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Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
A Magical Heart Changing Film
This Christmas, a classic film about a miserable snob who undergoes a life-changing experience was once again released. However, this is not your every-day "Christmas Carol." This is "Saving Mr. Banks," a Disney film featuring Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. This Holiday film is a MUST- SEE for families. It's humorous - I was laughing throughout the first 30 minutes nonstop - heartwarming, and somewhat tragic film.
The story cuts between P.L. Travers and her struggle to collaborate with the team at Disney Studios to produce her book "Mary Poppins" on the screen, and her childhood tragedy with her alcoholic father. The film touches upon some rather mature topics - Miss Travers' mother tries to kill herself at one point - and definitely deserves the PG-13 rating for that.
Emma Thompson outdoes herself playing the snobbish "British" author fixed on seeing a perfect film made. With light humor interjected throughout, her character is as equally likable as it is dis-likable.
Tom Hanks is a spectacular Walt Disney. I was almost convinced that I was watching Mr. Disney himself. The supporting actors such as Giamatti bring a nice touch to the film and honestly I think this movie is up for quite a few Oscars.
So if you're feeling like a Scrooge this Christmas, go see "Saving Mr. Banks." You won't be disappointed.
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
Worth Watching - A Delightful "Milking" of a Classic
This is a good example of Disney's love of "milking" their products. The story is set back when Belle was held captive at the castle, and recounts what happened that Christmas. The Beast models after Scrooge, and hates Christmas, because it was on Christmas Eve that the spell was placed on him. Tim Curry plays an outstanding villain (as usual). A frightening CGI Pipe Organ, once hated by the Beast, now his only friend. Curry's motive: to keep Belle from loving the Beast so he can have him to himself and play his music for him forever. I recently watched this after quite a few years of not seeing it and was enchanted as the title says. It's worth seeing for it's beautiful score, unfortunately not by Alan Menken, with songs like "As Long as There's Christmas" at one point sung by miss Bernadette Peters, and "Don't Fall In Love" sung by Tim Curry. Not Disney's best, but worth buying. I promise that you'll enjoy it.
The Great Gatsby (2013)
More than Accurtate
The trailers for this movie made it appear overly-glitzy and raunchy. The movie is neither.
The High Points:
-The acting in the movie is superb. I like this movie more than any other version because it makes the characters all vulnerable in some way, which, in turn, makes them more human. DiCaprio plays a likable Jay Gatsby whose facade includes an accent, which he drops when he finally has Daisy.
-The visuals are stunning. Most of them I thought to be real: Gatsby's House, The exterior of the Buchannan Mansion, the eyes of T. J. Eckleburg. All of which are CGI. For art, this movie gets a huge A by me.
-The accuracy is 98% to the book, with the exception of Gatsby's funeral, which is cut short, and his father is left entirely out of it. They also add the idea of Nick being in a mental institution, which, I believe, was supposed to be like Fitzgerald's wife, who was institutionalized three times for alcoholism and fits of anger.
-The soundtrack is a clever blend of 1920s Jazz - Bryan Ferry's orchestra sounds amazing! The combination of orchestral score and modern music - like Myrtle's death: Jack White blended with orchestra - is perfect to set the mood. I was on the edge of my seat awaiting for Myrtle's grizzly end.
-Which leads me to my next high point. The death scenes and the violence was all artistically done. When Gatsby gets shot, we only see a bit of blood. No gory wound to show what happened. We don't even see Wilson shoot himself - aside from putting the pistol him his mouth. And Myrtle's death is so well done, from the fact that just as she gets hit, a car passes by the camera, shielding us from the impact, and falling in slow motion with the eyes in the background. All well done.
The Low Points:
-Though there are no real LOW points, I will point out things which could have made this movie even better. Firstly, the relationship with Jordan and Nick is glossed over to make room for the Gatsby/Daisy relationship. Almost the entire movie is centered around Gatsby and Daisy's relationship.
-The ending of the movie was a little different, mainly that they did not include Gatsby's father, which I believe, is an important part. Nick does not meet Tom again, in the scene where we learn that Tom told Wilson that Gatsby killed Myrtle. That was included when Tom first finds that Myrtle is killed. I guess they did it for time. Other than that, this was an awesome movie.
Get it on DVD. It's worth it.
9/10 for missing a few parts at the end.
A Separate Peace (2004)
More like a BBC
I bought this movie with very low hopes, seeing that most of the IMDb reviews called it trash. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? I thought it was a very good adaptation. Here are my thoughts:
The High Points: Overall, the film was presented in as normal a way as possible, without big screen stars and fancy CGI to pretty it up. It struck me more like a BBC film, which I prefer. I felt that the four friends were good, especially Leper, who captured the lovable innocence that I felt there was in the character. Some key points were missing, like Gene taking off the layers of clothing when Finny returns, and the encounter with Quackenbush, but still, the acting was excellent. I also liked the soundtrack, everything from moody piano to "Hold that Tiger." Pity the soundtrack isn't released on CD.
The Low Points: The missing points which I mentioned earlier, plus the fact that Gene's narrations only occur at the beginning and the end. I think Gene should have narrated throughout, to convey his thoughts about Finny. When I watched the movie with my family, my grandmother was confused as to why Gene knocked Finny out of the tree. My mom, grandpa, and I had read the book, so we understood, but if you haven't read the book, you wouldn't understand. The other big change which I didn't like was Gene's confrontation with Leper, which rather than taking place at his house, occurs in a little survival hut built by the insane Leper in the woods. Leper is very straightforward there about his feelings which showed the actor's talent, but not so much the Leper from the book.
If you get this movie, do not judge it by the other reviews. See it for yourself. You may be pleasantly surprised as I was.
9/10 for some key points missing.
Newsies (1992)
A Classic!
I saw Newsies as part of an assignment in Social Studies - We studied the industrial revolution - and I was taken. A baby-faced Christian Bale leads a rag-tag gang of ragamuffins into battle against the rich and powerful Joseph Pullitzer, who has decided to raise the price of the newspaper for the newboys.
A charming classic with catchy tunes now on Broadway including "Carrying the Banner" and "Santa Fe." It will surely win your heart. Ann Margret and Robert Duvall both co-star in this movie and steal the scene in their parts, from Margret's seductive but all the while, playful "My Lovey-Dovey Baby" to Duvall's mean and dark dialogue. Audiences are sure to boo.
That is not to say that the movie is not good. I saw the show on Broadway but personally, like the movie more. They are two different things. Get a copy. It's worth it! And if you get the chance, see it on Broadway.
The Lone Ranger (2013)
Why?
Having nothing else to do this summer, I went to see "The Lone Ranger" with the thought that maybe it would be good. Wrong, apparently.
While Johnny Depp was up to his usual antics, he played Tonto masculine - that's a shocker. He had a few funny moments, including at the end when the lone ranger says "Hi, ho, Silver!" and Johnny Depp replies "Never do that again." Unfortunately, I found the movie exceedingly boring, like they TRIED to make it an action film. There was a lot of violence and a slight anti-gun theme, how the Lone Ranger witnesses Butch kill his brother and still says "I can't shoot him" and proceeds to drag him into the town for miles and drag out the movie.
Helena Bonham-Carter once again disappointed me. Her performance was too put-on and her wooden leg-foot-gun thing was more steampunk than western. What? The film had a weak story, and The lone ranger's nephew and sister-in-law keep appearing randomly. Popping up was the term I used to discuss the film with my family.
It's a pity because the Lone Ranger was such a good TV show too...
3/10
Animal Farm (1999)
Don't Bother
First of all, I am going to say that my opinion of the book - which is terrible - does not alter my opinion of the film. The film is too far from the book in my opinion. There are too many differences. The beginning of the film presents Farmer Jones as an extremely drunk looser, which he is. If this movie is intended for kids, then the creators don't have any kids. Within the first ten minutes, there is an implied sex scene, and countless frightening images. I got stuck watching this in a literature class. Don't bother watching it if you have the choice.
No number of lines in this review can stress how boring and stupid this film was.
Tom Brown's Schooldays (2005)
Worth Watching
This 2005 take on Thomas Hughes' "Tom Brown's Schooldays" leaves much to be desired. I have both read the book and scene all the versions, including the 1942, 1951, and BBC Miniseries, all of which are better.
What's wrong with this take?
1. Flashman is far too modern. While his acting is superb, I felt that his antics were much more overdone than in any of the versions. He is almost always roaring drunk, and his attacks such as the roasting and the tossing are very brutal. The addition of the rape of Sally Hopkin is also very modern and not worth the time.
2. George Arthur DOES NOT DIE in the book. I don't know why they decided to kill him off in the end of the film, as he recovers in the book, not from pneumonia brought on by Flashman's attack, but by a fever which has spread across the school.
3. Tom Brown. I liked Alex Pettyfer at first, but it isn't really how Tom comes across on the novel. Tom is supposed to be the lovable character. In this, I was constantly wondering how I really felt. Did I like him or did I hate him? He goes through a very tough period of hate towards Stephen Fry which did not happen in any of the other versions or in the book.
In short, try the BBC version or the 1942 version.
4/10
Mandie and the Cherokee Treasure (2010)
A Charming Sequel
Dramatic plot twists, secret love interests, buried treasure! It's all in this charming sequel to "Mandi and the Secret Tunnel." The beloved cast returns once again but this time, to stop Jim Shaw from traveling into a poisoned gold mine.
The two bumbling crooks (whose names escape me) return as well, teamed up with a bandit with a scraggly beard - who isn't all he appears to be - as they try to steal the gold from the mine. The gold is hidden, and the map is written in riddles. It's a race as Mandi, Polly, Joe, as well as Elizabeth - Mandi's mother - try to reach the mine before the crooks.
With light-hearted humor, family fun, and lavish costumes and sets, this movie gets a 9 out of 10. The plot is consistent with the first film and holds all sorts of new surprises.
Definitely worth renting.
Bates Motel (2013)
Hitchcock and Bloch Would Be Appalled
This is good - -
if you haven't watched the entire Psycho series, that is. I'm a HUGE Psycho um... psycho. Heh heh. The show caught my attention, but I had my doubts since Freddie Highmore was in it. I lost my respect for him after I watched the BBC nightmare "Toast."
The series is set in a contemporary time. They have phones and ear-buds and modern cars, which all seem very out of synch with the "Psycho" theme, which is set in the 1960s. The house is located by the sea, not in Phoenix.
I sat down and watched the pilot episode "On Demand," and thought it poorly done. While Norma was very good, Norman alternated far too much between mama's boy and rebellious teen.
Oh yes. And that's right! Didn't they already do a "Psycho" prequel? Yes they did! It was called Psycho IV: The Beginning.
The themes introduced in this are twisted - the pilot ends with a body chained to a sink, awakening to find themselves being injected with something.
The brutal rape scene seemed less than necessary, and Norma went rather overkill on her attacker afterwords, sitting in the middle of the kitchen, crying, while stabbing the man, who was already dead.
Why did they have to take a perfectly good story and murder it? No pun intended.
Hitchcock and the original author, Robert Bloch would be appalled.
1/10
Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Could Have Been Better
I can only describe "Super Mario Bros" the movie in one word.
RIDICULOUS! The story is set in 90s Brooklyn - at first. The story follows the hysterical theory that the dinosaurs continue to thrive in another dimension. When Luigi Mario meets the girl of his dreams, his - and his brother Mario's - lives are turned upside down. They are sucked into this other dimension, where people eat lizards on hot dogs and buildings are consumed in fungus.
The film holds many aspects of the video game series, including fungus swallowing up the kingdom, bob-ombs, bullet bills, spring loaded shoes, flame throwers, etc, with some visual gags, such as the "Wiggler" taxi, and the "Thwomp Club." References to Mario Kart, and Super Mario 64 are also made, in high-speed car chases, and icy rides down frozen tunnels.
The most disappointing thing in this film was King Koopa (Bowser now-a-days)who did not even look like the character. His acting was dry and very Mel-Brookes esq.
In the end, I gave this film 5/10 stars because I liked the idea, but I did not like how it was pulled off. This film could have gone places. It's a pity, considering how many Mario fans walked away feeling cheated out of short of two hours.
5/10
Les Misérables (2012)
The High and the Low
Les Miserables is one of my favorite musicals, and I found it to be an excellent film. But if you expect it to outdo the stage show, you'd best save your money. Les Miserables - 2012 has its high points and its low.
The High Points Overall, the film was visually stunning, with a great cast, and pretty good voices. Anne Hathaway - Fantine - was very heart-touching, and her renditions of "I Dreamed a Dream" and her death song "Come to Me" were very well sung. Jackman - Valjean - surprised me. I had seen the previews of the film and was not entirely impressed at first with his voice. But in the end, his renditions of "Bring Him Home" and "Who Am I" stole me. All of the students in the Barricade scenes had very good voices too. The new songs such as "I Have a Crime to Declare" and "Suddenly" were very nice to hear. Russel Crowe was also very good. His voice - not amazing - but he put energy into it.
The Low Points Master of the House was entirely off. While the entire film is artsy and well done, this scene is low and crude, with many visual gags that take away from the song - including urinating into a tankard and prostitute making love with Saint Nicholas. Sacha Baron Cohen - Thenardier - lacked energy and Helena Bonham Carter - Madam - really did not convince me. She sounded like she did in Kings Speech and Sweeney Todd. At one point, she even looked as though she had no idea what to do with herself. "Master of the House" will prompt the use of the skip button on the remote when this film comes out on DVD. I was very glad to see them carried out of the church at the end of the film. Amanda Seyfried (don't know how you spell it) was not a convincing Cosette. Her voice sounded like vibrato in fast forward, and her acting was very dull and "blah." She was indeed not "found" as she says in "A Heart Full Of Love." The makeup was also very over-done, as well as the gags in "Master of the House." Every poor person - aside from little Gavroche - had some sort of lump or bump on their face, and the prostitutes looked like something of Tim Burton's films.
A warning to the film-goers. I advise using a restroom before sitting through this 2 1/2 hour film. I had to hold it throughout a good portion of the film. And bring tissues or a handkerchief. The ending is very touching.
However, I thought the film was very inspiring. My family was brought back to the first time that they saw the show on the stage. A work of art nonetheless. I recommend it to everybody.
Dark Shadows (2012)
Only Half of it is Worth It
I thought that this film was going to be very good, with comedy, drama, romance, etc.
The first ten minutes of the film show us Barnabas Collins as a human, in the 1700s. It is, perhaps, the best scene in the movie. If only it could have lasted like that.
If you are a huge Dark Shadows fan and have seen the show, you would know that Victoria Winters and Maggie Evans are two different characters, and that the Karolyn Leigh Scott - Maggie Evans - plays Josette DuPress. In the show, however, they combine both Victoria/Viki, and Maggie into one character. Perhaps this makes some sense - since Maggie and Josette look more alike than Viki and Josette. Once again, Tim Burton has decided to add a pathetic back-story to the main character, with some hints of the Sixth Sense.
Barnabas arrives on scene in 1972. At first, his jokes about McDonalds, cars, and other matters are funny, but they become rather old. The entire film focuses on Barnabas and his relationship with Angelique Bouchard, the witch who cursed him 200 years ago, leaving only a few seconds of screen time for the other actors - Pfieffer, Grace Moretz, McGarath, Bonham Carter, etc.
Despite their efforts to cram 6 years worth of soap opera into a 2 hour film, nobody seemed to care about the script, which was utter terrible. The dialogue was dry and predictable.
The film was simply a combination of over-acted drama with bits of unnecessary sex.
Don't rent the movie. Save yourself two hours to do something useful.