Apr (NF26/MM4/CC8)

* Man of the Year: (2006 - Comedy, drama, suspense) Starring Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, Lewis Black and Jeff Goldblum. This political satire is a great comedic drama. Robin Williams debating politicians is worth watching, as were the performances by the rest of the cast (other than the lead . The story itself was lukewarm. A late night talk show host runs for president - and Wins! Throw in some romance, and a suspense thriller angle and you end up deflecting from the main premise of the film - Robin Williams cracking jokes at the expense of American politics. The satire isn't all that biting, but the performances were pretty good. 3 out of 5.
* The Parallax View: (1974 - Thriller, suspense, drama) Warren Beatty stars in this conspiratorial political thriller. After a U.S. Senator is assassinated, Warren Beatty becomes involved in a suspensful mystery involving a secret organization fronted by a multinational corporation. As he infiltrates deeper and deeper into the organization, the tables start to turn. Who's infiltrating who? Is Beatty's character being recruited, or is he infiltrating this secret organization? Very well written movie, with elements of espionage, mystery, and political intrigue. Terrific camera work, a great score and outstanding pacing. 4 of 5.
* Galaxy Hunter: (2004 - Sci-fi, action, fantasy) Wow! Amazingly bad, Soft-core, bad sci-fi b-movie. The acting was bad - Really bad. The 'Way over the top' performance by the villain was so bad it was funny. The composition, and sound work were terrible. The choreography pitiful, the special effects laughable, the cgi so bad that it looked like something out of a 70's video game. The story? I really have no idea what this movie was about. Everything else was so bad, that I lost track of the story fifteen minutes into the movie. Something about an all woman group of bounty hunters. This movie was so bad, I found myself fastforwarding to the next T&A scene. The only redeeming feature of this movie? The fact that it featured some large breasted babes, vainly struggling to advance their careers by showing their tits on the screen. How pathetic is that? Watching these really bad movies, makes me appreciate the really good movies. 1 out of 5.
* Magnolia: (1999 - Drama) Recommended by people at work. This was another one of those 'Many films equals on' movies. Garbage I say. After three and a half hours I was vainly hoping that these interseting, well written, well acted vignettes would somehow tie together. What do I get instead? Frogs! What they? Here are several vignettes with one overarching theme. Despair, depression, angst, and life's deceit. While the vignettes were well written, they were for the most part, unbeleivable flashes of hollywood's mistaken presumption to real life. There are far too many themes here to make sense of. Somehow the writer/director (Paul Thomas Anderson), was trying to unite a dozen different emotional themes. It didn't work. By the end of the movie, the only thing that stood out were the performances. Oh yeah, the sound work was horrible. While it was well matched to the movie, it was continous, and often louder than the dialog. 2 out of 5.
* Crank: (2006 - Action, drama, crime) From Kim's queue. I was planning to avoid this movie. This IS an Action Movie. The premise is laid out in the first five minutes of the movie. From that point on it's a rollercoaster ride of rip roaring action sequences, abbreviated by the plot and some character development. The film style was very well done. The graphics and editing were excellent. The casting good and the acting fair. The public sex scene was uncalled for, and the violence a bit too much for me. I'm rating it as an action flick. For that I give it 3 out of 5.
* The Paradine case: (1947 - Drama, suspense) A coutroom drama starring Gregory Peck, Ann Todd, Charles Laughton, Charles Coburn and Ethel Barrymore. This is my least favorite Hitchcock movie. While the acting is excellent, and the writing well done, the pacing is too slow, and the suspense lacking. The best part of this movie is the acting, despite the poor casting. The story is a murder mystery where the primary suspect is the young wife of a blind but wealthy retired colonel. The movie attempts to make a mystery out of the affairs of the heart. Unfortunately, there's very little uncharted territory in this rather pedantic drama. 2 out of 5.
* * Star Trek - The original series - Vol. 28, episodes 55 & 56: [Assignment Earth / Spectre of the gun]: I've started viewing episodes of the original Star Trek series. I watched it as a kid when I was growing up (Yow! that makes me... old?), and I loved it back then. You know what? I still love it. My friends and I used to pretend to be members of the 'Starship Enterprise'. Assignment Earth treated Time Travel (via sling shot around the sun) as a routine effort when the Enterprise is sent to perform a historical research mission. This episode featured some fine acting by Robert Lansing as an advanced Human raised by aliens. In this episode Lansing's character is attempting to thwart an otherwise deadly nuclear arms race. The crew of the Enterprise find themselves in the way of this mission. In Spectre of the gun, Kirk and crew find themselves forced to replay the deadly consequences of the 'O.k. corral shoot - out'. Unfortunately, they're on the losing side. The first episode was pretty good, while the western one smacked of 'Gun Smoke'.
* First Blood: (1982 - aka Rambo first blood / Action, drama) The original Rambo movie. This one is definitely worth watching. Not a patriotic poser or some politically correct placebo. This one featured some tense drama, and excellent action scenes. John Rambo is damaged goods from the Vietnam War. Wandering the North-West, he's picked up for 'Vagrancy' by a belligerent small town cop, and the results are nothing less than spectacular. Some excellent acting by Sylvester Stallone and Brian Dennehy. 4 out of 5.
* Lord of the Flies: (1963 - Drama, adventure) Film adaptation of a novel by William Golding, I never actually read it. A group of young boys survive a plane crash. Stranded on a deserted island, one group establishes rules and strives to civilized. The other group chooses violence and pleasure, passing the day by playing games and hunting wild pigs. Excellent cinematography, great music and perfect pacing. The acting wasn't acting at all. The entire cast was untrained amateurs. The story is tense and compelling, as the leaders of the two factions come to an inevitable confrontation. The ending sequence is excellent. 4 out of 5.
* The Sting: (1973 - Drama, crime, comedy) A serious crime drama, with a comedic touch and some great music. Fantastic cast and acting, starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Charles Durning, and others. A classic in the heist/con-man category. Two washed up con-men team up to pull a con on a gangster. In a high stakes gambit, they initiate an intricate scheme designed to take this mobsters money. The story was fantastic, the direction excellent and the acting superb. Director George Roy Hill (from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) does an excellent job at this film. Once the story gets going, you can't pull yourself away. There are plenty of twists and turns, enough to keep you hooked, but not so many that your head starts swimming. There's a twist at the end, and it's a wonderful one. Something I didn't see coming. I could watch this movie again and again and again. An ageless classic. 5 out of 5.
* Servants of twilight: (1991 - Horror, thriller) The only name in this movie that I recognized was Bruce Greenwood (he played John F. Kennedy in Thirteen Days). This adaptation of a Dean Koontz novel lacks anything original. A supernatural thriller where members of a cult like church are out to murder a young boy they believe to be the anti-christ. The story is a very shallow plot, where one side is on the run, while the other side keeps trying to assassinate the other party. There's the typical inside betrayal angle, and in the end this 'anti-christ' thriller failed to thrill with it's highly predictable 'anti-climactic' ending. 2 of 5. Do yourself a favor, read the book instead, I've heard that it's much better.
* Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy: (2004 - Comedy) I own this one. Will Ferrell at his funniest. What a laugh fest. Written by Adam McKay & Will Ferrel, Directed by Adam McKay. I thought it was just going to be another one of those extended 'Saturday Night Live' skits. You know, some yucks, and a 'little' story. Well, it was much more. A LOT of laughs, and a little story. Seriously though, the story was thin at best. I could care less about 'Ron Burgundy', he was just a good reason to poke fun at the 70's, ourselves and goofy anchormen. 'Great Odin's beard' this was a funny movie. Everyone in the movie was funny. The news team fight scene was awesome. The soundtrack was great. The lines were brilliant. This movie gets a 5 out of 5.
* Grand Illusion: (1937 - Drama, war, romance, comedy / France - Grande illusion, La) In this movie, three French officers from different walks of life are taken prisoner at the onset of World War I. As the movie starts out, they're trying to escape from a German POW camp. As the movie unfolds, we come to realize that this movie is much more than a prison break movie. It's a study on classes of society, international relations, an anti-war film, a moving drama featuring outstanding dialog, excellent acting, writing and directing. This black and white movie, made in the 30's was an excellent transfer, and the craftsmanship surpasses many modern movies. 4 out of 5.
* Princess Mononoke: (Animation, adventure, fantasy, adventure / Japan - Mononoke-hime) Japanese anime is one of least favorite genres, but this movie came up as a NetFlix recommendation, so I figured I'd give it a try. Oh, yeah, that and the fact that it's won numerous awards. The story is a very intricate epic where the excesses of advancing civilization threaten to destroy powerful forces of nature, thus lessening human existence forever. The leader of a Eastern tribe destroys a demon corrupted by hatred and Western poison. Unfortunately his valiant actions result in a curse which infects him with a slowly advancing poison. In his quest to right the wrongs which spawned this evil, he travels to the West, engages the forces of the enemy, and attempts to restore order to the natural world. The story was extremely well told through the animation format, and a story of this scope couldn't easily be told in any other format. The writing was good, but the slant was anti-western. Powerful social messages are conveyed in a heavy handed manner, but the writers intentions seem pure. Do yourself a favor and listen to the Japanese language version. I made the mistake of choosing the English version, and the voices didn't fit the characters. Billy Bob Thornton was a horrible choice. 3 of 5.
* * Star Trek - The original series - Vol. 29, episodes 57 & 58: [Elaan of Troyius / The Paradise Syndrome]: I've been watching episodes of the original Star Trek series for the last couple of years. I watched it as a kid when I was growing up (Yow! that makes me... old?), I loved it back then, and I still love it. My friends and I used to pretend to be members of the 'Starship Enterprise', and this television series was a great source of imaginative exercise while I was growing up. Elaan of Troyius found the Enterprise on a mission of diplomacy to end decades of warfare and unite two warring races. When the Klingons get involved it's an exercise is Star Fleet tactics. The Paradise Syndrome was another 'Idyllic civilization on the verge of destruction' episodes. Kirk and crew are on a mission to divert a divert a deadly asteroid. Kirk ends up stranded on the planet, where he is mistaken as a demigod. Eventually, Kirk and crew unravel the mystery of the planets progenitors, stave of planetary destruction, and preserve the existence of the planets peaceful inhabitants. In both episodes, Kirk manages to win over the hearts, and then bed, the beautiful alien women. Classic Star Trek.
* Idiocracy: (2005 - Comedy, satire) Written and directed by Mike Judge (Office Space, Beavis & Butthead). This brutally satirical comedy, starring Luke Wilson, pokes a stick directly into America's sleepy, half-open, lazy eye. Average joe soldier and a street walker, are chosen to be subjects of an army experiment which goes awry. Placed in suspended animation, they're awakened in the year 2505, five hundred years later than initially planned. In this dystopian future, the dimwit of today is a genius of the future. While the acting is mediocre, the story is a biting satire on the state of American culture, and the laughs are a bit distressing - It makes you think, could this really be our fate? This controversial film, which pokes serious fun at corporate sponsors, was penalized by it's parent (who can't take a joke) for being too up front about the dumbing down of America. Thankfully, it was released, and we're the lucky consumers. Many of the lines are comic gold. "It's got 'lectrolytes!". 4 out of 5.
* Fletch: (1985 - Comedy, crime, mystery) Chevy Chase stars in this witty comedy as a wise-cracking investigative journalist. The pacing in this movie was excellent. The jokes are subtle, and Chevy Chase was excellent in the role. Chevy Chase goes undercover in an attempt to break a story about drugs infiltrating L.A. In a seemingly unrelated sub-plot, a wealthy bussiness man offers Chevy a pile of cash, if he'll murder him? As Chevy attempts to unravel theses mysteries, he dons various disguises and lays it on thick with the one-liners. Add in some excellent music and you've got an excellent movie. It almost felt as if the producers took a movie that was supposed to be a serious crime drama, and asked Chevy to improvise all his lines. Great writing, with a plot that kept me interested despite it's hollywood flavor. Chevy Chase shines in the klieglight of this comedy. 4 out of 5. FYI: As of 16 Apr 07, this movie is not available on NetFlix. I wonder why? Bill Lawrence (Writer of Scrubs t.v. series) is slated to film a prequel during the summer of 2007, the film will star Zach Braff as Fletch.
* Monster: (2003 - Drama, crime, romance) Based on the true life story of Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute who became a serial killer. Starring Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci. This powerful but dark tale featured some excellent performances (by Charlize Theron) and writing. As an abused prostitute struggles to keep her soul above water she stumbles into a co-dependency trap without realizing what's happening. As the pair of despondent women find each other, they do things that no sane person would in order to find the love they crave so much. A movie about a serial-killer, where you end up feeling sympathy for the murderous lead? A story about the consequences of hate and prejudice, the dangers of separation and loneliness. What happens when the world casts you out, and you separate yourself from the 'others'? Very difficult to watch, but so powerfull in the telling. The only let down in this movie was the writing around the 'other' character. It seemed as if Christina Ricci's role/character was minimalized for some reason. A very weak presentation of teh 'other' woman in this twisted relationship. 4 out of 5.
* The Eiger Sanction: (1975 - Drama, action, thriller) Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this spy thriller. A very hollywood plot drives some rather thin characters. A secret branch of the CIA calls Eastwood's character out of retirement in order to perform some 'Sanctioned' killings. Tit-for-tat reprisals in a traditional spy-vs-spy cliche. The leader of Eastwood's secret mission is an Albino who can't stand the light of day. Eastwood's character is a college professor (a Doctor?) who no longer has a taste for killing. Despite his protestations, he agrees to murder the other sides spies when his collection of original paintings is threatened? In a strange twist, a second murder offers a bigger payoff. Eastwood's character must climb the Eiger (a Mountain in the Swiss Alps) in order to kill the opposing spy. The screenplay was crap, the plot mechanisms were preposterous, the acting was mediocre at best, and the directing was poor (yes Eastwood's directing). Thankfully, the mountain climbing scenes were excellent. If not for the locations and misplaced focus on mountain climbing, this movie would rate pretty poorly. 3 out of 5.
* The Twilight Samurai: (2002 - Drama, action, period / Japan - Tasogare Seibei) An excellent movie in all regards. Wonderful masterpiece. The writing and acting were outstanding. The story of a mediocre Samurai is narated (after the event) by his Daughter. After the death of his wife, this humble man does his best to provide for his children and his elderly mother. Unfortunatley, circumstances (feudal tensions at the end of the Tokugawa era) won't let him rest, and he's called upon to perform the duties demanded by his position, clan, and honor. Superb production, direction and acting mark this remarkable film. The pacing and dialog are perfectly matched. The sets, costumes and locations perfect. The camera work was excelent and the music enchanting. The acting was truly exceptional. This is a excellent film. 5 out of 5 and I'm adding it to my list of 'must buy' movies.
* * * Freaks and Geeks - The complete series (a six disc series). I recently began watching these television shows on DVD. I was surprised to learn that this NBC series only ran for a single season. I found it "Awesome!" I was instantly transported back to my high school - where I was a freak and a geek. Many of the actors were too old for the roles they were cast in, but the acting was excellent. One of the best episodes (on disc 1 (three episodes)) was the 'Halloween' episode, where Bill (played by Martin Starr) dresses up as 'the Bionic Woman'. The cast did a magnificent job of portraying that 'lost' feeling you experience as a kid in high school. You never really know what clique you're supposed to fit into, and your parents are as alien as Toasters to Coyotes? I also loved the socially responsible way that the producers handled the 'teen drinking' issue/episode. They managed to do justice to the theme without resorting to glamorization. A very evocative series. If this first disc is any indication, I'm in for an awesome experience. 4 out of 5.
* The Naked City: (1948 - Crime, drama, action) A black and white film noir style crime drama. Filmed on location in NewYork city. It's easy to see this movie as the basis for the television series 'Drag Net'. In documentary style narration, a crime is exposed, and the criminals pursued. The movie opens with the commision of a crime, but the criminals are unknown. As the story unfolds, we watch the inner workings of the police department as they sleuth out the killers in this excellent movie. Great camera work, writting, and editing mark this movie as a landmark in the genre. The acting for the most part was good, but it's the story that keeps you riveted to the screen in this crime drama. There's a lot of forensic work shown in this movie, and I was thoroughly convinced by the mounting evidence. The music was also a plus, and it helped maintain tension and suspense as the clues led to the killer. 4 out of 5.
* The Passion of Joan of Arc: (1928 - Drama, historical, silent / France - Passion de Jeanne d'Arc, La) Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, this silent, black and white film is an amazing work of art. The camera work is magnificent. The copy, despite it's age - is fantastic. Here is the story of the trial of Joan of Arc. The portrayal of Joan by Maria Falconetti is simply captivating. Viewed with a score composed years after the movie, this film is chock full of emotion. The acting is so powerful that words are unnecessary. The only criticism I can possibly level is the pacing. This movie was very slowly revealed - painfully slow at times. Based on actual historical fact, this movie portrays the martyr's final days. A landmark achievement in the early days of cinema. 4 out of 5.
* The Gaurdian: (2006 - Action, drama, military) This movie was in Kim's queue. It was in my 'movies to avoid' list, but I didn't have anything else to watch. Garbage. Nothing new whatsoever. This movie was filled with sterotypical cliches, hollywood tripe, and ridiculously old actors trying to portray young men. The only redeaming features were the short amount of time devoted to actual military training, and the interaction between Kostner and Kutcher. I thought they were well matched in casting. A sappy, melodramatic amalgam of Top Gun and Officer and a Gentleman. Hoaky in the extreme. I found myself making involuntary gagging noises. Sorry Kim. 2 out of 5.
* History of the World - Part I: (1981 - Comedy, history, fantasy) Mel Brooks does it again. This comedy stars Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Gregory Hines and several other excellent comedic actors. Not as good as Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs or Blazing Saddles. This very funny movie illustrates the history of mankind from the time of the caveman up until the French revolution. To bad they didn't make a part II. Full of social commentary and politically incorrect comedy. Irreverant slapstick that kept me laughing all the way through. Be sure to see the previews for Part II at the end of the film. Jews in space looks hilarious. 4 out of 5.
* Night at the Museum: (2006 - Comedy, adventure, fantasy) This movie was in Kim's queue. I wasn't planning on it, but I didn't have anything else to watch. Guess what? I liked it. The plot was very limited and there wasn't any character development at all. The movie is fast paced, and the acting was pretty good. The casting was excellent. The lighting was excellent and I the sound track was also well done. If you've seen the previews, you've got the plot. Museum exhibits come to life while the new nightwatchman (Ben Stiller) tries to cope with a marauding skeletal T-Rex, and liliputian romans and rampaging cowboys. A fantastic romping adventure, complicated by some unnecessary plot mechanics. 3 out of 5.
* The Proposition: (2005 - Adventure, drama, action, western / Australia) This movie was recommended by someone at work. A subtle and expansive film. Great camera work and excellent directing. The acting was also top notch. The writting was excellent, but I was definitely put off by one element of this film - The Violence. An extremely violent depiction of the Australian outback in the 1880's. A lone lawman vainly tries to bring 'civility' to this barren and untammed wilderness. Everyone elses seems focused on one thing and one thing alone - Survival of the fitest. With graphic depictions of murder, rape, heads expoding, decapitations, and several other bloody encounters, this movie makes the American west look like a sunday night rodeo at the county fair grounds. Not for the timid. Despite the excellent work, I won't recommend this to friends. It's disturbing. As the movie wrapped to a close, I realized that aside from it's extremely violent depictions of the Australian outblack, this movie didn't have much of a story to tell. Lawman tries to bring bad guy to justice. 3 out of 5.
* Vampyr: (1932 - Horror, fantasy / German - Vampyr - Der Traum des Allan Grey) Another movie by Carl Theodor Dreyer. This movie showed signs of great work. The play of shadow and light shined through the bad copy. Unfortunately, the film and sound are horribly damaged, and you can barely make out any of the scenes. The depiction of vampires is very low-key, and this movie lacks much impact. The music is great, but the audio (what little there is of it) is so poor that it detracts from the movie. The same can be said for the condition of this print. A young man decides to stay at a inn in the country side, where he encounters a castle full of haunted inhabitants. The conditions of the film, and the poor subtitling made for a wonderful sleeping aid. With 30 minutes left in the film, I missed the ending, and didn't bother rewinding. Pass on this one. 2 out of 5.
* The Hidden Blade: (2004 - Drama, romance, historical / Japan - Kakushi ken oni no tsume) Another movie by Yoji Yamada (see Twilight Samurai). This period piece is the setting for a touching romance which breaks cultural barriers and rejects caste imposed restrictions. This is no Super-Samurai war movie with flying ninjas and flashing swords. The amount of sword play is very minimal, but very well done. A less than enthusiastic Samurai finds himself contending with dangers more deadly than the sword in feudal Japan. As this man falls for the wrong woman, he must decide whether duty and honor outweigh true love. The character development was excellent. While the pacing was a bit slow, I thought it was perfectly matched to the storyline. Fabulous acting and great directing. While this was an excellent movie, I marked it down a little bit, because it contained too many of the same plot and character elements as Twilight Samurai. 4 out of 5.
* Cliffhanger: (1993 - Action, adventure, drama) A hollywood movie starring Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow (as a villain), Michael Rooker and Janine Turner. The casting was good, but the acting in this movie was poor (aside from Janine Turner), the directing sloppy, the writing abysmal, and the editing poor. The only redeeming features were the dramatic rescue at the beginning (despite the immense amount of improbable circumstances), the opening hijack scenes (despite the unbelievable premise), and the outdoor photography (that was actually well done). Aside from that, this action flick contained a slew of awful cliches, bad one-liners, idiotic characters and preposterous plot twists. I found myself suspending disbelief so often that my arms got tired. Sylvester Stallone looked good traipsing around in a t-shirt, but even Stallone's perky pecs could save this movie. Good for a laugh, but laughable at best. 2 out of 5.
* Deja Vu: (2006 - Action, thriller, sci-fi, crime, romance) A time travel movie containing excellent attention to detail. Starring Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Val Kilmer, James Caviezel and others. I found the acting good. Thankfully, Denzel's performance wasn't over the top, and Kilmer's was even better (although extremely limited). I liked the visual style of the movie, the kinetic camera movement, the MTV video style. The directors movement of the camera played well with the time shifting nature of the movie. The directing by Tony Scott (Top Gun, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State, Spy Game) was really good. This particular movie had a more genuine feel to it. Less Hollywood than his previous works. Unfortunately, I felt that the typical Bruckheimer signature of Cataclysmic explosions, roller coaster car chases and improbable shootouts detracted from the story. Denzel plays a ATF agent who attempts to stop a terrorist before he strikes. He ends up falling in love with the victim, and the ending was fairly typical for hollywood. Despite the time travel angle (which was well presented), and opportunities it offered, this movie ends up being a typical hollywood crime drama. 3 out of 5.
* A crude awakening - The Oil Crash: (2006 - Documentary, history / Switzerland) This well done dramatic documentary lays it all out for us. We are running out of oil, and the results could be disastrous. This movie is more important than 'An inconvenient truth'. I can picture a very bleak future without the color black. Presented by experts, this movie blends historical footage and a fact filled discussions about the costs of oil. The photos of the Baku oilfields really gives you a good idea of the cost of our oil dependency. Oil companies are not investing in alternative energy sources, and our government (the US) seems reluctant to invest in our nations future. There's no profit in cheaper reliable energy, and by the time it becomes a political issue, the lines will be a mile long. The documentary does an excellent job of pointing out how dependent we've become, how little oil is left, and some of the consequences should we fail to find a suitable alternative. Unlike the global warming threat. This threat will cause huge changes in the near future. I can only hope that I'm dead and buried before we start a world war over oil. 4 out of 5.
* Alien resurrection: (1997 - Action, sci-fi, fantasy) The final movie in the Alien saga. Starring Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Dominique Pinon, Ron Perlman, Gary Dourdan, Michael Wincott and others. Directed by one of my favorites - Jean-Pierre Jeunet (see Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children, Amélie, A Very Long Engagement), this movie was an excellent visual treat. The writing was somewhat limited. Simply a bug hunt on board a giant space ship. The plot is rather straight forward - As Ripley puts it "You're all gonna die". This movie focuses on entertainment in a rather hollywood style. With plenty of witty one-liners, explosions, leather clad characters, chest bursting gross out scenes, and adrenalin based pacing. The plot: Military scientists clone Ripley and surgically remove an alien. Then they start growing them - always a bad mistake... At this point, you should get the picture. Not as good as the first three, but I really liked the character interactions and the visual style. 3 out of 5. FYI: I actually marked this movie down from 4 stars to 3. It's a must see for those who've seen the first 3, but it's not as strong when you pull out the underpinning of the previous movies. On it's own it's a 3. When viewed as part of the whole, it rises to a 4.
* The Amateur: (1981 - Action, drama, thriller) Directed by Charles Jarrott (Primarily directed tv episodes), and based on a novel. This movie was pretty good. I found it thrilling despite it's non-hollywood flavor. Here's a simple CIA office worker who decides to assassinate the terrorists who killed his girlfriend. When the powers that be refuse to help him, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Through cunning work at his craft, he manages to force the hand of the director of 'the company'. They send him off for training, stall him as much as possible, and eventually infiltrated him into Czechoslovakia in order to carry out his mission. The acting (starring John Savage) is mediocre, and the directing somewhat flat, but the writing was excellent. There are plenty of dramatic plot twists, and the action isn't bad either. I liked the fact that this desk clerk wasn't portrayed as a super human assassin spy. His exploits and encounters are more realistic than some of the more recent spy thrillers. An excellent movie that kept me guessing. 4 out of 5.