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last update: 21 DEC 2004
All film opinions are on a four star scale. **** of ****
Reviewed Movies Seen: (best to worst by year)
films first released in 2004:
Phantom of the Opera **** The audience was well involved with the characters by the end and most people were very happy with the film
Donnie Darko: the Director's Cut **** Actually a somewhat different movie than the original release. This is worth seeing at least once in this
version to understand the writer's view of the Tangent Universe. A story of loneliness, strength and love in depth. Very good; very haunting; must see.
Garden State ***1/2 A fun & fresh romantic comedy that is definitely worth seeing. Dramatic elements are interspersed along the plot. Great directorial
debut, and Natalie Portman is back on her game.
Stage Beauty ***1/2 Billy Crudup rules once again. Claire Danes gets to shine more as the story develops. A humorous tale of the introduction of
women onto the theater stage in the 1660's with great sets and costumes that kept the audience engaged.
Hildago ***1/2 A fairly well made tricultural adventure. A bit hokey at times, but certainly intentional.
Butterfly Effect ***1/2 A seemingly crazy kid grows up to understand the consequences of various traumatic events to he & his childhood friends, and
jumps back in time to try to remedy them without knowing the results to follow. Well done.
Shrek 2 ***1/2 As entertaining as the first while steering a new course.
Disbelief ***1/2 A documentary about the search for answers to the September 1999 bombing of a large apartment building in Moscow & interrupted in
Ryazan. The initial blame on the Chechens provided both the excuse to restart military action in Chechnya and a method for Vladimir Putin to become
President. As the facts came out, it became very apparent that the Federal Security Service (FSB), headed by Putin, was behind the bombing. Most of the
people involved in the investigation are now dead or in jail.
Goodbye Lenin ***1/2 An amusing twist on the collapse of communism where a family misleads a former coma patient about the nature of the changes
in the world around her.
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton *** The audience enjoyed it and laughed a lot, and there are some actual psychological issues that are dealt with
when it comes to knowing one another.
Breakin' All the Rules *** Delightfully convoluted, funny, and well edited to hold the comedic rhythm.
The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys *** A bunch of boys rebel from their religious school into a world of comic book fantasy heroes.
Shaun of the Dead *** Really popular with the audience. It was the first romantic zombie comedy. Lots of laughs & some good development.
Van Helsing *** Overall well written with an effective cast. Sound was too loud & flashes of light to accent accents were excessive and painful.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban *** Probably the best of the movies so far. It has a more involved story with less emphasis on creating
the sense of place.
Saved! *** A fairly light comedy about religious zealots who miss their own point. Lots of funny performances.
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 *** The anticlimatic end actually does reveal a bit about the character.
Club Dread *** The first point of view death shot sums up the comedic slasher aim of this funny film that kept the college audience laughing.
Mean Girls *** Queen Bees & Wannabees comes to life in this well done introspective comedy about the insane behavior that girls employ through
middle & high school.
Fakers *** With multiple twists and a skewed comedic narrative, this art forgery crime caper keeps itself interesting even though we have seen the genre.
Definitely worth checking out if you get the chance.
The Passion of the Christ *** Fairly well done although the Roman guards were overdone, and it was a bit monochromatic.
Spider-Man 2 *** Drawn out & unevenly paced expansion of the original story that has many entertaining elements with some structural problems.
Kinsey **1/2 Entertaining and funny albeit overly melodramatic. Situations are set up more for shock value while depth into motivations is left lacking.
The pacing is a bit slow at times, but the acting is all evenly good throughout.
The Prince & Me **1/2 It was fun & perhaps made a little fresher by the two leads not rehearsing their lines together before filming.
Garfield: The Movie **1/2 A kids movie that is decent if you don't expect too much. Jennifer Love Hewitt is always nice.
Alfie ** Okay to watch and entertaining at times, but it just lacks too much to be worth going out of your way.
Napolean Dynamite ** Different, but not outrageously unique.
Hair High *1/2 Animated feature about romance in a late 1950's high school. Interesting story telling with all star voice cast. Not worth full price ticket.
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle *1/2 Like a weak combination of "Dude, Where's My Car?" & "American Pie" it is passable teen gross out
entertainment, but not actually good.
The Girl Next Door *1/2 Aimed at mid-teens, the content is too adult for this juvenile mix that has plenty of laughs but a pacing that really drags.
Closer *1/2 The long scene with Natalie Portman in a G-string was the highlight of this downer of a movie. None of the characters were at all likeable in
their selfish spiral of deceit & destruction. The humor was based on shockingly bad wording, not real cleverness.
Starsky and Hutch *1/2 A passable piece of entertainment from this duo.
Dawn of the Dead * A bunch of bad stuff happens to the stupid people who some how initially survived the zombie infestation, but they make bad
decisions thus making everything worse for themselves. The production values are good, but the story is very weak.
Eurotrip 1/2 It wasn't good at all. It was passable silliness although rather insulting to Europeans, Catholics, or other sentient beings.
Soul Plane zero of **** Sight gags & half liners strung together with flimsy story fragments. At least it was a short flick. Poor dog!
White Chicks zero of **** Worse than "Soul Plane" Pathetically few smirks. Do Not See!
films first released in 2003:
Trouble! **** Totally hilarious claymation short made with a cheap webcam. It may be available the Official Site.
Mystic River **** Solidly told story of interrelationships during a life of personal strife.
Seabisquit **** Story of the people who rose up to bring the horse to victory.
Better Luck Tomorrow ***1/2 A story of middle-upper class overachieving youth run amok. See this! Roger Ebert was gushing about this film.
American Wedding ***1/2 A good continuation of this gross out character comedy series.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl ***1/2 Very solid comedy adventure pirate film with multiple buddies.
Love Actually ***1/2 Very funny ensemble romantic comedy that should be seen.
Red Betsy ***1/2 Well done emotionally driven character study of a 1940's rural family.
Lost in Translation ***1/2 Very well done, and even with the slow pacing, when it was over it didn't feel as long as it was.
The Life of David Gale ***1/2 Conspiracy puts death penalty abolitionist on death row.
Matchstick Men ***1/2 Pretty Good & worthwhile con artist film. Different, but not better than the source movie.
Chump Change ***1/2 Hilarious lampooning of hollyweird at it's finest, and kept the audience in stitches.
Zero Day ***1/2 Not as disturbing as I was expecting. Very well done film of high school shooting preparation.
Danny Deckchair ***1/2 Bored & disillusioned Danny launches himself with helium balloons tied to a deckchair, and lands to see himself in a new light.
A funny light hearted romantic comedy that is also worth seeing.
Cold Mountain ***1/2 Social collapse in the South during American Civil War is well played.
Thirteen ***1/2 Pretty well done story of a 13 year old semi good girl going bad.
Finding Nemo ***1/2 Good kids story for comedy.
My Life Without Me *** Absent score left you more alone in a dark place. Another sweet Sarah Polley performance where she arranges for her
loved ones lives after she dies.
The Man of the Year (O Homem do Ano) ***1/2 A series of events transforms a loser into a hero, sort of, in a seriously corrupt country. Social
mores are trampled upon as events unfold.
Monster *** Theron's performance is ****, but the over all film leaves room for improvement.
Gothika *** Murder mystery where nothing is certain.
Making Revolution *** Pretty good dramatic comedy about anti-apathy college activists who try to fix the current state of disillusion. Official Site.
Kill Bill: vol. 1 *** Lots of gory fun as she chops up anyone between her and Bill.
The Station Agent *** Fairly well developed characters by the end, but the story had less evolution.
Master and Commander *** Ship Commander defies orders and chases a dangerous privateer into the Pacific Ocean.
Screaming Men (Huutajat) *** Entertaining documentary about a men's choir from Finland that tours the word performing various 'songs' and national
anthems by shouting them loudly.
I'm Not Scared (Io non ho paura) *** A boy finds a boy his own age being held in a hole in the ground and must carry on.
Pahat Pojat (Bad Boys - A True Story) *** The functional madness that guides the family shows up in unexpected ways.
Milwaukee-Minnesota *** You would think scamming a retarded ice fishing savant would be easy, but that would be too typical for this entertaining
atypical film.
Open Range *** A well made western with a more solidly developed community than most, and is definitely worth watching for the self examination of
time and place.
Wonderland *** Pretty well done although you don't have much connection with the characters.
Fakers *** Multiple twists & a skewed comedic narrative make this art forgery crime caper interesting.
The Matrix Reloaded *** A sequel that adds action, but little else.
American Splendor *** The audience loved this biographical story about the author of a comic book about mundane life.
Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working With Time *** A Scottish artist uses found objects to create temporary art works as a
representation of natures never ending changes.
Chaza Show Choir *** This satire-on-crack is a strangely entertaining musical keep busy piece made by unemployed film makers.
Mona Lisa Smile *** An ensemble movie worth seeing though it lacks enough depth to get near it's implied goal.
Freddy Vs. Jason *** Worth while for the fans of this comedy horror duo.
The Matrix Revolutions *** The law of diminishing returns certainly applies.
Camp *** The audience loved this silly yet astute movie at 'Camp Ovation .'
Bend It Like Beckham **1/2 Good basic premise, yet character development was low & the relations between characters wasn't very believable.
Okay, but not nearly as good as American Chai.
Under the Tuscan Sun **1/2 Entertaining & reflective despite the chick flick taint. Diane Lane rocks.
A Mighty Wind **1/2 The lesser of the mockumentaries by this team. It is worth a viewing though.
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King **1/2 Dragged on. Everybody was making very stupid decisions. Big pictures supplanted reason.
House of Sand and Fog **1/2 Well made, but very slow with it's implausible story.
Pieces of April **1/2 An okay Indie flick with quirky people & shaky cameras. Somewhat entertaining though.
In America **1/2 Well set & played story of current Irish immigrants to NYC.
Underworld **1/2 Bloody feud between vampires & werewolves gets modern.
Daredevil **1/2 Comic book movie that was functionally entertaining.
The Singing Detective **1/2 Lynchian psychological musical that does take you... somewhere.
Ned Kelly **1/2 Loser cops harass the people especially after the people stand up for themselves. Life on the run ensues.
The Gospel of John ** Some ways good & constructed in a more complete and linear manner than many movies, but redundant insignificant
information stifles the potential of this gospel.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico ** Gruesome stylish confidence crime thriller.
21 Grams ** The bad camera work & shredded storyline seem to be used to hide the weakness of the well played story.
The Cooler ** Dark Las Vegas comedy pitting luck & love against each other in a rivalry between traditional & modern mafia.
Elf ** Decently made kids movie.
Terminator 3 ** Action oriented sequel that doesn't live up to the two previous films.
Grind *1/2 It worked as a silly slapstick with the four friends, but when interacting with others, the acting was weak.
The Company *1/2 Egomaniacal artistic director leads a ballet company through a season.
The Dreamers *1/2 Well constructed characters and place, but it doesn't really go anywhere.
Sexual Dependency An attempt to link coming of age sexually to commercialization of sex in everyday marketing that falls short.
Scary Movie 3 *1/2 Decent satire of recent horror films.
A Guy Thing *1/2 Marginally functional romantic comedy.
The Order *1/2 Good acting, but underdeveloped characters, dim lighting & a muddled plot really hurt this movie.
All the Real Girls *1/2 Zooey Deschanel delivers yet another great performance. The movie on the other hand...
Hulk * Meandering story that will not be Ang Lee's proudest moment.
Final Destination 2 * Very disappointing.
School of Rock * Weak kids movie.
Darkness Falls * It falls like it's box office business.
Kangaroo Jack * Only small kids liked this low quality kids movie.
Just Married * Fluff romantic comedy.
Osama *1/2 Moderately weak but well made story of the a young girl at the beginning of the Taliban dictatorship.
The Rundown 1/2 Poor barely passable time killer.
Cabin Fever zero of ****. Many laughs, some were intentional. An exceptionally bad flick.
films first released in 2002:
We Were Soldiers **** A scholarly American officer is ordered to make the first air calvary attack in Vietnam 1965 against a likely enemy strong hold.
Harrison's Flowers **** Brutally realistic story of the trip into the 1991 genocidal Yugoslav civil war to rescue a supposedly dead photojournalist.
Insomnia **** Very well done & edgy murder mystery drama with extra twists.
Red Dragon **** Much better than I was expecting, & worth checking out. All characters are given similar degrees of development.
Narc ***1/2 Very good unraveling of a corrupt police investigation.
Black Hawk Down ***1/2 Events of the blown Mogadishu mission take on the lead role.
Enigma ***1/2 WWII spy drama that keeps you involved.
The Good Girl ***1/2 Very well acted, really liked by the audience, and had a lot of really big laughs.
The Sea (Hafið) ***1/2 Study of human familial behavior in stressful circumstances. Few characters have redeeming value, altho it is well made.
Spun ***1/2 A good & very strong R-rated film about meth speed freaks & the life that goes with it.
The Magdalene Sisters ***1/2 Non-fiction horror is the worst kind.
The Ring ***1/2 Well done & conceptually scary.
Eight Legged Freaks ***1/2 A fun altho sometimes gross monster invasion comedy that the whole crowd enjoyed.
Lilya 4-ever ***1/2 Very well done spiral down in an abandoned teen girl's life.
The Good Thief ***1/2 A crime caper with honorable thievery at the center. After Enron, this is damn fine.
The Rules of Attraction ***1/2 It was trying to be a bit hipper than this crude dark comedy was.
John Q ***1/2 A patriotic screaming unavoidable indictment of the USA that will turn out to be prophetic.
The Bourne Identity *** Action thriller that is entertaining though not inspiring.
Forget Baghdad: Jews and Arabs - The Iraqi Connection *** A solid documentary exclaiming with detailed interviews and other historical
references the racist attitudes in Israel of the Western Jews against the Eastern Jews.
Solaris *** Better than the 1972 version. Makes you think, although the middle needed a little more construction. Do see this.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets *** Strong follow up movie with more action than before.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers *** Pretty good, but it is complicated by several non-intersecting story lines..
Russian Ark (Russkij Kovcheg) *** A film that is both unique in perspective and technique. This is one to see.
Femme Fatale *** Pretty decent crime mystery that keeps you involved.
The Count of Monte Cristo *** Well done telling of the story, but fails to flesh out the madness & revenge. It's well liked by the audience.
Death to Smoochy *** The audience liked it more and more as it picked up speed into the bizarrely realistic with it's many crude dark facets.
Signs *** It was a pretty good & creepy development that kept you on edge.
The Eye *** Creepy horror film that keeps you thinking about what is really going on.
Sweet Home Alabama *** Fun and light romantic comedy that is well written to entertain.
No Sleep 'til Madison *** A humorous introspective road trip. Go to the Official Site for more information.
Filantropica (Philanthropy) *** Scamming is a way of life in modern times in this popular film.
Star Trek: Nemesis *** Okay, but a better movie would have been more appropriate to close the series.
No Man's Land *** It drags at times, but this is one to see all the way to the reality based ending.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding *** Hilarious comedy about a woman's life as it is affected by her traditionally Greek family.
Passionada *** Well acted but weak story of reborn romance. Emmy Rossum is scarily good.
Slap Her, She's French *** Funny comedy that kept the audience laughing. It is puzzling that the theatrical release was cancelled.
Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself *** A good albeit strange comedic drama about underachieving adults who finally do something and inadvertently get
their act together.
The Four Feathers *** The acting was very good over all, but weakness of the screenwriter, the editor, and the director hurt it.
Moonlight Mile *** Fairly well acted, but poorly written story of loss and recovery.
Big Fat Liar **1/2 An entertaining kids movie with a variety of humor.
Naqoyqatsi **1/2 Nothing could live up to The first of the trilogy, Koyaanisqatsi, but it is an experience.
The Sum of All Fears **1/2 It was typical Tom Clancy. It is an entertaining although disturbing movie that most of the audience liked.
Kuutamolla (Lovers & Leavers) **1/2 Altho it does suffer from chick flick-itis, the construction of the characters does build a significant structure so that
we understand why they make the choices that they make.
Kung Pow!: Enter the Fist **1/2 A 'B' Mad Movie of the martial arts variety that had the audience constantly laughing at the intentional stupidity. Love
it or hate it. Mad Movies have the dialog replaced, & this one has added footage and CGI enhancements.
Paid In Full **1/2 Drama of the late 1980's introduction of crack into the street dealer's world.
One Hour Photo **1/2 Robin Williams is brilliant in this uncomfortable yet weak piece.
Pumpkin **1/2 Strange but good story.
Chicago **1/2 Entertaining telling on screen of a jazz musical murder trial.
La Pluma del Arcangel (The Archangel’s Feather) **1/2 Young telegraph operator in 1930's Venezuela defies the dictatorial leader by suppressing bad
news and linking the citizens to the world.
Austin Powers: Goldmember **1/2 A conclusion to the series that works, but not as well as the others.
Space Station **1/2 This IMAX Dome movie was narrated by Tom Cruise who did it with a seemingly forced over enthusiasm. It was sponsored by
Lookheed Martin, and wreaked of infomercialism.
40 Days and 40 Nights **1/2 Funny comedy that kept the audience laughing about sexual need vs. relationships.
Bubba Ho-tep **1/2 Strange but decently done monster story.
Secretary **1/2 Well made weird romantic comedic film about sadomasochistic belonging.
XXX **1/2 Lot's of stuff blows up! A silly plot strings stuff together.
Blue Crush **1/2 Mostly a summer fun movie, but succeeds in making a tale of limited value.
Tadpole **1/2 An independent & funny alternative coming of age comedy.
A Walk to Remember ** Use of limited talent does show & will bother people, but it is a kid safe film with something to teach.
Auto Focus ** Well done depressing spiral down of Bob Crane's life.
Cat's Meow ** A death occurs on W.R. Hearst's yacht in 1924 while many guests with competing interests are on board.
Halloween: Resurrection ** Very funny slasher flick that brings a modern twist. It was R rated from all the swearing, yet really could've used a lot
more boobs.
Real Women Have Curves ** The audience was laughing throughout this simple yet fun movie.
Simone ** An decent lampooning of the lack of hollyweird worth and value of talent.
Mr. Deeds ** Silly entertaining Adam Sandler movie with gags and some laughs, but nothing major.
Bowling for Columbine ** Satirical look at causes of excessive gun violence in America, but it never finds a thesis. Soundtrack was very well done.
The Gathering Storm ** A perfunctory telling of the British Parliaments policies regarding military build up in the late 1930's told surrounding Winston
Churchill.
Ali ** A functional telling of his career, but lacking natural flow.
The Dogs of El Nino ** Documentary of a sled dog race on remote island glimpses into how people deal with such isolation.
Dogtown and Z-Boys ** A documentary of the surfers turned skateboarders who had a big part in revolutionizing the extreme games industry.
Mango Yellow ** A decently made epoch of the festering life of modern Brazil.
Resident Evil *1/2 Excessively LOUD yet functional video LOUD game movie LOUD with many LOUD plot holes LOUD and much LOUD violence.
The Scorpion King *1/2 Hokey B movie that is entertaining, and half the laughs are intentional.
Undercover Brother *1/2 A farce of the 70's blacksploitation genre that is okay.
I Spy *1/2 Stupid, but in an intentionally funny way. Passable entertainment.
Abandon *1/2 It was a weak & moderately entertaining. Only the squirrely girly boppers really liked it.
Master of Disguise *1/2 A Dana Carvey kids movie that is entertaining, but fairly light on plot or character depth.
Shaolin Soccer *1/2 Once the words 'power rangers' got in my head, hope was lost for this being more than a silly CGI kung fu soccer flick.
Slackers *1/2 Set in college, but made for teens gross out romantic comedy. James King in a bikini is always good.
Stealing Harvard *1/2 Dumb, but functionally entertaining.
Reign of Fire * Popcorn flick with many plot holes despite a limited plot with some good moments & the action is well done.
Jason X * Plenty stupid & funny. This better be the end of this B flick series.
Swimfan * Well acted & funny, but poorly written & very dependent on moronic characters.
Satin Rouge * Bad as a movie, but how many Tunisian films do you get to see?
Dragonfly * Conspicuously overbearing score fails to shore up this unsubstantiated & poorly done saccharin overload.
Orange County * Comedy with bad script & directing with a good premise & great cast.
Marooned In Iraq (2002) * An Iranian Kurd musician travels to nearby Iraq to find his wife who has sent for him. Much local culture is exposed along
the way. Not as good as A Time for Drunken Horses, but tells the story in the same location.
Serving Sara * Had it's moments, but was hurting.
The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course * Don't bother.
Punch Drunk Love zero of ****. Don't make the same mistake. This is a really bad movie. The audience did not like it at all.
films first released in 2001:
Apocalypse Now Redux ****1/2 of only **** In the emptiness, in the madness, in the horror, in the confusion, in the terror, there is more perfect
clarity.
Donnie Darko **** A story of loneliness, strength and love in depth. Very good; very haunting; must see.
American Chai **** This is a hilarious look at late collegiate life with a fresh perspective on many issues. The film was on the festival circuit.
In The Bedroom **** A drama in a peaceful town where a complicated relationship ends badly, and the survivors must find a way to deal with it as well
as themselves.
Life as a House **** Very well layered analogies in break downs & build ups that make skipping over the occasional sappiness worth while.
Shrek **** An inventive comedy that had the kids & the adults cracking up constantly.
A Beautiful Mind ***1/2 Nash is a good representation of awkward but functional giftedness.
Manic ***1/2 Whoa. This film to be seen describes mental illness for youths in a raw upfront manner that Hollywood couldn't handle.
Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship of the Ring ***1/2 Visually intense, well made, faithful to the fantasy story of the book. Fellowship of the
Staircases!
Enemy at the Gates ***1/2 A strategically involved snipers dual and love triangle set during the hellish battle of Stalingrad.
The Royal Tenenbaums ***1/2 A funny ensemble story of a dysfunctional family that will keep you entertained.
Save the Last Dance ***1/2 It is a dramatic comedy that shows that we all have choices of some sort in our lives.
The Dream Catcher ***1/2 The growth of Freddy shows that through hard work, one can persevere.
A Knight's Tale ***1/2 A well written sports buddy movie with some romance that is a lot of fun despite it's predictability.
The Man Who Wasn't There ***1/2 A stylish look at what can go wrong when you try to improve life.
Mai hung pak yang (You Shoot, I Shoot) ***1/2 Twisted violent comedy has continuous laughter as the story progresses further and further over the
top.
El Espinazo del Diablo (Devil's Backbone) ***1/2 Realistic gruesome horror in a remote orphanage during the Spanish Civil War with a ghostly
addition.
Rat Race ***1/2 Hilarious competitive pursuit of a money prize.
Tape ***1/2 Slow start builds to more tension than is good for a week night.
13 Conversations About One Thing ***1/2 Very well done, and darkly depressing. Take a handful of prozac before seeing this one.
Lost and Delirious ***1/2 A good coming of age story for girls that has several different strong characters.
The Happiness of the Katakuris ***1/2 Hilarious rural musical corpse Japanese family comedy. See this!
The Deep End ***1/2 A ballet mom gets involved in a cover up, extortion & murder while trying to get her family life back to normal.
Still Life ***1/2 This is a refreshing, humorous and well done independent film with believable characters that doesn't talk down to the audience.
Frailty *** Psychological thriller recounting father's murdering habit and it's effect on the two sons.
Sidewalks of New York *** Illustration of the dysfunction of friendship separated form love which is separated from sex.
Captain Corelli's Mandolin *** A love story set on a Greek Island occupied by some less than militaristic Axis forces.
Oceans 11 *** A fun ensemble remake that is entertaining and well made.
The Business Of Strangers *** The two actresses were excellent. The story was unique, and somewhat compelling.
Legally Blonde *** A cute fun story that has more going on than the title would suggest.
The Princess Diaries *** Finally something parents can take their kids to without worrying, and be entertained themselves.
Dark Blue World *** Well made buddy drama of WWII pilots.
L' Ultimo bacio (The Last Kiss) *** Somewhat over the top story of cheating, love, security & acceptance of monotony.
Monsters Inc. *** A fun animated kids film that has it's slow spots before it gets very busy.
Osmosis Jones *** Interesting concept and very funny, but gross if you let yourself think too much.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone *** Entertaining & worth seeing, but very formulaic & excessive with special effects. 20 minutes too long.
Haiku Tunnel *** A wacky independent office comedy about ones refusal to succeed.
Sweet November *** A well constructed chick flick. Rated: PG-13 Length: 2 hours
Swordfish *** A multi-crossing crime/crimefighting thriller set in the corruption of the modern American government.
Spy Kids *** A fun kids movie with lots of creative gadgets, scenery & characters.
Ghost World *** A well done but hard to describe art film about maturing as misfit dorks.
The Others *** A well done ghost story that breaks the mold.
Le Pacte des loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf) *** The liberal embellishments beyond the real events make for a more involved monstrous murder story.
America's Sweethearts *** A fairly well done romantic comedy about a separated actor & actress, and the hollywood sleaze that drives them.
O *** The lessons that jealousy and deceit cause major harm was very obvious.
Rock Star *** Mark Wahlberg built the bridge between the audience and the rock star. Fun!
Heartbreakers **1/2 Predictable, but the twists and turns make it interesting, well developed and fairly complex for a comedy.
Moulin Rouge **1/2 Accepting the Bohemian excesses as tongue in cheek throughout will make this a more appreciable piece of busy entertainment.
Driven **1/2 Nothing earth shattering, lots of POV shots & over dramatization.
Tigerland **1/2 Somewhat predictable story of personal growth and descent.
Lady in the Box **1/2 This is worth seeing if you ever get the chance.
Dinner Rush **1/2 Interesting character study of pseudo mobsters rebalancing their lives. The audience liked it, but eat before you see it.
Super Troopers **1/2 Boneheaded cops (this isn't a documentary) screw around as they stumble across a big drug bust. Best comedy currently out.
Lovely & Amazing **1/2 A good sisters and mother family relationship comedy with much introspection.
Head Over Heels **1/2 It was much better than the commercials made it out to be.
The Dark Side of the Rainbow **1/2 The Pink Floyd music synchronizes with Wizard of Oz events eerily well. Update: It was nearly certainly
intentional because Jupiter And beyond the infinite Echoes is clearly intentional, and was made first.
L' Ange de goudron (Tar Angel) **1/2 Algerian family immigrates to Montreal & is about to get citizenship as the rebellious son makes major waves.
Novocaine **1/2 A murder thriller with a second twist and a major ooooouuuuuch!
Not Another Teen Movie **1/2 Worth checking out. It holds up even if you don't know all the spoofed references.
Kandahar **1/2 A bit too forced in its preachy surrealism as a woman reenters Afghanistan & experiences life under the taliban while heading for
Kandahar.
Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner **1/2 The story of a corruption in a community is good, but it is told through a very long drawn out view of Inuit life.
Gosford Park **1/2 Well filmed yet boring character study of 1932 English nobles.
Joe Dirt ** An odd comedic journey of an adult abandoned as a child who discovers belonging has always been within him.
Rush Hour 2 ** A martial arts flick with some plot and humor.
The Forsaken ** It is actually kind of refreshing to have a classic teen horror flick that doesn't choke on it's own modern cowardice.
Snatch ** This movie is said to be very similar to the director's previous "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" The speech is difficult to understand.
Say It Isn't So! ** It is entertaining, and more so if you expect a lot of crude humor and you don't pay full price to see it.
Saving Silverman ** Crudely funny, and it gets better as the plot moves along. Rated: PG-13, Length: 90 minutes
Hearts in Atlantis ** Limited character & story development hurts this movie, but it does have some value.
The Debut ** Wry humor through out keeps a light mood even though there are some darker and more intense moments.
Last Orders ** Very slow telling of an English man's life by various friends & points of view. Is this hoping to be hopping on the coat tails of Gosford
Park?
Series 7: The Contenders ** Dark gory comedy about reality TV and the emerging trends in society.
À ma soeur! (For My Sister (Fat Girl)) ** A well paced sister rivalry bonding story.
What Is Normal? ** Documentary of five people institutionalized as children because of developmental disabilities now living outside of the institution.
Y tu mama tambien (And Your Mother Too) *1/2 Good character development & cinematography with no real story in this poor porn flick.
The Tailor of Panama *1/2 The weak story does not have much direction even though the cast was good.
American Pie 2 *1/2 Similar to, but not as good as the original. Good for a sequel.
Heftig og begeistret (Cool and Crazy) *1/2 Documentary of men's choir on the north tip of Norway. I'd not see this w/out special interest in subject or
location.
Angel Eyes *1/2 Romantic drama with some comedy that is a well made yet weak story.
Josie and the Pussycats *1/2 Basic teenie-bopper flick drowned in product placement, mocking boy bands & the easy brainwashing of modern youth.
Crazy/Beautiful *1/2 Formulaic at best, but it does have some redemptions in the acting department.
The Wedding Planner *1/2 The effort was noble and started out strong, but it fell short.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider *1/2 Lots of action stunts strung together with a poor story.
Blow Dry *1/2 A film to miss about personal conflicts of people involved in a hairstyling contest.
Pearl Harbor *1/2 The special effects are much of what 'saved' this movie. Titanic was much better for romance, and faithful reproduction of events.
Inch allah Dimanche *1/2 Some constructed characters and place, but it doesn't go anywhere.
Bridget Jones's Diary * Predictable, some laughs, but dumb, which is why the big name actors were needed and hyped.
Kissing Jessica Stein * A dysfunctional hetro woman awkwardly develops a lesbian relationship as they figure out their real problems in this first attempt
at a movie. A few good one-liners & moments, but 1/3 of all laughs were for the sound boom.
Glitter * Not as offensively poor as some better flicks, but not a good story either.
Sugar & Spice * The basic premise is workable, but it needs a lot of work.
Get Over It * Maybe not as bad as some teen flicks, but in the end, it is not good.
Mulholland Drive * I got it, but it sucked. See this only if you like Lynch.
Songs From the Second Floor * Enigmatically Kubrickian in style, but without much clarity in purpose.
Kate & Leopold * Problems with this flick pretty much doom it despite a few good performances.
The Novitiate * 1975 New Year's Day takeover by armed & experienced Menominee Indians of a large beautiful yet unused Catholic Novitiate
The Mummy Returns 1/2 Why bother paying a writer when you can hire a special effects company to do a 'look at me! look at me!' flick.
Kiss of the Dragon 1/2 Some characters would have been better done with cardboard cutouts.
Center of the World 1/2 A weak empty story about weak empty people. Rated "NC-17"
The Fast and the Furious zero of **** Everyone involved with this monstrosity should be deeply embarrassed.
Ghosts of Mars zero of **** Do not waste money or time on this atrocity.
films first released in 2000:
Memento ****1/2 out of only **** A challenging thriller mystery that had the audience rushing out to discuss what they thought they just saw.
Requiem For A Dream ****1/2 out of only **** Go to your dictionary, find the page that has the word brutal, tear that page out, it is now
hopelessly obsolete. OMG! Is there such a thing as a NC-21 rating?
The Foul King **** This outrageous comedy was a box office smash in Korea because It was hilarious and poignant!
Traffic **** A judge with a heroin addict daughter is the new drug czar who is trying to work with a Mexican authority who is really working for a major
drug lord who is trying to eliminate his competition as a simple policeman brings the only hope for the future.
Yi Yi **** This very well done, long, complicated, and absorbing film has a theme of life's choices, second chances, and acceptance.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon **** This is why we see movies on the big screen.
Magnolia **** Parallel vignettes show that we may be through with the past, but the past is not through with us so we should live well, be loving &
forgiving.
Gladiator **** A well done altho simple story of a Roman general who is betrayed by his old friend who is the new emperor, and he becomes a slave
then a Gladiator who inspires the people and Senate.
Bangkok: Dangerous **** Emotions expressed through the action of the deaf mute hitman instead of words makes the high action sequences more
intense.
The Princess and the Warrior **** A very well done dark psychological fairy tale with interesting symbolism.
Chicken Run **** This is one of this year's best films because it is so thorough with it's intention of being completely entertaining.
La Ley de Herodes (Herod's Law) **** Very well done political & personal corruption comedy. Make effort to see this one.
Almost Famous **** Boy writes a story about a mid level rock band on tour as his presence affects & reflects their views of themselves and their world.
Final Destination ***1/2 Unlike the typical teenage horror flick, this film kept you thinking about what was really happening. A must see if you are not
easily grossed out.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? ***1/2 Very funny, but the oddness may distract some people.
Dancer in the Dark ***1/2 This is a good film, but depressing. Probably the most dark and depressing musical ever made. The success in making this
combination work is to be commended.
October Sky ***1/2 An inspirational true story of West Virginia coal town boys who's fascination with rocketry in 1958 allowed them opportunity in life.
The Tao of Steve ***1/2 It rings far too true as to the absurdities present in romantic relationships and displays this in several ways throughout the film.
waydowntown ***1/2 Hilarious psychological comedy where coworkers wager on who can go the longest without going outdoors.
Jeong (My Heart) ***1/2 Starting out with misery, a fundamental love for respectful life is shown culminating with an emotionally rewarding conclusion.
Virgin Suicides ***1/2 It took two days for this artistic film to really sink in.
Finding Forrester ***1/2 This movie is about the clear expression of ideas in quality writing, and the discovery and expression of one's inner most values.
A Time for Drunken Horses ***1/2 Much of the filming needs no staging because the director intended to capture real life.
Tillsammans (Together) ***1/2 An alternative Swedish comedy that the whole audience enjoyed.
Nueve Reinas (Nine Queens) ***1/2 In the land of perpetual crime, scams build on scams till the ultimate scam occurs in this must see movie.
Cast Away ***1/2 The ending was with an indecision that will annoy American audiences, but really makes a statement in its silence.
State and Main ***1/2 This is a movie worth seeing. The audience had plenty of small laughs, but didn't have many big laughs.
Dayereh (The Circle) ***1/2 Story shifts from one woman to the next in one day in a intricate relay as the troubles of life in Tehran for women are shown.
U-571 ***1/2 A rather intense fictional thriller, don't see it too late, or it may be hard to get to sleep.
Faat-Kine *** A strong headed single woman runs a gas station and her life as her kids find her a man while growing themselves.
Cecil B. DeMented *** A silly fantasy non-autobiography. A must see for all fans of film that aren't easily offended.
Sharony *** Two sisters use wacky reasoning to rapidly raise a doll egg to an adult doll. Pretty good for an experimental film & worth seeing if you get a
chance.
The Price of Milk *** This is a warped fun comedy, but some of the relationship turns may be a bit dark for some.
Best In Show *** This mockumentary spoofs the contestants of a particular annual dog show. The story is more similar to their best work, Waiting For
Guffman, than it is to their first work, This is Spinal Tap(1984).
Live Nude Girls Unite! *** This documentary does a good job telling the story of the U.S.A.'s first unionization of strippers.
Le Govt des Autres (The Taste of Others) *** Comedy about the foibles of different people intersecting the lives of others in similarly awkward ways.
La moitie gauche du frigo (The Left Side of the Fridge) *** Mixed mockumentary of unemployment & political statement on destructive corporate
politics.
Girl, Interrupted *** A based on a real person story that humanizes mental illness & shows personal growth.
Frequency *** A thriller father-son drama with a temporal paradox murders.
Scream 3 *** Not as excellent as Scream, but that's okay. It was much better than which at best was * of **** because there was an overreliance on
the killer's magical omniscience. Scream 3 is definitely worth seeing. The Giga-twist is a surprise even if you had seen the foreshadowing. Credits &
soundtrack.
Our Song *** 3 teenage girls deal with growing up in a life of unknowns in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, USA. Their relationships with each other and
themselves is changed by the everyday drama around them in this naturalist film.
I Love 080 *** A documentary with real drama about a Taiwanese man who entered the military who becomes disrespectful and goes AWOL.
Fishing Has No Boundaries *** Documentary of an annual fishing event for people with disabilities reveals Truth.
Chunhyang *** The romantic story of a Korean couple that is a cultural icon.
X-Men *** Well made adapted sci-fi movie of the comic book series.
The Patriot **1/2 The people, battles, and landscape were modeled after the real thing, but with the modernized contrivances that were forced into the
story, a fair amount of damage was done to what could have been an excellent film.
Me You Them **1/2 A comic yet true story of an unusual relationship between a woman and her three husbands all living in the same house in a small
poor Brazilian village.
Les Glaneurs et la Glaneuse (The Gleaners and I) **1/2 A comedic documentarian look at gleaning & the social implications from old time farming to
modern city bums.
The Day I Became a Woman **1/2 A three part story about being a woman in Iran told at three different points in life.
Girls Can't Swim **1/2 Lots of character development, but with limited plot. Good for a French flick.
Under The Same Roof **1/2 The most obvious theme is probably that families depend on one another in several ways.
The Luzhin Defence **1/2 Well done story of the title character, and although it is a slow romantic story, it's not as slow as a chess movie could be.
George Washington ** A different sort of narrative; poor kids are playing around, one of them dies, and they try and deal with covering up the accident.
Ressources Humaines (Human Resources) ** The son of a 30 year line worker comes to the company as a managerial intern, and makes a bad
situation worse.
Split Horn: The Life of a Hmong Shaman in America ** A documentary from the view of a teen daughter about a Hmong shaman & his family
who've moved from Laos to Wisconsin.
Dude, Where's My Car? ** One wonders what kind of warped mind came up with this humorously absurd, yet well constructed spoof.
Good Grief ** This is a loose version of the Peanuts gang as high school kids who are into role play games. Very good for no budget.
The Audrey Hepburn Story ** A factually sound altho flat telling of her life's story, so it ends up being more historical than inspirational.
Ocean Oasis ** IMAX Nice scenery & rich underwater filming, but a semi chaotic structure stifles development.
The Golden Bowl ** A long boring love quadrangle with nice wardrobe, settings, and acting. Official site
Italiensk for begyndere (Italian for Beginners) *1/2 Some people liked it, I was bored.
Coyote Ugly *1/2 This film works better if you go in with very low expectations and just let yourself have fun and be entertained.
The Weight of Water *1/2 The 'older' part was much better.
Center Stage * as a movie, or **** for those future dancers out there, or anyone who can't otherwise get to see real dance.
Down to You * The movie felt like two films pasted together. See Singles instead.
Hamlet(2000) * This movie did not work. See a different one.
Blackboards * This was like a student film. It lacked purpose.
In den Tag Hinein (The Days Between) 1/2 Slow long slow boring slow & lacking thesis. This was decently acted & filmed, but why was it made?
Maldoror zero of **** No excuse for the existence let alone presentation of this deluded self-involved waste. Second worst movie I've ever seen.
films first released in 1999:
Fight Club **** A clever insomniac starts a fight club that spreads and encourages people to rise above themselves.
Saving Private Ryan ***1/2 This was well praised for its realism.
The Wind Will Carry Us ***1/2 The initial plan to stay in the village for a few days is drawn out into several weeks, then the local ways are
experienced.
Jell-Ohh Lady ***1/2 (short) A Jello champ housewife in the 1960's dreams of freedom in The American West as she balances her goals with reality.
The Matrix ***1/2 Very novel construction of the story and characters.
Go ***1/2 Well done interlaced vignettes of some young adults getting through a botched day.
Dogma ***1/2 Good but strange comedy about fallen angels trying to force a loop hole into heaven.
10 Things I Hate About You *** This 'almost teen' movie is uniquely well cast with talented actors so that every character is well done.
Galaxy Quest *** An inventive science fiction parody that stands on it's own.
Drop Dead Gorgeous *** Funny spoof of beauty pageant contests that are taken too seriously.
The Talented Mr. Ripley *** A "thinking person's" thriller, but drawn out.
Attack the Gas Station! *** Bored kids rob a gas station, but instead continue to operate it to make more money.
American Movie *** A funny story of the making of a cheap horror flick. This shows that perseverance can pay off.
Spring Forward *** This is a story about what it is to be a man in the current society, but it is told through dialog only, and this feminine method of story
telling makes for an unusual film.
The Cider House Rules *** A look at personal responsibilities in life's twists and turns.
El Chacotero Sentimental (The Sentimental Teaser) *** Three stories of mixed up romance and comedy in real Chilean situations.
El coronel no tiene quien le escriba (No One Writes to the Colonel) *** In a small 1940s coastal town, an old colonel waits every Friday for his
pension To arrive as he and his loving wife wallow in denial.
Songcatcher **1/2 English researcher stumbles across ancient ballads in American Appalachia.
La Patinoire (The Ice Rink) **1/2 which makes it about the best French film ever! A spoof telling of the production of a movie. Similar to Waiting for
Guffman, but not as good. Worth seeing, but the white subtitles were hard to read since most of the story takes place on the ice! Length: 80 minutes
Cruel Intentions ** An okay piece of teen entertainment although the romance appears out of thin air.
Kikujiro ** The film is unique and worth seeing if you have the time...
F*cking Åmål (Show Me Love) ** Story of high school girls sort of figuring out what they want in their small town. Coming out of the closet & coming
out of the water closet can be the same thing.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut ** Entertaining cartoon that has its rabid fans.
Two Hands *1/2 An Australian Gangster comedy/drama that had no USA theater release for a couple reasons.
Otomo *1/2 An illegal immigrant resists the social support system causing dire consequences for many.
Never Been Kissed *1/2 Predictable & weak story of a Pretty Ugly geek girl returns to school & remakes herself.
The Paradise of the Fallen Angels 1/2 A formerly successful man dies then his semi-crazy daughter makes arrangements while his street thug friends
take the corpes out for one last night.
Wisconsin Death Trip 1/2 Many unusual suicides & murders occur in 1897 in Black River Falls Wisconsin, but without any modern explanation.
Beau Travail (Good Work) zero of **** Not nearly as bad as Humanite, but still lacking any value as a movie. Length: 93 minutes
Rio Escondido (Hidden River) zero of **** The audience was annoyed at the pointlessness of this exercise.
Humanite (Humanity) less than zero of **** An atrocity of a film. France should be embarassed yet again. The audience was pissed off, and people
independently expressed that they had finally found something worse than watching paint dry. Length: 2.5 hours nobody will ever get back!
films first released in 1998 and earlier:
Koyaanisqatsi (1983) ***** of only **** A fascinating visual poem, and an original film. See This.
Apocalypse Now (1979) ****1/2 of only **** In the emptiness, in the madness, in the horror, in the confusion, in the terror, there is perfect clarity.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) **** See this Great film! It was originally in color & the restoration quality is pretty nice.
The Usual Suspects (1995) **** A very well written crime drama with a solid twist.
Seven Samurai (1954) **** The character development was extensive, and the audience liked it.
The General (1927) **** The General is a locomotive, not a person. This critically acclaimed Buster Keaton classic is considered to be one of the best
films ever, and that is particularly for chase & stunt scenes. It's worth checking out at ye olde library.
Metropolis (1927) **** The 123 minute restoration shows that this is a good movie, but it was clear the original trimming was done very poorly.
A Clockwork Orange (1971) **** A young hooligan's dark misadventures of ultra-violence, jail, brainwashing,and perhaps even a cure.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) **** A very well done documentary style movie exploring the interrelated events leading up to the sneak attack on Pearl
Harbor.
Splendor In The Grass (1961) **** Set in 1928, the basic story holds true today. Length: 124 minutes, Natalie Wood & Warren Beatty
The Bicycle Thief (1948 Italy) **** Every character in the film has their humanity tested in some way.
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) **** A very well done award winning documentary dramatic movie that tells the story of the people & events
surrounding the "Tokyo Raid" of 1942.
The Sweet Hereafter (1997) **** Tale of a town coming to grips with a great loss of life and figuring out how to move on.
L.A. Confidential (1997) **** Very well made 50's stylish crime drama. A must see.
Braveheart (1995) **** Well written & filmed story of Scotish revolution & freedom from England.
Waiting For Guffman (1996) **** A mockumentary of continuous hilarity. See this in a theater if you ever get the chance.
Yojimbo (1961) **** A well made Samurai comedy with the style of an American western movie (for comparison).
The Great Train Robbery (1903) THE first real movie and thus it is without precedent. Only 12 minutes long, but it shows all the elements that were
needed to create film.
American History X (1998) ***1/2 Solid film depicting personal growth of a racist through many life shaping events.
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) ***1/2 A well done story of a wealthy family at the turn of the 19th century crumbling inside and out.
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) ***1/2 A romantic study of life while remaking oneself.
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) ***1/2 Buster Keaton demonstrates his performance skills in this gem.
Obalt'an (The Aimless Bullet 1960) ***1/2 Inspired by "The Bicycle Thief" & banned in Korea because of the stark realism in it's post war depiction.
Bronenosets Potyomkin (Battleship Potemkin 1925) ***1/2 A must see for the historical style of the first extreme propaganda film.
Modern Times (1936) ***1/2 It was really good, altho you could see the growing pains as they were trying to figure out how to use the new technology
of sound recording.
Se7en (1995) ***1/2 In a very well done movie, the 7 deadly sins are used as a pattern to murder people to demonstrate to the populace that their
complacency is evil.
The Hidden Fortress (1958) ***1/2 Cohorts battle & journey to save the princess & restore the family's status in the story that inspired "Star Wars."
The Great Dictator (1940) ***1/2 A spoof of Nazism with a message made before WWII broke out in Europe.
The River (1937) ***1/2 The first real environmentalist film. Details developments and results of land, forests and water for the Mississippi watershed.
M (1931) ***1/2 Well made story developing motivations for civilian crime busters.
December 7th (1943) ***1/2 Early telling of the attack on Pearl Harbor that reflects the secrets of the time.
Kolya (1996) ***1/2 In 1988, a Czech cellist is paid to marry a younger Russian woman who then leaves to Germany leaving behind her son & husband.
Kristin Lavransdatter (1996) ***1/2 She grows up in medieval Norway and falls in love despite her arranged marriage and other complexities.
Soldier of Orange (1977) ***1/2 Several friends join both sides during the WWII occupation of Holland.
Talvisota (Winter War 1989) ***1/2 Very good story with both strong graphic war & personal development.
Godspell (1973) ***1/2 This musical takes a few minutes to get used to, but it is really good. Rated: G, Length: 101 minutes
Thin Red Line (1998) ***1/2 Good war movie, but not as good as the original.
Ed Wood (1994) *** This is an uplifting good comedic film about a figure that is of historical significance only for being such a failure. In ways, there are
some deep statements made here.
Mindwalk (1990) *** A trialog of Systems Theory and the role of humanity in the world personified well by a scientist, politician and poet.
Roman Holiday (1953) *** A fun & light romantic comedy.
This is Spinal Tap (1984) *** This mockumentary spoofs the latest tour and album release of a has been rock band. The story is more seriously
portrayed than in the creator's most recent Best In Show(2000) or their best, Waiting For Guffman.
Solaris (1971) *** A science fiction film that examines the internal relations of love & belonging through a most unique alien.
Powaqqatsi (1988) *** This focuses on the effects of technology on human society in the southern hemisphere.
Welcome To The Dollhouse (1996) *** Refreshingly brutal comedy about a middle schooler.
Les Quatre cents coups (The 400 Blows 1959) *** This French film feels drawn out, but not as bad as most French films. This film tells a story of
juvenile delinquency and the surrounding influences in a real world environment. Length: 99 Minutes
Following (1998) *** Christopher Nolan's first feature clearly demonstrates talent. This is a clear predecessor to his very challenging Memento.
Pi (1998) *** A psychological thriller that mixes math, nature, stock market, Kabala, and migraines in a very strong film that shows the director's work
leading to Requiem for a Dream.
Civilization (1916) *** Heavy handed anti war movie with good cinematic efforts altho the basic message is very over simplified.
The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (Daijiga umule pajinnal 1996 Korea) *** This critically acclaimed film was well made, but seemed pointless to the
audience who were 75% Korean.
A Simple Plan (1998) *** A well done story of normal & simple people dealing with a desperate debacle of a found fortune.
Chasing Amy (1997) *** 1 of a 2 man comic book writer team falls in love with a lesbian forcing them both to examine their perceptions & expectations.
Come and See (1985) *** Over the top telling of Nazi invasion from a rural Byelorussia view point.
Sling Blade (1996) *** A well constructed story of a mentally disabled man and the choice he makes to resolve the problems of some good people.
Life is Beautiful (1998) *** An upbeat yet crazy Italian Jew tries to make people see the best of what's around them in 1939-1945.
Les Enfants du Paradis (Children of Paradise 1945 ) *** A multifaceted romantic entanglement of theater performers in 1840's Paris with good
production & character development.
Rear Window (1954) *** Classic thriller probable murder mystery.
Kwaidan (1964) *** 4 old Japanese ghost stories well told with enhancement by the cinematic style.
Clerks (1994) *** Comedy of mostly dialog where the protagonist is lightly forced to reexamine his direction in life.
Speedy (1928) *** Harold Llyod had entertaining misadventures on the streets of New York City of 1928.
Jack and Sarah (1995) *** Well made story of recovery & redemption after a severe personal loss.
Wicked (1998) *** Disturbing dark noirish style comedy that happens in a suburb of dysfunctional people.
Un Embrujo (Under a Spell 1998) *** A fairly involved but depressing tale of some people in a small Yucatan town struggling to form a union for
longshoreman and overcome the self destruction of rumor and superstition.
Pleasantville (1998) **1/2 This entertaining movie brings together subplots to display some fundamental concepts of human nature in a unique way.
A Hard Day's Night (1964) **1/2 A fun comedy about the Beatles on a trip to play on a live TV show.
Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (1965) **1/2 Good comedy about a 1910 London to Paris air race.
Thin Red Line (1964) **1/2 Clash of personal coping mechanisms between soldiers while invading Guadalcanal.
Wide Awake (1998) **1/2 Good but flat story of a boy searching for proof of God.
THX 1138 (1971) **1/2 George Lucas' first effort shows a visionary in the making in this futuristic story of hope nearly lost.
The Turning Point (1977) **1/2 A good but too contrived tale of a mother & her friend who became a famed ballerina, and the choices they made.
The Plow that Broke the Plains (1936) ** Tells the story of the transformation of the Great Plains into wheat production and the complications
brought about by predictable yet unforeseen weather problems.
Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt 1998) ** Lola has 20 minutes to get a lot of cash to save her boyfriend & cycles through 3 different paths of choices.
Before Women Had Wings (1997-TV) ** Connie May Fowler wrote her novel about a screwed up family in rural northern Florida in the '60s. Her
adaptation to TV does leave something to be desired, but it is still a story with power.
Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets (1984) ** IMAX Shows history of canyon area with many panoramic views & a focus on the Powell expedition.
The Thief (1952) ** A dialog free spy drama that feels slow at first, but picks up speed toward the end. Some of the story telling is a bit cliched, and their
spy techniques are sloppy, but it helps to move the story.
Blazing Saddles (1974) ** Not as good as I remembered, but entertaining none the less.
Yume (Dreams 1990) ** Kurosawa's penchant for long drawn out imagery has free reign here, so the overall time could have been halved which might
have made the darkening themes more prevalent. The Vincent Van Gogh dream is by far the best.
Slums of Beverly Hills (1998) ** A girl's coming of age story with a car salesman bum of a father & extra flaky cousin set in the 1970's.
Entr'acte (1924) ** Originally an intermission film that is experimental & somewhat surreal and has a lot of rhythmic motion imagery.
Un Chien Andalou (An Andalusian Dog 1928) ** First use of surrealism in a movie, and mostly useful for historical perspective. 16minutes
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) *1/2 This is a decent movie which in some ways may appeal more to those science fiction fans who are not largely fans
of Star Trek.
Hugo Pool (1997) *1/2 A low key yet entertaining story full of laughs.
Nosferatu (1922) *1/2 It didn't develop much altho the make-up was good for the time.
Leon The Cleaner (1994) *1/2 Natalie Portman's performance was great, but the rest of the movie was not.
Rounders (1998) *1/2 Gambling buddy drama.
The New Frontier (1934 Short) *1/2 Recolonizing southern farmland during the Great Depression though a logical progression of construction.
Power and the Land (1940) *1/2 Life on the farm before electricity is brought to some of the 75% of farms that don't yet have it. Prolitizes the need for
electricity, but focuses on before and after with little about the solution. But it does have a rap farm lyric near the end.
Smoke Signals (1998) *1/2 A young Indian man sets out to retrieve his fathers remains but finds what is left behind.
The Power of Kangwon Province (1998) *1/2 This follows a few people through moments of their lives as themselves and their loose relationships
Goshogaoka (1998) * This is an experimental film showing the girl's basketball team perform a series of exercises with uniform motion.
Grace & Glorie (1998) * Utilitarian telling of the story & weak direction leave this looking like an after school special.
Iron Monkey (Siunin Wong Fei-hung tsi titmalau 1993) * A kung fu Robin Hood B flick with lots of fighting, a little plot, and virtually no character development.
Coven (1997) * I weak short about which the good making of film "American Movie" was made.
Blue Sunshine (1976) * Stupid.
Two Boys Go Hunting (1998) * It has an assembled home movie feel more than anything else.
Sayat Nova (Color of Pomegranates 1968) 1/2 of **** This Armenian experimental film had little point.
Ecstasy (Extase 1932) 1/2 Although known for being the first use of sexuality, it still has a weak narrative & poor direction.
The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960) *1/2 Weak story & sloppy direction kill the potential of the movie.
Nostalgia (1970) zero of **** Waste of time.
Fly (1970) zero of **** 25 minutes of a fly crawling on a totally naked chick while Yoko Ono screeches in your ears is not as good as one would think.
Zorns Lemma (1970) zero of **** Annoying waste of time.