Change Your Image
chrislife
Reviews
Jane Eyre (1996)
I think they ran out of time.
The first half of this version was the best I've seen (and I think I've seen every version of Jane Eyre ever made). The development of Jane's childhood and character were exceptional. Then, it was as though someone said "Uh oh, this is running too long," and hacked the rest of the story to shreds. The major scenes, when included at all, are glossed over, combined, and put out of order in such a way that they completely change the storyline. There was so little transition or even scene development that it would be difficult for anyone not familiar with the story even to follow. The big disappointment was that the beginning opened so much hope, and then the end dashed it.
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
Rarely has a sequel been worse.
Legally Blonde, the original, was a fun and enjoyable movie. It wasn't terribly original, but it was well done; by the end, you felt connected with Elle, and delighted in seeing her meet her potential and outgrow her shallowness.
Then came Legally Blonde II, where we find Elle back to her shallow ways. It was as though all that growth she'd experienced in the first movie was gone, and the writers completely missed the point of the previous movie. It wasn't good because she was a flake, but because she learned her worth. The second movie seemed to think "Oh, a movie about a flake... let's do another one." The acting was fine, but the writing missed the boat completely. Absolutely horrible.
Caillou (1997)
Caillou is a good and calming influence
My son is extremely hyperactive, and this show is one of the very few things that calms him down. It has also been a good influence on his behavior and his communication skills, and unlike many other PBS shows, it does not shorten his attention span with flashy "commercials" for learning, "social values," or whatever PC thing is in vogue at the time.
It shows an intact, loving family, where both parents are actively involved with their child. I like that. It shows him interacting with other children, and being corrected when he behaves inappropriately. My son genuinely gains something from the adult explanations, and they are not preachy.
The only thing that bugs me a little is the excessive level of patience the parents have. They correct, but they never seem to get terribly annoyed, let alone genuinely angry.
All in all, I have to say this show is a VERY good influence. I've watched my son blossom since he started watching it.