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rekiwi
Reviews
The Princess and the Goblin (1991)
Just bad
I was struck by the amateurish animation, like the rough work in the CTW version of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" but with better backgrounds and with even worse sound. I can forgive weak visuals when the story is strong, but this feature falls short there too. It's a mishmash of poorly developed characters and poorly motivated action set pieces. The Great Great Grandmother character is tossed into the mix for some magical glamor, but only adds to the humor and confusion with her "I'll always be there for you, except when I'm not" speech. The violence is also a little rougher than I'm used to, including a bloodstain from a character's wound, a goblin dog shown in shadow being kicked in the head until senseless, and a strange moment where a nursemaid is licked, repeatedly and lasciviously, on her clothed belly and chest by an attacking goblin. The voice acting is good (not surprising considering the cast) but it's not enough to save this movie.
Foyle's War (2002)
Doesn't add up
"Foyle's War" tackles the tough issues, leads you through mystery and intrigue, portrays a critical point in history with an unforgiving eye, and showcases a long list of top-notch actors, but the whole is not the sum of its parts. Character development is perfunctory and the editing is choppy. Overall, the show feels rushed, as if they are trying to fit too much into even 100+ minutes. For example, in "Lesson in Murder", the struggle (philosophical and practical) of pacifists, the impact of racism, the frantic tenderness of young love growing under the shadow of war, the clash of classes forced together uneasily by the war, all these themes are crammed together at the same level of prominence along with three deaths. The actors are reduced to reciting their lines as the plot chugs along. After growing up with detectives like Holmes (Brett), Poirot, Smiley, and Wimsey, and living though dramas like "Danger UXB", "Foyle's War" feels like a faint echo.
Glory Daze (1995)
Great location, terrible flick
Yes, this movie is about wanting to do nothing and, as such, does just about nothing. The film has some laughs (French Stewart is great), but there's nothing here to make me care about the characters. I felt like I was watching cardboard cutouts skate boarding, drinking, sculpting, partying, and trying to get laid, all covered with a thin veneer of angst. The only thing that kept me awake was recognizing all the locations around Santa Cruz. Go Slugs!!!
The Next Man (1976)
Deserving to be buried and forgotten
I found "The Arab Conspiracy" in a bargain bin and thought I'd uncovered a lost treasure. Folks, there's a reason why you don't hear much about this film. The plot is muddy, the pacing is slow, Cornelia Sharpe is about as vivacious as plain, cold tofu, and the ending leaves you flat. Not even Sean Connery can save this one.