Reviews

PALACE GUARD ("PG") was a short-lived series created by Stephen J. Channell.

"PG" could be compared to "Moonlightning", had the same humor and stories, but failed, although it featured the talents of Marcy Walker, Tony LoBianco and D. W. Moffett.

The show was Marcy Walker's attempt to break into nighttime television after several years of daytime (where she captivated us as Eden Capwell on SANTA BARBARA) and it is a pity that the audience couldn't get into the charm of the show.

Guest stars included Lauren Tom, Scott Hylands and Robin Leach of "The Rich and the Famous".

Charming little movie about great dreams and hopes of a young man.

Watch it for Marcy Walker's first performance as a VERY innocent young lady, Emmelie DeBeverly, and prepare to laugh about everything she says. If you know her as Eden Capwell on SANTA BARBARA you will probably be VERY surprised.

Nice landscape, with a slow-written story perhaps, but all in all a charming TV movie of 1982.

The best thing about PEARL HARBOR is the fact that director Michael Bay proofs to be a director. He is actually able to transfer a script to the screen without giving himself away by too many special effects.

Pearl Harbor has many special effects and many explosions like movies Bay made before, BUT the difference is, in this film he keeps back everything which is not necessary to show the attack by the Japanese which results into an unobtrusive and nice movie.

Ben Affleck has some nice scenes (as he gets to know Kate Beckinsale), but is as wooden as ever. The surprise and pleasure of Pearl Harbor comes with Josh Hartnett in a wonderful performance. Watch out for him, he is great !

The dialogue is so ridiculous and laughable that the actors, if they weren't as likable as Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsale, would make complete fools of themselves. But it is charming to watch them with their stupid lines. And that makes the movie good.

8 out of 10, I was surprised how good this movie really is !!!

This is the first movie with William R. Moses ("Falcon Crest") starring as Ken Malansky (nobody can remember this name !) supporting lawyer Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) and Della Street (Barbara Hale) during murder cases.

He enters the series by being accused of murder. But we know, Perry will defend him and proof his innocence ! This is interesting and nice enough for an evening in front of your TV at home.

Of course we will miss William Katt as Perry's assistant, but you will like William R. Moses, too.

The movie is long, 133 minutes.

It is a military movie and you have to like this genre, otherwise...all the saluting prisoners and the palaver about army, navy and soldiers in common will get on your nerves.

Sporadically the movie is worth seeing for its different characters, but they are all subject to the mainstream-stereotyped and too-often-seen-story.

Robert Redford's character Gen. Eugene Irwin is too flamboyant to be a real person. The only scene where he seems to be tangible for the audience is when his daughter, Rosalie Irwin, visits him. She is played by Robin Wright in an unbilled cameo, and this scene is just wonderful. I don't know what is has to do with the rest of the movie, but Redford and Wright make this the most memorable moment of the whole movie.

The rest of the story is full of narrow-gauge psychology and the so-called confrontation of Redford and Gandolfini is dull, because Redford is always right while Gandolfini has almost no chance against superman-Redford. Patriotic score, obvious story elements are marketed as "new".

Wonderful cast (Redford is good, although his part is not; Gandolfini only has one weak moment and that is this embarrassing scene at the end; Steve Burton is not as bad as in "General Hospital", Clifton Collins,jr. is very likeable and Mark Ruffalo is as good as his part allows him to be. Robin Wright is perfect.)

5 out of 10

"Massacre at Central High" is a movie from 1976. It stars Andrew Stevens and Steve Bond early in their careers. The story is well-known, the characters don't act logical, the villains are stereotype (Steve Bond is so ridiculous ! But he is also funny to watch), BUT the revenge of David, who is new in school and becomes a victim of the bad guys, is consistent.

The movie starts with flashbacks of all the memorable moments of this film and they are indeed worth seeing: When Steve Bond jumps into the pool without water you can't help laughing, and when the car falls on David's leg you are surprised how cruel the movie is. Not bad !

Wonderful explosions, look for the scene with two naked girls and a tent !

Same topic as "Class of 1984", but much better !!!

"Schizo" or "Playroom" has a close and mystical atmosphere, but it is not the psychological thriller it claims and wants to be. The story twist is too fast moving concerning to what you know about the main character from the beginning of the movie.

Chris, played by Chris McDonnell of "Happy Gilmore", never has the sympathy of the viewer. McDonnell's acting is overdone. The other characters, Marcy (Jamie Rose) and Paul, seem to be only important for being killed by Chris, who turns into a murderer way to fast. But...nice ways to kill the others...!

Wonderful landscape, average story.

5 out of 10

Dark movie, director Ken Russell turns the headlights on and off, and he uses loud colors. He creates a very disturbing and gloomy atmosphere and tells the story of China Blue, a prostitute by night and a hard working business-women by day in gross pictures and provoking dialogue.

A steamy Kathleen Turner shows everything (including talent). With her as leading lady Ken Russell portrays and embodies human abysms and loneliness in a way you never saw before. Brilliant work, wonderful actors, a story full of suspense.

"Crimes of Passion" is what "Basic instinct" and "Eyes wide Shut" tried to be (and failed): a provocative masterpiece ! This movie sails close to the wind and is a cocktail of elegant sex and brilliant character study of 4 very different persons: China Blue the whore (Kathleen Turner), the crazy priest (Anthony Perkins) who wants to "rescue" her, family-lowing Bobby Grady (John Laughlin), wo is China Blue's suitor, because he and his wife don't have sex any more and Amy (Annie Potts), Bobby's frigid wife.

Kathleen Turner and Anthony Perkins are brilliant, but it is John Laughlin who steals the show as Bobby Grady. This part is one of the most likeable and most versatile characters in movie history and John Laughlin is just brilliant. Unfortunately his acting career went somewhere...but not to the A-list of movie-stardom.

I want to mention Louise Sorel's small part of Claudia in a scene, where she and her husband want China Blue for a love triangle. She is just great in it. Look for her sitting in a big limousine.

8 out of 10

This is the movie with Steve Bond's (soap opera actor of "General Hospital" and "Santa Barbara") first performance. He plays Erik, a boy who was forced by circumstances to survive in the jungle on his own. He is a kind of smaller version of the hero, Tarzan.

Mike Henry's Tarzan is averaged (a softened version of the classic Tarzan), as is the movie. This must be a movie in a line of other Tarzan-films. All the stereotyped elements are there: Cheetah the monkey (in this movie kind of addicted to alcohol to amuse the viewer), Tarzan's screaming (but only once...) ...

Charming story full of adventures, many animals, so-called clever slogans from our hero, a very sexy reporter (Alizia Gur) and some tension is created when the villain seeks revenge of Tarzan.

6 out of 10

I believe I understand this movie. The message is:

If you have a problem you only have to wait, to hit the guys who try to kill you with only one beat or turn out the lights with your ninja-sword. ...Am I wrong ?

It is fun and pain to watch the hero of this movie, Ross Kettle (called "Joe" in the film), trying to look cool, pretending to fight with big men, knocking them down after almost no fighting and grabbing bigger men's...you know.

Problem 1: Ross Kettle is no action hero, he was good in "Santa Barbara" (a soap opera) and without him you could forget the movie completely, but he is just not right for the part.

Problem 2: One of the worst actresses I've ever seen: Karyn Hill, who plays Ross Kettle's kidnapped wife. Anyone could have been a better choice. If she was at least naked to convince us with her breasts...

Problem 3: The story...what story ? It would be ridiculous trying to explain what happens. It doesn't matter !

Problem 4: Explosions are nice and good fights are interesting, but is it really necessary to hear a sound like when Batman and Robin of the original Batman-series beat someone up, every time Ross Kettle, the hero (a joke, sorry), is knocking someone down ? Besides, there are no good fights here and explosions look like from a cartoon.

Pretending to be a movie for adults. Not even children would care, or perhaps the little ones !

To understand why so many people LOVE this soap opera, why millions of fans are deeply moved and hooked on SANTA BARBARA, you only have to watch episode number 1 and you disclose this secret.

For a real fan the first episode is the most magical, suspenseful and spectacular event in TV history and the show is...beyond comparison. There's NOTHING not a quarter as good as SANTA BARBARA.

During episode #1 you get to know Joe Perkins (played adorable by Dane Witherspoon), who spent 5 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Joe was accused of killing Channing Capwell Jr. (Robert Brian Wilson in flashbacks, he is such a great actor !), son of multi millionaire CC Capwell (Peter Mark Richman was great, Paul Burke was fun and Charles Bateman was terrific. Jed Allan later impersonates this character). Joe is in love with Capwell's daughter Kelly (talented, beautiful and enchanting Robin Wright), but she believes he is guilty and wants to marry Peter Flint (Stephen Meadows: one of the best actors around). When Joe returns to town he is received by a repelling crowd. Santana Andrade (Ava Lazar: glamorous and sexy), Channing's love interest, for example, wants to kill him right away.

The most important storyline, the murder of Channing, embraces every character of the show and is one of the most clever and complex storylines ever written for tv. But there is so much more to admire. Every scene is played and directed with such a brilliance, you almost don't believe it. You get unforgettable impressions from actors like Lane Davies (Mason Capwell), Todd McKee and Julie Ronnie as Ted Capwell and Laken Lockridge who fight for their love because their families are the worst enemies, Dame Judith Anderson as Minx Lockridge (she calls the police because she feels disturbed by the noise of the Capwell party), Louise Sorel as Augusta Lockridge and Valorie Armstrong as Joe's mother Marissa Perkins.

WATCH it, FEEL it, LOVE it ! Santa Barbara is both fun and thrill, it is unique in every way.

In the show's run you can see A Martinez, Marcy Walker, John Allen Nelson, Harley Jane Kozak, Robin Mattson, Ally Walker, Justin Deas, Judith McConnell, Sherilyn Wolter, Mark Arnold and Julia Campbell to name a few. Perfect cast ! Perfect soap, almost a movie ! The first four years are the best. There is nothing to complain about, it is like a dream. It's SANTA BARBARA.

Charming little movie with a breathtaking performance by Ally Walker. In her career, she embodied many different characters: she was wonderful as Sam Waters in PROFILER and she was funny as Josephine in HAPPY, TEXAS. She even made KAZAAM look like a good movie for me ! Furthermore Ally Walker was perfect as Veronica in UNIVERSAL SOLDIER and will always be Andrea Bedford from SANTA BARBARA for me.

The part of Susan Stone in IF YOU BELIEVE was a challenge and a gift for Ally Walker. She demonstrates both being able to achieve success by playing a character she is not associated with (like Sam Waters from Profiler or Audrey Macleah from WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS) AND being able to carry a movie completely with her enormous charisma. She is wonderful ! Look the movie for her performance !

The story is well-known. Stone-hearted and frustrated Susan, how is a reader, gets the chance to think about her ruined life. In her case it's herself appearing as a 7-year old girl and trying to show that life is worth living. Of course Susan changes into a nice person at the end. That's fun to watch. Perhaps there are little too many scenes for the fact that Susan can't believe that the little girl is actually talking to her. Sole complaint !

Most of the time the girl, Hayden Panettiere, is good, but in some scenes she is just a little bit TOO overstated. That are the moments when you ask yourself WHY kids play in movies.

Anyway, 7 out of 10.

John Travolta is embarrassing. He is NOT funny. Unfortunately the story is about his character Russ Richards. This Russ Richards annoys everyone in the movie and the audience. Travolta's last good movie was 1997's SHE'S SO LOVELY.

Lisa Kudrow does her best, but can't save the movie. Her character ranges between being stupid and being ruthless. Some of the better moments AND laughs come from her.

Bill Pullman steals the show as a cop who doesn't want to work. Unfortunately he only appears at the end of the movie when you are so bored that you are not longer interested in what is happening next.

Good cast (except Travolta), poor story, nothing special. 4 out of 10

This movie is very special. Congratulation to everyone who was involved ! Most of the credit is due to Robin Wright in the title role of Moll Flanders. She gives one of the most memorable performances in movie history. So please sit back and enjoy the godsend on-screen-presence of Miss Robin Wright. Her talent and beauty is a gift to the movies and should be honored with more than just the Golden Satellite Award nomination she received for playing this challenging and complex part with such a brilliance. The movie owes its authenticity to her excellent acting abilities.

The part of Hibble is played by the gorgeous Morgan Freeman. He is not only very believable but also very strong and equivalent to the remarkable Wright.

To give you an impression of the richness and elegance this film contains, I will describe some of the most poignant moments of this masterpiece:

-When Morgan Freeman reads the memories of Moll to her daughter, his voice suddenly changes into Robin Wright telling her story from her birth to running away from the convent. When she escapes this prison you live to see one of the most illustrious scenes in movie history crowning in her fountain-bathing (movie cover).

-Another very special moment is when the artist (John Lynch in a wonderful performance) asks Moll what she expects from life and she answers : "Nothing any more". When she tells him that, Robin Wright is both breathtaking and lovely. Expressing a feeling was never more credible before.

-Robin Wright also copes superbly with whe difficult situation when Morgan Freeman tells her that he didn't find her baby. This is a very emotional and toughing scene.

-the thunder-storm-sequence is full of tension and very realistic

-Robin Wright dancing in front of her adoptive family is a gift from director Pen Densham to his viewers. His ability of both giving Robin Wright enough room to develop her character and never losing track of his own ideas is unique. Would have deserved at least a best director nomination...

-One of Robin Wright's most enjoyable scenes is the one where she refuses a piece of jewellery to confirm her love for John Lynch. "All my life I dreamed about this moment...but no one can separate me from this man, unless he wants me to leave him. I love him enough to do that. But you can't buy me..." This is one magical moment in movie history.

-When Stockard Channing's Mrs. Allworthy (she is unique, too) and Robin Wright's Moll Flanders meet for the first time, you are part of a magic moment, too. It's both funny and heart rending to see Moll netted by the villain.

Although the movie is a false interpretation of Daniel Dafoe's classic book, it tells a timeless and classic story about one woman's unbreakable spirit (that's what the cover tells you and that is true), so don't miss the opportunity to see this irresistible and convincing film and enjoy the full cast: Robin Wright in a performance awards are made for, Stockard Channing and Morgan Freeman.

10 out of 10

When you expect the worst (which you do when you notice that Gwyneth Paltrow is starring) you'll at least get a mediocre picture to see. If you want to survive the movie, please forget the predictable story and all the elements that remind you of a bad, fast-written soap opera-storyline and enjoy the supporting cast: Natasha Henstridge is wonderful as Mimi, Tony Goldwyn has some nice scenes and Jennifer Grey is beautiful with her new nose. Otherwise you hate Ben Affleck for not being able to fulfill a leading part completely and you recognize how terrible Gwyneth Paltrow looks and acts (if you didn't notice that yet). As a couple the both actors fail. There's no chemistry, no sympathy and no emotions. It is no spoiler to say that they end up as a couple but although you know that from the beginning, stay away from the happy ending scenes, if possible, because they are overloaded and too whacky, even too bad to compare them with typical Hollywood endings. They just repeat their conversation and smile at each other while doing that.

Another big disappointment is the fact that Julia Campbell who is credited as Sue has only one scene without any line. She is just sitting next to Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow. They must have abridged Julia Campbell's scenes without any reason and refilled the space with unnecessary scenes in the Water Park with Ben, Gwyneth and the two kids. Watch your own home-video instead !

Although Gwyneth Paltrow's Abby says some very stupid things (for example about chewing gum and smoking) which are supposed to be funny, some parts of the dialogue actually make sense and sound likeable, real and tangible. But you have to discover them with a magnifying glass.

Don Roos, the director, brings in some nice ideas (for example imprisoning a very angry dog in a room while Ben and Gwyneth are getting to know each other to disturb their conversation so much by the barking dog that's impossible to listen to them) but very sad is the fact that he obviously has to be so inventive only to divert from his meaninglessly story and his clumsy leading actors.

5 out of 10