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mike-547
Reviews
The Wild (2006)
If Madagascar is a 1 The Wild is a 20
Just a small comment. To all those who see The Wild as a rip off of that earlier "film", just remember, you need a rough draft (Madagascar) before you make the real thing (The Wild). The story alone is so much better, the voice actors, for the most part, far better suited to the roles they play (of course the fact that chris rock, the lamest excuse for an actor since ronny raygun, isn't in The Wild makes it a better film by default) not to mention the fact that the animation is light years ahead of Madagascar. The only comparison I can think of that would be fitting would be to compare something like "Huckleberry Hound" to Disney's "Beauty and The Beast". I liked Huckleberry Hound but the animation was no great shakes.
Shrek 2 (2004)
why?
Hated the first shrek (mean spirited, stupid, lousy animation) The second is a perfect example of why sequels should not be made. There is nothing worth seeing or hearing in this film. Ten years from now people will only vaguely remember the first and will probably be surprised that there even was a sequel. The animation is stiff and unappealing, nothing at all when compared to the average Pixar film where you see every hair on Sully's body move with a totally realistic look, or you see the very molecules of water move as Marvin and Nemo swim through it. Mike Myer's Scottish accent (????) has got to be one of the worst ever. I've heard 6th generation southerners who have a stronger natural Scottish accent then this embarrassment that he keeps subjecting us to. All in all this film rates a -3 out of 100
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Almost unwatchable
I came in at the tail end of the Saturday matinée serials, but I did see many of them in the early days of television. Most of them were better than this movie. Granted the special f/x for this were a "little" better than the old serials, but the muted colors and soft focus (I actually got a headache trying to bring the picture into focus until I realized it wasn't me but the film that was fuzzy), the lack of a decent story (it could have been so much better), the lousy dialog and some of the worst acting I have seen in a major film in a long time makes me glad I only paid afternoon prices to see it. The only thing that saved this from getting a negative number was the acting of Ms. Jolie. She played her role very well and she alone gave the film a 9 rating, too bad everything else dragged it down.
Friends (1994)
are we there yet?
So the end is near.....hurrah. It's about time they cleared the airwaves of this drivel. One of the reasons I quit watching commercial tv was because of the overabundance of "reality shows". The other was because of shows like this, shows that claim to be about real life but one would be hard pressed to ever find lives like this in the real world. I have tried many times to watch this program because I hear how great it was but have never been able to handle it. I think the longest my tolerance level was able to handle was ten laughless minutes. If the system ranked television shows I'd have to give it a -5 out of 10. A negative for stealing away that 10 minutes. And for those of you who don't know what to do with your Thursday nights might I suggest that you get a life.
Duck Soup (1933)
Ahead of their times?
Duck Soup easily rates a 10 out of 10 from me but,..... for all of you who classify it as a film ahead of its time, sorry, but your about 37 years too late. This film is very loosely based on the 1896 Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "The Grand Duke", their last and least produced work (mainly because it was so far ahead of its time). If you get a chance to see a live performance (unlikely, its still rarely produced) or if you can get a hold of a copy of the award winning 1999 Seattle production (listed on the IMDB), do so. Although not as slapstick as the Marx Brothers, still a great piece for background material and theatrical insight and a real treat for Gilbert and Sullivan fans.
The Wonderful World of Disney: Annie (1999)
Remake?????
This is not a remake of the 1982 "Annie" (thank heavens), this is the first filmed version of the original Broadway "Annie", I know, I've appeared in a couple of different stage productions of the show. Not only has this film returned some of the original songs to the story (although the still left out my favorite "Herbert Hoover") they didn't replace missing numbers with the kind of garbage the earlier film threw in. Kathy Bates is the perfect Miss Hannigan. Don't get me wrong, I love Carol Burnett, she was just too far over the top. She would not have lasted a week as the matron of a NY orphanage in the 30s. Times may have been hard, but the child welfare system was tough, not just on the kids but on those who cared for them. And just a little advice to those questioning the wisdom of having Rob Marshall as the director/choreographer, go see "Chicago"
1776 (1972)
Hooray for DVD
I was fortunate enough to not only see the orignal touring company of this show but also to perform in a very special stage version (we closed on July 4th, 1976) and I have always enjoyed the film but with reservations because of the cuts and that unbearable pan and scan. But, joy upon joy, I just found out today that a director's cut of the fully restored (welcome back you cool, considerate men) is being released on dvd just in time for the 4th of July. I know before I even see it that it will be one of the most watched musicals in my dvd collection
Shrek (2001)
I don't get it
Where was the great story, the great character study, the overflowing laughs, the incredible computer animation? Certainly not in the film I saw. How did this movie ever get to be such a high grossing film. People must have gone back a second and third time because they couldn't believe how bad it really was. The characters had no redeeming qualities. The only one even remotely funny was Eddie Murphy. He's the reason I gave it a 2 and not a 1. The story, in general was boring and extremely predictable and the computer animation left much to be desired. Final Fantasy had far better computer animation and from the clips I've seen of Monsters Inc, well it leaves the others in the dust visually. I usually grab animation dvds the moment they come out. In the case of Shrek, well, maybe I'll watch it again when it comes out on cable but I certainly won't waste my money on it. Not a keeper.
The Fantasticks (2000)
It should have remained on the shelf
I wasn't completely disappointed with the film "adaptation" of "The Fantasticks". It had a number of enjoyable cast members in it. That's why I felt generous enough to give it a 2 rating. If not for the likes of Joel Grey or Bernard Hughes or Teller, I would have figured out a way to give it a negative number. As a fan of the stage version (and a former cast member) I was not just dismayed to see some of the best numbers reduced or in some cases replaced or removed, I was actually hurt that anyone could mangle so completely such a simple, eloquent musical. I can only hope that now that the original off broadway production has closed someone will come along and make a real film of one of the best musicals ever written.
Nutcracker (1986)
I pity you
I feel great pity for those who have only been able to see this on film, and for the fact that this film is not available on tape or even better DVD. Living only 12 miles from the Seattle Opera House where this particular production is staged each year (to sell out houses) I have seen it both ways. The film has very few effects which don't exist on the stage so when you are seeing the film you are seeing the stage show. As for the story line, this version holds the closest to the original story of any version I have ever seen, and I've seen quite a few. Truly this is a film to be treasured and shared and hopefully the owners of the film will realize this and make it available to the general public once again.
Shrek (2001)
I don't get it
Where was the great story, the great character study, the overflowing laughs, the incredible computer animation? Certainly not in the film I saw. How did this movie ever get to be such a high grossing film. People must have gone back a second and third time because they couldn't believe how bad it really was. The characters had no redeeming qualities. The only one even remotely funny was Eddie Murphy. He's the reason I gave it a 2 and not a 1. The story, in general was boring and extremely predictable and the computer animation left much to be desired. Final Fantasy had far better computer animation and from the clips I've seen of Monsters Inc, well it leaves the others in the dust visually. I usually grab animation dvds the moment they come out. In the case of Shrek, well, maybe I'll watch it again when it comes out on cable but I certainly won't waste my money on it. Not a keeper.
Seinfeld (1989)
Too bad you don't rate tv shows.
After reading Mr Seinfeld's comments on the Emmy awards ("for losers")it just reminds me why I would have rated his tired, old, self-indulgent "sitcom" (can we call it that?, since it's about nothing and any true sitcom has some sort of central reasoning) a ZERO. His comments about the Emmys just seems like so much sour grapes to me. My apologies to those who found this show entertaining but all I can say is let us hope that those with their fingers on the programing buttons only let him return as a one episode guest star.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Enjoyable musical but......
Although this is one of the better translations from stage to screen it still suffers from the curse of the movie musical. Some of the better (funnier) musical numbers have been left out of the film. A visually stunning film that carries the basic story line form stage to screen, there is just something missing as far as the overall musical is concerned. Leaving out the number done by Max and the Baroness is akin to leaving "I'm Calm" out of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". It leaves a hole in the whole.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
something missing
Great to get a chance to see some of the original Broadway cast (Mostel and Gilford) but it's just not the same as seeing it on stage. Half of the musical numbers are missing, including Gilford's wonderful "Calm" number. Fun to watch if you've never seen it on stage but do yourself a big favor and see it on stage, any stage, even a high school production will show what the movie lacks.
Brigadoon (1954)
very enjoyable musical........live
first let me say Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse are two of my favorite film musical stars. But their film version of Brigadoon is by far one of the worst translations of a great stage musical that I have ever seen, It is not a bad film, in fact if you've never seen it on stage it is really quite good. But it is an incredibly incomplete film.
Of the fifteen individual songs in the stage show only seven were used in the film and most of these were cut in half. As others have said, leaving out both of Meg's wonderfully comic numbers is criminal, as is the removal of the the beautiful love song "Come to Me Bend to Me". If they were so intent on turning this into a dancers musical why did they cut out some of the best dance numbers, the Sword Dance, "Jeannie's Packin' Up" and the ballet number associated with the revelation of Harry's death.
I will admit I am very partial to the stage show, I'm currently designing my second major production of the show.
For those who have difficulty with the story you should know that it based, not on any Scottish or even English language folktale but rather on an old German folktale and the title actually refers to the bridge across the river Doon (Brig O' Doon) which figures in the Robert Burns classic "Tam O' Shanter"
So, if you've never seen the stage show enjoy. If you have seen the stage show, enjoy anyway but know now that you will be greatly disappointed with this "half" hearted attempt
Gladiator (2000)
Maybe it will be better on the small screen
First off let me say this film was merely OK, nothing more, nothing less. We've seen this story dozens of times before, in a dozen different genres, from gladiator movies to football films. The antagonist attempts to, and sometimes does, force out the film's opening hero only to have the hero come back, after a period of rebuilding and soul searching, and defeat the antagonist in the end. James Caan and John Houseman did it much better in "Rollerball" The characters were all your standard Roman cliches with the exception of the wonderful final performance by Oliver Reed. This was the film's one saving grace.
The film style in the battle and fight scenes was rocky enough to give the most stalwart rollercoaster fan motion sickness, while the more cerebral portions of the film were so deadly dull that these sections could cure even the worst insomniac. I saw the film at the Cinerama in Seattle and that magnifies everything about the film, especially its flaws. Maybe it will be easier to watch when it hits the small (TV) screen.
American Beauty (1999)
Jane was right (possible spoiler)
I don't know where all the high praise came from. The story was quite predictable, the acting was passable(certainly not Oscar quality, I think Kevin Spacey came across as a better actor in "A Bug's Life") and (possible spoiler!) you could see the ending coming 20 minutes before it got there. I think Jane summed it up nicely early in the film when she said "Pathetic". If you want to see a dysfunctional family movie worthy of the Oscars it won, see "Ordinary People". Not a black comedy (?) but a far better film.