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Reviews
First Daughter (2004)
Nonsensical tosh, but hilarious.
This film is a farce. Or is it? Who knows? I don't, you won't and the director certainly doesn't. This muddled mess of a film is unintentionally funny (or maybe it it's not), especially in the cheese laden voice overs and turgid, romanto-crud dialogue that pervades the end of the film like a rose tinted, sickly sweet cloud of virtuousness. Some scenes are so incredibly cheesy/sentimental/'American dream inspirational' that they induce laughter involuntarily.
Having realised that this film is a poorly edited and assembled mush fest, the director has shoe-horned in some modern, hip elements, notably the 'Token Fiesty Black Friend' (TM) and various ludicrous college based calamities. These DO NOT WORK when forced into the aforementioned slush.
Avoid like the plague. (The Mandy Moore film was better. Yes, it's that bad.)If you're a filmmaker, watch for an exercise in how to make a complete mess of a film and include an entire encyclopedia of clichés.
Shrek 2 (2004)
Absolute gem of a movie
I adored Shrek 2, even more than I liked Shrek. Antonio Banderas' Puss In Boots is a wonderful character. Eddie Murphy also turns in another excellent comic performance as Donkey. The pop culture references are very well done, and extremely funny. The final sequence is very touching and done with real class. The animation certainly sets new heights; it may not be as pretty as Finding Nemo, but the CGI is a lot better. Some of the facial expressions are priceless, and really getting to close to simulating proper expressions. There are some wonderful lines, which are bound to enter the common lexicon of movies quotes. Particular scenes to watch out for is the parody of 'Cops' - 'Knights', the scenes with Puss' eyes (you'll see what I mean) and the 'Holding out For a Hero' sequence (especially Mongo).
One of the best movies of 2004 so far, without a doubt.