Reviews

John Goodman is a supporting actor in this movie the same way that Atlas supported the Earth in Greek mythology. First, let us dispel any notion of realism. Goodman plays a sport gambler who beats the house so often that he has his own cadre of runners and soldiers. (In real life such men ARE the casino sport books). Instead of examining this fascinating character, we are thrust into the lives of the pretty boy/girl leads Arquette and Ellard. The end result was an obvious "producer's instrument" designed to advance young cinematic careers as much as make a buck. The Runner (Ellard) should have been The 'Sportwonk' (Goodman). Missed exciting themes were How does he beat the books? How does he get his info? Is he mobbed up? What is the life of a winning sports gambler like? Still, the finale is very exciting and worth the price of rental. If you like OC, buy it.

Bringing a classic H. G. Wells novel to the screen is no mean feat. Doing so in a manner that is entertaining and relevant to a 21st century audience requires almost a work of genius. Spielberg was able to bring to the screen most of the issues raised in Wells' novel without being for the lack of a better idiom, preachy. Spielberg also added a subplot of personal development for the lead. Cruise's character starts the movie as a failed husband who before the film traded his family for a seat at the alter of the Ford Mustang. He even has a broken down engine on his dinner table; the true mark of the single motorhead. The home has a "Genuine Ford Parts" sign as well as an engine part as an ashtray. The alien attack transforms him into the heroic father type. Robbins' character is a parallel to a character in the original, and conveys how men may break under pressure. Spielbergs technical team is to be commended for their accomplishment. The basic design of the alien walking craft is conveyed in the book. Keeping with the design, they are able to convey emotions to the craft as they commit mayhem. The walkers emit sounds to each other that sound like overloud trumpets, and the ships are able to move their parts in a climatic scene that convey curiosity. Given that this movie is a summer blockbuster and was never supposed to be a psychological thriller, one pretty much has to conclude that it is a job very well done.

The plot outline is 100 per cent accurate, but by the time you get to the end of the movie, you may not care. Although the cast was stellar and the book was great, it did not translate to the movie. As much as I tried, I could not work up any feelings for the characters. I should have known something bad was afoot when I heard the infamous "Narrative Voice-over." Narrative voice-overs, sometimes known as idiot lectures, are usually a sign that the director does not trust the film by itself to advance its own storyline, and with such a stellar cast, this should have told me to hit the stop button way before the end of the film. I was truly amazed that a cast that includes Lemmon, Matthau, Spacek, McDowell, and several great sword carriers falls on its face. Read my other reviews; I love dogs, but this mutt, despite its pedigree, had to be put down.

Hardball was one of those replacement series that never got off of the ground and was shown the door pretty much before it had debuted. There are so many things going against sports-fiction based TV comedy series that it is not surprising that few survive. it was a good series. Dann Florek of Law and Order SVU fame was the manager of the baseball team -- the Pioneers. the team owner was Rose Marie - a watered down Marge Shott. Because the team did not play well, the main conflict was between the two team mascots. The marketing department's mascot, the Pied Pioneer, a dancing mime dressed up like Davy Crocket, and HARDBALL, a large baseball-head who was the fan's favorite. Long before the day of the Rally Monkey, when the team was down, the call would go to bullpen for not only a relief pitcher, but for Hardball, to do his thing to rally the fans -- by going into the stands and beating the stuffing out of the Pied Pioneer to the raucous cheers of the fans. The only thing I can remember about every episode was in that in EVERY inevitable locker room scene before or after the game, Florek would kick Hardball in the rump and say, "Get out of my way you stitch-headed freak." I give it a 9 out of ten because it gave me what I EXPECTED out of your basic baseball based half hour broadcast network comedy.