JulietV Reviews

Red Dragon (2002)

And I thought Manhunter was good...

[10/10 · 5 October 2002]

Excellent movie! It should be a real redeemer for those who didn't like Hannibal (although I'd give Hannibal a "9.") This was even better.

At some parts, I was able to predict what would happen, but then with another twist and turn, I'd be surprised again.

Ralph Finnes will give me nightmares. He can really play creepy. He was nearly (but not quite) as scary as Lecter was.

And then, Edward Norton, it goes without saying that he's always fantastic in everything he's in (barring, "Everyone Says I Love You.")

Phillip Seymour Hoffman gave another fine performance, I couldn't help but appreciate his resemblance to the National Enquirer's Mike Walker.

Like Hannibal, this may be sized up with Silence of the Lambs and miss out on awards, ...I suggest you compare it to all the other movies you've seen over the past year or two... it's up there with the best of them. I give it a "10."

(I also appreciated quite a few references to Silence of the Lambs, I found more of them than just a conversation at the end of the movie.)

Falling Sky (1998)

It happened to me.

[5/10 · 29 September 2002]

Having lived in Las Vegas every day of my life, I was enjoying it, up until the end. How freaking depressing, since it mirrors what happened to me almost exactly. (Only my mom was a nurse, not a stripper.)

Sad, sad movie, not sad in a good way, like "Beaches" or "Steel Magnolias"...just depressing!

Brittany Murphy is going to be getting an Oscar someday, she's always so good in movies. If you like her, I'd suggest Freeway or something else.

You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's Ballet Party (1997)

Good for five year olds

[4/10 · 12 June 2002]

They must be doing something right as my five year old daughter wants to watch this video over and over.

They can act, and they can dance (need a little more practice.) But I really wish they'd give up the singing. It is really, really bad. With all their money, you'd think they could hire someone to work with them on that. I can't stand to let her watch it too much because of the singing.

The Score (2001)

Good movie, but not "Fight Club" good.

[7/10 · 29 July 2001]

I enjoyed this movie. It's no "To Catch a Thief," but a good movie nonetheless. Edward Norton *makes* this movie, his acting is, as always, extremely interesting and riviting to watch -- and he's funny.

This is the best I've seen from Robert De Niro in quite awhile. I had almost stopped watching his films, but he made a pretty predictable story a fun thriller. De Niro should really do more comedy -- he's a real riot! 7/10.

Everyone Says I Love You (1996)

One of the worst movies ever!

[2/10 · 14 July 2001]

I knew I should have resigned myself to the fact that Woody Allen movies (with the exception of 'Mighty Aphrodite') are horridly dull. What an awful movie. I couldn't wait for it to end. I was eager to watch it because of the great cast (Edward Norton, Drew Barrymore) but it was just as terrible as all his other ones, in fact, worse. Dancing and singing ghosts in a funeral home? I'll stick with the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, thanks.

And why does Woody Allen always put himself in every movie sleeping with the most beautiful star he can (in this case Julia Roberts?) Not very believable.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

A Tasty Treat for the Eyes

[10/10 · 12 June 2001]

The plot was a little thin, and they could have showed more dancing. But the rest of the movie was so utterly and completely perfect, it made up for everything. I assume the critics are saying "Visually Spectacular" and that is exactly what it is. Not to mention that both Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman have really lovely voices, which is a surprise, too. Very humorous, having the cast sing modern pop songs. And at times, hilarious. The cover of "Like a Virgin" is not to be missed; 9/10.

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Innocence and Whimsy Turns to Horror

[10/10 · 9 May 2001]

Very few movies have stayed with me, night after night, haunting my mind and invading my nightmares. This is one of them.

After viewing the movie, I felt very compelled to research it on the internet, to find everything I could about the real story and compare it. The accuracy is absolutely amazing! I have never seen a movie so true to the facts. From the accents, to the pink gemstone, to shooting everything exactly where it took place, even in the girls' old classroom right down to the seating arrangements. The only scene not shot that way was the murder scene, which was done 100 yards down the road because the director found it disturbing to shoot there.

It is easy to get swept up with the girls in their fantasy world. They seem so innocent and enchanting, it's almost impossible to see the horror coming that they caused.

I find it interesting that Juliet Hulme (now Anne Perry) joined the Mormon church after her jail sentence. The religion is filled with fantasy, gods and goddesses, and various kingdoms of heaven. This is still very fitting of her personality.

You will be hard pressed to find such an intense bond between two girls in any movie, although it is frightening and unhinging to watch. I had to rate this a 10.

Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998 TV Movie)

Great introduction to the book

[8/10 · 9 March 2001]

I taped this for my four year old daughter, who is obsessed with the Disney version and was watching it twice a day if I let her. This was a charming, wonderful change. The actress playing Alice is fantastic, she is really like the character, even though she is an adult. I was shocked that she was also Darlene in "Brokedown Palace" ...she really can play a wide range. This movie is very aesthetically beautiful to watch. It's fun watching humans play the animals and picking out who is whom.

The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human (1999)

Surprisingly Good

[8/10 · 26 October 2000]

This came on HBO and I'll admit I spent the next five minutes looking for the remote control. (Yeah, that lazy.) But once I got into it, it was actually a really good movie! Apart from some scenes that made it look like a bad Woody Allen picture (okay, I find all of his films bad,) it was really funny. Carmen Electra surprised me -- she's a pretty good actress in this movie.

Childhood Sweetheart? (1997 TV Movie)

Lame, Lame, LAME!

[3/10 · 12 October 2000]

I am always a sucker for a good "Lifetime" channel movie -- especially if it stars Melissa Gilbert or Valerie Bertinelli. This was really awful. It was completely predictable from beginning to end. They could have shown just the first 10 minutes and the last 10 minutes and we would have had the whole story.

American Beauty (1999)

Acting and Directing? 10. Screenplay? 5.

[7/10 · 12 March 2000]

I couldn't wait to see this movie (huge Kevin Spacey fan) and it just did not live up to the hype. My brother actually fell asleep half way through and missed the last hour or so, which was really the best part.

I was watching it saying, "There's Sex, Lies and Videotape!" "There's Lolita!" The story has just been done before.

But kudos to the actors and director who took one of the lamest storylines I've seen in a long time and making it look and sound good. The last 20 minutes were mesmerising.

Dream Lover (1993)

A man peels layer after layer from his seemingly perfect wife, to discover she's not what he thinks.

[10/10 · 11 December 1998]

Aesthetically beautiful to watch, this Hitchcock-type thriller is facsinating. A husband discovers that his gorgeous, seemingly perfect "Dream Lover" of a wife has many hidden secrets, and could turn out to be more of a Nightmare.

Streetwise (1984)

One of the best documentaries I've ever seen

[10/10 · 26 October 1998]

Absolutely one of my all time favorite movies. I think my brother and I have watched my copy 20-30 times.

It's fascinating to watch the teens (Tonya, Munchkin, Shadow, Tiny, etc.) as they live their lives dumpster diving, turning tricks and hustling on the streets of Seattle. You watch them in their day to day lives... dealing with living in abandoned motels, parents who honestly don't care that they're prostituting, and dealing with the violence of pimps and venerial disease.

Warning: You will wonder for the rest of your life what happened to these people and where they are today (if they're still alive after the harsh reality of life on the streets.)