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Reviews
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Loved the books, loved the first 5 movies, HATED this one.
What do you get when you remove all of the intensity of the book? When you try to make a comedy out of a drama? When you add unnecessary scenes when faced with converting a 650 page book into a 2.5 hour movie? When you have a breathtaking last 50 pages of the book that is boring and flat when put on screen? When you have the chance to show why strange things are happening but instead just slap great special effects on a sloppy script? When your new red-headed leading lady can't act but you are stuck with her because she was cast in the role 7-8 years ago? You get Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Thumbs up to the performances of the actors portraying Harry, Luna, Slughorn and Hermione. Thumbs up to the Quidditch scenes. Thumbs down to the script, the editing, and everything else.
Mallrats (1995)
Shakespeare, Spielberg, Scorsese and Kevin Smith
What are "4 names that should never be used in the same sentence"?
Mallrats made me yearn for the days of Howard The Duck. I kept waiting for the laughs, the irony, or the social insight, and I'm left thinking that the best character on this film was the sailboat.
The First Wives Club (1996)
Could have been a good farce, could have been a good message film, ended up being neither
OK, I know this is a chick flick and I am anatomically incorrect. Still, I had high hopes for First Wives Club until about half way through. It looked like it was headed towards over-the-top farce like The Jerk or Adventures In Babysitting. Then it detoured and tried to be "important". Very few films can succeed at both. Willing suspense of disbelief works in a farce, but "important" movies need a coherent plot. The plot and the comedy both die midway, leaving us to wait for a painfully trite conclusion.
At least that's the way this non-chick saw it.
The Wonderful World of Disney: The Facts of Life Reunion (2001)
Where was Molly Ringwald?
Oh my, this was the worst reunion movie I have ever seen. (That is saying a lot.) I am ashamed of watching.
What happened in the script meetings? "Ooooooh, I know! Let's have two stud muffins fall madly in love with the Most-Annoying-Character-Since-Cousin-Oliver." "Yeah, that'll be cool!"
Even for sitcoms, this was the most implausible plot since Ron Popeil starting spray painting bald men.
Das Boot (1981)
Watch it in German
Is there a better war movie than Das Boot? I just watched the subtitled Directors Cut, my first viewing since seeing the subtitled theater release in 1982. It is just as powerful the second time around, well-acted, well-filmed, and well-directed. I enjoyed Hunt For Red October and Crimson Tide, but Das Boot is on a different level.
I was shocked when a dubbed version was released in the US in the 1980's, because the most compelling aspect of Das Boot is seeing naval battles from the point of view of the Germans. I imagine watching Das Boot in English is like watching Hogan's Heroes. Whatever you do, if you have a chance to watch this movie, make sure it is the subtitled edition.
The Director's Cut is long, but worth it. Take a break half-way through, do a few stretches, and then sit down for the conclusion. Das Boot just keeps getting better and better and better.
Dog Park (1998)
Somebody tell me how it ended
My wife and I are regular dog park visitors, and we rented this movie purely on the title. We hoped that Janeane Garofalo would be as good as she was in The Truth About Cats and Dogs. The Truth about Dog Park is that it ain't about dogs, it ain't about parks, it ain't funny, it ain't sexy, it ain't about Janeane Garofalo, and it ain't worth $1.99 on the discount rack.
The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
Best movie about the day the music died
Gary Busey is superb in this musical biography. Great singing and excellent soundtrack. The Buddy Holly Story is a much better movie than La Bamba. From reading other comments, there may be some historical inaccuracies. Regardless, it is a fun toe-tapping film, and a good introduction to Buddy Holly's music.
The Wonderful World of Disney: Annie (1999)
Much more faithful to the stage show
I loved the original musical and saw the show in three different cities. When the movie version came out, I was shocked at how bad it was. This TV version was much much much better, with a more faithful adaptation and excellent casting. If you hate the song "Tomorrow", you might not like this movie. But I'm a sucker for it. A big Ebert-sized thumbs up!
That Thing You Do! (1996)
Snappy Music and a Great Family Movie About A Record Record Record
That Thing You Do is not deep or "important". It doesn't have a political slant and it doesn't make us angry or worried or self-righteous. It is simply a wonderful movie with a great soundtrack, and one of the few movies that is for everybody from 3 to 93. I gained a lot of respect for Tom Hanks' diverse talents because of this movie. All of the actors do well (watch for Charlize Theron in an early role as Spartacus's girlfriend) , and they have a cute script with which to work. That Thing You Do is as good the fourth time as the first.
Ghost (1990)
Bad Writing, Bad Acting, Bad Directing, Good Righteous Brothers Tune
This is one of those movies that you feel like you SHOULD like. It's so noble. The scenery and special effects are quite good. But in the end it is just another mediocre movie starring Patrick Swayze. I don't like dramas that rely on characters doing the stupidest possible thing in order to keep the plot moving. I liked Demi Moore's performance (perhaps because her character is most sympathetic), and Tony Goldwyn gives a good effort, but Whoopi and Swayze's scenes made me cringe (particularly the bank scene). 5 out of 10
My Dog Skip (2000)
The Most Overrated Movie Of The Millennium
I wanted so much to like this movie, being a dog person and having seen the trailer and so many good reviews. But I disliked this movie more than any I have seen in recent memory. The boy and his dog are cute (really, how hard is it to make a boy and his dog look cute?), but the story is full of so many gaps and illogical turns that it goes beyond willing suspension of disbelief. Without going into plot points, I found the mother and father to be horribly written, and the dog's adventures neither realistic nor compelling. The film is (apparently very loosely) based on a true story. Despite what you may hear elsewhere, this is not a movie for kids. If you want a kid movie, check out either version of Toy Story. If you want a heart-string puller with animals, try Babe or Homeward Bound. If you want a Kevin Bacon flick, A Few Good Men is still on cable. If you like the cast of Malcolm In The Middle, The Cider House Rules is a far superior movie. Regardless of your motivation, in my humble opinion you should run fast and run far to avoid My Dog Skip.
October Sky (1999)
Lives Up To Its Reputation
I enjoyed this movie. You will too. Its intelligence and intensity held my attention, and it gets better as it goes on. Now I want to read Homer's book!
I wish more movies could be so thoughtfully constructed. Kudos to all involved.
The Cider House Rules (1999)
Technical excellence overrides political overtones
I knew nothing about the movie before I saw it, so I wasn't aware of the controversy it has generated. This film has a propagandist slant to it, but it is wonderfully filmed and acted.
Michael Caine, Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron and Delroy Lindo stand out in an excellent cast, as do virtually all of the child actors. The sets and scenery are beautifully shot, and the movie kept my attention throughout.
THIS IS NOT FOR KIDS but I believe it is a fine example of technical excellence in film-making.
Field of Dreams (1989)
The Best Sports Movie Ever
OK, so it isn't just a sports movie. It works on all levels, and takes me back to being a kid again, before I knew about contracts and drug testing and agents and strikes and lame brawls and $7 cheez whiz nachos. I can watch this movie over and over, and the last ten minutes still turns me into a gusher.
Annie (1982)
They butchered a classic musical
This movie is an abomination. It captures none of the charm and grace of the stage show, and Disney's 1999 version (with Kathy Bates) is far superior for those who have have not been lucky enough to see the play. Every deviation from the original is a failure, with the worst offenses being the trash with which Tim Curry and Carol Burnett had to work. I've never been more disappointed or angry with a movie.