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Bob-240
Reviews
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Bloody good!
This movie stunned me so much that I could hardly move from my seat when it was over. The dark cinematography is brilliant and works so well to enhance the story. Johnny Depp has given us so many amazing performances in the past and you can put this one up there at the top of the list. I have to admit that in the past I have loathed Tim Burton offerings but he redeems himself in my opinion with a feast for the eyes and ears that is a triumph. I approached the movie with trepidation because actors put in singing roles seldom work, but not this time. The singing was not only terrific, it was mesmerizing. I have to warn you this movie is for movie fans that love music (Broadway, classical or opera) and have a cast iron stomach. I heard they used 70 gallons of fake blood filming it and I believe them. All I can say is you can see the bloody scenes coming a mile off so you have plenty of time to avert your eyes.
Atonement (2007)
Deeply disappointing
I can't remember the last time I saw a movie with as disappointing of an ending as this one. This movie does not deliver on the promises made in the advertisements. In fact, if you have seen the ads you already know everything in the movie. Just when it gets to the point where you expect the story to take off, it ends with a hollow thud. The makers of this movie either do not understand the meaning of the word "atonement" or they are purposely deceitful. The best things you can say about the movie are good acting and cinematography. The Dunkirk scene is amazing. However, in the end it is the story that is most important and it leaves you with a hollow feeling. Save yourself some disappointment and don't see it except on DVD.
The Work and the Glory (2004)
Misleading advertising
My chief complaint about this movie is that the advertising is ambiguous and misleading. It gives you the impression that it is an early American faming/romance movie when it is actually a Mormon recruiting film. I like learning about other faiths and I am proud to say I was one of the few adventurous soles who saw "Mohamed messenger of god". I am glad I learned about the formation of the Mormon faith but I do like being tricked into seeing it.
If you judge this film solely as a religious film then it is better than average. However, if you judge it by normal standards then it falls short. It is a bit melodramatic with a weak plot that is contorted to show the founding of the Mormon Church. The acting is mediocre with inexperienced actors in key roles. In one particular scene it was obvious by the eye movements that they were reading lines. The main plot of two brothers vying for the same girl just sinks into nonsense. The cinematography was nice and the best part of this effort. In summary, see this movie if you would like to learn about the founding of the Mormon faith otherwise avoid it.
I would warn that judging by the huge number of glowing recommendations on this website that Mormons are piling on the praise partly with pride in their faith and partly as a missionary effort. There is nothing wrong with that but you should be aware of it. My observation of Mormons is that they are fine people and a credit to their faith. If you doubt my observation, note that no credible source reviewed it.
Finally, I say that the producers did this film a disservice by disguising the true nature of it. There are thousands of Mormons in my town yet the theater was empty probably because they did not know about it. Proper marketing would have done it better service and brought in a lot of people like me who like knowing about the religious diversity of this country.
Insomnia (2002)
Boring
I wanted to like this movie but could not. Basically, what you see in the trailers is what you get. There is only one other twist revealed early in the show that you could see coming a mile off. The rest of the movie is simply grinding out the rest of a predictable story. I give this movie two fingers down.
Le placard (2001)
Surprising comedy about gay employment.
If you have ever wondered if your employment situation would be more stable if you pretended to be gay then this movie is for you. This situation lends itself to serious questions and conflicts that are addressed by the story in surprisingly funny ways. You would think that a gay-bashing, macho, jock employment manager played by Gérard Depardieu (one of my favorite actors) could not be possibly funny but he is. This movie could be something for management to see in your company to make it more sensitive to Gay issues.
Kate & Leopold (2001)
Let you girlfriend drag you to see this one.
This is a movie your girlfriend will want to drag you to see. Let her so that you can rack up a few points with her and you might like it to boot. The movie is advertised as a romance but it is more like a `science fiction romance' involving time travel. Actually, the story line is more from the view of Leopold so it is more a man's story. So, if you like time-travel movies you will most probably like this one.
SPOILER BELOW WARNING.
A very interesting thing about this movie is the general release was delayed because the producers made an emergency change to remove something the audiences did not like in the previews. As you watch it ask yourself why Kate's old boyfriend went back in time to see Leopold? I have reversed the sentence of the answer for you to unscramble after you see it: rehtafdnarg taerg sih si dlopoeL.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Never-ending bloodbath & nightmare!
The promotion of this movie is a fraud. I walked into this movie believing it was a fantasy but found I was in a never-ending, 3 hour nightmare. This movie is not for children or adults of weak constitution. I can't count the number of people slaughtered but it must be in the thousands. It is so bad I am reminded of `Conan the Barbarian' but at least with that movie I expected it. The endless decapitations and severed appendages are truly disturbing. Beyond the carnage are the truly horrible scenes of monsters right out of your worst nightmare. I am sure many people who see it will have nightmares for years to come. But the biggest disappointment of all is that it does not come to a conclusion it just abruptly ends leaving you with the dilemma of suffering through the next two installments to see the conclusion. This is something I will never do. There is one saving grace and that is that it is well made and well acted. Unfortunately, this cannot overcome the nightmare.
My Best Girl (1927)
Mary Pickford shines in this silent gem.
This movie is for any movie fan and especially someone who wants to see their first silent movie. This is a very enjoyable story that is easy to follow and the acting is wonderful. The silent screen's legendary Mary Pickford gives an outstanding performance.
The Affair of the Necklace (2001)
Brilliant movie
The brilliant cinematography makes this picture worth seeing. One scene after another was a piece of art. It was like visiting a gallery of master paintings so I wished I could pause the movie to study the details. The director and cinematographer deserver awards for their work.
The writing was also excellent. I love to be taken into a historic time and learn about the people and culture. In this I was more than rewarded. The court of King Louis and Marie Antoinette seemed very real and human. I liked the way they were portrayed as humans trying to cope with their roles in life rather than the shallow fare usually dished out in movies. I loved the way the story traced the politics of court life.
Some of the top actors of our time managed to put their best work into this film. I especially loved Christopher Walken and Jonathyn Pryce in their roles. Hillary Swank was great in the leading role. Everyone deserves awards for their works.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Candy-coated promotional film for the witchcraft religion
I am not a religious person but I have to wonder why any Christian, Jew or Muslim would allow their child to see this movie. Perhaps they do not know that witchcraft is a real religion and there are many practicing witches and wizards (a male witch) in this world. I have personally met real witches and there are many documentary films about them. They are nothing like movie witches but they do practice their religion. This movie is a candy-coated promotional film for the witchcraft religion. Take your children and see if they don't come out wanting to be a witch or wizard. Don't you think it is odd that no other religion is even mention in the film?
Also, a parent should ask themselves just what values their child will take away from the story. The children in this film regularly disobey the adults and are rewarded for it.
Notwithstanding the above, I found the movie a disappointment. The story was so dull that I had to fight falling asleep. By the time the end mercifully arrived, I had lost interest in the story and did not quite understand the point, if there is one, or did I even care. The special effects are not up to today's standard. The snake and the troll were especially bad and unconvincing. Many other things just did not look real.
In summary, the creepy promotion of the witchcraft religion and the fact that it is not very good makes this a movie to skip.
Le retour de Martin Guerre (1982)
Fine cinema
This movie has all the elements of fine cinema: Great acting, compelling story, great cinematography, and terrific costumes. But above all this movie is lovingly crafted. It is so nice to be taken back in time to another place and experience life as our ancestors lived. This movie proves that you can do this without updating the script to modern thought. I put this movie on my list of top movies ever made. You may want to compare this move with the Americanized version `Sommersby' and see how a copy can be bad.
Bandits (2001)
Cate Blanchette shines
I tried to like this movie but it just moved too slowly so I lost interest. This is yet another case where the editor needs to be taken out back and shot. Either that or they should have added plot thickener. There just is not enough story for the length. Both I and my wife found ourselves checking our watches and is a bad sign. If they snip out about 30 minutes then the story would remain interesting.
Since we are dwelling on my peccadilloes, the makeup artist should be shot as well. On several occasions I saw wig lines on Bruce Willis.
As for the acting, well Cate Blanchette simply shines. She just may be the best actress of our day. As for the rest of the cast, they just don't push the envelope very much. It was pretty much Bruce Willis paying himself and Bob Thornton was not much more extended. I did like the characters but it looked like a walk in the park to me.
All in all, it is an OK movie but I would not make a special effort to see it.
Boiler Room (2000)
Must see for investors!
Add this to my recommended list of movies to see for new investors. The important point I make about it is that the broker was busted for charging too high of a margin and not the other things. This fictitious broker bought up most of the stock in a failing company, pumped up the price and then sold all the stock from the broker's inventory. It is perfectly legal for a broker to "pump and dump" a stock and they do it all the time. I remember a news story about Fidelity doing that and there is a law languishing in congress to stop the practice (fat chance of that ever passing). There is a reason they call them brokers and not agents. They are not called agents because they do not represent you. They are called brokers because they are salesmen for the brokerage. The situation is like a store on Main Street only they sell stocks instead of other kinds of merchandise from an inventory that happens to be stocks. They have absolutely no legal obligation to sell you stock at the price they bought it. They only have to sell it at a fair market price. They legally pump up the fair market price by issuing recommendations for the company. If you want this to stop, write your congressman. Otherwise, never believe a broker.
Live from the Metropolitan Opera: Simon Boccanegra (1984)
Quality Met Production
Up to the quality we expect from The Met, this little performed Verdi opera is exquisite in sound, staging, musical score and costumes. Although the music is pleasant enough, the opera lacks a show-stopping aria to make it memorable. Still, if you want to see a rare Verdi, this is the one to view.
Super Speedway (1997)
Absolutely amazing!
I enjoyed this movie so much that I watched it twice and that is something to say about a documentary. The musical score, cinematography and sound are absolutely stunning as you might expect from an Imax production. Even though it is shot for those huge Imax theaters, it looks and sounds wonderful on my home system. In fact this would make a perfect DVD to demo your system.
The subject is also so fascinating. It is about Mario Andretti and his son Michael. I was already a fan of Mario because he is the best racecar drive in history since he is the only person to win the CART Championship, F1 Championship, The Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. The script follows the path of two cars very important to the father and son. The first car is found in a chicken coop and turns out to be the first roadster that Mario ever drove and we follow restoration to gleaming perfection. The other car is Michael's new racecar and we follow it from cutting the mold through the race season. Imax lends just the right magic to make car construction entertaining and fascinating.
Paul Newman, who was Michael Amoretti's team owner at the time this movie was made, narrates the film. His anecdotes and witticism, drawn from many years as an owner and driver, lends much to the production.
The main feature is the race scenes. Turn up the volume here! There is something about riding along at over 200 mph and the musical score that totally draws you into the screen for an experience you will not forget. Wow!
The final magical element is the humanity of the Andretti family. This god of the racing world, Mario Andretti, is loving father who proudly watches over his son's career. They work together so well that every father and son should see this. You can tell that they are a close family. I wish we could all have that experience.
Padre padrone (1977)
Pure agony.
This move was pure agony to watch and totally devoid of any redeeming entertainment value at all. The endless scenes of extreme child abuse, masturbation and bestiality made this an experience that will scare me for life. A root canal would be preferable entertainment. Anyone who enjoys this movie has to be sick.
My expectation was a story about a boy overcoming child abuse to become a successful writer. Only about 10 minutes is spent on the `overcoming' with the rest of the time obsessed on the agony. This could have been a great movie if it focused on the metamorphosis of an abused, illiterate Shepard into a literate professor and writer.
My personal regret is that I fell for the `Cannes Golden Palm' label again. `Art is in the eye of the beholder' and this beholder sees very little artistic value in this movie. This movie had awful sound, poor cinematography, bad set decoration and horrible musical score. It is hard to imagine this movie being better than some of the other movies of this year like Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Equus, The Goodbye Girl and Annie Hall. Cannes went way out of the way to avoid a good movie for their award. My observation is that Cannes is a bunch of snobs who never give anything to any movie that can be remotely called entertaining.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Legally Smart!
There was not a disappointed person in my audience and that includes me. This is impressive considering that this tale about a dumb blond evolving into a smart lawyer could have been either a crashing boor for the intelligentsia or mindless pabulum for the masses. The director, Luketic, found the sweet spot where entertainment and intelligence meet. Witherspoon, despite the fact that I would have preferred she move on to more serious roles, was perfect in her part. The result is a movie that is entertaining and delivers the lesson that it is better to rely on your intelligence than your looks. My only caution is to parents that there is a short discussion in a law class about masturbation that may or may not go over the heads of your children. Other than that I would say this is for the whole family.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Spielberg's worst movie.
I suppose that if this is Spielberg's worst movie then we should be happy. I have to put it on the bottom of the list as my least favorite. The problem is the ending. My expectation was something fantastic or exciting but what I got was a disappointment. It was a long, often painful journey, for a sad ending. Along the way there is a lot of nice visuals and elements of the story are very interesting. The part of Gigolo Joe was especially fascinating and delivered deftly by Jude Law. Osment was wonderful in his role as well. Both actors are deserving of awards. I expect something wonderful from Spielberg like ET but what I got was more like a combination of Blade Runner and Mad Max. I was more repulsed than awed. The movie is not for small children. Too bad.
Traffic (2000)
Disappointing
After hearing all the glowing reviews, I found this movie not up to the reputation. The biggest disappointment was Del Toro who I now believe was a poor choice for the Oscar because I saw at least 20 other superior performances. Acting means the ability to portray a wide range of emotions. This performance was a stoic slogging through the part with little acting ability displayed. This is especially true since I have seen Del Toro interviews and he is exactly like the part he played. Being your self is not acting.
Another particularly disappointing feature of this film is the story of the judge portrayed by Michael Douglas. I just don't buy the line that a person in his position and power would not get help to find his drugged-out daughter in the drug district. Not very many people will find anything in common with wealthy preppies dabbling in drugs.
In summary, I found this film dull and uninteresting.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Nauseating piece of crap
They call this a musical but the leading actors can't sing or dance. The music (totally unoriginal and stolen) has been rearranged to lob off the tops and bottoms so that this troop no-talents can make their notes. The result is a score as flat as a possum on a Texas highway - and the movie stinks just as much. You can hear better singing in the average shower in any home in America. Much has been made that this is Kidman's first singing effort and you can tell that she is no singer. The same applies to the dancing. You never see their feet at critical times. One person in our audience stormed out the front and slammed the door about 15 minutes into the show. I applaud her judgment and only wish I had joined her. I frequent the arts, movies and musicals. The Sound of Music was a musical, Grease was a musical and even Rocky Horror Picture Show was a musical. This was a nauseating piece of crap that made me want to run for the door to purge myself of the vile pollution of song, dance and acting.