Reviews

What a shame that so few have seen this resplendent film. The acting is stellar, the storyline profound--everything about this movie is splendid. It channels the atmosphere of being a teenager better than any film I've ever seen and gives better advice to them than any therapist I've ever met. "Go crazy," "Steal the air," "The Earth needs healing." Not only should every teen see it, so should every parent of a teen. The music's great too. While made in the 90s, the film takes on a similar to that of those wonderful 80s teen movies, like "Pretty In Pink" and "The Breakfast Club." If you can find this movie, rent it. Hell, steal it if you have to. It is pure genious.

I'm not a big musical fan, but this is one of the few I really love. Unlike many other musicals, such as "The Sound of Music," none of the songs are about gratuitous stuff. Each song is social commentary, acumen on war, sexuality, recalcitrance, spirituality, and freedom. Especially amazing songs are "Easy To Be Hard," "Age of Aquarius," "Hair," "Flesh Failures/3-5-0-0," "Walking In Space," and "Hare Krishna." Totally revolutionary and wonderful. I can't wait to someday see it live!

"Donnie Darko" is enigmatic, yet ingenious. No film could better capture the turmoil or the apotheosis of a troubled teenage boy. Donnie's character may seem repugnant and insane at first, but we later realize that all of us have been through what he's been through: feelings of being unfairly judged, paranoia, depression, and self squabble. It shows what this judgmental, chauvanist society does to this innocent boy. Don't rent it unless you're prepared to have all the morals you were taught warped and rebuked. The acting is also wonderful. And the song at the end, Gary Jules' remake of Tears For Fears' "Mad World," is such a rapt, powerful work of music. Everyone should see this movie.

"The ButterCream Gang" is not only a horrible movie, it is quite fascist as well. Everyone in the film has blonde hair, except the bad guy who has brown hair. There are no Hispanics, Afro-Americans, Asians (except for a brief mention of Mahatma Gandhi, but I don't think that counts), Native Americans, or homosexuals in the film. In fact, when Pete (the bad guy) joins the bad gang, he changes his last name to a Mexican name for no apparent reason. There's also many misogynist images, such as the woman in the pink dress sweeping the porch.

It's also quite lame. The ButterCream Gang (the good gang) mowe people's lawns for no money, save "the Widow Jenkins" (not Mrs. Jenkins, Widow Jenkins; they have to remind her that her husband is dead every time they say her name) when she falls down, and, of course, attend regular church services. About one quater of the movie is father-son pep talks about how to deal with the bad gang, one of which mentions Gandhi, and I know if Gandhi lived to see his name mentioned in this chauvanist film, he would cry with shame. The bad gang do not do anything horrendous, merely break bottles a nd spraypaint sad faces on the sides of buildings. I'm sure racists love this movie.

"Together Alone" is the affectionate story of two men, Brian and Bryan, who meet in a bar, have sex, fall asleep--then awake to find they have had the exact same dream. What transpires afterwards is a real, intimate discussion on such issues as God, abortion, sexuality, friendship, marriage, AIDS, innocence, soulmates, judgment, Yin, Yang, and other issues. While the storyline is a bit stagnant, the film is so powerful and so touching it aims for a higher purpose than plot--and achieves it. If you can find it, I strongly suggest you watch it!!!

I'm a horror movie freak, and this has got to be one of the most phenomenal horror flicks I've ever seen. The plotline is totally original (who else would think up a town who gets totally obsessed with a certain symbol to the point of death and insanity?), the special effects are amazing, and the cinematography couldn't be better. Some may find it disturbing, but that doesn't mean it's a bad movie. It also makes a good point. The spiral symbol is kinda ubiquitous. The spiral notebook, spiral seashells, spirals on cakes. Of all the shapes they could have used (square, triangle, trapezoid, rectangle) this was one of the best choices. If you can find this movie, definitely see it. It's certainly unique, and quite unforgettable.

This was the first movie from South Korea I saw, and I must say I'm inclined to see more films from there. It's a beautiful love story. The title character is courageous, trustworthy, and utterly honorable. I'm a little confused as to whether Chunhyang actually existed or not, but if she did, she has all my admiration. I'll never forget the scene where the executioners beat her legs and she moves her head in the Korean symbol for the number one ("one love"). Anybody who can do that deserves all my respect. I also love the lively drum music that accompanies the narrators. If you can find this movie (I saw it on the Sundance Channel, if that's any help to you) I urge you to check it out. I think you'll find it quite entertaining and very touching.

One endeavor in filmmaking that quite frequently doesn't turn out well is mixing genres. "Jason's Lyric" combines crime drama, love story, and ghetto film-and does it surprisingly beautifully. The acting is remarkable, the script is remarkable, and the emotion is remarkable. This movie could have turned out very pretentious and very cheesy. Apparently, the directors, writers, and producers completely acknowledged this, and refused to let that happen. The characters are very well developed and, while the movie doesn't justify Josh's actions, it does convey compassion for him. It also provides new insight on what it's really like to live in a ghetto. If you can find this movie (after all, I saw it on Showtime and haven't the video in any stores) totally see it!!!!

"The Spitfire Grill" has got to be among the most moving films I have ever seen. It shows that there is always a chance for redemption, no matter how grueling or nefarious your past was. The acting was so dexterous, and the characters were very well developed. Rather than passing judgment over Percy for being incarcerated, the movie conveys a genuine compassion for her and makes an effort to expose her lovable, affectionate side. I felt I could identify with her, because I know what it's like to be judged, condemned, and ostracized. The ending almost brought me to tears, and it's difficult for a movie to do that. Certainly deserves a 10 out of 10.

This movie has everything. Emotion, power, affection, Stephane Rideau's adorable naked beach dance... It exposes the need for real inner communion and outer communication in any relationship. Just because Cedric and Mathieu are a couple who happen to be gay doesn't mean there isn't quite useful insight for anybody in it. I would probably classify it as a gay movie, but one that can be appreciated and loved by heterosexual people as well as homosexual and bisexual people. Mathieu's incapacity to handle his emotions divulges the way our society doesn't encourage us to act any differently, and that is what engenders the discord between him and Cedric. This is definitely a must-see!!!!

I know the ads for this movie conveyed it to be about mainly marital infidelity. But please overlook that. There is so much more to this film that the trailers forgot about. It's about a punctilious, somewhat prudish single mom whose who life is enhanced when her brother comes for a visit. His intention is to beg for money to help him rectify things after being released from prison and for medical attention for his lugubrious, suicidal girlfriend. But what end up happening is the lives of the sister, her son, and the brother's whole world is ameliorated. And believe me, this is not just a touchy-feely movie. So if you despise films like "It's a Wonderful Life," you'll still love this. It's really great for anybody, except maybe little kids, cuz there's some language and sexuality. It's no wonder this movie won an award.

Awesome acting job, awesome directing job, awesome script-everything about this movie is awesome! Jaguar's character is a combination of Buffy, Xena, and Winston Churchill. By day, she's Felice Schragenheim, the docile, polite writer for a Nazi newspaper. By night, she's Jaguar, the assertive, insurrectionist fighter for the German Resistence.

The movie also does a great job of portraying lesbian love as just as valid and intimate as heterosexual love. Aimee and Jaguar cultivate a loving, compassionate, loyal relationship. Whether or not it is recognized by religion or government, Aimee and Jaguar are married. They even raise children together. I hope this movie will divulge Jaguar's prowess and humanity and stimulate curiosity about this great woman.

This is a total desecration of Dr. Suess' classic children's story. The whole point of the story is that Christmas (and the holiday season in general) is about more than flamboyant decorations and superficial gifts. It's about generosity, compassion, and kindness. I know it sounds corny, but I believe it and so did Dr. Suess. Yet, this movie made millions of dollars while saying in its script that money is not important.

The charisma exhibited by the grinch in the book was not exhibited by the grinch in the movie. Cindy Lou Who became a type of "good guy," constantly trying to edify the grinch. In the book, she is simply a symbol of innocence and childish wonder. That's already profound. She doesn't need to become a prostlytizer to proove anything. The simplicity of the Whos was also extracted from the movie. In the book, they had a wonderful appreciation of humility. In the movie, they, well, didn't. This holiday season, watch the animated movie version. Or, better yet, read the book to your kids. Dr. Suess was nice enough to share his extraordinary talent for writing children's literature with the world. Let's honor his memory by not changing his work.

Kids, gather round and I'll tell ya a story. One night last summer,

my younger brother and my cousin coaxed me into seeing this

film. I was slightly inebriated and it was about 1 in the morning.

Even with those 2 factors going for it, the movie wasn't funny at all.

It was just stupid. The fact that they actually put in an alien invasion

to the movie proves just how little faith even the directors and

producers had in this movie. 2 guys getting so wasted they can't

remember what happened last night isn't much of a plot, so they

put in aliens and seem to honestly believe it'll be the movie's

salvation. 'Dude, Where's My Car' is a great example of what NOT

to do while making a film.

"American Beauty" has got to be one of the most poignant, incredible films of our time. Not only was it wonderfully directed, acted, and produced-it made sound points about the way we live-and what's wrong with it. Some complain that it has no plot. That's because our lives have no plots. How many people do you know whose entire world gravitates around one conflict or event? That's what I thought.

The homophobic dad was a classic example of gay hate being rooted in a personal insecurity that one is, in fact, gay. Jane's dad conveyed that many of us are just wasting away our lives behind desks and computers when we'd rather be "jerking off in the shower." Jane's mom shows how so many wives these days are totally repudiated by their husbands and that infidelity is not always the eighth deadly sin. Jane herself was the typical morbid teenager full of angst, but quite believable. Ricky was proof that sometimes the most sagacoius people you'll meet with be on drugs or voyeauristic and you'd never guess they were so beautiful if you didn't form a connection with them. Angela proves the same thing, with her ditsy manneurisms and brazen attitude about her sex life. I can't divulge the ending, but I will say this: This movie revitalized my zeal for life. Few movies make me cry, and this was one of them.

This film is proof that some of the most iridescent, incredible films never make it to mainstream America. Barely anyone I know has even heard of this movie, and it's quite saddening. Although it has won numerous awards and lots of prestige in Canada, where it was made, I've often seen it lying on the shelf untouched at Blockbuster or gay film shops.

The movie begins with a prisoner named Simone who requests that a specific priest come to hear his confession. The priest, perplexed as to why he has been summoned, arrives at the prison, not knowing what to expect. It is soon divulged that the priest has some confessing of his own to be done when the prisoners trap him in his confessional box and begin to perform a play. This play is about Simone's childhood, when Simone was attending a Catholic all-boys boarding school and was in a gay relationship with his schoolmate, Valier. They keep their love clandestine until another schoolmate, Bilodeau (the priest as an adolescent), unearths something of what the two lovers have been doing. He confronts them about it, calling them a "disease," when it is revealed later that he is more insidious than they are.

Things take another dramatic turn when Simone's father discovers his son has kissed a boy and mutilates his body with a whip. Out of searing rage, Simone succombs to arson. A Parisian woman (who is portrayed by a male actor because the play is being performed by male prisoners) visits the schoool and falls in love with Simone. Despite the distinctely male features on her which expose the actor's gender, the he does an excellent job of emulating a pristine, romantic woman desperately seeking love.

Simone repudiates Valier, saying "it's time he started thinking about girls" and that he plans to marry the Parisian woman. Valier is devastated and runs to his mother, who is scorned by the rest of society because she believes herself to be a countess. She is shockingly compassionate and supportive when she learns of Valier's homosexuality. At the engagement banquet for Simone and his fiancee, Valier sabotages the celebration by dressing like a Greek God and reciting a monologue from the romantic Greek play he and his beloved were rehearsing together in the beginning of the film. And I can't tell you the rest. It'll ruin it. All I know is everyone should see this movie-especially gay Catholics. Incredible directing, eloquent dialogue, wonderfully abstract scenary-there's no way this movie could have been done better!