Change Your Image
Virginia-Ms
Reviews
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Curiously liked it
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is a relief from your usual movie making fare. For that reason alone it garners points with me.
I like the whimsical aspect of the story. I had wished the love story was introduced earlier and made stronger from thereon. Although screenwriters, Eric Roth and Robyn Swicord had done a good job.
Director David Fincher does a fine job of creating a chemistry between our two leads, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.
There are some fabulous photographic compositions and if the love story was more compelling, then such photography would have had a more powerful meaning.
With the excellent cast, the story, the direction, the score (Alexandre Desplat), the cinematography (Claudio Miranda) and all of th rest of the very skillful elements in the movie, I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.
The Mummy (1999)
Yes it works
Saw this earlier tonight. I enjoyed it.
I particularly liked Brendan Fraser in the lead role. Rachel Weisz was good also. And they bot had good chemistry on the screen.
The story is obviously bigger than the original or any of the "Mummy" movies of the past (including the comedies).
The director and co-writer, Stephen Sommers does a very fine of utilizing special effects that work with the genre and the story. THis seem to be an area that he relishes an he delivers some wonderful sequences.
The sets, the costumes ail work, as well as the beautiful the cinematography by Adrian Biddle.
Of course, Jerry Goldsmith delivers a great score as he always seems to do.
I haven't had a chance to see the recent sequels, but I guess this inspired me to at least take a look at them.
Quantum of Solace (2008)
Nice, but miss the old Bond feeling
Look, director, Marc Forster is a talented and skillful director. As are writers, Paul Haggis and Neal Purvis. As is the cast. Al accomplished and professional. They are all doing a great job. And it is for a lot of money with a lot at stake. So, nice job.
Having said all of that, I really miss the flavor of the early Bond movies. And they weren't that way because of a lack of technology. They were that way because the novelist, Ian Flemming, had some pretty good material to give them.
Most can compete with action sequences if they had the money. But wouldn't it be cool to see and feel suspense within a story without relying on expensive action sequences? No matter, all involved did great.
But someone out there - Please bring back a Bond who has to rely on his own wits and not gimmicks to get out of a situation.
Still enjoyed it.
Channels (2008)
Witty, wonderfully romantic, with a bit of quantum physics thrown in!
CHANNELS feels like the best of the old-fashioned films. But is was made recently and it is wonderfully crafted and sophisticated. A passionate, charming, witty, romantic story about a love transcending space and time. In the finely written screenplay by writer/director Nat Christian, the lead character, "Black", also played by Christian, is a busy producer on the rise. But he really doesn't have a spark in his life. He meets "Katherine", played by the beautiful Kim Oja, and together their chemistry keeps you glued to the screen.
Christian, a mesmerizing talent, gives the character of Black charm and cynicism, and is deliciously romantic when he meets Oja. He is fun and tragic at the same time. One immediately connects with his character.
Oja, displays great skill in playing comedy, coupled with moving scenes of reflective sadness. The two of them captivate the screen.
The whole cast - John Kassir, Taylor Negron, Joan Van Ark and the wonderful Edward Asner - plays every role with precision.
The beautiful photography by Michael Hardwick never gets in the way of the characters. Visual FX sequences by Duane Condor add mood. Rossanno Galante's score is sweeping.
I was quite moved. Lots to think about in this unusual love story. Maybe even a little bit of quantum physics!
Hancock (2008)
Lots of promise and talent and almost delivers
What happened with Hancock? It had all of the elements to be a great movie. Maybe, to some, it is. But something was missing. And it wasn't talent.
Writers Vincent Ngo Vince Gilligan, director Peter Berg and the actors, Will Smith, Charleze Theron and Jason Bateman do their best in a movie that had promised to be a big creative hit. Smith is a movie star and he has a great deal of fun playing in this movie as a person who uses his talents remarkably well as a super-strong amnesiac named John Hancock, who saves the world every day. Smith does let us connect with the character in a few unconventional ways. But the movie doesn't really come together until the director, Peter Berg, finds the right rhythm to match its star, and by weaving amusing moments together. The special effects are great. And the music is works.
Glitter (2001)
Tough rap
Glitter got a hard rap for not being so good. There are many reasons why a movie doesn't work. Like other things in life, sometimes a movie comes around at the wrong time in the wrong place. Sometimes, with a film project, it's just the wrong mix of talent for that particular project.
I don;t know why this one didn't, but I must say that I did enjoy watching Mariah Carey and watching her sing. She does have a presence. Maybe another movie at another time.
The movie stars Mariah Carey, Max Beesley, Da Brat, Tia Texada and Ann Magnuson. Director, Vondie Curtis Hall, tried, but again, maybe on another venture. The script by Kate Lanier seems okay.
Producers Laurence Mark and Mariah Carey must have seen what was coming. I mean, talented people were involved here. The score was composed by Terence Blanchard
Bull Durham (1988)
One of my favorite baseball movies
I just wrote a review for Barry Levinson's The Natural, starring Robert Redford, Glen Close, Kim Basinger, Barbara Hershey, Wilford Brimley, Robert Duval and Darren McGavin. in it, i said that it along with BULL DURHAM are probably my two favorite baseball movies of all time.
While The Natural was lyrical and poetic, Bull Durham is real in a gritty way and cynical. The common denominator is that both films have heart. Lots of heart.
Writer-director, Roin Shelton does a great job of telling the story of our minor league hero, wonderfully played by Kevin Costner. Costner as always is fun to watch. Susan Sarandon is as real as can be, as she always is. TIm Robbins executes the comedy and the drama with equal skill.
This was a fun movie all around, and I know I'll probably watch this one at least every few years.
The Natural (1984)
Very entertaining
I'm a sucker for this kind of a movie. Maybe I fantasize too much, maybe I just feel that there is something more out there.
The Natural touches on something that may be supernatural. Something special. This lyrical movie was well made by Barry Levinson - a veteran film-making artist.
The story by Robert Towne and Phil Dusenberry gives Mr. Levinson a lot, including lots of heart, to work with, along with an exceptional cast headed by Robert Redford, Glen Close, Kim Basinger, Barbara Hershey, Robert Duval, Wilford Brimley and Darren McGavin.
The cinematography was breathtaking, both in the blending of colors and light long with composition. Art direction and set design was authentic and pleasant to look at. And, of course the score was just great.
I loved all of the baseball scenes. I think that this and Bull Durham may be my favorite all time baseball movies.