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Phrenzy
Reviews
X2 (2003)
Pretty good, but don't expect too much.
*Spoilers*
First off, I must say that I DID enjoy this movie. It had some very good scenes (especially Nightcrawler's assassination attempt, and Magneto's prison-break, as others have mentioned), but it did have some major flaws.
1. Whoever cast Halle Berry in this film should be made to apologize to ever single person who purchased a ticket. Her portrayal of Storm remains completely lifeless. There's still time to get Iman for X-Men 3, folks.
2. Too much foreshadowing at the end of the film. I felt like I was watching a none-too-subtle advertisement that gave away the entire plot. The silhouette in the water was especially silly.
3. There wasn't nearly enough development of the Pyro character to make it reasonable that he would have wound up taking off with Magneto.
4. Speaking of Magneto, he and Mystique have some interesting dialogue... are they getting it on? Good for him if they are, but still, that's a bit creepy.
5. Still no Gambit. Man...
6. Has Wolverine never heard of a razor? I know that it's remaining true to the comic and all, but the filmmakers have already changed so much (the eyes that Nightcrawler and Storm were making at each other come to mind) that it would just be the tiniest thing to allow us to appreciate a fine natural resource such as Hugh Jackman.
Okay... sorry for that.
In general, though, I found it to be an enjoyable movie, and definitely worth seeing.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
This film is brilliant!
I wasn't sure what to expect from this film, but boy was I pleasantly surprised! It's far better than any of the television episodes (with the possible exception of the one with Robert Smith). Highlights include:
The "Shut your f**king face, uncle f**ker" song.
Ike (as usual) and
Saddam Hussein's big red penis!
The Assassination File (1996)
No Kidding!
This film is indeed one of many in a tired, tired genre. Dan Butler gives the only mentionable performance, but even this is strained by the predictable ending. The senator's son, who I assume we are supposed to feel for, is a sneering brat, and I was jealous of the senator himself who was granted an early, merciful relief from this stinker.
The Godfather (1972)
What else to say?
Well... believe it or not, this weekend was the first time I actually sat down and watched the Godfather all the way through. Sure, it's great, but I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites of all time. It does have a timeless quality, however, and brilliant nuances, even in the most in-your-face scenes. I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet, though I was probably the last one who hadn't seen it.
The Haunting (1999)
What a piece of crap!
This is the single most disappointing movie I've seen all year. I love Lili Taylor, and even she can't even come close to saving this film! This was the first time I've ever nearly fallen asleep at a horror movie. Liam Neeson gives a lackluster performance, and Catherine Zeta-Jones and that Wilson guy are unwatchable. The special effects were pretty, but nothing groundbreaking. The one shining star in this film is the prone statue in the fountain... now he's creepy!
Sphere (1998)
Not as bad as I'd heard...
This film gets a bad rap, but I thought it was pretty interesting. The characters were intelligent for once and the plot kept you guessing. The main problem I had was that the ending was sorta lackluster, but not enough to keep me from recommending it (especially now that it's not a new release, so it's cheaper to rent!)
The Green Mile (1999)
An excellent, emotionally powerful movie.
Since I found out about its impending release (in July) I have been waiting with baited breath to see "The Green Mile". I had read, and loved, the book, and I knew that Darabont and Hanks would not disappoint. As it turns out, having read the book actually took away from my enjoyment of this wonderful movie. There were several surprises that I was not able to participate in, and the anticipation of one particularly catastrophic scene nearly sent me fleeing from the theatre (rest assured, while the scene in the film was extremely powerful and disturbing, it wasn't nearly as graphic as it is in the book). This drawback aside, "The Green Mile" was without a doubt the best film I've seen all year.
It would be a travesty if Michael Duncan does not receive an Oscar for his phenomenal portrayal of John Coffey. He had me crying at nearly every scene he was in. Doug Hutchison, David Morse and Michael Jeter also gave terrific performances, and Tom Hanks was... Tom Hanks. You can always count on him for a reliably moving performance.
When going to see this film, be sure to bring some hankies (preferably Marcal brand, because they do not test on animals). My sister claimed that she didn't need tissues because she's not a "cry-at-movies" type of person. Well, she only made it a little more than halfway through before she was bawling like the rest of us. There wasn't a dry eye in the theatre by the final scenes.
Also, try not to go in with preconceived notions about this being a "Shawshank" sequel. The settings for the two may be similar, but they are radically different films, with totally separate feels. "The Green Mile" is definitely strong enough to stand on it's own. It should not be missed!