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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 348 responses total. |
richard
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response 254 of 348:
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Aug 27 22:03 UTC 1999 |
Video/DVD recommendation-- just bought the new DVD edition of the
Universal films 1933 classic "Frankenstein", with Boris Karloff. The DVD
features a terrific new, completely restored and uncut version of the
original film (somebody found the master print, which is great since the
film has been edited and cutup so many times over the years as its played
on tv). Also features an alternate soundtrack you can play over the movie
with that film historian from American Movie Classics (I forget his name)
which is really fascinating. As well as a full length documentary on the
making of the Frankenstein movies showing many cool clips, like Karloff
having his monster makeup applied .etc And an extensive photo archive,
showing stills and posters and publicity material for the movie. There;s
an old frankenstein cartoon on there and the movie trailer and
cast/director biographies and production notes and other stuff. This DVD
package gives the proper treatment a great and cool old movie deserves.
It is the first of what is gokng to be a series of DVD's of the old
Universal 1930's horror classics (like Bride of Frankenstein, INvisible
Man, Dracula, Wolf Man .etc) I cant wait...
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bru
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response 255 of 348:
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Aug 30 14:07 UTC 1999 |
In spite of bad reviews, we all found The 13th Warrior to be an excellent
movie.
Thats four thimbs up.
I am begining to think the reviewers in this country are full of something
other than gray matter. The historical setting is accurate, teh equipment
and clothing set well with the times. One of us had a quibble with one of
the pieces of armor, but it was a very rough version of what would have been
seen in a later period. My only quibble is that there were too many of the
enemy for what they were supposed to be at that time.
The comeraderie between the warrior, th way they worked as a group, the combat
techniques, and the encampments were all very well done and as you would
expect them to be in early midevil times. (post mohhamed)
Go. Enjoy!
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aaron
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response 256 of 348:
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Aug 30 17:03 UTC 1999 |
The 13th Warrior - D+
The vikings are pretty cool, but they are secondary characters in a poorly
plotted, poorly acted film. As Bruce suggests, the "massive enemy" is so
contrived, it is impossible to take it seriously. There are some interesting
"myth versus reality" aspects, but not much else in the movie is
particularly interesting. I have heard that this film had a $100 million
budget, yet the CGI boating scenes are *that* cheesy?
Run away! Run away!
(And now we bring this exercise in contrasts to a close. ;)
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drewmike
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response 257 of 348:
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Aug 30 17:42 UTC 1999 |
Yeah: Adam Herz was from Grand Rapids (referred to as Great Falls in the
movie) and went to U-M. It makes sense that Stifler's Mom would have a cabin
on Lake Michigan. What makes less sense is that Stifler would have a
prescription filled from a pharmacy that had a 517 area code.
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anderyn
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response 258 of 348:
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Aug 31 00:00 UTC 1999 |
Hhm. I gave "The Thirteenth Warrior" a high B plus, or four stars, or an
eight. I don't give out that many eights. I think this is the second in two
years. Maybe it's all those months I spent translating Beowulf from the
Anglo-Saxon, maybe it's the fact that most of the historical details were
spot on, maybe it's that I'm a gamer and look for different things in my
movies -- like a plausible fight, a very plausible level of action, things
like that -- but I didn't see any real problems with it, on the acting or
on the script level. (Oh. Yeah. I read "eaters of the dead" a few years
back, so I also knew that the enemy was supposed to be who they were, and
what the conceit of the movie/book was. But no one else who watched it with
me knew, and they all enjoyed it, too. The movie is about a thousand times
better realized tha the book.)
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katie
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response 259 of 348:
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Aug 31 06:07 UTC 1999 |
very much enjoyed "The Red Violin."
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richard
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response 260 of 348:
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Aug 31 23:14 UTC 1999 |
new movies in production item-- word is that United Artists has bribed
Sylvester Stallone with many millions of dollars to make Rocky VI--
thats right- coming to a theater near you next christmas, Rocky Balboa
now age 53 or so comes out of retirement with new manager Mr. T to win
back the heavyweight title. Movie will parallell the real life comeback of
George Foreman.
It sounds like Im making this up, but Im not. Rocky VI. I guess the real
question will be who dies in this one (one Rocky character dies in each
sequel) Will it be Adrian, or Paulie or Mr. T or Rocky Jr.?
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aaron
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response 261 of 348:
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Aug 31 23:50 UTC 1999 |
Movie will parallel George Foreman... So, a somewhat genial but dimwitted
Rocky, carrying about eighty extra pounds, and his ten children (boys and
girls, all named Rocky), will fight as a heavyweight (because Stallone
would be such a convincing heavyweight), and... wait -- didn't Foreman
retire again, long before he had a chance to contend for the title? Maybe
it will be like Rocky II, and Rocky will try to work his damaged brain up
to the point when he can stammer through the lines for a commercial.
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other
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response 262 of 348:
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Sep 1 01:10 UTC 1999 |
_better than chocolate_
quite possibly the most entirely entertaining movie i can remember.
rated "one of the five best lesbian movies," it is a love story with a
fairly standard gay/lesbian issue (telling the parents), but it remains
pleasantly free of cliche' and has some nice twists. really nicely
shot, intelligently written, funny, etc. and a really creative and
beautiful love scene, too.
you don't have to be a lesbian to enjoy it, either.
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mary
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response 263 of 348:
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Sep 1 12:28 UTC 1999 |
"Autumn Tale" is a charming story of a woman in mid-life who
has almost convinced herself that she is isn't up to the effort
of finding love in a long term relationship. In comes her
best friends, who feel otherwise. This isn't a Hollywood screenplay
which goes for laughs but rather for honest dialogue, played
with a light touch. Highly recommended. French subtitled.
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remmers
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response 264 of 348:
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Sep 1 13:07 UTC 1999 |
I second the recommendation for "Autumn Tale". It's yet another winner
in the series of witty comedies of manners and morals that director Eric
Rohmer has been turning out for thirty years.
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richard
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response 265 of 348:
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Sep 1 21:44 UTC 1999 |
"54"-- movie about the famous New York 70's disco, "Studio 54", with Mike
Myers as 54's egomaniacal owner, Steve Rubell. Myers is really good in
what is a dramatic, non-comedy, role. Ryan Philippe is a naive New Jersey
pretty boy that Myers/Rubell picks out of the line in front of the club
and makes a busboy and later bartender. This film has some script
problems but is in general a pretty good chronicle of the 70's disco craze
and the era of Studio 54 (the world's most famous disco at the height of
the disco craze) *** (three out of four stars, not a great film but ok)
"EDTV" Matthew Mconaughey as a guy named Ed whose life becomes chronicled
on a 24hour cable channel. This also had script problems, and Mconaughey
was the wrong person for the lead. His part should have gone to Woody
Harrelson who played his brother in thefilm. Also the ending was too
contrived. Pretty funny though. Truman Show was much better. ** 1/2
stars
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arabella
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response 266 of 348:
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Sep 2 01:16 UTC 1999 |
"The Governess" **** A really engrossing and heartbreaking
film starring Minnie Driver as a Victorian era Jewish woman
from London who hides her heritage, taking a Christian name
and becoming a governess in Scotland in order to help support
her family after her father is murdered. She falls in love
with her employer, while his son falls in love with her.
Lots of erotic scenes of passion, and a couple of glimpses of
full frontal male nudity (in case that sort of thing bothers
you -- it didn't bother me in context... it wasn't flagrant).
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md
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response 267 of 348:
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Sep 2 11:43 UTC 1999 |
I wasn't crazy about 54 (B-). The expensive-looking
set wasn't very convincing. Also, Neve Campbell's
character seemed hackneyed -- the weary, "I bet you
think this is glamorous," actress who finds coffee and
conversation at a simple diner more rewarding than drugs
and dancing at fabulous "Studio," as everyone called it
(wouldn't've made a very good title, though). Mike
Myers' sustained impression of Steve Rubell was . . .
impressive. The director had a lot of fun with Neve
Campbell's face, as directors always do.
Speaking of faces, my daughter brought home a movie
called CANDYMAN (C), which seems be about Virginia
Madsen's face more than anything else. The camera is
*always* focused in on it -- smiling, weeping, angry,
swooning, left profile, right profile, full-face. It's
a nice face, but jeez. Madsen bears up under the camera's
scrutiny quite well and does a convincing job with her
role. The title character's monotone recitations of the
silly lines he's given, which perfectly matches the
tediously droning score (by Philip Glass, of all people),
makes you almost glad he was stung to death by bees in his
former life. There were a few jump-out-at-you moments that
were more startling than scary. You can see the surprise
ending coming, but it's still pretty cool. My kids both
gave Candyman a "B," so I'm sure it has its admirers.
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scott
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response 268 of 348:
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Sep 5 01:50 UTC 1999 |
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
I'll give it a B, but with the caveat that you can't watch this movie sober
and gain any enjoyment at all. Knowing the text helps, I think (I know it
quite well), but being somewhat impaired helps quite a bit more. But with
that taken care of, it *does* do a pretty good job of carrying the tone of
the book. Even the more reflective part about the 60's culture is in there,
which I was pleasantly suprised to find.
"Waiting for Guffman"
Hmm, another B. It's sort of the Spinal Tap of local theatre. Quite funny,
but seemed a hair long to me even at it's less than 2 hour length.
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coyote
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response 269 of 348:
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Sep 5 02:03 UTC 1999 |
Saw "Run Lola Run" at the State Theater, and really enjoyed it. It was a very
unique and creative film, unlike anything I've seen before (which probably
isn't saying much -- I'm not much of a moviegoer). I won't reveal much
about the film, except that the plot is essentially that the flame-haired
Lola must obtain 100,000 marks (or was it 500,000?) within 20 minutes in
order to save her boyfriend's life. Upon seeing a preview for this movie
at the Michigan theater, I really had no interest in seeing it, but upon
the high recommendation from two friends I decided to give it a try, and
found it to be quite worthwhile. It's a fast-paced film, and one of my
friends said that she felt like everything was moving really slowly
after she came out of the theater. The film is in German with subtitles
and runs a bit less than two hours, despite all the action taking place
within 20 minutes.
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headdoc
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response 270 of 348:
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Sep 5 02:14 UTC 1999 |
Jerry and I just returned from "The Thomas Crown Affair" which we both truly
enjoyed. Thought it was fun and sexy and Rene Russo is one of the most
attractive woman I have seen.
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otaking
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response 271 of 348:
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Sep 5 06:52 UTC 1999 |
I saw Ed TV last night. It was enjoyable, but too long. Some of the subplots
just dragged on too long. Although it was more realistic than The Truman Show,
it wasn't as fun to watch. I actually found it harder to suspend my disbelief
with this film than The Truman Show. C-
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tpryan
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response 272 of 348:
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Sep 5 13:21 UTC 1999 |
I saw Bullworth last night. Didn't know it was such an
attitude adjustment' movie.
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md
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response 273 of 348:
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Sep 6 15:37 UTC 1999 |
THE SIXTH SENSE (C) -- Pretty lame. It's one of
those movies in which several key characters would
have to be stupid, or laughably inattentive, to
behave the way they do, and in which the director
repeatedly has to cut away from certain scenes and
move hastily on, in the hope that we won't notice.
Cheap trick. There were a couple of well-executed
startles, which are always fun, and the drizzly
autumnal atmosphere was just right. Bruce Willis
is his usual smirky self. The little boy is very
good. The "surprise" was figured out in the
following order, according to the people involved:
my 15-year-old-son (the movie maven in the family),
right after the opening sequence; myself, about 15
minutes in; my wife, a couple of scenes before the
truth comes out at the end; my 13-year-old daughter,
when we explained it to her on the way out to the car.
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scott
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response 274 of 348:
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Sep 6 20:38 UTC 1999 |
"13th Warrior"
Entertainingly gory.
Would have been a really kickass Xena episode. Oh wait, I think it was on
last year's season.
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scott
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response 275 of 348:
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Sep 6 23:43 UTC 1999 |
Ah, now I remember. I think 3rd season Xena, "The Horde". They came back
in a later episode, livingh in a cave!
After some reflection, I'd have to say that "13th Warrior" was pretty badly
done. But it, like Star Trek movies with even numbers, was at least quite
fun to watch.
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scott
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response 276 of 348:
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Sep 6 23:49 UTC 1999 |
Whoops, make that 2nd season Xena. Episode was called "The Price". The bad
guys were called The Horde, and were wonderfully over the top barbarian (with
bones in their noses, no less).
(can you tell I'm bored?)
(info courtesy www.whoosh.org)
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mary
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response 277 of 348:
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Sep 7 00:24 UTC 1999 |
"The Astronaut's Wife". Both lead characters had the same cool
haircut. That's the best thing I can say about this movie.
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senna
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response 278 of 348:
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Sep 7 04:34 UTC 1999 |
<steve cracks up laughing>
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