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Reviews
Bull Durham (1988)
(Great baseball film that touches your heart).
One of the most popular baseball movies Bull Durham is an exciting film that will be appreciated by non-baseball fans as well. As sports movies go, this one is unconventional, dealing more with the minutia that provides the foundation of life in the minor leagues than with the actual games. Bull Durham is about showing what it's like for athletes who play for the love of the game and not the expectation of multi-million-dollar contracts. It's about the men who toil far from the spotlight and whose daily concern is not whether they will be promoted to The Show but whether their stats will allow them to bat another day. The qualities that distinguish Bull Durham from so many other baseball movies are its low-key humor (in contrast to the overt jokiness of Major League and The Naked Gun), the smartness of the dialogue. As I said in the opening sentence- Bull Durham isn't only for people who understand baseball- it's a universal experience.
The Pink Panther (2006)
A misstep by Steve Martin; Avoid.
I could never imagine Steve Martin making a bad film but with the Pink Panther he has committed sacrilege. Peter Sellers is so associated with the iconic role that it seems strange Martin would even consider it. Lifeless comedies can suck the energy out of a viewer, especially when they sully the image of an cinematic icon. The film is bad enough in its own right that it won't work even for those who don't know who Peter Sellers is - it will seem disposable and silly, with too many jokes that don't work. But for those who recall Sellers and the role he made famous, "travesty" seems to be the right descriptor. Only one reason to see this film- the opening credits cartoon - no matter how bad the movie, at least the title character, playing practical jokes to the tune of Henry Mancini's unforgettable theme, never fails to disappoint.
Alien (1979)
Sci-fi horror supreme.
In many ways, Alien was the first of a kind. True - it wasn't the first space movie to feature a homicidal monster, nor was it the first time a group of characters were hunted down one-by-one in dark, dank spaces. However, this "haunted house in space" film was one of the first to effectively cross-pollinate these two genres. Alien became the blueprint for dozens of rip-offs and three sequels. In addition to blending graphic horror with science fiction, Alien has another distinction - it is one of the first films to feature a female action hero. Even today, on those rare occasions when a woman takes the lead in an action/adventure movie, she is typically measured up to Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley. Alien contains its fair share of genuine scares. These aren't mere "boo" moments, where something benign jumps out of the shadows accompanied by a loud noise and a musical crescendo, but legitimate shocks. The first occurs when the face-hugger leaps out of the egg and attaches itself to Kane. The second is when the alien explodes through Kane's chest. A masterpiece.
Cargo (2009)
Awesome looking film from Switzerland.
Cargo is the first science fiction film made in Switzerland by first time directors. The first thing you notice are the amazing sets and look of the film. This is how CGI should be- seamlessly blending in, to an extent you cannot differentiate between what is real and what is computerized. The story is set aboard a spaceship in the future and it is obvious that the filmmakers have been heavily inspired by the likes of Alien and 2001 ASO and the story itself is more cerebral than most science fiction films which are usually categorized as horror or action. Regardless, you should watch Cargo at any cost if you like a good science fiction film.
Stakeout (1987)
A great late 80s film buoyed by a terrific onscreen partnership.
Stakeout is a good film which launched a sequel starring the buddy cop duo of Emilio Estevez and Richard Dreyfuss. The story concerns these two cops who are assigned to observe a convict's ex-girlfriend but things get complicated soon enough. Featuring some sequences including a chase through a fish market and some great Vancouver scenery this is a good, albeilt not great late 80s film. Many even back then thought of this as something of a poor man's lethal weapon. But this is a good overall film and the chemistry between Dreyfuss and Estevez is quite good.
The Prestige (2006)
Great entertainment.
The Prestige is a great film by Christopher Nolan and it will take you probably more sittings than one to figure everything out. Strange that this came out the same year as the other film on magicians The Illusionist but I feel this one is a slightly better movie. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale play rival magicians who will go to any length to get the better of the other. The performances are good. The film is long but you wont feel so and the cinematography and production design are top notch.
Mars Attacks! (1996)
A movie that divided opinions.
This star studded dark comedy is a good film although it often drags and sometimes becomes too heavily burdened by the star power. The premise is simple: Earth is invaded by Martians but unlike what HG Wells envisioned, these sinister aliens have a different agenda. Looking at other reviews it is not easily to classify this film as good or bad- some love it others cannot stand it and then some consider it a guilty pleasure. See and decide yourself.