July (NF26/MM2/CC6/ST1/OS7)

* Army of Shadows: (1969 - Drama, war, action / French - Armée des ombres, L') Directed by the highly accomplished Jean-Pierre Melville. Black and white tale of the French resistance during WWII. The story is a stark uncompromising vision of determination and resolve. The movie is somewhat documentary like in it's revelation. It switches back and forth between the separate members of a group of French resistance fighters during WWII. As they do their best to thwart the Nazi's and Vichy French forces, the members of the underground are vexed by traitorous members, moral convictions, and a constant degree of mortal danger. Expertly paced and low on dialogue, this gripping movie was wonderfully shot, superbly directed and featured some outstanding acting. I'm planning to buy a copy. 5 out of 5.
* Inherit the Wind: (1960 - Drama, history) Here's a courtroom drama that pits the advocates of creationism against those of evolution. I'm not willing to argue evolution vs creationism. That's already been done (many times). This movie is the story of one such landmark case. The acting was very good, the music was inspirational, and the confrontational lawyer vs lawyer play was excellent. The setting was the 1925 case (The Scopes Monkey Trial), which resulted in the conviction of a teacher. He was convicted of teaching the theory of evolution. The defendant was found guilty of teaching evolution, but the trial exposed the law (The Butler Act) as a biased religious point of view, and it was eventually overthrown (Tennessee repealed the law in part due to it's contravention of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment). A tense and gripping drama marked by excellent acting. A powerful argument for the power of reason. 4 out of 5.
* Children of Heaven: (1997 - Drama, comedy / Iran - Bacheha-Ye aseman) A look inside an insular regime? A tale of childhood. Well crafted, featuring excellent acting and cinematography. The writing was excellent, but the subject matter was quite mundane. This movie didn't directly address any issues, but it managed to address them indirectly. By raising the worlds awareness regarding the social conditions inside Iran, we may come to better understand the people of that nation. Here's the story of a little girl, and her brother. When the brother loses his sister's shoes, he goes to great lengths to atone for the miscalculation. His contrition and insistence on making things right is refreshing in today's 'Me First' society. Charming, comedic and compelling at the same time. 3 of 5.
* The Last Remake of Beau Geste: (1977 - Comedy, adventure) A good friend of mine recommended this movie. Now I know why it wasn't available on NetFlix/DVD. It's horrible. Starring the bug-eyed buffoon, Marty Feldman (iGor from Young Frankenstein), Ann-Margret, Michael York, Peter Ustinov, James Earl Jones and others. The writing in this comedy was atrocious. The acting was poor, and the direction (by Marty Feldman) terrible. York and Feldman play orphaned brothers adopted into a life of luxury by a landed British noble. When the gold-digging younger wife/mother shows up, sir Hector dies while indulging in something best left to younger lovers. York's character makes off with the family fortune (joining the French Foreign Legion), and Feldman takes the fall, going to prison in defense of his brother. The gold-digger widow then orchestrates Feldman's escape from prison, in order to follow him in pursuit of his brother, and the Blue Water Sapphire. What follows is a hi-jinks Foreign Legion adventure. The writing is modeled after that of Mel Brook's comedies, but it's nowhere as good. Feldman is not Mel Brooks. I'm surprised they were able to attract such a distinguished cast. I found the laughs shallow, cliched and stale. I was constantly distracted by Feldman's looks, and the opposing acting styles exhibited by the cast. FYI: This is a remake of 'Beau Geste'; a movie (drama, adventure) which has been remade at least four times (once (1939) starring Gary Cooper). 2 out of 5.
* The Creeping Flesh: (1973 - Horror, sci-fi / U.K.) Starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, this movie had a pretty good cast, and some fair acting. The writing, directing and pacing were poor, and the sound track was terrible. I really liked the H.P. Lovecraft feel of the movie. Set in Victorian London, a scientist (Cushing) returns from Papua New Guinea with an amazing find. The skeleton of a humanoid creature, much older than man. When the skeleton is exposed to water, it begins to reconstitute, flesh begins to form on the skeletal remains. Research soon convinces the scientist that this skeleton is the source of a legend. The skeleton is 'Pure Evil', the source of all evil in man. Experiments follow, and Cushing is convinced that 'evil' is an organism, something that one can be 'inoculated' against. When Cushing's daughter is intentionally exposed to the strange black cells recovered from the remains, she goes on an inexplicably mad murderous rampage. A good plot/story, but poor production and editing. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* The French Connection II: (1975 - Action, drama, crime, thriller) Starring Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Bernard Fresson and others. Here Hackman reprises the role of Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle from the original film. This film is expertly directed by John Frankenheimer, and the acting (especially Hackman's) is superb. The writing in this movie is excellent, deep, thoughtful and taught. Hackman's character is intentionally being used as bait to help catch the mastermind behind a heroin smuggling ring. Hackman acts brashly, like a New York cop, and the French cops shun him. He's marginalized and patronized. When he finally slips the noose of his official 'tail', he's kidnapped by the drug king-pins henchmen. The forcibly addict him to heroin, interrogate him and dump him in dire straits on the streets of Paris. Secluded away from prying eyes, the French cops force him to cold-turkey de-tox. The results are a fierce determination in Hackman to 'kill' the S.O.B's who did this to him. The end game of this movie is a thrilling foot chase, with outstanding pacing, direction, sound work and camera shots. Excellent sequel, rivals the original. Hackman is awesome. 4 out of 5 and I'm adding it to my list of 'must buy' movies.
* Kingdom of Heaven: (2005 - Action, adventure, drama, history, war) Directed by Ridley Scott, this is by far the best movie I have ever seen about the crusades. A peasant blacksmith, by way of his estranged father (a landed noble returned from crusading in the holy lands) becomes a knight, a lord, a defender of Jerusalem, and a man of honor, in this visually stunning epic film. Great direction, acting, action, music, sets, locations, costumes, film-work and a story as old as the Holy land. I'm certainly no historian, but I'll bet it wasn't just a few bad Christians that caused all the Holy wars. Pretty much all the Muslim's were depicted as refined, sophisticated and tolerant. While most of the Christians were depicted as brutish slobs, religious fanatics, blood thirsty murderers. Not a very even depiction. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I'll leave the political debate to historians.
* An Unreasonable Man: (2006 - Documentary, biography) An excellent piece of work. Portrait of Ralph Nader, political activist, consumer advocate, presidential candidate, public pariah? Many people only know Ralph Nader through his entry on the partisan political scene. They see him as a spoiler and radical, they have no inkling of his tireless work and extensive track record as a consumer advocate. This documentary explores multiple aspects of this complicated man. With file footage, interviews and narration, the documentary does an excellent job at revealing multiple points of view regarding Ralph Nader. 4 out of 5.
* Z: (1969 - Drama, history, mystery, thriller / Greece) A French produced movie (Screen play by Jorge Semprún and Costa-Gavras, directed by Costa-Gavras), based on a Greek novel about a true-to-life political assassination. This movie was filmed in Algeria, to avoid political tension/black-listing in other potential locations. An outstanding story. Based on the political assassination of a Greek leftist; this movie is an excellent political thriller. When an independent minded leftist preaches against nuclear weapons, violence and oppression, he's a threat to the ruling party. As part of it's campaign to oppress the political opposition, the government conspires with the military and the police, in order to disrupt an otherwise peaceful demonstration. A melee erupts after a political rally, and two senators end up dead. A special judge is appointed to investigate, and the government does it's best to cover their tracks. Unfortunately for them, this judge is extremely efficient, intelligent, and he won't back down. The direction and camera work were excellent. I especially liked the action sequences. The fight sequence in the open bed of a speeding delivery truck, and the chase scene where a vehicle tries to run down a witness. Excellent acting all around, and pacing that impressed a sense of urgency and importance. While the music was good, the sound track/work was poor. The stereo track was incomprehensible, and the mono version sounded dubbed. The subtitles were also sub-par. 5 out of 5.
* Hour of the Wolf: (1968 - Drama, horror / Sweden) This movie was written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, and it was shot with an outstanding cast: Max von Sydow, Liv Ullmann, Gertrud Fridh, Georg Rydeberg. The entire story takes place on a windswept and desolate island off the coast of Sweden Far enough from the main-land to keep the curious away, the place is deathly quiet, barren and depressing. The story begins when an artist and his wife move into a small cottage on the island. The islands other occupants are a group of aristocratic oddballs, living in a large castle on the other side of the island. What starts out as a dramatic movie about the inner-landscape of man, morphs into a horror movie as that man descends into insanity. This surreal nightmare featured outstanding writing, directing, acting and camera work. 4 out of 5.
* Salem's Lot: (2004 - Horror, drama) Lent to me by a coworker. Here's another adaptation of Stephen King's novel. I haven't read the book, but I have seen the original 1979 made for TV movie. While I enjoyed this movie, I thought the original was better. Starring Rob Lowe, Andre Braugher, Donald Sutherland, Samantha Mathis, Robert Mammone, Dan Byrd, Rutger Hauer and James Cromwell. The movie was well cast, even if Rob Lowe can't act. I particularly enjoyed seeing Rutger Hauer, but found his character to be less than frightening. The story, if you're not familiar with it... A native born son returns home to write a book about his home town, about the evil in men, the evil in him, the evil in that house on the hill. Soon after his arrival, people starting showing up dead - drained of blood! It doesn't take long for the protagonists to figure out that they're dealing with Vampires. From that point on, the movie gets better. I didn't enjoy the 'after the fact' narration, but found the pacing and story thrilling. 3 out of 5.
* Hitch: (2005 - Romance, comedy) A co-worker loaned me this movie. Starring, Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Valletta, Julie Ann Emery and many other 'perfect people'. I liked the movie a lot, despite it's unrealistic, cliched characters and average writing. It was hard to identify with any of the 'high-powered' super-model perfect people portrayed in this romantic comedy. The acting was pretty good, but the story was a bit pedantic. With very few surprises, this romantic comedy follows the average 'date movie' formula. Thankfully, I found Kevin James believable, likeable, and funny. The rest of this movie, while cute and funny, lacked any real substance. I liked it, but despise myself for doing so. 3 out of 5.
* * Star Trek - The original series - Vol. 32, episodes 63 & 64: [The Empath / The Tholian Web]: 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. The Empath featured a couple of Aliens who capture Kirk and crew as part of an experiment. The aliens were pretty neat, with their huge heads and smokers mouths. Kirk's leading lady was Kathryn Hays, playing 'Gem' a mute empath who takes on the crew's pain when tortured by the big headed aliens. The Tholian Web introduced a new adversary race of space faring aliens. The Tholian appear to be some sort of crystalline life form. The Tholian commander demands that the Enterprise and crew leave this sector of space. Unfortunately, Kirk is stranded in a interphased parallel universe. While the crew seeks to retrieve Kirk, time runs out and a brief battle ensues. After the Enterprise fights to a draw a second Tholian ship arrives and the two Tholian craft begin to weave an energy web around the Enterprise.
* This Is Spinal Tap: (1984 - Mockumentary, rockumentary, satire, comedy, music) Written by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer & Rob Reiner. Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer. This mock documentary features the worlds loudest Rock 'N Roll band, 'Spinal Tap', a fictional British rock band. The mockumentary follows the band through an exceptionally well crafted arc. Taking the trio from soaring high aspirations at the beginning of their North American tour, through management disputes, fan apathy, artistic differences, and several other dilemmas, before a reconciliation and wrap up. Very well done. The writing was outstanding, the acting was very good. The music, written and played by the actors, was actually pretty good. This satirical spoof managed to keep a straight face all the way through, and I wouldn't be surprised if there were some who actually believed the satire was reality. 4 out of 5.
* To End All Wars: (2001 - War, drama, action) Directed by David L. Cunningham. Starring Ciarán McMenamin, Robert Carlyle, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Strong, Yugo Saso, and others. Aside from Kiefer it was a relatively unknown cast (to me). This is a dramatic tale (based on a true story) about POWs interned during WWII by the Japanese. A Scottish regiment (and one American (played by Sutherland), is captured by the Japanese (in Southeast Asia). The POWs are then forced to build a railroad through the Jungles of Burma and Thailand. The treatment of the soldiers was definitely rough. Torture wasn't something that the Japanese captors shunned, and the Bushido code made victims of the unknowing prisoners. While enduring the harsh conditions, torture and starvation rations, the captured soldiers struggle to maintain their dignity and a sense of justice. This anti-war movie is full of moral and ethical questions. The acting was fair, but some of the screen play seemed contrived (One of the prisoners (Sutherland's character) was beaten so badly that he was paralyzed from the waist down. Somehow they built him a wheel chair out of bamboo?! I don't think so), and I found the film overwrought at times with sentimental proselytizing. The scene with the crucifixion was particularly offensive and unbelievable. The directing was fair and the pacing good. The sets, costumes and locations helped the movie. 3 out of 5.
* * * 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. 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? Disc 3 (So far I've seen the first 3) was just as good as the second, but not as good as the first. 3 of 5 (for the episodes on this disc).
* Strange Brew: (1983 - Comedy / Canadian) Borrowed from a co-worker. Nothing more than a ridiculous little comedy. Written, directed, and starring - Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. This preposterous comedy featured a completely inane plot. Evil scientist (Max Von Sydow (for shame)), plots to take over the world. How? Drugs in beer, mind controlled army of lunatics? His plans are foiled by the bumbling McKenzie brothers... The characters are cliched, lacking in depth, and completely unbelievable. Thankfully, the lines are funny. This duo definitely reminds one of Wayne and Garth (Wayne's World). The plot really falls apart in places, but that's of no concern. The low budget special effects are laughable, but the lines and some of the sight gags made me laugh out loud. Low brow beer humor from the Great White North. Trivial note (not listed in IMDB) - Don't miss the Dana Carvey (in drag) cameo as Mrs. McKenzie. 3 out of 5.
* Once Upon a Time in Mexico: (2003 - Action, crime, thriller) Borrowed from a co-worker. Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. Despite the occasional flashes of excellent craftsmanship, this film is ultimately a disposable heap of hollywood's worst imitation of art. The copious amounts of gun-play, explosions, cliched characters, and paper thin plot are all but par for this director. How he manages to attract this outstanding cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mende, Danny Trejo, Enrique Iglesias, Marco Leonardi, Cheech Marin, Rubén Blades and Willem Dafoe; defies explanation. This is the third movie in a trilogy. The action takes place in Mexico City. A drug king-pin plots to assassinate the president (of Mexico), with the help of a corrupt general. CIA and FBI operatives work hand in hand with Mexican patriots to thwart the forces of evil. 2 out of 5.
* Quigley Down Under: (1990 - Western, drama, comedy, romance / Australia, USA) Yuck. The plot of this movie was terrible, a revisionist, apologist rendition of the American west. American cowboy is hired by wealthy Australian rancher on pretense of hiring the best shot in the world to kill Dingos. In fact, the rancher has hired Quigley in order to kill the Aborigines. Umm, what!? So this is a reversal of the standard American history, where the native Americans were killed by ranchers and cowboy's? This story attempts to tell us a tragic tale about the senseless slaughter of Australian aborigines. Unfortunately, it comes to late to do any good, but it's cast in a light which makes an American cowboy look like the good guy. Is this some sort of apologist, revisionist, history? Laura San Giacomo (Maya Gallo from Just Shoot Me) can't act, and ruined this movie. Tom Selleck was o.k. This mediocre cast was well matched to the mediocre writing, and in the end this movie was a waste of time. Predictable to the point of boredom. 2 out of 5.
* Pee-Wee's Big Adventure: (1985 - Comedy, adventure) Lent to me by a co-worker. Tim Burton's directorial debut. Featuring music by Danny Elfman. Written by Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman. Starring Paul Reubens as the loveable man-child Pee-Wee Herman. When Pee-Wee's bicycle is stolen, he sets out on a fantastic adventure across america to recover his beloved bicycle. A family friendly movie that permits you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. It was fun to see some of the classic Burton film touches (All the props and the zany characters) coupled with Elfman's music. The acting by Paul Reubens was outstanding. While the story was lacking in substance, the lines were great. Laughable and loveable. 3 out of 5.
* Bullitt: (1968 - Action, drama) Starring Steve McQueen as an uncompromising, scrupulously honest cop. Unlike recent action flicks, this movie has a thoughtful plot. Seemingly simple at the opening, this slow moving, but thrilling action piece reveals itself to be rather complex in the end game. The acting is top notch, and the writing excellent. The car chase through the streets of San Francisco was awesome. At one point, the camera catches Steve McQueen in a minor crash, but the editing intentionally left it in for a split second. Thankfully, there was no spoiler exposition to the plot, and I was thrilled up until the ending. Great movie. 4 out of 5.
* The Messenger - The Story of Joan of Arc: (1999 - Biography, drama, historical, war) My second time watching this movie. Directed by one of my favorite directors - Luc Besson. Starring - Milla Jovovich, Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, John Malkovich, Tchéky Karyo, Vincent Cassel, Richard Ridings. A great cast (except for Milla Jovovich). The acting (for the most part) was excellent, but I thought that Milla Jovovich's portrayal of Joan of Arc was WAY OVER THE TOP. It seemed like she was constantly on the verge of an ecclesiastical explosion, a nervous breakdown, or some sort of schizophrenic melt-down. While I enjoyed the story, and found the 'Messages' aspect interesting, the pacing was far to fast, it was light on historical detail, and the character development thin. Visually, it was a remarkable film, and in the end I found it worth watching. 3 out of 5.
* Premonition: (2007 - Drama, fantasy, mystery) This one was on Kim's list, but I was avoiding it. We watched it during lunch. Starring Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon, Shyann McClure, Courtney Taylor Burness, Nia Long, Irene Ziegler, Kate Nelligan and others. This movie is a ten minute loop repeated five times, with a slight variation on each re-run. Sandra Bullock's husband dies in a car crash. When she wakes up the next day, he's alive again. That's the plot. The ending was terrible, and the story didn't deserve a feature length movie. There were numerous plot flaws, loose ends, and really bad writing. No surprises, very little suspense, and no thrills. The direction seemed to lack focus, and I was never fully convinced by any of the acting. The soundtrack was absolutely abysmal. The same overwrought refrain was used in every single scene. In the end, this poor performance isn't helping Sandra Bullocks downward slide in the least. 2 of 5.
* Donnie Darko - Director's cut: (2001 - Drama, mystery, sci-fi, thriller) Written and directed by Richard Kelly. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Holmes Osborne, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Daveigh Chase, Mary McDonnell, James Duval, Arthur Taxier, Patrick Swayze, and many others. Wow! Talk about a mind bender. Here's a twisted horror, drama, sci-fi flick. The hero is a sleep walking teenager, who's visited by a giant evil bunny from some other dimension. Is it just a dream? Perhaps it's all in his head? Perhaps, perhaps it's a movie about time travel? The acting was very good. The story was a nuanced mystery, where I had no idea what was going to happen next, and the casting was well done. In this director's cut, the story remains the same. There's no big changes. There's more emphasis on science, the music is reordered, and they've added some new thematic elements. Still a favorite. 5 out of 5.
* Two-Lane Blacktop: (1971 - Drama, action, adventure) This one was in my Netflix 'Saved' queue. I was able to watch it using Comcast On Demand. A classic muscle car movie. Starring James Taylor (yes the musician), Warren Oates (the musician), Dennis Wilson (the musician), and Laurie Bird, as a group of desperate characters on their way across country. The acting by Taylor and Wilson was superbly in sync. A slow moving journey across America by way of the open road. Taylor and Wilson are lost, looking for something on the road, something they haven't found in themselves. Oates is trying to escape a past that is wrapped around him like an invisible noose. Bird plays a character who's been abused but can't admit it. On the run from everyone including herself. In this movie the four characters trade seats in a two vehicle race from California to D.C. Winner takes all. The end is a bit abrupt but fitting to the short fuse fashion of the desperados depicted in this movie. Excellent direction, camera work and an authentic feel that's unmatched by most of today's movies. 4 out of 5.
* Azumi: (2003 - Action, drama, fantasy / Japan) Japanese manga turned into a movie. This movie was loaned to me by a co-worker. Starring a juvenile cast of actors including J-Pop teen heart-throb Aya Uteo, who looked good in her skimpy costumes. The writing was cliched, stereotyped and lacked any depth. The casting was poor. Obviously matched to Aya Uteo, the cast lacked acting talent, physical stature, or the martial arts training called for by the writing. There was some good camera work and use of cgi/blue-screen backgrounds. This was offset by overuse of some effects such as time delay, high speed, stop motion and shots where the camera spirals around and around and around and around and around. The story was very thin. Old warlord vows to end all wars by training a group of assassins in order to kill all the evil warlords. He gathers a group of ten orphans? and trains them to be assassins. The best part of the movie is also the most violent, and most ridiculous part of the movie. At their graduation ceremony, the wizened old warrior father figure has the group of ten pair up with their favorite person. He then instructs them to 'kill each other' This movie features a lot of stylized violence, and overabundance of fake blood, huge plot holes, bad acting, and some occasionally good artistic uses of cgi/blue screen. Live action shot in a way that makes it seem like anime. 2 out of 5.
* The Sand Pebbles: (1966 - Drama, action, war, romance, historical) This one was in my Netflix 'Saved' queue. I was able to watch it using Comcast On Demand. Directed by Robert Wise, Starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna, Candice Bergen, Emmanuelle Arsan, Larry Gates, Charles Robinson, Mako. This period piece (set in 1926) tells the story of western occupation and aggression in China (it's definitely an anti-war movie). Steve McQueen's acting is top notch, and the directing is very good. Engineer Jake Holman is assigned to the U.S.S. San Pablo. The ship is assigned to patrol tributaries of the Yangtze river as part of the U.S. presence in China. China is on the verge of a civil war, and foreign nations are the target of China's internal strife. As China struggles to attain it's own self identity, the members of the San Pablo are caught in the middle of a dramatic story. The writing (adaptation of a novel) was very good. This epic story (it's a little long) was one of American intervention in the midst of a civil war. Sound familiar? Why must we repeat histories mistakes again and again? Excellent movie 4 out of 5.
* The Chase: (1966 - Drama, historical) Directed by Arthur Penn, starring Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, E.G. Marshall, Angie Dickinson, Janice Rule, Miriam Hopkins, Martha Hyer, Richard Bradford, Robert Duvall and James Fox. This frenetic drama featured some really good acting (by Marlon Brando, Redford, E.G. Marshall, and Fonda), and some that was way over the top. The story. Robert Redford's character (Bubber), escapes from prison, and his home town goes crazy with worry that he'll come back. Apparently, he was hated by all. He was their scapegoat, excuse, and the poster boy for all their worries, fears and hatred. When he breaks out, the towns pent-up aggression comes to the forefront during a night of drunken revelry. The last 30 minutes of the film are a climactic melee as every character gets his 15 minutes. The final scene seemed rushed but appropriate. The directing was good, as was the camera work. This melodramatic tale was paced and edited like a nervous break down, and it sure felt that way. 4 out of 5.
* The Tunnel: (2001 - Action, drama, history, thriller / German - Tunnel, Der) The amazing but true story of escape from Berlin. Set in 1961, here is the true story of how a group of Germans escaped from East Berlin. The story is real. They dug a tunnel, but there's far more to tell. I was surprised by this tightly written, incredibly complex thriller. The character development was excellent, and the production work fantastic. The sets, costumes, locations were all convincing. I was in Berlin when the wall was coming down. When I got there it was up, by the time I left, it was all over. I watched them put Check Point Charlie (the trailer/mobile home that was the primary building) on a flat-bed truck, and drive it away. An amazing time to be in Berlin. This movie captured all the feeling associated with the division of the city. The acting - by a group of young German actors, was outstanding. The direction was excellent. The pacing, lighting, and music perfectly suited to the sense of urgency imparted by the writing. One of the most surprising parts of the movie? the complete lack of political dogma. Excellent movie. 5 out of 5.
* I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry: (2007 - Comedy) Kim and I saw this movie at a place called 'Movie Tavern'. Starring a great cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Dan Aykroyd, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi. Unfortunately, aside from Kevin James, The acting was terrible. Adam Sandler plays an astonishingly arrogant ladies man fire-fighter. He's got hot babes crawling all over him - for no apparent reason. Kevin James plays his partner, in more ways than one.. This movie offends everyone, including me. I found their depictions of everyone: Christians, Gays, Asians (I have no idea what ethnicity they were mocking), fire fighters and women, to be despicable. The two main actors pretend to be gay so that one of them can get domestic partner benefits. They get a 'domestic partnership', but that's not enough. Due to the fact that the State is investigating their 'gayness', they have to get married as well. News Flash: You don't have to be gay to get a domestic partnership! This movie takes an illogical premise to the most ridiculous conclusion possible. The writing. is terrible, the situations offensive, the acting terrible, and the politics - reprehensible. It may have been a pro-gay movie, but it's depiction of gay people does more damage than good. While their were some laughs, this movie failed to amuse me. 2 out of 5.
* The 36th Chamber of Shaolin: (1978 - Action, adventure, martial arts / Hong Kong - Shao Lin san shi liu fang) Borrowed from a co-worker. This is one of those classic Kung-Fu movies. A genre defining flick featuring some fantastic choreography, excellent camera work and some splendid acting by the star - Chia Hui Liu. Unfortunately, the acting by the rest of the cast wasn't so good. The story is pretty straightforward. A young man's family and friends are slain by a corrupt overlord when members of their clan/school are suspected of treason. He barely escapes, makes his way to a Shaolin temple and takes refuge there. He spends the next seven years mastering all 35 chambers of Shaolin Kung-Fu teachings. When he proposes a 36th chamber, in order to teach the people how to defend themselves, he's thrown out of the temple. After he's expelled, he returns to his village, and makes them 'Pay' for the heavy handed treatment under their tyrannical rule. Great training scenes, good direction, but horrible make-up and costumes. All in all, an excellent Kung-Fu classic. 4 out of 5.
* Renaissance: (2006 - Crime, drama, film noir, mystery / France) A black and white movie (no shades of grey). This movie features motion capture animation. A technique which makes it look more like over-animation than true animation. The artistic elements of the film are outstanding. The story is a sci-fi film-noir story set in Paris of 2054. The main character (a police detective) is trying to locate a missing scientist. What dark secretive research was she involved in? Who would want to kidnap her, or kill her? The story was great, unfortunately, the lines (in English) lacked any depth or emotion, which once again pushed this movie into a place that felt detached, like reading a graphic novel. I didn't realize the movie was French until late in the film. I wish I'd have known. Perhaps the French language version carried more depth in the dialog. While the ending was somewhat predictable (telegraphed), the journey through this dark, dystopian Paris of 2054 was worth the effort. 3 out of 5.
* Slow Burn: (2005 - Action, mystery, drama) Originally released in 2005, this movie was held back from general release until 2007. This one was in Kim's Queue. I hadn't heard about until I saw it on top of the t.v. Kim and I watched it one night - I didn't have anything else lined up. Here's a police drama/mystery with plenty of plot twists and turns. Where you're never quite sure who's deceiving who. Ray Liotta plays a District Attorney, and Jolene Blalock plays the assistant D.A. A complicated plot is wound around the shooting death of a gang member in the assistant DA's bed. Despite the great cast (Ray Liotta, LL Cool J, Mekhi Phifer, Jolene Blalock, Guy Torry, Taye Diggs, Chiwetel Ejiofor), the writing was formulaic, uninteresting and full of ridiculous dialog. You might compare it to 'The Usual Suspects', but only to say how much better that movie is. The worst part of the movie is the way the audience - by way of the lead character - is led around by his nose. Alternately believing everything placed in front. Blalock's character was very interesting, but her character wasn't the feature, and the background behind that character wasn't the focus of this movie. The copious amounts of slightly sweaty skin did not help this movie. In the end, I felt like a piñata without the final blow. I'd been spun around, beaten about, left dizzy and twirling, still waiting for that final blow. 1 out of 5.
* Cash Back: (2006 - Drama, fantasy, romance) Written and directed by Sean Ellis, this movie is an artful creation with an excellent story line. With a time travel theme, and geeky characters, I'm not surprised that NetFlix recommended it. The main character is suffering from insomnia after a recent romantic break-up. He takes a night job at the local super-mart, populated with a cast of slacker characters. He soon discovers that he can completely 'stop time'. He uses this powerful ability to escape the boredom, improve his art, and develop an obsession. Excellent pacing, music, editing and lighting. The special effects are handled with a light hand, and the acting is mixed (most of it's very good). There's a lot of nudity - including full frontal nudity, but no sex. Thankfully, the premise isn't used as a lever to some preposterous hollywood action thriller. This film is a well crafted piece of art, worth watching and admiring. I'll look for more work by this director. 4 out of 5.
* * * 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 one of the geeks. Many of the actors were too old for the roles they were cast in, but the acting was excellent. 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? Disc 4 (So far I've seen the first 4) was excellent. 4 of 5 (for the episodes on this disc).
* The Thing from Another World: (1951 - Horror, sci-fi, drama) This is one example where a remake is actually better than the original. This B&W sci-fi classic features some excellent writing and music. Thankfully, the cast is well balanced, and the acting (for the era) was pretty good. I remember watching this movie when I was a kid (a late night 'Creature Feature' for sure), and the thrills are still there. The pacing is excellent, and the story is outstanding. Scientists, isolated at the north pole, discover a crashed 'flying saucer'. After they inadvertently destroy the craft, they discover the pilot frozen in the ice. They cut it out, and haul it back to their camp. When the 'Thing' is inadvertently thawed out, it comes to life and begins to terrorize the occupants of this isolated outpost. The characters are believable, the story compelling, the monster rarely seen, and the ending delivers a shocking climax. 4 out of 5.
* Silent Running: (1972 - Sci-fi, drama) The best part of this film was the acting by Bruce Dern, and the mediocre special effects. The premise of the movie. Earth is overpopulated, and they've placed the last forests on space ships, in order to... what? Where are they headed? We never really find out why the remnants of Earth's forests are flying about in space. When the ships are recalled, the crew is instructed to jettison and destroy the forests. Outraged at this decision, one of the crew rebels, and takes matters into his own hands. While the premise is great, the story is a bit thin. The plot and characters are lacking in development, which results in painfully slow pacing. The droids were disturbing to watch - I kept wondering whether there were double amputees inside those cramped costumes. While the special effects were on par for the era, they paled in comparison to those seen in 2001 - A Space Odyssey (released three years earlier). In the end this movie doesn't rate a rewatch. 2 out of 5