Bruce-39 Reviews

Saltimbanco (1997 TV Special)

Almost as magnificent as in person

[10/10 · 30 July 2000]

I had the pleasure of seeing Saltimbanco live before seeing the video version of the show. While nothing can compare to actually being there, the people behind the video did an amazing job of capturing the flavor, the feel, the sensation and so much more. The wonderful performances of Saltimbanco's stunningly amazing troupe are beautifully captured throughout. The video flows as smoothly and artfully as the production itself. A wonderful experience.

The Fantasticks (2000)

Never release this film

[1/10 · 28 September 1999]

I've worked as lighting director on two different stage productions of "The Fantasticks". As Jason White suggests, a critical aspect to the magic of this production is the almost complete lack of set and props. The joy of the show is that the players work with so little, and each audience member's imagination fills out the picture. The published production photos make it clear that this movie violates these vital elements of this beautiful classic musical. It is a mistake and should never be released.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

Adventure on a grand scale

[9/10 · 31 August 1999]

When it come to films about a man on a quest, this is the movie by which all others are measured. Drama, mystery, comedy, romance, set on an epic scale and a stage that spans America. In Pee-Wee's expressive manner we see happiness, sorrow, hope, despair, failure, triumph, fear, and heroism. Pee-Wee is Everyman, and his mighty quest speaks to us all.

Okay, maybe not. But this is a fun, original piece of film work.

Bear Island (1979)

Did anyone read the book?

[2/10 · 19 August 1999]

You read Alistair MacLean's excellent novel, then you sit and watch this film. After you've gotten over the sheer awfulness of it, a question springs to mind. Did anyone involved with this film read the book? The script writers seem to have glanced at the back cover of the paperback edition before churning out this dreck. They didn't read the back cover, just glanced.

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

Recycled the humor but not the humanity

[6/10 · 21 June 1999]

I didn't expect Austin Powers II to be as good as the original, but I was still hoping for more than this. Most of the good jokes from the first film are here again, but they're funny this time as well, so that isn't a fault. But apart from the "rocket shape" jokes and the Jerry Springer bits, there wasn't anything new that should have been there. What was new and shouldn't have been there were the Fat Bastard character and the fecal stuff. Once you get into nauseatingly gross, you fall out of humor. When a comedy has me looking away from the screen, it is doing something wrong. The greatest flaw in the film was the elimination of the two elements that made the characters in Austin Powers I people we cared about. In the first, Austin constantly had to cope with the problems of a man out of his own time. This gave him a lost aura that audiences could feel for themselves. Elizabeth Hurley gave a charming performance as Vanessa, playing an opposite character and foil for Austin. Her replacement in the sequel was played competently, but was one-dimensional and had none of the conflicts with Austin that made the Austin-Vanessa relationship compelling. The other relationship element that was lost was the humorously pathetic attempts by Dr. Evil to bond with his son. This time we got nothing but mutual derision between the two. Mini-me was supposed to be a replacement for this, but again there was no conflict between the two, so again, little interest. In sum--good humor, excessively gross, and no depth. Go to a bargain show or wait for video.

Operation Thunderbolt (1977)

Amazing retelling of a great victory

[10/10 · 18 April 1999]

This is an amazing retelling of Israel's great Entebbe victory. It doesn't sink into melodrama, but shows us how all the pieces were brought together for this singular achievement. Exciting, gripping, and with a sense of realism rarely seen.

Pippin: His Life and Times (1982 TV Movie)

Very disappointing to anyone familiar with the musical.

[4/10 · 15 November 1998]

This should have been great, but anyone familiar with the stage production will be disappointed. Great numbers are cut, (esp. most of Fastrada's "Spread a Little Sunshine" and all of Catherine's "I Guess I'll Miss the Man"). So are important lines, such as Pippin's discussion with the severed head after the poorly staged "Glory." When Pippin is king, he and others refer to critical lines that were cut, making the scene incomprehensible. They cut the death of Theo's duck, which is so important to that part of the show, and without which the rest of that that section makes no sense. They would have done better to cut all the ad libs and most of Martha Raye's pathetic (what's with the microphone?) appearance as Berthe. And to cap it all off, William Katt blows the final--and most important--line in the show, destroying the entire point of the production.

Bambi Meets Godzilla (1969)

One of cinema's great confrontations!

[9/10 · 28 September 1998]

Deer vs. lizard. A thrilling portrayal by Bambi, and such a moving performance delivered by Godzilla! He really makes the viewer feel it when he delivers that historic step. And what can one say about the extras? The rabbits play the part like nobody since Bugs.