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kgrinde
Reviews
Dolls (1986)
Overlooked little horror movie
Dolls is an absolutely wonderful movie that I never get tired of watching. The reason that I enjoy it so much is that it combines, horror, heart & humor beautifully. There are some scenes of violence that are quite graphic, & you will then find yourself laughing immediately afterward. And as for the heart, the relationship that develops between Ralph & Judy is very sweet. Stephen Lee & Carrie Lorraine work wonderfully together. I have the DVD, which has two commentary tracks, one with the actors & one with the director & writer. They are both very entertaining as well. The bottom line: Dolls is a little gem that I hope more people discover.
Anna to the Infinite Power (1983)
Thought provoking movie
*POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS* I was flipping through channels when I caught this film that I had never heard of. After it was over, I thought about what I liked most about the movie. Granted, the idea of cloning people is astounding, not to mention scary on some level, but what stayed with me the most was how Anna's personality changes, as does her relationship with her brother Rowan. At the beginning of the movie, Anna Hart is arrogant, spoiled & has a tendency to steal. She also doesn't seem to get along with anyone in her family, with the exception of her mother. After she learns the truth about herself, she confides in Rowan that she wants to be her own person, a better person, & he encourages her. We then see Anna at a store trying on makeup. Instead of taking it, like she would have before, she tells the salesperson she'd like to buy it. There are also scenes of Anna & Rowan spending time together & having fun, which would never have happened at the beginning of the movie. We also see them have a serious talk, at the end of which he kisses her on the cheek. (Ahhh!) Anna's doctor then calls to tell the family that she is very ill, & you can see the tears in Rowan's eyes at the news. I also love how after Rowan sneaks a phone call in to Anna at the "hospital" she's been taken to, & she tells him how scared she is, he swims there (you read that right) to make sure she's okay. This is significant because Rowan blows off an important music competition (he's been playing the violin for years) to rescue her. Later, when Anna realizes what day it is & she asks him about it, he tells her he got a postponement. She simply says "Oh", but we see her smile afterward because she knows that's not true. Rowan has proved how much he loves his sister, & Anna has shown that she has matured into a kind, thoughtful young woman. Great character development for both of them. Anyways, those are my reasons for enjoying Anna to the Infinite Power.
Gung Ho (1986)
Very funny movie with heart.
Gung Ho is one of those movies that I never get tired of watching. Michael Keaton has always been a favorite of mine, & he is absolutely hilarious in this movie. Matching him step for step is Gedde Watanabe. The two of them work wonderfully together. Although this movie is a comedy, I also like how it shows Hunt (Keaton) & Kazihiro (Watanabe) struggling in their roles as the leaders of their respective groups. They both try so hard to keep the peace, & then they finally get into a fight (which is hysterical to watch). First, they're both on the floor. Then Hunt jumps on a chair. Kazihiro jumps on the desk. Hunt jumps on the desk with him. The fight then spills out from the office into the factory. I love that after they are separated by the workers, you can tell that they both feel bad for letting things get so out of hand. Also, there is a scene where you can see the influence that Hunt has had on Kazihiro. He is at his house & his boss from Japan arrives & says he would like to visit the factory tomorrow:
Kazihiro: Tomorrow not good day. Sakamoto: Why not? Kazihiro: Factory is locked & we can't find key.
Tell me you can't picture Michael Keaton saying something like that!
I guess I really like this movie because it is genuinely funny, & also shows how people that are radically different can not only learn from each other, but become good friends as well.
The Warriors (1979)
Terrific movie (This review may contain minor spoilers).
I first saw The Warriors on T.V. without having heard anything about it. The plot sounded interesting so I thought I'd give it a try. I was hooked from beginning to end. I didn't even want to leave during the commercials because I was afraid I'd miss something. My favorite scenes are the fight in the bathroom (edited so well), Swan & Mercy on the subway, & when Swan has the gang following him in the subway station, & Mercy asks him what he's going to do, & the rest of The Warriors show up at that moment. Also, I can never hear the song In The City by Joe Walsh without thinking of this movie. It is truly great. For the record, this review was written by a woman in her thirties.
When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
Terrific Acting in a Thought Provoking Movie
When a Man Loves a Woman is not an easy movie to watch. It can be depressing to watch what this family goes through. The acting, however, is so good that you will find yourself invested in these characters & their struggles. Meg Ryan & Andy Garcia are terrific. For me, the best performance comes from Tina Majorino, who plays the oldest daughter, Jessie. Her pain & anger is so real that is just blows you away. Her scenes with Andy Garcia, especially the one where he goes to her school, are outstanding. I personally think that Tina should have been considered for a Supporting Actress nomination-she's that good. Bottom line: Heavy going, but a good movie with great performances.