jericho31 Reviews

The Last Samurai (2003)

Epic movie, great production, Cruise superbly confident

[9/10 · 5 December 2003]

Tom Cruise as a samurai? I had my doubts. But, since I love Legends of the Fall and Glory, I had faith in Edward Zwick's epic storytelling ability and I was not disappointed. This movie is fantastic in almost every way - Zwick was a touch sappy and melodramatic at times, but not enough to be distracting.

Cruise was at the top of his game, wtih a confidence that seems to only increase with age. When I first heard of this movie I was very skeptical one would be able to get past the persona of Tom Cruise and believe he was a samurai. Thankfully the performance left no doubts. Cruise was helped by an extremely strong (and almost assuredly ignored) performance from Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto, the

leader of the remaining samurai. The scenes between the two of them as Cruise is beginning to discover the samurai culture are among the best in the movie.

Lastly, one cannot say enough about John Toll as a director of photography.

This movie is so strikingly beautiful the cinematography is as important a

character as any. From the quiet, contemplative scenes while Cruise is a

prisoner among the samurai to the unbelievable action sequences which are

very reminiscent of Bravelheart, Toll does a remarkable job. The

cinematography is enough to make you cry, and you add in the great cast and

wonderful directing by Zwick, and you've got a great movie.

Do yourself a favor and see this movie on the big screen as epics are intended to be seen. Highly recommended. **** out of *****

Boogie Nights (1997)

the debut of a genius

[8 November 2002]

Boogie Nights is a classic movie and the debut of one of this generation's more brilliant directors Paul Thomas Anderson.

The movie is expertly written, wonderfully directed and it gets career best performances out of most of its stars. Not to mention a world class soundtrack. Mark Wahlberg is absolutely fantastic in this movie, too bad its the only convincing performance on his resume to date. He carries this movie expertly and really was snubbed of an Academy Award nomination. I guess the academy just couldn't get past the fact that they would be nominating the former leader of the funky bunch.

The supporting cast is also fantastic. Julianne Moore is fantastic in every movie she is in, and this one is no different. She almost steals all of her scenes. Heather Graham surely peaked with this performance since she has been dreadful in everything else - but she certainly was convincing here. William H. macy is fantastic, Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the best character actor in the business, so its no surprise he was good - and John C. Reilly is one of the most underrated actors out there. Will he ever get the credit he deserves - plus his name was Chest Rockwell in one of the movies!

But Burt Reynolds steals the movie - he was absolutely perfectly cast and was almost hypnotic to watch. I can't BELIEVE they gave the Oscar to Robin Williams - nothing against him, but c'mon people.

Anderson has gone on to direct the riveting Magnolia - and the recently released, and equally fascinating Punch Drunk Love. If he can make an actor out of Adam Sandler - is there any doubt that this guy is a genius?

Boogie Nights is one of my favorite movies of all time - and its a definite classic - 9/10

Stand by Me (1986)

wonderful

[24 October 2002]

Stand by Me is a wonderful adaptation of a Stephen King novella. Being an avid King reader, I am very hard on movies based on his novels. Frankly, there's like 7 or 8 good ones out of 40. Stand by Me may be the best.

It is wonderfully adapted, and superbly directed by Rob Reiner, one of the best directors around - but what brings this movie to life on the screen is the strength of the child actors.

Wil Wheaton plays the central character Gordie LaChance, whom is trying to deal with the death of his older brother (a very young John Cusack - only seen in flashback) and the subsequent effect it has had on his family. His parents have not recovered and pretty much ignore his existence. Gordie journeys with his friends to see a dead body and discovers things about himself, and his friends. It is a very strong performance from Wheaton - easily the best in his career.

River Phoenix is exceptional as Chris Chambers, the leader of the quartet of friends. It is a damn shame that River OD'd do early in life, because this guy had talent that was off the charts. Chris is the character that Gordie looks up to and strives to be. Chris is the one that realizes how smart and gifted Gordie is, and tries to make Gordie understand this fact. A fine performance indeed.

An unrecognizeable Jerry O'Connell plays Vern Tessio - the whipping boy of the group. He is overweight, and scared most of the time, and endures endless jabs from his friends. O'Connell does a wonderful job being that kid everyone knew - the kid who it was easy to pick on. Its amazing the person that O'Connell has evolved into.

But the real shining performance in this movie comes from Corey Feldman as the tortured Teddy DuChamp. Teddy comes from a broken home, where his dad abuses him. He is the wild card of the bunch. His dad treats him like hell and he still sticks up for him. Teddy tries to be the toughest of the group but even he looks up to Chris. Feldman's performance is so amazing to me in this movie - I really thing a supporting actor Oscar nomination shouldn't have been out of the question. Feldman rolls funny, scared, crazy, brave, caring, mean, mature and immature all into one memorable character. Man, I wish someone would give Feldman a decent shot at a reputable movie today - I really think this guy has got talent in him. I refuse to believe he peaked before puberty - but alas, such is the case with a lot of child actors.

Also look for a memorable turn from a young and very blonde Kiefer Sutherland (who was the best actor on tv in 2001-2002 as Jack Bauer in "24") as Ace Merrill - the villainous older kid that constantly torments the four boys on their quest to see the body. It's great to see where Sutherland's villanous persona that he's so famous for start.

Just a timeless movie that never seems to be dated. I watch this movie today and think it could happen now. Also listen for "Jesus, you're right, what the hell is goofy" - a line that still kills me today.

rating - 8/10

Signs (2002)

the best director out there

[5 August 2002]

Once can be a fluke. twice a coincidence. but three times a charm. I saw signs this past weekend and I think the movie solidifies M Night Shyamalan as the best director working today.

the movie is utterly orignal - creepy and completely engrossing, just as The Sixth Sense and Unbreakble were before it. I absolutely love watching this man's movies so much - every shot is so carefully chosen and its a joy to watch.

Shyamalan also has some sort of ability to draw out wonderfully understated and subtle performances from his stars, particularly his leading men. as he di with Willis in Sixth Sense and even more so (i thought) in Unbreakable - Shyamalan gets a wonderfully pained and subtle performance from Mel Gibson. It is easily his best work at least since Braveheart and maybe ever. He communicates his feelings more with his eyes and his face than with anything he says and its great to watch. Joaquin Phoenix was one of the best actors around before this movie and deserves the title even more after this movie. he is a bona fide scene stealer and is really fun to watch on screen.

Also as he did with Haley Joel Osment in Sixth Sense and with Spencer Treat Clark in Unbreakable - he gets wonderful performances from his child actors. Abigail Breslin - who plays Gibson's daughter Bo is adorable and sad at the same time and Rory Culkin (yes, one of THOSE culkins) is downright creepy and fairly amazing as Gibson's son Morgan.

The movie is completely engrossing from start to finish and ***spoiler*** the scene where the whole family is locked in the basement is one of the best cinematic scenes I have ever seen. As long as this guy's desire to write and direct (and even star in) movies doesn't dwindle - i will be one very happy movie fan.

**** and a half stars out of 5

The Karate Kid (1984)

inspired, and inspiring

[9/10 · 25 July 2002]

I have been an IMDB user for a couple years now and today I watched the Karate Kid - and was amazed to realize i had never looked it up on IMDB to see what grade the IMDB community had given it. 6.5???!?!?!?! You people should be ashamed of yourselves.

The karate Kid may be the best film to come out of the 1980 - if its not the best its in the top couple. It is the ultimate story of the underdog beating the odds. This theme had been done in movies and tv long before Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita waxed on and waxed off - and it has been done a million times since. But, at least in my experience, it is only once in a blue moon that a movie creates a story and a character that it is so easy to identify with.

maybe I am a product of the time I grew up - but i am confident that whatever age I am when I watch this movie, I will be able to relate with Daniel LaRusso - and judging from a lot of the user comments i read, a lot of you agree with me. This is why the grade confuses me, but whatever.

This movie is solid all the way through - the acting is fantastic from Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue - and the very underrated William Zabka, who played Johnny lawrence, the leader of the Cobras who will always in this guy's mind - be the prototypical bully. i also feel i should mention that this movie is put over the top and into the "classic" category because it has easily one of the best endings of all time. Whoever is not inspired by that ending simply is not human.

9/10

The Dead Zone (2002–2007)

this show is fantastic

[8 July 2002]

I am an enormous Stephen King fan, and it is always with great anxiety that i watch a movie/tv series based on his work. The dead Zone was a great book - a great concept, but tough to translate to screen. The movie made in the 80s with christopher walken was half decent but nothing to write home about.

thankfully - the show is wonderful. Four episodes old and i am completely engrossed. This will be the first time I ever watch a show religiously in the summer. It is wonderfully put together, and though there are bad spots in the dialogue, its is translated well, and they have done a great job with showing the viewer the visions johnny smith finds himself having. they are wonderfully done.

I like how they arent sinking into just having johnny smith solve a murder each week, as evidenced by the latest episodes when he uses his powers to re-unite two long lost lovers (not to mention have an out of body sexual experience). the biggest worry i had was that the show would become very formulaic - and it still might, but hopefully they keep things going the way they are.

the real revelation in this series so far has been anthony michael hall. when i was young i loved this guy - and still love him when i watch "the breakfast club" or "weird science" - but since he has tried to revive his career I have had a tough time accepting him as an adult actor. I kept seeing the kid from the 80s movies. until now. I think he is doing a marvelous job with this part, playing it with a great combination of wide eyed wonder and fear of his new abilities. All of a sudden with this role he seems so believably adult, its kind of amazing. every now and the you can see the kid fro the 80s but for the most part its like watching a new actor. he plays the tortured role excellently - i can't say enough about how impressed I am

so far - this is fantastic and i hope they keep it up and release a dvd.

Murder Live! (1997 TV Movie)

worth watching

[14 June 2002]

this movie isnt gonna win any awards, but it is worth watching simply because david morse is one of the more underrated and underappreciated actors working today. The movie has some good direction from roger spottiswoode and a screenplay above the usual tv movie fare. Marg helgenberg, of CSI fame, is also decent, and easy on the eyes. But Morse is the drawing point

The Money Pit (1986)

hanks at his physical comedy best

[14 June 2002]

It continually amazes me that Tom hanks will go down as one of the best dramatic actors of our generation and little will be spoken of how good a physical comedian he was before "Philadelphia" changed his career. Hanks made a string of movies in the 80s relying on his physical comedy ability, most notable "Big", "the burbs", "dragnet", "turner & hooch" etc. But I think that with the POSSIBLE exception of "Big" - "The Money Pit" is his best. Some of the scenes involving Hanks in this movie made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe. This movie is intended to be a farce and it succeeds totally. The rest of the cast is not very strong - I have never, and I assume never will be, a Shelley Long fan - she doesn't do anything but provide a sounding board for Hanks anyway. But then again, she really doesn't need to.

This movie is definitely worth taking a look at if you haven't seen it - the first time you watch it, it is genuinely hilarious. I just watched it again after about three years without seeing it and found it to still hold up. The scene when the chimney falls apart is my favorite. I wish hanks would do another comedy, but he's all serious now. oh well.

Replicant (2001)

not great - but above average for van damme

[5/10 · 3 April 2002]

This movie is by no means an achievement in movie making - but it certainly Jean Claude-Van Damme's best effort in quite some time, since Timecop.

The premise for the plot of the movie is a good, one, but the movie itself is so full of holes it would take me too long to sit here and talk about all of them - but then again a lot of movies are full of holes.

If you have some time to kill and you feel like watching a fairly decent action movie, go ahead and give this a gander. Its nice to see Van Damme attempt to branch out from his normal thing. My favorite scenes in this movie are when he plays the sicko serial killer. Its the first sign of versatility the man has ever shown I believe.

The movie was watchable because it wasn't the generic Van Damme punching and kicking his way through an hour and a half - its more of a sci-fi thriller than a martial arts heavy thing. In fact, there arent a whole lot of martial arts at all - more gunplay than martial arts.

5/10

Timecop (1994)

the best van damme movie front to back

[6/10 · 3 April 2002]

This is Jean Claude-Van Damme best movie to this point. Some of his other martial arts laden films have better fight sequences but in terms of quality of a motion picture, Timecop is the best.

There is a fairly engaging story behind it, and its good enough that van damme's distinct wooden delivery of his lines and the fact that he has only some control over the english language doesn't get in the way or bother the viewer as much as it normally would. It will come as a great surprise to me if van Damme ever becomes a really good actor - so this is the best one can hope for from him.

Ron Silver has made a career out of being a slimeball creep bad guy and does his best here. The special effects are good and hold up today and the plot is genuinely engaging. Also, the Mia Sara nude scene in the beginning is nothing to shake a stick at.

6/10 - the best grade for a Van Damme movie I have given other than Bloodsport, which I gave a 7. (its technically not a better movie but c'mon people, classics are classics)

With Honors (1994)

very satisfying

[8/10 · 25 March 2002]

With Honors is one of my favorite movies and for the life of me I can't tell you why. I likeBrendan fraser's character, I really like the very sharp, clever dialogue - even though it can be preachy at times. I like almost everyone in the cast, especially Patrick dempsey, and I can't think of any other movie I like ANY of them in.

I think Brendan Fraser has real acting talent and gives a very subtle intelligent performance in this movie. If he would just stop taking stupid roles in stupid movies, he would have a much better reputation.

I have read the harsh comments and criticisms of this movie and can't really argue too much except to say RELAX and enjoy a movie.

This movie really had me engaged and emotionally involved, and I can't say that for a lot of movies. 8 out fo 10

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The greatest adventure of all time comes to life

[10/10 · 12 March 2002]

I first read the Lord of the Rings trilogy when i was 8 years old. My dad was a fan and he passed it on to me. Since that time I have read the trilogy numerous times, and it is easily my favorite, and in my opinion the greatest adventure story - the greatest story - ever written on paper.

Naturally I was nervous when plans for this movie started. I did not want to see the Lord of the Rings brought to the screen if it was not gonna be done to perfection. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded

The Fellowship of the Ring is the greatest movie adaption of all time and easily one of the best movies ever made. The direction is far better than I could have imagined possible. Peter Jackson's attention to detail is mind boggling - it feels like he has reached inside my imagination and transferred it to the big screen. Everything from the relaxing tranqulity of Hobbiton to the threatening atmosphere of Mordor is done with perfection. Jackson captures the book perfectly and deserves the oscar for achievement in direction

Perhaps the thing I was most nervous about was the cast. I absolutely love these characters and didnt want to see them played by the wrong people. Again, the movie delivers. Elijah Wood is remarkably good in the lead role, and Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan bring his three Hobbit companions to life better than i would have thought possible. Viggo Mortensen is perfectly suited to play Aragorn/Stryder, and Sean Bean turns in perhaps the best performance in the movie as the tormented human Boromir. Orlando Bloom as the elf legolas and John Rhys-Davies as the dwarf Gimli are exactly as I imagined them. Hell, even Liv Tyler is good in a brief (even though its been beefed up) role as the elf Arwen. But the true MVP in the cast is Ian mcKellen who sparkles as the wizard Gandalf. He brings the best character in the book to life so well it brings tears to my eyes.

The lord of the Rings is a completely wonderful start to the trilogy. I was so nervous going into it - and now I am supremely confident jackson will continue the trend next Christmas with the Two Towers. This movie is a wonderful achievement in filmaking and deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest made films of all time, and it seems the IMDB voters agree with me so far. I give it a 10 out of 10 and recommend to movie lovers of all ages.

Casino (1995)

worth watching, but not scorsese's strongest effort

[6/10 · 12 March 2002]

I have just seen this movie for the second or third time. The movie is decent, but certainly not as good as Goodfelllas, taxi Driver or Raging Bull.

The movie starts out very strong - I like the first half a lot better than the second half of the movie. The last half kinda tails off, the plot becomes a little ridiculous and it is hardly about a casino at all.

The movie as usual with Scorsese movies is shot very well, and the acting is great even if DeNiro and Pesci are playing roles they've played before - especially Pesci who is virtually playing the same character he played in Goodfellas. Its always a treat to watch DeNiro act in these types of movies - even if he is rehashing old ground.

The movie kind of felt like Scorsese was trying to top Goodfellas but I think he ended up a little short. i give it a 6 out of 10.

A Season on the Brink (2002 TV Movie)

entertaining for college basketball fans

[6/10 · 11 March 2002]

A Season on the Brink, the first movie made by ESPN ain't gonna win any awards, but its an entertaining looks at the most wildly charismatic and controversial coach in NCAA basketball history, Bobby Knight.

You can tell when you watch the movie that it didn't quite have the budget of your normal movie - the basketball scenes are kinda cheesy lookin and when they try to weave it in with actual game footage it looks a little ridiculous.

But the movie is worth watching just for Brian Dennehy, who looks and talks exactly like Bobby Knight. The movie surely takes some dramatic license, it has to, and the cast arouns Dennehy is nothing to write home about - but Dennehy sparkles and the movie is certainly worth watching for any college basketball or any sports fan.

Drop Zone (1994)

your typical action movie

[11 March 2002]

Drop Zone is pretty much your typical action movie - at least plot wise. Wesley Snipes turns in another passenger 57ish performance, not great but competent. and Gary Busey is always competent playing a guy you always want to die no matter how bad the plot gets.

The movie however, is worth watching more than other bland action movies because firstly, the skydiving scenes are shot wonderfully. The cinematographer and the stuntpeople (unless thats Snipes in a free fall, which i doubt) are the true stars of this one. I really enjoyed watching the skydiving sequences in this movie.

plot wise, the movie kinda plods along, not a whole lot of suspense but enough of a story to keep people entertained. I think its worth watching at least once, purely for the skydiving and action sequences.

Also, besides being a fairly competent actress - one I can actually believe skydives - Yancy Butler is really hot.