Reviews

For a long time I searched for 'the best movie I've ever seen.' I thought about it for awhile but couldn't come up with an answer. Then I saw Donnie Darko. Bam. There was my answer.

Donnie Darko is not a movie for everybody. If you consider American Beauty one of the best movies you've ever seen, skip it. It's full of mind bending twists, insane camera work, beautiful special effects, and amazing performances. I loved every minute it of. After five minutes I was saying to myself, "This movie is perfect." I'd recommend it to anyone willing to see it. Quite simply the best movie I've ever seen.

I had to watch 'Jacob' for my freshmen religion class. While it is interesting enough, I don't think anyone would find it a 'fun' movie. I think the movie requires that you have some sort of religious background. The story of Jacob and Esau is interesting, but I don't think it translates well into film. I'll give it a B-.

I love Square Pegs the way I love Welcome Back, Kotter or I Dream of Jeannie: for it's kitsch quality. From an easily-spooked new-waver named Johnny Slash, to the bitchy, overly-bubbly pep coordinator Muffi, to Sarah Jessica Parker in one of her earliest roles as an ugly duckling, this show is full of weird and wonderful characters. True, it's hard to believe why two people like the main characters would want to be friends with the catty popular girls, but we get the feeling the show was asking itself that same question. Anyone who loves the '80s as much as I do would love this show. A theme song by The Waitresses, an appearance by Devo, over-the-top legwarmer and skinny tie costumes worn by everyone; what's not to like?

I caught this on a boring summer afternoon on, surprise!, Lifetime. The story itself COULD be promising- an innocent teen babysitter is unwittingly the object of obsession for virtually every man she encounters in one night- but the filmmakers try to turn it into a masterpiece of surrealism that it obviously is not. The acting is pretty shallow and most of the 'fantasies' are just downright creepy, not thought provoking. The movie will leave you feeling like you just dropped a massive amount of acid. Don't waste your time.

'Welcome Back, Kotter' is one of those shows you stay home on the weekends for. I know I do. From the puberty-neglected voice of Arnold Horseshack to the feathered and Jew-froed hair of Vinnie Barbarino, Juan Epstein, and Gabe Kotter, everything about this show is classic. At first glance it might just seem like some kitschy little retro sitcom, but make no mistake, it is awesome. By the last season the show slowed down and became a shadow of it's former self, but if you can ignore that then you will see that this show is one of the best ever.

I remember watching Pete & Pete when I was younger and not really understanding it. Lines like, "It'll make your pancreas quiver with joy," and pranks largely centered on the consuming of massive amounts of creamed corn were lost on me. But these days I would sell my soul to get this show back on Nickelodeon. One of the most bizarre, hilarious shows ever to be made, 'The Adventures of Pete & Pete' is like a television series created by John Waters and Wes Anderson. Great artists such as Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, and Michael Stipe knew what they were doing with their guest appearances on this show. One of the best ever.

I think you'd have to be a die-hard David Lynch fan with patience galore to get, and sit through, this one. I just watched it yesterday and I can barely piece together the plot- something about a video tape of a man killing his wife, and porn. I definitely don't recommend it. It's way too long, slow, and doesn't raise any thought provoking questions. It's not so much that it's bizarre, because such things should be expected from David Lynch, just that it makes no sense, however you look at it. Lynch was trying to give us something to think about, or to just to be entertained by, and he fails on both levels. Thumbs down.

If you're like me, you love cheesy Lifetime movies. Well, then this is for you. Hunger Point is the story of a girl who checks herself into rehab for anorexia and how she came to be that way. As a child, her mother would encourage her two daughters to be as thin as possible. The story focuses more on the girl's older sister, who is between jobs and living with her parents during a very stressful time. It definitely follows the old Lifetime plot, but it works if you aren't expecting much. Despite the serious subject matter, I found it pretty campy, but entertaining enough. A plus (or minus for some) is the horrible hairdo Barb Hershey sports all through the movie. If you're ever bored and it's rerunning, I'd watch it just for the cheese factor.

I know that A Life Less Ordinary is not a great film, but it's my favorite movie and I love it. It's a fun movie about finding love in odd places. After a bad day, Robert decides he can't take it any more and holds up his boss, eventually kidnapping his daughter. This brings on a whole set of problems that Robert never imagined. Though the plot is somewhat predictable, it feels fresh. It's a funny, adventurous movie that will make you smile and wish you could be kidnapped, too (if Ewan McGregor kidnapped you, would you complain?)