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Reviews
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Amazing Fan Service! Must See!
If you are a fan of the Super Mario Brothers franchise, and have grown up playing all the games, watching the shows, and have a general understanding of the characters and how they have always been portrayed, you will truly appreciate this film! The music, the little quirks of each character, the animations... It's all there.
Just how Sega did by bringing Sonic to life on the silver screen in its own way, Nintendo has managed to do the same with the Super Mario Brothers. Visual effects and sound were outstanding in the IMAX presentation. Need to see again now in 3D!
For Universal/Illumination - if you read this.. please release a special Collector's Edition Steelbook version in the USA with some awesome packaging/trinkets and provide a 4K UHD, standard Blu-Ray and 3D Blu-ray in the package when you prepare for home release and do the highest quality master possible. This definitely deserves a special treatment for the home release.
For Nintendo - Let's hope next for Zelda and others to now follow due to the amazing success! Can't wait for more!
Overall, this is a must watch for lifetime fans and newcomers of the Super Mario Brothers franchise!
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Sean Connery still has it!
If you have watched The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, then you know what I am talking about in reference to what Sean Connery adds to a film in terms of star power and the accurate depictions of the characters he portrays. If you have not yet seen "League," and would like to explore more of Connery's work in addition to it, I would suggest starting with Goldfinger (1964) - arguably the best 007 film, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989), and The Rock (1996).
Regardless, whether you are a longtime fan or newcomer to Connery's work, yet again with "League," Connery does not disappoint fans of his typical style and panache. I'll be the first to admit that this is no 007 or Indiana Jones caliber screenplay or directing performance, but "League" is still memorable to fans of Connery. Connery shines in his depiction of the storied sharp shooter Allan Quartermain from the original folklore of H. Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines in the alternate reality setting that "League" creates, and steals the show.
The majority of critics were overly harsh with this film, and were not likely in touch with the alternate fictional universe created by the writers and directors. The film was simply BASED on characters from various classic fictional sources, along with the comic/graphic novel series of the same name, and was never intended to represent those characters literally, so keep that in mind if you are well-read on the classics before watching this film.
The special effects are very good, and will not disappoint most fans of action/adventure films plotted within a fantasy setting. Combine the effects with Connery's performance, along with the rest of the cast of characters that are quickly established, a plot that moves right along at a rapid pace, and you have an experience that will keep your attention throughout as the story advances.
Despite the box office performance of "League," it truly deserves a sequel with the full cast returning considering the loose ends that are left, which I shall not reveal. Watch the film and be the judge yourself! "League" deserved much more fanfare than it received, and is easily overlooked. For Connery fans, it may very well be his last full-feature film where he reprises a leading role. Currently at 81 years of age as of this review, he is certainly not getting younger, but has clearly enjoyed a very long and storied career that spans 7 decades!
Arlington Road (1999)
Great film, shocking ending disappoints traditionalists
Arlington Road was an excellent film that takes you on a fast roller coaster thrill ride. Without a dull moment, the film hits its peak when an FBI investigator and crime forensics professor (Kurt Russel) discovers the criminal terrorist background of his shady neighbor and antagonist (Tim Robbins).
Things go from bad to worse quickly for the paranoid professor/investigator whose wife was killed during an FBI sting gone bad in the events of history that took place before the time-line that the film encompasses.
After the professor uncovers the evil bombing plot of Robbins' character, who is living under an alias, and across the street from the good professor, things go south fast. First some tense conflicts ensue, followed by Russel's girlfriend being killed in a "car accident," after getting caught doing some of her own re-con. work, finally escalating to Russel's 9 year old son being kidnapped by Robbins' character before the climatic final 10 minute sequence.
Obviously this review is a retrospective, and is intended for those who have viewed the film. With that said, I would like to discuss the climatic ending sequence that quickly became so very anti-climatic to traditionalists such as myself: Why did the bad guys win this one? This film set up all the right pieces for a huge battle at the end between Robbins and Russel, and in the end it was Robbins' evil plot that won. It just didn't add up.
Russel's character got set up, killed and framed for the entire evil plot. THE END - The bad guys win??? I'm not denying that this certainly added a unique twist to the typical hero/villain story, especially in reference to a plot based on the terrorist attacks of Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City federal building bombing of 1995. It definitely left you scratching your head, begging for revenge, and wondering why so much injustice was dealt to protagonist, in the same spirit of mega hit "Se7en".
The film, now over a decade old hasn't received a version with a plot-changing alternative to date (although alternate endings exist). Personally, I would suggest a revival of this story with a choice of an alternative ending where the bad guys lose and get caught by the FBI along with a warm reunion between Russel and his son. I suppose that enough films with that level of vindication exist, but this was a very well done film and deserves that sort of fanfare to allow for a broader appeal. Just my 2 cents...