I went to the midnight showing excited and hopeful that this would be a good movie. My expectations were met, and more, in places. The effects are incredible, the sword fights are intense, and it just is an all-around fun summer flick. The main problem, I think, is with the plot. I had to look at the little kids book to get the main idea of it, and I still have to look at it to know who is going where, and who has what, etc, etc, etc. (This is why I gave it an 8) Still, I think it's a teensy-weensy better than the first, even though the first has a better plot. It kept me interested and excited through the 2 and a half hours, while the first left me bored in some places. The humor has been hyped up a lot, which made the film, for me, much more enjoyable. The score is about the same as the first film. But the cinematography is stunning, and the shots are incredible. The acting, well, about the same as the first. Depp is excellent as always, while the rest are satisfactory. Not great, but definitely not bad. I had a wonderful time seeing this film, and wanted to cheer and give a standing ovation, but didn't since this audience was a lousy one and just left the theater. But I digress. I heartily recommend you watching this film without soda. It is so exciiting you will not want to leave to use the restroom, believe me. It does end on a cliffhanger, and I can't wait until the next one releases. P.S. Listen closely to Naomie Harris (Tia Dalma?) because in the theater I couldn't understand half the words she said.
Reviews
5 Reviews
Hidden Places
(2006 TV Movie)
One of the most horrid adaptions of a book
29 June 2006
When I sat down to watch this film, I was expecting an engaging story, with fascinating characters. Instead, I knew within the first twenty minutes that all I would get is a sappy love story. How could Lynn Austin allow her incredible book to be horribly blasphemed by this movie? It was worse than Ella Enchanted. The whole story was changed. The setting was changed. The characters were changed or, like Eliza's other son, Jimmy, done away with altogether. In fact, the only things that stayed the same were the characters' names and the skeleton plot--a mother fights to save her farm for her children with the help of a hobo and an aunt. I knew that things from the book would have to go. But this--this...thing desecrated everything Lynn Austin wrote. In the book, Frank Wyatt is portrayed as an evil man, with only greed in his heart. He carries on a pretense of religion, but does not know God. Yet in the movie, he is seen as a man who simply does not know how to say "I love you." He is simply rough around the edges. And I could not stand the movie any longer when Luke says, "I miss him." I was like, "How could you miss him? You were starved for love and affection, and he gave you none! He refused to get help for your father Sam, leading to a horrible and painful death by tetanus! And now you say you miss him??!" (In the book, Frank Wyatt collapses and tells Luke to get help, but instead Luke runs away because of his anger toward him for not getting help for his father) Do not bother seeing this movie, I beg you! It will only ruin your mind. Read the book; it is a masterpiece. When you only see the movie, you miss so much that the book has. There is a back story that I sorely missed in the movie. (It involves Aunt Batty's and Frank Wyatt's younger years) You miss the everlasting themes, and the raw emotion that is poured into the book. The book is worth looking at. The movie is not.
P.S. Eliza's real last maiden name is Gerard. In the movie it's Montclair. Come on, it's just a name. Could they not even get that part right? Well, they didn't, and I sorely advise you to avoid this movie like the plague.
P.S. Eliza's real last maiden name is Gerard. In the movie it's Montclair. Come on, it's just a name. Could they not even get that part right? Well, they didn't, and I sorely advise you to avoid this movie like the plague.
good, but still slightly disappointing
16 June 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Episode III was, by far, the best of the three prequels to the original series. The effects were fantastic, the music was brilliant, and Lucas actually worked on the storyline this time. However, I still believe that the original series was better, however primitive the special effects. I did enjoy much of it--however, there were a couple of things I had a problem with. First of all, some of Hayden's acting was rather wooden, but his charisma and looks made up for some of it. Second of all, there was love dialogue that was rather sickening. I could find that same stuff in a cheap Mexican soap opera. There were other lines that I didn't like, such as "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." Jedi deal in absolutes as well. He's contradicting himself. Also, he is saying that people who deal in absolutes are Siths--that's rather like saying that molesting a child isn't wrong, it's all how you look at it, which is baloney. I also looked at the book before seeing the movie and was sort of disappointed when the lines were delivered differently then what I imagined. Another thing was when Anakin chokes Padme--I expected it to be more intense. I mean, he's choking her, and her face isn't even red and she falls down unconscious. That part didn't click with me. (Nor did the freaky part with Anakin, Mace Windu, and Palpatine.)However, like I said before, there were many good points about this film--the most important one is Ja-Ja Binks does not speak. I almost jumped for joy when I saw that one shot of him with his mouth shut. However, I sat back down when I realized he was alive, and not dead. All in all, this was an excellent movie with only slight disappointments. I left the movie theater satisfied and smiling. I hope to see it again sometime, and this is a movie that I will definitely add to my DVD collection. P.S. The light saber fights were wonderful--I was in awe watching it. However, when I came straight home and watched Episode IV A New Hope and its fight, I burst out laughing--it was pathetic compared to the previous.
Excellent film, though somewhat disappointing
6 September 2004
Warning: Spoilers
!Mild Spoilers! This movie was one of the greatest films I've seen in my entire life. The special effects were amazing, the acting was excellent, and the music was superb. Peter Jackson did some changes, which, I think, made the movie far superior to the book.(when Gollum sets Sam up;it made Gollum more sinister. It didn't happen in the book, but not surprising for Gollum.) However, some of the scenes cut out of the movie were the most important; such as the Houses of Healing. The Scouring of the Shire isn't even the movie; one of my favorite parts of the book. They also added things that DID NOT need to be added. (such as when Frodo sent Sam away. As if one would choose sickly lookin' Gollum instead of faithful Sam. Oh my gosh, that part was just ludicrous.) If you like emotional scenes, filled with blubbering and wailing, you'll like the Frodo and Sam parts of the movie. It's like they're crying in every single scene. Now, I can understand Faramir's teary eyes, when his father says he wishes he'd die instead of Boromir. But, red eyes and tear-stained cheeks grate on my nerves when I see them every few minutes. Too emotional, to my way of thinking.
Also, the battle scenes were better than Helm's Deep, but I didn't like it as much. In The Two Towers, Helm's Deep is the deciding point if the good guys will win or lose. In TRoTK, the demise of the Ring is the factor. The battle is not as urgent as in Helm's Deep, when the Rohirrim are fighting for their women and children. The absence of Aragorn was disappointing as well. Gandalf as an inspirational leader just doesn't click. The end part dragged, as I think some other people stated. They could have made it SHORTER, and put the IMPORTANT parts instead. This movie had its strengths as well, though, such as the humor and battle sequences. All in all, I think it was a good movie. I enjoyed the solos performed by Viggo and Billy Boyd. However, I think that the Special Edition DVD will be a far better movie, since there are no time restraints, and we can see the parts of the movie that needed to be seen. i look forward to purchasing it.
Also, the battle scenes were better than Helm's Deep, but I didn't like it as much. In The Two Towers, Helm's Deep is the deciding point if the good guys will win or lose. In TRoTK, the demise of the Ring is the factor. The battle is not as urgent as in Helm's Deep, when the Rohirrim are fighting for their women and children. The absence of Aragorn was disappointing as well. Gandalf as an inspirational leader just doesn't click. The end part dragged, as I think some other people stated. They could have made it SHORTER, and put the IMPORTANT parts instead. This movie had its strengths as well, though, such as the humor and battle sequences. All in all, I think it was a good movie. I enjoyed the solos performed by Viggo and Billy Boyd. However, I think that the Special Edition DVD will be a far better movie, since there are no time restraints, and we can see the parts of the movie that needed to be seen. i look forward to purchasing it.
The Ten Commandments
(1956)
Excellent, though not entirely correct
28 July 2004
The Ten Commandments is truly one of the greatest films in Hollywood history. The casting was excellent; especially Charlton Hestons's role as Moses. The performances of the beautiful Anne Baxter, lovely Debra Paget, and Yvonne DeCarlo were superb. I also admired the script. The sets were amazingly authentic, and I was pleased at that. However, as another user commented, it is not entirely correct. Pharoahs at the time were polygamists, thus many children. There were not just Rameses and Moses. There would have been perhaps thirty choices for Pharoah. For example, he was 40 when he killed the Egyptian, not 30. Moses stayed in the desert for 40 years, and returned to Egypt. His mother would not have lived during that time; even if she'd been 14 when she found him in the basket. There were also were several additions in The Ten Commandments not found in the Bible. However, I found that it made the story much more enjoyable on film. All in all, it was an excellent movie which I will always continue to love.
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