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MsKristi
Here is a blatant idea I copied off of Swift-12. I thought it was neat that he put a link to his movie reviews in his profile, so I've done the same. http://comments.imdb.com/CommentsAuthor?571089
Reviews
The Lake House (2006)
The Talented Mr. Reeves
This film is a classic romance. I was emotionally wrapped up in it and, by film's end, was crying - though I won't tell you if they were tears of happiness or sadness. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock have the kind of chemistry that makes you think you could watch them together in any number of romantic films and never get sick of seeing them opposite one another...you think you would just be left longing for more. Perhaps it was this powerful chemistry alone that made it so very easy to suspend disbelief. I want to give very deserving kudos to Reeves. His acting has greatly improved. There was nary a hint of that Valley Boy speak. That woodenness has been whittled away. This is not the same leading man from Sweet November and A Walk In the Clouds. This leading man has more depth, more range, more passion. I hope this is the start of a wonderful trend for Mr. Reeves. The one thing that I will complain about is the cinematography. Was it the director's decision to have the cinematographer film some very emotional scenes with the actors' backs facing the camera? I kept trying to convince myself that this was done for artistic purposes...you know, make the viewer feel the frustration that the characters feel in not being able to see and feel each other. Well, I lost that argument with myself because it just flat out annoyed me that during one big scene, most of what I saw was their backs or the side of one of their faces. It was like I was being robbed of something and that made those special moments in the film a little less special. Aside from that, this was a very satisfying film. I would highly recommend it to anyone that likes a good love story, be it tragic or fairy tale. Along with Must Love Dogs, this is one of the best romances I have seen this decade.
Sports Night (1998)
Don't let the title deceive you...
When Sports Night was originally broadcast on network TV, I stayed away from it, thinking it centered on sports and would be geared more towards men. What a mistake that was! Luckily, I discovered this refreshing, well-written, well-acted, witty as heck gem in reruns. This show boasts one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled. Among my favorites are Sabrina Lloyd and Joshua Malina. They steal every scene they're in and when they're in the same scene...watch out! The plots and subplots (those that don't run the course of more than one episode) are wrapped up cleverly and smoothly by show's end. Nothing feels forced. Of course, this comedy-drama won't be for everyone (sometimes even I get a little fed up with one character's eccentric personality), but if you like cerebral comedies with a big heart, give this one a try. One thing to note: I feel that the episodes from the first season are superior to the second.
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Good popcorn movie
There were a couple moments in this film that elicited claps and cheers from the audience. That's a good popcorn movie. Personally, I thought there was only one thing that stood out about this film when compared to other 'Nam flicks and that was its look at military tactics. I was impressed by the way they showed us the strategies used by both sides. What really suffered in this film, though, were the characters. They were your typical, cliched group and the same old cliched things happened to them. I mean, how many times in a war movie (especially a 'Nam flick) have you seen a soldier, in the heat of battle, pick up a wounded soldier and try to carry him to safety? Especially one that is so wounded he can't walk, so his buddy throws him across his shoulders to carry him? This happened at least twice in the film. I guess this is a POSSIBLE SPOILER (especially if this is your first 'Nam flick), but too many times to count, new characters are introduced during the battle only to die moments later. They are given enough dialogue to try and make us see that they are nice, patriotic guys with someone back home waiting for them. Then they are gone. Of course, one could argue that that's a reflection of how it probably was over there, guys speak for the first time, then the next thing they knew the guy they just spoke with was shot down, they were under such heavy fire. The performances were good, but I do question the casting of Mel Gibson. There were moments in the film that I think he went at the part wrong.
This wasn't the best movie about Vietnam, but not the worst, either.
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Big disappointment
Though there are some fine performances (especially from Ben Chaplin), I found this film rather boring and very manipulative. It is sad to say that with all the death in this film, the most wrenching moment for me was when Chaplin's character answered mail call. His and Koteas' characters were the only ones I cared about. I did like the use of the different narratives, but c'mon...did everyone who fought (and whose minds we were allowed to enter) have a Texan or southern drawl? Sometimes, it was difficult to distinguish between the actor's voices during narratives. Personally, I don't like a film that doesn't give me a sense of space. During battle scenes, I wasn't sure who was who and where everyone was. This can add to the feeling of what it is like to really fight in a war, but, to me (a simple viewer) it was only an annoyance.
I also don't respond well to films which are obviously trying to convey messages, as this film did in its war/nature/death themes. Flashing to images of nature destroyed, nature beautiful in moments of chaos....the filmmakers tried too hard. It was overkill. Characters also seemed to "get lost" during the film. A character would be in a scene, have a dramatic moment, then I wouldn't see him again until 20 minutes (just an estimate) later. That's why I didn't care for many characters...I didn't get time to know them, even though I was in some of their heads! Some people like these kinds of "artsy" films; they're not my cup of cocoa.
The Road to Wellville (1994)
An un-bowel-ievably funny film
This is among one of my favorite comedies, containing some very memorable lines. It is a good mix of dumb humor and wit. The performances are first-rate, and it is very refreshing to see Anthony Hopkins in a comedy. He does surprisingly well, in what I believe is one of his most challenging roles. My two biggest complaints about the film involve Dana Carvey's character. First, his character is more creepy than funny. Second, his character is involved in a subplot about a rival cereal that bogs the film down (especially after repeated viewings). These things can be forgiven, though, because of all the laughs this quirky hidden-gem of a movie provide.