Change Your Image
ChuDog
Reviews
Camp (2003)
Its charisma and love for its characters outweigh the obvious flaws.
After the first ten minutes of this movie, I was a little disappointed. There wasn't much cohesiveness and the dialogue wasn't horribly inventive. The overall plot was intriguing and firm, but individual scenes didn't flow together very well, and I couldn't help but think, "Boy, this is one DVD that's going to be FILLED with deleted and extra footage."
But somehow, oddly and miraculously...I began to care less and less about these things as the film went on. Little quirks began to get through my thick skin, and the infectious charisma of these kids began to shine through all the murky details like bad dialogue and jumpy scenes, helped immensely by the energetic and colorful musical numbers. Jokes that drew small chuckles at first began to make me guffaw outright. Bit by bit I felt more for these unapologetic little misfits, their life and their very real issues. The biggest thing that "Camp" is got going for it, however, is the fact that it ultimately and totally loves these kids...so, so very much. The film itself seems to take on sentience as it showers its characters with sadness, joy, fear, hope, love, and occasional hilarity. It's all very sappy and very cliche and dare I say campy, but it works and I was suckered in.
Make no mistake, there are plenty of awkward moments that lived up to the film's disconcertingly ironic title. A subplot concerning the ridiculously beautiful Vlad and the hauntingly talented but just-barely characterized Dee(I had to look back at the film's page here at imdb just to remember her name)felt completely forced.
But again...when it works, it works great. The emotions conveyed here may not be cinematic masterpieces, but they're real, and they're touching, and to see these young children struggle to retain dignity and beauty in the face of ugly life is sure to rekindle forgotten pangs in anyone who's ever had to do the same. And there are some awesome moments, from jaw-dropping comedy to honest drama between the eclectic ensemble of young performers.
It's all very much like a musical, really.
Scream 3 (2000)
Moderately Screamful, I think
Despite Randy's claim that the third installment should have the most carnage, Scream 1 and 2 actually had tons more blood and gore. Not that I'm REALLY complaining, as that stuff doesn't do wonders for me...but still, third time's the charm, and Scream 3 manages to be the most witty and clever of them all(I don't think I've enjoyed such a good laugh as when Roman and Angelina walked off saying, "We'll be right back!"). And scary, too, though not quite topping the Sarah Michelle Gellar or Drew Barrymore scenes of yore. If you liked the old Screams, you'll like this one. If it were up to me, the filmmakers should take another stab at it(Pun intended).
Big Wolf on Campus (1999)
Adequate Fun
By no means is "Big Wolf on Campus" outstanding or superior, and I doubt that it will ever grow beyond might-be status. After all, the plot is so unoriginal I'm surprised that we haven't seen it more often. But the show plays it well, with an energetic flow and a charismatic title character. So don't just pass it off, and it might grow on you. It isn't often that we see a youth-oriented show that knows what it's talking about.
Forces of Nature (1999)
Fun & Entertaining.
To tell the truth, "Forces of Nature" isn't much of anything. The laughs are routine, the special effects are ordinary, the dialogue is only halfway decent. But...something about the movie is just so darn fun to watch. I didn't feel like I could get off my seat even if I wanted to. Maybe it has something to do with the way Sandra and Ben make one of the cutest couples of the decade.
Wing Commander (1999)
Barely sufficient
Frankly speaking, Wing Commander is cool. The battle scenes are cool, the ships are cool, the lasers are cool, the characters are cool, whatever. But...that's pretty much all there is to it. It was neat watching all those big digital explosions and all, but what ever happened to the the actual plot? When we're not trying to keep up with the events, we're trying to figure out how it relates to the movie. Plus, the scenes in-between fights were just way too long. It's just one of those films that could have been a lot better.
October Sky (1999)
A triumphant blast
"October Sky" is, simply put, one of those totally amazing films that we don't have enough of. The plot and storyline are simple yet intriguing. The dialogue is realistic. The music is marvelous. And the humor is fitted in just the right spots so that it will make you laugh and cry at the same time. But what I like most about this movie is the fact that teenagers are portrayed not as screw-ups, not as misfits, not as delinquents, but as instruments of hopes and dreams. The kids in "October Sky" aren't senseless failures. They are responsible young adults who have potential and strive to use it. I think it's about time we had a movie like that. But of course "Sky" is not perfect. One distinct aspect is how the movie tends to leave you clueless to some events. Also, since the movie is relatively dark and there is so much dirt on the miners' faces, it's almost impossible to tell who's who (And that gets downright annoying when a certain individual dies). But overall, "October Sky" is a blast. I recommend it to anyone who's willing to sit down for an hour and fifty minutes of warm fuzzies. And I mean that in a good way.
Free Willy 3: The Rescue (1997)
A film of ends and beginnings
In comparison with the first film or even the second, Free Willy 3 seems dark and lackluster. But for some reason, I liked it as much, if not more, than its prequels. The film had a purpose and it accomplished the purpose. Some people who have seen the film are annoyed with Jesse's sudden seriousness. Here's a hint: He grew up, as most people usually do over the course of four years. Why do you think that there was a new discontented kid? I enjoyed how the movie stands for change and reformation, and how it states that even as old stories are lost, new ones begin.
Dead Man on Campus (1998)
Movie made me laugh!
I can see how people might not like this movie but I thought it was SO FUNNY! TES and MPG made perfect college buddies and made me laugh so hard. Some people thought that this movie was too gross or something but come on; A movie from MTV, about two guys in college, with the kind of previews it had, how serious did you think it was gonna be? My only problem with it was that Cliff didn't have enough screen time! You might've guessed this from my comments, but yes, I'm under twenty-five. This movie was MADE for people like me.