Reviews

Not the best vampire film, not the worst. Very atmospheric. I appreciated the occasional jolts of "ick" (okay, maybe not the first one, when the soldier is being tested with the synthetic blood - really ICK). Not sure this movie is worth worrying about whether it is a good one or not - just watch on a rainy day and move on.

I waited for something to happen. Really happen. I actually like movies where "nothing happens, and that is what is happening", so I am patient and observant. I really didn't know what to expect (I am not part of the DC Universe at all), but this left me wanting something other than Joaquin Phoenix's performance. This is a 30 minute plot in a 2 hour movie, and brought to mind plot lines and characters from two other De Niro films, The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver. For all the folks who gave this a big 10 out of 10, or called it a "masterpiece", good for you - this is your thing.

I tried to watch this movie twice. Couldn't do it. SO bad. Acting, script, premise that was a tough sell to begin with and only made worse. With all the star power in the cast and direction, I thought it would be better. I won't even go into the plot as others have, and if you liked this movie - well, there's all kinds of taste out there!

I discovered this show about a year and a half ago. I don't know how I missed it! These guys are not only talented in their chosen craft, but where else can you see "hillbillies" quoting Shakespeare and being intellectually "punny"? I binge watched a couple of Saturdays to catch up (thank you DIY and GAC networks!), and now I wait for Sunday night for new episodes. I know more about barns and log cabins than I ever imagined I would. There is at least one other "log cabin" show similar to this - but it doesn't compare to this crew. A real bright spot on TV!

I see where loads of people like this movie - as a parody of Hollywood movie writing. I will give them that, even though I don't agree. I watched this years ago and didn't like it then - too silly, and the script and acting just seemed forced, not amusingly frantic. I read the book about Holden and Hepburn's romance, and watched this again - to see how my point of view might have changed - and all I saw now was the same movie but with the sadness of a broken romance, and a bad movie to make it even sadder. Watch it and decide for yourself, but I can't recommend it as anything but a curiosity.

They Shall Not Grow Old is truly an achievement in technology making history live again. I had heard about it, seen the trailer - but was concerned I would not see it on the big screen because of the limited release I thought was only in a few cities and then done. I, by sheer luck, got an email from a website I visit that let me know Fathom Events was taking it to other cities for a day each - and amazingly enough, it was showing in my small Indiana city! That there wasn't more promotion of this through media astounds me. There were only about 40 people at my showing, with two additional times (I hope the audience was bigger at those). That said..... This film takes WWI footage and makes it fresh and enthralling to see. The method of making the narration from interviews of vets of that war and fitting snippets of those into the scenes that were carefully culled from 100 hours of footage was wonderful. Peter Jackson explains the process in the mini-doc that follows the film, and those thirty minutes are almost as entertaining as the main feature. Many people may go to see this expecting only the colorization to be the technological highlight, but are they in for a surprise at how the grainy, jerky hand-cranked footage is transformed. I have bored several of my friends going on and on about this film, which is a once in a lifetime event. Thanks to Peter Jackson for rising to the occasion and fulfilling the request of the British Imperial War Museum to do something "different" with their resources. Side bar: My grandfather and his two brothers fought in Europe in this war, and one died in France. Seeing the British soldiers living what my great-uncle must have suffered made this an even more significant film for me. I would recommend the big screen - it is also in a very subtle 3D, which worked nicely. I think I have rattled on again..... a BIG 10 stars to this wonderful document of an important time that should not be forgotten.

The Thomas Crown Affair is a "remake" of the Steve McQueen/Faye Dunaway hipster movie that in my opinion wasn't very good. Sorry for all you fans. That one was pretentious and tried too hard to be "groundbreaking". That said, this version is smart, mature, and makes us wonder what is around the next corner for these two characters - who are too slick for their own good sometimes. I appreciate the honesty that two grown-ups with careers and money are still trying to find themselves - and find love in each other. I liked the Denis Leary character, too - he shows some humanity through his cynicism. Oh, and the art caper is good, too....

There are two plot lines to this film. The first is the aging author, the subject of a student's Master's thesis, who is searching for his last best seller, and has mostly become a recluse. The other involves the author's 40-something daughter and her back-again boyfriend, and her search for the meaning to the rest of her life. Langella is solid in his performance as he attempts to write his last great novel, while being distracted by the grad student - who turns out to use him in more ways than just to get her thesis material. The other actors are true to their characters, as well. There is some light at the end of the tunnel at the close of the film, so all the pain of relationships and life we witness does get some redemption - but be prepared. You have to get through a lot of sad first.

I liked this movie. Yes, the plot has holes. Yes, the actions of the characters are a bit on the implausible side. But it still has me interested in seeing what is going to happen next, which is one measure of a movie I think is worth watching. The ending ties things up too neatly and quickly, but by that time, I am okay with it. I like the chemistry between Cher and Quaid. Seeing a young Liam Neeson is nice, too. I hadn't seen this in a long time, and it was on TV this afternoon - and I was reminded of how it is a nice couple hours of not having to think too hard. Nothing wrong with that!

I am not typically a fan of Stephen King movies, at least not the ones designed to be "scary" over the more thoughtful ones (like The Green Mile). I had seen the older version of "It" and thought it was at least creepy with Pennywise, and had the psychological part with the adults coming home to face their past. So, I went into this one (with all the hype that came before it) thinking it would be an updated scarier, creepier, more thought-provoking version. Boy, was I wrong. This movie was kind of boring. Not very creepy - especially after all the anticipation of the new Pennywise - he was almost laughable in some scenes. I can't say I jumped even once out of surprise, which I expected I would. I knew what was going to happen ahead of time more than a few times. The kids were fine with the material they had to work with. I kept looking at my watch, waiting for the adult portion of the movie, when they come back and face the past - but turned out that is a sequel. Maybe that one will be better now that the plot is set up? I don't have high hopes.

I had heard of this movie, knew it involved BDSM, that was about it. There was enough character development to care about them, even the lawyer as we worked through getting more insight about him. The idea of the secretary being taken totally off guard by her first spanking was a little jarring, though. Otherwise, an interesting study in the evolution of the secretary into the lawyer's world, and the lawyer not knowing how to deal with someone who embraced his way of thinking. I have read several other reviews, and have not found one that thought this role was a quirkier warm-up to Spader's character of Alan Shore on Boston Legal..... I liked the movie, but see how it wouldn't be for everyone.

I love The Philadelphia Story, so this movie had big shoes to fill. That said, this is a terrible movie based on a good one, and would be a mediocre movie even if I knew nothing about The Philadelphia Story. I will base my review knowing it came from The Philadelphia Story. All the edge and wit of the original are GONE. The changes made to the plot and dialogue took them away. So, when the plot/dialogue returns word for word to the original, it loses its impact. And the songs are sadly distracting and just not all that impelling for the story. Sorry, Cole Porter. Lastly, the acting is really not that good. Grace Kelly overacts, Bing Crosby barely acts, and Frank Sinatra waits for another reason to sing. All from people we know are better. I watched this because I knew I should, and wished I hadn't. For those who gave it a glowing review, or even a decent one - well, okay. Just not something I could do. It has been running on Turner Classic Movies, and I watched it again (or tried to) to make sure my memory still served me correctly - and it did. (Insert cringing here...)

UPDATE: I watched this again, and disliked it more than I did when I rated it a FIVE. I am changing my rating to a THREE, and that is being nice. I guess I was trying to be politically correct toward the past middle-age demographic (of which I am one) , but this is just so bad I can't do it. This is my original review: I really wanted to love this movie. I like all the leads, and all the supporting actors. But.... four of the most stereotypical beyond middle-age characters with stereotypical issues I could have predicted a mile away. Yes, there were funny moments, but just not enough to carry the whole movie. Candice Bergen was the best of the four, and even she made me cringe sometimes. Her scenes with Richard Dreyfuss were the most touching and sincere (and funny). I am not sure what new material there is for this "generation" - but this just seemed to miss the mark for me. I went with a group of also-middle-age-friends, and we did enjoy it - so my 5 stars will be mostly for that.