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taikaelain
Reviews
Anaconda: Offspring (2008)
If a movie has a CGI snake that roars like a jungle cat, it must be a real blockbuster, right?
When you see the title, Anaconda 3, you know what to expect, or what not to expect. Do NOT expect witty lines, intelligent plot, Oscar-winning acting, breathtaking CGIs or scientifically accurate factual details. Instead you can look forward to experiencing extremely awkward acting, dull and one-dimensional characters, very cheesy lines, supremely crappy CGIs, or in other words, a film that has not one single reason speaking for its existence.
The only reason I'm giving this pile of dung one point is the unintentional (?) comedic value. You cannot watch this movie without busting out laughing every three minutes.
So, do not go and watch this movie in order to see horror, gore, thrill or action, because all you get is a very hungover looking David Hasselhoff repeating cheesy lines and waving a embarrassingly crappy gun with a "hot" (meaning super annoying) blonde "doctor" chick on his arm as they sprint around an East-European forest after two CGI snakes that look like they were designed by a three year old.
The Gathering (2002)
Interesting story, but lacks in execution.
I found the storyline of this film interesting and different, but still I was disappointed after seeing the film. There were several things that weren't working. Foremost for me was the acting. Christina Ricci and Ioan Gruffud were both a huge disappointment. There was no depth to their characters and acting, so I as a viewer couldn't care less what happened to them in the end.
Also the pacing of the film was not really working. There is too much running around and the relationship between Cassie and Michael is emphasized too much, at the cost of for example the relationship between Cassie and Dan. I had a strong feeling that the film was cut too short. Another fifteen minutes could have made a huge difference in ways of adding to the plot and the depth of the characters.
One thing that really annoyed me, was the way Cassie every five minutes was calling out for Michael, and the little boy in question wheezing and moaning. Children with asthma have been seen on film so many times I can't even count them, so it annoys that they had to put one in this film, too. And one thing I can't understand is, why Michael first was mute and then all of the sudden started to talk again, and nobody paid any attention to this! So random!
I have only seen the DVD-version, so I don't know if the extra 10 minutes made the film any better, but I have to say I'm very, very glad they cut the sex scene off. I hate the "mandatory sex scenes" that appear in almost every film, whether they fit in the story or not.
All in all, the Gathering could have been an excellent movie, but as it is, it's shamefully lacking in many ways. Without Ricci, despite of her not so great acting, this film would have been a total flop. Now it is an OK film that you can watch when you're bored, but which doesn't leave any lasting impressions.
Cats (1998)
Mesmerizing experience
The Cats film version is a celebration of music, dance and visual details. The cast is magnificent, the music catchy and energetic, and the costumes and make-up couldn't in my mind be any better.
I have seen the Cats film about twenty times, and every time I found some new detail to admire. I doubt this film will ever grow old for me, that much I love it.
The cast is as said, immensely talented in dancing as well as singing and acting. My personal favourites were Michael Gruber as Munkustrap, John Partridge as Rum Tum Tugger (he simply oozes sex appeal!), Aeva May as Demeter, Veerle Casteleyn as Jemima (those eyes!), Jason Gardiner as Alonzo, Karl Morgan as Pouncival (my favourite, although he has only a minor part), Jacob Brent as Mr. Mistoffelees/Quaxo and Jo Bingham as Etcetera. To be truthful, I loved every single performer in the show. Elaine Paige was good as Grizabella, and Memory is a hauntingly beautiful song, but in my mind, this part of the show is a bit over advertised, as the show in whole makes Cats what it is.
As for the missing plot, all I can say is that those who say there is no plot at all, you haven't been paying enough attention to the show. There indeed is a plot, although it only runs on the background. But this plot is not the major point in Cats. It's the ingenious lyrics of T.S. Eliot turned into captivating songs, the stunning dance choreography and the eye-catching costumes and make-ups together that create a true spectacle. Besides, it's a musical for crying out loud, not some drama movie, so it doesn't really even need a plot! The music and dancing should be enough for both the mind and the eye.
Some people may complain about the Growltiger's Last Stand being missing, but as I have seen a live version after seeing the video, it's not really a flaw for me. There are of course some little details that could have been better, and that is why my rating for Cats is 9/10. I know that some people don't ever really get what Cats is about, but that's just their shame. I personally think that Cats is one of the greatest musicals in history.