Change Your Image
davemci
Reviews
Legends of the Fall (1994)
Average film gift wrapped
Sometimes films are presented - location background, major star cast, soaring sound track... as a wannabe epic, but fall dreadfully short. This film falls squarely into that category in my opinion.
At the end I was left with the thought that none of the main characters deserved much sympathy. Their actions and attitudes meant that much of the consequences they suffered if not always fully deserved, were at least understandable.
The ending prologue itself which I wont detail, was particularly twee. It failed to wrap up things in any pertinent way and seemed just to be a "make the audience feel better" device.
Brad Pitt gave a typically wooden, blank faced performance.
Anthony Hopkins looked like he had fun, lucky old him.
The Twilight Zone: The Lonely (1959)
Serling does Asimov
This is an excellent TV rendition of what could be an early Isaac Asimov short story.
It has one main plot idea - man and machine and how the differences can blur.
There is no time to develop the plot to any great extent, Serling simply raises the idea of how man and machine can interact and the consequences that might follow. Never the less it's a thought provoking episode as most TZ episodes are.
I am working my way through Twighlight Zone episodes (series 1) and this episode (#7) is remarkable for an impressive new opening montage sequence that stands up to anything you could expect to see today. Maybe not so much in the technical sense but certainly in style and impact.
Oh, and Jean Marsh is gorgeous!
Roadkill (2001)
Truly awful
Rotten to the core.
I had to switch off before the end as I could only take so much of this drivel and it was still going down hill.
So bad it wasn't even interesting for its awfulness.
The writers, producer and director should all be banned from film making until they have been forced to watch it every day for the next 5 years.
Normally I wouldn't post such a negative comment but I feel the only redemption I can retrieve from the experience is the thought that I might prevent some others from experiencing the same.
The Village (2004)
Take the journey - with a clear mind.
Mild spoilers ahead...
If you approach this film with no preconceived notions of what to expect either from the plotline or its Director, then you could be in for a rare treat.
Warning, this is not a blockbusting, easy ride of a movie. If you can't be bothered to invest the time and thought in exploring an "issue" movie then please don't go to see this one. Especially if you have the tendency to then come onto the IMDB and moan about "how bad it is" when really it just wasn't the film type you get off on. This film is far from perfect but it deserves to be judged on what it is, not on what its viewer "unreasonably" expected it to be.
The Village explores issues related to the fabric of the society we find ourselves in. Just what are the essentials needed to keep us happy and safe? Has society become too decadent and sick to offer any reasonable chance of delivering them?
The Elders come up with their own unique and radical solution!
That "solution" is the crux of the film. After experiencing their lifestyle in the earlier part of the film, at film end you find yourself wondering to what extent the Elders are justified in what they have done.
M. Night Shyamalan's presentation is excellent, all the cast delivered (nice to see W. Hurt in a decent role again). If you are looking for something more than the usual Hollywood Pap then I'd recommend that you check The Village out.
Turbulence (1997)
Lost the plot
This film is notable for the switch point near the end where all pretense of drama is overtaken by high farce.
I guess everyone realized the film was going nowhere and the set ending was ludicrous, so they decided to have some fun with their performances and dialog, most noticeable in the last 30 minutes or so.
Think "The Shining" meets "Airport" and you might get the mood of this film. Only don't expect that type of quality!
If you have ever contemplated writing screenplays for Hollywood movies, then this film might give you hope that you could succeed. Only if your efforts were no better than this, would that be something to boast about?
A waste of time, money and talent - and that goes for the audience as well.
Eyewitness (1981)
A benchmark film.
Superb, a truly outstanding work that delivers in all departments.
If you like intelligent films where the dialog and plot by turns amuse, scare, grip, thrill and astound you - then you are in for a treat.
The only negative feeling I had after watching this film was some sorrow that 23 years on from its release, there have been so few other films that can match it.
Falling Down (1993)
Hero? Victim? It's all in the eye of the beholder.
Reading some of the comments on this film it seems very apparent to me that everyone has their own take on what "it's all about". And these views can be quite radically different from each other!
To some, D-Fens is a racist xenophobe who snaps and goes on a murderous rampage Yet if you are in anyway objective you should note that the "body count" is very low (I make it 1!). D-Fens violence is almost exclusively reactive and reckless rather than murderous. And he is seen showing compassion and sympathy to people of other racial backgrounds than his own - unless they are trying to rip him off or rub him out! He is "guilty" of being patriotic to an extent bordering on xenophobia which probably makes him mainstream American <smile>.
To others he is a metaphor for their own frustrations with the ills of society. Sometimes apportioning views and motives to him that leave me scratching my head as to why they think that is so!
For me the story is important as a sounding board for complaints that are too often ignored. Political correctness rules OK.
Most times it's better to blow off steam with dialog rather than waiting for the explosion of a D-Fens.
Dave.