Jace007 Reviews

Gladiator (2000)

Fall Of The Roman Empire?

[9/10 · 25 February 2001]

Gladiator is a film worth watching. But as I was watching the film, I suddenly felt like I've seen this movie before and my appreciation for it started to lower. Wasn't until the final scenes that it clicked. I was sure this movie was a remake of The Fall Of The Roman Empire. Gladiator had similarities to this 1964 movie starring Sophia Loren, Boyd and Christopher Plummer as the over the top Emperor. I found this movie a bit corny and it sort have had negatively influenced my judgement over Gladiator.

Todays action movies you mainly see guns and explosions, but when a movie like Gladiator comes out it should be fresh, new and entertaining. I found the movie entertaining and fresh - but it wasn't a new storyline. But putting everything else aside, movies are there for enjoyment and entertainment. As long as a movie has these ingredients it can't possibly go wrong. Gladiator is one of these movies that has the ingredients. A great movie, but if you want to see a better gladiator movie, I would recommend Spartacus.

Apollo 13 (I) (1995)

Complete Production

[6/10 · 23 February 2001]

Apollo 13 is a solid and realistic film. The cast were excellent in the roles in they portray - but what do you expect, when you have the likes of Hanks, Bacon, Sinise, Paxton and Harris filling the major roles. A good film, but I wouldn't consider this amongst the best ever made. The pace of the movie at times seemed to drag and due to its storyline there was no real climax. A film worth watching, but nothing more.

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947)

Growing Pains

[9/10 · 22 February 2001]

This well written script was enhanced by the performances of Grant, Loy, Temple and Collins.

Some may say the storyline is farfetched - but most movies are guilty of this crime. The movie is original in idea, but had the same formula and end results for the productions made back then (and a few right now).

Highly Recommend this movie.

Immortal Beloved (1994)

Isabella & Valeria Held My Interest

[6/10 · 30 January 2001]

Very Disappointing movie. I felt like Bernard Rose was trying to match the Amadeus production. I think the only problem here was the budget. The movie had the right idea in the storyline - but I felt the movie was rushed and most of the acting sub-standard. My biggest disappointment was that it didn't really cover Beethovens life, it only covered snippets of it. As my title says Isabella & Valeria Held My Interest - that is off course Isabella Rossellini and Valeria Golino who seemed to spark up the screen and generate more interest when they were on. Gary Oldman was adequate, but I felt the script was mostly to blame for his performance. The movie needed to be more developed and longer to show its true potential.

Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

You Broke My Will Oh What A Thrill

[8/10 · 30 January 2001]

Goodness Gracious Great Balls Of Fire!

Energetic performance from Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis makes the movie worth while watching. Unfortunately I found the rest of the casts performance not much better than adequate. (Could be due to character development). I also may be a bit hard on Ryder, but definately not on Baldwin's Jimmy Swaggert. Found the ending of the movie a bit disappointing - but just for the music performance by Quaid, this movie is worth a watch.

Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)

Lottery Of Humour

[3/10 · 30 January 2001]

An acquired sense of humour is needed if you are to enjoy this production. I found only maybe 50% of the skits of this humouress, the rest a bit of a bore.

Worth a risk.

Amadeus (1984)

The Fall Of Salieri

[10/10 · 30 January 2001]

Putting aside historical facts - this is a great and powerful movie. In my opinion this movie was not only about Mozart, but mainly the fall of Salieri. *** POSSIBLE SPOILERS TO APPEAR*** Salieri is potrayed brilliantly by F Murray Abraham as a good man, a man of God, until he is driven to destruct something he loves and appreciates with all his heart due to his jealously of the young and uncouth Mozart (Tom Hulce). The movie mainly follows Salieri attempts to first befriend Mozart, then try to become better Mozart and then finally trying to destruct Mozart - all in the name of love of Mozarts magic. The movie also explores Mozarts relationship with his father Leopold, and how through his death, Salieri uses it to his advantage. Yes, the movie is about Mozart - but it is also a movie about falling from grace. Highly Recommended.

All of Me (1984)

Thoughtful Comedy

[7/10 · 30 January 2001]

This would have to be pretty much close to my favourite Steve Martin movie. This is one movie that I have seen on several occasions. A great script and most probably Steve Martins best ever performance. Lily Tomlin capped off this movie with her character development throughout the production.

If you have seen and liked Jim Carrey's Liar, Liar I would recommend this movie to you. Very similiar in both characters inner-conflicts and occupations - wouldn't be surprised if Liar, Liar was an idea ripped off this movie. Worth a watch.

54 (1998)

Meyers Saves 54

[6/10 · 8 January 2001]

This movie had alot of potential - but it failed to deliver. The focus on Phillippe's character seems to have dragged away the real story you wanted to see - the story of 54. Mike Meyers saves this movie with a surprisingly great dramatic performance. His character seemed to suit him(!). Ryan Phillippe seemed to be lost in his role, while Neve Campbell seemed real dis-interested. Salma Hayek done the best with the role she was given. While Sela Ward added that little extra something to keep the movie from falling to pieces. A movie worth watching as long as you don't expect too much from it.

Albino Alligator (1996)

Pleasantly Surprising

[6/10 · 8 January 2001]

This was a movie in which I resisted seeing ever since its release. This was mainly due to all the bad reviews I have heard about this movie. The director and cast was always a drawing factor for my interest. Finally I took the plunge, not expecting much at all from this movie. The movie was well paced and I had never lost interest throughout the movie. Dillon, Dunaway & Ulrich hold this movie together. I found Sinise's character a bit weak. I found Spacey's directing interesting - I have either get used to his style or he'll need to make minor changes to it. Worth a watch.

An Affair to Remember (1957)

Sit Back And Enjoy

[10/10 · 8 January 2001]

I am not a romantic movie fan. I generally steer clear from them. But I must say this movie would have to be one of my all time favourites. (WARNING : POSSIBLE SPOILERS COMING UP!!!) This movie does have a couple of corny bits in it - for example the kids singing segments and that kids dance piece, but overall the movie outshines these minor hiccups. I found I could enjoy this movie, as I found the movie to be true to itself. Definately worth a watch if you've got no hang ups.

2 Days in the Valley (1996)

Average Black Comedy

[5/10 · 7 January 2001]

I recall first seeing this movie 2 years ago and I was very disappointed with the final product. I had expected alot more from this movie with its storyline and cast. Watching this movie again a couple of years later, I found that I may have been too harsh in my judgement, as at the time when I first saw this movie, quality productions of same type of calibre were being released. Overall, I found that this movie (in my opinion!!!) lacked any real climax. I even found the finale a bit subdued. The movie had some very slow periods in it and some of the character development scenes could have been cut. For example, there was hardly any character development in this movie, but then they throw in a present-wrapping scene with Jeff Daniels. This was Jeff Daniels last scene in the movie and it had no bearing on the rest of the movie. This scene was painfully slow - it warranted being edited out. Eric Stolz character and the mid-movie cat fight kept me interested in the movie until the very end. Average Black Comedy.