phillipstephenso Reviews

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Charming nonsense?

[10/10 · 28 July 2008]

Yes, these are the same old "Swedish-exchange-student-trying-to-rhyme-in-good-English" songs. And yes, the plot is the same, old, and admittedly goofy series of romantic encounters.

But, I would submit that the sentiments of the film and the songs somehow ring true and universal. And, the creaky plot is more believable that those of many Academy Award winners, in my opinion. So, this film ends up being a triumphant paradox, full of good and bad, just like life.

Who cannot empathize with the young girl, about to be married, who does not know who her real father is? Who cannot relate with the young dancing queen, only 17, who "loses control" and has sexual relations with many males in the era of "free love?" But, "free love" had undesirable consequences to the next generation, as we have come to see. And paradoxically, hope remains that true love will triumph, after all these years of pain and maturation, due to the child of one of these unions, who is "slipping through the fingers" of her parents, who hate to see their little girl mature and grow up and be married. This plot thus takes on a deeper meaning than the surface goofiness, flirtations, whimsicality, and goings-on. Goofy waters sometimes run deep? And, this production is more creative than the Broadway show, in many ways. In particular, I enjoyed the creativity of the dance number of the scuba divers on the pier. I confess that I have never seen a troupe of scuba diver dancers dance so brilliantly. And, Meryl Streep continues to amaze with her almost limitless versatility. Also, Pierce Brosnan is properly dramatic in his speaking roles, although some of his singing needs improvement. So, will the handsome and endearing Mr. Brosnan practice a little more and participate in a forthcoming "Mamma Mia Returns?" Please?

Revenge of the Nighthawk (1983)

Routine sex film

[23 May 2008]

Paul assumes ownership of Fred's Nighthawk leather jacket. Johnny and Skip as a couple of merchant marines go out. Then Johnny gets a Nighthawk leather jacket. So now Johnny begins to have sexual adventures. Johnny and Skip explore three positions. This has some classic gay actors who are experienced in all phases of gay life. It's too bad that Scott O'Hara was not available for this film, however. Scott was just beginning his gay film career in 1983 with his first film California Blue at the time. "When the manager of Savages asked me if I'd like to be in a porn flick, Scott said, "Sure, I'd love to." I mean, it wasn't something I'd spent a lot of time thinking about, but who hasn't fantasized about being in a porn video?"

Untraceable (2008)

Unrealistic

[7/10 · 9 February 2008]

This is a good mystery yarn that seems to be plausible on the surface. But, the yarn is chock full of technological holes, which are pretty easy and fun to note. For example, the FBI would never allow the electricity for the Seattle (and Portland) areas to continue running without interruption (or the Internet itself to continue operating normally) during an online execution of an FBI agent on the Internet. The execution is obviously occurring in the Seattle (or Portland) areas. In fact, it is fairly simple to disconnect electric and Internet service to millions of customers, if the FBI is desperate to save the life of an FBI agent.

It is also much easier to trace an ISP address than suggested in the opening sequences. There is no chance that a modern ISP would be unwilling or unable to shut down not only the origin of such an Internet snuff site (and also the mirrored sites). This may have been more difficult ten years ago at the dawn of the Internet, but it is relatively simple to do so in 2008.

Also, an FBI agent (and especially a computer expert) would never been so careless as to allow her daughter to play with her laptop to the point that a Trojan horse virus would infect the laptop. Is it plausible that the FBI uses laptops without firewalls or antivirus programs? In fact, the FBI must be disturbed at all the organizational weakness assumed by this snuff flick, because if this is all the taxpayers are getting with our tax money, the taxpayers need to fire everybody at the FBI and start all over again.

With these reservations, there is a lot of fine acting and camera work in this film. In fact, the appropriate emotions are displayed expertly by all the fine actors and actresses with every line of the script expertly uttered. And, the emotions and motives of the plot seem plausible, even if the plot is not plausible in many of its details.

Hairspray (2007)

Zac Rules

[10/10 · 5 August 2007]

A musical is by definition a celebration of song and dance. This film does both, in this stunning romp of a musical, set in the gritty city of Baltimore in 1962, before integration of the races is completed there.

Zac Efron is the gritty Elvis-like teen idol crush for Nikki Blonsky and one of the stars of her favorite black and white television show. In fact, Nikki and her girlfriend never miss the Corny Collins teen dance show, hosted by handsome James Marsden, similar to Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The Corny Collins show has several peculiarities, however. These include, of course, hairspray as its advertising sponsor, a token "Negro Day," in which the local black population shows off their fascinating dance moves, and a prejudiced and vain former Miss Baltimore producer, hysterically portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer. But, Nikki is obsessed with the dance show, even though she and her mother John Travolta, are "two tons of fun" in the weight department and resemble the dancing hippos of Fantasia, most of the time, as they mimic the moves they see on TV.

So, Nikki goes to detention at her high school and learns how to dance in the "Negro Day" way from the blacks also in detention at her already integrated high school. And, Nikki gets her chance to get on the television show. It goes from there, a regular Elvis story, in which a child of the lower classes makes it big in show business and wins the affection of her love interest.

Along the way, we meet fetching portrayals by Queen Latifah of a local civil rights leader and by Christopher Walken of Nikki's affectionate father. If you love song and dance and vivid portrayals of the early 1960s, with all its growing pains and celebrations, you will not just like, but adore "Hairspray."

License to Wed (2007)

Excellent

[9/10 · 26 July 2007]

John Krasinski is charming in this film, concerning the pitfalls of lack of communication and insight in himself as a prospective husband before marriage. Chicago is the setting of the young couple John and Mandy Moore, dating and then falling in love and then going through the traditional courting process. And, Robin Williams is the priest chosen for the marriage by Mandy, soon to be John's bride.

Robin is typically antic in the presentation of himself as a priest, who puts the couple through hoops, a process which supposedly enhances communication between the man and the woman. Robin, evidently, has his patented process down to a science, in which the development of marriage communication and even child rearing skills is not to be left to chance and "playing it by ear." Robin even cares enough to bug the couple's shared bedroom to make sure they don't have sex before marriage and to gather hints concerning their communications between each other.

Meanwhile, Mandy becomes excessively fixated on the small details of the wedding. She becomes frustrated by all these small things to the point she is ready to call the whole thing off. This comes to a head during the rehearsal of the wedding. A temporary breakup and the resolution of this crisis is very touching as both Mandy and John become convinced that they want only each other, through communication with friends and family.

John continues to display his lovable combination of guileless awkwardness, big eyes, handsome body, and gorgeous smile. And, Mandy is convincing as a typical young lady, who gains insight during a brief breakup and who wakes up to the reality that she cannot live without John. Finally, Robin is convincing as a hip priest, who barely escapes accusations of voyeurism and being a control freak, by not so gently guiding his clients through a preview of the challenges of married life with his almost boot camp style of counseling for engaged couples. Not every day will be roses in marriage. And, Robin does a good job of enlightening John and Mandy to inevitable problems found in many marriages. Finally, John and Mandy discover the strength of their mutual love to the point that they become life partners, committed to being with each other and destined to not being able to live without each other, overwhelming the suddenly minor disagreements and frustrations they discover along the way with the bright sunshine of their mutual love and admiration.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)

Manly Love

[9/10 · 17 July 2007]

This film manages to drag out all the stereotypes about gays and gay marriage and to actually present them in an entertaining and even uplifting manner. There is something to be said for frankness, when dealing with the inner (and outer) gayness. So, there are subplots galore involving very horny men of various persuasions and closet gays, who are inspired to come out, based on their perceptions of the openly gay marriage of Adam Sandler and Kevin James.

Adam and Kevin are hilarious as the New York firemen, who decide to undergo gay marriage, in order to gain domestic benefits. Their NYFD captain and the New York Government become suspicious, because of their long history of heterosexuality. So, an investigation commences. But, all the snitching in the world cannot break the bonds of male solidarity and affection in the end, between those firemen, who support each other and even save each other's lives.

Along the way, Adam and Kevin find out that they deeply care for each other (as friends) and that gays are real human beings, too, who deserve courtesy and respect, instead of casual loathing and fear. Even Adam opens his eyes to the tremendous hurt visited upon gays, in regard to name-calling and contempt heaped upon them. So, Adam determines that he is not going to use the hurtful words about gays any more. Just as the NAACP buried the N word, Adam buries the F word.

The film features tremendously beautiful choreography, cinematography, costumes, and music. And, one scene features the beautiful voice of Lance Bass, the out and about former member of 'Nsync.

The humor and gags, as in just about all movies featuring Adam Sandler, just "keep on coming." And at the end of the movie, the audience at my preview show could not refrain from rotating palms onto palms and applauding this tremendous romp of a movie, which simultaneously entertains and inspires.

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

More

[9/10 · 21 June 2007]

The hits keep on coming. The story of the group of handsome and charming males, who want to relieve a casino of its treasures, is irresistible to the big stars in this film. The setup allows them plenty of room to show off their various talents. So, a relaxed and compatible group of all-star actors are gathered together again, like moths drawn to a light, as in the two preceding Danny Ocean films.

The setting of Las Vegas is also irresistible, with beautiful date palm trees lining the streets, its constant solicitude of the comfort and entertainment of its many guests, its beautiful neon lights and fountains and unique architecture, and its fascinating casinos, of course. Living close to Tunica, Mississippi, with plenty of casinos of its own, I was amused to hear the lines uttered by Al Pacino, "Tunica. Isn't that where games go to die?" And, surely Tunica will never approach the brilliance of Las Vegas, which is shown off to its best advantage in this film.

Al Pacino adds much to this final film of the trilogy. Pacino knows how to assume the style of a successful and rich hotel-casino owner, without betraying boredom, impatience, or hostility. A hotel-casino owner should be the perfect host, especially during the opening day of the hotel-casino. And, Pacino is the perfect, if somewhat paranoid, host as Pacino puts on the skin of his character in a convincing manner. Also, Andy Garcia is a pleasure as the competing hotel-casino owner and co-conspirator with Danny Ocean.

The film again features computer wizardry and cunning technical gadgetry along with the quick wits and physical dexterity necessary to bring such a difficult heist off, as in the previous two films of the trilogy. This film, like Las Vegas itself, has so many attractions that it is hard to not overlook some brilliant moments in this fascinating film. The film is like the diamond necklaces, featured in the film. Every changing facet of the diamonds gives the viewer a new pleasure and delightful view.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

Avast

[9/10 · 14 June 2007]

If you like romance, fantasy, and whimsical dialog, you will love this film. The setting ranges from Singapore to the ends of the earth and beyond. The actors include pirates from every conceivable sea-faring country in the world and every accent from London Cockney to Valley Girl California.

Orlando Bloom, whether dead or alive, stirs the female heart to romance, even as cannonballs fly by enraptured faces amid pirate mayhem. Meanwhile, Johnny Depp rises from the dead to lead the Black Pearl to new miracles of bravery in the face of overwhelming forces, whether the English Navy out to stretch Johnny's neck or rival pirates, who want to merely eliminate the business competition.

This is the latest of the trilogy of films called Pirates of the Caribbean, and it sustains all the energy of its predecessors in its battle scenes and with the originality of the dialog. In addition, the score for this film features splendidly performed and stirring orchestral music.

Of course, the plot is murky, much like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, with lots of fantastical creatures and situations. So, this film might be even better at the second viewing, as somewhat puzzling dialog and motifs begin to resolve.

Ahoy and smartly there, me hearties, mates, and sea dogs. Don't miss boarding for this pirate voyage, and learn something at each new turn of the helm wheel at your favorite theater.

Knocked Up (2007)

Charming

[9/10 · 11 June 2007]

This movie reminds me of my own youth, when I experimented with marijuana and other drugs, and when I lived in an apartment with other irresponsible young males, living week to week, from slender paycheck to slender paycheck. And, then I found a woman, who had a real job and was not content to live on cheap thrills and silly male self-indulgence.

This is the lifestyle, also, of Seth Rogen in this film, when he encounters Katherine Heigl as a young woman, who is celebrating a new job at a bar. Seth, even though he is overweight and not exactly mature, comes on to her. They wind up in bed. Eight weeks later, she calls him with the news that she is pregnant.

Suddenly, Seth has to grow up fast and lose the marijuana habit, so that he can support his woman and his fast-arriving little baby. Like Sleeping Beauty, Seth's maturation, as a potential husband and father, suddenly has to quicken from its long slumber. And, Seth is as amazed as the viewers are, when all these mature feelings suddenly spring to life, like a flower that reaches its time to bloom.

Another touching part of this film is the realistic depiction of pregnancy and childbirth. So soon after another pregnancy film, Waitress, this film focuses, this time, more on the male side of the mating dance, just in time for Father's Day. Don't miss this film, which celebrates fatherhood.

Waitress (2007)

Life

[10/10 · 7 May 2007]

Life begins and ends in this fine production, which also celebrates motherhood, just in time for this year's celebration of Mother's Day. Keri Russell is the expectant mother, who is no longer in love with her husband, Jeremy Sisto. She remembers him getting her drunk one night, as the origin of her being knocked up. Meanwhile, she works as waitress and the "pie genius" at a pie restaurant, that serves untold numbers of different and unusual sorts of pies. In fact, she is constantly day-dreaming of different recipes for pies.

Her waitress friends are also two engaging and well-developed characters, who have problems of their own, but no pregnancy. The owner of the restaurant is Andy Griffith, who is marvelous as a grumpy but ultimately golden-hearted daily customer and confidant of Keri. Finally, Nathan Fillion is the doctor, who supervises the progress of Keri's pregnancy, with unexpected results.

Without giving away too many more of the further twists and turns of the plot, this is a charming ensemble of actors and actresses, who depict expertly the common personalities found often in small-town America, something similar to Andy Griffith's Mayberry, in fact.

But, the film's focus on a pregnant woman is touching and realistic. In fact, few films do such a good job of capturing the ambivalence and serious issues of love, life, vulnerability, violence, and death faced by a pregnant woman like this one.

Disturbia (2007)

Serial

[9/10 · 15 April 2007]

Shia LaBeouf is fascinating as a teenager, who loses his father in an automobile accident after a fishing expedition together. This, of course, disturbs Shia very much. As Shia recovers, he loses concentration in his Spanish class and is embarrassed by his teacher. Shia then lashes out physically and is arrested and taken to juvenile court, which sentences him to three months of house arrest with an ankle bracelet monitor that restricts him to within 100 feet of his house. Shia is banned from using his usual video games and IPOD by his mother. So, Shia becomes bored and begins to spy on his neighbors with binoculars. And, one neighbor becomes suspected by Shia of being a serial killer.

The film does a good job of not only describing a typical teenager confined in his house but also the outward normalcy of David Morse as a serial killer in a suburban setting. Dennis Rader might have been the model for David Morse, who has a habit of binding his victims and then killing them. These separate themes of a bored teenager spying on his neighbors and a serial killer pursuing his gruesome work behind a veil of respectability come together, at the end of the movie, in a thrilling climax.

It is amusing, in this film, to see that, unlike most suburban neighborhoods, the residents of these houses seem to always be at home. And, most of the windows of the houses are wide open to peering eyes. But, for the most part, the film does communicate plausibility and resulting dramatic impact. Shia is a remarkable young actor, who inhabits his role well.

Hurricane on the Bayou (2006)

Louisiana

[8/10 · 14 April 2007]

This was an interesting IMAX movie that showed the effects of channelization and erosion on the Mississippi River Delta in Louisiana. It also describes the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the ecosystem and the people of Louisiana. I don't think the film made the best use of the IMAX format, as in previous films. But, it was interesting to see Louisiana, its flora, fauna, Cajuns, and other residents of the country, as they try to survive a hurricane, despite the loss of much of the wetlands that softened previous hurricanes and storm surges associated with the massive amounts of wind and rain accompanying such storms.

The damage done to some of the infrastructure of Louisiana has to be seen to be believed, and this film does good service of showing houses crumbling under fallen trees, utility poles pushed to the ground, a vehicle crushed by a house lifted and moved on top of the vehicle, and fishing boats pushed on top of a major highway. The city of New Orleans is shown with water covering most of their streets and the bottom floors of houses, with the only escape route for many residents being by boat.

But, New Orleans is shown to be very resilient and determined to build itself back even better than before. And, the actors and actresses in this film are all very talented musicians, for the most part. So, the film is full of music, including zydeco, blues, and other local songs. All in all, this proves to be a pleasant way to spend an hour or two, despite the unpleasant damage done by the storm.

300 (2006)

Blood

[10/10 · 11 April 2007]

This is just an awesome film. It combines the feel of a video game with the realism of cinematography and the fascination of ancient history. Gerard Butler is outstanding as King Leonidas of Sparta, a warrior, a husband, a poet, and a king.

The bloody action is incredible, with heads chopped off, arrows and spears piercing every organ of the body, and all the majesty and paraphernalia of ancient warfare, including elephants and a rhino and monsters and a hunchback traitor and shields massed together in the phalanx formation. The well-known story of the decisive heroism of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae in Central Greece in 480 B.C. against the invading Persian hordes of Xerxes is explored in detail.

The male bodies are well-developed, as Spartans should be. Their attitudes toward warfare and freedom are also full of definition. War is seen as a chance for glory and beauty, even in death. And, the death of the 300 Spartans offered Athens the time to prepare for the naval battle of Salamis during the following month, which forced Xerxes to retreat back to Asia.

Warfare in this film is shown to be an artistic exercise, in many respects. And, Homer would have been proud to endorse this film, which combines many of Homer's themes of warfare as found in the Iliad. Finally, perhaps freedom is not "free," but rather simply the consequence of sacrificial heroism in the face of almost overwhelming odds, a feast of patriotism, warrior skills, and death.

Premonition (I) (2007)

Intrigue

[9/10 · 17 March 2007]

Sandra Bullock is unique in her passion in roles that involve a husband and children. She inhabits her character in this film especially well. Bullock not only acts the role of the adoring wife but actually identifies with that role. It must be close to her own heart and life experience.

The film is touching in the sense that Bullock as the wife has a premonition so real that she has difficulty sorting out the dreamlike premonition with the reality of her continuing life. Women are famous for their intuition and their premonitions. Perhaps, this is an evolutionary protective device for our human species, that makes the female more sensitive to certain clues given by the environment. Whatever the case, the premonition in this film is so vivid and overwhelming that schizophrenia is suspected by Bullock and a psychiatrist she visits. But, gradually Bullock gets a grip on reality and defends not only her own sanity but the physical health of her family. She becomes "superwife" and "supermother" as she uncovers an affair that her husband is concealing and yet forgives him and tries to save him from a tragic death.

Several scenes are especially compelling. One is a scene in which Bullock hysterically demands that a closed coffin be opened, which contains her husband's broken body. Another scene is when Bullock finds her husband unexpectedly in the shower and holds him like a long lost baby that she desperately wants to protect. Bullock knows how to show affection for the adult male of the species like no other actress alive or dead, in my opinion. God bless you, Sandra Bullock, for being the beautiful woman you are, inside and out.

Breach (2007)

Revealing

[10/10 · 19 February 2007]

Ryan Philippe has improved as an actor in every film. This one is no exception. This time, he is an employee of the FBI, who is assigned the task of investigating and helping to arrest the most dangerous spy ever to infiltrate the FBI, Robert Hanssen, who is played by Chris Cooper, in a nuanced performance. Caroline Dhavernas, who plays Ryan's wife, is also convincing.

Besides being a top information officer in the FBI, Robert Hanssen was a notorious spy for the Soviet Union in the seven year period right before the "Evil Empire" fell apart in 1991. Hanssen was directly responsible for the exposure and deaths of several turncoats inside the KGB. In exchange for the information, Hanssen (like Aldrich Ames before Ames' arrest in 1994) was paid hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars by the Soviets. Having almost reached mandatory retirement age in the FBI, Hanssen was finally arrested in 2001. Hanssen was later sentenced to life in solitary confinement in a federal prison.

The film has splendid cinematography of various scenes in the Washington, D.C., area. The plot is arresting and dramatic. Fascinating details concerning the inner workings of the FBI, including office politics and jealousy, are explored.

Those who work in the FBI are shown to be under a lot of pressure and ambivalence with strict rules and austerity. Perhaps, this is necessary in a taxpayer-supported government agency. But, this bureaucratic and financial pressure may be a factor in the large number of turncoats that appear in the American law enforcement and intelligence agencies, from time to time.

Casino Royale (2006)

Exciting

[9/10 · 21 January 2007]

The first thing to be admired about this new version of Casino Royale is the title sequence, which includes beautiful animation combined with a new arrangement of James Bond songs. A montage of card symbols appears and disappears like a fractal. The credits at the end include some nice songs, also.

The new James Bond is Daniel Craig. The main prerequisite of any James Bond should be that he doesn't mind taking off his shirt to share his nice body. Daniel Craig does his duty well in this regard and also handles the other demands of the role with style, grace and plenty of costume changes.

The plot does not disappoint, either. There is plenty of fast-paced action with twists. The setting ranges from London to the Bahamas to Montenegro to Venice, with excellent cinematography.

There are other things to admire in this creative effort, besides the essential elements of the cast, plot, and cinematography. It is time for a new generation of James Bond actors, and Daniel Craig does not disappoint. A fresh view of a classic film is hard to bring off. I particularly admired the brilliantly executed scene in which Daniel Craig is poisoned by something slipped into his drink and the ensuing chaos involving a defibrillator. The pacing was so realistic that I gasped and put my hand over my own heart.

We Are Marshall (2006)

Sublime

[9/10 · 24 December 2006]

Marshall University must be an extraordinary place in Huntington, West Virginia. In the middle of the campus is a fountain that is cut off once a year to honor the football team members who perished in a plane crash in 1970. The community of scholars pauses to honor the young athletes and the coaches who left their football team to struggle with only three varsity players surviving to play on the 1971 team. Of course, Marshall has to regroup and recover slowly from such an immense tragedy.There is some thought at first to simply forfeit the next season. But, gradually Marshall rises from the ashes to reclaim its football greatness. The film includes images and music from the early 1970s to bring this time back 35 years later. Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox are the coaches of the new team, who give much skill and strength to their portrayals. "We Are Marshall" becomes a chant among them similar to the effect that "Never Again" became for the Jews after the Holocaust. The meaning in both cases is the same courageous defiance in the face of death: "We Will Survive and Thrive Again."

The Queen (2006)

Regal

[8/10 · 25 November 2006]

This film effectively describes some aspects of the history of the British royal family in the narrow period between the accession of Tony Blair as prime minister and the funeral of Princess Diana. Queen Elizabeth II, evidently, considers her subjects in a personal and familial manner. As any mature woman, she is offended by harsh criticism but undergoes a transformation as she reacts to the upstart Blair's attentions toward her, in response to the huge outpouring of raw emotion after the death of Princess Diana.

So, Elizabeth II combines the best features of an ideal modern-day monarch: proper devotion to the traditions and prerogatives of her position, a motherly devotion to her subjects, and a willingness to bend in a dignified manner as she encounters spirited opposition from those she loves and admires. It is a balancing act on a tight-wire that Elizabeth II manages to pull off with the grace that is expected and required, for the sake of her grandchildren and her nation.

Meanwhile, the film is full of superb cinematography and charming glimpses at her family's interest in Scotland, hunting, pet dogs, palaces, relations with her mother and husband and son and grandsons, four-wheel automobile driving, and gorgeous gardens. This leads to empathy for what can be described as a basically happy, if grief-stricken, family faced with the death of a loved family member.

Elizabeth II shows her inner strength by upholding the best traditions of her serene and royal family with charm and grace. In the end, the deep layer of affection among her subjects is strengthened yet again by her majesty, as a result of Diana's tragic death.

Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006)

Whoa, Dude!

[2/10 · 16 November 2006]

Jack Black continues his psychopathic obsession with satirizing the great rock stars in this preposterous farce of a movie. He and his partner are Tenacious D, which is the most profane, raucous, drugged, and filthy rock band of all time. If you like this kind of Neanderthal farce filled with all of the sophomoric paraphernalia of rock bands, more power to you. And, if you love drugs and gratuitous profanity of the most juvenile nature, you will love this film. But if you have more things on your mind than which rock star wields the most demonic pick on a guitar, please avoid this film like the bubonic plague or the AIDS virus. The rock gods are fully satirical in their own silly majesty without depending on disgusting and fat boys like Black to characterize them. I guess Black does seem to be converted to a hatred of Satan in the end. But, those creepies and lifeforms with French-fried brains who worship rock and drug paraphernalia shouldn't be expected to appreciate this nuance of salvation through grace. Just say no! There are some nice-looking extras in this film, though. And, Satan really puts on an impressive rock show in this film, unlike the pathetic Tenacious D.

Invincible (2006)

Wonderful

[10/10 · 28 October 2006]

For those who are fans of professional football, this movie is as good as the film "Hoosiers" was for high school basketball fans. The game of football is only for those who are not only tough, but determined, especially at the professional level. Injuries are common. Mark Wahlberg shows that he has what it takes as he continues his masterful portrayal of lower middle class characters, who overcome lack of education and poverty to show courage and insight and determination on the way to the achievement of success and victory. Greg Kinnear plays the legendary Coach Vermeil, who took an unmotivated and disheartened Philadelphia Eagles to victory in the mid 1970s and eventually to the Super Bowl.

Wahlberg and Kinnear have something in common. Both men started their careers doing something else than acting, Wahlberg as a rap musician and Kinnear as a talk show host. Both have achieved the ability to morph themselves into their respective roles in a convincing manner.

This is also another delightful depiction of the mid-1970's era, similar to that found in "Boogie Nights," also starring Wahlberg. Wahlberg seems to have an affinity to films of that period, so full of chaos, violence, change and drama.

The Covenant (2006)

Excellent

[10/10 · 23 September 2006]

This movie is worth seeing for the opening title sequence alone, which matches images and music together in a rhythmic montage, while previewing motifs of the film with stunning transitions and sound effects. And, this high level of computerized special effects and photography and rocking music is generally sustained throughout the film. Autumn scenery and the picturesque buildings of the former realm of the witch hunters of the Massachusetts Bay Colony successfully invoke spookiness appropriate to the season and the themes of the movie. The young male actors are easy on the eyes, especially Steven Strait in the shower and swimming scenes. And, the plot is intriguing as it explores the consequences of a mysterious covenant among five families descending from the 1692 witches of Ipswich, Massachusetts. The line of male descendants on their eighteenth birthday ascend to supernatural powers common to witches. Of course, this necessarily involves teenage rivalries and rumbles that take on heightened dimensions, as the covenant members use supernatural powers to escape the normal consequences of youthful follies and to express overwhelming urges toward love and loyalty and pride.

Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon (2005)

Otherworldly

[10/10 · 19 September 2006]

I saw this movie at our local IMAX theater at the Pink Palace Museum, Memphis, which has a screen that is about 30 feet high. The scenes of the Moon were so detailed that it was a sensory overload for me. So, I had to restrict my vision (and attention) to just a small section of the screen to avoid dizziness and vertigo. It must take a strong constitution to be an astronaut, due to an inevitable sensory overload. I get dizzy just climbing up a ladder. I know I would get a severe case of vertigo if I actually witnessed the Earth rising above the wasteland of the Moon. But, this film is excellent for young adventurers, who aspire to travel to the Moon. I am sure that vacations to the Moon will be as numerous in coming centuries as cruises to the Caribbean are today. The numerous scientific skills associated with space travel are endlessly fascinating to developing young minds. Tom Hanks, however, does a good job of warning us of the dangers of space flight and the heroism of American astronauts, who, quite literally, gave their lives to the pursuit of the dangerous vocation of space travel and exploration.

World Trade Center (2006)

Bravery and Courage

[9/10 · 3 September 2006]

Oliver Stone reconstructs another epic, this time the tragedy of the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. Stone focuses on two New York policemen who were trapped beneath the debris from the falling buildings. Nicolas Cage does a nice job depicting one of the policemen. The bravery of those who have a family and who choose to survive until rescue is realistically depicted. Certainly, it would be easy to just give up and shoot yourself as one of the other policemen chooses to do. But, winners never quit, and Nicolas Cage shows himself to be a winner. And, it could be easy for America to just give up in the face of the overwhelming malice of Islamic terrorists. But, perhaps it would be better to never quit. Bravery and persistence in the face of evil is the predominant tone of this movie. Stone does a good job also of depicting the charming families of the policemen trapped under the rubble, as they are driven to fear and hysteria and then hope and triumph as they desperately seek information concerning the fates of their loved ones.

In regard to the tragedy itself, it would seem that skyscrapers are inherently vulnerable to terrorist attacks because of inadequate fire protection services. A single source water based sprinkler system is clearly inadequate for such multi-story buildings. Much better would be redundant fire protection systems available for these dangerous buildings. For example, an automatic halon fire protection system for each computer system should be required. And, numerous dry fire extinguishers should be available in readily accessible panels on each floor to allow occupants to fight the fires themselves. It was obvious by the numerous fires in this film that destroyed the iron superstructures on each building that not enough fire protection services were available inside the buildings. And, where were the fire fighting helicopters frequently used in fighting huge fires in California this past summer, for example? In other words, the fire fighting effort was clearly inadequate, both in design and execution.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Cute Movie

[9/10 · 27 August 2006]

This is a charming, if quirky, film. The film chronicles the experiences of an unusual group of 6 family members, ranging from age 7 to maybe 87, who are traveling from Albuquerque to California in an aging Volkswagen bus to a Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. The travelers range from the little contestant herself to a profane grandpa, who also snorts heroin. Meanwhile, a middle-aged married couple (and the parents of the little contestant) are in the front seats handling the driving chores, including Greg Kinnear, who makes a very good performance as one of those Zig Ziglar style of professional motivators. The other two main characters include the brother of the wife, who also happens to be gay and recovering from an attempt at suicide. And, finally, there is the 15 year old son of the married couple, who is trying to be disciplined so he can be accepted at the Air Force Academy. The film is full of charming incidents that show off the humanity of all the characters, as they are constrained to bear each other's company in a spirit of family solidarity and persistence and determination. Travel can be educational and even broadening in the sense that family members have to be in close quarters with each other for a change and solve problems together, and certainly not merely to enjoy the trip.

Scary Movie 4 (2006)

Scary?

[4/10 · 30 June 2006]

Well, not quite scary. More like goofy. I think the slapstick of this movie is like whistling in a cemetery, false bravado. The world is a scary place, and it does no good to simply gloss over horror by ignoring and laughing at it with hysteria, in my opinion. This movie is too clever by half. The War of the Worlds is parodied as simply an excuse for non-stop Saturday Night Live gags. Saw and Saw II are the occasion for Shaquille O'Neal and Doctor Phil, of all people, to share a torture chamber. And, other references to movies such as Brokeback Mountain and others are simply the background for ridiculous and even disgusting behavior. Craig Bierko and Beau Mirchoff are charming as the War of the Worlds father and son. The other members of the ensemble are only mildly entertaining as they woodenly go through their paces and utter their silly lines. The utter silliness of the parody is annoying as well as shallow. Horror is real. Slapstick comedy is real. But, it is really boring to see horror assigned to updated Abbott and Costello or Three Stooges gag routines. This debases both genres.