (Captain) as a strong character. It has been a long time since I seen a woman in a sci-fi thriller be the strongest role player, at least not since Aliens. For a gr8 conflicting movie that will keep you in suspense till the very end, I recommend seeing the Red Planet .

Dec 16, 2006

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■ Hurlyburly ■

" Blah, Blah, Blah... " Intelligent and Brazenly Dark Comedy. HURLYBURLY: Black comedy. Based on the play by David Rabe, and directed by Anthony Drazen, "Hurlyburly" may easily be in contention as one of the most intelligent and brazenly dark comedies of the year. Sean Penn, who has given up acting more times than Elizabeth Taylor has ex-husbands, evokes a brilliant performance that should undoubtedly garner him an Oscar nod. Penn, as Eddie, is a motor-mouthed casting director living in the Hollywood Hills with his roommate and business associate Mickey (Kevin Spacey). Permanently hopped up on cocaine and other assorted drugs and alcohol, Eddie is destroyed when he discovers that Mickey has slept with his girlfriend, Darlene (Robin Wright Penn ). Mickey, who is too cool for yule (even under the influence of drugs ) calmly notes that Eddie gave him permission to sleep with her when he declared this was a "free country ". Thrown into the mix is Eddie's best friend, Phil (Chazz Palminteri ), a moronic would-be-actor with thugish tendencies and an inordinate sense of loyalty and devotion to his friends (not to his wife, of course, who he beats on a regular basis ). There's also Artie (Gary Shandling ), another Hollywood player who shares their drugs and is kind enough to "give " the boys a vapid young starlet (Anna Paquin as Donna ) he met in an elevator one afternoon. Like everything in life, nothing lasts forever. This strange mix of drugs, anger, power and male bonding eventually leads Eddie and Phil into places that are not necessarily unpredictable. Some of the best (and chilling) performances of the year all around. Co-starring Meg Ryan. Rated R. 【Meg Ryan】Hurlyburly【Kevin Spacey】 Entertaining, but don't Read too much into it... The title of "Hurlyburly " is an allusion to Macbeth ; but more than that it is the suggestion of chaos. Not physical chaos, but mental and emotional chaos. This film takes the term tempestuous and stretches it beyond the bounds of sanity.This was a movie about seeking. Everyone in the film was searching for something, they each had some hole in their lives and were looking for whatever means were necessary to fill it. It wasn't an exciting film, it wasn't an action film. It was a very thoughtful, literate movie. Most of the action, as it were, took place in conversations between Penn and various other characters that inevitably lead to paranoia induced arguements about some minor detail or another.As I'm sitting here writing about this, I'm having a hard time describing this film. It's not an easy one to break down in a thousand words or so, but it's one that should be seen. As this movie goes on, Sean Penn has to deal with finding , losing , and almost falling apart when he has to face death. There is a lot of drug use in this movie, but unlike the suggestions I've seen in other... I thought it was tangental, just a result of Penn's state of mind rather than the cause of any of the neurotic behavior. It's a funny, engaging movie with an excellent cast that delivers top-notch performances. Part of the fun is the casting--Garry Shandling as a drug addict Meg Ryan as an exotic dancer Anna Paquin as a loose teenager "Hurlyburly " is one of the independent films that has paved the way for more commercially acceptable quality films like "American Beauty ", which has a similar feel. No flash, special effects, blood and violence, no nudity or sexual explitives and what do you get ?A movie about the realistic thought patterns and cycles induced by hallucinagetic drug abuse. A brilliant movie that explored the true sense of self and "his " relation to the world, others and most painfully your own SELF. Acting was superb and the movie was excellent 5 stars, no doubt. To all of the people who HATE this movie, Learn to listen and try not to understand.If you like to think, and you're intrigued by human relationships in a modern world, then you won't be disappointed if you check this one out.This is a Dark ＆ Powerful film, and I can't Recommend it Highly enough.

Dec 13, 2006

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■ The Last Supper ■Black, But Not Exactly Comedy...

Revenge of the Leftists !!!!! Red Wine or White ???"The Last Supper " poses an intriguing question. What if you had the chance to go back in time and kill Adolf Hitler before he rose to power？The film takes that question and fashions it's central premise around the idea that someone just as evil or dangerous as Adolf Hitler could be alive today. What do you do if you run across that person ?The film focuses on five liberal grad students who share a house. The students are Jude (Cameron Diaz), Pete (Ron Eldard), Paulie (Annabeth Gish), Marc (Jonathan Penner ), and Luke (Courtney B. Vance ). Every Sunday they invite someone to dinner for discussion. On one of these occasions, Pete brings Zach (Bill PAaxton) over for dinner. Zach is a redneck who fought in the Gulf War and is quite different than their usual dinner guest. At one point in the conversation, he shocks everyone with his casual pronouncement that "Hitler had the right idea ." His comments get worse and worse from then on, and leads to a violent encounter where Zach is killed. Instead of reporting this incident to authorities, they use the incident to ponder the above question. Figuring that Zach's death probably made the world a better place, they decide to seek out more extremists to invite over for dinner. The plan is to try and convince them to change their thinking, and if that doesn't work, then poison them. This leads to a series of dinner scenes that allow for celebrity cameos. Charles Durning does his best Jerry Falwell imitation as a fundamentalist preacher who proclaims that "Homosexuality is the disease, and AIDS is the cure ". Mark Harmon shows up as a misogynist who declares that most rape is exaggerated. Jason Alexander also has some fun as an anti-environmentalist. These are just a few of the colorful characters that show up in the many dinner scenes.【Annabeth Gish】Last Supper【Cameron Diaz】 Arsenic and Old Lace with a Yuppie Twist !! This is a movie only bleeding-heart liberals and leftists (like me) will enjoy. It is black comedy, so be prepared to laugh about kidnappings and murder. This movie is not a study in realism, so don't rent or buy if you hate movies that "could never happen ". The underlying question this movie asks is - If someone's views on social issues are so extreme as to oppress other people, would our society be better off without them ???The extreme example in the movie is Hitler. If you had the ability to go back in time and kill Hitler prior to the Holocaust, wouldn't the world be a better place It would be easy to say that this movie simplifies issues and glosses over important social commentary. But this movies aims to provoke discussion and debate about a very profound question - is the world better or worse for having people with a multitude of opinions about human rights This is a Gr8 movie for liberals because we have to really examine our own prejudices towards right-wing people. It's easy for us to laugh at folks like Rush Limbaugh and Ollie North, but do we really respect their right to live and express their opinions This movie will make you really think about that. The acting is great. Courtney B. Vance is a sinister character with gr8 lines. (My favorite line: "I say we bury the cracker and eat dessert." ) There are also some gr8 camera angles and beautiful shots in this film. I fell in with this movie because it made me look into my own political and personal philosophies. I identified with the characters in their belief that they needed to do something dramatic to make their political views known.What made this movie gr8 is the fact that their political voice came out in such a dramatic and obscene manner. People do not just go out and kill their political opponents in our society. Its absurd !!!!! I would suggest seeing this movie with a group of friends after a home-cooked dinner. Have some wine and be prepared for a lengthy but interesting debate when the movie is over. The Ending is Ambiguous enough to Make for a Heated Discussion !!!!!

Dec 10, 2006

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◇ An Icy Comedy That Doesn't Slip !!!!◇

A Slam-Bam Noir Novel Blue Christmas for Cusack and Thornton... I realized early into "The Ice Harvest " that I had seen this type of scenario done so many times, I probably should have been bored by it. However, even the most tired genres can seem fresh if done right, and I'll be damned if this movie didn't make me feel like it was covering fresh ground. The picture marks a surprising return for Harold Ramis, who hasn't made a movie I thoroughly enjoyed since "Groundhog Day ."After pretending to move into darker territory with "Analyze This ," Ramis finally proves here that he has what it takes to spin a tale of greed and murder without coming off like a softy. I have no doubts that "The Ice Harvest " will be compared to the early works of the Coen Brothers, because like their movies, it has off-the-wall, often vulgar dialogue and is not afraid to pounce on the audience with a scene of unexpected violence. And like the Coen films, particularly "Blood Simple ," the movie is an exercise in minimalist filmmaking. Ramis sidesteps any attempts to make the material flashier than it needs to be, instead creating a mood and look that are as shady as the characters. Movies like this usually have a girl, and lucky for us it's the gorgeous and mysterious Connie Nielsen. She works at one of the strip clubs that Charlie frequents, and she can tell by his behavior that he's up to something. So yeah, the movie goes through the motions we would expect, but Ramis is patient with the way things unfold. He wants us to become a part of Charlie and his world so we feel as trapped there as he does. Once we've finally gotten settled into the movie's rhythm, it kicks into high gear with a series of cleverly staged and nevertheless shocking events. 【Lara Phillips】The Ice Harvest【Harold Ramis】 A Neo Noir in the same Vein as Fargo. Innocent, wide-eyed, dewy-breathed readers, be warned: reading The Ice Harvest by Scott Phillips will knock the living stuffing out of you.The noir-flavored novel smacks you square in the gut like the well-aimed fist from a tough guy like Humphrey Bogart, George Raft or James Cagney. If you don't know what you're getting into, you'll wind up gasping for breath and quite possibly bleeding from several orifices. On the other hand, if you're a devoted fan of film noir, Phillips' debut novel is right up your dark alley. There are crosses, double-crosses, low-life dames, itchy-trigger gunmen and so much booze-soaked action that desperate alcoholics might be tempted to lick the pages. At the center of all this lit noir is Charlie Arglist, a low-life lawyer knee-deep in the shady underworld of Wichita, Kansas. The entire novel takes place in 24 hours？ Christmas Eve in 1979. From the first nicotine-and-whiskey pages, you realize there is no peace on earth and certainly no goodwill toward man in Charlie's world. As he waits for a crucial 2 a.m. meeting with an associate named Vic, Charlie stumbles through the seedy circles of Wichita: bars, strip clubs, adult bookstores and massage parlors. Then, just because it's Christmas Eve, he drops in to see his ex-wife and kids for good measure. Though there are many scenes of violence (including a particularly memorable finger-breaking episode ), the chapter where Charlie shows up , giftless and skunk-drunk , at his estranged family's dinner is perhaps the most brutal passage in the book. Let's face it, Charlie Arglist is a no-good, shiftless s.o.b. He's also, in a strange way, one of the most compelling characters I call him "sympathetically irredeemable " I've come across in a long while. You can't help but feel for the bum as he lurches from bad luck to worse. The tension mounts as Charlie circles Wichita in the graveyard hour, waiting for his rendezvous with Vic, a meeting that will start a chapter in his life. You see, he and Vic are about to extort a large chunk of money from the mob boss who owns all the strip joints Charlie's visiting. Phillips releases details about Charlie's scheme sparingly. Until the final pages, we don't know much about what he's doing other than the fact that it involves a lot of money, some cocaine and a sexually-incriminating photograph. However, the fine print isn't important here eventually, the murky mysteries will be revealed and resolved.It's the smoky atmosphere of gloom and doom that makes The Ice Harvest the relentlessly good reading experience it is. For a first-time novelist, Phillips' grasp of the craft is enough to make even seasoned writers green-eyed with admiration. The Ice Harvest is tightly plotted and populated with the kind of characters you feel like you could reach out and touch (just be sure to thoroughly wash your hands afterward ). Rabid film noir fans "the kind of people who have entire passages memorized from Double Indemnity and The Maltese Falcon " might spot some of the plot twists coming before they arrive on the page, but there are still plenty of mean Bogart punches pummeling your gut without warning. The book is as nihilistic as they come, right on down to the shocker of an ending (I guarantee you won't see that punch coming ), and it might be too gritty and profane for the more lily-livered readers. But for the strong and black of heart, it would be hard to find a more perversely satisfying novel this year. This movie has fun poking fun, with style and karma, with a moral and a motto. As Jon Stewart says, "IN GOD WE TRUST " is our motto, and we place it where it can be read on every dollar bill in this film, "right where Jesus would have wanted it ."

Dec 4, 2006

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◆ Clooney in a Kilt !!!! ◇

Letter-perfect, Belly-laugh Farce.. CAPTAIN OF THE GOOD SHIP AMOUR VERITAS..."Intolerable cruelty "... now there's an interesting little phrase. It kept popping into my head as I sat through Daredevil and The Matrix: Reloaded earlier this year, staring at the banal images on the screen as my brain cells marched one by one to the gallows.Boy, those movies sucked. "Intolerable Cruelty ", however, is actually very pleasant. Heck, it's one of the year's funniest pictures, and I think it stands beside the Coen's best work. Okay, so maybe it’s no Raising Arizona. But, really, what is In case you’re lost, here's the story so far. Joel and Ethan Coen are film makers. Darn good ones, too. They're critical darlings, and many of their films (Fargo, Barton Fink, and the aforementioned Arizona ) are revered cult classics. The Coens' movies are always hilarious in a strange, crazy way, and they often pay homage to some of the Coen’s favorite directors. Also distinctive about the work of the Coens is the fact that their characters are, quite frankly, total morons. They're narrow-minded, egotistical, absurdly foolish morons, and boy do I relate to them. All of these things hold true for the entry in the Coens' catalog, "Intolerable Cruelty ". With a respectful salute to the zany, screwball comedies of the good ol' days, this film and its gloriously flawed cast of characters make for one of the funniest movie-going experiences you'll have all year, and though it’s the most mainstream and commercially viable Coen flick yet , it’s got the same sharp writing, brilliant music, and whimsical spirit that made Raising Arizona and The Hudsucker Proxy such beloved classics. 【Catherine Zeta-Jones】Intolerable Cruelty【George Clooney】 Verrrrry Interesting...but Stupid !!!! That fateful night at the cinema was where I saw Intolerable Cruelty , the film directed by the Cohn Brothers, Joel and Ethan. The movie is a comedy starring George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones. While some of the Cohn's previous work, including such films as Fargo, Barton Fink, and O Brother...Where Art Thou ?, were more successful with the arthouse crowd, the brothers' movie is, on the surface, a play to the masses. It's a romantic comedy complete with marriages, sappy pontifications on , and wacky situations. However, a reasonably smart viewer will immediately recognize this film as more of an homage to old fashioned screwball comedies, rather than an attempt at a serious, sappy romantic comedy. Clooney is Miles Massey, a lawyer who specializes in marriage and divorce cases, and who is famous for the "Massey Pre-Nup " -- a prenuptial legal document so well-designed that it has "never been penetrated ". His own morality is suspect, naturally, being a movie lawyer -- he’s not interested in the truth, but in making an argument that will sound good in court.. Such skills go to ridiculous extremes in a number of situations both in and out of the courtroom... Into Massey's life walks Marylin Rexroth, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. She seeks a divorce after the private investigator she hired videotaped her husband in a compromising position. Her hope is to be able to get a huge chunk of the man's extraordinary wealth, but Massey is able to deny that dream in a wacky courtroom scene when he brings out a surprise witness who exposes Marylin for the scammer that she is -- she deliberately went out to marry a foolish man who would cheat on her, so she would win a lot of money from him during the divorce case.... But as Massey massacres Marylin in the courtroom, he also gains an infatuation with her, because she’s just as ruthless in her way as he is in his. He lets his guard down and attempts to get involved with her before she moves on to her next victim , an oil baron played by Billy Bob Thorton. But, even if Marylin and Miles do get together, could they ever really trust each other enough to remain in After all, they both are very tricky and clever people, so who's to say that they wouldn't try to act that way toward each other as well as people around them.... The key to this film is that you shouldn't take seriously for a moment anything that transpires here. Both halves of our couple are corrupt, and the road to, and during and after, , is paved, not with sweet, un-ironic romance, but crazy twists and wacky behavior that, by the time the climax arrives, would make you want to get these two locked up , if this were indeed real life. Even during the seemingly sappy bits that play out during a sequence at a lawyers' convention, we can hear the snickering of the screenwriters as they mock the crushingly obvious conventions of the romantic comedy. Think of "Intolerable Cruelty " as a comedic version of those suspense thrillers where everything the character thought they knew was wrong. Comedies don't need to have an intricate story to be funny, but this film takes the opposite approach. You never know what surprise is going to happen next and each is more outrageous and funnier than the last. It's a classic battle of the sexes in a most unusual style. The average viewer might not see the brilliance in executing the story this way, but to those trained in the Coen Brothers School of Irreverence it's fantastic and hilarious.

Nov 29, 2006

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◆ Jungle Boogie ◇

Go see it now!! Great for Adults and Kids !! Great Voices, Fun for All Ages.This film is for children and adults with a scense of humor. The zany antics of the Lemur's King Julien and the rest of the crazy crew make you just want to well...dance This is truly a fun movie with allot to offer. I'm glad my lovers it as much as I did. For those of you out there who for some odd reason did not like this flick, I have just one small bit of advise for you; Lighten up !! You must have had a bad day when you went to see this one at the theater.I hope they make a sequel to it and I hope that they at Dreamworks also sign the rights to create a King Julien stuffed Lemur toy too. This movie is about four animal friends who were going to get shipped to another zoo but the ship through them off they were mad that the ship throught them off well some were happy. Marty turns is turning into his wild self because he is a lion. I will not say that much because you should go watch it you will like it.【Chris Rock】Madagascar【Ben Stiller】 Animation, sets, design and storyline, entertaining family film.In most cases, the Memorial Day weekend is thought of as the debut of the Summer Movie Season. Last year, the debut came a little earlier of course, thanks to Mr. Lucas. That of course, meant that Memorial Day at the cinema felt somewhat anti-climactic, even with the arrival of movies. One such movie is "Madagascar ", the latest computer animated effort from DreamWorks. Madagascar looked pretty good from the trailer, which promised a certain level of hilarity.Does it deliver ? Not quite. Madagascar is funny. There's no doubt about that. If you the Shrek Movies or The Incredibles or even Shark Tale, you will find something to enjoy about "Madagascar" . However, Madagascar is funny, not hilarious. It will provoke some guffaws and chuckles.But very few flat out hysterics the way the Shrek films did. The Shrek films worked well as family films that could appeal to the whole family, yet featured moments of spoofery that held a certain amount of appeal for adults attending them alone. There is some of that spoofery apparent in Madagascar (IE: A potshot at Tom Wolfe, a few jokes about socialized medicine and racial profiling). Yet the bulk of the humor in Madagascar is of the cheap, slapstick, board in the crotch variety. Another element borrowed from the Shrek universe is the inclusion of various pop culture references, a few of which will be beyond the level of arcane by the time Madagascar reaches the shelves of Blockbuster. The plot of Madagascar is fairly simple. Marty (voice of Chris Rock) is a zebra at the New York City Zoo. A zebra with a severe case of cabin fever. Alex (Ben Stiller) is his vain Lion buddy and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) is the token female, a hippo in this case. There is also Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer). All of them (aside from Marty ) are content with their lot in life as the zoo's star attractions. But Marty wants to get out and see what life's like in the wild (Connecticut he thinks ).So he escapes one night. His friends take off in pursuit and it's here that we get many of the film's best moments, such as a few non PC digs at New York Cops and Mayor Bloomberg (referred to as the big man ). The first half of the story (the New York part) in fact, sets a standard that the second half can't quite measure up to. After an incident at Grand Central, the main characters find themselves first on a ship and then on the titular island. It's at the point of their arrival on Madagascar that the story becomes much more ordinary although there are still some clever moments. The bulk of the humor that isn't slapstick related in Madagascar comes from the interplay between Rock and Stiller. Rock (whom I always preferred in his stand-up form over his acting) gives Marty the right level of humor and humanity.. Stiller works well as the egomaniacal carnivore Alex.. Smith and Schwimmer are both pretty good as well.. Schwimmer in particular proves he can be funny when the character is written that way..... By far however, the funniest characters in Madagascar are the penguins. Moving from spoofing mobsters one moment to the Bush cabinet the next, they provide many of the movie's best laughs. In fact, I'd suggest that a movie featuring them be produced as soon as possible. So yes, Madagascar does have enough funny moments to justify seeing it , even if you don't have kids. However, it seems to be made more with kids in mind than with whole families, the way the aforementioned "Shrek" films were. Perhaps DreamWorks meant this deliberately in response to criticism that Shark Tale was too adult oriented in its mob movie spoofs. The animation is quite good (albeit not outstanding ) and the film can be watched by kids from about 7 or so up (a few possibly frightening scenes make it questionable for the youngest audiences ). No, Madagascar isn't a masterpiece.It's not going to go down as a classic on par with a few certain other films I mentioned. But in a summer that's shaping up to be a fairly creative wasteland, it's good to get started off with one that's funny and entertaining for the whole family. So yes, Madagascar is Definitely Worth Your Time.

Nov 25, 2006

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『Corpse Bride』 - A Creepy Family Movie

Rise to the Occasion ??? Animation, ambiance, pacing plot, a fine children's horror flick.Tim Burton is well known for taking light, cheery tales and turning them on their head...or vice versa - taking dark, morbid situations and turning THEM on their head - witness The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands. So you won't be surprised to discover he has done much the same in his most recent stop-motion masterpiece Corpse Bride. The Corpse Bride is loosely based on a Jewish folk tale from the 19th century, the story of a young man who is on his way to be wed. As he is walking through a forest that will lead him to his bride, he comes upon a stick poking out of the ground. As a joke, he reaches into his pocket, takes out the wedding ring that he will be placing on his fianc's finger in the upcoming ceremony, and puts it on the stick.Taking things even further, he performs the traditional wedding dance around the stick, which in the real world would mean that he is officially married. To his horror, the ground opens up around the stick and a rotting, skeletal corpse appears in full bridal regalia. She tells the lad that she expects full wifely privileges and demands that he recognize their wedding as the real thing. Aghast, the young man rushes to the village to ask the rabbis if this marriage will be ruled as official. Ultimately, the elders determine that the wedding is in fact a legal one ; however, since the dead have no claim on the living, the point is moot.. At this point, the young man's living fianc who has been standing by in utter dismay as the situation is discussed, comforts the dead woman and whispers, "May you rest in peace. I will live your dreams for you and we will not forget you." .. And so the Corpse Bride appeared to be happy and at harmony with the results, and the young, living bride and her new husband lived a long, joyous life.. And they never forgot the Corpse Bride, as the wife told the story to her children, and they told their children, and so on.... 【Caroline Thompson】Corpse Bride【Tim Burton】 Death was Never so Alive Tim Burton never fails to let me down whenever I get to see his movies. Tim Burton always does such a wonderful job with his movies, and he puts so much into making the movie. I have to admit though, when the movie was over, I found it to be a bit different than I had expected or hoped, especially the ending. Not in a bad way. I guess anyone who waits on a movie to come out for so long and builds up the anticipation will always be somewhat let down. Don't let me discourage you at all from seeing this movie, it was still Gr8 It has the same look as the Nightmare Before Christmas, and if you liked that movie you will also like this one. It is dark and dreary. It has odd looking people & monsters which could only be the works of Tim Burton. I've always said, you can always tell a Tim Burton film by the way it looks and the dark side that they always shows, even like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The acting was gr8 as well. Johnny Depp did an excellent job The animation was even better than the Nightmare Before Christmas.The way they did it was completely different in this movie. Like the others, it is also a type of musical. There are quite a few scenes that have the actors singing. Im not a fan of that, but it doesn't hurt this movie at all. Wow. What a fun film. The story, though simple, hooks the viewer in, and the technical wizardry is eye-boggling and mind boggling - all done with the type of stop-motion animation pioneered by Ray Harryhausen (who gets a name check in the film - the piano Victor and Victoria duet on is, according to the nameplate, a Harryhausen). It is visually bizarre yet wonderful, somewhat reminiscent of Gerald Scarfe's unique style of drawing, particularly in the people and animals - long of limb and thin of body (except those characters such as Victor's mother, who are meant to be fat ). There is big hair on show, and strange creatures (many of whom are dead ). Given Burton's penchant for confounding expectations, the underworld is a cheery and colourful place, whilst the Victorian(ish) world of the living is grey and dour. The movie had a pleasant ending, but was not the ending that I had hoped for. I guess that means the movie can be somewhat unpredictable (which is a good thing !! ). So if you haven't seen the movie, do so. It's definitely worth the money. If you are into the Tim Burton style of films, buy it! It will make a Gr8 Addition to the Collection.

Nov 24, 2006

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*** Where the Wild Things are.... ***

WILD AND WICKED... One Twist after Another !!!!Wow is the first word that came to my mind after watching this movie in it's entirety for the first time. This movie had it all, a gr8 cast, good acting, and a very good plot that does not easily give the ending away.Neve Campbell, Matt Dillon, Denise Richards, Kevin Bacon, and even Bill Murray all give excellent performances for their roles in this film.From the start of the movie I found myself trying to connect different characters to things that happened in the story, but it's just impossible to figure out. You just have to keep watching to find out how it ends. I doubt there is anyone who would be able to guess the ending of this movie. There are so many plot twists, and unexpected turns that it takes right up until the very last scene of the movie. An added plus of this movie is the extra scenes they give you all the way at the end.Without telling you exactly what happens in them, so as to not give away the best parts of the movie, I will say that these scenes bring a whole new light to what you just say. You need to watch past the credits, I believe, in order to view these scenes that piece together every loose end that you may have thought the movie left you with. "Wild Things " is a movie that dolls out a sex scene every five minutes and a major plot twist every two minutes. Whether you happen to stay for the sex scenes or the plot twists, make sure you stay.The movie gets progressively more and more sleazy and, ironically, less and less of a guilt to watch.In that way, "Wild Things " really screws with your head. It goes around, making you rethink your assumptions every thirty seconds, and has you continually guessing at what happens next. Of course, the surprises aren't just in the script. A surprise is that Kevin Bacon & Denise Richards actually turn out good performances, and that Bill Murray (in a bit role) turns out an excellent one. Another surprise is that John McNaughten would pick up such a definitely naughty picture, and yet another surprise is the excellent funk score by George S. Clinton. 【Neve Campbell】Wild Things【Denise Richards】Guilty Pleasure without the Guilt Basically I can say that it all begins when two high school girls accuse their guidance counselor of rape, and the big trial follows.. Beyond that, if I let you in on anything else it begins to give away things abotu the movie that you should just see for yourself, otherwise the film could be spoiled..... The acting is pretty good with the exception of Kevin Bacon and Matt Dillon, but I don't particularly care for either of them. I guess they did a fair job, but I would have picked other actors. I definitely could have done without the unnecessary full-frontal nudity of Kevin Bacon. It doesn't even happen during a sex scene, he just steps out of the shower and ta-da. I can only imagine that this was done for shock value.Denise Richards and Neve Campbell are pretty good in their roles, so I must at least mention them.This movie definitely gave you a head trip. It makes you think one whole thing throughout the whole movie, but at the end, you totally get screwed up by the credits. Denise Richards and Neve Campbell did play good parts in the movie. Ahem. Some parts of the movie, did arouse my interest in the movie. Which was a good thing, I assume. Other than that, the movie was pretty good. I never expected Neve Campbell's character to come out as the smartest one out of the three. The type of person who would enjoy this type of movie, would be someone who enjoys twists and turns within the plot... This movie is similar to "The Sixth Sense", where as, in the end of the movie, the true plot reveals itself to you. These type of movies are excellent. I went to see this movie, because I like Neve Campbell, and it seemed very interesting to me.If you want a gr8 plot-twister, and nudity and sex do not bother you, then buy "Wild Things ". But make sure you have it for a couple of days because you might have to watch it twice.HE KILLED HER..NO, WAIT, SHE KILLED HIM.....

Nov 22, 2006

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◇ Charlize Theron & North Country ◆

...All she did was make History ??? For those who have been walked on their life..First, your girl Charlize Theron (A beautiful site to see, with exceptions of Monster, )is a rape victim who loses her regards to any living male (her Oscar was well deserved ). Now she is... what? ...another rap victim in "Northern Country." Not that the redundancy takes away from her skills, but we've seen a stronger performance out of her in Monster. If you want to see a disgruntled female employee with a male chauvinist employer and a cowardly father who finally grows as much balls as his daughter...captured in depressing cinematography then "North Country " is your movie. It was well portrayed about the life of this poor women. Its amazing how things like this still happen in this day in age. The acting and the overall movie was great Keep in mind there are tons of sexual references and offensive language. The only good thing about the movie as far as entertainment value is the acting. "North Country " is not a bad movie, but it's just not for everyone. Charlize Theron makes an Oscar-worthy lead, but the supporting cast is also sensational.Frances McDormand is plucky and funny as always, even as she falls victim to a terminally crippling condition, and Sean Bean's sensitive portrayal of her husband, Kyle, is full of love. The women who portray Josey's mistreated co-workers vary in age and size are not given too much to deal with, but the characters are defined as not wanted to get involved with Josey's lawsuit because even though they hate the abuse, they don't want their job security threatened. Richard Jenkins' distant father is all-too-real, though his character is redeemed by a touching speech in his daughter's defense. Thomas Curtis as Josey's teenage son spends all of the film very angry; at the world, at his situation, and especially at his mother.He is gullible and believes the town gossip about Josey being a trouble-making sl*t. 【Charlize Theron】North Country【Woody Harrelson】 Rape!!!...did somebody scream rape??? Even if "North Country " wasn't as good as it is overall, it still would have been worth watching for its story. A fictionalized account of true events that actually occurred over many years, the film is insanely gripping from start to finish, because it makes you feel...and if you sympathize with anyone on screen, you'll likely be feeling angry and resentful ; angry for the people who did this things, resentful for the company that let them get away with everything.The powerful storytelling and the stunning performances by pretty much everyone make this my favorite film of the year (so far). "North Country " is set in 1989, over ten years after the true story on which it was based. By this time, the women's liberation movement had erupted in the '70s and then quieted down as women in the workplace became more and more accepted. It was not so shocking any longer to find a female lawyer, doctor, or airplane pilot; for most people, and for most jobs. But in Northern Minnesota, where mining is the "bread and butter " for many small-town economies, women have not been so readily accepted as equals. After women were allowed to enter the mines to work, a few did because, as a union worker, their jobs were steady and their pay was good. But there are still the men who cannot believe that this is happening in "their " mine...which for many generations was a boy's club. Some men, stubborn to change their chauvinistic ways, responded to this threat of the status quo breaking by relentlessly harassing the female mine workers, both verbally, physically, and sexually. All of these problems aside, "North Country " is a good movie that highlights the grim realities of living with sexual harassment and of making the choice between putting up with things no one should have to put up with or starving. Theron really grows into the role and even if her character had to put up with a series of unfortunate events that would have made even the Baudelaire's give up in defeat , she still manages to make her appealing without turning her into the epitome of perfection. It is Theron who holds this movie together, Theron and the stark visuals and the haunting Bob Dylan songs. "North Country " isn't in the same league as Silkwood , but it's still a very good entry into the little guy going up against the rich corporate entity genre and well worth watching. Theron, Little Guy against the mean corporate entity story, Grim look & feel !!

Nov 17, 2006

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■ EVEN WITH FLAWS, "STAIN" IS A POWERFUL FILM ■

The Stain could Have Stained more.. Compelling, Relevant Story-Line."The Human Stain " is a movie that was far from a huge commercial success. The idea was obviously to make it one on video and DVD. The film features four big names : Sir Anthony Hopkins, who is one of the best actors in the world, Nicole Kidman, who is everywhere right now, Gary Sinise and the always excellent Ed Harris. Based solely on the advertisements for this movie I was prepared to intensely dislike it.I felt then, as I do now that the movie was miscast in the character of Professor Coleman Silk.With all due deference to Anthony Hopkins' acting skill, he was not the right man to play this part. Yes the tone and mannerisms he brings to the part scream Colman Silk , the practical, human difference (facial and body structure ) between the younger Silk portrayed by Wentworth Miller and Hopkins were just too gr8 to overlook. Perhaps Miller could have been aged to play the older Silk ; certainly his performance as the younger was exceptional enough to portray the older. Nicole Kidman is one of my favorite actors as she is proving each year. She embodied the part of Faunia Farley with perfection. Nicole did lose her accent but more importantly, her portrayal was astounding in its depth.She plays a woman who was from a wealthy family but has hit skid row and Nicole has the ability to play each nuance of that character. Gary Sinise does another excellent job of acting as the writer who eventually will tell Silk's tale to the world. He plays his role in a pleasant understated manner but there is no doubt about his admiration of Silk. Ed Harris is perfect for the part of the ex-Viet Nam soldier who wants to kill Silk and anyone else that gets involved in Faunia's life. Harris is very convincing as a man you would not want to meet in a dark alley. 【Nicole Kidman】Human Stain【Anthony Hopkins】 Without roots, the tree withers.. At the first of the film, we find Coleman Silk as the dean of an Eastern College which he single-handedly brought from mediocrity to excellence. He is accused of making a racial comment concerning two students who had never bothered to attend his class. Although the accusation is baseless, Silk resigns and sues the college. Silk is played by Sir Anthony Hopkins. After resigning, Silk wants a writer with talent but evidently suffering from writer's block to write a book about Silk's troubles with the school. The writer is Nathan Zuckerman and he's played by Gary Sinise. ★ Silk also meets a 34 year old janitor, Faunia Farley, with whom he starts a "May-December" affair with the help of Viagra. Faunia is played by Nicole Kidman. Throughout the film, there are flashbacks to Silk's earlier life where we find out that he is not Jewish, but black (albeit very light-skinned ). Silk has passed himself off as Jewish to avoid academic penalties that would have resulted.The movie is ultimately about the tragedy of a man having to pass himself off as a white to gain the respect he deserves but would not receive as a black. With his entanglement with Faunia Farley , his life is threatened by her psychotic ex-husband (played by Ed Harris). In the end I found "The Human Stainan " extremely thoughtful and thought-provoking tale that merits serious consideration. Its wider moral message is part and partial of the fabric of American society; indeed racism and bigotry and the anguish it fed to generations of Black Americans will always be apart of the American lexicon. Though the passage of years may make it less acidic, they cannot erase the human stain of injustice from the blanket of the American Dream. While I acknowledge that there were the flaws of accent and color, I was able to look past those minor problems and examine the story for the tragedy that it represented and still represents. People are often judged by the color of their skin, or their religion, or their social class. This may be an old story oft told, but "The Human Stain " tells it again with class. "The Human Stain" is a movie that keeps the viewer interested more with gr8 acting and good structure than with a poignant story. In this area, the film probably doesn't do justice to the book (which I haven't read ) and could have used some improvement. However, the acting is solid enough that "The Human Stain " can be enjoyable just because of it.

Nov 8, 2006

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■ And A Beautiful Life It Was ■

Full of Compassion, Love, and Laughter... Very Funny Tear Jerker... I'll have to admit that this is one of the best movies I have ever viewed that incorporates drama and humor into the plot and results in a successful movie.Roberto Benigni is the star of the film and does an incredible job with his role. Benigni plays a regular man who falls in with a woman. No seriously, she literally fell out of a window and landed on top of him; Love at First Sight. He calls her Principessa (Prin-CHEE-PESS-UH ) because prior to this incident he told a small girl that he was a Prince. She then leaves the area to do something and he doesn't see her for a while. The next day, he is seen bike riding downhill to the city (his brakes on his car broke down -- figures ). He once again encounters this Principessa and this time crashes into her.Once again he falls in with her all over again. She mentions that she surprises so everywhere in the movie we see him popping out of thin air surprising her.This Principessa has a younger son which Benigni meets in the middle of the movie. He now plays the role of a father figure to this child which is kind of strange. They do not mention in the movie if he really is his father or not. All 3; Benigni, Principessa and her son are captured by German soldiers and we then learn the time frame is World War II. Benigni's main objective now is to make sure that his "son " will not be scared. He creates the idea of a game that they are playing and the first to 1000 points is the winner and gets a tank.This game is simply a stall for Benigni to explain to his son that he must stay out of site to win First Prize but mainly to avoid going into the gas chamber.【Giancarlo Giannini】Life Is Beautiful【Robert Benigni】 Emotio-Dramatic Plot, Benigni is excellent, Scenery and Music. When the basic concept of this moving, meaningful film hits you, you start to feel for these simple, loving people who follow their dreams whether it is marrying the tousle-headed, rather entertaining waiter or waiting fruitlessly and seemingly endlessly for the glory of winning a game..... But what strikes you is the reality of many of the situations.. To think that the same and worse incidents have actually happened in the past is shocking.. The way that Robert Benigni has blended love, trust, faith and humor with war, hardships and cruel bloodshed definitely deserves all the academy awards it bagged...... The story basically tells us about a light-hearted man (played by Robert Benigni himself), always happy and living each day as it comes, who falls in with a pretty, rather rich teacher who is bold enough to leave everything and get married to the man she loves. Their child is trusting and adores his fun-loving father. Being a Jewish family, they are forced to go to a concentration camp and suffer endless hardships. But the beauty of the whole story is how the love of a father for his son is so gr8 that the fact that they are in a concentration camp is hidden from the child's mind by a simple game devised by him. Along with the movie, Benigni makes you laugh with his wisecracks and his quick thinking imaginative mind. The mixture of emotions also evolves as we see the love, strength and passion he has for other people. "Life is Beautiful " won Best Picture and there is no doubt why it shouldn't have won. Benigni is excellent, the plot is interesting and easy enough to follow.A gr8 movie to compare to all the people in our lives we have ever loved. Life is Beautiful !!At the end it really makes you think about how much situations such as these can change one's life physically and mentally. The trust & faith the family have in one another and the sacrifice of one man in order to fulfill his son's dream is what makes this film a must-see.

Nov 6, 2006

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■ The Way of the Samurai... Forest Whitaker ■

Passenger Pigeons!! Passenger Pigeons!! IT'S POETRY. THE POETRY OF WAR...I've been a closet Forest Whitaker fan for a long time now. The depth & breadth of this talented actor's work sneaks up on you, and once you've noticed it you can't stop watching him. Don't rent this movie if you're looking for a shoot 'em up, punch 'em out, the good guys win kinda action flick. This ain't it.The action & violence in this film only underscores the deeper philosophical and social commentary. The Eastern philosophies are not only a tool to advance the plot, but are an integral part of it, and some of those aspects will be missed viewers who are looking for non-stop action. Forest Whitaker, in person, is one cool dude.In "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai ," as the main character, Ghost Dog, he is even cooler. He's also a passenger pigeon lover, a car thief, a student of Hagakure, the how-to guide for Samurai wanna-be's, and most importantly for the sake of the movie, a contract killer for the mob.. But assigned by Louie (John Tormey) to rub out someone who has been messing with the daughter of mob boss Vargo, played by a stony Henry Silva, Ghost Dog commits a slight error.. Daughter Louise was to have been returned to her daddy, but somewhere along the line this bit of info didn't get conveyed.. Watching a deadly serious Ghost Dog driving through his urban nightmarescape in a stolen car while listening to RZA hip-hop and rap is something so oddly passive and ethereal, that I would not ever expect it to be so effective....But it is.!!The inner monologue of Ghost Dog dwelling on his Samurai instincts is a zillion miles away from, but strangely resonates with, Richard Farnsworth's visage while doing his 5 MPH John Deere crawl across Iowa in "The Straight Story." Sure, there's violence in this movie. But the dispatch of comic-book mobsters is hardly unsettling. It's the "communication " between Ghost Dog and his "best friend " Raymond, a French-speaking ice cream truck operator, that you may remember most from Director Jim Jarmusch, no stranger to odd movie efforts. Neither Ghost Dog nor Raymond speaks the other's tongue, but over and over they converse in a two-language dualogue and seem to be utterly content with that. It's a funny and repetitive bit that violates the "rule of three " but works nonetheless.As do some very funny scenes involving a host of veteran characters that comprise Vargo's henchmen, such as Gene Ruffini as the Old Consigliere, who exemplifies the "less is more" concept of acting.Whitaker's zen-like presence. 【The RZA】Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Eerie, mesmerizing, funny. Gr8 performance by Whitaker. Ghost Dog is supremely entertaining, as long as you let yourself be drawn into its strange rhythms. The story concerns the titular character, played to perfection by the terribly underused Forest Whitaker, who is a freelance hitman who follows the code of the samurai. There has been a mistake made with his latest contract, and through no fault of his own, the wrong person witnessed the hit, and it has been decided that he must be eliminated to maintain order. Needless to say, Ghost Dog is having none of that.You could dismiss the remainder of the narrative for being a standard revenge melodrama dressed up with art school embellishments, and in your own way you'd be right. You could also take the material seriously, with its reflection on the death of cultural traditions (Jarmusch draws parallels between the Mafia and the samurai, one as a shell of its former self, the other as simply being a dead way of life, both with a kind of mythical status ). From my aspect, I was grateful for the art school embellishments, which just happened to rub me the right way (I prefer Jarmusch to Hal Hartley, no contest, and Stanley Kubrick, in a film-by-film comparison ), and took the sociology class lecture material with a grain of salt, although his points are valid. Ghost Dog's interaction with the people he meets in his quest for honor and meaning in a modern world gives us insights to his character.. The scripting is top notch, and every scene with Whitaker is smooth and subtle.. The most awkward scenes are the ones without Whitaker, although several of those contain biting satire of our American society.. There is nothing "in your face" about this movie.. Everything, from the music, to the dark atmosphere, all interwoven with threads of Eastern philosophies and tribe mentalities, works on multiple levels.. An excellent film for any thinking person. "Ghost Dog " is a gr8 film, a fascinating, entertaining picture that mixes pulp and hip-hop and philosophy, and another entry on a short list of reasons why I like Jim Jarmusch's work so much.

Oct 30, 2006

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*** Maybe Kidman as a white African ***

Bravura Acting, Location Verisimilitude.. A Revival of the "paranoid" Political Thriller Genre.. I have learned to hate the overdone special effects that seem to dominate most action movies. Living in a part of the world with some danger(Israel ), the effects that are seen in movies and on daily, rarely come close to the plain but tragic scenes of death. Some might fault "The Interpreter " because it lacks that type of action. And the romantic angle is also very underplayed. The viewer can only imagine what might happen in the future. Not every romance ends the evening in bed the first time one is available--in fact the best kind may be slow and rationally gradual. The scene of the Kidman falling asleep in the comforting arms of Penn was beautiful. "The Interpreter ", directed by Sydney Pollack, is a very smart political thriller. Critics have called it an "old fashioned " movie and that it is an "old school " political thriller in the vein of a "Manchurian Candidate ". This is meant as a compliment and high praise. Being called old fashioned may not seem like a positive thing these days, but when talking about "The Interpreter " the critics are saying that this is a well crafted, well written, well acted film which pays attention to building a believable story where the tension builds and builds. It all means something and has a point, rather than the flashy style without substance that many of today's films seem to be using. Sylvia Broone (Nicole Kidman) is an interpreter for the United Nations. She is a white African from the fictional nation of Motobo . Having to return to the UN late one night to retrieve a bag she left in her booth, she overhears a conversation in the language of Motobo . Before she believes she is spotted, she hears a whispered discussion talking about an assassination. She doesn't at first know who the plot is against, but later realizes that the plotters are talking about assassinating the leader of her native Motobo. When she reports the threat to her superiors, the United States Secret Service is brought in to protect the leader of Motobo when he arrives at the UN. The agent in charge of this investigation is Tobin Keller (Sean Penn), a man dealing with his own pain even as Sylvia seeks to hide her past for reasons she won't reveal. 【Nicole Kidman】Interpreter【Sean Penn】..... Dazzling ..... Here Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman show why they are superstars and why they are where they are. Both give Excellent Performances in what is an interesting if sometimes not very thrilling political thriller. There is no lack of African states in which a hero of the anti-colonial struggle turned into a despot unwilling to relinquish power. (Nelson Mandela is exceptional in many ways! ). In Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe supplies the sinews of Dr. Zuwanie (Earl Cameron), whose hold on power has been based on increasing violence against opponents. Like Mugabe going to London, Zuwanie plans to go the New York to address the General Assembly of the United Nations and bewitch listeners into seeing him as fighting terror rather than organizing state terrorism... It builds. Little by little Sydney Pollack gives the viewer a deeper glimpse into the world of Sylvia Broone and who she is. Keller is suspicious of anything he doesn't understand and Broone does appear to be hiding something. Little by little we find out more of what is going on in this movie and the tension grows and grows. Younger filmmakers can learn something from Sydney Pollack. He doesn't play all of his cards right away but gives enough that the audience remains engaged. Nothing in this movie is clear cut, and nothing is the way we initially perceive it to be. Pollack keeps us guessing long enough through the movie, but without insulting our intelligence by throwing swerve after swerve. Sure, there is a twist or two, but that much has to be expected. It must be noted that this is the first film which was given permission to actually film within the United Nations Headquarters, and the UN itself feels like a character. Even Alfred Hitchcock was denied permission to film there. Pollack is respectful of the mission and the work of the UN while still expressing reservations about the shortcomings and shortsightedness of the organization. "The Interpreter " is a very good movie, and a very smart movie. In a week where the other big movie is the remake of "The Amityville Horror", "The Interpreter" is a welcome breath of fresh air in what has otherwise been a fairly dull season for movies. In "The Interpreter ", a thriller, the same pace slows things down considerably. Shaving ten minutes out of the running time might have improved the pace of the film considerably, and improved the film as a whole. All in all, "The Interpreter " is the type of intelligent, though-provoking thriller that adults crave. If only it had delivered a little more bang for the buck.

Oct 15, 2006

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◆◇ The Libertine: Embrace This Moment

Tell Me About the Abduction.. Hard to Stomach, Even Harder to Dismiss. The beginning scene deceived me.It was brilliant, sexy, dark, and alluring.From there I expected the rest to be the same. It wasn't. It isn't that the movie was too bad, it is that it was slow moving. I guess I shouldn't have expected too much more since it is based off the life of the Earl of Rochester. All actors are superb in it. Depp once again proves his ability to transform into character (at one point nearly hideously ) while keeping his own entity at the same time. It's that talent that makes any role of his desirable. It was not a movie to uplift, enlighten, and comfort.... But a movie that seems to take the nightmare that reality can sometimes become, and twists it into forms that all of us know, without ever having needed to approach them in reality- a moral play about the evils of a life devoted to complete debauchery.... Even while the Earl of Rochester becomes a sympathetic character, which is remarkable, for someone who does nothing worthwhile, and much that it reprehensible, for the majority of the movie. We come along towards the end of his life, at a time when he has began to distance himself from his wife and, indeed, everyone else. When he finds, as one character puts it, his deathbed bride. And we see the straits that can bring a person to. The depths of confusion, strange pinnacles of self-sacrifice, depending on circumstance and character. And we see, in the depths of a forever-ago England, an actress, a prostitute, and a single mother, all wrapped into the same character with an undying well of self-respect, while the Earl, who was at least theoretically given every privilege and advantage, squandering it all on cynicism and carnal enjoyments only half appreciated through over-satiation. His friends play a solid role, his wife a somewhat more significant one, but the real drama is between those two. Lessons,now, they can be drawn from anywhere- they seem to whirl in a small cloud around Johnny Depp as he absolutely dares us to like him. 【John Malkovich】Libertine【Johnny Depp】 The Fascination of the Grotesque This is a film full of excess, lovingly applied with a paint roller.It begins with a soliloquy (perhaps appropriately, since the film is an adaptation of a play, championed by John Malkovich, which was inspired by his performance in Dangerous Liaisons ). That soliloquy runs what must be eight or ten minutes in length - just a talking head that won't shut up. That some of the lines are quite good is buried beneath the exhaustion of staring at that face, shot in gritty, low-light film stock - giving us perhaps a more realistic cinematography but one as grainy and hard to see as Jabberwocky. That, I suppose, is what makes Rochester a 17th-Century Anton LaVey, creating his own Church of Satan, but without either a website or a flair for organization. Rochester is a one-man church of hedonism, or at least he expects to be. But can hedonism, alone, explain his actions when he chooses to push the experiment in a variety of directions ?I don't want to give away too much. I'll just say that this Earl of Rochester is an interesting character, if you have the stomatch to watch his story unfold. We watch him die, and how horribly, rotting away from syphillis, but somehow at peace, finally having accomplished something he thought of as worthwhile. This is not a film for the kids, nor is it an evening of entertainment for the weakkneed, weak stomached or weak of heart. It takes patience to watch, in all its grainy gloominess. On the other hand, there are revelations of character that are far too good to pass up. If you can sit through the grit without feeling you're watching porn, you'll see Oscar-worthy performances delivered by John Malkovich and Samantha Morton - not to mention Johnny Depp.That is, I believe, the real message of the movie- how the Greater powers of love & death can bring even the most devoted reprobate to a sense of rightness, a need for some sense of self-worth.

Oct 14, 2006

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■ One Man Alone Cannot Fight the Future...■

Will Mulder & Scully ever Get it On ?Fight the future by remembering the past...Beginning where the award-winning series leaves off (and concluding with events leading into its next season), "The X-Files" movie is an overall successful transplant to the silver screen, although neophytes to the FOX serial may be left in the cold.Written by series creator Chris Carter, and directed by series mainstay Rob Bowman, "X-Files" succeeds by forgoing the cliches that fill its lousy television imitators. I remember when the X-Files debuted on Fox a few years back. I watched about four or five shows and I really didnt get much excitement from it, so I stopped watching the show. Than in the summer of '98, the X-Files Movie was released, and since I really didnt like the show, I hesitated to see it. In fact, I never saw it in the theater. A few months later, it was released on VHS and DVD. So you would think that I cough up five bucks to rent it right No, I had desire to see it. Than about a month ago, I was at my friends house and he insisted to watch the X-Files.I finally said yes and I was ready to see what I have been missing for almost two years. I realized that I should have seen it when it was out in the theaters. What I missed was an apocalyptic thriller that had me on the edge of my seat for the whole movie. This movie, like the TV show, has an extremely complex story with twists and turns that will have you watching it over and over again to figure everything out. Molder and Scully fight the future as a virus that is believed to be on earth before the dinosaurs, re-occurs in Texas. So they need to save the world before the virus (alien) takes over. But somehow Scully gets taken over by the virus and Mulder now not only has to save the world but Scully also. It has a really good plot. You are thinking that is so unrealistic but after you see it you realize hey, that could happen, the FBI keeps things from everyone, and things are definitely being kept from them. It is scary on occasion. Just a good thriller. This movie will definitely make you coming back for more.!! So is the X-Files movie better than the show Lets see how the X-Files movie stacks up.【David Duchovny】X-Files: Fight the Future【Gillian Anderson】 Terrifically Entertaining for both Philes & Non-Philes Alike I suspect that the accolades have to go mainly to David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Duchovny infuses Mulder with dry wit and irony - he looks hot, but he can't get a date or work on his attraction to Scully to save his life - and his portrayal of Mulder is a mix of defiant anger at his helplessness in searching for the truth as well as world-weary exhaustion. ... He is tired, really tired. And Anderson's Scully is an amazing character of contrast. Fully in control of every one of her emotions , she just cannot let go of her grip on herself, as if in letting go, she would lose all finality in her already turbulent life. Her eyes, wide and flashing fear and stubbornness at every turn, are one of the strongest points of Scully's character . From the banter at the beginning to the long, lingering hand squeeze at the end, this movie is at its heart a story. A tragic story of two people who need each other but just cannot say the words in fear of the unknowns. But the end has us all hoping that one day, maybe one day, Scully and Mulder would find their peace. And that is why I, and I suspect many X-Philes, watched this movie and will keep watching the TV series. This is a must see again movie, you'll discover that in your home , in a nice comfortable bed with the lights down, you'll be transformed and become part of the action.The special effects alone are worth seeing again and to actually hear Mulder swear instead of being bleeped or cut off adds to his character and fills in the gaps present on the series.You'll never see Mulder or Scully draw their gun once in this entire film. It doesn't need them to pull their weapons out because as Mulder was told, he must fight the future...

Oct 2, 2006

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*** Too many for a mere 15 words ***

Joss Whedon Is My Mater Now 　 Witty, Visceral, Eye-Popping, a Cut above the Genre.."Serenity " is a well written & acted movie. It adds on to the Firefly story line and gives the die hard fan more answers to some of the original series questions. Out of the sad and struggling box office of this year, "Serenity" is a shining beacon, even if its raggedy around the edges. The only movie that- ever- has had me literally laughing one minute and then crying the next, I can't recommend this enough. Get in on this quirky, underground secret while you can. Ever seen a series called Firefly ?? There's a pretty good chance that not only have you not seen it, but until this year, you'd never heard of it. That's because it only ran for 15 episodes (including the two part pilot...which was actually broadcast last ), despite generally good critical reception and fan appeal. However, soundly beating Star Trek to the prize for 'movie based on a series with the shortest broadcast run', this autumn Serenity came to our screens. (As an aside, if you live in the States, you can see Firefly on Fridays on the Sci-Fi Channel. It's also out on DVD as a box set with the full run of episodes). Whilst Serenity is not only based on, but, in fact, is a direct sequel to Firefly, it is not necessary to have seen the series in order to understand and enjoy the film. I have seen part of one or two episodes - certainly not enough to enlighten me before seeing the film as to the characters, worlds and basic plotline, and yet, I enjoyed Serenity immensely. But I'm jumping ahead of myself. 【Gina Torres】Serenity【Nathan Fillion】 Hopefully getting the recognition it deserves.!!"Serenity ", the spectacular cinematic spin-off of the cult hit TV show Firefly, delivers a crescendo of plot twists & hard-hitting action sequences that tell the gripping story or a ragtag band of contract highwaymen set 500 years in the future. Joss Whedon's vision of the future trades in the traditional clean and polished sci-fi genre for a gritty universe that makes the characters real and vibrant. The dialog is crisp, stylized, and often witty, further immersing the viewer in this sci-fi western epic adventure. Yah. I it.!! You may have worked this out.!! Serenity Rocks. It has humour and pathos; action & reflection. However, in the interest of fairness, I'll note that this film probably would not appeal as much to those folks who don't enjoy science fiction. It is full of action, and has some violence (though I personally don't think it deserves the 15 rating ). It can be confusing, especially in the first half hour, to those who have never seen Firefly - and especially to those who have never heard of it. Some people might find the Western settings and language a bit hokey. The film is about 2 hours long. I did not, however, find the time dragging, and I didn't look at my watch once. Im very pleased I saw "Serenity " in the cinema on the big screen, as it is big in scope and panoramic. Having said that, I surely hope that this comes out on DVD in the not too distant future.In short, this has been the best science fiction film I have seen in a very, very long time (even beating most of the Star Trek franchise, would you believe! ) All in all an excellent ride, looking forward to the next Whedon flic, whatever it is.If your a fan of the Firefly, you gotta go see Serenity. If you never saw the show, you will still most likely like the movie, but you probably wont laugh at all of the little things.. Some gr8 surprises & unexpected de%*hs (dont want to give anything away) While its a disadvantage not having seen the series, the movie stands on it own. Wonderful characters, ones the audience can relate to, played by fine actors who deliver memorable, witty dialogue. ..... My only complaint, too short.

Sep 30, 2006

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■ Blows Traffic Away ■

Get Blown back for Wild Wild.. Classic Drug FlickJohnny Depp and Penelope Cruz, who could ask for more This movie is a biography of George Jung - the man who almost singel handedly brought the cocaine trade to America. To me this movie shows how drug dealers aren't the bad people that they are stereotyped to be.And also it shows how they can come from completly normal backgrounds, George came from a little family in Boston, and he turned out to be a millionare. You see the start of his career, his luv, his jail time, his trouble at home, his new love, his family, his troubles, and everything else about him... In my personal opinion, this is an excellent movie. It has gr8 acting, and a gr8 cast, and most importantly a gr8 story. You realize that people George Jung aren't so bad and they have feelings and a lif eoutside of drugs.And it has a gr9 soundtrack. It was heartbreaking to see even a major drug lord deprived of the only person that mattered anything to him. As much as I hate to admit it, I sympathized with George Jung. I'm not sure if this was an intention of the plot or not, but I could not help it...【Johnny Depp】Blow【Penilope Cruz】 Johhny Depp vehicle thriving on its star appeal... Now "Blow ", as I stated above, is not very original. The plot itself is more or less Xeroxed from numerous other films (albeit Xeroxed via a true story).What makes "Blow " work is the acting. Most notably the acting by Johnny Depp. Depp gives a good performance as George Jung. He portrays Jung as a man who is neither purely good nor purely evil. Some critics have complained that the movie made Jung into a sympathetic character. I disagree. It showed that Jung was a man who did some bad things (and clearly would have done more)..... But was not inherently evil. The key scene that shows this occurs towards the end. Jung is now serving a 25-year prison sentence in a federal maximum-security prison (in both the film and in real life). His young daughter comes to visit. This scene drives the point home directly. Jung may have been a monster who sold drugs and turned millions of people into addicts. But he was not a soulless monster. That's what I think the movie is trying to do, show the life of Jung without making excuses for him or making him into a martyr. Jung is portrayed clearly as an antihero. The film's weakest link in the acting department is Penelope Cruz. Cruz is pretty to look at. But her character here comes off as shallow and annoying... Maybe that's how the character was in real life. But her constant screeching grated on my nerves after a while. There are also good performances by Curtis as Escobar and Paul Reubens (formerly Pee-Wee Herman) as a California dealer. I enjoyed the film "Blow " immensely and found the performances of Depp and Liotta to be outstanding. However, there are some parts that I find troubling as the movie unfolds. One major problem I had was how Jorge and Mirtha's relationship began. The way it was presented in the film it just doesn't seem plausible.... I got the idea that there was a lot more to it.This isn't a happy movie but it does provide you with the ability to feel empathy for the character that Johnny Depp portrays. I would highly recommend this movie to everyone over the age of 17. Riding the Train, High on Cocaine...

Sep 25, 2006

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*** A Hitchcock "Stage Movie" ***

Better On Paper then Real Life... Ensemble Cast,Ddirector, Plot, B&W..."DIAL M FOR MURDER " is a fabulous murder mystery that mainly takes place in one location.... the apartment of a married couple pretending to still be in . It is an extraordinary character piece which is why I suppose that everyone's been dying to remake it...Actors don't get this much to chew on very often anymore. It wouldn't be a Hitchcock film without lies, deception, blackmail and murder...and this film's got them in spades. He seems to be the only director who can make you feel more sorry for the murderer than the intended (in this case ) victim. Ray Milland plays a sports equipment salesman who attempts to have his wife murdered because she cheated on him and then lied about it. She constantly badgered him to give up the one thing he to do.... he was a professional tennis player .. so they could be together more, but he apparently waited too long.He knew she was having an affair, so in order to save his marriage he told her he would quit and settle down. Milland's performance is fantastic.!!!!He makes you root for the creep, which isn't easy to pull off. However, in the end, even with Hitchcock, the killer always gets his due. Though certain parts of this film are dated, it's still alot of fun to watch. Grace Kelly is also good as the unhappy wife. It's a first-rate movie that will make you think twice about angering your lover. 【Anthony Dawson】Dial M for Murder【Ray Milland】 The Ultimate Betrayl．．．The screenplay of "Dial M for Murder " is awesome. This movie raises the question of "how to muder your spouse without going to jail " Interesting question.!! Hitchcock shows you that killing someone is not that easy.!!The movie is nearly 1 0 0 % shooted in an apartment only. Nothing big, no stunts. Very tight budget I guess. But it is very very good. This actor played a lot of British officers, policemen and the like. And he played them well. The moment this movie gets really interesting is the moment that we see the call that was to signal the time for the "M" word, as Hitch takes us through the exchange station, watching the signal being transmitted to the on the other end in the middle of a scene filmed in the dark at the apartment, with the barest light, heightening intrigue & tension.There are generations of moviegoers who were born long after the death of Grace Kelly and Alfred Hitchcock who would benefit from watching these talents. When joining movie clubs through the and the there are many older classics and this may be offered that way.I would say the only thing that I noticed was no chemistry between the female character and the two males she was involved with. I bet if this were done today there would be another twist to have her involved with the Inspector as well. "Dial M For Murder " is truly a black and white gem worth watching.This is a classic stage play that still works for movies. I every moment of it, and I watch it at least once a month. Watch it for Grace Kelly, and Ray Milland, and for the gr8 editing and Hitchcock touches. The cast is limited, but not by ability.. Brilliantly done..

Sep 23, 2006

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◆ An Excellent Feature Film Debut from Roman Coppola ◇

★★★★★Funky Visuals, Oddball Sense of Humor.. More Pure Style than any Movie in some time"CQ" (pronounced "Seek You") is a film about a young film editor in the late 60s/early 70s who gets the job to direct an action, sci-fi film after two directors get the boot. Along the way, he is forced to compromise himself with the vision of his arrogant producer and his desire to make his own personal little movie while falling for the film’s star. Written & directed by Roman Coppola, the film is that is a part comedy, part homage, and part satire to the film industry while paying tribute to the works of Roger Vadim & Mario Bava. With a diverse cast that includes such European film legends as John Phillip Law, Giancarlo Giannini, and Gerard Depardieu along with Italian film veteran Massimo Ghini, Silvio Muccino... Though the movie only makes a cursory connection to its title, in the grander scheme (that of being Roman Coppola making your first movie ) it’s a title that gives you a little wink.What really makes the movie interesting & entertaining, is that though it is riddled with homage, and is thus a treat for cinemaphiles... ... Its also put together in such a way as to include those who aren’t aware of the references. While there is much more here for those who understand the "in jokes " , the movie is also something that can be enjoyed by those who don't. 【Angela Lindvall】CQ【Dean Stockwell】Coppola's Kid Hits a Solid Double.. "CQ " is expressive, wildly entertaining, and as good a look at a period of cinema as you’re going to get. Roman Coppola may have had a lot of help in making this (and he did).... but whether the production design is pure genius because people already famous for such things were on board (and it is).... or the soundtrack fits beautifully because there were lots of suggestions about how to use it (and there probably were), the final product is something that stands as being all Roman Coppola's . Just as the final version of "Codename Dragonfly " becomes something that is wholly Paul's.!!There are many things that impress me about Francis Ford Coppola. The one is that he has returned some dignity to the idea of the entertainment dynasty. Both Roman & Sofia have put out movies that, whatever else they may be, are intelligent, meaningful films. In many ways, "CQ " is a messy flick : underwritten characters abound, a few scenes come in completely from left field, and it's often difficult to tell whether we're celebrating art or pretense. But "CQ " is also a colorful & fascinating little movie, one that may appeal most to hardcore cineastes and Francophiles. Those looking for a more "traditional " movie about filmmaking may leave "CQ " scratching their heads.... but the good easily outweighs the bad and it's always nice to see a first-time director deliver something compelling. Speaking as only one movie addict, I was fascinated by this quirky look at French filmmaking in the late 60s...Roman Coppola may never become the filmmaker his Dad was, but heck few filmmakers will. But based on "CQ" , I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for his next projects.....The extras on this DVD are very unique & watchable.In closing, "CQ" is a really fun, well-written, well-directed film and my advice is that you buy it.

Sep 19, 2006

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◆ Place a Big red Bow on The Gift ◆

Splish Splash The Gift is, at first glance, a murder mystery...The Gift is rated "R" for good reason... It is not appropriate for children at all, for any reason... There is violence, sexuality, bad language, nudity. If you enjoy thriller/horror genre , this movie is for you. I personally think of it as more of a thriller, as I don't care for horror. There is bloodshed, so you may elect to hide your face, close your eyes as I did (as needed). I can really say that this film really gets into the mystery & beauty of the supernatural. The movie is excellent. The cast performs well together and it is one of the main reasons the movie works so well. Blanchett is outstanding and delivers an eerie performance as the haunted psychic. The plot is basically a murder mystery and isn't something so original or anything but it is really well done.【Cate Blanchett】THE GIFTThe Gift, a Thriller full of Suspense & Surprises.. Cate Blanchett as "Annie " does a phenomenal job as a tarot card reading widow of 3 young children. Her husband had died in a work-related accident, so she receives his social security.... and her only additional income is by "donations " from her card reading. She is a struggling Mom, sometimes so drained that it is difficult to give her sons what they need emotionally. Some of the people in the town see her as a fortune teller or a witch , and others are in awe of her talents.!!"The Gift " takes place in a small Alabama town sometime in the 1950's. The Gift of a Psychic ThrillerAnnie is harassed and threatened by the town redneck, wife- beater (Keanu Reeves). He is terrific as this horrible, hateful person.You learn to hate him.!!His pathetic wife is played by Hilary Swank. One of the local beauties, Jessica (Katie Holmes) , daughter of one of the town's wealthiest members disappears. Some of you men will enjoy her topless scene , which is done in reasonably good taste, and she is truly beautiful. At any rate, it appears that Keanu Reeves knows what happened to her. He has scratch marks on his arm (he claims it is a cat scratch ), he is violent, and he was in fact having an affair with Jessica. Annie is asked to help uncover the mystery. She has visions about what transpired. This "Gift " that she has is truly frightening to her, and calling it a gift is questionable. Sam Raimi takes you on a journey of twists & turns.!! Just when you know you know the answers, you are again questioning "who done it". The movie is well directed. The whole cast did a gr8 job and I didn't see any bad acting in this movie.Normally, there is at least one person in every movie who is bad, not this one though.!!The only complaint I have is Hilary Swanks hair, it looks like crap. I promise you, this movie will keep you until the last scence.!!You will not be disappointed. This movie was reminiscent of Sixth Sense, yet I disliked Sixth Sense.... and Truly enjoyed The Gift...

Sep 15, 2006

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*** Excellent but Overdramatized...***

Another Dimension in Reality Revenge for her friends rape, nail designs, and outfits... "Showgirls " is one of the best movies I have ever seen. People who dislike it have either missed its message entirely or, more likely, have been made overwhelmingly uncomfortable by it because of its implications on their own lives (as in the case of the critics who panned it).Paul Verhoeven is a cinematic genius. This film is a commentary about the entertainment industry & power relationships among the genders unlike any other I have ever seen. Everything that Verhoeven wants to say is said visually -- a sign of true directing genius. Don't think this is a sex film. Whenever I watch this with friends, straight guys, they soon get bored... "Not her jugglies AGAIN ," they whine, two hours down the track.As the sleazy producer says to Nomi, "I'm erect, why aren't you erect? " 'Cause in this movie sex changes from a discreet act that you can "have".... Somehow separate from everything else you do, into a metaphysical principle that saturates the world, so that, suddenly, everything is sex.... It closes around you and abolishes your erogenous zones in favour of a polymorphous animism in which everything is a sex organ & every moment is the brink of some new, unprecedented sort of orgasm. Desire & pleasure become totally immanent, part of every gesture or remark. "You got low self-esteem, baby... You're an excellent f**k." 【Elizabeth Berkley】ShowgirlsThe most Eotic, best Acted, well-thought-of 90's Movie... Face it people, no matter how much this movie you didn't approve of, it's a classic sleazy dimension into the life of greasy pigs behind the scenes pimping women off their looks & vulnerablity.Some women are lawyers, doctors, and secretaries but some end up showgirls. The true issue behind this film is the sleaze...I will tell my audience that it's a movie associated with envy, lust, rape and lies which make up another dimension in reality....For those who didn't see "Showgirls " because of all the hype around the Saved by the Bell star , check it out. There is more to the movie than just her.Be forewarned, there are two versions of this film floating around. One is the original NC-17 version and the other is an edited R rated version. Do not settle for the R version -- you will be missing so much of the film.Don't let the wussy critics prevent you from seeing this movie gr8. Watch it for yourself and then decide.Shows the ups and downs of Vegas' allure and illustrates one's journey to self-discovery...

Sep 9, 2006

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■ Pulp Fiction ■

Pulp Fiction does it Brilliantly Pretty-F*cking Please, a Royale w/ Cheese.....................Very Bloody with Coffee, Lotsa Cream & Lotsa Sugar. "Pulp Fiction " has come to be regarded-and rightfully so-as one of the classic films of the 1990s.That's a lofty title...but "Pulp Fiction " is one that earns it. It takes the classic crime story and twists it in so many directions that the result is draining... Although you have to follow the plot closely in order to fully understand it, that's not a problem here. It isn't a problem because writer-director Quentin Tarantino has filled the movie with memorable characters & excellent dialogue. "Pulp Fiction" follows Vincent Vega & Jules Winnfield , 2 hitmen on a day unlike most. At the same time, Butch (Willis) , a boxer, is paid to throw a fight, although things take a turn for the worse. Vincent Vega is then asked by his boss, Marcellus Wallace (Rhames) , to look after Wallace's wife for the night.Yet again, things don't go as planned...The film contains a remarkable number of stars, Ving Rhames, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta being among them. It was hard to believe that the success of Tarantino's Reservoir dogs would be succeeded by an even bigger hit.. The three cleverly interwoven stories are only loosely linked, mainly by mutual acquaintances, but there is a lot more to this film than these three stories...You Should Better F#$%@ Know Better Than To Miss This Movie..!!【Bruce Willis】Pulp Fiction【Uma Thurman】 Yeah it's legal. It's not 100% legal though...For me, the more I watch this movie, the more is begins to make sense & the more I it.The acting in this movie is the best. The cast of big names only serves to give the movie a little hype... Even if the names weren't that big, it would still be awesome..This is because of the incredible script that Quentin Tarantino has created. I don't know how often my lover[s] and I quote lines from this cult classic. Sometimes we even do whole scenes..There are so many memorable moments -- the big Kahuna burger, the "what does Marcellous Wallace look like" scene, the restaurant scene with Pumpkin and Honeybunny, the scene with Jimmy and the Wolf and the gimp, just to name a few... -- That's about it.!!I told you I'd tell you what I know, and what I think is that this is one of the best movies ever made. So, if you still think you're up for it, watch it and tell me what you think.The ending itself comes full circle back to the beginning which could be and probably is reflective of some kind of spiritual philosophy of "The Circle of Life "..Everything that could be great about "Pulp Fiction" is: the acting; the story; the offbeat, funny dialogue; and especially the film's ability to be so complex and profound yet so interesting and easy to follow.Zed's Dead, Baby !! Zed's Dead !!

Sep 5, 2006

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** "Never Been Kissed" is completely Rockin' !!!! **

Totally Rufus Deja "Video" Vu Drew Barrymore Plays a Perfect Geek The movie is full of laughs, especially since David Arquette plays Drew Barryomore's brother. Cherie Oterie also makes you laugh as Drew's horny friend, especially in the sex-ed scene. Drew plays Josie, a copy editor who wants to be a writer. When the paper's editor gives her a chance, she ends up going back to high school to write an undercover expose.She ends up battling her old high school memories as "Josie Grossie " and tries to fit in with the cool crowd. I don't want to give too much away, but Josie definetly overcomes her old memories and there's a happy ending.!!!!It's a Gr8 Girly Movie and I'd recommend curling up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn. Drew Barrymore is excellent in her role and adds an even gr8er appeal as the plot changes & thickens.The movie itself points out well how some kids are treated in school and how others view these people or "Losers". It makes me remember my own hxxx school days and people in both of these roles...This movie is charming & wonderful for all ages and especially for those people that like a light romantic comedy. It does not have any sex scenes which is rare in movies this day.Enjoy your Evening at the movies. 【Drew Barrymore】Never Been KissedFabulous, Funny, Sad, ＆ for the Family As a die hard Drew Barrymore fan, this movie was another smashing hit to add to Drew's resume... This movie was wonderfully entertaining from beginning to end. "Never Been Kissed " had all the elements a good movie should have from comedy to romance to drama...This is one of those movies that had a profound impact on me emotionally. I sobbed through the end of this movie and for a good half an hour afterward. You're thinking . o 0 O (So it had a good story line, so what.) but it's more than that...I think that we all know what it's like to be humiliated just so that others can make themselves feel good....What it's like to go out on a limb for that crush that we have and then be shut down, knowing what it's like to want to be popular for just a day to know what that feeling is like.It made me look at my summers and realize a lot about who I'm and what type of friends I do have...So, go back in time with Drew Barrymore...you will love the experience!!I reccomend it to those who want to laugh & have fun, but also want to watch something sweet. And if you do watch "never Been Kissed ," and enjoyed it.I think that you will also enjoy the movie "With Honors" with Brendan Frasier. sweet Drew, capable LeeLee Sobieski

Aug 31, 2006

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Best Song **("Calling You")**

Great Sleeper J Palance's Rebirth What a bizarrely Gr8 movie this is...Desert Delight..."Bagdad Cafe" is full of so much magic missing in all of our everyday lives. I didn't get what was happening until I saw it for a second time.!!It turns out that Jasmine (Marianne Sagebrecht) was a space alien.Her male friend, who couldn't figure out forward or reverse in the car, was also one...She accidentally got the wrong suitcase when they broke up, and that's why she had the Leaderhosen and other male clothes in her room.The picture of the "space ships" were drawn by Jack Palance and were hanging in her motel room. She thought she was in Bagdad, Saudi Arabia. That's why she asked Brenda "is this all there is ? "...She started out in Africa (1 sec flash back of her standing in the Aborigine boiling pot). She thought Brenda(CCH Pounder) was more of the same.Her two "powers" were making harmony & levitation. That's why she had to have everything neat. And why the tattoo lady left saying that there was "too much harmony ".Then the cafe gave magic show performances drawing up to 36 big rigs.When Palance proposed her last words were "I'll have to check with Brenda... " because Brenda had become her best friend and she didn't want to break up the harmony.【Marianne Sagebrecht】Bagdad Cafe May Inspire Radical Life Transformations What makes this movie wonderful is its complete lack of concern for all of the typical movie elements. The characters are real, warts and all, the dialogue terse & uncomfortable at times. The camera work is inspired & bizarre, with quick flashes back to previous shots and strange filters applied. The music - ah the music - floats above all of it, with the haunting cry of the title song ringing in everyone's ears by the end..The haunting soundtrack and distinct visual style add to the mood presented by the script. Certainly keeps one thinking..You are completely taken by these characters, and if you're not you are emotionally disconnected......Because they are all, Jasmin especially , completely unprepossessing & sympathetic.. I won't spoil it for you anymore....When you're feeling like a quirky but wonderful movie experience, sit down with Bagdad Cafe..and your money back if you're not the least bit satisfied by the end..Never fear, happiness will prevail in this SWEET story and all will turn out for the best.!! This is a wonderful movie to rent for a family evening at home. Older children will enjoy it as much as adults. And the beautiful, Rubenesque Marianne Sagebrecht is a delight to look at and to watch with her subtle performance as Jasmin. But everyone is gr8 in this movie and I recommend it highly. If you enjoy Marianne Sagebrecht in "Bagdad Cafe " then check out "Rosalie Goes Shopping" as well.The Lady who fell to Earth...

Aug 29, 2006

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◆ A Powerful Epic Of Fantasy ◇

Not your Typical Lycanthropic HoRRoR Flick "Ladyhawke" is a galloping good fantasy adventure with silly music...I thought "Ladyhawke" was absolutely fantastic.I cannot say enough about the perfomances, the music, the beautiful scenery, etc.....First of all, Michelle Pfieffer and Rutger Hauer are amazing, playing the doomed lovers who are cursed to walk the earth, "always together, eternally apart." He is the wolf by night and she is the hawk by day. Hauer is brilliant as the stoic and heroic Navarre, and Pfieffer is enchanting as the beautiful Isabeau. Broderick is superb as the clever and funny Philippe. The music is so Beautiful in this movie, one of the best soundtracks ever created. It adds to the movie, especially the one refrain where the hawk is flying over the lake. It is enough to bring tears to the eyes , it evokes so much passion. There are so many beautiful scenes, the ditch scene in particular. I also the part where Philippe sees Isabeau after the "incident." That whole speech of "You must save this hawk he said " is so wonderful. Wow, truly fantastic. I encourage everyone to see this movie, please. No disappointment in this movie !!【Matthew Broderick】Ladyhawke A Sweet Quaint Tale of LUV ＆ MAGIC set it Medieval TimesThis is one of my favorite movies of all time. It has a bit of everything: humor [listen to the side comments that "Mouse" is always making to God ] , romance, magic, love, swordfights, action, etc... As such it makes a nice date movie as it has aspects which appeal to both men and women.It is set against a medieval backdrop. This makes for lovely costuming ... and scenic shots of castles & countryside. The plot is somewhat predictable. But, it is a sweet tale nonetheless... This is a visually breathtaking movie ... there are some exquistite shots of the hawk in flight (look for the one where "she" flies over the water wings leaving ripples in her wake )...... of sunsets, of misty moonlit nights in the forest. The acting is not incredible. However, it is believable. Everytime I see this movie I have to wonder if Hauer and Pfieffer were involved romantically during its filming. There is one scene in particular where the couple are gazing at one another and I swear you can see "the lovelight shining" in thier eyes. The soundtrack. OK I'll say it upfront, I have NO idea what they were thinking. This is a romantic, mystical tale set in the medieval period, and the soundtrack is ... I can only describe it as Techno-Rock. it is incredibly out of place, and I can only advise that you try and ignore it...... This is a film with all the romance & action a couple could desire.Since there is something for everyone, it must be considered one of the best date movies ever made.A Cult Classic worth another Look...

Aug 24, 2006

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*** Her So-Called Drug Bust ***

Tragic Sad Movie.... Guilty PleasureI admit the MOVIE does remind me a bit of "Return to Paradise"....But I did like it and look forward to owning it.Claire Danes was wonderful, like always, and I thought Kate Beckinsal did a good job, too. Claire Danes is absolutely mesmerizing from start to finish.The quality of the dolby5.1 soundtrack　is awesome as is the 2.35:1 widescreen picture itself... Watch it with your closest friends and you will feel even closer. If you own a DVD player , add this to your library..Emotional,intense & simply gr8.!! Don't miss it.!!【Claire Danes】Brokedown Palace A Complete Nightmare...Stay in the Prison...Two best girlfriends graduate from high school and decide that they'd like to be together one more time before they go their separate ways. They had been together since they started crawling...At work the next day after graduating Alice talks her best friend into going with her to Thailand. Darlene hesitates and says that she mentioned it to her dad, but he's not keen on me going. Alice tells her that her dad doesn't have to know, just tell him that you're going with me to Hawaii... Her friend agrees to go.They arrive in Thailand and meet this gr8 looking nice guy.... after they get caught for not being a guest of the motel where they snuck in to go swimming. This guy, Nick Parks, says that their just lost when the waiter asks them where their room is. The girls are relieved...Nick invites them to a party and befriends one of them, and while she goes to get a drink... ...he hits on the other one. He then takes her to his room...The next day the girls are going with Nick to Hong Kong... he paid there way. At the airport waiting to go through customs... they're bags are being searched. All of sudden guards with guns rush towards them yelling in Thai. The girls are confused, crying, and upset.They get arrested for having Narcotics found in their backpack. They swear up and down that they're innocent and then.....*******************************************************************************I brokedown.!!!!!I especially liked the pacing and the story of friendship. This movie really shows you how horrible it would be to have to go to prison in another country... It also shows you how easy it can be to get set up for a crime that you didn't even commit. I would recommend this movie to anyone. And I hope that we will also be seeing a second part to this movie that is also true.Overall, it was really well done, and is recommended if you want something low-key. Not too heavy, but not feather light, either.......

Aug 23, 2006

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■ One of Jessica Albas Best Roles ■

A Hip Hop Dance Music Hip Hop Madness Great cast but Jessica Alba earns the movie the 5 stars She did gr8 and the movie is gr8 because of her (and the rest of the cast) no matter what anyone says. It's a very fun movie, ALL THAT MATTERS !!If you like hip hop and you like a movie that has a positive message, you'll the movie. If not, you'll probably still like it unless you're too stubborn to admit it. Thanks to all that made the movie !!!!! "Honey " is a feel good movie about hip hop dancing. This MOVIE is a black hispanic girl who works in a music store, as a bartender and a hip hop class teacher who wants to be discovered in the music industry... After being in a music video and choreographing several of them, she realizes she doesn't have time for her family and friends.... and finally quits after her boss tries to make a move on her. She wanted the neighborhood kids who had awesome dance moves to be in a video of hers too but after they couldn't....She decides to buy a dance studio after the community centre where she used to teach is being torn down and wants to raise money at a charity concert for it. .....This is a really cool movie though. Honey is an amazing dancer.!!The story has a wonderful message about making it "On Your Own Terms".【Jessica Alba】Honey [Full Screen Edition]Jessica Alba sHINEs I her in her series Dark Angel.You should definitely check this movie out.!!They had a lot of cameos like tweet , missy elliot, ginuwine, shawn desman, 3rd story. I reckon Honey IS THE BEST FILM I HAVE Seen in a long time.The movie is nice and uplifting, with a good ending.There is a lot of singing and dancing going on, hip-hop stuff Hip-hop dancing is CooxxxxL ...they should have more movies like this......and Jessica has such a pretty smile, I would watch a movie just to see her smile, she's soooooo Gorgeous. I really hope that they make a sequel to this movie. 　It Rocks There are a lot of cool cameos. The best being from Missy Elliot.There's nothing that I dont love about this movie. I would definitely recommend that you buy it. Jessica Alba shines once again. Can't wait to see her in "The Deep Blue" next summer.This was an inspiring movie and since I'm an emotional person, I almost cried. If you wanna learn moves, watch this. Go for it !!Jessica inspired me to go for my goals in life like she did !!

Aug 19, 2006

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■ Experiencing Kim Ki-Duk ■

"Samaritan Girl" is a Bizarre Coming of Age Film Fox, fox...please grant my wish The movie's opener is awesome , with a really great credit sequence over the girls on Korea's instant messaging program picking up a guy. Samaritan Girl's theme is of a disturbing nature as it presents teen prostitution, which has upset lots of viewers. Ki-duk Kim merely reveals the truth as he opens a can of worms for the audience that is based on tragic news and the facts of South Korea. A brilliant cast, tight acting, and superior production values make Samaritan Girl a great, scary, but ultimately tragic story.Chilling Yet Fascinating Yeo-reum Han／Ji-min Kwak『Samaritan Girl』This is a Sexy drama that is also a really interesting slice of life film. Kim Ki-Duk as a film maker has a real talent in effortlessly establishing his characters & relationships which are vital in moving his movies forward. The development he creates in a single scene without dialogue, other directors fail to do within entire movies. In essence, he is efficient because he understands human behaviour and the power of subtlety. Others may find the lack of onscreen activity boring but I can't help feel fascinated & completely drawn in with each passing minute of this movie. This is not a movie for everyone and it is by no means a happy one. It is at times sad, depressing, and revolting. But it's hard not to come away with some emotional investment with either of the main characters. At the core, I believe the same thing is driving both main characters (the father & daughter )....that being nobility, but here we see how being noble leads to suffering. I have only seen one other Kim Ki-Duk movie but both have left an everlasting impression.The MOVIE is really well done.!! And frankly, the two girls are really adorable and the movie is really sweet & sad at the same time. It's also disturbing a lot of the time. If you are a fan of Kim Ki-Duk or Korean cinema, I highly recommend this.

Aug 1, 2006

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*** A Sexy Movie for Sexy People ***

"Don Juan Demarco"---A Must See for Couples Thumbs Up..A Charming MOVIEI could watch this movie all day. It's funny, romantic, and has a GREAT songs. I luv to listen to "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman ", I just can't wait till' the end of the movie to hear it...Don Juan(Jonny Depp) is said to be insane, but he gets the chance to tell his story to a psychiatrist who starts to believe his story more and more. The movie is mostly about "normal standard's" and what you believe to be in live......Wether it is the worlds greatest lover or a simple man who is insane..It is a very beautifull movie and I would like to recomment it to everyone.!!!All in all it's a great movie & suggest everyone to see if you haven't yet..【Johnny Depp】Don Juan DeMarcoA major work of Art. The misunderstood soul of Don Juan..I consider myself quite sexy, and I luvd "Don Juan DeMarco ". First & most obviously, Marlon Brando was a vision. He has gained a little weight since Last Tango in Paris, maybe a pound here & there......But that doesn't make his body any less sweet to look at or to imagine rolling on top of and nearly crushing one.After seeing this movie I couldn't get Marlon out of my mind. Just the scenery alone would be enough to buy this movie, and the soundtrack is wonderful.!!I guess you could say I became a little obsessed. I leave that for the courts to decide. Whatever the case, two of us know what went on in that remote utility shed , and I for one will never forget it.....This movie captures your heart and makes you fall in LUV with *****..Totaly unbelievable...but somehow totally believable..... Great sleeper movie.!! I highly recommend it.!!Sweetly Romantic with a Quirky Twist

Jul 27, 2006

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.....Coppola???........Kubrick???

Crawling Across That Razored Edge Coppola's Bizarre Re-telling of "The Heart of Darkness"It is a version of a classic novel "The Heart Of Darkness". I grew up watching this DVD with my lovers a Vietnam Vet.Seriously though to understand all the suttle points in this movie everyone needs to read the book.I'm a hardcore "Apocalypse Now" fanatic......And this, the original version of the film, is what made me one, several years ago.The essence of the DVD is not heroism, however....The superb performances by Marlon Brando as Kurtz & Martin Sheen as Willard rescue this flawed interpretation of Conrad from obscurity. Sheen's internal narration, set against a haunting musical score, holds the DVD together and is beautifully delivered. Brando's interpretation of the tormented Kurtz is flawless.【Marlon Brando】Apocalypse NowThis DVD makes you question our sanity as a nation...etc..."Apocalypse Now " is a brilliant & riveting Vietnam War film that captures the American attitude towards The Vietnam War beautifully... As disturbing as the ending may be, this DVD deserves a place in movie history.What's so wonderful is the fact that this film, like many others back in the day, makes you think.To me that's the whole point of viewing a movie.!!!! The DVD opens so many ideas of disscussion, it tests your own ideals of the meaning of life...Boom !! Boom !! Boom !!The symbolism,and metaphors throughtout DVD are so well done... You truly appreciate the wizardry of Coppola. Never underestimate the power of myth. Even if you've seen the movie before, the DVD is a pristine example of restorative technology can do for movies that deserve preferential treatment. Brilliant battles, humour and a truly dark journey. xxxxxxxSit under the Shower after Watching it..XXXXXXX 　You'll feel clean again eventually......

Jul 20, 2006

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***　A Toe-Tapping Good Time　***

De-Lovely is still A Bit Di-Sappointi Astounding The movie begins when an aged Porter is summoned by a director to view the rehearsal for a play based on his life... While this movie about Cole Porter's life is excellent in every respect...It's particularly dear to my heart because of the excellent performances of his music by contemporary artists. I LUVed the new, more modern arrangements that didn't shy away from contemporary jazz harmony. HighLighted is his bisexual lifestyle which she accepts amazingly well as long as it doesn't become a public scandal..!! Kevin Kline is outstanding as the young ..and.. dashing Porter as well as the aged & defeated man... Ashley Judd shines as the LUVing mate who guides his career & his recovery from a horrific accident. It deals with the total person without being overly gory with sexual matters. ●Very Intelligently Done．．． Kevin Kline／Ashley Judd 『De-Lovely』 De-Lovely Most De-Lightful Musical ..."De-Lovely" may not be de-lovely, I found it to be Entertaining...Enjoyed every moment of this movie. Gr8 songs, costumes and Kevin Kline superb I had only one fault to find with this very good movie " Begin the Beguine", which is archetypical Porter, is sung in a different scale from the one in which it was written. This is a helluva thing to do to a Great song..!!I'm going to be rooting for this when Oscar rolls around.So, Yes.."De-Lovely " could have been better, perhaps much better, than it is, but don't be put off. It is worth seeing ...and if you go you'll likely find a demographic unusual for a movie theater... It was something nice to see.I close by saying I gave this movie two thumbs up Thank Heavens It's STILL PLAYING...

Jul 12, 2006

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+++ A New Inspiration +++

Just Takes The Courage To Take The First Step... ...Complicated and Engrossing...Anne Tyler is one of my favorite authors & "Accidental Tourist " one of my favorite books.I was a little anxious, though, about seeing this DVD. Tyler's characters are so very unusual, with little action and lots of reaction. Still, William Hurt & Geena Davis are all that was needed. William Hurt's dazed, bewildered appearance, Geena Davis's scary-odd Muriel. The movie is filled with moments of such emotional clarity that you are drawn into this romance between the remote gentleman & the oddball.I was thoroughly impressed with this adaptation of Anne Tyler's novel. William Hurt is impressive as Macon Leary...... A writer who can't tolerate change or instability and is suddenly forced to deal with his son's death & his separation from his wife. William Hurt『The Accidental Tourist』■ Faithful, Charming Adaptation ■"The Accidental Tourist " is a film worthy of your attention and interest.!!Superb Movie: Especially compared to most of what comes out of Hollywood...I would give the movie high marks for being ambitious enough to try to paint a picture...... or montage of events, people, and stories related to a particular issue...Anne Tyler's book is a masterpiece, as well as is this movie.!! Sweet, funny, and heart warming. I really enjoy William Hurt's work. It is a movie the family can watch.Although portions of the novel are omitted from the DVD , that doesn't prevent the viewer from being enchanted by this painful but heart-rendering story. This is by far William Hurt's best performance.While not the greatest movie by any means, I would have to say that "Accidental Tourist " is a movie that is Definately WRrth ChecKing Out. Great Acting, Gr8 Storyline, Great Characters

Jul 11, 2006

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+++CAT'S EYE is well Done & well Worth Owning+++

A Cat is A God in the Wings of Life... +++ A Haunting FILM +++Dark but incredibly well made...this trio of movies Rock...This DVD is an eerie coming-of-age tale, told with poetic beauty and sorrow.This is my favorite piece. I would recommend this to anyone who is fiercely intelligent and enjoys something interesting rather that sweet..!! There is truth here, nothing is sugar coated...If fairies and bunnies are your things, I would steer clear from this one.I could see this again and again and again...Beautiful, Poetic, Sharp... An outstanding reflection on the consequences of human behavior.Stephen King's ●Cat's Eye●This is one of the best HoRRor-comedies ever... and also one of the best films to ever link more than one story...Look for that awsome Police song during Quitters Inc.It is now one of my Stephen King favorites and deserves a look for how lovably strange it is.Especially for a Stephen King or James Woods fan. Really good acting. Dont miss this one !!If you're looking for something unusual to keep you entertained, give this movie a try.It's a classic !!In the third part of this movie where drew barrymore has an encounter with a little troll. I had had the same encounter in my home with the same troll. Finally, I have the third segment with a young Drew Barrymore (E.T., Firestarter) as a little girl who has an evil troll living in her bedroom wall. In this one the cat emerges as the hero. Candy Clark (American Graffiti) is exasperating as the mom who thinks the kitty is up to no good ...and almost keeps it from saving her daughter's life..Deliscious Stephen King - meow...mEOW xxxxx

Jul 9, 2006

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*** Long live Herbie !!!! ***

Such a fun, Endearing underdog Fantasy. For All Ages. O.K. Maybe it's not the deepest plot but I liked this movie a lot Lindsay.L is quite the exceptionall actress !! 　And performs her role very covincingly. Lindsay Lohan's Greatest Ride So Far I very much enjoyed this movie &... Any Lind. L fan would like it to !!This is one of the best Disney live action films to come out in some time.It just goes to show you that you should make up your own mind and don't be dissuaded by someone else.Lindsay Lohan shines in this movie as Herbie's new owner. She wants to be a race car driver like her brother. ■Herbie - Fully Loaded■"Herbie - Fully Loaded" is filled with comedy and any child or parent will like it. Even if the parents remeber the old Herbie movies. This one is so excelent.If you go see a movie this summer put Herbie at the top of your list. This is a movie for both parents and Children to enjoy.This movie is WAY worth being seen in theatres This was a great cinametic experience & suggest to anyone !! True it is different from the original Herbie movies, and shows how racing as a sports has involved...This was pretty good non animated feature relesed by Disney For the music, it is quite okay. Finally, for the sound effect, it is also good. So, the whole movie is good and I quite like it.Wonder if it's true. Like the way they used Herbie's traditionally theme music in parts of the movie too. 　H O N K 　if You LUV HERBIE　

Jul 5, 2006

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.....Drac Gets Hammered.....

Definitive version of the Dracula Legend ***** Something Vaguely Erotic about this *****"Horror of Dracula" is what got me hooked on Hammer Studios although I thought that this didnt follow the novel really good..!! It's been 48 years since "Horror of Dracula" came out & the film[movie] still repays close viewing...Employing baroque color for the first time in the genre, Hammer films stripped the Dracula novel of its more ridiculous Victorian elements (i.e., bats, fog, wolves, and the stupid Romanian accent)......and set this tale squarely in the world of the Brothers Grimm...HoD is the first and best of England's Hammer Films' Dracula series...& required viewing for all vampire movie buffs.. Horror of Dracula【1957】　Excellent timeless Shocker　Christopher Lee has always and forever will be "Dracula" to me.....Lee has never been better.. Truly one of the very best that Hammer has ever put out...Peter Cushing was always the perfect foil, for the dreaded Prince of Darkness. If your a fan of either of these fine actors, don't miss this one The Sexual aspect of Dracula's allure to all these ladies was given a more overt treatment than previously... and this aids to the viewer's plausibility & adds to the viewing pleasure immeasurably..Lee is magnificent..and..... really very creepy in his interpretation of the world's most famed Vampire...Bela Lugosi can bite me..!!!!!The Ultimate Bite This is an unforgettable HoRRoR Movie. It is Highly Recommended for fans of the genre. It's a classic. Check it out.The One, The Only, Count Dracula...

Jul 2, 2006

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Murder, Sex, Betrayal, ＆ Double-Dealings．．．

The Revenger's Tragedy Enough of the background...Let's get to the movie."Munich" clocks in at over 2H but never leaves you YAMNing...Attempting to understand what drives nation to kill other nation for any reason is [in the pit of the soul] a challenging enigma... Whether that "REASON " is war between countries at odds, protecting one's self when endangered...evenge or vengeance for deeds perpetrated by "THE OTHER "... for panic in the moment of survival - each of these feels wrong despite the fundamental belief to the contrary at the moment of killing*****Steven Spielberg once again impressed us with this raw......But very moving and exciting movie, inspired by the 1972 olympic games.The special effects are intense..plus there's this whole big story behind... very complex..One of the Better Poltical Thrillers【Eric Bana】Munich【Steven Spielberg】A long way from E.T. now...........Stephen Spielberg takes a dramatic look at the revenge that taken place following the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972.Spielberg is challenging to draw parallels to what is happening in the world today.But, just to make sure we get it, Spielberg ends the movie with a stark shot of the mid-70s New York skyline, compete with the Twin Towers in the distance. That cycle of violence continues today ＆ will probably, inevitably, continue well into the future..Speilberg uses his abilities to great affect to support the tired homily that violence breads violence. The MOVIE is EXCELLENT on set pieces but as a whole it has no substance, even though it is 'inspired' by real events in world history.Speilberg strip mines resources quite well, using strangely enough, mostly non-jewish actors to play all these roles...IMO... the MAN Speilberg is a genius filmmaker, but now he wants to make a difference he makes me wince... A must for Spielberg fans. Speilberg did a great job turning a pulp fiction novel about the theme of cloning In all seriousness, this movie is an exceptionally "well-made" film with all the impressive qualities of one of the finest directors of all-time helming the project..!!

Jun 27, 2006

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† Heaven & Hell †

Stay Still !! Stay Still !! Do you believe that before you are born your destiny is already chosen for you?"DEMON HUNTER " is a mesmerizing and emotional trek through the landscape of good & evil, love & hatred, life & death..This movie will having you Jumping out of your seat, squirming, and flinching, but all the while, enjoying the ride The acting is good, the story is good and it definitely has a neat atmosphere to it. As far as cheesiness goes I don't think this movie was very cheesy at all..FIGHT with Jacob against the forces of darknessColleen Porch『Demon Hunter』Whew!! What a read. Don't miss out on this one.This MOVIE is filled with the fantasy/fiction style...But it is also accompanied by an individual style that also seems to place more emphasis on humor as well. This MOVIE has made it to the top of my list of favorites very easily and very quickly..It fits well in the fantasy horror genre and has the twist of humor in it as well.It is a wonderful look, and the author portrays the atmosphere & environment in the film extremely well It also is a film that catches one's attention, holds it, and leaves one wanting more.Bravo for this new way the fantasy genre is being portrayed.I would still recommend people to get it !! Go Watch Now !!Just don't expect some real great movie. Unless you want a laugh...A movie with a Wonderful New Twist !!

Jun 12, 2006

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[みるもん] カテゴリの記事

□■□ One of Jarmusch's Funniest and Most Touching Films...

◆◇◆Metaphysical allegory disguised as a Western......

▽▲ Everlasting Beauty??? NOT !!!!! ▼△

*** Snapshot !!!!! *** - AUTO FOCUS -

●○ G.I. Jane is rated R for adult situations, profanity, and violence.

■ Seven Samurai ( Shichinin no samurai ) ■

● The Intentions Are Cruel, Yet The Result Is Satisfying..○

○● Oh My - Watch A Puppet Master At Work - In【O】

■ Murders & Executions on Wall Street ■

■ Joe Versus the Volcano ■

*** Celebrate the ANNIVERSARY PARTY ***

+++ Nicolas Cage Discovers It's a Wonderful Life +++

■ Joseph: King of Dreams ■

◆ Red Planet~A Red Dead Planet.......no way ◇

■ Hurlyburly ■

■ The Last Supper ■Black, But Not Exactly Comedy...

◇ An Icy Comedy That Doesn't Slip !!!!◇

◆ Clooney in a Kilt !!!! ◇

◆ Jungle Boogie ◇

『Corpse Bride』 - A Creepy Family Movie

*** Where the Wild Things are.... ***

◇ Charlize Theron & North Country ◆

■ EVEN WITH FLAWS, "STAIN" IS A POWERFUL FILM ■

■ And A Beautiful Life It Was ■

■ The Way of the Samurai... Forest Whitaker ■

*** Maybe Kidman as a white African ***

◆◇ The Libertine: Embrace This Moment

■ One Man Alone Cannot Fight the Future...■

*** Too many for a mere 15 words ***

■ Blows Traffic Away ■

*** A Hitchcock "Stage Movie" ***

◆ An Excellent Feature Film Debut from Roman Coppola ◇

◆ Place a Big red Bow on The Gift ◆

*** Excellent but Overdramatized...***

■ Pulp Fiction ■

** "Never Been Kissed" is completely Rockin' !!!! **

Best Song **("Calling You")**

◆ A Powerful Epic Of Fantasy ◇

*** Her So-Called Drug Bust ***

■ One of Jessica Albas Best Roles ■

■ Experiencing Kim Ki-Duk ■

*** A Sexy Movie for Sexy People ***

.....Coppola???........Kubrick???

*** A Toe-Tapping Good Time ***

+++ A New Inspiration +++

+++CAT'S EYE is well Done & well Worth Owning+++

*** Long live Herbie !!!! ***

.....Drac Gets Hammered.....

Murder, Sex, Betrayal, ＆ Double-Dealings．．．

† Heaven & Hell †

* Snapshot !!!!! * - AUTO FOCUS -

* Celebrate the ANNIVERSARY PARTY *

* Where the Wild Things are.... *

* Maybe Kidman as a white African *

* Too many for a mere 15 words *

* A Hitchcock "Stage Movie" *

* Excellent but Overdramatized...*

"Never Been Kissed" is completely Rockin' !!!!

Best Song ("Calling You")

* Her So-Called Drug Bust *

* A Sexy Movie for Sexy People *

*　A Toe-Tapping Good Time　*

* Long live Herbie !!!! *