Change Your Image
karenlynn1
current IMDB pet peeves:
* Trolls--automatically ignored.
* Sheeple.
* Sock Puppets--also ignored.
* Passive-agressive twits--aka trolls by proxy. Usually ignored, just because I'm tired of reading the same old crap.
* People who don't respect other people's opinions.
* People who think their own opinions=facts.
* When posters get spastic over the Top 250! Geez, it's just a POPULARITY POLL!
If you regard it as anything more, then you are kidding yourself.
* Narrow-minded fools.
* The O-Word! (overrated)
* Know-it-alls
* People without a sense of humor.
Free your mind!
Reviews
Over the Edge (1979)
One-dimensional, cookie-cutter characters.
This film had very little substance. There was no way to tell who was the "hero" and who was the "villian" because none of the characters--neither the teens nor the adults--had any redeeming values.
The plot was contrived, and unbelievable "Oh gee, there's nothing to do in this boring town so let's go on a rampage" doesn't work here. I mean maybe 50-65 % of those kids would have become hooligans, and a few would have done something useful with their time and energy. A whole town of hell-raisers is just not realistic.
The parents were pretty much the same way. They all were more worried about the town than their kids--like a whole town of uncaring parents. They all didn't have anything better to do than show up at meetings...
They could have made the film more poignant, and more believable if they focused on one family, or even two... not an entire town of cookie-cutter, and generally unlikeable characters.
The big riot at the end doesn't have much of an impact; and most of the kids were really getting on my nerves by that point of the film.
I had no sympathy for any of them; nor did I have any for their parents.
I will admit that the soundtrack was good, but by no means was this an accurate portrayal of teens or parents in a small, underdeveloped town in the seventies.
Hairspray (2007)
Do yourself a favor--rent the original.
Years ago, I saw the original John Waters version, which was great, funny, had a good sense of humor to it, and featured a great cast.
This one...? Um...where do I begin? The dancing was good, but that's about it. All of the musical numbers sounded the same, and were just over-the-top with their Broadway-like style. Aside from "Seaweed" the characters weren't as likable as they were in the original Waters film. In fact, even the main character Tracy Turnblad got on your nerves as she broke into song about every three minutes. And all the songs sounded the same. No variety.
John Travolta in a fat woman's suit was funny at first, but it soon lost it's flair.
And the plot and theme were lost in the cheesiness and corniness--as can be expected when one makes a musical out of a movie/book/whatever that already was good on its own.
This film only made me want to see the original version all over again. Watch that one instead.
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
cute. but the first one was better.
This movie is a cute, light-hearted comedy. But the original Legally Blonde was a bit better. It was believable, and less corny than this sequel. It was interesting to see Sally Field as not such a goody-good, (in fact, quite the villainies), and Bob Newhart as the doorman. Jennifer Coolige--even though she is playing her typical role--is always a treat.
However, the plot got far-fetched and cheesy... When you thought that Elle Woods (Witherspoon) would have actually learned something from her days in Harvard Law, and grown and become not such a dumb, overly-fashion-conscious, flighty blonde...she reverts to type. I was surprised that she reverted to her sorority sisters for help when it was much needed instead of her law school colleagues (like Selma Blair's Character, et all.) And the result is like Revenge of the Nerds meets Bring it On.
She's learning the same lessons she had the first time all over again, only this time for the sake of her lovable little chihuahua Bruiser as she takes an Animal Rights bill to congress. While Elle once again relies on her cosmetic savvy ways to prove her case, it's done with a lot more heart. And she meets some other animal lovers along the way to help her reach her goals.
It's cute, light hearted, and funny. With a tad of cheese, and a little bit of silliness.
I gave this 4 out of 10 stars.
Dreamgirls (2006)
And I am Telling You...
This one is a winner. I was blown away by the music, the performances, and the bold statements made about the music industry that this film provides.
The sound track helps to tell the story, with songs that would make you tap your feet...or will bring you to tears. Jennifer Holidays voice had me wondering why the heck she didn't win American Idol in season 3. Their loss is Dreamgirls' gain, I suppose. And Eddie Murphy proves he's just as good of a singer as he is a comedian, going from James Brown-esquire, to crooner, to Sam Cooke style vocalist, and then back to James Brown. Beyonce was spot on as a Diana Ross-type. But the biggest surprise came from unknown Keith Robinson (Power Rangers) as Effie's brother CC.
The plot had plenty of emotionally-driven ups and downs as it exposed the different types of people and situations you encounter in the music industry. Every character represented a different persona. Those who would sell their soul for fortune and fame like Curtis (Jamie Fox); or those girls like Effie (Hudson) who have the voice and the talent but are shunned because of their looks. There are starlets, wannabees, and Divas... There are some people like Jimmy (Murphy) who wind up getting hooked on drugs. There are artists like CC (Robinson) who just want to express themselves.
People get hurt, people use each other, and people pay the high price of fame--all in pursuit of their dreams.
It will bring you to tears, and make you think.
I definitely give it 9/10.
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Disturbing disco (spoilers included)
This movie came out when I was a child, and Vinnie Boberino (of Welcome back Kotter) was basically a household name. I was too young to see his movie debut, but the producers for some strange reason (curse them!) decided to release a kinder, gentler, super-edited version for under aged Welcome Back Kotter fans.
I was dragged to the movie to see this by a friend who bought into a lot of hype regarding how great the movie was supposed to be. Mind youI was like 9 or ten years old and would have rather seen Star Wars (for the fifth time), Superman, or anything by Disney.
What I expected to see was something humorous, with a lot of dancing and music
What I actually did see was shocking, appalling, disturbing, and frightening despite the heavy editing that cut the film down to like one hour and fifteen minutes (or thereabouts). The scene where his buddy jumps off a bridge gave me nightmares for weeks, and despite the heavy editing the rape scene was still
well, a rape scene.
A few years later, when I was in High School I finally saw the full-length unedited version of the crap-fest to see if my opinion would change if I a) realized there was more of a plot while viewing the full version or b) was a little older, and more mature.
Sure enough, it appeared to me as no less of a smutty crap-fest than it did the first time around. In fact, I grew to hate it more. Despite a film that glorifies being a low-life rapist who thinks he's Al Pacino, and hangs out at discos with drugged out racist scumbags
It also features bad acting, really bad directing, poor dialog, underdeveloped characters, and so much unnecessary use of the F-Bomb that it makes Kevin Smith films look like Saturday morning cartoons.
The worse and most appalling part of this film catastrophe was: THE ENDING! Come on. Unrealistic and degrading to women. What was it about the disco era that made producers of film and television shows (like General Hospital) to glorify and glamorize the cruelty of rape, making it look like all the attacker had to do was apologize to his victim and
next thing you know they fall in love and live happily ever after?!?!?! What a crock
If this was as "gritty" and "real" as some of it's "fans" claim it to be
Stephanie would have called the cops on Tony, and he would have spent his entire meaningless life in jailRealizing he threw away what could have been a promising dance career when he acted out on his frustration and rage. Now THAT would have been realistic.
The only good thing about this film was the dancingeven though it was to really cheesy music.
Jezebel (1938)
Once again, Davis draws you into the story and never lets you come up for air until the final credits roll.
Bette Davis stars as Julie, a Southern Belle in the Antebellum South. This movie predates the famed Gone With The Wind, and in many ways outdoes it--having more to offer--namely the incomparable Bette Davis.
Julie is so much more than a pouting, prissy Southern Belle. She does what she wants when she wants. She doesn't care what others think about it--whether it's wearing a red dress to a ball while others consider that 'taboo' or sitting out on the porch with the slaves, singing spirituals.
She was a feminist before there was feminist--a liberated woman before women's lib. She was to strong to be quiet and genteel. And her beauty lay in her strengths.
Bette Davis does a remarkable job of portraying this character, going from a catty, to strong willed, to kind hearted and self-sacrificing. We see every facet of the brilliant diamond that is Julie through Davis' superb acting.
The plot is gripping, and realistic--true to the historical nature of the Antebellum Era. But it specifically deals with one woman's struggle to redeem herself against a reputation as a "Jezebel" during an era where certain things were considered "Taboo" and improper for a young lady of the south.
And yes...I cry at the end. But it's bittersweet tears.
La Belle et la Bête (1946)
Les Magnifique!
A truly beautiful film, from beginning to end. THere have been several different versions of the classic fairy tale about a beautiful maiden who falls in love with a Beast who dwells alone in a magical castle... But this one stands out to me as the most remarkable, beautiful, and awe-inspiring of the lot.
It has the eerie feel when it needs to be eerie, and the gentler, romantic feel at just the right moments. The acting, scenery, and costumes are superb.
Shelley Duvall's Fairy Tale Theater plays homage to this film, as does the Stevie Nicks Ballad "Beauty and the Beast." What higher accolades could one expect than this?
I could watch this classic over and over again, and never tire of its unique beauties.
A genuine masterpiece from beginning to end.
All About Eve (1950)
Another Davis Classic.
This great film has been copied by many shows and films, as it reveals the tale of a seemingly innocent admirer whose envy and treachery are seen all to late.
Bette Davis is superb as an actress at the height of her fame. Anne Baxter shines as Eve, the enjenue who will stop at nothing to be in her idol's shoes.
The other performances are equally noteworthy--including a cameo by Marilyn Monroe, who was a mere starlet at the time.
The plot has many twists and turns, and the ending is very tongue-in-cheek. A nice way to wrap up this tale of a wolf in sheep's clothing.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Great Story, Epic Battle Scenes, Absolute Classic!
First off, let me just say that I love Tolkien's original story The Lord of the Rings. It's absolutely a classic, and deserves much praise--as well as the cult following it's gathered the past few decades.
But of all of the three parts of the story this one stands out apart from it's predecesor, The Fellowship of the Ring, and it's Sequel The Return of the King.
The second part of the saga is definitely pivotal. Why? We are introduced to Gollum, The Kingdom of Rohan and it's characters, and Faramir of Gondor. Let's not forget the Battle of Helm's deep, Gandalf the Grey becomes Gandalf the White, or the The breathtaking March of the Ents.
Despite certain liberties--artistic and cinematic--taken by Peter Jackson, it still does not mar the beauty or enjoyment of this film for me.
While Boromir's death should have been the beginning of This film instead of the end of the last, and the spider Shelob should have made her appearance earlier I respect Jackson's decisions in that respect.
With all that went on in the film version of The Two Towers--Battle of Helm's Deep and all--Shelob's Lair interjected into the mix would have made this seem "too busy" after all. (That's just my opinion, however.)
Many viewers scoff at a miniscule modernism by Jackson, involving Legolas using a shield in a skateboard-like fashion. But honestly, if you blink you would miss it.
All in all, it was well done--relatively true to the source material, exciting and entertaining.
Charlotte's Web (2006)
Unforgettable story of friendship.
Yet another book that I loved as a child is finally made into a live action (and CGI) film. The heartfelt story about an innocent piglet and a wise, kindhearted spiderCharlotte's Webfinally comes to the big screen.
As always, I am skeptical at first. Would modern cinema really do E.B. White's classic children's story justice? Would over-the-top acting (or voice acting) from today's top celebrities mar the characters that I've always loved? Will I enjoy it not only for nostalgic reasons, but as a good cinematic experience? The answers: Yes. No. Yes.
I was not at all disappointed by this film. Although it simplified the story a bit, it truly did justice to Charlotte's Web. The human charactersincluding Dakota Fanning as Ferntook a back seat to the comedic and outspoken barnyard animals. But that is to be expected with this story. As Fern goes to school, meets a boy, and comes of age (although in the film adaptation it all takes place in a year's time) Wilbur must make new friends. Most of the barnyard animals are rather standoffish at first, knowing that usually pigs don't last too long in the barn. Then, Wilbur hears a voice speaking to him in the night. That voice comes from a wise, kindhearted, even maternal spider who is even more of an outcast than Wilbur. Soon, the others come around to realizing that Wilbur really is "Some Pig." And, Charlotte is not so scary in their eyes. The animals become a sort of family, and value each other dearly.
The CGI for Charlotte (Julia Roberts) and Templeton the Rat (Steve Buschemi) were flawless. Wilbur (Dominic Scott Kay) was lovable and endearing. The rest of the animals were voiced by well-known stars such as Kathy Bates, Cedric the Entertainer, Oprah Winfrey, and Thomas Hayden Church. They did well to add life to the characters that they portrayed. Templeton kept stealing the show, but it only added to the story and it's message. It brought back a lot of happy memories of reading the book over and over again, when I was a child.
8/10.
Flash Gordon (1980)
Flash! UUGH!
This movie is like one of those films that the robots make fun of on MSTK3.
The only saving grace to this movie is the music of Queenand mind you, this soundtrack is not even their best music. The music for The Highlander was so much better. People still listen to "Princes of the Universe" to this day, but I doubt anybody breaks out their old 45 of "Flash! AAAAAH! King of impossible!"
The acting was BAD! Especially by the lead Sam J. Jones. He was clearly cast in this role because of his looks, and not his acting talent. The set looked like it came from a 70's kids show, and the costumes were terribly dated and cheesy.
A lot of people claim that it's supposed to be cheesy
Well that may be. But there is good cheese, and bad cheese
and this was just bad cheese. It's like they set out to make a sf block-buster
and then said "heck with it." It's like the neighborhood kids decided to put on the "flash Gordon" play for their parents, so they threw on their parent's old disco clothes and borrowed a crappy set from the community theater. It's just.that.bad.
1/10.
The Piano (1993)
Silence is NOT Golden
I really didn't care for this film. I appreciate it's symbolism, and the acting was okay--not great--just okay. I always thought Sam Niel was really great. Holly Hunter was okay. The little girl stole the show. Harvey Kitel should NEVER appear naked in another film again.
As far as plot--it was trying too hard not to be trite, that it became trite in its efforts. Trading a finger for a piano key? The handsome husband being a jerk, while the homely lover turns out to be gentle?
The sex scenes were too much. It was disgusting! Other films have managed to achieve subtlety with love scenes...not this one. I remember how when this film first came out, I got tired of people telling me how "artistic" it was...and I just didn't appreciate it, yada yada.
...But, to be honest, It was nearly porn. Porn sandwiched in between artistic and symbolic scenes, mostly involving the daughter.
And overall, I found it kind of overly-dramatic, trying to get you to feel some emotion and sympathy for an adulteress.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Inspiring.
Shawshank Redemption is truly an inspirational film--a work of art. What makes this film so special (asside from the excellent acting from both Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins) is the message of hope, even in your darkest hours.
Robbins plays a man sent to jail for a crime he did not commit--the murder of his wife and her lover. He is found guilty, and sent to Shawshank Penitentiary. He meets Freeman, who has spent most of his life in Shawshank for a crime he committed when he was a young, dumb kid.
Freeman feels that Robbins wouldn't last past his first night in prison. But after being repeatedly sodomized by "the sisters" and manipulated by the warden, Robbins remains resilient and hopeful. He gains Freeman's respect as well as his friendship.
The men go through three decades of unhappiness as the pinup on Robbin's wall changes from Rita Hayworth to Marilyn Monroe to Racquel Welsch. Each one hiding a secret that grows bigger, with time. Something that Robbins doesn't even confide in his best friend Freeman.
After one final betrayal from the warden, we find out what those posters were hiding...The gateway to Robbins' freedom. I'll spoil no more for you...but recommend you watch this film yourself. It's quite inspiring and uplifting.
9/10
Date Movie (2006)
Mediocre Teen Comedy
I felt this film was mediocre. It had a few funny moments, but a few of the spoof scenes were more like reenactments other than actual spoofing.
Alison Hannigan (American Pie) was delightful as a girl who went from frumpy to fabulous--Pimp My Ride style--with a little help from Tony Cox. She gets attractive enough to be chosen by a Bachelor on a TV show, and they decide to get married despite objections her multi-ethnic father (Eddie Griffin). Not to mention the fact that the fiancé's ex-girlfriend wants him back (Cliche much?).
This film spoofs (or emulates) such movies as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Bridgete Jones Diaries, Say Anything, My Best Friends Wedding, Lord of the Rings, Kill Bill, Meet The Parents, Pimp My Ride, & Hitch.
It's not the greatest movie, but it's not the worse. It's good for a few chuckles, though. I give it 5/10
Man of the Year (2006)
Not what I expected...but not that bad
This was an interesting movie...half-comedy, half-political thriller. It had a lot of good elements, although it was a little predictable.
Robin Williams stars as Tom Dobbs, a popular comedian with a hit show in which he gives political commentary. Think Daily Show With John Stuart. During the taping of one of his shows, a female in the audience tells him he should run for president. That, followed by a few jokes taken seriously, were all that was needed to get the ball rolling and start Dobbs' political career.
He runs independently, and opposes democrats and republicans equally. He is straightforward and honest, and becomes increasingly popular--but maybe not popular enough to actually win. He's clearly the underdog in this election.
Meanwhile, a corrupt software company has created a program to make voting much quicker and easier for the common people--but there is a glitch. The glitch is discovered by a young lady named Elanor (Linnley) who is appeased by the software developer with a lie that he fixed the glitch before the upcoming election.
Election day comes around, and lo and behold Dobbs is declared the winner. (Big Surprise!) Elanor knows that he is not really the president--he didn't win legitimately--She decides to tell the president...but complications arise. Her company went as far as poisoning her in order to silence her. In addition to that, she quickly takes a liking to Dobbs.
The plot takes a few twists and turns, before reaching it's slightly predictable conclusion. But, it never got boring. Robin was great as usual, and Christopher Walken often stole the show as Dobbs' manager-turned-political-adviser and best friend.
It's an entertaining film, and it has a good message. I recommend it if you're in the mood for dark satire, or something that makes you think. Overall I give it a 7/10.
Tracker (2001)
Misses the Mark
I had high hopes for Highlander star Adrian Paul's new series when I had first heard about it. I had very high hopes that he'd have success equal to--or greater than--Highlander:The Series.
My biggest disappointment was in how wooden Paul's performance of Cole was; and how cliché the underlying romance between "Cole" and the Mel seemed.
"Cole" was an alien tracker, sent to rid the earth of evil aliens disguised as humans. Unlike the evil aliens who kill each human that they commandeer the body off, Cole steals the likeness of a picture on the billboard. A gorgeous male underwear model. As he's running down the road, completely oblivious to the fact that he should be wearing clothing, he is picked up by the lovely blonde Mel. Yeah, I know. DOn't pick up hitchhikers--especially nekkid ones.
Each episode--correct me if I'm wrong--always seemed to be 1/2 about Mel and Cole and their underlying feelings, and her teaching him to act more human. The other half was about him absorbing the life forces of his enemies into this little octagon shaped device.
It's an okay SciFi series. Not great, just Okay. But not nearly as great as Highlander: The Series, and nowhere near as wonderful as Farscape.
The Departed (2006)
Noteworthy Cast! **some spoilers**
This film was rather impressive. Plenty of action, intriguing characters, and brilliant acting from an all-star cast. I feel that the violence could have been toned down a bit-the swearing and racial epithets could have been kept to a minimum. Other than that it was brilliant. Scorcese outdoes himself with this mob vs. cops drama that makes us keep wondering whoif anyone at allis one of the "good guys".
Jack Nicholson delivers a punch with his over-the-top performance as Irish mob boss Costello. He's a self-indulgent, arrogant, domineering control freak who rules his neighborhood with an iron fist. It even seems as if Costello has the Boston State Police Departmentever on his trailunder his thumb. This is mostly thanks to a Detective named Collin Sullivan (Matt Damon) who began working for Costello when he was a young kid, and is forever indebted to Costello. Working both sides of the coin, in secrecy, Sullivan helps to keep Costello one step ahead of the "Staties" that are hot on his trail.
The Staties have a mole of their own. Young renegade officer Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is sent in to infiltrate Costello's gang, under orders from his superiors (Baldwin, Sheen, & Walberg respectively). With some felons in Costigan's family tree, and the rumor that Costigan was thrown out of the academy, he receives acceptance from Costello's men. But soon he meets the man himself, and his loyalty is tested by undergoing a small yet painful ritual.
The story heats up, with more action, a lot of shooting, and a rather confusing love triangle involving a young psychiatrist who is forced to face too many truths all at once. Nicholson's portrayal becomes increasingly more manicalmost resembling his performance in The Shiningas his organization begins to unravel and turn on each other in search of the "rat." However, many scenes were stolen by Mark Wahlberg as Dingam.
The plot gets confusing at times, and the ending will seem like a cop out (no pun intended), but it's the sort of thing that if you look at the events that led up to it
it seems to have followed a logical conclusion. Who really is a rat? And who real are the good guys?
Very well-acted, and intriguing picture. I give this an 8/10.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Hail to the King
The third and final installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy comes to life bigger, and bolder than the first two. Director Peter Jackson and company held nothing back when it came to CGI, special effects, gorgeous landscapes, and breathtaking cinematography.
Fans most familiar with Tolkien's famed novels would take note of changes made in the interest of keeping the film short (as with it's two prior films), but he stuck close enough the main story and brought it to its destined conclusion. He didn't water down the scene where Frodo finally gets to Mt. Doom in order to get rid of The One Ring once and for allin fact it packs quite the punch. The way that scene was intermingled with the battle footage heightened the emotional level of the scene as well as the excitement.
The actors deserve praise as well. Viggo Mortensen reminds us of what a hero truly is, with his performance as Aragorn, the man who would become King of Gondor. Sir Ian McKellen reprises his role as Gandalf the White, bringing the Wizard to life as if he popped right out of the pages of Tolkien's novels. Elijah Wood draws us in with his portrayal as FrodoSorrowful, and weary of his travels and all of the trials he'd gone through along the way. Other noteworthy performances include those of Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchet, Miranda Otto, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Hugo Weaving, etc.
I highly recommend this film (as well as it's predecessors) to anybody, regardless of whether or not you've read the novels. Of course the books are betterthey always arebut the movies are an excellent adaptation of Tolkien's wonderful tale.
This film is clearly worthy of the many Oscars it has won.
I easily give it a 10/10.
Miami Vice (2006)
Miami Advice--Don't see it.
sad homage to a pretty popular 80's Series
I'll warn you not to see this. It's bad. The original series featuring Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas was pretty good--very dated, very glam, but good.
I was expecting a less-glam, more gritty, more "real" version of the hit show. WHat I got was wooden acting, stale script, and gratuitous sex and violence thrown in in an attempt to either A) Wake the audience up, or B) make it seem more "real" and gritty (if so they went overboard).
The plot was also confusing and was filled with loopholes and unanswered questions. And the saddest part was that Fox took a back seat to Farrel, even though Fox's acting skill far exceeds that of his co-star.
To say that I didn't like it would be an understatement. I almost walked out of the theater, it was that bad. Spend your $10.00 on something better than watching this crap.
Proof (2005)
boring.
The acting was good at least. I liked Hopkins' character, and his portrayal. I was disappointed in finding out at the beginning of the picture that his character had just died. That was not my only disappointment.
Paltrow was also good, albeit "over the top" at times. The sister (who acted more like her mother) just seemed out of place.
Other than that, YAWN!
True I understand it is a Pulitzer prize winning play. And it would be very good on stage...where we were expecting no more than dramatic acting, and melodramatic poignant moments, etc...
But on the "big screen" we expect more. We expect a movie...This wasn't a movie. It was a play, put on film. It takes forever to get to the point, I don't get having the band play at a funeral. Not enough chemistry between Gyllenhall and Paltrow. Not enough Hopkins to keep me entertained. Too much of the "Stepford Wife" sister.
That's all I have to say.
Braveheart (1995)
It's no Lord of the Rings.
The acting was good. The cinematography and directing was good. Other than that.... The movie was much longer than it needed to be. It was also much more violent than it needed to be. Add to that the fact that it was historically inaccurate. It's a lot of Mel Gibson's self-glorification, as we've seen him too often...and he does it so well. Over-acting his way through lukewarm love scenes, and bloody gruesome battle scenes.
and at the end of this movie he exclaims "FREEDOM!!"
...that is exactly how I felt when I walked out of the movie theater, after sitting there for over four hours watching this overindulgent midieval battle film.
If you plan on buying the DVD, save your money. Rent it if you must, but it pales in comparison to Lord of the Rings. Enough said.
Wedding Crashers (2005)
so predictable.
I am truly disappointed with this movie. I expected a good comedy, which would leave me laughing out loud holding my gut. Instead I yawned. I looked at the clock. I counted the minutes of my life wasted while watching this crap... and as much as i was tempted to put on a better DVD...I (mistakenly) kept watching thinking that at some point it would get better.
It's not that funny. The plot is predictable. The script is terrible.
The scenes in the beginning move so fast, that you can barely tell what's going on...then half-way through you find out that it's NOT an American Pie type comedy but a romantic comedy. A romantic comedy with a plot that's already been done about a dozen times. Will he get the girl before she makes the biggest mistake of her life and marries somebody else? Then it gets dramatic and depressing. Then it gets silly (as Will Ferrel finally shows up) then the plot reaches it's predictable climax, and the movie ends. The best part of the movie, IMO was the end...no, not the final scene but the closing credits.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Middle earth finally comes to life...
I must say I was skeptical when I first heard my favorite novels were being made into films. I dreaded A-list tow headed actors and actresses over-dramatizing and/or faking their way through one of the greatest journeys ever. I feared they'd cast Tom Cruise as Aragorn, and Brad Pitt or some other overindulgent, overconfident "golden boy" as Legolas--a character I've loved since I first read the chapter about The Council of Elrond.
...but then I heard That Elijah Wood, a fine young child actor now grown up, was playing Frodo. I was intrigued. Sir Ian McKellen would be playing Gandalf--and I felt it would be refreshing to see him play such a good, likable character after watching him play Magnetto in X-Men (another performance of his I enjoyed.) The rest of the cast was either unknown to me at the time, or I hadn't heard that they had been cast in it yet. Needless to say I was DYING to see this movie. Unfortunately I didn't get to see the film when it first came out. In fact, I finally got to see it several months later. Definitely worth the wait. The cast, the script, the entire production was simply flawless.
Within the first scene the shire that I read about when I was a child, came to life... Middle earth where I longed to escape as a child had come to life, and was even more beautiful than I imagined. THe characters were almost exactly how I had pictured them, and the excitement, the drama, and everything else seemed very, very real.
My hat is off to Peter Jackson for his excellent job in bringing The Lord of the Rings to life, for those of us who grew up dreaming of Middle Earth. He did a wonderful job of (more or less) sticking to the original story, and bringing his vision of The Lord of The Rings to the big screen for all of us to enjoy.
Hat's off to the cast too, who not only looks exactly like I imagined them...they act and speak, even walk just how I pictured them.
Some long-time Tolkien readers may scoff at scenes that were cut out, or rearranged...or Arwen taking the place of Glorfindel in the Flight to the Ford... Well some scenes don't always translate well onto film,...I would have been bored watching Frodo wait a full ten years at Bagend waiting for Gandalf while the Sacksville Baggins' raided and pilfered what Bilbo had left behind... The Tom Bombadill scenes would have been rather bland, and taken away from the central story... And I didn't mind at all that Arwen was the one to save Frodo...that scene was so spectacular, F/X wise! I'm not going to nit pick about a female elf saving Frodo.
Regardless of such changes, the movie is spectacular! If you don't like it...well then maybe fantasy movies, or classic literature brought to life is just not your thing. To each his own.
But it's a must see for all Tolkien fans, all fantasy fans, and all who want to escape reality for approx 4 hours... and wander into Middle Earth.
Failure to Launch (2006)
Nice romantic comedy...with a veteran football player in it.
AAh, my hat goes off to the scene stealers (or should I say Scene Steeler) in this movie.
Not that I dislike Matthew McConaughey or Sarah Jessica Parker... But they were clearly upstaged. Mind you that's not a hard task for Oscar winner Kathy Bates (Misery, Titanic, Fried Green Tomatoes, et al.), or even cute sable-tressed character actress Zooey Deschanel. But most of the funniest scenes came from Trip's father, played by veteran Pittsburgh Steeler Terry Bradshaw. It's also believable that he could be McConaughey's father, with their blonde hair, similar southern drawl, and "good old boy" attitudes.
It seemed like while the basic premise of the story revolved around Paula & Trip getting together (will their 'simulated' relationship turn into something real as they develop real feelings for each other), we become more interested in whether or not the characters around them will become involved, or re-involved with each other. Will quirky Kit(Deschanel) see that there's more to Ace (Justin Bartha) than just a computer geek? Will Trips parents (Bates/Bradshaw) be able to reconnect and fall in love again, after he moves out? etc... They could have done a whole other movie based on some of these supporting characters. To me, they made the movie entertaining.
There were a few scripting/editing errors that I felt shown room for improvement. However, it does not take anything away from the enjoyment of the film.
There are also scenes (mostly involving animals) that are absolutely slapstick, as opposed to the character-driven humor in other scenes of the film. But they tie in with the theme of the film (even though you don't realize it until the end of the movie.)
All in all, I found it enjoyable. Mostly for the supporting cast. I give it a 6.5 out of 10.
The Song Remains the Same (1976)
in a word...WOW!
Who could not like this film?... Let me guess, teenagers who are force-fed the Mickey Mouse music of today. Back in the day women rocked out wearing *gasp!* CLOTHING! That's right, CLOTHING...Whether it be bell bottoms ala Janis, or long flowing black dresses ala Stevie. Britney WHO? Jessica WHO? you get my drift. And as for the men, they knew how to Rock...how to be REAL MUSICIANS. Men didn't line up, do lame so-called street dance moves and make poor attempts to "harmonize" ...they played this little thing called A GUITAR, and beat this little things called DRUMS, and during that time these geniuses came along named Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones.
The Song Remains the Same is a true story of these geniuses, showing them in real life... as themselves, doing what these four masters of rock do best. We also get a glimpse into their minds eye in Fantasy Sequences... Whether they be Midieval knights and sorcerers, Masqueraded party guests, or race car drivers...
All of this put together shows us what Led Zeppelin really is, for very eclectic men producing the music of it's own generation...yet far transcending the seventies to become "Classic" rock at it's best. Rock not just for their own generation, but rock that transcends all generations. Is it any wonder that there are grandchildren of Zeppelin fans who listen to Zeppelin themselves? (those who don't "buy" what the producers try to feed them, anyways.)
Zeppelin put the "classic" into "Classic Rock".
and Song Remains the Same reveals just why.