The other BMW films have been pretty entertaining for the most part, but the two things that have kept me watching have been the cars (of course) and Clive Owen as the perfectly cast driver who's cool under pressure. The director this time, unfortunately, tries to be too clever for the material and the result ends up failing utterly. To be clear, I enjoyed the (albeit borrowed) concept, but the delivery is horrible. A new BMW Z4 versus an all American muscle car down the Las Vegas strip at dawn? That would be very hard to mess up, and yet Tony Scott does just that. The result is a frenetically edited mess that's trying WAY too hard to be cool and hip when it needs to just rely on the cast and setup. Sure, it has its moments. The devil's ultimate defeat is a breathtaking stunt, and the cameo by a more contemporary pop star at the end is hilarious. Perhaps the next director chosen will have a more self-assured hand.
Reviews
22 Reviews
Stuart Little 2
(2002)
The kids at heart will enjoy it
22 July 2002
This is one of those rare sequels that builds on its concept rather than coasting on it. You probably know what to expect. A two inch high mouse fully integrated into a loving family who accept his presence as readily as the anonymous New Yorkers between whose feet the little guy speeds in his toy car. This time, the moviemakers focus almost entirely on the non-human characters. But the movie doesn't suffer for it, as the furry and feathery characters lead lives as complex and interesting as the humans (who still provide strong supporting roles).
The concept is outlandish, the moviemakers know it, and they're glad to let us laugh at the absurdity of it. But while they do so they're still building important details into the movie. An early scene where Stuart's mom graphically illustrates her squeamishness to the father about letting Stuart play soccer becomes important to a central theme of the movie later on.
Stuart's challenge is a bit more mature this time, as he is forced to sift through his feelings on friendship and facing what look like insurmountable setbacks when a small yellow bird literally falls into his life. All is not as it appears, however, as his new friend has ties to a con artist in the form of a falcon voiced menacingly by James Wood. Michael J. Fox (again pitch perfect as the plucky mouse's voice) lends a voice to Stuart that leaves no doubt he will rise to whatever challenge he faces. And Nathan Lane once again is the perfect voice for the more cynical of the two adopted Littles as Snowbell the cat. The parents do wonderful jobs as well, making clear within the same scene the dilemma of wanting to protect their tiny son while giving him room to grow. Stuart's human brother behaves exactly as you'd expect a caring older brother to. At times frustrated with the smaller sibling's needs and wanting his own space, but still willing to take risks for a little brother.
The subject matter is more mature and at times borders on dark, but its still a wonderful story for children. The movie is unafraid to put its characters in genuinely dangerous situations or tinge a scene with sadness. Yet in the end the movie is all about overcoming obstacles and finding the brighter side when things look gloomy, without ever resorting to cliches or preachiness.
This movie is beautiful to look at. Bright colors abound but never clash or overwhelm the action. The effects and animation are good enough that I was never jarred out of my suspension of disbelief. The scenes where Stuart takes to the sky in a sporty yellow biplane are a joy to watch for the freedom they embody (what child never dreamed of flying a toy plane through their home), yet remain an integral part of the movie.
After a bit of retrospection, I'd say the sequel is better to me than the original. The story is better this time, and its mastery of techniques both traditional and relatively new makes for an enjoyable experience. If you've got kids or are still a kid at heart, you probably won't be disappointed.
The concept is outlandish, the moviemakers know it, and they're glad to let us laugh at the absurdity of it. But while they do so they're still building important details into the movie. An early scene where Stuart's mom graphically illustrates her squeamishness to the father about letting Stuart play soccer becomes important to a central theme of the movie later on.
Stuart's challenge is a bit more mature this time, as he is forced to sift through his feelings on friendship and facing what look like insurmountable setbacks when a small yellow bird literally falls into his life. All is not as it appears, however, as his new friend has ties to a con artist in the form of a falcon voiced menacingly by James Wood. Michael J. Fox (again pitch perfect as the plucky mouse's voice) lends a voice to Stuart that leaves no doubt he will rise to whatever challenge he faces. And Nathan Lane once again is the perfect voice for the more cynical of the two adopted Littles as Snowbell the cat. The parents do wonderful jobs as well, making clear within the same scene the dilemma of wanting to protect their tiny son while giving him room to grow. Stuart's human brother behaves exactly as you'd expect a caring older brother to. At times frustrated with the smaller sibling's needs and wanting his own space, but still willing to take risks for a little brother.
The subject matter is more mature and at times borders on dark, but its still a wonderful story for children. The movie is unafraid to put its characters in genuinely dangerous situations or tinge a scene with sadness. Yet in the end the movie is all about overcoming obstacles and finding the brighter side when things look gloomy, without ever resorting to cliches or preachiness.
This movie is beautiful to look at. Bright colors abound but never clash or overwhelm the action. The effects and animation are good enough that I was never jarred out of my suspension of disbelief. The scenes where Stuart takes to the sky in a sporty yellow biplane are a joy to watch for the freedom they embody (what child never dreamed of flying a toy plane through their home), yet remain an integral part of the movie.
After a bit of retrospection, I'd say the sequel is better to me than the original. The story is better this time, and its mastery of techniques both traditional and relatively new makes for an enjoyable experience. If you've got kids or are still a kid at heart, you probably won't be disappointed.
Eight Legged Freaks
(2002)
The movie does what it sets out to do.
21 July 2002
It's a campy mutant monster movie, you already know what to expect going in. The movie's production values are high enough to make the end product slick and entertaining, but the movie (wisely) never tries to elevate itself above its ancestry. The main characters are fleshed out just enough to make you hope they see through it to the end, and the bugs are just well rendered enough to allow your brain to suspend disbelief just enough to enjoy seeing the big CGI spiders doing battle with the humans. The plot, of course, practically writes itself once things are set in motion, and you can play monster movie bingo picking out all of the elements ripped from the films that paved the road for this one. My only complaint was that you didn't get to see more elaborate and varied deaths for the eight legged heavies. It was surpisingly satisfying to see one of them meet their gooey demise (a scene where they unwittingly attack a tanker truck is great fun), and it would have been more interesting to see them squished in more imaginative ways (cinematic ground that Gremlins gleefully explored).
So, not that it's really saying much, but this is definitely one of the better done campy giant marauding bug movies.
So, not that it's really saying much, but this is definitely one of the better done campy giant marauding bug movies.
Ice Age
(2002)
Well done. Not great, but worth it if you like cartoons.
17 March 2002
It's not quite up there with the likes of great animated films such as Toy Story and The Iron Giant, but it will definitely keep you entertained. The action and slapstick bits feel much like watching a classic Looney Tune short. The dialogue has enough witticisms to get it by, but thankfully knows when to stop and let the physical humor garner the laughs. The movie does have a serious side involving returning a human baby to its tribe. It serves well enough to provide a plot, but couldn't have been pushed much further without making this a tedious movie. The voice talent is overall very good. John Lequizamo's Sid the Sloth in particular fits the character quite well. I didn't mind Ray Romano's monotonic rendering of the mammoth, and his tone makes sense when you learn the character's background, but I can see where some people wouldn't like it. Visually, the animal characters are all rendered in a unique and distinctly caricatured style. The humans don't look as good given their style, but since the story doesn't focus on them it wasn't too distracting. The scenery is sometimes beautiful, given that there's only so much you can do with a movie set mostly in the snow.
In short, when it tries to be funny, it generally succeeds. The plot is indeed an amalgam of Things We've Seen Before, but I was willing to forgive that to get to enjoy the laughs. And the squirrel IS as funny as everyone has said. An unflappable rodent committed to his goal, I too hope we see more of his plight in the future.
In short, when it tries to be funny, it generally succeeds. The plot is indeed an amalgam of Things We've Seen Before, but I was willing to forgive that to get to enjoy the laughs. And the squirrel IS as funny as everyone has said. An unflappable rodent committed to his goal, I too hope we see more of his plight in the future.
A Goofy Movie
(1995)
Probably not what you'd expect.
19 August 2001
This one seemed to pass without notice in the theaters which is what I figured it deserved, but upon seeing it some time later on video I was surprised at how much fun this buddies on the road flick really is.
Goofy is, for the most part, the lighthearted walking disaster we'd expect him to be. But surprsingly enough, he shows a serious range of emotion, and actually pulls it off. You really can sense his devotion to his son, Max, and you never have to remind yourself that Goofy would have ever been anything but a deeply caring father. It just works naturally as a genuine extension of his gregarious character. Max himself is believably adoloscent, primarily concerned with getting asked to parties and getting the pretty girl to notice him and hoping his father doesn't publicly humiliate him (which he does, frequently), until his dad forces him along on a fishing trip which becomes a test of conscience for the both of them. The movie mixes Goofy's classic slapstick comedy with serious drama and seems to know just when to switch gears to keep from getting too melodramatic or losing sight of the conflict at the center of the story. In the end, the dramatic bits feel surprisingly honest and human and the comedy is, as I said, classic Goofy schtick. It was made when Disney thought EVERYthing they did had to be a musical, but the songs here work into the story fairly easily, and a couple are even catchy.
The only sad part is that the age group which could probably stand to learn the most from it will unequivocally find it "uncool". Oh well, the younger set as well as more mature people who love to laugh will find it plenty entertaining.
Goofy is, for the most part, the lighthearted walking disaster we'd expect him to be. But surprsingly enough, he shows a serious range of emotion, and actually pulls it off. You really can sense his devotion to his son, Max, and you never have to remind yourself that Goofy would have ever been anything but a deeply caring father. It just works naturally as a genuine extension of his gregarious character. Max himself is believably adoloscent, primarily concerned with getting asked to parties and getting the pretty girl to notice him and hoping his father doesn't publicly humiliate him (which he does, frequently), until his dad forces him along on a fishing trip which becomes a test of conscience for the both of them. The movie mixes Goofy's classic slapstick comedy with serious drama and seems to know just when to switch gears to keep from getting too melodramatic or losing sight of the conflict at the center of the story. In the end, the dramatic bits feel surprisingly honest and human and the comedy is, as I said, classic Goofy schtick. It was made when Disney thought EVERYthing they did had to be a musical, but the songs here work into the story fairly easily, and a couple are even catchy.
The only sad part is that the age group which could probably stand to learn the most from it will unequivocally find it "uncool". Oh well, the younger set as well as more mature people who love to laugh will find it plenty entertaining.
Starship Troopers
(1997)
Patriotism, the scoundrel's last refuge.
30 July 2001
Warning: Spoilers
It makes me chuckle to think that Mr. Verhoeven wrapped up an anti-war film in one of the most pro-militaristic titles he could have hoped for. Technically, an okay Verhoeven class action flick with some flesh and lots of bullets and blood. It's almost worth the price of renting just to see the completely screwball recruitment films which would make anyone's mindless adherence to country (rather than principles) funny if it weren't for the inherent dangers.
*spoilerage ahead*
The final impression I got from the film was that there were no real differences between the humans and the bugs. Compare earlier scenes where the landscape is covered with bugs to the final scene where humans fill the frame. Or compare the scientist's completely nonchalant torture of a highly self conscious bug at the end to the infamous brain sucking scene.
*spoilage ends*
I probably won't see it again, as the action here is a bit intense for me. As long as you don't mind buckets of gore, though, it's worth a shot.
*spoilerage ahead*
The final impression I got from the film was that there were no real differences between the humans and the bugs. Compare earlier scenes where the landscape is covered with bugs to the final scene where humans fill the frame. Or compare the scientist's completely nonchalant torture of a highly self conscious bug at the end to the infamous brain sucking scene.
*spoilage ends*
I probably won't see it again, as the action here is a bit intense for me. As long as you don't mind buckets of gore, though, it's worth a shot.
Mystery Men
(1999)
Actually quite funny
12 June 2001
While I wasn't a huge fan of superheros and comic books growing up, I had absorbed enough of the milieu by osmosis to get all of the in-jokes delivered in Mystery Men, and the material had me cracking up at several turns. Ben Stiller and William H. Macy arguing over Captain Amazing's secret identity is one of the film's funnier moments. All the cast does a good job of capturing the kind of unbased enthusiasm their characters have for their "calling".
Problems? A couple. The humor isn't as strong to the finish as I would have liked. Paul Reubens has a funny enough schtick as The Spleen, but he's hidden under so much makeup and costumes and speaks with a very bad lisp which combine to prevent his ability for gregarious physical comedy to show. Also, none of the villains are given enough time to fully come to fruition.
I'd have dearly loved to hear more of the backstory behind Casanova Frankenstein's genesis, but unfortunately he's just your standard supernemesis. It feels a bit long, and falls a bit flat near the end, but the main characters are well fleshed out enough by that time that you'll be curious to see how the finale plays out.
All in all, it was much better and funnier than I had expected given its poor showing at the box office. I will state, however, that you'd better have a slightly warped sense of humor to truly enjoy this movie.
Problems? A couple. The humor isn't as strong to the finish as I would have liked. Paul Reubens has a funny enough schtick as The Spleen, but he's hidden under so much makeup and costumes and speaks with a very bad lisp which combine to prevent his ability for gregarious physical comedy to show. Also, none of the villains are given enough time to fully come to fruition.
I'd have dearly loved to hear more of the backstory behind Casanova Frankenstein's genesis, but unfortunately he's just your standard supernemesis. It feels a bit long, and falls a bit flat near the end, but the main characters are well fleshed out enough by that time that you'll be curious to see how the finale plays out.
All in all, it was much better and funnier than I had expected given its poor showing at the box office. I will state, however, that you'd better have a slightly warped sense of humor to truly enjoy this movie.
Hot Shots!
(1991)
And get some more AA's...
9 June 2001
I generally don't enjoy movies that are built around sight gags, but this one starts hard with surreal gags and simply does not let up. Hardly five seconds go by that you don't see something truly absurd, and they manage to get in some pretty funny material as well. Old Man Bridges is truly inspired as the doddering old admiral, but mostly because some of his bits are just so darned funny. Just thinking about what he says after falling down the stairs always cracks me up. Surprisingly, Charlie Sheen is just irreverent enough as Topper Harley aka Fluffy Bunny Feet to pull it off. I've seen the movie several times, and can STILL spot new gags, that's how tightly they're packed in there. So if you're in an absurd mood, and can enjoy a well done gag film like Airplane, you'll probably enjoy this.
Dexter's Laboratory
(1996–2003)
It just tries to be fun, and succeeds admirably
28 April 2001
Still being a kid at heart, I'm a large fan of animation. I grew up in the eighties on Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes, and the original Tom and Jerry and can remember a time before so many cartoons were just toy advertisements or committee-designed slush meant for mass appeal or message preaching that wound up completely lacking in passion. Fortunately, I'm not alone. Artists with the same sense of nostalgia as I have seen to it that animation began a slow revival in the 1990's. The Simpsons really led the way for intelligent cartoons that can appeal to adults without forgetting that animation should be a playground for the imagination. Certainly, there's still plenty of slush out there, but the ratio of quality stuff to filler has grown considerably in recent years.
As a case in point there is Dexter's Laboratory. It's the best thing I've seen come out of Cartoon Network's originally produced efforts so far. Dexter is a red headed third grader with a super keen intelligence that allows him to build contraptions and devices quite fantastic by our 21st century standards, but all still firmly grounded in our science fiction culture that began in the 1950's (and this is sure to appeal to any fan of sci-fi who can appreciate humor). While being smart, he is still very much a child, and prone to all of the problems that would plague your average third grader. His normal attire is a white lab coat, large rubber gloves and boots, and he speaks in a quasi-German accent (it's never explained why, which makes it all the more fun). His dress and accent are no doubt an homage to the superintelligent "mad genius" character popularized by so many horror and b-films over the years, and fits his character perfectly. He has a gigantic laboratory filled with incredible technology that, while mostly being background scenery, looks the part perfectly (think Frankenstein's lab). All of this is hidden in and under his house, and he somehow manages to keep his fantastic playground hidden from his parents, who are replicas of the 1950's sitcom blissfully married perfect couple. They love their children, but are thankfully not beyond discplining lapses in good behavior (when they see them anyway). While he keeps his lab hidden from his parents, he can't seem to keep anything safe from his sister. Deedee is the free spirited spoil to Dexter's scientific rationalism with blond hair and gigantic blue eyes. She's not the least bit malicious, just terribly curious. She always seems to inadvertantly foil Dexter's latest grand invention or scheme with her propensity to press every button she sees or randomly dance about, crashing through the scenery. Together they form a sort of ying and yang, their differences in nature successfully driving many stories along. They're still very much brother and sister, however, and sibling rivalries are constant, but hilarious against the backdrop of sci-fi plots the two are thrown into. While the show does have plenty of action, adventures, and fantastic gadgets, it would still be pretty stale without such well fleshed out characters to enjoy. They are all caricaturistic enough to be funny, yet human enough (they all have theirs flaws and foibles) that you will want to see how they act and react to the latest crisis, typically brought on by Dexter's dabbling with science.
While Dexter may deeply resent his sister's propensity for unintentional destruction and her "older sibling" status, he still cares for her and never fails to bail her out of a tight spot. While the characters might occasionally display fondness through their actions (Dexter builds a robotic likeness of his mother, the father arm wrestles truckers to defend family honor), emotions are never handled in a sappy or overly sentimental manner. The ability to display heart so subtly without having to hit audiences over the head with it is difficult and rarely done so well. The show abounds with references to popular culture any child of the 80's will be familiar with. From giant monsters to fighting robots and even to an episode dedicated to spoofing Dungeons and Dragons which is quite funny.
And while there's the occasional brawling and fighting, nothing is ever graphically depicted (the reason I don't let my son watch the Powerpuff Girls). Slapstick abounds, certainly, but I've never seen anything here I wouldn't let my two year old watch. To sum it up, the series really just aims to entertain against a sci-fi backdrop. And in that respect it succeeds greatly. When an episode is done, you probably haven't learned any great lesson, you've just had a good time, much like watching an old Looney Tune or Tom and Jerry short. The episodes are apparently out of production, which is a shame. I sincerely hope that Dexter and Deedee get to make a comeback someday.
As a case in point there is Dexter's Laboratory. It's the best thing I've seen come out of Cartoon Network's originally produced efforts so far. Dexter is a red headed third grader with a super keen intelligence that allows him to build contraptions and devices quite fantastic by our 21st century standards, but all still firmly grounded in our science fiction culture that began in the 1950's (and this is sure to appeal to any fan of sci-fi who can appreciate humor). While being smart, he is still very much a child, and prone to all of the problems that would plague your average third grader. His normal attire is a white lab coat, large rubber gloves and boots, and he speaks in a quasi-German accent (it's never explained why, which makes it all the more fun). His dress and accent are no doubt an homage to the superintelligent "mad genius" character popularized by so many horror and b-films over the years, and fits his character perfectly. He has a gigantic laboratory filled with incredible technology that, while mostly being background scenery, looks the part perfectly (think Frankenstein's lab). All of this is hidden in and under his house, and he somehow manages to keep his fantastic playground hidden from his parents, who are replicas of the 1950's sitcom blissfully married perfect couple. They love their children, but are thankfully not beyond discplining lapses in good behavior (when they see them anyway). While he keeps his lab hidden from his parents, he can't seem to keep anything safe from his sister. Deedee is the free spirited spoil to Dexter's scientific rationalism with blond hair and gigantic blue eyes. She's not the least bit malicious, just terribly curious. She always seems to inadvertantly foil Dexter's latest grand invention or scheme with her propensity to press every button she sees or randomly dance about, crashing through the scenery. Together they form a sort of ying and yang, their differences in nature successfully driving many stories along. They're still very much brother and sister, however, and sibling rivalries are constant, but hilarious against the backdrop of sci-fi plots the two are thrown into. While the show does have plenty of action, adventures, and fantastic gadgets, it would still be pretty stale without such well fleshed out characters to enjoy. They are all caricaturistic enough to be funny, yet human enough (they all have theirs flaws and foibles) that you will want to see how they act and react to the latest crisis, typically brought on by Dexter's dabbling with science.
While Dexter may deeply resent his sister's propensity for unintentional destruction and her "older sibling" status, he still cares for her and never fails to bail her out of a tight spot. While the characters might occasionally display fondness through their actions (Dexter builds a robotic likeness of his mother, the father arm wrestles truckers to defend family honor), emotions are never handled in a sappy or overly sentimental manner. The ability to display heart so subtly without having to hit audiences over the head with it is difficult and rarely done so well. The show abounds with references to popular culture any child of the 80's will be familiar with. From giant monsters to fighting robots and even to an episode dedicated to spoofing Dungeons and Dragons which is quite funny.
And while there's the occasional brawling and fighting, nothing is ever graphically depicted (the reason I don't let my son watch the Powerpuff Girls). Slapstick abounds, certainly, but I've never seen anything here I wouldn't let my two year old watch. To sum it up, the series really just aims to entertain against a sci-fi backdrop. And in that respect it succeeds greatly. When an episode is done, you probably haven't learned any great lesson, you've just had a good time, much like watching an old Looney Tune or Tom and Jerry short. The episodes are apparently out of production, which is a shame. I sincerely hope that Dexter and Deedee get to make a comeback someday.
Bedazzled
(2000)
Happiness doesn't just happen
6 April 2001
Happiness isn't something random, bestowed or guaranteed from following a formula. And the people you may think you'd be happiest to have the life of, probably have things they're none too happy with anyway. It's a lighthearted message from a lighthearted film, which may be too saccharine sweet for movie fans looking for really serious fare. Though I doubt anyone's going to mistake this film for what it really is. Mind you, I'm not criticizing the film at all. It was well paced, fun to watch, had a good laugh here and there, and made me think (even if just a little). Elizabeth Hurley, who I barely noticed before, was delicious in her role as the Prince(ss) of Lies. The role didn't call for serious effort as an actor, pretty much being a caricature role, but she played the devil woman to the hilt and it was fun to watch (she had some of the best lines too). Brendan Fraser's role didn't call for particular depth either, it pretty much just needed someone to gesticulate through the number of different characters he played out in his wish fulfillments gone awry. His bouncy boyish charisma did help keep things light and comedic through all the farcical wishes in which the devil made it clear that you don't really know exactly what you want until you've found it. Some people will probably be offended at the lack of true maliciousness in Hurley's devil's character actually. By the end, however, Elliot gets a different perspective on his dilemma (you'll see what I mean if you watch) and we learn that the universe isn't so much out to get us as it just wants to teach us a few things. And I thought the ending was quite well done.
So, unless you're in a particularly dour mood or some sort of perpetual sourpuss, and you're looking for something lighthearted and breezy, give it a rent.
So, unless you're in a particularly dour mood or some sort of perpetual sourpuss, and you're looking for something lighthearted and breezy, give it a rent.
The Iron Giant
(1999)
One of my favorite films.
9 March 2001
I realize I'm merely adding my voice to a huge throng that is largely in agreement here but when a movie is this good I cannot stand not saying something about it if given a chance. The story is the well tread "child befriends outsider" plot, mixing E.T. with Short Circuit in roughly equal amounts. But the presentation here is top notch. None of the characters, not even the bad guy, are distorted caricatures. They're all human, believable and very well voiced. Even the robot, despite his fantastic nature is believable as a character too. And a very likable one at that. Despite his size and mechanical form, he is very emotive. His gentle nature even helps drive home the point of the movie that those which we are told are dangerous are not necessarily so. Violence, fear of the unknown, tolerance, friendship, sacrifice and more are all presented for your consideration with a grace and subtlety Disney would do well to study. I can't even recall a Disney film in years being brave enough to take on some of the subjects explored in this film. And it's still fun enough to entertain young children. A couple of scenes made me laugh harder than I've laughed in a theater in a long time, only to be followed by a thought provoking moment that didnt' feel at all disjoint from the rest of the film. I saw this film when it first came out, and saw its brilliance immediately. I was terribly disappointed when Warner Bros. gave it such short shrift when it looked like it might not draw the kind of crowds Disney features get. Some supposedly savvy people there should be ashamed that they could not see this for what it was. But I suppose it is not the people who "know" films that make those sorts of decisions, unfortunately.
A visually appealing, well acted, stunning film.
A visually appealing, well acted, stunning film.
Gone in 60 Seconds
(2000)
Of passing interest to gearheads only really.
5 March 2001
I admit it, I get excited at the sight of a sleek hunk of wheeled machinery built for speed. So, this movie was like eating a large candy bar for me. Not terribly filling, but enjoyable enough while it lasts. Nobody puts in a real standout performance. The characters are all stock (the natural, the veteran, the rookie with something to prove, the hacker etc...) but are cast well enough to hold your interest most of the time. Except the bad guy, he comes across as just crazy instead of dangerous. This movie could have had very serious niche appeal to gearheads with a greater emphasis on the cars, but alas Bruckheimer and crew wanted to give it more mass appeal so the story focuses on family love and interaction and tends to shy away from serious chases. Things do finally get revved up near the end, but the chase is for the most part ridiculous "action film" exaggeration instead of smartly edited scenes of fast cars doing what they're built to do (a la Bullitt). There are some real beauties on display, even if only for a few frames here and there, but for what must have been budget constraints nothing gets pushed around all that hard. Save for "Eleanor", a beautiful tricked out 67 Mustang (meant to be a Shelby GT, not even close). If you love cars you'll find enough to interest you here for a little while, though you may feel compelled to hit fast forward at times through the character intensive bits. If you want to see lots of cars go fast, though, see the original. Its plot was equally as transparent but they didn't skimp when it came to action.
X
(1996)
Casual anime fans should probably look elsewhere
11 January 2001
This movie will probably only have deep or lasting appeal to fans of the manga series. Standing completely on its own, however, it really leaves a lot to be desired. The plot is really quite simple, but the setup is at least somewhat interesting, with the supposedly "bad" guys fighting for the future of the planet by destroying mankind and the "good" guys fighting to save mankind from the aforementioned baddies. For the most part, the main character just spends his time brooding over his "fate", occasionally displaying a burst of sympathy for an old girlfriend. This made it very hard to view him as being very human, and thus to sympathize with him or his place in the gigantic struggle taking place. Some of the incindental characters, however, showed a great deal of personality. But alas, only seemed to be introduced to die in a semi-climactic fight scene five minutes later with little to no characterization in between. The graphics are, as stated by others, top notch. The fights get fiery very quickly, and the big dollar property damage ensues as you'd expect when fates collide, but they tended to end all too quickly, with no real explanation as to why the killing blow was successful. So, if you want to see pretty pictures, or are a real die hard fan of anime for its style alone, you'll probably get enough of a kick out of this. But if you're looking for animation that will engage you on several levels and introduce you to interesting characters you'll actually get to know, steer clear. Indeed, Princess Mononoke actually touches on very similar themes in a much more engaging way.
A comedic masterpiece
1 January 2001
As a casual fan of cinema, I can say the world inhabited by Wallace (talkative sometimes inventor) and Gromit (his quiet, intellectual dog) is one of the most detailed and interesting committed to film. Everything just fits together in such a way that you are transported to another world. This attention to detail is only the first sign of the genius on display.
The characters are quite lively and expressive. Wallace and Gromit have large eyes and can convey a surprising amount of emotion using just their brows. This is, in fact, the only way Gromit can emote since he can't talk. He doesn't even bark, but never at any time are you left wondering what he's feeling. An evil penguin plays an important role, and once again everything (music, setting, lighting) just comes together to let you know this is not a character to be trusted.
What really makes this a gem of a film, however, is the comedy. The chase scene at the end is one of the funniest things I have ever watched, and it's one of those things that I watch time and again and laugh at even knowing what the gag will be. This easily ranks right up there with anything ever done by Jones or Disney as far as humor is concerned.
The Wrong Trousers is probably the most well paced of the Wallace and Gromit trilogy, hence its place on the IMDB Top 250, but I highly recommend all three to anyone who wants a good laugh. There's not a violent moment in sight, and so much of what makes the flim great is visual that children can watch and enjoy this great film with you.
The characters are quite lively and expressive. Wallace and Gromit have large eyes and can convey a surprising amount of emotion using just their brows. This is, in fact, the only way Gromit can emote since he can't talk. He doesn't even bark, but never at any time are you left wondering what he's feeling. An evil penguin plays an important role, and once again everything (music, setting, lighting) just comes together to let you know this is not a character to be trusted.
What really makes this a gem of a film, however, is the comedy. The chase scene at the end is one of the funniest things I have ever watched, and it's one of those things that I watch time and again and laugh at even knowing what the gag will be. This easily ranks right up there with anything ever done by Jones or Disney as far as humor is concerned.
The Wrong Trousers is probably the most well paced of the Wallace and Gromit trilogy, hence its place on the IMDB Top 250, but I highly recommend all three to anyone who wants a good laugh. There's not a violent moment in sight, and so much of what makes the flim great is visual that children can watch and enjoy this great film with you.
Man on the Moon
(1999)
Well done, but won't answer many questions.
19 October 2000
I can barely remember Taxi back when it was on television, as my tastes were much younger back in its day. Also, I never saw anything Andy Kaufman did besides Taxi back when he was still alive. I did see a Comedy Central special about the enigmatic comic which is really what sparked my interest in Man On the Moon. The movie is very well done. It seems to move a bit fast, compressing Andy's rise to fame seemingly into just a few scenes, but that was okay, since I was guessing the director wanted to focus more on Andy's later life and career. Jim Carrey does an incredibly convincing job of portraying Andy, seeming to get all of his mannerisms and characters pretty much spot on. The supporting cast is largely made up of people who really did work with Andy, and everyone does a good job. Even Courtney Love, though admittedly Andy's relationship with his wife wasn't deeply explored. And that was one of my main complaints with the movie. It was largely very good re-creations of Andy's bits done on camera, and not enough of the man being himself away from the camera. This may have been due to the fact that his mode of expression actually left even people close to him wondering what he really was like. So much so that not a lot of material on the man himself was readily available. And that's a shame. I can see where his material was easily crass and offensive on one hand, while being profound on another level. Was he just wrestling women, or waving a prevailing undercurrent of unspoken attitudes about what women were fit for in society's face? By making stereotypical remarks about Southerners, was he disparaging them, or trying to make people think about how ridiculous stereotypes can be by forcing them to defend themselves against them? True, he may have been a very simply motivated man who just liked to draw raw emotion from people and play pranks, but I would have dearly liked to see some more of what made the man tick, and the movie doesn't deliver much of that. The ending scenes are quite poignant and touching, and he is obviously loved by many around him, but the character of the man himself isn't fleshed out quite enough to show why he was able to endear people to him so. The film focuses just a little on his spiritual beliefs, but once again gives facts and little else. Man On the Moon is entertaining to watch if you're curious about Andy Kaufman's life, certainly. And Andy's comedy is perfectly recreated so you'll find it funny at least to the extent you can enjoy what he did. Just don't expect to get many answers about his deeper motivations for his choice of comedic styling.
This Is Spinal Tap
(1984)
Funny regardless of your music tastes.
18 October 2000
I did not get old enough to follow popular culture or music at all until well after the height of pretentious metal rock bands, though a few "stragglers" still played on my first radio. That didn't prevent me from enjoying the hilarious comedy one bit, however. I'm certain I missed a good many in-jokes surrounding the metal culture, but there were still so many funny things to see and hear that this ranks as one of the funnier comedies I've seen. Particularly amusing was lead guitarist Nigel's major misunderstanding of giving written dimensions after he laughs at the lead singer's girlfriend's lack of musical recording knowledge.
The film will probably feel dated to some today who were never exposed at all to this period of musical history. The songs the band performs (which are all quite hilarious send ups of macho metal) are not that shocking by today's much more lurid standards. This does not, however, take away anything from the excellent performances given by the entire cast (numerous cameos included). The main characters manage to be stereotypical musicians without being caricatures, and the looks on their faces at the latest technical glitch or cancelled show are always entirely believable.
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good comedy or some biting satire on the supposed profundity of popular culture, music fan or not.
The film will probably feel dated to some today who were never exposed at all to this period of musical history. The songs the band performs (which are all quite hilarious send ups of macho metal) are not that shocking by today's much more lurid standards. This does not, however, take away anything from the excellent performances given by the entire cast (numerous cameos included). The main characters manage to be stereotypical musicians without being caricatures, and the looks on their faces at the latest technical glitch or cancelled show are always entirely believable.
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good comedy or some biting satire on the supposed profundity of popular culture, music fan or not.
The Truman Show
(1998)
One of my favorites.
1 October 2000
Jim Carrey portrays Truman Burbank, a man raised from birth by a corporation to star in a televised life in a town that's merely a facade, surrounded by family and friends who really only regard him as a coworker. It's certainly not the comedy I was expecting, though it stars Jim Carrey and does contain some comedic moments. Upon viewing, I found it to be intensely dramatic, and quite moving when all was said and done. The film can speak on a very literal level, aptly skewering our society's obsession with voyeurism and the media's rapacious appetite for conent, or on a spiritual level, with the gigantic set upon which Truman's "life" takes place becoming an allegorical Eden. While it makes some remarks about what could be considered rather dark characteristics of the modern media's role in society, the film itself is far from dark, and in fact contains a very uplifting message in the end. Jim Carrey turns in an excellent dramatic performance as his character slowly comes to realize that the things happening in his life are sometimes quite odd and surreal. Ed Harris is good as well as the producer who watches the events in the manufactured town from on high (another obvious spiritual metaphor). All of the main characters, in fact, do a very good job of switching between Truman's acquaintances and actors simply moving on and off of a set, turning off and on their apparent feelings for the main character. My favorite scenes were the ones in which Truman appears at his most human, doing something outside of the producer's tightly scripted goings on around the small town. Even if you ignore all of the messages and just take the film as a simple narrative of the events in a man's life, it is paced and filmed well enough that it will probably entertain most people. And while I've read a few reviews that speak poorly of the ending, I thought it was perfect considering the central theme of the movie. I highly recommend it.
My Neighbor Totoro
(1988)
Lighthearted, but intelligent look at the world through childrens' eyes.
25 September 2000
Classifying this as mere anime and thinking that fans of anime are the only people who might enjoy this film doesn't really do it justice at all. It's a beautifully simple tale that intelligently mixes lighthearted whimsy with serious subject matter, managing to entertain without being trite or patronizing to adults or children. Two girls move with their father to the countryside to be near the hospital where their mother is recovering from a serious illness. They meet and befriend magical creatures living under a giant tree on the hill next to their home, the Totoros, who in subtle and gentle ways help the girls deal with the worry and confusion of being separated from their mother. Adults will see a tale about what it's like to be a child in a world that can be sometimes wondrous and sometimes mean, and children will love the girls' adventures with the adorable Totoros. The Totoros themselves come in different sizes and look somewhat like a cross between a cat, a bear, and a rabbit. They are charged with keeping the natural world in order and perform duties such as making the wind blow and seeds sprout from the ground. The film is not afraid to take a slow serene pace and concentrate on seemingly unimportant background details such as trees, clouds, and streams. The rural surroundings that the story takes place in (Japan in the 1950's) are so lovingly rendered and intricately detailed that I found myself wishing I could visit and stay for a while. As a parent, I couldn't find anything in the film remotely unsuitable for children. The world the girls inhabit, while at times sad, is filled with friends and caring adults who actually cherish the childrens' innocence. And while not only being entertaining for children, its gentle treatment of its mature subject matter may very well wind up serving as a starting point for discussion of coping with sadness or other negative emotions. I believe anyone who can remember what it was like to be a child will find something to enjoy here, and I look forward very much to seeing more of Mr. Miyazaki's work.
(please note that I viewed the dubbed version released by Fox some years ago)
(please note that I viewed the dubbed version released by Fox some years ago)
Being John Malkovich
(1999)
Highly original concept, though a bit formulaic at the end
18 June 2000
This is definitely one of the more bizarre films I've seen. You probably know the story by now. A bland, unimportant man with a passion for puppets (Craig) finds himself lusting for a selfish cynical female coworker(Maxine), who pays him no mind until he finds something she thinks can be of use to her: a door which takes people into the mind of John Malkovich. For fifteen minutes, someone can see, hear, smell, taste, and most importantly feel everything the actor experiences. Problems arise, however, when Craig's wife (Lotte) becomes addicted to the experience, and the way it allows her to actualize her desire to have the same woman her husband wants, even if only while being John Malkovich.
The atmosphere is bleak, but befitting what ends up being such a bleak tale. The movie presents the surreal and supernatural as existing rather matter of factly and characters never seem to question the existence or plausibility of the portal. But, this isn't a movie trying to pass itself off as reality anyway. It becomes a somewhat intense character study early on, and the director chose (wisely I think) not to waste time trying to validate the existence of the door into Malkovich's head. The characters all give excellent and convincing portrayals of highly dysfunctional people. John Malkovich, while he spends very little time onscreen as himself, is fascinating to watch being controlled and manipulated by others. In the end, he is someone nobody ultimately is concerned with. Everyone simply wants to take what it is they desire for themselves through the use of him regardless of his own feelings. And, in that way, everyone displays a strange obliviousness to being John Malkovich.
My biggest complaint with the film is that rather than making some obvious philosophical statements on the nature of being and consciousness which could have easily been put forth by the existence of the portal, it instead seems to concentrate on merely relating the tale of the most bizarre love triangle you'll ever witness. That it does very well and in an engaging manner, but the possibilities of the portal still seem strangely unexplored in the end. Perhaps, however, whatever message is trying to be conveyed is wrapped up in the story itself. I am certain the movie is full of symbolic imagery and actions that will take some time to digest.
If you want to experience an almost surreal movie that will stick with you for some time, this is probably a good pick. If you don't like movies where the implausible and fantastic is accepted without question, however, it's probably not going to appeal to you.
The atmosphere is bleak, but befitting what ends up being such a bleak tale. The movie presents the surreal and supernatural as existing rather matter of factly and characters never seem to question the existence or plausibility of the portal. But, this isn't a movie trying to pass itself off as reality anyway. It becomes a somewhat intense character study early on, and the director chose (wisely I think) not to waste time trying to validate the existence of the door into Malkovich's head. The characters all give excellent and convincing portrayals of highly dysfunctional people. John Malkovich, while he spends very little time onscreen as himself, is fascinating to watch being controlled and manipulated by others. In the end, he is someone nobody ultimately is concerned with. Everyone simply wants to take what it is they desire for themselves through the use of him regardless of his own feelings. And, in that way, everyone displays a strange obliviousness to being John Malkovich.
My biggest complaint with the film is that rather than making some obvious philosophical statements on the nature of being and consciousness which could have easily been put forth by the existence of the portal, it instead seems to concentrate on merely relating the tale of the most bizarre love triangle you'll ever witness. That it does very well and in an engaging manner, but the possibilities of the portal still seem strangely unexplored in the end. Perhaps, however, whatever message is trying to be conveyed is wrapped up in the story itself. I am certain the movie is full of symbolic imagery and actions that will take some time to digest.
If you want to experience an almost surreal movie that will stick with you for some time, this is probably a good pick. If you don't like movies where the implausible and fantastic is accepted without question, however, it's probably not going to appeal to you.
Titan A.E.
(2000)
Entertaining, if not highly memorable.
16 June 2000
Fifteen years before the events of the film, a menacing alien race called the Drej destroy Earth in response to something called the Titan project. The Titan is a gigantic ship that will somehow change the role of humans in the universe. The movie follows Cale, the son of one of the scientists who developed the Titan, as he is recruited by former military commander Korso to hunt for the Titan. His father hid the ship to save it from destruction by the Drej and placed a map to its location within Cale's hand, leaving him as the only way of locating it and making him a target of the relentless Drej.
I was anxious to see this movie after seeing the effects on display in the trailer, and it certainly delivered in the eye candy department. The computer generated scenes are quite entertaining. The cat and mouse chase that takes place in a field of gigantic ice crystals near the end of the film is a treat to watch. The atmosphere was very well textured, with a very gritty feel to the environments that were brought across quite well.
The rest of the package? Well...
The characters are all done with traditional 2d animation and, while I thought were technically well animated, seemed a bit out of place against the high tech backdrop generated by the rendered scenery. They are without a doubt alien in appearance, but in a way that is distinctly...Bluthian (for lack of a better word). This studio has a style all their own, and it is very apparent in the character designs. I felt at times that I was watching Secret of Nimh instead of a space opera. This, I felt, was only slightly annoying. All of the characters are flawlessly voiced and easy to like, however, and I certainly had no complaints about the humans providing the voices.
The soundtrack does get a bit intrusive at times. Several scenes seem inserted simply to serve as a visual backdrop for the grunge inspired songs. While none of them are really annoying, and the visuals are quite nice, they eventually start to intrude on what would have been a perfectly interesting story all by itself.
And the story... It is quite compelling and well set up early in the movie. However, not enough backstory is really given to answer all the questions you will have about what motivated whom to do what they do. The Drej are certainly the most alien looking race in the movie and easy to loathe, but they are left a fairly faceless bunch whose only words are their leader's cliched orders to wipe out humans. The reason for their relentless hatred of the human race is NEVER explained. There is a scene where it seems this would have fit very well, so perhaps some story elements were cut in the interest of time. This was my biggest complaint with the movie however. The device that sets up the entire rest of the rather interesting plot is never really explained! After learning of the Titan's purpose (and extrapolating that use to other races besides the human one), it's slightly more apparent why the Drej would seek to destroy our species, but their motivations are still left very murky in the end. There is one plot twist that comes completely out of the blue and while the character's explanation is satisfying enough, it still happens so quickly as to be a bit unsettling.
If you were wondering about the child friendliness of this animated movie, there's nothing older children won't have already seen on prime time television. But I'd consider it perhaps a bit -too- violent (lots of gunplay) to take my five year old to see.
An entertaining if disposable joyride for a couple of hours. It won't be remembered as well as The Iron Giant (my favorite animated film) or much of the more cerebral anime fare, but I felt overall it was certainly worth the price of admission.
I was anxious to see this movie after seeing the effects on display in the trailer, and it certainly delivered in the eye candy department. The computer generated scenes are quite entertaining. The cat and mouse chase that takes place in a field of gigantic ice crystals near the end of the film is a treat to watch. The atmosphere was very well textured, with a very gritty feel to the environments that were brought across quite well.
The rest of the package? Well...
The characters are all done with traditional 2d animation and, while I thought were technically well animated, seemed a bit out of place against the high tech backdrop generated by the rendered scenery. They are without a doubt alien in appearance, but in a way that is distinctly...Bluthian (for lack of a better word). This studio has a style all their own, and it is very apparent in the character designs. I felt at times that I was watching Secret of Nimh instead of a space opera. This, I felt, was only slightly annoying. All of the characters are flawlessly voiced and easy to like, however, and I certainly had no complaints about the humans providing the voices.
The soundtrack does get a bit intrusive at times. Several scenes seem inserted simply to serve as a visual backdrop for the grunge inspired songs. While none of them are really annoying, and the visuals are quite nice, they eventually start to intrude on what would have been a perfectly interesting story all by itself.
And the story... It is quite compelling and well set up early in the movie. However, not enough backstory is really given to answer all the questions you will have about what motivated whom to do what they do. The Drej are certainly the most alien looking race in the movie and easy to loathe, but they are left a fairly faceless bunch whose only words are their leader's cliched orders to wipe out humans. The reason for their relentless hatred of the human race is NEVER explained. There is a scene where it seems this would have fit very well, so perhaps some story elements were cut in the interest of time. This was my biggest complaint with the movie however. The device that sets up the entire rest of the rather interesting plot is never really explained! After learning of the Titan's purpose (and extrapolating that use to other races besides the human one), it's slightly more apparent why the Drej would seek to destroy our species, but their motivations are still left very murky in the end. There is one plot twist that comes completely out of the blue and while the character's explanation is satisfying enough, it still happens so quickly as to be a bit unsettling.
If you were wondering about the child friendliness of this animated movie, there's nothing older children won't have already seen on prime time television. But I'd consider it perhaps a bit -too- violent (lots of gunplay) to take my five year old to see.
An entertaining if disposable joyride for a couple of hours. It won't be remembered as well as The Iron Giant (my favorite animated film) or much of the more cerebral anime fare, but I felt overall it was certainly worth the price of admission.
Gladiator
(2000)
Not an epic, but entertaining nonetheless.
4 June 2000
Gladiator turns out to be a fairly standard revenge story, but one that is good enough so that if you're reasonably willing to be entertained, it will have you cheering for the good guy in the end. The story is not all that deep, and while none of the characters except the bad guy are really fleshed out all that deeply (they're pretty much all stock), you are given enough of the story to make all of the characters' motivations quite believable. The movie occasionally attempts to make a social or political statement, but never really delves into the meaning of it very far before the story changes gears. I was quite impressed by the effects, though, and enjoyed being given the architecture of Rome in her glory than just seeing lots of things blowing up (some shots of the Colosseum are quite impressive). When the action is on, it is good with some exciting, if hectic, fight scenes. But this is not an action movie by any stretch, with the fights really being few and far between. The actors and actresses all turn in very good performances. Crowe's character wasn't called on to display a wide range of emotion or to show a serious internal struggle, as his "job" is made quite clear from early on. But he still commands a strong presence onscreen and easily becomes a hero you feel good about rooting for.
While not quite what I'd call an epic, due to its fairly straightforward (though far from dumb) story and lack of a strong message, I was still highly entertained and left quite satisfied at the end. If you're looking for serious subject matter or deep characterizations or loads of action, steer clear. But if you're not overly cynical when a moviemaker is just trying to entertain you, this will most likely be an enjoyable experience.
While not quite what I'd call an epic, due to its fairly straightforward (though far from dumb) story and lack of a strong message, I was still highly entertained and left quite satisfied at the end. If you're looking for serious subject matter or deep characterizations or loads of action, steer clear. But if you're not overly cynical when a moviemaker is just trying to entertain you, this will most likely be an enjoyable experience.
Brazil
(1985)
Orwell with a Python twist
29 March 2000
This movie did not leave me with a happy feeling when I was done viewing it, but I definitely found it well worth the time. It posits a dark future world where the government has become a gigantic bureaucratic beast. The simplest exchange requires mountains of paperwork and a strict adherence to procedures has replaced anyone's ability to critically think about what they are doing or stand up to the brutality they know lurks around them. Sam Lowry is a man who seems more than happy to live as a cog in the giant machine. When he sleeps, however, he flies through beautiful blue skies towards the woman of his dreams. As he attempts to correct an "oversight" by the Ministry Of Information for whom he works (one of the more obvious nods to Orwell) which has resulted in an innocent man's death, he finds a woman who appears to be the one in his dreams. The line between his dreams and his reality blur ever further as he goes deeper and deeper into the government machine to find out who she is.
Terry Gilliam once again seems to have spared no expense in making sure every visual element of the world adds up to a cohesive whole which makes you feel as if you're really experiencing the characters' surroundings. And, of course, it is a world rendered realistically enough to feel feasible, and yet surrealistically enough to leave an unforgettable impression on you.
Despite the simplicity of the main plot, the movie is full of subtexts and images which carry a message even though you may not see them on the first viewing. In one scene, a man is buying "clean air" from a vending machine along the street. The sides of the highways are walls of billboards which hide the barren environment beyond. A group of people carry a banner that announces "Consumers for Christ" in a store decorated for the holidays as a small child tells Santa she wants a credit card for Christmas. Actually, therein lies one of the things that may turn some people off to this movie. It seems Gilliam had so many things to say about the state of society today that some people may find the movie lacks a coherent message once it's done. The ending will no doubt come as a shock to many people as well, but it was refreshing to me to see something well outside the Hollywood conventions for a change.
My only real complaint was that Robert De Niro's character was so enjoyable, but saw so little use. Other than that, however, I thought it was a film which presents some compelling things which deserve serious thought, even though most people probably won't be able to get past the trademark Gilliam visual quirkiness to see what he is saying. Eight and a half out of ten from me.
Terry Gilliam once again seems to have spared no expense in making sure every visual element of the world adds up to a cohesive whole which makes you feel as if you're really experiencing the characters' surroundings. And, of course, it is a world rendered realistically enough to feel feasible, and yet surrealistically enough to leave an unforgettable impression on you.
Despite the simplicity of the main plot, the movie is full of subtexts and images which carry a message even though you may not see them on the first viewing. In one scene, a man is buying "clean air" from a vending machine along the street. The sides of the highways are walls of billboards which hide the barren environment beyond. A group of people carry a banner that announces "Consumers for Christ" in a store decorated for the holidays as a small child tells Santa she wants a credit card for Christmas. Actually, therein lies one of the things that may turn some people off to this movie. It seems Gilliam had so many things to say about the state of society today that some people may find the movie lacks a coherent message once it's done. The ending will no doubt come as a shock to many people as well, but it was refreshing to me to see something well outside the Hollywood conventions for a change.
My only real complaint was that Robert De Niro's character was so enjoyable, but saw so little use. Other than that, however, I thought it was a film which presents some compelling things which deserve serious thought, even though most people probably won't be able to get past the trademark Gilliam visual quirkiness to see what he is saying. Eight and a half out of ten from me.
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