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tgrosso
Reviews
Batoru rowaiaru (2000)
As good as the book....if not better!
Well, having read the book and being disappointed in the past by book to movie viewings, I was not too optimistic about this one. However, given the fact that most of the actors/actresses are in their teens, the acting was spot on. The film itself is brutal with regards to the violence and quite shocking in spots. I can't tell too much as it would give away some of the storyline and I was glad that they pretty much followed the book as best they could. This is not just an updated version of Lord of the Flies but more of a commentary on what can happen when parents quit doing their job and allow the government to control the children. However, this movie is definitely not for the faint of heart.
Serenity (2005)
Great Wrap Up to Firefly
Upon recommendation from a friend, I was told to check out the Firefly series on DVD. I was immediately gripped. This, to me, was a spaceship filled with Han Solo types in the original Star Wars. A series where anything goes! I was left wanting more and Joss Whedon delivered in a big way. Serenity essentially ties up all of the loose ends that were left from Firefly. The only actor I knew about previously was Ron Glass from the Barney Miller series and let me tell you these bunch of no name actors delivered beautifully in this film. The acting is superb, great direction and stunning visuals on a not so big budget. The story goes that super genius River Tam is kidnapped by "the alliance" who are trying to create a Utopia of sorts by creating a world without sin. Her brother helps her escape and the alliance is put in full force to try and recapture her. The characters are not moral but you still can not help falling in love with them. A must see but do not see it until you have seen the Firefly series first.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
A True Love Story
WARNING ***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***
Well I heard a lot of rumblings about this movie before being able to view it. There was a lot in the press surrounding anti-semitism and so forth and it seemed to me the press was trying to spew hate with this film. I am an elder in a church and was invited to a private screening before opening night. Last night I had the pleasure of viewing and I have to say that I can't imagine anyone feeling hate after viewing this film. The film does as best it can at portraying the original language and Gibson succeeds at coming very close to what the scriptures say. The film begins with Jesus in the garden praying with his closest disciples asleep. You can actually see Christ sweat blood. The presence of Satan adds to this film as you can see that Christ was indeed tempted with the fact that at any time He could have stopped the brutality that was being inflicted upon Him but obedience prevailed. I think it is important to note that the scriptures stated that Christ was barely recognizable when His flogging and crucifixion occurred and the film did not fail in portraying this. This is a true love story of what Christ did in obedience to His Father in Heaven to take the sins of the world upon Him. Anyone who wants to call this film anti-semitic needs to remember that Mel Gibson did show up in the film. He is in one scene only and that is the scene which drives the spike through Christ's hand. Gibson, himself, feels responsible for Christ's death as we all should feel.
The Cat in the Hat (2003)
Is this for children?
Well the previews looked funny and I usually don't go to movies on opening night especially with my kids because ......well you never know. Here is a movie that doesn't appeal either to children or adults as the jokes are too perverse for children and falls completely flat for entertainment purposes for adults. I was actually embarrassed to be with my 9 and 6 year old and having to explain to my 6 year old what S H * T spells. Essentially what happens here is a total twisting of Dr. Seuss's classic. It adds an evil and lazy neighbor who wants to marry the children's mother for her money. If that was a subplot, then maybe that would have been fine but it ends up being the major plot around the whole movie and "the cat" plays more of a subplot role in exposing the neighbor to the mom for who he really is. Take my advice and read the book and pass on the movie.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Was that really 3 1/2 Hours?
Director Peter Jackson has created a masterpiece! A little over three years ago I was telling myself that I really hope that this trilogy would be done right. It has far exceeded my expectations. I had almost as much fun watching this as the many many times I read this trilogy. Were there portions that deviated from the book? Sure, but they were understandable. I was so wrapped up in this final chapter that I couldn't believe when the final credits were run that it was actually a 3 1/2 hour film.
****SPOILER WARNING******
I thought that the film was able to accomplish how horrible these orc creatures were when they used the decapitated men of Gondor's heads as their catapult weapon of choice. The only problems I had was with the lack of Palantir reference with Denethor (made him just look like a madman without explanation) and Frodo telling Sam to go home and believing Gollum instead. I really wish that they left this just like the book and went into the tunnel towards Shelob together. Otherwise, Eowyn's scene with Merry killing the Witch-King is exactly how I pictured in the book along with so much else. Very close to perfection!
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
Very Pleasant Surprise
I was ill and had a couple of hours to kill so I rented this movie that is so beloved on the IMDB. I am so glad I did! The introduction of the characters and all of their dislikes followed by what their likes were had me in stitches. Audrey Tautou is incredibly lovable and you can't help but root for her this entire film. I am always very hesitant to rent french foreign films because for the most part I don't "get" a lot of them. I was glad to see that you didn't have to try and pick your way through the movie to get to a lot of symbolism. It's just a story about a lot of different "characters" who all have something hysterical about their personalities and the beautiful and naive Amelie.
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Don't Let Cliche's Get You Down
I know there has been a lot of talk about this film having too many cliches but this is based on a true story and if you read the book you realize that all of these so called "cliches" were actual things said by our veterans. This, to me, is the best Vietnam picture I have seen. I am glad that there finally is a Vietnam War picture that paints our veterans in a positive light. A lot of the other ones I've seen seems to focus on killing our own guys (Apocalypse Now, Platoon) but We Were Soldiers left me with that thankful feeling I had after viewing Saving Private Ryan the first time.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Stunning Film
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Everything about this movie was near perfect from the cinematography to the score to the brilliant direction. I don't think I ever had 3 hours pass so quickly. Finally a film that does the book justice.