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Reviews
Prison Break (2005)
Wow!
All I can say is......WOW! This is an outstanding show on all levels. Writing, directing, acting, pace, etc., all top-notch. Every single episode has the viewer on the edge of their seat from the opening to the fade-out, and each episode seems to go by in mere minutes. This is entertainment at it's finest, and the quality is unmatched. I rank this up there with "Lost" and "24" in total quality. And yes, if you have noticed, I am writing this review in February 2016. I never watched it back when it originally ran, and I am currently binge-watching on Netflix, which as far as I am concerned is the only way to fly, because you don't have to wait a week between episodes. I can't wait to finish the show and also see what the new installment will bring when it premieres in a year or two from now. Bravo!
Elvis in Concert (1977)
Fitting Farewell for The King
Yes, I know that these were not his farewell performances, as his last performance would be over a month later in Indianapolis. However, it was the last officially filmed concert footage, and I feel that it is both moving and magnificent. I remember as a kid watching it back in 1977 and thinking how sad it was to see him like that, and that he looked bad. However, with the passage of many years, I can now watch it and really see just how great of an entertainer and human being Elvis was. He really shows himself as how he really was on stage. He is not arrogant, he is funny, he is modest and pokes fun at himself, and above all else, he is happy. Oh, and I forgot to mention his voice, which , as Joe Esposito said, never failed him. There are some great performances in this special, regardless of how Elvis looks, and the fans in the audience love it. If EPE could do a multi-DVD set that includes both concerts without fan interview interruptions, and maybe a separate DVD with behind the scenes and fan material, and maybe even material not included in the original special, it would be awesome. Even better would be a release in blu-ray format. Come on already, EPE!
We Were Soldiers (2002)
One of the More Accurate Vietnam War Movies
Despite all of the complaining, and some it justified, you can't hide the fact that this is definitely one of the more accurate Vietnam war films based on a real-life battle. Yes, the climactic battle scene is pure Hollywood, and I myself was very disappointed by it, but overall the events as they are portrayed in the film follow the book quite nicely. As another reviewer pointed out, it could have been one of the all-time great war films, but it fell a bit short. I do disagree with reviewers who try to paint this film as pro-American propaganda and revisionist. It is simply a Vietnam war film about the bond between a commander and his men in the field, and it was very well done in that aspect. I don't remember a whole lot of dialogue in the script about who was right and who was wrong, or why we were there. It was all about survival in the face of a determined enemy. I also don't agree with the reviewer who stated that the LZ Albany ambush was avoided in order to paint a one-sided version of the battle, because that was a separate event that didn't involve Colonel Moore or his men. Involving other units would have meant a much bigger film in scope, even though I still think that it could have been handled well. The battle scenes were some of the best filmed. However, as I stated earlier, Hollywood inevitably stepped in right near the end, and that is why the film was flawed. A more realistic climax and ending would have been much better, and still satisfying. Hopefully, some day in the future a filmmaker will avoid Hollywood clichés and finally get it 100% right.
Léon (1994)
As Good As It Gets
This film, released in 1994, still rates right up there with the top films of the action genre, and it seems like it hasn't aged a bit. I happened to catch this one the other night on a pay channel, and it was right after Matilda's family gets killed. I was immediately glued to it, even though I have seen it a few times before. It is a riveting and suspenseful film, and it scores in all departments. The style and pacing are second to none. Natalie Portman gave us a preview of her brilliance in this film, and she gives an excellent performance that I think would have been Oscar-worthy if the film had received more attention when it was first released. Jean Reno redefines the ruggedly handsome action hero, and he is perfect in the role of Leon. Gary Oldman is over the top, but so is his character, and he nails it all the way. Danny Aiello is solid as usual, and all of the supporting performances are spot on. Director Luc Besson set the standard with this film that others have sadly been unable to achieve. They need to, because it's films like this one that make movie watching the truly rewarding experience that it should be. This is for Matilda!!!
Burn After Reading (2008)
A Definite Letdown
It's really a shame. This movie had so much going for it, such as a great cast and talented direction. However, it just didn't do anything. It almost did on several occasions, but it ended up coming up short each and every time. I didn't think it was that funny, either, and the film really struggled with figuring out if it wanted to be a comedy or spy thriller, and it didn't do a good job in either category. The only saving grace was John Malkovich, who has proved that he is definitely one of our best actors out there. Unfortunately, his efforts went for naught. The Coen brothers need to stop believing their own press and start making the kinds of great movies they made in the past. Come on, guys!!!
Twilight (2008)
Very Enthralling Love Story
I am not a fan of the book series, and I have not read a single one of them. I think that might be a good thing, because a lot of the negative reviews seem to come from those who have read the book, and they are disappointed by the changes that they see. People need to accept the fact that this happens every time a popular novel is adapted to the screen. I thought this was a very good movie, and I was enthralled by the Romeo and Juliet-like love story of Edward and Bella. I thought that both Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart gave performances that really made us feel what they were going through. Bella was a bit put off by Edward's behavior at first, but she was drawn to him, and I think she was curious to find out what made him tick, and I think this was well presented throughout the first part of the film. The section of the film that deals with her finding out what Edward is, and the ensuing scenes of them falling in love, are very beautiful and touching, with great acting, cinematography, and Carter Burwell's excellent score. I thought that "Bella's Lullaby" is definitely one of the most beautiful musical pieces scored for a film in recent years. Of course, there were some cheesy parts of the film as well that might have detracted a bit, but overall it is very strong. I am saddened to hear that Catherine Hardwicke will not be directing the followup, because I think she did an admirable job on this one. The next director will definitely have a tough act to follow.
Zodiac (2007)
Excellent!
This a top-notch crime thriller, and the best part about it is that it is true, which makes it even more compelling. I have studied this case somewhat extensively, and I was pleased to see how close the screenplay followed the book and the factual events as they occurred. There isn't a bunch of Hollywood "fluff" to try to add irrelevant entertainment or tricky plot lines in order to keep the viewer hooked. It was a long movie, but it didn't feel like it. In fact, I didn't want it to end, because I wanted to see if perhaps there were any recent developments that I was not aware of that were added to the story. The script was fast moving and the performances were great from the entire cast. Robert Downey was awesome, and I am so happy that he got himself together over the past few years and has made a great comeback. He is definitely one of this country's most gifted and talented actors. If you like true crime, don't miss this!!!
Demon Seed (1977)
Under-appreciated '70s Gem
This is a truly classic science fiction film, and it was actually way ahead of it's time when it was released back in 1977. The topic of artificial intelligence is still very relevant today, and just one look at Eagle Eye is proof enough. Everything about this film is top notch: directing, acting, script, score, cinematography, etc. are all first-rate. I was very sad when I looked for it on DVD a few years back and could not locate it. Fortunately, it is now available in DVD format. I also echo the sentiments of another reviewer who commented on the sad demise of director Donald Cammell, who was extremely talented but misunderstood. Another interesting film directed by Cammell in his later years is White of The Eye, which was released in 1987. It is a suspense thriller about a serial killer on the loose in Arizona, and it stars David Keith in a great performance. Check it out, and definitely check out Demon Seed if you haven't seen it already. You won't regret it. 8 Stars.
The Bachelor (2002)
Our Cultural Decline
I am sorry, but I just can't get over the fact that this show has been running since 2003. What I also can't get over is how much we have declined as a nation and as a culture to the point where ridiculous "shows" like this continue to be successful. Give me a break! The bachelor and all of the "contestants" are all morally repugnant and reprehensible in their actions. The bachelor basically "test drives" 25 different women during the course of the show, and each one of the them tries their best to get this guy to marry them. The women pull out all the stops in order to try to get this accomplished, regardless of how they really feel about him. It is so stupid that it is beyond belief, and you can totally tell they they are only after the guy for his money and security. Why would any woman with an ounce of decency spend even a second of her time with a man who is sleeping with 24 other women at basically the same time? The women all come across as so shallow and dense, and you would have to think that any woman who comes on this show as a contestant is probably someone with issues and who would therefore not be a good catch. If they are such viable candidates, why hasn't someone found them yet? It all just shows how materialistic and depraved our culture has become, and how true love takes a backseat to all of the superficial stuff that everyone is so preoccupied with. Please take this trash off the air!!!!
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
One of My Top 10 of All Time
This is without a doubt one of the finest films of the last 20 years. I think that if it had been released with more fanfare and didn't have such great competition that year, it might have won for Best Picture. This film has such a powerful presence that it has a life of it's own apart from the cast, score, cinematography, etc., all of which are deservedly great. This is one of those movies that you can switch to when you are channel surfing, and stop and watch the rest of it, no matter what part of the movie you are at. Perhaps The Godfather and Jaws are a couple of others that do that for me, and it never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it. One thing that disappoints me regarding this film is what has happened to the director, Frank Darabont. Unfortunately, he has never come close to achieving the greatness of Shawshank with his subsequent films. I thought The Green Mile was good, but it didn't hold a candle to Shawshank. I was also very disappointed in The Mist. I sincerely hope that he is able to recapture some of the magic of Shawshank Redemption in a future film, because he definitely does have the proved ability to do so.
Tropic Thunder (2008)
A Good Opportunity Wasted
Yes, I did find this movie to be funny. In fact, it was hilarious at times, but overall this was a HUGE disappointment. Believe me, I tried very hard to like it. All of the ingredients were there: great cast, talented director, good premise. What happened? When I saw the previews and saw the cast, I was absolutely sure that I would be laughing out loud from start to finish. However, somebody forgot something: a script. The movie is all over the place, and there are so many f-bombs that you feel like you are watching Scarface again. At least in Scarface a case could be made that it was somewhat appropriate. Most of the f-bombs in this film are totally unnecessary, and thus insulting to the viewer. I thought Tom Cruise's character was funny initially, but I soon grew tired of his antics and language as well, and he eventually went way over the top with his characterization. I can't believe that this movie is currently at a 7.3 rating. I say 6 tops. Anyone agree?
Failure to Launch (2006)
Extremely Disappointing
This movie had to be one of the most disappointing films I have seen in years. The previews looked so promising, and as I started watching it I kept waiting for it to take off, and ..........NOTHING! The acting is uninspired, the jokes are old and stale, there are clichés galore, and it is totally predictable. What a waste! With a cast like this, how could one go wrong? Let me count the ways! Unfortunately, I think Matthew McConnaughey is falling into a pattern of playing basically the same character in every movie that he is in. I mean, the plots are different, of course, but it seems like he acts the same in every film, and his personality on screen doesn't change. It's a shame, because he is a very likable, talented actor. Sarah Jessica Parker is a good actress too, but the material she is given here makes her character very irritating and annoying. The sad thing is, the premise of this film was a good one, and it is a topic that has a lot of potential. Unfortunately for us viewers, Hollywood has chosen again to take the easy way out and not invest any time or talent in a decent script. Too bad.
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
This film went nowhere
I was really hoping for a lot from this movie, especially when I saw the cast credits. However, it was pretty much a waste of time. I tried watching it two nights in a row, and each time I fell asleep. I finally finished it on the third night, and I only finished it because I wanted to get my money's worth. This film really had no point to it at all, and it went in too many different directions. I didn't care about any of the characters or what happened to them. The cast was totally wasted, especially Abigail Breslin. I thought it was going to be a cute movie about a father and daughter, but it was totally boring and uninvolved, with too many flashback scenes. If one looks at the cover, they might be misled. A waste of time.
Eagle Eye (2008)
Not an original idea
I really wanted to like this movie, but as an old-time movie buff, I kept catching things that were ripped off from older movies. The three movies that come to mind are The Demon Seed, Enemy of the State, and Colossus: The Forbin Project. The Aria supercomputer is a ripoff of Proteus, the supercomputer from The Demon Seed. The tracking of cellphones and other technology is borrowed from Enemy of The State, and Colossus: The Forbin Project deals with a supercomputer employed for homeland defense that goes haywire. The only original "twist" was the part about the twin brother. That part didn't work either, though, because even an identical twin will have some differences from his sibling, including the voice. That authentication would not have worked in real life. Unfortunately, I think that a lot of Hollywood executives are trying to use ideas from older movies and present them as new, and hope that nobody notices. There are a lot of people who don't, but there are still a few of us out there who are true film buffs with a long memory, and it's frustrating when we catch the recycled plot lines. Please, Hollywood, BE ORIGINAL!!!!