* Jeff Dunham - Arguing with myself: (2006 - Comedy) Made for television? Made to make people laugh! Lent to me by a friend. This stand-up act was hilarious. Jeff Dunham's act is ventriloquism with a variety of characters. Varied and ethnically diverse, Dunham's conversations with his 'little buddies' are Funny! His characters are stereotypical examples of Americans. Various different segments of society. Self deprecating humor from the mannequins point of view. He couldn't get away with this act without using puppets. It's fun-filled, tension relieving, and very funny. There's some adult language, but nothing too shocking. As a ventriloquist, Jeff is extremely good. The puppets seemingly act on their own, and he doesn't slip up for a minute. The accents, mannerisms, and timing were perfect. I was highly amused, entertained, and stress free for 76 minutes. 4 out of 5.
* Uprising: (2001 - Drama, historical, war, action) This made for TV was long (nearly three hours), but it was well worth it. A great cast: Leelee Sobieski, Hank Azaria, David Schwimmer, Jon Voight, Donald Sutherland, Stephen Moyer and many others. This movie tells the story of a Jewish uprising in Warsaw, Poland. After the Nazis conquered Poland, they began their scheme of genocide. Most people think that Jewish people simply gave up, surrendered to Nazi oppressors. That they went without a fight. That's just not so. There were plenty of Jews who fought the Nazis, and here's one such example. Based on historical fact, here is the story of the Warsaw ghetto uprising of 1943. Outstanding performances, excellent direction, and a great screenplay. The costumes, props and sets were simply amazing. The pacing was breakneck, and the music inspirational. Filled with tension, excellent dramatic dialogue, and some blazing action, this movie proves that made for TV doesn't necessarily mean 'sucks'. 4 out of 5.
* The Cave: (2005 - Horror, drama, adventure) Watched this on Comcast on Demand (free movies). The actors were a bunch of 'pretty boy' new talent I've never heard of before. Some guys and a few girls (of course), are sent to investigate a cave in the Carpathian mountains of Romania. The direction was o.k. the camera work was good, as was the lighting. Unfortunately - editing made some scenes difficult to watch. There were far too many short cuts, and the shaky-cam always gets my goat. This group of spelunkers specialize in underwater caves, as this cave has lots of water in it. The sets truly were amazing, and the lighting was great. Very dark, as a cave should be. The scenes that were well lit contained fire - as in volcanic activity, burning primordial ooze and all. Unfortunately, the good parts of the movie were burdened by the bad parts. The monsters were derivative (have you seen alien?), and the plot sucked. The dialog was poor, and the acting terrible. The character development and interaction was lacking and baffling. The only thing that kept me watching was the excellent sense of suspense established through lighting, music and editing. If they had removed two thirds of the dialog, this would have been a much better movie. Unfortunately, the ending leaves room for a sequel. Thankfully, I'll forget this movie in about a week. 2 out of 5.
* Superbad: (2007 - Comedy, romance, adventure) Superbad is Supergood. Another movie by Judd Apatow - Not! I was surprised, I really though this was Judd Apatow's work. I have to give credit to Seth Rogen (From Knocked Up) and Evan Goldberg (Writer for Da Ali G show) for writing this screenplay. And a lot of this movie is based on the dialog. The direction by Gregg Mottola was o.k. but the acting was outstanding. The cast consisted of: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Martha MacIsaac, Emma Stone, Aviva, Joe Lo Truglio and others. The casting, was fairly spot on. Talent, and age (for the most part) were well matched to the roles. The story is a coming of age comedic drama. It's the last hurrah of High-School. The graduation parties are in full swing, and our trio of undersexed, horny losers are on the make. They will do anything it takes to be the mistake that their girls will make just before they bail on the high school scene. On a quest for liquor these three guys (Jonah Hill plays the overweight picked-on kid, Michael Cera plays the guy who hangs out with losers? and Christopher Mintz-Plasse plays the dorky nerd type - aka McLOVIN!) must use a fake ID to purchase booze for tonight's big party. If they get the liquor, they just might score! This movie was very funny. The lines and situations were ridiculous funny. The only problem with this move was the pacing. It was way to fast. Seth Rogen and Bill Hader as the fucked up cops were awesome. It's the stereotype that everyone holds in their heads. The McLOVIN portions of the story were amazing. Mintz-Plasse did an outstanding job in his role. The story does contain some elements of adult drama, what with a little romance in the mix, and some emotional male bonding stuff. Very funny. 4 out of 5.
* Rocky Horror Picture Show: (1975 - Musical, comedy, horror, sci-fi, drama) This movie is out of this world. I wonder whether kids these days will 'get' this movie. While our society is more saturated by and exposed to, Sex. It's also more repressed than the kids of the 60's and 70's. The story is a bizarre and unbelievable plot. Janet and Brad, who just got engaged, get lost on a late, dark, night. At the end of a dead-end road they experience a flat tire. They trek to a nearby castle and discover a cast of crazy, sexually liberated, loony tunes! All they wanted was a telephone. Instead they got the adventure of a life-time. The movie is a musical, and the characters are a crazy mixed up lot of transsexuals, transvestites, and bikers, from Transylvania! The cast included: Tim Curry (his big-screen debut), Susan Sarandon (looking very fetching), Barry Bostwick (looking like Christopher Reeve), Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Jonathan Adams, Peter Hinwood and Meat Loaf. This movie is a non-stop burlesque - American style. The uptight prudes - Janet and Brad, are exposed to sexually liberating situations, while attempting to survive the night at this wild and swinging castle. I have only seen this movie 'live' on one occasion. It's an experience where the audience participates in the Rocky Horror picture show. Dressing up, using props, singing along, and urging Janet and Brad to 'get it on!'. It was an amazing experience that can't be detached from the film itself, and one I'll never forget. It was a night that they will never forget! I really need a DVD version of this classic (One of the few films preserved in the National Archives!) 5 out of 5.
* The Last of the Mohicans: (1992 - Adventure, romance, war, drama) Michael Mann directs this James Fenimor Cooper adaptation. The acting is a triumphant example of force. Powerful and heartfelt. This tale of man's changing character is a story of love, honor, tradition, passion and unrelenting change. As British fight French for control of a virgin continent, it is the maiden of native america who is sacrificed at the alter of commerce. As the white man's greed infects all it touches, this tale is a cautionary vision of what may come of our disregard for things which are more important. Michael Mann makes excellent use of locations, music, lighting and a cast full of wonderful actors: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, Jodhi May, Steven Waddington and others. A group of three trappers (Two Native Americans and their adopted white brother) protect the daughters of a British officer during the French Indian war. The opening five minutes is telling. The entire tone of the movie is fixed in the fleeting pursuit of hunter and hunted. Outstanding - 5 out of 5.
* Fido: (2006 - Comedy, drama, sci-fi, horror) Zombie movie? Well, kind of. Spin the 50's B-Horror movies into a reality. Zombies are captured, controlled and domesticated. In this zany spoof on zombie flicks, the future is filled with humans living in a perpetual 50's sci-fi future. Fenced in behind the 'Wild-Zone', an Idyllic society exists at the behest of Zombcon. A mega-corporation that has commercialized the domestication of zombies, and pretty much taken over large segments of society. Timmy's best friend is the family zombie. When the family pet gets loose, it starts a zombie revolution. Are they really mindless beasts bent on eating human flesh? Lot's of social commentary. A fully fledged twisted society, based on slavery of the undead. A mix between 'Pleasantville and Shaun of the Dead'. Biting satire disguised as a zombie flick. The props, costumes and music were great. 3 out of 5.
* The Valet: (2006 - Comedy, romance, drama - Doublure, La / France, Italy, Belgium) A lighthearted romantic comedy from Kim's queue. I'm really surprised that Kim rented a foreign movie. We watched this one over dinner one evening. Despite the fact that it featured Daniel Auteuil in one of the roles, the movie really wasn't all that good. The formula was so easy to follow that the entire plot fits in a sentence "Rich guy gets photographed cheating on his wife, and blames the innocent bystander in the photo." What follows is a movie where you can see all the cliched set-ups coming a kilometer away. The acting was mediocre, the plot flat and uninspiring. Cast with a bunch of perfect people, this foreign date movie wasn't worth my effort. Save yourself the 85 minutes and watch the preview. 2 out of 5.
* The Enemy Below: (1957 - Drama, war, action) Watched this one on Comcast. This movie is an action packed WWII drama. Featuring actual U.S. Navy hardware and a great cast which includes Robert Mitchum. This movie isn't just an action packed undersea thriller; it's also a well acted drama, a treatise on war and humanity. American destroyer vs German u-boat; the ultimate naval confrontation. It's a game of cat and mouse on two levels. Man vs machine vs machine vs Man! The direction was great, the camera work outstanding, the special effects and writing were both excellent. The characters are thoughtful, brave and honorable. An excellent movie. I give it a 4 out of 5.
* The Other: (1972 - Drama, horror, suspense, mystery) Watched this movie using Comcast on Demand. Directed by Robert Mulligan (To Kill a Mockingbird), written (based on his own book) by Tom Tyron (Actor, writer, producer). Despite a somewhat transparent twist at the beginning of the movie, this mysterious horror thriller gets top marks. A pair of Twins (Niles and Holland) frolic, and play amongst the corn rows, combines and cow pastures of rural America in the early 20's. The twins are precocious, fun loving, youngsters. These identical twins may look the same, but they've definitely got two different personalities. One is the 'good son', while 'The Other' is a 'bad boy'. His mischief is beyond the normal pranks and child's play that makes a boy a boy. Holland is always getting in to trouble, and he does a pretty good job of letting Niles take the blame. When the boys Babushka (Russian Grandmother) teaches Niles a mystical game that allows him to see things from other people's point of view, things begin to turn dark. While the bodies begin to pile up, one brother keeps the other in the dark. He really has no idea what his evil twin is doing, or does he? Outstanding movie. 4 out of 5.
* Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: (1994 - Horror, drama, romance, adventure) I own this movie, but we watched it using Comcast on Demand. It's been so long since I'd seen it (I own nearly 700 movie), that I'd actually forgotten that we own it. Well, it's definitely worth owning. Here is a superior version of the Frankenstein story (Based on Mary Shelley's novel). Directed by (and starring) Kenneth Branagh, this movie was very well cast; starring - Robert De Niro (The Creature) and Kenneth Branagh (Victor Frankenstein). A fatalistic story of man vs nature. Victor seeks science to repair what god hath wrought. In his quest to end morality, he dares what no one else would. He creates life! This movie does an outstanding job examining the moral implications behind such bold scientific concepts. The acting and interplay between the two characters was outstanding. The dialog challenging, thoughtful and provocative. The 'Monster' is more than a maddened hulk bent on the destruction of his 'creator'. This movie examines some heavy concepts which miss attention in previous versions of the story. I was really surprised by De Niro's performance as 'The Creature'. Outstanding, subtle and powerful. Not heavy handed in the least. The costumes and makeup were very well done. The camera work was a bit erratic. The music was a bit overly dramatic, but the lighting was perfect, and the pacing was spot on. I really enjoyed the fact that the plot threads all made sense, and this was an excellent, well reasoned screen play. 4 of 5.
* Amazing Grace: (2006 - Drama, historical / U.K., U.S.) Here is an Amazing story of grace and perseverance. A story that needs telling - over and over. The movie opens with a telling caption - 'In the mid 18th century, slavery was common, and most learned people considered it a good thing' (not an exact quote). I find it interesting that something that was once considered 'a good thing', is today repugnant morally, illegal, and universally considered anathema. This movie serves as proof that society in general, groups of people, and individuals can and do change (for the better). All of mankind has been changed by the efforts of those who struggled to abolish slavery. With fine attention to detail, the props, costumes, sets (especially the sets), manage to transport the viewer back to Pre-Victorian England in a way that I haven't seen in a long time. The cast (Ioan Gruffudd, Romola Garai, Benedict Cumberbatch, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell, Youssou N'Dour) contained an excellent mix of veteran and new British actors. The casting was extremely well done, and there were no huge names (or egos) to distract from the importance of the message. The character drama was well framed against the drama of the times. The message was more important than the messenger, and this movie did justice to that truth. While many saw this movie as a religious message, I saw it as a message of social justice, regardless of religion. Man's place and value are not dictated by any religion, it is a social justice which rises above organized religion. There are many religious aspects to this movie, but I for one saw the message rise above that of Christianity, and I was very glad to see that this movie wasn't at all 'preachy'. I had been avoiding the movie for that reason, and I was pleased to find no proselytizing prose in the dialog. The historically accurate story was sublime, superbly told, and socially important. The acting was excellent, as was the amazing score. This movie earns it's 5 out of 5 rating, and I'm sure that it will earn numerous accolades in the coming months. "When people think of great men, rarely do they think of peaceful men." 5 of 5.
* The December Boys: (2007 - Drama, adventure) Set in the late 60's a group of young orphans - from the Australian Outback - are sent away on a vacation. The December boys are a group of boys who all have birthdays in December, and the group of four boys are sent to the coast in order to spend some time away from the orphanage. This is a fantastic movie, based on a true story. Based on a Michael Noonan novel, this movie is an excellent adventure out of my suburban Colorado home. Filled with a sense of wonderment and adventure, the actors in this movie - Daniel Radcliffe (from Harry Potter), Lee Cormie, Christian Byers, James Fraser, and others - did a fantastic job of becoming the characters of this movie. Wrapped up in themselves, they eventually come to realize that together, they're more of a family than they are apart. Excellent costumes, sets, and sun drenched locations. Great soundtrack, and good camera work. The pacing, and character portrayals were extremely well done. The only problems were the distracting side story about a giant fish, and the rather conventional coming of age themes. 4 out of 5.
* Helvetica: (2007 - Documentary) I like graphic design, and typefaces are one of the things I like looking at. Unfortunately, I should have known that a 'font' isn't a good subject for a movie. It wasn't. This is more a story about visual design than it is about typefaces. The film style is very formal (sort of like Helvetica), but the sound track was an excellent alternative counter to the stuffy documentary feel of this movie. The films directory tries to say that the use of the Helvetica font mirrors different segments and stages of human culture. It was a well conceived premise, but as a film, I just don't think it came off very well. Despite the nearly hyperventilating subjects of this film, fonts really aren't that exciting. While I liked the movie, I liked it more for it's soundtrack and visual imagery, than I did for it's rather boring story. 3 out of 5.
* I Am Legend: (2007 - Horror, drama, sci-fi) Saw this in the theater with a group of friends. Based on the novel by Richard Matheson, this movie stars Will Smith and a few others. The movie depicts Will Smith as the last man alive. A military scientist, a virologist searching for a cure; the cure to a genetically engineered virus. As he spends his days looking for food, supplies and test subjects, the infected Dark Seekers rule the night. While his research moves ever closer towards a cure, the Dark Seekers move ever closer towards the discovery of his lair. The opening sequences, with Will smith hunting in a deserted Manhattan were really cool. The initial view of the infected, from behind, in a dark basement sent shivers up my spine. The remainder of the encounters were primarily cgi, and poor cgi at that. More like a video game than live action. The vampiric dogs were poorly rendered as well. Then there was the odd religious rant towards the end of the movie. The writers felt that they had to justify, or make a statement about the characters lack of belief. Unfortunately, they tried to cram that sentiment into a two minute sequence, and it came off horribly. Then there was the ending. Horrible. Will Smith's acting was o.k. It wasn't much different than his previous efforts. Thankfully, they kept the comedic angle very low. The movie ended abruptly, and they had to throw in some exposition for the clueless audience (that's you and I folks). The first half of the movie was great, the remainder of the film sank quickly and didn't recover the feeling from the first half. The turning point for me was right after a scene with Will Smith and his dog. The final scene with the dog... The second half of the movie felt very rushed, pushed to production, and nowhere near the quality of the first half. (p.s. I own 'Omega Man' and it's much better) 3 out of 5.
* Stanley Kubrik - A Life in Pictures: (2001 - Documentary) Narrated by Tom Cruise, this was an excellent documentary about one of the greatest filmmakers to ever shout 'Cut!' Excellent pacing and an even tempo mark this exploration of the man's life, history and cinematography. I've seen nearly (excepting Killer's Kiss (1955), The Seafarers' (1953), Fear and Desire' (1953), Day of the Fight' (1951), Flying Padre' (1951) ('=Not available on NetFlix)) every Kubrik film, and I have to agree that he was a fantastic director. Despite my initial dislike of 'Eyes Wide Shut', I have to admit that I've come to like it. The documentary was thorough, and it examined the man through his films. This film offers us an inside look at the life of a very private man. With home movies, clips from his films (including some rare footage), and interviews, we're taken on an intimate journey into the life and times of a man whose life was moving pictures. Extremely well edited. Very good camera work and a good soundtrack. A large number of interviews with fellow directors (and fans) mark this film as a singular statement regarding Kubrik's talent. I just wish they hadn't used Tom Cruise for the narration. He seems a bit smug in his delivery. A must see, superb documentary about one of the greatest directors ever. 4 out of 5.
* Omega Man: (1971 - Science fiction, horror, drama) I own this movie, it's another version of the novel 'I Am Legend' by Richard Matheson. This novel (I have not read it) has been made into a movie several times, and this is one of them (see 'I Am Legend' above). In this movie Charlton Heston stars as the lone survivor of a world war. A war where biological weapons are unleashed on the world, and the consequences are dire. Fully 90% of Earth's population is killed by the plague. Of the remaining survivors, most have mutated into night dwelling, vampiric, mutants. Then there's Robert Neville, a scientist, a man of the wheel. One of the few people who is immune to the ravages of this disease. As Neville searches for a cure (based on the vaccine that he injected himself with), he spends his days hunting down these infected creatures. Killing them one by one. These creatures are mostly mindless, but a few among them can reason. One of those is a charismatic leader who has gathered others together to lead them. Calling themselves 'The Family', they know where Neville lives, and they try to flush him out of his fortress. They would judge him as the last of those who brought destruction to the world. The machine users, the users of the wheel and the gun. The defilers of the Earth. Neville has become the boogeyman of 'The Family', and they must bring him to justice for all the crimes of 'Humanity'. Here is an awesome movie. The special effects may not meet today's standards, but at least there's no horrendous misuse of cgi. The creatures in this movie are frightening in another sense, they are organized, overwhelming in numbers, and their mission has become a religious crusade. Charlton Heston hams it up a bit in this movie. At time his overacting is a bit much, but overall, his performance was pretty good. His involvement with other 'survivors' is far more developed, and his goal is clearer. The ending of this movie is far better than the ending of 'I Am Legend'. I give Omega Man a 4 out of 5.
* Spy Game: (2001 - Thriller, espionage, action, drama, romance) Starring Robert Redford, Brad Pitt and Catherine McCormack. A very good espionage thriller. Brad Pitt plays a 'Boy Scout' who's gone 'off the reservation' (I love all the spy talk in this movie). The movie opens when Bradd Pitt's character (Tom Bishop) gets caught trying to smuggle someone out of a Chinese prison. While the agency sets up their 'Crisis Action Team' to deal with the fallout, Robert Redford's character (Nathan D. Muir) does his best to obfuscate, delay, and ultimately rescue his protege'. It's a thrilling game of cat and mouse on multiple levels. Excellent acting by all the principals. The locations, sets, and costumes were great. The camera work excellent, and the pacing superb. This movie is based on a novel, and it feels more authentic than most hollywood spy thrillers. The language is terrific, and the historical aspects add another level of authenticity to this thinking mans action flick. A good mix of drama and action. A spy thriller where the real deception takes place at CIA headquarters. Very well done. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
* Transformers: (2007 - Action, drama, sci-fi) Many friends liked this movie, and I was encouraged to watch it by people where I work. Directed by Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor), and starring a cast of unknown 'beautiful people', this movie is based on the toys that 'transform' into robots. I missed that particular phase, being born a bit earlier, I never really got hooked on these 'transformers'. Regardless, I will say that the cgi in this movie was well done, just a little bit too 'fast'. The motions were slightly faster than one would expect from hulking mechanical robots that stand approximately twenty five feet tall. The story is a bit strained. Two groups of robots - the evil 'Decepticons' and the friendly 'Autobots' - come to Earth in search of some ultimate power source. An Earth boy knows the whereabouts of a device which will lead the Transformers to this power source. As good and evil battle for possession of the boy, device, and ultimately, power source. The audience is treated to some gorgeous bodies, super cgi, silly robots, and cgi special effects. You know what? I can't take it any more. This movie sucked. The plot was a disaster. It suffered from lack of substance, poor threading, continuity, and character development. It was too long and it suffered from poor editing (The super fast cuts were used to cover up problems of scale and cgi integration into the movies backgrounds). A bloated hollywood blockbuster, designed to appeal to adolescent males in their late teens to mid twenties. Not the late thirties adult male, who grew up with - but no longer plays with - the Transformers. The Autobots were laughable caricatures; templates based on human stereotypes. Their dialogue was riddled with mediocre humor and cliched one liners. The Decepticons were so one dimensional that they could be reduced to one word (yes all of them) - Decepticons. The insulting use of one make of cars, was an obvious and blatant sponsorship shill. It further detracted from my respect for the film makers efforts, and proved to me that this movie was produced only to make money. There was no artistic intent in this effort whatsoever. We are constantly challenged with problems of scale, the plot was uninspiring, and the hand-held camera shots were nauseating. I'm sure they selected that type of camera work in order to cover up the scale problems. The only thing this 'movie' had going for it was 'Eye Candy' (Hot Chicks, Hot Cars, and exploding cgi effects), and a pretty good soundtrack. I was very amused by the role of 'Signals Analysts' in this movie. Wow! who would have imagined that the alien signal might have contained some sort of message!? I can't wait till I get my chance to save the world from giant robots! This movie cost $147,000,000 to make? Someone was definitely overpaid. 2 out of 5.
* Shenandoah: (1965 - Drama, war, western) A Comcast on Demand selection. Starring James Stewart, Doug McClure, Glenn Corbett, Patrick Wayne, Katherine Ross and many others. A surprisingly good melodrama. This movie is set in the midst of the Civil War. Despite the fact that the troops are trampling his crops, Charlie Anderson (played by James Stewart) does everything he can to keep his family together. In the midst of this chaotic backdrop, the Anderson family struggles to stay together, to avoid the divisive 'brother vs brother' conflict of North vs South. When the youngest son is mistakenly taken as an 'enemy combatant', the family saddles up to bring him home. As most of the family sets out on the trail, a few folks stay home, and they pay a terrible price. This movie is definitely an anti-war vehicle, but it's also a great drama which focuses on the family during a time of war. The acting is very good, and the themes are very well presented. It's a bit overly dramatic at times, and the soundtrack keeps pushing that theme, in the end it's well worth watching. 3 out of 5.
* Jeff Dunham - Spark of Insanity: (2007 - Comedy) Another Comedy Central produced for TV special. This man's stand-up, ventriloquism act is outstanding. He may not be the greatest ventriloquist to ever make a dummy talk, but his comedic touch is outstanding. It's the comedy act that makes this show 'Stand Up'. When Jeff 'Dun-Ham' breaks out the 'Suitcase Posse', the laughs are unstoppable. It'll leave you rolling on the floor. Filmed at the historic Warner Theater (in Downtown DC), Dunham takes aim at politicians and the politburo in this laugh-in performance. His 'Achmed the Dead Terrorist' act allows us to actually laugh at terrorism, now that's no small feat! It sure felt good to laugh about suicide bombers! I needed a laugh, and this was a great show. 4 of 5.
* * * * Heroes - Season 1 (disc 4): (Drama, sci-fi, mystery, thriller) I don't usually watch television. One of the reasons is my schedule. I work shift work, twelve hours at a time, nights, and weekends. If I found a series I liked, I'd have a hell of a time watching all the episodes. I don't own a TiVo, and Comcast only has CBS on demand. Aside from my schedule, I find most network programming to be poor. Poor quality, poor line up, poor selection, etc. I prefer the movies. With NetFlix, I can watch what I want on my schedule. If I don't like it, I've only myself to blame. Anyway, I've been hearing quite a lot of buzz about this particular series. From friends at work, and reviews online. Given the subject matter, I figured I'd give it a try. Wow! I'm impressed. What's the series about? A group of people, from all over the world, are slowly discovering the fact that they have super powers. Abilities which cannot be accounted for in the general populace. A high school cheer leader with incredibly augmented healing abilities. An artist who sees, and illustrates the future. A politician with the ability to fly. A Japanese cubicle worker with the power to bend space and time. A mysterious mom on the run, who has an extremely violent alternate personality, and many others. As these characters struggle in self discovery, we're introduced to a terrifying unifying plot. One of the heroes paints images of the future. One of the pictures illustrates a massive explosion, set in downtown New York. Will these heroes come together in an effort to avert this forthcoming disaster? This disc contained four episodes. This is some awesome television. I'll keep watching. 5 out of 5 (for the series so far)
* Bicentennial Man: (1999 - Sci-fi, drama, romance) Another Comcast on Demand selection. I can't believe I haven't seen this (before). Here's an excellent adaptation of Isaac Asimov's stories (I Robot, Positronic Man, and Bicentennial Man) about robot's becoming human. Starring Robin Williams, Embeth Davidtz, Sam Neill, Oliver Platt, Kiersten Warren and others. This film is very well cast. The acting talents are well matched, and I very much enjoyed Robin Williams' portrayal of Andrew the android. It's an evolving story of cybernetic technology and humanities reaction to synthetic man. Andrew starts out as a domestic servant, but we quickly come to realize that he is unique among the robots. As he becomes more sophisticated, the family he's serving comes to a slow realization that he is not 'a kitchen appliance'. This epic story is a bit sentimental, but it's extremely well told. As Andrew's evolution spans two hundred years, mankind slowly evolves to accept the fact that it is not biology which defines 'the human condition'. The science fiction aspects of the movie were outstanding. Unfortunately, this movie wasn't marketed as a science fiction piece. It's not a comedy! The social elements are great, they stayed true to Asimov's sentiment throughout; exploring several social and humanistic themes through the allegory of androids. The love story elements are handled extremely well, and the ending was fitting if not sappy. The costumes and make up were outstanding, so much better than anyone could do with cgi. The special effects/cgi were very well done, but some of the mattes and backdrops weren't that good. Excellent direction, camera work, acting and sound track. 4 out of 5.
* American Graffiti: (1973 - Drama, romance, comedy) A Comcast on Demand free movie. Written (in part) and directed by George Lucas. Starring - Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Wolfman Jack, Manuel Padilla Jr., Harrison Ford and many others. This summertime smash is a movie about the coming of age for several characters. As they celebrate the final days of their High-School journey, they make decisions, forge, affirm and break relationships that will affect them for the rest of their lives. It's a light hearted comedy, a romance, and a serious drama. George Lucas does a fantastic job directing this teeming, seething, powerful cast. The film itself was also a transition piece in American Culture. It definitely marked the end of an era, the anachronistic sets, locations and props all pointed to the end of an era in American culture. The car-hop, leave-it-to-beaver, soda-fountain ethic was coming to an end, and so was the Eisenhower, 50's, episode of these Characters lives. The casual attitudes of these characters belie the serious consequences of their actions. This movie, like 'Dazed and Confused', represents a biographical effort by its writers and directors, to recapture a youth lost. In that effort, this film was a smashing success. I give it a 5 out of 5.
* The Razor's Edge: (1984 - Adventure, drama, romance, comedy) This movie is based on a novel by W. Somerset Maughem. It's not the first movie based on this novel, nor is it the last. I was drawn to it by Bill Murray, a favorite actor. Like every role he's cast in there is a sweet, sentimental, sappiness to his character, and the comedy can't help but ooze out at times. In this story, Murray plays Larry Darrel, a WWI veteran. Upon returning from the war, he realizes that he needs some time to himself. Some time to discover the meaning of life. The senseless cruelty and slaughter he experienced in Europe has damaged his psyche and he goes on a journey to rediscover who he is and what's important in life. As he distances himself from those who love him, his journey takes him around the world, to France, India, and ultimately Nepal and Tibet. There he spends time in a Buddhist monastery, contemplating some very heavy questions about life, love, his soul, etc. While he's on a mystic journey, the world turns below the summit of his spiritual peak. Lives change, fall apart and move on. Eventually, he comes back to Earth, only to discover that everything he ever wanted was simply waiting for him to take it. As he grasps for happiness, he learns that it isn't always as easy to hold as it is to grasp. An excellent film. Great locations (most of the movie was shot in Colorado), costumes and editing. The music was enjoyable, and the acting excellent. The story was a bit dull, the pacing was rather slow, and some of the sentiment a bit sappy. Thankfully, we had Murray's humor to sharpen the edge. 3 out of 5.
* Village of the Damned: (1995 - Horror, Sci-fi, drama) Comcast on Demand. I had to watch this John Carpenter remake. Village of the Damned is based on a John Wyndham novel (The Midwich Cuckoos), and this one is clearly a remake of the original 1960 movie - which I haven't seen. Starring Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley and others. Unfortunately, the acting in this movie (aside from Christopher Reeves) was pretty poor. Especially Kirstie Alley's performance. The story is one of aliens inside humans. A theme that follows many Carpenter movies. After a strange incident affects a small California town, all the women wake up to find themselves pregnant. It's obvious that something odd is happening. The government has called in scientists to monitor the situation, and the town anticipates the expected day with some sense of dread. The children are born and things begin to get really creepy. This movie is packed with dread suspense, and excellent music (thanks to John Carpenter). As the children begin to grow, the exhibit obvious signs of alien origin. Glowing eyes, psychic control, mind reading. As the ending approaches, the town folk and government get skittish. These children must be destroyed! The special effects were o.k. the acting mediocre, but the direction was excellent. I especially liked the odd way that the children acted. I've got to see the original. 3 out of 5.
* The Simpsons Movie: (2007 - Comedy, animation) A friend at work lent me this movie. I like the Simpsons, so I figured I'd give it a try. As usual, it's written by Matt Groening. He's one of 15 people credited with writing the script. That might explain why it felt so disjointed. The plot - A typical Simpsons plot. Homer does something stupid, family hates him, Homer does something stupid in order to 'make up', then everyone loves him again. Springfield's lake is polluted. So polluted. that the entire town has to be quarantined. Now throw in five or six sub-plots. This movie felt like an extended Simpsons episode. While I love the Simpsons. This movie ran too long for it's own good. The usual slapstick was there, but there was too much filler. The simple story was expanded to the point where it's sharp edge became as dull as an anvil. I think the story was trying to make some sort of environmental statement... It gets points for being 'The Simpsons', and the 'Spider Pig' song, but it's definitely not 'Movie' quality. I'm glad I saw it, but better still. It didn't cost me anything to watch. 3 out of 5.
* Being John Malkovich: (1999 - Comedy, drama, fantasy) Wow! It's been quite some time since I've seen this movie, and I have to say - Amazing! A truly original story. A twisted journey into an alternate universe. The story is bizarre all right - A down on his luck Puppeteer (played by John Cusack) is hired by a firm between the 7th and 8th floors of an office building. While he's attempting to make friends, he finds a hidden portal into John Malkovich's (played by John Malkovich) mind. Yes you heard me right, and for $200.00, you too can 'Be' John Malkovich! Starring John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Malkovich, Mary Kay Place, Orson Bean, Charlie Sheen and others. This movie was written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze. I need to look for more work from these two. In this twisted movie, the characters are normal people, but the writing and direction manages to make them seem extraordinary. The subtle emphasis on seemingly mundane aspects of the film creates a strange but wonderful feeling throughout. Intentionally disorienting and creepy. The oddball nature of this movie made me laugh throughout. A surreal snapshot of alternate reality, a head trip of existential proportions. It will leave you smiling, happy and confused. Excellent casting, acting, directing, writing, camera work, music. I loved it. Adding it to my list of 'Must Buy' movies. 5 of 5.
* Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas: (2000 - Comedy, drama, fantasy, holiday) This is a charming holiday movie, directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey as the Grinch. Unfortunately the next best actor out of the entire cast was the Grinch's dog. The special effects, art direction, camera work and music were delicious. It is a good movie for folks who act like kids, but I can't imagine it's much of a hit with actual kids. Jim Carrey's transformation into the Grinch was ultimately the most remarkable thing about this movie. Hidden behind layers of foam rubber, prosthetics and gaudy costumes, one can't help but see the comic genius shining through to warm the heart in this tender tale of the holiday season. The props, costumes, and sets are 'Who-a-licious'; creating an alternate reality that could only exist in the mind of a 8 year old. The plot? The Grinch steals Christmas, but little Cindy Lou Who (played by Taylor Momsen) steals his heart. Although the movie runs a bit longer than necessary, the editing and pacing are quick enough to keep your interest Thankfully it wasn't marred by cheap cgi effects. 3 out of 5.
* Reindeer Games: (2000 - Action, drama, crime, suspense) Marred only by excessive exposition, this action packed, holiday themed movie is a complex twisted tale of a love, deception and criminal activity. Directed by one of my favorite directors (John Frankenheimer), and starring a great cast (Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, Charlize Theron, Dennis Farina, James Frain, Donal Logue, Danny Trejo, Isaac Hayes), this is a convoluted heist movie. Rudy (Affleck) gets out of the pen, but his buddy Nick (Frain) does not. Rudy tells a little lie, and hooks up with Nick's gorgeous pen-pal (Theron), Ashley. Moments after their 'happy time', the heist plot kicks in. Ashley's brother wants Rudy's help ripping off the 'Tomahawk' casino. The problem? Rudy's pretending to be Nick, so he didn't actually work at the casino, and that's just the tip of the iceberg in this winter wonderland. Everyone's got a secret, everyone's looking to score, and no one's knows where the 'Pow-Wow' safe is. Filmed on location (parts of it) in British Colombia, the scenes with real snow added an air of authenticity to this twisted heist flick. Affleck's acting was some of his best ever. Sinise was particularly sinister as the twisted brother, lover, trucker, mean-ass mother effer! The rest of the cast gave outstanding performances, and they were all well matched in acting talent. Seeing Charlize Theron topless was a happy bonus, which added plenty of cheer to my holiday spirit. This one packs in thrills, suspense, and plenty of action. The twist at the end was great, and no I didn't see it coming (the first time around). 4 out of 5.
* Tango & Cash: (1989 - Action, crime, drama) Starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russel, this cop buddy movie is very light entertainment. Two cops are at the top of their game in L.A. Tango (played by Stallone) and Cash (played by Russel) are a thorn in the side of one particular crime syndicate. Tango and Cash are wreaking havoc on the criminals business, and he's determined to set a trap for both cops. As they blindly stumble into the trap, the bullets begin to fly in this non-stop action debacle. With copious amounts of explosions, giant monster trucks, gratuitous titty shots, and some horrible one-liners, our two super-cops blast their way through this poorly written script in order to take down the evil Jack Palance. Other notable actors - Teri Hatcher, Jack Palance, Brion James and James Hong. An action flick that lacks any solvent plot. Stallone and Russel together in a prison shower scene? Who thought that one up? What about the scene where Russel escapes from a night club by shaving his legs, dressing in drag and pretending to be a biker dyke? 2 out of 5.
* The Bourne Ultimatum: (2007 - Action, thriller, mystery) Kim and I watched this one on Pay-Per-View. Directed by Paul Greengrass (from the second movie in this trilogy). Starring Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Albert Finney, Joan Allen and others. Although the camera work wasn't quite as disorienting as the second movie, the shaky cam effect is back, and it's just as disorienting as it was in the second movie. This technique of extremely tight angled camera shots, made to simulate motion, and extremely quick jump cut editing, made me nauseous, made it difficult to tell what was going on, and in general detracted from the film. Yes, it imparted a sense of urgency and a 'Crash Scene' feel onto the sequence it was used in, and I'm certain that was the intention. It did a good job achieving that desired effect, but I'm watching a movie. I already know that there are certain things that I'm not going to experience. I don't want someone punching me during the fight scenes, and I don't need to be shoved off a building to experience the scenes where Jason is jumping from building to building. I don't expect, nor would I appreciate, smell-o-vision, slap-o-rama, or virtual 3d immersion when I'm watching a movie. I'm not the only one who doesn't appreciate this level of 'realism'. If everyone wanted a more 'realistic experience', we'd see a lot more movies featuring this 'helmet cam' style of movie. The shaky cam is not something I appreciate. I feel it's more of a detraction than it is a bonus. There, now that I've gotten that off my chest, let's continue with the review. This is the third installment in a trilogy based on books by Robert Ludlum, and as a trilogy it's a great success. This final chapter wraps up some of the unanswered questions in our (and Jason Bournes) minds. Like who programmed Jason Bourne, and why? He's a killing machine, who's gone 'off the reservation', and his masters are shaking in their boots. He's on a mission to find the answers to those nagging questions - What, where, when, why, how, and ultimately - Who am I? It's a non-stop action flick with no room for any romantic diversions. As Jason Bourne travels around Europe, Africa, and then the U.S. we follow him in his quest to discover the answers to these serious questions. The locations were great, but they were wasted on the movie, as Jason Bourne simply shot, jumped and ran through the streets and buildings in these wonderful locations. The morals of this story seemed to strike at the heart of today's 'Terror' climate. Filled with scenes of torture (water-boarding), assassinations, surveillance, and a government agency that's 'Above the Law', all these themes resonate with a population who has it's back against the wall - Just like Jason Bourne. With nowhere left to turn, Jason has decided to stop hiding and running. Now it's time to play the 'Ultimatum' scenario. This movie loses points on it's own, and should be viewed as part of the trilogy. There is very little character depth in this movie, and the constant confrontation - evasion cycle runs a bit long in the plot. This movie is nowhere near as good as the first movie of the series. The acting was great, and that's the best part of this movie. The pacing was so fast that I found myself holding my breath at times. That's ridiculous. The car chases? Yeah, they were awesome, but that's not a story. I wish American movies would stop substituting action sequences for plot development. This segment of the series squarely places the Bourne trilogy in the 'Action' genre, forever spinning the plot and story that Robert Ludlum was trying to convey into a series of car chases and hand to hand combat sequences. Third movie of a trilogy. I guess I got what I was expecting. For that I rate it 3 out of 5.
* Clerks - First cut: (1994 - Comedy, drama) Kevin Smith's ambitious independent debut. Released in black and white, and shot on a shoestring budget. This movie featured a group of slackers living the easy life in New Jersey. Starring Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Scott Mosier, Walter Flanagan, and others. This movie was filmed in two primary locations - A convenience store and the video store next door. These stores were located at a street corner in a nondescript New Jersey neighborhood. The characters inhabiting these locales are natives. Slackers, losers, residents with little ambition, and a few who dream of greatness. The dialogue in this movie is that of self-revelation and actualization. Examinations on the state of mind, being and ones place in the universe. Despite the heavily existential pretext for the dialogue, it's laced with profanity, slang and a good dose of street humor. These characters are more accurate in their depictions of self than they are hollywood models of the characters they portray. As the actors deliver the dialogue in New Jersey style (extremely fast), I found myself sucked into their personal lives, their tardy, tedious and salacious spectacle. The characters in this movie are ultimately believable, funny, and tragic. The acting is fair, the black and white helped keep my attention on the characters, and the technical aspects of the film were fair to poor. All that is meaningless though, as the stars of this movie were the creative minds behind it, the honest way it was presented, and the brutally honest social commentary which ran throughout the entire film. A magnificent movie. Of note: The 'commentary track' had nothing to do with the movie. It was all the guys from the movie, catching up on lost time. The movie, cut or uncut - 4 out of 5.
* The Last Man on Earth: (1964 - Sci-fi, horror, drama / U.S, Italy - Ultimo uomo della terra, L) Here's the first adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel (I Am Legend). Starring Vincent Price in the lead role. Originally slated for British Production (Hammer Films), the script was passed over to an American outfit (API - Associated Producers, Inc.), and shot in Italy with a rather small budget. Most of the cast (other than Vincent Price) and crew (including both directors), were Italian. A large portion of the dialog was dubbed from Italian to English. The sound work, music and dubbing were all sub-par, but the camera work, direction and acting were great. The lighting was dark at times, but much of the action takes place at night - so that wasn't such an issue. The story. Well, as an adaptation, this movie is more faithful to the novel than the two that followed (Omega Man, and I Am Legend). Dr. Robert Morgan is the last man alive in a post apocalyptic world. Devastated by a strange plague, the Earth's population is initially decimated, and then resurrected as undead vampiric zombies. These creatures are slow, weak, and stupid. Morgan is immune to the plague. His blood carries antibodies against the disease, yet he's been unable to save anyone. He spends his day hunting these creatures, and destroying them by driving wooden stakes through their hearts. Without the large wooden stakes, their wounds would heal, and they would rise again to stalk the night. During the night, he retreats to his fortified home, drinks himself to sleep, and starts the whole process over again. Tragic, sobering, and depressing. This movie isn't very frightening - in the horror sense. It is however an excellent study on isolation and the human condition as a social animal. Much of the film, predominantly the first half, is narrated by Vincent Price (as Dr. Morgan). His thoughts and views provide us with background and insight into his personal life and current predicament. It was necessary, but a bit overdone. Eventually, he encounters another survivor - in the daylight. Will she prove to be salvation for the human race, for Morgan? Or another set back in this post-apocalyptic landscape? The end game in this movie seemed a bit rushed, but it was well executed. Production problems and lack of direction marred this otherwise fine film. 3 out of 5. Up next; yet another adaptation - I am Omega.
* Panic in Year Zero! (1962 - Sci-fi, thriller, drama) Here's another post apocalyptic horror/thriller. Set in the early 60's, this movie depicts life in the lawless landscape of a post nuclear America. Starring Ray Milland, Jean Hagen, Frankie Avalon and Mary Mitchel as the Baldwin family. The direction and acting by Ray Milland was excellent. The music was outstanding. The print, picture and sound quality was excellent. The Baldwin family sets out on a summer vacation. As they leave Los Angeles behind, a Hydrogen Bomb reduces the city to rubble. Once Harry Baldwin (played by Ray Milland) realizes what's happened, he switches to survival mode. In this post apocalyptic landscape, he realizes that men will become animals. Some will act on their base impulses, while others will struggle to reconstitute civilization. He must do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of his family. The mix of characters is great and the story compelling. A truly frightening 'What If' scenario. This movie must have really struck fear into the hearts of those living under the shadow of mutually assured destruction! I was particularly horrified by one scene where Harry has an encounter with a price gouging gas station attendant - He wanted to charge Harry $3.00 for a gallon of gasoline! Oh the horrors! Seriously though, this movie did examine some hard questions about the nature of man and his role in a civilized nation. The ending was an excellent mix of dread and optimism. 4 out of 5.
* Village of the Damned: (1960 - Sci-fi, horror, thriller / U.K.) Another version of the story (The Midwich Cuckoos) by John Windham. This is the first adaptation of the novel, and it's an excellent film. Far surpassing the 1995 version. Featuring some excellent acting, this movie is an excellent sci-fi thriller. Set in an ordinary British hamlet, the occupants are all struck unconscious by some mysterious force. Hours later they recover with nothing but a few bumps and bruises to mark this unusual incident. Months later, they discover all the women are pregnant - some through 'immaculate conception'. The government decides to keep an eye on things, and the children develop rather rapidly. All the children grow up quite quickly, and they manifest some rather unusual characteristics - Super intelligence, telepathy, and the ability to compel others. It's quite evident that they aren't 'normal'. As the government and citizens get panicky, a few people try to provide a safe and secure environment for the children. The special effects in this movie (glowing eyes) were very well done, and the music helped accentuate the thrilling aspects of this movie. There are many eerie moments in this movie, many pre-cursors to movies like the Omen, the Exorcist, Invasion of the body snatchers, and others. The acting was outstanding. The child actors did a magnificent job. 4 out of 5.
* Children of the Damned: (1963 - Sci-fi, horror, thriller / U.K.) A sequel to the Village of the Damned. This movie made some changes to the children, and changed the scope of the movie. In this movie, a group of incredibly intelligent children (of different ethnicities) are transported to London for study by the academic community. After they arrive, they break away from their watchers and take up residence in an abandoned church (As an allegory to man's abandonment of religion in favor of science?). This group of remarkable children posses supernatural powers - ESP, telepathy, mind control - and they act as a group mind. The story explores societies reaction to change, threats to the social-political framework of the times, fears of socialism, world war and other concepts. The focus is much broader than the small community depicted in Village of the Damned. The special effects were hit or miss, as they weren't implemented consistently. The acting was good, but the annoying use of surrogate speakers was unnecessary and distracting. The ability of the children to control weaker minds was very well depicted. In the end, this movie carried a theme of cooperation vs confrontation. A warning against isolationism, socialism, and the military industrial complex. The ending was pretty good. 3 out of 5.
* Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid: (1982 - Comedy, mystery, romance) A Comcast on Demand selection. Written (in part), directed, and starring Carl Reiner, this film noir movie is a parody and tribute to black & white film noir classics from the 40's. The technical production work, editing, attention to detail (note the fake money (as per early rules/laws prohibiting depiction of actual U.S. currency), and camera work were outstanding. Starring Steve Martin, Rachel Ward and Carl Reiner, and many other great actors. This movie is populated by an immense cast of great actors via archival footage. These archival characters are cleverly inserted into the movie, filling in for live actors. The writing is constructed in such a manner that the archival footage completes the dialog using the actual archive footage. The story is a classic film noir story involving a dame in distress, a hard-boiled private detective, and a sinister mystery. The dames husband is dead, and she suspects foul play. As Steve Martin investigates the facts (with help from his assistant 'Marlowe' (archive footage of Humphrey Bogart)), we're treated to out-takes of archival footage which are cleverly woven into the live action to make it seem like a slew of big name actors are actually taking part in the movie. Typical humor from Steve Martin is laughable but not fall out of your seat hilarious. The gags are subdued so as not to overpower the tribute. The ending is a great piece of writing. The only downside to this movie is the convoluted nature of the mystery plot. I got so caught up in the fantastic use of archival footage, that I lost track of the 'actual plot'. Stay tuned after the movie for credits that list where the archival footage came from. 4 out of 5.
* ...And Justice for All: (1979 - Drama, crime, thriller) Another Comcast on Demand selection. Starring Al Pacino, Jack Warden, Jeffery Tambor, John Forsythe, Lee Strasberg and others. This movie is a great drama (with a light comedic touch) about the justice system. Unlike many courtroom dramas, this one doesn't focus on a 'big case'. Instead, it focuses on one particular lawyer and the little people who get caught up in the system. Al Pacino plays an ethical and honest man working in the Baltimore judicial system. He fights for the rights of his clients, while simultaneously fighting the convoluted and sometimes corrupt justice system itself. Politics and legal chicanery often thwart his efforts, but he never gives up. After a sitting judge is arrested on rape charges, Pacino's character is 'forced' to act in his defense - despite his dislike for the man. Very well written script, average direction, but outstanding acting (especially by Pacino). The music starts out terrible, but it gets better. The opening disco tune (it was the 70's) was not matched to the theme and content of the movie. Thankfully the lack of direction, and technical problems (poor lighting) are insignificant compared to the writing., dialog, and excellent acting. An excellent glimpse at the inside of the justice department. 4 out of 5.
* Blade Runner: (1982 - Sci-fi, action, drama, thriller, crime) My favorite sci-fi movie. Directed by Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson, Brion James and others. This movie is based on a novel by Philip K Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), the quintessential cyber-punk author. Many of his books have been made into movies (Blade Runner, Total Recall, Screamers, Minority Report, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly), and this is one which received some excellent attention. Ridley Scott's direction and the screen play writers did an outstanding job, as did the actors. Harrison Ford plays a less than heroic detective in a seedy, down-and-out dark future, where clones, robots and people are packed together in an increasingly tense and violent existence. Rutger Hauer and a group of his friends? play model 6 replicants, searching for mortality and morality beyond their programmed termination dates. This movie isn't a simple, single genre, single theme movie. It's deep, layered, subtle and complex. The brooding, moody, 80's music was as dark as the film, and fit as snuggly as a synthetic hand. The performances in this movie were exceptional. The sets, lighting, and costumes helped created a vision of the future that has been often emulated but never duplicated. The special effects for their time were astonishing. A technological achievement seldom equaled, never exceeded. A great movie. A genre defining/defying 5 out of 5.
* E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial: (Adventure, drama, family, fantasy, sci-fi) A family friendly classic. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie stars a relatively unknown cast: Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote and others in this heart-warming tale of a loveable little alien who gets left behind during a scouting mission in the woods outside a sleepy California town. E.T. is befriended by a group of Earth Children. While E.T. attempts to 'Phone Home', a group of scientists is trying to track him down for scientific study. E.T. is going to need the help of his new found friends if he's going to avoid the specimen table. It's a touching drama that tugs at the heartstrings, and makes you wish you were a kid again. The acting is pretty good, the writing excellent, and the direction very good. Admittedly, the story is somewhat sappy and the dialog a bit corny. Still a classic tale, and a great movie. 4 out of 5. (Avoid the re-release as it has been heavily edited to 'correct' this outstanding film. I'm glad I still own the original theatrical release.)
* The Matrix: (1999 - Action, thriller, sci-fi) An amazing film, written and directed by the Wachowski brothers (Andy and Larry). This movie had a great cast - Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving and many others. The story is truly mind-bending. Neo (played by Keanu Reeves) wakes up one day to take a trip down the rabbit hole. He is contacted by Morpheus (played by Fishburne), the leader of a rebellious underground group. Are they just hackers? or is their something more to their odd, alluring cult of personality? As Neo chooses the 'Red Pill', the wool is pulled away from his eyes - The truth revealed. A Truth so amazing, so mind blowing that it forms the framework for an entire trilogy. Three movies that explore some heavy duty philosophical questions. The well balanced cast provided some outstanding acting. The action sequences, choreography, special effects and use of cgi (bullet time being most notable) were all outstanding. The lighting, camera work and color composition was excellent. The green tinted 'Matrix' vs the blue 'Reality' made a subtle but notable difference. The music was a perfect companion to this pulse pounding thriller. One of my favorite scenes occurs near the end of the film, when Neo comes to a realization. He flexes his new found 'muscles' and the walls and floors around him ripple. The movie compels you to question everything you think you know. Bending the concepts of time, space and humanity. What does it really mean to be 'Free'. The story is thrilling and fun to watch on one level, while it simultaneously presents the viewer with an entirely different layer of subtle and complex philosophical questions. Rich with symbolism and artistic style, this movie solidifies a cyber-punk genre, while simultaneously creating a new high-water mark for those who follow. 5 out of 5.