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"Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that the child cannot do much harm one way or the other." Robert Benchley
Reviews
Saw III (2006)
Game Over = Movie Over = Thank God!
Dr. Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomekh) left for work, at the hospital, after an argument with her husband. She arrived there, saved a boy's life that couldn't breathe by doing surgery on him in the Emergency Room, never mind that she didn't wait for a surgeon, goes into a room, and pops some antidepressants into her mouth like they were candy! Then, she doesn't stay at work. Somehow, she ends up not knowing where she is, winds up at Jigsaw's (Tobin Bell), because he "chose" her to save his life, since he was on his deathbed dying with a brain tumor!
At this same time, her husband, "Jeff" (Angus Macfadyen), doesn't know where he is either, and he ends up at Jigsaw's, having to take a test, while his wife is to save Jigsaw's life! Something tragic had happened recently, with Jeff and Lynn, which caused them to argue and it was ruining their family life! So Jigsaw does a test, called "Let's play a game," and if Jeff passes the test then everything will be all better, and if not, then it will be worse!
Jigsaw is aided by his assistant, Amanda (Shawnee Smith). She was also his test subject at an earlier time. She had passed her test and now she got to do Jigsaw's physical work for him. He had dragged her up out of the sewer holes of life, and she is so grateful to do whatever he wills her to do. She even gets jealous over him with Dr. Lynn Denlon!
I won't tell you what happens or how it ends, since I don't like to do spoilers, but this has got to be the worst "Saw" movie yet! If you like gore, it's very bloody and gory because Jigsaw's games are all about torture, of course. But the most torturous part is having to sit there and watch it all the way through! It flips through flashback scenes all the way up until the end. The whole time, it keeps you wondering, "Is this happening now or is this what already happened?"
The best part about the whole movie is at the end, when it's over! And the way that it ends, there shouldn't be a "Saw IV," in my opinion. But you never know; Jigsaw could just, at will, want to play another game. The best part of his game, in this movie, is when he says, "Game over!"
Deep Sea (2006)
Sensational Documentary!
"Deep Sea 3D" is in IMAX Format, and it is narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. It's a Documentary that reveals, never-before-footage of, ocean floors' around the globe. It shows, up-close, scenes of very bizarre creatures! There are strikingly beautiful coral reefs which are home for many marine animals. Coral reefs are the most productive of all marine ecosystems. There is also a surprise that shows a diversity of sea organisms that come to coral reefs for reasons other than to live and eat.
The documentary also reveals how very fragile coral reefs are. It appears that marine biologists have predicted that, as a result of human activity, coral reefs are declining. They show how each species is dependant upon another species, including us humans. And most of these sea species depend upon the coral reefs; they are a very important part of marine ecosystems. So, steps should be taken to protect these beautiful and important ecosystems.
I was surprised to find some of these aquatic creatures in these depths of water. Starfishes, for example, are usually found in shallower waters because that is usually where their food is found. They didn't show ordinary starfishes; nor were many of the other creatures' ordinary. It was more like extraordinary! And there is a scene, at the end, that is another fascinating surprise. Who knows what other sea life lies waiting to be seen in the oceanic abyss? Besides the beauty and uniqueness of "Deep Sea 3D," it's very educational. It reveals that our ecosystems and the aquatic ecosystems interact with each other. Ecosystems never exist in isolation. There's always a connecting link between environments. And some of these aquatic inhabitants migrate, thousands of miles, then come back to the coral reefs when necessary. So, they spend cycles of their lives' in entirely different countries! I'll bet this surely must make conversation difficult for them!
"Deep Sea 3D" is fantastic! I gave it a 10. You've got to watch it; if not, you're really missing out on something great.
Above Suspicion (1995)
Good TV Movie
Dempsey "Demp" Cain (belated now, Christopher Reeve) was one of those law officers that did everything by the book. He was a very good police officer. Maybe, he was too good! His brother, Nick Cain (Edward Kerr) was a police officer as well. During an event on the job, catching the thugs who killed a fellow officer, Demp gets shot. Basically, he took the bullet for his brother. Nick had read his deposition and approached the subject with Demp while he was hospitalized. Demp told Nick that he was his brother, and he knew that he would have done the same for him. But in actuality, an event during this shakedown tipped Demp off to how corrupt his family really was. Two of the most important people in his life, his own family, were having an affair behind his back. Nick and his wife, Gail Cain (Kim Cattrall), had been having an affair for some time now. But using his paralysis, along with a little sympathy, and time to think, was just what he needed to come up with the ultimate pay back.
There was just one problem in this plot of revenge though; his name was Alan Rhinehart (Joe Mantegna), another fellow cop on the force. Alan was a good cop as well. He just did things differently than Demp. He was not a 'do it by the book' kind of cop, but he had good instincts. He was the "Songbird" during this revenge plot. But fortunately for Demp, No one on the force would listen to him. They kept telling him to leave it alone. But Alan just couldn't! He knew that Demp was guilty in this revenge plot. He launched a series of complaints against Demp, which put demp in a legal jam for a short while. Ultimately though, because of Alan pursuing his accusations, it led to his sudden end with the department. And does Demp get away with his revenge against his brother and wife? That's left to be seen when you watch the movie!
"Above Suspicion," is a very good TV movie; it's kind of short, but it gets its point across! It also leaves you missing Christopher Reeve. He was a good actor, but I think that "Super Man" is what really made him though. He had a sad ending, but he had a loving wife and family that stood beside him until the end. It's ironic that he was chosen to play the part of Demp, the paralyzed cop, too.
In Her Mother's Footsteps (2006)
It's Delicious! She's a Watcher!
"In Her Mother's Footsteps" begins with Kate Nolan (Emma Caulfield) inheriting her wealthy father's house. She, her husband, Bobby Nolan (David Orth), and her daughter, Emma Nolan (Matreya Fedor) move into their new upper-class home. They seemed a well-suited pair. Kate was an attractive woman, with a daughter by a previous marriage. After her first husband died, Kate and Bobby were married, with Bobby adopting Emma as his daughter. Bobby was a good-looking man and appeared to be an excellent husband and father. It seemed as if the romance was still there in their marriage. It looked as if their family-life in their new home was set for a smooth run, but things did not work out that way.
Within a short time after their move, it seemed as though Bobby had begun to neglect his wife and daughter. He was almost always calling home because he had to work late. Kate didn't seem to complain, but was sometimes disappointed. During these times while Bobby was away, though, it seemed like the house was possessed. Kate was always seeing visions of murders, gruesome murders, that would not go away. No matter how much she tried to rationalize the situation, she no longer thought it, but 'knew' that the house was possessed. It had to be that, or else she was losing her mind. Bobby made her promise to see her psychiatrist, and she kept her promise, but it was like a waste of her time. These visions still plagued her. Her therapy sessions had begun after the death of her first husband, and she was still taking medication that the doctor had prescribed for her. When these visions kept haunting her, she would just take another pill, hoping that it would make everything normal again.
She hated that house! She didn't care about how much money it was worth; she just wanted it gone and to be rid of it! After a while though, it was like the house and the visions were trying to tell her something. From this point on, the movie entails every twist, surprise, factor, and character imaginable! Even though everything had to be crammed into a couple of hours, the movie was still put together with short scenes that left nothing missing. It still allowed the audience to know what was going on and made sense. "In Her Mother's Footsteps" is labeled Suspense/Thriller, but I think that you can also throw 'Horror' into that categorization as well.
In my opinion, the movie is fantastic! I'd say that it deserves a '10!' I've never before seen a movie such as this on LMN. When you think of LMN movies, you think of dramas, true stories, some suspense movies, and the like. The visions of these murders, in the movie, are very graphic. If you can't stand the site of blood, then I suggest you not watch it. "In Her Mother's Footsteps" is not for the squeamish! The movie is exciting, thrilling, very suspenseful, somewhat scary, gory, and it's alive! Selecting Emma Caulfield, as Kate, was a good choice. There's nothing phony about her acting; she's for real. The special effects were great. And the movie doesn't drag on before getting to know the characters and plot. The ending is a total surprise! It leaves you with all differing emotions. It's one of the best television movies produced lately!
The Negotiator (1998)
Awesome movie!
Inspired by his success as a police negotiator, Lt. Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) had earned, somewhat, the status of a 'hero' amongst his fellow lawman. It felt good to be a cop, especially when things go right and someone is still alive because he did his job well. Suddenly though, almost overnight, he finds that his status as a 'hero' had vanished and been exchanged for a new one, one on the opposite side of the fence. The table had turned 180° and he sees that his reputation, career, and life are shattered. Bewildered, Danny finds himself framed by his own. His chief, sergeants, other lieutenants, detectives, people that he had worked with and known for years' turn against him, act as though he were guilty, and just walk away. Some just don't want to get involved, but just the same, they abandon him.
His partner, his true friend, had the information he needed to get out of this mess but he's already dead. Desperate to prove his innocence and find the real criminals, Danny takes hostages himself and concentrates his energies on his own investigation. This time, he's negotiating for his life. This time, he's going to use hostages as a means to get what 'he' wants, what 'he' needs, in order to save himself. After all, what does he have to lose? The coin had already been flipped, and it landed on the other side.
From this point on, until the conclusion of the movie, it keeps you in nail-biting suspense! Will he be able to save himself? You'll just have to watch and see. I loved the movie! I gave it a '10.' I'm a 'Samuel L. Jackson' fan anyway, but I think that "The Negotiator," is flawless. The acting is great. The plot is great. The actors chosen to play in it were great! What more could you ask for out of a movie? Hum . . . except for some free tickets, free DVDs and videos, maybe some memorabilia from the movie . . . Oh, and possibly an interview or meet with the actors first hand . . . That's not a lot to ask for; is it?
Haute tension (2003)
After you watch this movie, would you like to go and get a bite to eat with me? Just kidding!
"High Tension" makes you take a hard and objective look at the distorted way a psychopath may view reality----the possible reasons why one may kill and still view their self as the victim. "High Tension" was originally produced in French. Later, an English version was dubbed in the U.S. A scene at the end of the movie, about two minutes in length, is missing from the English DVD version; I believe that it had something to do with the MPAA's rating system----unedited, it would have been rated, 'NC-17,' and edited, a rating of 'R'. The English version is just as violent, bloody, and gory as the French one! That one missing scene doesn't spoil it for you!
For those who love horror, blood, and gore (count me in), "High Tension" is the movie for you! It is one of the best horror movies that I've ever seen! In order to fully comprehend it though, you need to watch it from the beginning to the end; so already have your popcorn and soda ready. Also, there is a big twist at the end that just blew me away, but it does leave some unanswered questions. I almost gave it a rating of '10,' but because of those unanswered questions left hanging in my mind, I gave it a '9.' There are also some circumstances in the movie that just could not have happened, even with a psychopath. All in all though, the movie is fantastic!