Al's 2004 Movies Page

Aimée & Jaguar

Juliane Köhler (L) and Maria Schrader (R)

Macbeth We got this because Ian McKellen plays Macbeth, and does he ever. I've seen other filmed versions of this play and have wistfully regretted that Anthony Quayle's matchless performance is available only in audio recordings, but McKellen's scenery chewing here is every bit as electrifying as Quayle's. In most productions, Macbeth is more hero and despot than coward; McKellen's Macbeth, however, is clearly a coward of the arrant sort, even drooling in his terror of the ghost of Banquo, while the heroic side appears only in flashes. It's a take on the character that works well. Beyond this, McKellen has different readings of some lines that otherwise may seem stale. I especially rejoiced at his reading of "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow," where, unlike other actors, he doesn't just repeat the word; in his case, each repetition is a change in thought, revealing possibilities in the text that are unexpected and delightful. Judi Dench is a very able Lady M., though her costume is uninspired and boring. The costuming in general is idiosyncratic, ranging from Nazi overcoats to turtleneck sweaters, and the stage is at the minimalist extreme. This is a film of faces--in the way of the 1928 The Passion of Joan of Arc, perhaps, though these faces are naturally younger, smoother, and prettier. Coupled with the long history of stage performances by this crew, where actors are used to "playing to the back row," the use of closeup sometimes becomes a bit over-the-top. However, I don't find that at all troubling, because that's how I like my Shakespeare. So I rank this at four stars, and look forward to seeing it many more times. Viewed late December, 2004.

I, Robot Well, the reviews warned me that this would be a stupid exercise in, er, stupidity. And it is all that. You know a movie is in trouble when the most interesting character is the Mr. Data clone. But the robots are cool--especially the way they fight each other--and Will Smith is always watchable, even when he has foolish lines to say. Watch it for the robots while firmly ignoring the silliness of it all. Like Independence Day and Sky Captain, it's a movie I'll likely see more than once, and kick myself each time. 2 stars. Viewed late December, 2004.

Jaws Why do people like this movie about teeth ripping into innocent flesh? Perhaps I've answered my own question, but this kind of thing doesn't hold much appeal for me. Granted that the cast is excellent (Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw), the music, cinematography, and editing are of the highest quality, and the special effects are adequate. I enjoyed Murray's Hamilton's typecasting as the banalness of evil official. But still, I have no affection for this movie and I "gave it a chance" only under duress. Am I the only one who thinks that Shaw was trying to play Captain Ahab? Maltin gives it four stars, I will be stingy and say 2.5, not because it's a bad movie (it isn't) but because I don't like the subject. Viewed late December, 2004.

All the President's Men Completely fascinating and, I suppose, true story of how Woodward and Bernstein dug up the truth about the Watergate break-in and brought down President Nixon. The differences in character between Woodward (Robert Redford) and Bernstein (Dustinn Hoffman) and their byplay and teamwork are as fascinating as watching the story unfold. Never a dull moment. A fine roster of mid-'70s character actors adds to the interest for movie buffs. Jason Robards, Jr., won a best supporting actor Oscar, though he really doesn't do that much here. Maltin gives it four stars, and I have to agree, but I doubt I'll watch it again soon--it depends very much on plot. Viewed late December, 2004.

Raising Arizona (1987) As with Harold and Maude, this is another quirky and sometimes very funny "cult classic" comedy. This is a very different milieu, however; this is the lower instead of the upper crust, a world of lowlifes, petty crooks, inept cops, and fearsome bounty hunters. Feckless "Hi" (Nicholas Cage) and tough-as-nails "Ed" (Holly Hunter) play crook and cop, respectively, who form an unlikely but endearing couple who desperately want a baby. Nathan Arizona (Trey Wilson) has five babies, so Hi and Ed steal one. Nathan offers a $25,000 reward, and this begins a desperate, "mad, mad, mad world" scramble for possession the baby, the cutest mcguffin of recent memory. Vivid performance by Randall "Tex" Cobb as the bounty hunter. With big slapstick and gross-out laughs and occasionally touching moments, this Coen Brothers comedy delivers (and I think I'm beginning to sound like a copywriter rather than a reviewer). Probably not for the easily offended, this rates 7.6/10 at IMDB. Viewed 12/19/04.

Harold and Maude (1971) Quirky and sometimes very funny "cult classic" comedy about a very troubled youth, Harold (Bud Cort), and an unconventional octogenarian, Maude (Ruth Gordon). The heart of the movie is Maude's brazen enjoyment of life: Gordon is rash, dear, mystical, and only occasionally over-the-top. This is a movie that could change lives, and probably has; one is reminded of "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple." Supporting characters mostly are nothing much, playing and replaying their one-note jokes. Harold's mother, Mrs. Chasen (played by Vivian Pickles), is the best of the lot, completely self-absorbed and unflappable almost to catatonia. Music by Cat Stevens is overbearing at times and not my style, but even I liked some of it. The misleading "cheat the audience" trick at the end is a minor annoyance. Rates a high 7.8/10 at IMDB. Ebert gives it 1.5 stars, pretty ungenerous for a different and pretty funny film. Viewed 12/18/04.

The Return of the King The extended version adds about 50 minutes to the theatrical version; of this, it looks like 15 minutes is extra credits (the names of the LOTR fan club members); this would be very tiresome, but fortunately there is new Howard Shore music to make it valuable. The rest consists of minor fleshing out many scenes and adding several scenes, mostly battles: confrontation with Saruman and Wormtongue at Orthanc; too-brief battle between Gandalf and the Witch King; failure of conventional battering ram at the gate of Minas Tirith; Aragorn capturing the Corsairs; a who-needs-it, lame, predictable drinking bout between Legolas and Gimli; healing and blossoming love in the Houses of Healing; confrontation with orc leader at the Black Gate; and Eowyn and Aragorn fighting with the orc commander at Minas Tirith. In general, this movie seems fuller and more satisfying than the theatrical version, though all the irksome details (that I won't go into here) remain. Viewers who are unmoved by the original battle for Minas Tirith and "endless" fighting will not like the added footage; those who like the battles will like this version more. I like the battles. Viewed 12/17/04

Seabiscuit I was worried that this would be a stupid, family, feel-good, horse picture; it's all of that except stupid. Though a bit slow getting to the horse himself, the leisurely starting pace--intercutting three stories--lets us get to know something of the character of the Biscuit's owner (Jeff Bridges), trainer (Chris Cooper), and favored jockey (Tobey Maguire)--but not much. We learn that the owner lost a son and then a wife and got another, that the trainer is "down and out," and that the jockey isn't afraid to take a licking. Well, it's better than nothing. The horse himself is amusing in a Hidalgo-like way, and at times his grunts and snorts seem quite communicative. David McCullough's narration is typically comfortable and savory, the photography is good (only occasionally mucked up by slo-mo), the music is good, the '30s historical context is clear enough and is a bonus, and William H. Macy's radio personality support is amusing. Best picture of 2003? Nah, but with star-power to spare it's a pretty good way to fill 2.5 hours. 7.6/10 at IMDB, where I cast the 10,000th vote (an 8). Here I give it three stars. Viewed 12/16/04.

Apt Pupil (1998) If you liked Ian McKellen as a "Nazi" Richard III you'll probably like him here, though he looks a good deal older and less attractive (if you can call Richard III attractive--I do love a good villain). Here he's a very old Nazi hiding out in a suburb somewhere, and he gets the nasty surprise of a young man (Brad Renfro) coming to his door and confronting him with his past. It turns out the young man is a bit of a creep himself, and we soon have a psychological thriller-study of creep vs. creep. Who cares? Surprisingly, I did, at least enough to watch avidly for the duration. The acting is fine, the photography and music are up to standard, the editing isn't intrusive. Some of the photography is too reminiscent of "scary movies," but this is easy to overlook. In the end, the Stephen King story seems full of incident but lacking in insight. It's stretched a bit here and there to pad the time, very noticeably in a scene with a guidance counselor. I suppose it just won't do to expect movies to provide "deep" wisdom delivered in a concluding speech, ala The Two Towers; it's probably enough to provide a piquant twist of schadenfreude that you really don't see coming. It gets a stingy 6.4/10 at IMDB; I give it three stars. Viewed 12/15-16/04.

The Iron Giant I've seen this 1999 animated about four times, and love it every time. It's got many elements working for it: a cool iron giant, a satire of '50s attitudes toward nukes and Reds, a satire of '50s sci-fi, fabulous animation and backgrounds (thought the characters are simple and almost cartoony), and excellent vocal talents. Most notable of these is Eli Marienthal as Hogarth, and a good thing, too, because this is as much his picture as it is the Giant's. If the movie has one weakness, it's probably the minor characters, who are a bit silly-looking. Director Brad Bird has a current hit: The Incredibles. IMDB has Giant at an excellent 7.8/10 and Ebert gives it 3.5 stars. So do I. Viewed 12/13/04.

Supernova Got this in desperation at the video store, never having heard of it and not knowing much about stars James Spader and Angela Bassett. Unfortunately, there's nothing here to elicit a comment like that of one IMDB reviewer: "The greatest sci-fi flick ever made!" There are some interesting elements, but the payoff is [spoiler alert!] a battle between a superhuman and the ship's crew, little better than the slasher endings I've seen in a couple of other movies I won't name. The actors are wasted, the mining colony looks cheap, the plot is obvious, the sex is gratuitous, and the actors get little else to do. Even the supernova of the title is a letdown. By all means, skip this year 2000 B picture. IMDB: 4.2/10, well deserved. Viewed 12/12/04.

The Butterfly Effect If you could go back in your life and fix the things you screwed up the first time around, would you? And what would happen if you did? This is the appealing premise of The Butterfly Effect, and I liked it a lot. Ashton Kutcher stars as the man with the power, though it takes him quite a while to get a handle on what he can do and what he can't. I like movies where we viewers figure things out along with the hero. Donnie Darko, Memento, and The Matrix all have this plot element, I liked all of them very much, and I liked Butterfly Effect almost as well. But each of the others have something special to set them apart from this suburban young love drama. Darko has very appealing Jake Gyllenhaal, Memento is a much harder and more rewarding puzzle, and Matrix has a fascinating future that deeply reflects on the present as well as a much better cast. But this one is very good and you'll probably like it if you can get through the frustrating and rather sickening first twenty minutes. Kutcher's performance has been savaged by some critics, but I found it quite acceptable. So does Ebert, who gives it an ungenerous 2.5 stars because he got tired of the plot gimmick. I did, too, finding the last jaunt into the past to be one too many, though it was the final one and a satisfying conclusion to this, in the end, sad story. IMDB rating a solid 7.6/10. Viewed 12/11/04.

Mosquito Squadron This vintage 1969 story of WWII, apparently fiction, "stars" David McCallum as a mosquito pilot. A mosquito is a small, agile bomber. These things apparently are little more than death traps, or perhaps they just require fighter cover which this script was not willing to provide. Anyway, the movie is never better than so-so, and often looks cheap and stupid. We watched through to the end, but it pretty well deserves the oblivion it enjoys. The music is overbearing, the script does not supply needed dialog (leaving it up to actor mugging), the acting is limp, and even few "dramatic moments" are unmoving. By all means, go see Sink the Bismarck! or The Dam Busters or any of the far superior WWII flix made during the war before wasting time on this unmemorable effort. McCallum fans may love it, however, getting to see their heartthrob in a rare off-the-little-screen performance. 5.0/10 at IMDB. Viewed 12/10/04.

Iris Iris Murdoch was a novelist and philosopher who died in 1999. This movie examines two periods of her life: her young womanhood when she became involved with John Bayley, and the end of her life with John Bayley. Kate Winslet (of Titanic and Heavenly Creatures) plays the young Iris with typical vigor and vulnerability and not too many clothes; Judi Dench (featured in Shakespeare in Love) is attractive and impressive as the failing older Iris. Hugh Bonneville and Jim Broadbent as the young and old John are interesting but not attractive, and one wonders what the dynamic and sensual young Iris sees in him over the many others she's bedding. Finally, however, the choppy back-and-forth time track and the lingering over Iris' failing mind don't add up to much either in poignance or in insight into this forceful and fascinating woman. What's here is worth seeing, but one is left wanting a good deal more. Iris gets a 7.2/10 at IMDB, and Ebert gives it a dismal two stars. Viewed 12/8/04.

The Scarlet and the Black Pretty good cat-and-mouser (priest and Nazi this time) from 1983, of WWII Rome and the role the Vatican played in saving victims of Nazi oppression. Gregory Peck turns in a typically sturdy performance as Msgr. Hugh O'Flaherty, switching disguises and trying to stay one step ahead of Lt. Col. Herbert Kappler, well played (for once) by Christopher Plummer. Vatican locations add tremendously to the interest of this fairly low-keyed TV-cliffhanger melodrama, and treasure-of-world-cinema John Gielgud as Pope Pius XII steals every scene of the too few he's in. At times this looks and feels like a cheap made-for-TV melodrama, but the truth of the story is always there to keep one interested. I used to be fond of saying, "Has Christopher Plummer ever been in a good movie?" Since I have never seen The Sound of Music, and don't want to, I guess this will do as a positive answer. Rates an excellent 7.8 out of 10 on IMDB; Maltin hasn't rated it, apparently. Viewed 12/4-5/04

The Far Pavilions Other viewing this weekend was less successful. I watched about an hour of this '84 miniseries before wandering off. I've never been able to warm up to Ben Cross, and felt the same way here. It's colorful as all get out, but just not that involving, though the story did manage to avoid one obvious pitfall in our hero's love affair; the object of desire throws him over for a rich older dude, and, surprisingly enough, our hero recognizes his error and spurns her. But the rest? Tiresome stiff upper lips, choppy and confusing editing, and not much action just left me yawning. It doesn't help that the hero is a true gung-ho case of testosterone poisoning who apparently likes nothing better than a "good scrap." The wife liked it, though. Gets a so-so 6.3 at IMDB. Viewed 12/4/04

Renee Maria Falconetti as Joan of Arc

The Passion of Joan of Arc This is a silent released in 1928 about the trial and smoking of Jeanne d'Arc. It was a powerful experience for me, historically fascinating, emotionally challenging, and cinematically enlightening. The central figure is played by Renee Maria Falconetti in a performance about which Pauline Kael said, "It may be the finest performance ever recorded on film." She (Falconetti, not Kael!) is radiant, dreamy, fanatical, creepy, heartbreaking, listless. Among the many highlights in her performance I remember two especially: when she was offered a communion wafer and when she saw the cross-shaped shadow from her barred prison window. In each her faith was in her face as radiant pleasure. Her inquisitors are sleazy, self-righteous, angry, afraid, confused, but above all, as you might expect, relentless. The setting is cold and severe, befitting the time and place, but the focus is ever on human faces. By the end of the film you know Joan's face better than your mother's. Composer Richard Einhorn composed a cantata, "Voices of Light," based on this movie and it provides the soundtrack on the Criterion DVD; I liked it a lot in the way that I like grim, relentless music. The same might be said of this film. It's as impressive as all get out, but it won't make my top ten list. My only real compliant is that the final sequence goes on a bit long. Several bits, actually. The director was Carl Theodor Dreyer. The accompanying commentary, which we watched for a few minutes afterwards, was very interesting, but we had to go to bed and so we'll likely never see the rest. It rates 8.3 out of 10 on IMDB (47% of voters rate it a 10), and Ebert lists it as a "great film." By the way, did you know that today is Britney Spears' birthday? Viewed 12/1/04.

Donnie Darko As with so many movies these days, the logic is simply not there. Fascinating things happen, we become acquainted with fascinating characters, things get tense, then confusion makes its masterpiece and we're left only with unanswered questions and regret for what might have been. My latest adventure in video viewing is better than typical. Jake Gyllenhaal is wonderfully effective as Donnie Darko, a troubled teen to end all troubled teens. To the extreme dismay of his mother and apparent indifference of his quirky father, he seems to be going lip-twiddlingly crazy. I won't tell you what happens because the bulk of this movie is fascinatingly original and goosebumpy, unlike the oh-so-conventionally goosebumpy Gothika which I reviewed earlier this week. It is only in the ending that this movie disappoints; my wife said, "What was the point?" and I had no answer. Girlwatchers note: Donnie's teen sister is played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, who I mistook for Kirsten Dunst. There is, however, no nudity. I recommend this film and like it a lot, despite the unsatisfactory conclusion. It's #93 on IMDB's top 250 (8.3 out of 10). Ebert calls it "the one that got away" and gives it 2.5 stars. Viewed 11/30/04. After writing this review, I learned that there is a "director's cut" which adds 20 minutes but apparently still provides no pat answers at the end. Ebert ups his review to 3 stars and says, "As I grow weary of films like "The Princess Diaries 2," which follow their formulas with relentless fidelity to cliche and stereotype, I feel gratitude to directors who make something new." That's pretty much how I felt about the short version. Unlike Ebert, I didn't have much trouble with the time travel angle; rather, once the ending happens, one is left wondering (and here's my spoiler): everything is as it was a month ago, and now everything will be different (mostly worse) because DD is dead. Why? I think that is indeed the answer as well as the question. The movie is saying, "Life is like this." As with Kieslowski's Red, there is no wise explanation because there is none in life, and we have to learn to deal with that.

Harry Potter III I mention this only because it looks a bit better than volumes I (which I saw all the way through) and II (of which I saw only the ending, I think). I watched about half an hour before going off to do something useful. As usual, wife and son loved it. Viewed 11/28/04.

Gothika Great goosebumper starring Halle Berry as a prison psychologist who ends up an inmate. This is very much a star vehicle for Berry, and she's star enough to carry it off, including the screen's most improbable smooch (with Charles S. Dutton). The illogic of the plot, frequent oh-come-ons over character irrationality, the lameness of the last fifteen minutes, and the blatant setup for a sequel will be offputting to some viewers, but I was more than willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy the things-go-bumpy-ride-in-the-night. I'd go for the sequel, too. The supporting actors are generally excellent, but are overshadowed by Berry's earnest, hypercharged performance. Great music. Rotten Tomatoes (dot com) has this at a very dismal 16%, and in glancing through the capsule reviews I have to agree with a lot of them. But given my extreme low interest in horror movies (went for this because of Berry after seeing Monster's Ball), I'm not aware of the standard of the genre, and so am probably too generous. What can I say? Ebert liked it, too (***), saying "This is a psychothriller with the plausibility of a nightmare -- which is to say, it doesn't make sense, but it keeps your attention." Those hoping to see a lot of Berry's bod are directed to the unrated version of Monster's Ball. Apropos of nothing, it took us three different DVDs to get one that played all the way through, very annoying. Viewed 11/27-28/04.

Romeo + Juliet Director Baz Luhrmann (of Moulin Rouge) brings his usual energy, flash, and editing ferocity to Shakespeare's tragedy in a modern big-city setting. The cast, aside from the principals and their parents, is multi-racial (Mercutio is black, the Nurse is Hispanic, both are excellent). The soundtrack is ethnic/rock/gospel, with police sirens. Comparing with the Zeffirelli movie, Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) was a big improvement, while Claire Danes as Juliet is less effective and less attractive than Olivia Hussey. Always effective Pete Postlethwaite is a wonderful Friar Laurence. The climactic death scene has a gorgeous setting and a directorial twist that makes it more interesting than usual, but I felt surprisingly unmoved, perhaps because I was annoyed that so much text was cut from the scene. As with most "modern Shakespeare" the effect of the traditional language is unsettling and occasionally borders on the comic. Here, the actors are so sincere and so good (Danes excepted) that it almost seems natural. The only production I can recall where this clash didn't bother me was Ian McKellen's Richard III, for me the ultimate triumph of "modern Shakespeare." This film is rated R for no apparent reason. All in all, I liked R+J and recommend it to lovers of Shakespeare who are already familiar with the play. Those new to R&J should try a more traditional production first.

Castle in the Sky Laputa, an alternative name for this movie, is a mysterious floating city in this anime from Japan's Studio Ghibli. This was the fourth Ghibli production I've seen, and it ranks right up there with Princess Mononoke, a dazzling display of animator's art and Hayao Miyazaki's imagination. The film opens with an introduction by someone from Disney Studios; this instantly set my teeth on edge and I fast forwarded through it, anticipating a patronizing and suspense-spoiling preview probably intended to "soften up" an uncomprehending American audience. Once through that we see a giant airship of strange design, almost immediately attacked by pirates. Sheeta, a girl, is the true target. In trying to evade the pirates she falls. That's all I want to say about the plot, which is full of cliffhangers. Readers of Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind graphic novel will find much here that is familiar: a small, mysterious "mcguffin" that everyone is trying to get by fair means or foul; a large being of great power; lost secrets of ancient technology; lots of strange flying machines; an ecological subtext. Even the faces are familiar. That's okay--this story has enough new material that one is willing to overlook these shortcuts. Voices in the English dubbed version are generally excellent and include some familiar names: Anna Paquin, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, and Mandy Patinkin, who is regrettably under-utilized. The only negatives are that the plot occasionally drags, and the opening chase goes on too long. In all, pure family entertainment that I recommend wholeheartedly. Viewed 11/20/04

Elf Ebert starts his review of Elf this way: "If I were to tell you 'Elf' stars Will Ferrell as a human named Buddy who thinks he is an elf and Ed Asner as Santa Claus, would you feel an urgent desire to see this film? Neither did I. I thought it would be clunky, stupid and obvious, like "The Santa Clause 2" or "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." It would have grotesque special effects and lumber about in the wreckage of holiday cheer..." And that's just how I saw it: clunky, stupid and obvious. And let me add, painfully unfunny. I cheerfully admit that I am in the minority here; Rotten Tomatoes has it at 83% I think, essentially a rave, IMDB has 7.2 out of 10, and Ebert gives it three stars. We turned it off after half an hour, and, if watching by myself, I might have turned it off after the nearly endless opening credits, because I knew I was in trouble. Very early in the film, Santa Claus sees something moving in his bag of toys. He says, "What in the name of Sam Hill is that?" Gee, what a useless, trite thing to say at the first moment of tension in the film. Even a simple scream would have been an improvement. Ferrell's performance has been praised; I found him unlikable and tiresome. We've seen too much of this before, and done better, as in Starman, Moscow on the Hudson, and Time after Time: the naive waif encountering modern civilization for the first time. The elevator scene is almost funny: Buddy joyfully pushes all the buttons. What does the stranger in the elevator do or say? NOTHING! What a riot. Buster Keaton could have saved the scene with his "great stone face," but here it's just one more opportunity squandered. Is there anything good about this film? Yes, Bob Newhart puts in a welcome appearance, but it's a good thing that his old stand-up comedy persona is that of looking "out of place and anxious about it," because that's exactly how he looks here in his elf costume, talking to the camera. Fortunately it's mildly amusing rather than yet another embarrassment. The special effects are reasonable... "Buddy" is convincingly a lot bigger than all the elves, though his animated toy friends look off, somehow. The paintings used during the opening credits are attractive. I saw nothing else to like about this awful, painful film. Viewed 11/19/04

Romeo and Juliet (Zeffirelli, 1968) After the debacle of Henry V (see below), this was a pleasure. For me, Olivia Hussey as Juliet was the making of this picture. Her luminescent beauty constantly pleases in every scene she's in. Leonard Whiting as Romeo is also very attractive, and Milo O'Shea as Friar Laurence is a welcome addition. I do have complaints about the script: it is entirely too much focused on Romeo and Juliet, perhaps an odd criticism given the title, but the story as Shakespeare presents it is as much about the two families as about the two lovers. Here we get mostly just the lovers. Some of the script choices are truly puzzling, also; in the balcony scene, Romeo is supposed to say "It is the east and Juliet is the sun. Arise fair sun and slay the envious moon." These lines are not included. (One review calls this a "popularization" of the play.) But this is mere carping. The movie works well, the fights, crowd scenes, singing, and dancing are all quite good, and the principals are very watchable. If the lines and frequent sobbing sometimes seem a bit labored in their young mouths, well, the good looks go a long way to make them lovable and tragic. Viewed 11/17/04.

Shrek 2 The movie that had to be made is watchable, but to my mind inferior to the original. There are nice touches of sentiment here and there, a surprising and occasionally amusing villain, a scene-stealing cat (Puss in Boots) and some pretty good jokes. On the other hand, the plot is preposterous, the too-numerous songs are unmemorable, the pacing often drags, and, above all, it just isn't funny enough. If you loved the original, you'll want to watch this, and you'll be mostly satisfied. Just don't go buy a copy until you see it, eh? Viewed 11/16/04.

Gangs of New York Scorsese's ambitious, vivid, flavorful, richly detailed look at the riotous conditions in New York's Five Points area around the time of the Civil War. It is almost relentlessly brutal, chaotic, and noisy, which sometimes makes for hard viewing. Daniel Day Lewis gives a fascinating and astonishing performance as "the Butcher." Leonardo di Caprio, however, is less interesting as our hero, and therein lies one reason why I didn't finish watching this movie after investing two hours in it. His character is on a mission of vengeance, and that does not interest me. When it became apparent that the story was going to continue down that path, I gave up. I didn't care who killed who, because so much fake blood had already been splattered about. I have a low tolerance for bloody movies; if the movie doesn't work for me in other ways, I refuse to wallow in gore. In this case, some of the gore is actually rather interesting, mostly because of Lewis's performance. There is a memorable scene in which he stabs the carcass of a pig to demonstrate how to kill a man with a knife. I can understand why this movie was so popular; there is a lot to like, and I gave up on it only with regrets. Viewed 11/14-15/04

Monster's Ball Uncompromising, hard-edged story of love, hate, and loneliness in the modern South. Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton make vibrant characterizations in a rather grim setting (death row) and story. Minor characters are all excellent as well. I don't want to say anything about the plot except in the most general terms: it's a good plot that never gets in the way of a probing view of life pushed to its limits. The conclusion may not satisfy everyone, though I like it a lot. Good photography and music, too. The unrated version has long and graphic sex scenes. Highly recommended, though not necessarily a film to cherish. Viewed 11/13/04.

Metropolis This full-length anime from 2001 has sensational graphics, especially the lavishly detailed, imaginative, stunning backgrounds. The character drawing is much less ambitious. Graphics aside, it's slow, uninvolving, and confusing. Entirely too much dialog. We stopped watching after less than an hour, and even my son (age 9), who generally dotes on graphic novels and animated movies, didn't want to finish it. It's a kind of superhero story set in the future in a large, multilayered city. Our reaction does not jive with the high IMDB score of 7.3 out of 10 and Ebert gives it an astonishing four stars. Viewed 11/13/04.

Hidalgo Okay actioner starring Viggo Mortensen as a half breed around 1900. Mortensen seems very low-keyed throughout, sort of a latter day Gary Cooper but with less boyish charm. Romance angle has little going for it. Good supporting role for Omar Sharif as the horse-loving "sheikh of sheikhs," though less flavorful than Hugh Griffith's similar turn in Ben-Hur. Script gets somewhat silly after a while. The one noteworthy highlight is not the ballyhooed race, but the impressive and moving footage of a huge herd of wild horses at the very end--I'd rather have seen two hours of that. Viewed 11/11-12/04

The Day After Tomorrow Love that tidal wave. Viewed first hour about 11/8/04

The Return of the King Viewed first hour about 11/7/04

Gallipoli WWI "war movie" doesn't have much action, instead focusing on the characters of two somewhat rowdy young men in Australia and how they end up at the ill-fated expedition in Turkey. Mel Gibson, when he finally appears, is appealing, as usual, and the movie has some moments, but overall it's not very special. Final battle sequences are anti-war propaganda, and like we really need that? Well, maybe we do. Aims for high tragedy but doesn't quite get there. Overpraised by Maltin (3.5 or 4 stars?) Viewed about 11/6/04.

Aimée & Jaguar Watched this a second time (see below). In the first review I call Maria Schrader "devastatingly beautiful," but she is not really beautiful in the classic sense of the young Joan Bennett, Hedy Lamaar, or Lucille Ball. Rather, it is her personality, her body language, her facial expressions that hold one spellbound. This movie was well worth a second viewing even so soon after the first. I was riveted this time, too. Viewed about 11/5/04.

Deep Impact A comet will strike the earth resulting in an "extinction-level event." This is the premise of this fairly routine disaster epic. The script is propped up by good performances from old hands Morgan Freeman as the President and Robert Duvall as an aged astronaut. Early but minor appearance by Elijah "Frodo" Wood adds some interest. The emphasis is on character throughout, sometimes making the pace over-slow. Special effects are adequate, occasionally impressive, never breathtaking, the music by James Horner is good, the script avoids some cliches but not all, and aims for tearjerker-status but mostly fails. Finally, overall, it's average. Viewed 11/3/04.

No Way to Treat a Lady Has George Segal ever appeared in a good movie? His effort here is quintessential George Segal: bumbling, put-upon, occasionally almost funny. But of course this is an out-and-out Rod Steiger vehicle, probably designed to cash in on his acclaimed role in Heat of the Night. He adopts various disguises to strangle various old women for various obscure reasons having to do with his mother complex. The multiple personas are somewhat entertaining, but overall this is a fairly stupid 1968-vintage played-for-laughs serial-killer-taunts-cop story that ends ludicrously, with Steiger chewing the scenery unmercifully. For Steiger/Segal fans only, though a young Lee Remick has a very toothsome scene early in the film. Viewed late October '04.

Aimée & Jaguar The setting is Berlin during the last days of World War II. Aimée and Jaguar are nicknames for two women. Jaguar, or Felice Schragenheim, is played by Maria Schrader, a painfully slender, winsome, enigmatic, and devastatingly beautiful actress whose character rolls through this story like a loose cannon. She is well matched by Aimée, or Lilly Wust, played by Juliane Köhler, attractive but older, by turns lustful and distraught. To survive in difficult times, young Felice poses for nude photos, works in a newspaper office, and gives dance lessons. Lilly is a housewife, mother of four small children, and her husband is at the eastern front. She entertains single men while her children go to the zoo "again?" Felice conceives a passion for Lilly from afar and writes her a romantic letter, signed "Jaguar." I don't want to spoil the story, so I will say no more about it. This is a frankly sexy, exceedingly passionate movie based on a true story. The acting is spectacular, the recreation of time and place is convincing enough, and the music and photography are exemplary. In German with English subtitles. Highest recommendation. In a few scenes, especially during the first hour, I had the impression that I was getting the text of what was being said, but was missing the subtext--i.e., what was really going on. I plan to watch it again before sending it back to Netflix, something I've not done previously (though I came close with High Noon). If you suspect that I conceived a passion for Felice from afar, you'd be right; you might, too, if you see this movie. But see it also because it's simply excellent from beginning to end. Viewed 10/30 - 11/2/04.

Mulan This Disney animated has so many terrible flaws that I'm forced to put it in my "guilty pleasures" category. I love this movie, but I wince at the laughable (or insulting) Disney view of ancient Chinese culture and the Disney-typical "cute sidekicks." The animation is uneven: the waving flags are marvelous and must be computer-generated, but the heads of the characters sometimes visibly change shape as they turn left or right. The charging Hun army looks too reminiscent of other CGI scenes and looks cartoony. The character of Mushu (voice by Eddie Murphy) is hilarious but also hilariously miscast. The designs of some characters (The Emperor and Shan-Yu) are grotesque, while other designs (e.g., settings, Mulan's horse) are marvelous. The face of Mulan herself is a crude blank with vividly expressive eyebrows and mouth. The voices of Mulan and her family are very good, the songs are good and the music is magnificent (Jerry Goldsmith). The action scenes are generally exciting while also being laughably illogical. Fortunately, if you can vigorously suspend your disbelief, Mulan is both very funny and somewhat touching. Viewed 10/24-25/04.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) We saw Hitchcock's 1956 version of this story recently, so the plot was pretty familiar. It starts with a lot of nonsense on a ski slope, with witty dialog so dated as to be practically incomprehensible. We ended up turning it off after about an hour, feeling that it was nothing special, and certainly no improvement over the '56 version. Definitely minor Hitchcock. Peter Lorre, however, was creepily effective as the major villain, and he's always been something of a favorite of mine. I think most viewers will identify more with the '56 version. Viewed 10/23/04.

But I’m a Cheerleader This is a black comedy or satire about a teen girl who is confronted by friends and family about her sexuality, then is sent to True Directions, a camp where crooked gays are made straight. Natasha Lyonne is appealing if uncharismatic as Megan (the cheerleader), and Clea DuVall likewise as Graham, one of Megan’s roommates. Unfortunately, the script takes a fine idea and makes it dull; the movie is not very funny and not touching enough. The major problem is Mary, the camp director (played by Cathy Moriarty), who is rigid and harsh without being funny, yet she has a lot of screen time when we viewers, who are sympathetic to the plight of the kids, want to see more of them and less of her. Maybe the greatest strength of the movie, and the biggest lost opportunity, is the kids, who present an array of sexual misfits, but as clichés and stereotypes rather than as real kids. They are all appealing, but seldom real; Melanie Lynskey’s powerful talent (of Heavenly Creatures fame) is squandered here. Despite these failings, for certain viewers this movie might provide a sorely needed lesson in tolerance, though Heavenly Creatures provides that and much more. I don't want to be too critical, however; we did watch all of Cheerleader and liked it a little. Viewed 10/23/04.

Memento (from 2000; earlier movies with the same title) is a brilliantly conceived Chinese box puzzle of a movie. It tells of Leonard Shelby (played by Guy Pearce) who, due to a brain injury, is unable to form new long-term memories. Every time he wakes up he has to rediscover his life and his quest, based on notes, photographs, and tattoos he has created for the purpose. The movie starts at the end and works backwards--most scenes begin with Leonard gathering the threads of his life together. The next scene then shows how he got to the beginning of the last scene. It's an unsettling technique, but it is also a marvelous idea, because it puts the viewer in a similar situation to that of Leonard. When he wakes up, he doesn't know where he is, and we don't, either. This is a unique conception, and it makes a movie not to be missed. Unfortunately, it is also rather unsavory, full of violence and murder; but it also comes to a piquant and satisfying conclusion. It's only later that one begins to pick apart the logic. Not for all tastes, and some viewers will start completely lost and never figure out what the heck is going on. But for those up to its challenges, Memento is a unique viewing experience. Viewed 10/19/04.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956 version) Better than I remembered, good Hitchcock, very tense at times. Viewed 10/18/04.

Fahrenheit 9/11 Excellent, gripping documentary by Michael Moore. Footage from Iraq is very moving. Viewed 10/17/04.

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Viewed it yet again. Still great. Viewed 10/15-18/04.

The Animatrix A collection of nine animated films, the first four written by the Wachowski brothers, who wrote and directed the Matrix movies. There is little of note here; fans of the movies will likely enjoy some of the films, while being disappointed that none of them comes close to recapturing the excitement and originality of The Matrix. The first film, "The Final Flight of the Osiris," has some of the look and feel of the original. It starts with a gratuitous and improbable training session in which a man and woman cut each others' clothes off. The remainder presents a running battle between the crew of the Osiris and the machines. This is the most highly praised film of the set, at least by fans, but I found little of interest. The next two films, titled "Second Renaissance," offer back story of the origin of the Matrix in summary fashion. The information is useful and the animation is interesting, but overall it's kind of dull. "Kid's Story" is much more personal and somewhat affecting. The remaining five films, not done by the Wachowskis, mostly are weak and usually confusing. However, the final entry, "Matriculated," has such stunning graphics that it's worth seeing purely for the for that--more dazzling than anything in, say, Fantasia 2000. Overall I'd give the collection 2.5 stars (out of 4); purely for fans. Viewed 10/9-12/04.

Now, Voyager and Star Trek V: The Final Frontier See Movies that Change the Way You Think for reviews. Viewed 10/10/04 and 10/9/04, respectively.

Onibaba (“Demon Woman”) A 1964 black-and-white drama on DVD from The Criterion Collection. An old woman and her daughter-in-law try to survive in medieval war-torn Japan by selling the armor of dead and dying warriors. The flavor is Tennessee Williams drunk on sake: grubby, sweaty, passionate, with lots of female nudity. Nicely paced, gripping, and entertaining in its way, with a supernatural touch at the end. If slumming in the old Japan countryside is your cup of tea, you’ll like this. No real weaknesses except in matters of taste, and the music is annoying. Viewed 10/6/04

Kwaidan Four ghost tales by Lafcadio Hearn. Colorful and atmospheric, but excruciatingly slow and long, and, in the first two tales, very predictable. Not much in the way of chills. Stories are titled Black Hair, The Woman in the Snow, Hoichi the Earless, and A Cup of Tea. Unnaturally colorful skies lend a fairy-tale feel to the whole effort, and the photography is generally excellent. Black Hair is the weakest story; Woman in the Snow is somewhat touching and could be very effective if it weren’t so obvious; Hoichi is by far the most satisfying and least draggy; A Cup of Tea has a fair “Twilight Zone” plot. The music, alas, is really dreadful: unmusical clangs and twitches, worse than Chinese opera. Maltin gives this 3.5 stars, I’d put it at 2.5. Viewed 9/30-10/6/04

The Thing John Carpenter (of Halloween fame) directed this sci-fi horror schlockfest. Effectively creepy chiller that delights in gross, slimy monsters and blood. Tense throughout, though the characters are little more than monster fodder and are all too willing to act according to the demands of plot instead of sense. Good setting (Antarctica). Not as scary as Alien and not nearly as science-fictiony, and the monster effects are not quite top-notch (red slime coats everything), but still a gripping experience. Stars Kurt Russell and Wilford Brimley. Maltin gives it 1.5 stars because he doesn't like the gore; I'd give it three. If you like this sort of thing, you'll like this Thing. Viewed 10/5/04.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow Amusing, occasionally astonishing, but tissue-thin comic-book entertainment. Owes much to its superior predecessor, Raiders of the Lost Ark (of which I'm no great fan), not to mention King Kong. Greatly helped by real chemistry between the two primary characters, played by Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow. Angelina Jolie is wasted in a too-small and too-thin part. Relies very heavily on action, gadgets, and special effects at the expense of the characters and story. Some attempts at '40s-serials "camp" not effective (e.g., visible "radio waves"), though the whole film could be called "camp." Frequently murky, near black-and-white color and sometimes blurry look don't help. Roger Ebert gives it four stars, but I left the theater unexcited. For SFX fans only, of which I'm one. However, these special effects look very cartoony in comparison to the thundering reality of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Viewed 10/3/04.

Music of the Heart Effective "teacher inspires ghetto kids" flick manages to transcend the formula from time to time. Scenes of the teacher's interaction with her own children and with various men in her life are pretty routine and the classroom instruction scenes seem uninspired. Better are the "little tragedies" of her kids, interactions with the school principal and music teacher, and the closing concert sequence. Features appearances by Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, and other stars. Meryl Streep's performance is typically excellent; what's lacking here is the script, which is just average. Directed by Wes Craven in a departure from his usual schlock horror efforts. Viewed 10/2/04.

Doctor Zhivago A spectacle-romance of the Russian Revolution and how it affects Zhivago (Omar Sharif) and his circle. There are many plusses: attractive young (at the time) stars, lush photography, vast, turbulent background, great sets, and the sure hand of David Lean to keep it all in focus. Unfortunately, the framing story is tiresome (despite the best efforts of Alec Guiness), the social changes we see are dreary, there is little chemistry between Zhivago and Lara (Julie Christie), and the the story drags to a conclusion--everything after the intermission is pretty much a letdown, though Rod Steiger brings his characteristic vitality to his few brief appearances, and Ralph Richardson is amusing. As well, the film suffers from the obtrusive British accents of most of the cast and a chronic case of music-videoitis: the substitution of music and photography for dialog and drama. The music (by Maruice Jarre) is almost always overbearing, and the director seems to take every possible opportunity to stuff another bit of "Lara's Theme" down our overstuffed throats. I think the worst failing is that we never really get inside Zhivago's head. It would have been a big improvement, perhaps, to have Zhivago reading his poetry as a voice over to bring some life to the "music video" segments. All in all, it's not as awful as I make it sound. We did watch the full 3.5 hours rather than turning it off midway. Viewed 9/27-30/04.

Star Trek: First Contact is a fairly typical entry in the film series, though the illogic here is astonishing and shameless. In one scene Deanna Troi is drunk to the point of passing out; cut to a scene on the Enterprise; cut back to Troi, same night, and it seems she never touched a drop. Worse than that is the inept bumbling of the Borg and their oh-so-convenient ignoring of the unassimilated humans in their midst, carrying weapons yet (we are told) they are "not perceived as a threat." Apparently also not perceived as more potential converts to Borgdom. Worf's space suit gets a slash and he's warned "decompression in 45 seconds." Two minutes later the scene is over and Worf is fine; guess the suit fixed itself. I could go on, but this is hair-splitting and ungenerous carping, right? I mean, look at the wonderful characters, the stunning special effects, the clever jokes. And Mr. Data is always fun. Bleah. It should perhaps be noted that Frakes's direction is professional, Goldsmith's score is typical, and some of the acting is at least acceptable. Viewed 9/20/04.

Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi is advertised as a "martial arts epic" on Netflix. It's episodic and violent, in the vein of graphic novels such as Usagi Yojimbo and Lone Wolf and Cub. I was disappointed because the story was hard to follow (if, indeed, there was a story) and because the many attacks on the eponymous character seemed disconnected and repetitive. After yet another slashfest, I turned it off with about 25 minutes to go, never having learned why he was being attacked. I no longer cared about Zatoichi. I guess in future I should avoid martial arts "epics." Gone are the days when I could enjoy something like Kung Fu: The Invisible Fist. Too bad; there is a lot of good material here. And there is a "steamy" sex scene with a tatooed lady, at least. Viewed 9/19/04.

Anger Management The most desperately, painfully unfunny "comedy" I've ever tried to watch. Adam Sandler's character is a total nitwit and the important scene on the airplane is embarrassing to watch, not funny, not funny. By the time Jack Nicholson returns, one is desperate to find any reason to keep watching this loser. Unfortunately, Nicholson doesn't provide it. I gave up after twenty minutes, the wife lasted another ten. Really, really awful. I understand from the reviews that there are actually some funny moments later; I'm dubious. After trying to choke down the stuff you're fed at the start, who's in the mood to be amused?

Stagecoach Watched this John Wayne/John Ford epic a couple of weeks ago but forgot to review it. It has good moments and good supporting characters (John Carradine and Thomas Mitchell are standouts), but the ending and many moments along the way are very corny and/or dated. These days, it's probably best for Wayne fans (though it takes a while for him to show up); to me it looks too much like a routine western.

Ikiru Bonus Disc Ikiru is one of my favorite movies. Directed by Akira Kurosawa, it tells the story of the end of a man's life and what he did with his last 75 days. We watched it on DVD two or three weeks ago. The bonus materials disk was disappointing in that it has only two items, a "Message from Kurosawa" and a "making of" documentary. The "Message" was dull, a biography of Kurosawa told mostly through old photographs and talking heads. Unfortunately, the subtitles were very difficult to read, sometimes approaching white-on-white. It just wasn't worth the labor of stopping the video twice every minute to puzzle out the subtitles. Possibly on your television they will be more readable... The "making of" documentary was acceptable but unspectacular. The best bit of information I got from it was that Kurosawa manipulated the light reflections in the actors' eyes to make emotional points. It was a level of subtlety that was intriguing and impressive. Other than that the documentary was informative and I enjoyed watching the clips from Ikiru. On the whole, as a bonus materials disc this was nothing to get excited about. Viewed 9/12/04.

Henry V (Olivier): I am well experienced with Shakespeare's language. I have listened to audio tapes of Hamlet, Lear, and Othello, probably fifty times each, as well as reading the plays and viewing movies. With this movie it was like I had never heard of Shakespeare. Entire scenes passed by in which I could hardly make out a single word. We turned it off after an hour. This was a big disappointment for me. I liked the settings and direction, the very conception of starting in the Globe theater in Shakespeare's time and gradually taking us to the time of Henry V. I like the actors and was very happy to see Robert Newton (of Blackbeard the Pirate and Long John Silver fame) in this film. Why couldn't I follow the dialog? I don't know for sure. It seemed like the sound quality was good enough. I do know that there was a lot of noise from the Globe audience that drowned out the actors on occasion, and the dialog was spoken very rapidly. The play is one I haven't experienced before, which certainly didn't help. Anyway, with regrets I can't recommend Olivier's Henry V on DVD. Viewed 9/12/04.

I, Claudius We finally got to see that last installment of I, Claudius, a 1976 BBC production starring Derek Jacobi as Claudius, John Hurt as Caligula, Brian Blessed as Augustus, and a host of Brits. Patrick Stewart ("Jean Luc Picard") as Sejanus was a plus. It was clearly a moderately produced effort, with no crowd or battle scenes and modest sets, but the acting is mostly excellent (Augustus and Tiberius were too often over the top). It's a fascinating story, in the way that cobras and tarantulas are fascinating--so many of these people are so nasty. This is at least the third time I've seen the 13 episodes. Highly recommended. Also included on the DVD is a documentary, "The Epic that Never Was," about a failed attempt by Alexander Korda to produce a filmed version of the story. This was very interesting and worth seeing. Charles Laughton played Claudius very differently from Jacobi's version. Viewed 9/10/04.

O A modern retelling of the Othello story. Shakespeare's language is gone, and so is the nobility of O[thello], making this a rather dismal and unpleasant "tragedy" that lacks most of the uplift and catharsis that makes tragedy bearable. This is more like seeing graphic murders on the evening news. The stars are attractive and effective in generally thankless roles, none more thankless than the role of Hugo (Iago). Iago is a tough enough role; without Shakespeare to make Iago somewhat human, the character is just nuts. The plot details don't bear close examination. For me, someone who knows Shakespeare's Othello very well, it was a constant exercise in seeing how the scenes of the movie compared to a typical performance of the play. This adds interest but is also a distraction, like watching a movie while focusing on the lighting and camera angles. All in all, I give it "thumbs down." I mean, instead of "Are there no stones in heaven..." we get something like "What the fuck is wrong with you, man?" The DVD version includes a slient performance of Othello, with Emil Jannings. We watched about five minutes of this... it also lacked Shakespeare's poetry. Viewed 9/4/04.

The Tin Drum This is a quirky, entertaining, adult look at life in WW2 Poland. The approach reminds me of Big Fish and Hotel New Hampshire. Which strikes me as a really silly thing to do, make a "quirky, entertaining" movie about life under the Nazis. It lacks the grimness and poignancy of Life is Beautiful, but who wants to see yet another grim, poignant movie about Nazi atrocities after Schindler's List? This movie has hardly any Nazis in it; rather, it's about love and sex and humanity. Anyway, it's good, but I'm not eager to see it again. 3 stars. Viewed 9/3/04.

Hearts in Atlantis Psychic powers, childhood romance, young boy needing a father, Anthony Hopkins overflowing with quirky advice, book by Stephen King, script by William Goldman--it sounds great on paper. And it’s okay in the can, too, but there are some quibbles. Above all, it’s slight and slow. The psychic powers are hinted at; the romance is too often dull music video; the advice is ho-hum, and supporting characters (the mom, her boss, the town punk) are overdrawn and their important scenes are clichés. Hopkins often seems to be sleepwalking. The two main children, however, are believable and have good chemistry, and should get most of the credit for making a watchable, if unmemorable, 101 minute diversion. Viewed 9/1/04.

Lawrence of Arabia Spectacular tale of T. E. Lawrence's experiences in Arabia. Probably the largest canvas ever for a movie, the desert is a major contributer to the impact of this movie. The other major contributer is, naturally, Peter O'Toole as Lawrence. In his first role, he creates a character both admirable and strange. Lawrence is a megalomaniac, seeing himself as possessing qualities and abilities beyond that of normal men. In large measure he lives up to his own conception of himself, accomplishing much where others saw only endless difficulties. If this movie has any failings, it is perhaps in its occasionally excessive lingering over quiet moments and its sometimes overbearing music. It's also four hours long. The cinematography is incomparably gorgeous, the music is generally extremely good. All in all, required viewing. We watched it over two nights (breaking at the intermission). Viewed 8/30-31/04.

Z This movie is interesting enough, but I can't recommend it for that. And it's relevant and informative enough to the present, but I don't know that it's THAT relevant and informative. But between these two angles, I find that this is an "important viewing experience." It tells of a political assassination and subsequent investigation in '60s-era Greece, based on a true story. The first 40 minutes are very choppy and somewhat confusing, but once the investigation gets under way it becomes more conventional and fairly easy to follow, and finally somewhat inspiring. 3 stars. Viewed 8/29/04.

The Unsinkable Molly Brown Over-the-top, occasionally fun, often embarrassing musical about the well-known historical figure. Stars a volcanic Debbie Reynolds as an ultra-materialistic socialite wannabe who will "be accepted" by Colorado high society if it kills her, and Harve Presnell (his "introducing" role) as an appealing social dropout. Reynolds is often unpleasantly loud-mouthed; Presnell is a vocal dead-ringer for Tom Bodett. I liked Presnell a lot in this, or it would have been unbearable. The songs are tuneless and forgettable, but the photography is nice enough. 2.5 stars. Viewed 8/29/04.

Return of the King Featurettes Watched all the "featurettes" on the ROTK second disk. Rather repetitive, but still indispensible viewing for the LOTR fan. Viewed 8/28/04.

Red Beard Old doctor (Toshiro Mifune) deeply impresses young doctor (Yuzo Kayama) in a poor country clinic in early Japan. I was less impressed. Kurosowa directed. 3 hours of episodic melodrama, finally not very memorable compared to his better work (like Ikiru), but watchable. Message (kindness is better than coldness) is very heavy-handed, but seemed tolerable. There are moving and dramatic scenes, but some are quite leisurely, and there is confusion in the many characters, some with similar names (Otoyo, Osugi, Onaka, Okuni). Best scene is probably the shouting down the well. Music at the end is faux "Hollywood soundtrack climax," wildly inappropriate. I'm a sucker for Japanese movies, which are always more interesting to me than Hollywood products, perhaps because of the different culture. Viewed 8/23-26/04 (it took us three nights, which certainly didn't help).

Titanic This was my third or fourth viewing. A gripping, eye-popping spectacle with a sometimes tedious and rather trivial love story. Special effects are generally top notch and spectacular (occasional long shots of the sinking ship look flat, like computer graphics, on the small screen). The acting and music are fine, and Kate Winslet is gorgeous (though her boobs look implant-enhanced in the sketching scene). If Cameron had lost the love story and stuck with nameless passengers fleeing and drowning like rats, they could have cut the excessive length in half, but of course nobody would have liked it better that way except me. Viewed 8/25-26/04.

The Return of the King Topping off the DVD extended viewing of previous nights. Great movie, with flaws. Viewed about 8/23-24/04.

One Hour Photo A gripping and disturbing thriller with some blatant logical flaws. Robin Williams gives a persuasive and understatedly creepy performance. For me the framing story was a hinderance, the logical flaws not important. Good atmosphere in a slow-paced nightmare world. Viewed about 8/20/04.

The Two Towers Still a great movie. Love those ents. 'Nuff said. Viewed 8/19/04.

I, Claudius Watched the first three episodes of this entertaining "ancient Roman soap opera." Impeccable acting makes it work, as the budget must have been miniscule. Started watching about 8/15/04, with more chapters to come.

Fellowship of the Ring For me this remains the strongest of the LOTR trilogy, a truly fabulous and almost perfect movie, with brilliant hardware, special effects, acting, cinematography, and music. Marred only by occasional gratuitous melodramatics for the groundlings (e.g., Nazgul at the Prancing Pony). This is about my twelfth viewing (watching the extended version on DVD), and I'm not tired of it yet! Number one on my all-time top ten list. Viewed 8/15/04.

Daredevil An interesting but too often out-and-out ridiculous comic book movie. Ben Affleck is fairly effective and The Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan, whom you may recall from The Green Mile) is massively impressive, but the script is lame, especially because the main attraction of this movie, the central conflict of DD with himself, is shortchanged in the resolution. Viewed 8/14/04.

Wag the Dog Sharp, cynical, funny movie in which Robert De Niro and Dustinn Hoffman do everything they can to mislead the media and the public to get an evil President reelected. Many disturbing parallels with the current election and war. Definitely not a "feel good" movie, but important and, in its way, entertaining. Viewed 8/13/04.

Cube 2: Hypercube Disappointing sequel to Cube. Practically a remake of the original, and not as much fun because we've seen it before. This Cube set didn't even look as good as the first. Granted, it holds your interest and there is good tension and some thrills, the acting is adquate, but finally, the weak ending makes it seem a waste of two hours. Also, the plot made even less sense than in Cube, and seemed more padded and less meaty. Particularly disapointing was the [SPOILER ALERT!] repeat of the stupid slasher nonsense that marred the ending of Cube. Viewed 8/12/04.

Black Hawk Down Gritty, vivid, intelligent, unsentimental retelling of the story of a costly raid by U.S. troops in Somalia in 1993. Excellent movie, with almost non-stop action and growing tension. Editing annoyingly choppy for the first half hour, settles down later. Very graphic, but not unreasonably so. Generally not preachy at all, leaves the viewer to make up his mind about the mission and how it was handled. My conclusion: we should have informed the UN forces rather than going it alone. Difficult to watch "entertainment." Highly recommended. Ebert gives it four stars, well deserved. Viewed 8/11/04.

Do the Right Thing This is a loud, raucous, disjointed, irritating, foul-mouthed masterpiece of inner city life. There is much one wants to discuss after seeing this movie: what Sal should have done, why Mookie did what he did, what kind of photos the character who tries to get a boycott going has on his walls (any Italian-Americans?), and so on. An angry, wise, true, compassionate, and exciting film, not to be missed, but not necessarily much fun along the way. Ebert gives it four stars. Viewed 8/8-9/04.

Return of the King Watched it again, still a great movie. Viewed 8/7/04.

Hellboy I just can't work up much enthusiasm for this comic book turned movie. I liked the star (Ron Perlman) when he played Vincent in the old Beauty and the Beast TV show. He and the other actors are adequate here, and Selma Blair is attractively vulnerable and winsome. But after seeing Spiderman 1 and 2, this seems a limp, derivative (X-Men meet Ghostbusters), mediocre effort. It's occasionally funny, but the villains, monsters, and even the heroes seem run-of-the-mill. It's all just a bit ho-hum. Doubtless it didn't help that we watched it over two evenings. Viewed 8/3-4/04.

Ikiru This film by famed director Akira Kurosawa tells about the end of the life of a longtime and high ranking civil servant, Kanji Watanabe (played by Takashi Shimura), in postwar Japan. It begins with a heavy hand, a voiceover telling us that Watanabe has not lived, is not living now, though he does his work every day. This is as unnecessary and tiresome as it is repetitive and it goes on too long. But once the narrator gets out of the way, the story takes off, showing how Watanabe-san reacts to the realization that he has stomach cancer and will die within a year. Although the film is apparently about death, it is also about life ("Ikiru" means "to live"), and its message is both simple and profound. I don't want to give away too much, but I want to mention two scenes that are highlights for me, and both show Watanabe-san singing "Life is brief," the first tragic and comic, the second tremendously uplifting. This movie is essential viewing, and it could--should--change your life. It's not perfect, but I give it my highest possible recommendation. There was extra interest in seeing most of the familiar cast of Seven Samurai (except Mifune) in different roles. Ebert's review is wonderful, but gives away the whole story; see the movie, then read the review (if you must click through now, read just the first and last paragraph or two). Viewed 7/31/04.

The Hours This is a dark display of "women on the verge of a nervous breakdown." I enjoyed it a lot, largely for the vibrant performances of the three main female characters (played by Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, and Meryl Streep), and because of the effect it had on me in one specific area. Seeing Nicole Kidman playing Virginia Woolf, and seeing her as a driven, dedicated (even obsessed) writer, was very enlightening regarding how a great writer "lives two lives": in her fiction, and in her "real life." Between this movie and the next, Ikiru, I found a renewed seriousness of purpose toward my writing which I hope will result in more meaningful accomplishment. This sort of response is not what I would expect others to come away with, however. As a movie, I found this one too short, feeling that I was just getting to know these characters and feel connected to them when the movie ended. These are affecting characters in interesting situations, and one wants to explore deeply rather than simply seeing them presented. Also, I am somewhat ambivalent about a fundamental question. This movie makes virtually no attempt to "explain" the behavior of the characters, which seems a fault; and if it did try to explain, I would probably have found any "explanation" to be shallow and worthless, as I find virtually all "explanations of human behavior." Overall, it's a good movie with excellent photography, great performances (Ed Harris provides a typically vigorous performance in an important supporting role), and an interesting handling of complex material (three "stories" in three different time periods). The Moore character, however, is painful to watch and to contemplate--"all too true." Recommended. Viewed 7/30/04.

Cold Mountain This is a draggy, predictable, overrated exercise in sadism, a solid 2.5 star effort. The acting and photography are impeccable, the opening battle is impressive. Renee Zellweger steals her scenes, and is justly praised and Oscar rewarded; Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, and the support are very good. But the script is amazingly awful. The basic problem is that so much footage is devoted to scenes where the helpless are in the power of the implacable (at least 4 different sequences). This is unpleasant, and finally ludicrous. These scenes alternate with syrupy romance that I had trouble believing. And, of course, the villains are cardboard. Ebert damns it with faint praise, then gives it 3 stars. I told the wife that it would have been better if the hero had died trying to return home, and the two women carried on the farm by themselves. It also could have been more interesting if the main villain had started as an idealist and been corrupted by his power. Instead we get a string of cliches. Viewed 7/29/04.

The Hunt for Red October A tolerable "thriller" with some crude but perhaps necessary attempts to ratchet up the suspense, some generally labored and dated humor, and some improbabilities that are very hard to swallow. Did they really need the saboteur (and what was his motive)? Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, James Earl Jones, and Sam Neill are watchable, but Connery and Neill are inadequately ethnic for their Soviet roles. Connery's accent in particular is too, too funny. The music is clunky "Russian chorus." All in all, okay, but it probably would have made a better movie if they'd spent more time on characterization and less on "thrills." And BTW, I suppose you've noticed that whenever a character waxes poetic about his future, he's sure to die. Viewed 7/27/04.

The Mystery of Picasso Documentary. Watch as Pablo Picasso creates twenty original artworks before your eyes, sometimes stroke by stroke. Sensationally fascinating and educational for the Picasso fan (i.e., me), and should interest any viewer who is at all interested in art. Virtually a ballet of graphic art. The accompanying music is sometimes helpful, more often distracting; sound quality is primitive. "Full-screen" TV treatment mars some pictures. The accompanying short piece on the DVD, Guernica, is full of honest (I guess) sentiment but strikes me as an embarrassment of beat poetry, whining female voice, the sound quality of a mistuned AM radio, and chopped-up works of Picasso (who I’d guess had no input on this project). "Mystery" is highly recommended and utterly wonderful, going on my top ten list. Available from Netflix. Viewed 7/23 – 7/25/04.

The Bridges at Toko Ri William Holden stars as a reluctant Navy pilot during the Korean War. Grace Kelly is his wife, Frederick March is the Admiral. Tries to be grittily realistic and succeeds at times, marred by the lowbrow antics of Mickey Rooney and Earl Holliman, and occasional patriotic preachiness. Marginal overall. Viewed about 7/24/04.

The 400 Blows This is another one of those old innovative movies like Citizen Kane that Maltin (and just about everyone else) gives four stars, you watch the thing and say, what the fuck? This is a nothing special story of a kid who gets in trouble. I suppose in 1959, a year that gave us Some Like it Hot, North by Northwest, Ben-Hur, Anatomy of a Murder, and The Mouse that Roared, it seemed original and touching. I’d likely have enjoyed any of these others more than The 400 Blows. With that bit of whining out of the way, I will say that this movie held my interest, did make me think a bit, and did touch my emotions. It just didn’t do enough of these things to make me rate it at all highly. Viewed 7/19/04.

Spider-Man 2 With a new and impressive villain and the rekindled romance with Mary Jane, this does entertain. It might be churlish of me to mention the tremendous lack of logic in the plot and the details of the fights with Doc Ock, and I suppose I should be chastised for not liking the "retirement" of Spider-Man, and I guess I shouldn’t mention that Mary Jane is still a twit and sometimes looks dowdy, though her "Go get 'em Tiger" is gratifying and she is dazzling in her wedding gown. And then there are too many sweaty close-ups of Tobey Maguire's face while he's straining to achieve some particular heroics. So it’s not perfect, and it’s not (despite the raves of the reviewers) better than the first one, though it's about as good. It’s a lot of fun and sufficiently impressive after the somewhat draggy first hour, and the "message" is not completely sappy. Viewed in theater, 7/18/04.

Ben-Hur (1959) A fine old spectacle that often shows its age but is consistently fascinating. The acting sometimes borders on the extreme, particularly in the scenes between Judah (Charlton Heston) and Messala (Stephen Boyd), and one is never quite convinced of their great friendship. The climactic chariot race is justly famous, but not as exciting as it once was. The precise management of so many horses in the lineup before the start of the race is impressive. The ship battle is rather underwhelming, though nice to look at. And, naturally, the treatment of Jesus is very reverent. The music is great, the supporting cast is good, and there are thousands of extras. All in all, worth seeing for its cultural importance as well as its entertainment value. Viewed 7/17/04.

The Simpsons After watching about 2/3 of the next listed film, to take the bad taste away we watched an episode from the second season. Grandpa Simpson gets a girlfriend at his retirement home; she ups and dies on him, leaving him over $100,000 in her will--what to do with so much money? A good episode, not hilarious but well thought out and, for once, mostly respectful of old people. The Simpsons have been a favorite of mine for years, second only to Invader Zim. For the past 5 years we haven't "had TV," so this was on DVD. Viewed 7/16/04.

Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation One of the worst, most offensive movies I've ever seen. From the opening shots it was apparent that this was a low budget effort. As it progressed it got sillier and more gratuitously violent. When one character began chopping up another with a meat cleaver, and indeed kept on and on with it, we turned it off. Instead of the good humor and excitement of the original (despite some grotesque script choices), this loser has nothing to recommend it. A slashfest disgused as science fiction. Viewed 7/16/04.

Red Dawn Watched about the last 50 minutes of this movie last night. I had previously seen about the first 50 minutes several years ago and didn't like it, and last night's viewing confirmed this opinion. I'm unclear on whatever merits the characterization may have... the acting looked pretty good. What I mostly objected to was the relentlessly stupid combat sequences, to wit: These "high school students," while lying on the ground, throw hand grenades to kill the enemy (in reality, if you tried to do this the grenade would go about 2 feet, and kill you). Whenever someone hiding behind something and gets a hail of bullets directed at him, what does he do? Stand up. When our heroes are in a pile of rocks and get attacked by three massively-armed helicopters, what do they do? Get on their horses and try to outrun the helicopters... and succeed. Add to this the pretty cheesy special effects and a general sense of melodramatic overkill, you get one sucky movie. The wife and kid like it, though. Viewed 7/13/04.

Spider-Man I first saw this sensational movie in the theaters. We saw it on DVD this weekend for the second time. Some moments make me wince because they seem to be cynical attempts at manipulation of the audience rather than sincere expressions of emotion by the characters. The love interest with Mary Jane (delectable Kirsten Dunst as a redhead) is, unfortunately, dictated by the comic book origins, vaguely unsatisfactory in both her personality and the resolution. Also, some of the special effects are unpersuasive (Mary Jane on the tram cable), and the final battle with the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) seems unnecessarily brutal. But nitpicking aside, this is sensational entertainment. The GG is an outstanding villain with great toys, almost more watchable than Spidey himself. Tobey Maguire is a very appealing actor ala Tom Hanks, but somewhat wooden--perhaps the latest contender for the mantle of Jimmy Stewart. J. Jonah Jameson (J. K. Simmons) and Bone Saw McGraw (Randy Poffo) are delightful minor characters, and the others are at least adequate. But above all, watching Spider-man swinging through downtown of “the city,” beating up muggers, and grappling with the Goblin is exhilarating, a breathtaking display of strength, speed, and grace. Viewed 7/12/04.

The Prince and the Pauper Serviceable and entertaining but dated old classic, starring Billy and Bobby Mauch as the ten-year-old look-alikes who change places. About halfway through Errol Flynn turns up to lend a hand to our heroes. Claude Rains has a (to me, at least, a fan) disappointing turn as villain, but this is offset by Montagu Love's vivid portrayal of the dying Henry VIII and a raft of standard 40s-era character actors. Worth watching once, I'd say, for the good performances by the Mauch boys and the lovingly detailed closeup portrayal of an English coronation. Maltin gives it a too-generous 3.5. Viewed 7/11/04.

Anzio Ostensibly "the story" of the Anzio landing in WWII, this is really a turgid morality play that is sure to disappoint the viewer looking for a "war movie." Robert Mitchum is generally lugubrious, but rarely moreso than in this movie. It starts with a tedious, too-long scene of drunken, loutish American soldiers, and runs somewhat downhill from there. Little action (small budget), despite what Maltin says (he rates it 2 stars). Uncritical Peter Falk fans may enjoy his role, however. Thumbs down, way down. Viewed 7/5/04.

Blue Planet Saw most of an episode of this (about the "open ocean") and was very impressed both by the cinematography and the scientific savvy of the narration. I will look for more of these. Viewed 7/4/04.

The following were viewed between 6/21 and 7/2/04:

Meet John Doe Gary Cooper is at it again, playing a rustic, diffident good guy who triumphs in the end. I could watch him all day. Barbara Stanwyck looks young and gorgeous in this movie, too. Includes a typical "young" Walter Brennan role. Overall a bit too Capraesque for my taste (the faux baseball scene is excruciating), but mostly very watchable. Viewed 7/1/04.

Shogun, part 1: Started watching this, got annoyed at what I saw as cheesy, manipulative writing, got tired of talking heads and the John Rhys-Davies character, and gave it up after half an hour or so. I'd say not enough action, but the wife loves it. Viewed 6/30/04.

The Mark of Zorro Tyrone Power at his most virile and he even acts reasonably well in this ancient (1940 B&W) but effective adventure. Linda Darnell is the toothsomely chaste love interest. You'll think I'm nuts, but I like this version a LOT better than the bloated and often poky and hokey Mask of Zorro with Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, and Catherine Zeta-Jones (though Z-J is very hot in this). This one has a great Basil Rathbone villain and quite a few laughs; Power is very effective as the 'effete' Don Diego. Good ending.

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man I'm a big W.C. Fields fan, and his work here is generally up to par. The Edgar Bergen love interest subplot is murderously dull, however, though the dummies (Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd) are sometimes funny. If you're not a Fields fan, try It's a Gift or The Bank Dick instead of this average effort.

Rio Grande John Wayne, John Ford, and Maureen O'Hara in yet another U.S. Cavalry western. Great cast of character actors including Victor McLaglen, Chill Wills, and Ben Johnson. The horse riding action and the general feel are authentic and exciting, but the plot didn't keep me interested enough to watch past halfway. This was the wife's choice (Wayne fan), anyway.

The Wages of Fear Great movie about nitro transporters in the jungle. Very tense and effective. Yves Montand's first big role, and he's excellent in this. I had seen this years ago in an abbreviated version where our hero walks into flames at the end, so the longer and less depressing ending of this version came as a surprise. The first hour is more interesting, I thought, than the reviews led me to expect. However, the Vera Clouzot scullery maid is way too gorgeous for such a setting and role. Woof!

The Return of the King What, again? Yes, and loved it again as usual. See below for link to my review of the trilogy.

Cube I liked this movie a lot, despite the preposterous premise and cheesy ending. A number of people are trapped in a deadly maze and try to get out. Not unlike an extended Twilight Zone episode, but I loved the thick tension and the interesting and developing characters. Reminded me more than once about the Blair Witch Project, probably because of the similarly claustrophobic atmosphere. Decidedly not for all tastes, which makes me treasure it all the more. A sequel (Cube 2) is supposed to be available, but not where I live nor through Netflix.

Timeline Typical Michael Crichton nonsense, unfortunately with an exceedingly tiresome and lengthy middle piece with mostly-unarmed and generally unmemorable people running away from mediaeval knights. I couldn't make it past the midpoint, but the family liked it. The "future technology" seemed more preposterous than usual. I do adore The Andromeda Strain, to give Crichton his due. Viewed 6/24/04. Saw a bit more of this cheesy melodrama on 7/6/04. Oy, what a piece of crap.

Singin' in the Rain It would help if I liked Gene Kelly better. I kept wishing I were watching Fred Astaire. Given that, this is a pretty good and often rather funny musical comedy. Kelly provides a typically pretentious "ballet" to slow things down towards the end, but that number in the rain is awfully good. Ditto for Donald O'Connor (of Francis the Talking Mule infame) and Debbie Reynolds. The much-praised bimbo blonde role (played by Jean Hagen) grated on me; I was not much amused. Anyone else hear echoes of "Let's put on a show and save the orphanage" in this old warhorse? Viewed 6/23/04.

The following were viewed between 6/7 and 6/20/04:

Gods and Monsters Wanted to see this because of Ian McKellen and the character of James Whale (who directed the original Frankenstein, etc.). Overall it was disappointing and uncomfortable, given that the whole point seems to be to show that Whale was a lascivious homosexual and my 8-year-old son watched some of it. Aside from that, I must say that McKellen does a great job with rather limited materials; he's very watchable. The ending was rather predictable and a downer; I don't plan ever to watch this again... wish I'd seen Richard III (also McKellen) again instead.

The Legend of Bagger Vance Strictly for fans of Will Smith and/or golf. Charlize Theron is astonishing--sexy and tough--in this one, but can't save it overall. Not very good, I'm afraid.

Blood Work Did we really need another violent mystery from Clint Eastwood? This one has a different feel, perhaps (though I haven't seen most of the others); but in the end, why bother? I just can't warm up to a whodunit, no matter how good, and this one was pretty obvious after having Murder, She Wrote inflicted on me numerous times over the years (now let's see, who's been hanging around looking innocent?).

Big Fish Endearingly quirky comedy/drama from Tim Burton, with Ewan MacGregor and Albert Finney. In the end it's a bit underwhelming, but Alison Lohman is stunningly pretty and hot, and the way the MacGregor character wins her is touching. Probably deserves a thumbs up overall because it certainly holds your interest and is entertaining; if it doesn't change your life, well, few movies do that.

Something's Got to Give Jack Nicholson gives another great performance in this bit of romantic suspension-of-disbelief-testing comedy. Diane Keaton really heats it up, too, in an excellent performance. Keanu Reeves is okay in his usual wooden fashion. But the ending is just too convenient and predictable. Watchable, overall, and perhaps a bit more.

Life with Father A somewhat amusing and rather dated comedy. Maltin gives it a very generous 4 stars, and it's clear that he is too easy on these old "classics." This one just doesn't hold up that well, but there is a plus in the way-too-sweet but very pretty, very young Elizabeth Taylor. I wouldn't bother unless you really like these old flicks.

Il Postino This has some charming moments, but overall I found it uninvolving. I just didn't care that much about the characters, which for a film like this is the kiss of death, eh? It's probably worth a try.

Dancer in the Dark We found this a dreadful film. It starts with an amateurish (i.e., awful) musical number, then we follow one of the performers to her dismal home life. We turned it off after 20 minutes. Doubtless others will love it for some reason.

The Day After Tomorrow Great eye candy, and I thought the other elements were better than the reviewers suggest. If you're into "the end of civilization as we know it," you'll like it. It's only afterwards that you start questioning the science. Viewed in the theater.

Master and Commander I'd like to be more positive about this much-praised film, and indeed, there's a lot to like here: special effects, acting, photography, music. But the plot is tiresome and there isn't enough action.

Spy Kids 3 We couldn't get much out of the 3D effect watching this on DVD, and in fact it is a terrible piece of work in 2D as well. Basically a ripoff of Tron, and not as good as that weak film. Courtney Jines ("Demetra") is appealing. Avoid this one.

Radio This is a mostly okay story of a retarded (or to be PC, "developmentally disabled") man--well played by Cuba Gooding, Jr.--who has a passionate interest in sports, and how Ed Harris helps him to come out of his shell. Occasionally wallows, but since it's based on real people one is willing to forgive this somewhat. Also sometimes drags. Definitely marginal and I don't recommend it.

The Babe If you think John Goodman can't act, this movie will show you how wrong you are. It's his show, and it's a very good show indeed. I rented this as a sort of double bill with Pride of the Yankees, and I'm glad we watched the other one first, because The Babe has tons more energy, more baseball drama, and even more heart. It occasionally wallows in sentiment, and there's some annoying slow-mo, but it's otherwise excellent and touching. The DVD has an amusing extra, a one reeler of Babe Ruth teaching some kids baseball pointers.

The Pride of the Yankees This movie has more padding than story, an unfortunately "reverent" treatment of the baseball idol. This is understandable, since it was made shortly after Gehrig died. Fortunately, the actors are dedicated and the script, though very dated, is a lot sharper and funnier than you'd expect. Gary Cooper turns in a typical solid performance and his final speech at Yankee Stadium is a truly moving classic. He isn't quite the whole show, as Walter Brennan (NOT playing an old codger for once) steals a number of scenes, and the real Babe Ruth provides some embarrassing ham-handed comic relief. Teresa Wright as the wife is pleasant enough until "tragedy strikes," then she's just too, too nobly suffering. Gehrig's controlling old-world mother is truly painful to contemplate. This movie has been wildly overrated, given that it's pure Hollywood fluff. Maltin gives it four stars, I'd put it at 2.5. Viewed 6/6/04.

Bionicle: Mask of Light You wouldn't expect much from a movie like this, and you'd be right. Combine good special effects, mystical mumbo jumbo, and characters with jaw-breaking names who are shiny plastic toys, and you get a tedious exercise in viewing displeasure. I am so sick of prophecies in movies! My son owns this on DVD and put it on this weekend; I watched about fifteen minutes before wandering off to do something useful. 6/4/04.

Lord of the Rings Watched the full trilogy on DVD over the weekend, viewed The Return of the King on 5/31/04. That prompted me to expand my full review.

Friendly Persuasion Gary Cooper again, in another very effective role and performance. Dorothy McGuire, the "striat-laced" wife, in a pretty unsympathetic role and self-conscious performance has little chemistry with Coop. Very young Anthony Perkins has a good role and glowers his way through it, making one wish he were playing a young Norman Bates. Richard Eyer ("Little Jess") is a real plus here, unlike his solid-lead clunker as the genie in The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad. Episodic and a bit cliched script based on "novel" by Jessamyn West; relies too often on thespian body language and fails to supply needed lines. Heavy-handed and obtrusive choir in the otherwise typically okay Tiomkin soundtrack. Overall, I loved the actors (except McGuire), but can't quite love the whole movie, though I must admit I laughed out loud quite often. Probably best reserved for Coop and Quaker fans, though Maltin gives it 4 stars. Next on the Coop hit parade: Pride of the Yankees! Viewed 5/23/04.

The Hurricane Denzel Washington is brilliant as Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. The focus here is on Carter's imprisonment for murder. Maltin gives it 2.5 stars, I'd go to 3 at least. My only complaint is that it goes on about 20 minutes longer than my butt wanted to sit still. Viewed 5/22/04.

The Pledge Jack Nicholson plays a retiring police detective who swears a pledge to find the killer of a child. This is very much a star vehicle, and this star is worth watching here, as always, but the movie as a whole is perhaps a bit too low-key. Overall rather average. Some will be disappointed by the ending, but I wasn't. From a novel by Friedrich Durenmatt. Viewed 5/21/04.

Matrix Revolutions Reviews have been mixed or worse, and indeed the first 40 minutes of this movie is seriously lacking in interest, coherence, and relevance. It's all mystifying, boring talking heads, then it's over and it makes no difference to the rest of the movie. The rest, fortunately, is a pretty straightforward battle to save Zion from the machines, and this part offers the most awesomely eye-popping action I've seen since Return of the King. Seriously dazzling. The final wrap-up unfortunately leaves open the possibility of further sequels and so is not fully satisfying. But that final battle is everything you could hope to see in this movie. Viewed 5/15/04.

Notorious Sensational suspenser from Hitchcock. Early love scene between Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman shows how much you can do to scorch the screen with your clothes on. Bergman in particular has never looked so passionate; indeed, I can't recall any woman in any movie who looks so meltingly preorgasmic as she does in that scene. Grant plays it under great restraint. Watch the camera work as they leave the balcony: wonderful, classic Hitchcock. The rest of the movie is almost an "anticlimax" (pun intended), though the final minute is delicious. Claude Rains does his usual good work here, though he's badly miscast. Viewed 5/14/04.

Cast Away Tom Hanks in another winner. We had all seen it before. I remember the first time vividly... after watching it, you see your own life in a new way, which for me is the ultimate in movie praise. This is a truly great movie, and the sea is an almost malevolent presence, somehow reminiscent of the whale in Huston's Moby Dick. Viewed 5/9/04.

V The old TV miniseries. The first hour is rather slow and uninvolving given more recent high-powered treatments of the alien invasion theme (e.g., Independence Day), but the last two hours are stronger and generally very effective. However, the video lacks a strong conclusion (in anticipation of future episodes) and leaves one wanting the rest. Viewed 5/8/04.

The Deer Hunter Big disappointment. The first hour is all about (squandered on) a bunch of men having a good time getting drunk at a wedding. Few things are less fun than watching someone else get s**tfaced and rowdy. We gave it up after the first hour, with regrets, when the crew started on their hunting trip and kept right on drinking. Viewed 5/7/04.

Sergeant York Good movie, sometimes great Coop (Gary Cooper) performance, only occasionally preachy and sentimental. Joan Leslie is a too-sweet love interest for the Coop man. He sure is a long drink of water, and when he says he's gonna do something, you believe him. I particularly liked his interviews with his commanding officers in boot camp. Well worth your time even if you're not a Coop fan. His mom (in this movie) is exquisitely deadpan. Viewed 5/3/04.

Whale Rider Had high hopes for this but gave up after twenty minutes. Dull and uninvolving, and the wife was itching to turn it off. I'd guess that it later makes up for the opening slowness, but we never got there. Viewed 5/2/04

The Horse Soldiers John Wayne, William Holden, John Ford, Civil War, sounds great, right? Nah. The Constance Towers Southern belle was either too campy-sweet or too whiny-bitchy. Her one great line ("leg or breast") almost made the movie, though. The conflict between Wayne and Holden seemed contrived and unimportant given the "suicide mission" they were on. Skip this one, eh? Viewed 5/1/04

Invader Zim Great, dark, goofy, hilarious animated series that lasted only 48 episodes on Nick despite rabid following. Love that music. We watched a bootleg DVD which had a lot of glitches, most annoying being the sound not matching the picture. Viewed from about 4/20 to 5/1/04. Is this all that I watched since Holes??

Holes I watched only about half an hour of this dismal, though occasionally funny, exercise in silly injustice and "Adults vs. Kids" nonsense. Wife and son seemed to enjoy it, however. 4/5/04

Big Fat Liar Watchable comedy which Oliver wanted to see again. It's preposterous but often quite funny. 4/5/04

Frida A wonderful movie that I somehow forgot to review, so I'm uncertain when exactly that I viewed it. Sexy without being gross, inspiring without being "inspiring," full of passion without being fatuous, this is the nearly perfect story of Frida Kahlo, artist. One of the most colorful movies in recent memory, and with a gorgeous soundtrack. My only complaint, and it's negligible, is that we don't get to see enough of Frida's work (I felt the same way about Camille Claudel). Guess I could get a book or go to an exhibition, eh? Do, please do, see this film.

Dune and Children of Dune These are the miniseries renditions. Overall they are interesting enough and well worth seeing, though I have too many negative things to say to put in a short review. Worst for me was that Children had too much to do with plotting and intrigue, and too few eye-popping wonders. Viewed early April 2004.

The Two Towers I just never get tired of seeing any installment of the Lord of the Rings. I have a thousand quibbles about it, but overall it's incomparable (except for the other two installments). Viewed it again around the end of March, '04.

Vera Cruz This western starring Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster is dreadfully stupid and heavy-handed. Cooper's role seems particularly uncomfortable for him and incredible for the viewer. It's a typical three thieves scenario, but by the end, who cares who gets the gold? After High Noon, this was very disappointing. Friedhofer's music made me long for Elmer Bernstein. Maltin (is he nuts?) gives this three stars, same rating as he gives Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring; he's too generous to old "classics." Viewed 3/20/04.

Braveheart An okay but overlong "Hollywood" version of the story of Scottish patriot William Wallace. The battles are undeniably exciting, and everything else either slightly tedious or completely ridiculous. Ends with a brutal torture/execution, Gibson's first "Passion," apparently. Viewed 3/20/04.

Rear Window Top-notch, compelling Hitchcock; saw the restored version on DVD. I knew the plot going in, but was still fascinated. Jimmy Stewart is himself, Grace Kelly never looked better, but I think Thelma Ritter and Wendell Corey are overrated by Maltin, though adequate. This is not the quintessential Thelma Ritter performance. Viewed 3/14/04.

Popeye Maltin rates this a "bomb," Ebert gives it 3.5 stars. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Casting is perfect, the recreation of the Popeye world is brilliant, Nilsson's songs mostly suck and there are too many of them, they kill the pacing. This is a very "busy" movie, which is both annoying and part of its charm. Real chemistry between Popeye, Olive, and Sweetpea. It helps if you like slapstick. This is worth seeing, and some will find it great, but for me it's just not funny enough. Viewed 3/13/04.

Schindler's List Greater than Private Ryan, a deep and affecting movie. Neeson is absolutely brilliant, everyone else is excellent, but Ben Kingsley gets too little to do and is not allowed much range here--I'm not faulting him, you understand. The character is always so conscious of his vulnerability and lack of power that he can never let his guard down for a moment. This was my third viewing, and so it has lost some impact for me, but it moves right along and held my attention riveted to the screen. Viewed 3/12/04. I believe Spielberg is one of the big shots behind the paving over of Ballona Wetlands; if that's true, I'll never watch a Spielberg movie again.

Saving Private Ryan Really great, never a false or dull moment. War is hell. Earn your life. 'Nuff said. Viewed 3/11/04

Dune One of the best looking, most confusing movies ever made. Overall I liked it, but some of the animation was truly terrible. Fans of the books may have some quibbles which will be lost on the average viewer. Maltin rates it at 1.5 stars, I'd put it at 2.5, but definitely worth a look. Forget about the plot, just enjoy the eye candy. Nice, often impressive music. Viewed 3/7/04.

Zulu An authentic-looking and exciting adventure of the battle of Rorke's Drift at the opening of the Zulu war. The Zulus are very impressive in the way they look, dance, run, and chant. Some of the characterization is dated and hokey, and the missionary (played by Jack Hawkins) is tedious, but Michael Caine's role is deliciously played (his first major film role). Well worth a look. Viewed 3/6/04.

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Good, good movie about gold, greed, and paranoia. A bit slow getting started, but never dull. Bogie is great in another Captain-Queeg-like role, and Tim Holt and Walter Huston are also impressive, though WH talks so fast sometimes that he's hard to understand. John Huston and Bruce Bennett have small parts, well-played. Viewed about 2/28/04. "We don't have to show you no stinking badges!"

High Noon Absolutely loved this movie, despite the cardboard villains. I really love Gary Cooper's performance as Will Kane, haven't seen anything of his for many years; he's the father I wish I had (my bio father died when I was 10 and I don't remember him much). Made me feel like a "real man," vicariously. After watching it I wanted to watch it again, a rare feeling indeed. Best moment, to me, was in the church, when Kane asks for help; also exceptionally good was the overhead shot of a despairing Kane standing in the street just before the meeting with the villains. Least effective I thought was the too-cute montage at noon, just before the train whistle. The action sequences show their age. Good music by Tiomkin. Maltin's comments in "The Making of..." included in this edition of the video were valuable. Viewed 2/22/04

Twister Good eye candy, lots of rather predictable action, the characters and plot are better than you'd think from the reviews. But still just eye candy after all. Viewed 2/20/04

The Road to Perdition Big disappointment. Just another hit man movie as far as I'm concerned. By the end I didn't care who kills who. Viewed about 2/15/04

Godzilla (1998 version) Fair eye candy, much silliness and stupidity along the way. Really, don't bother. Viewed about 2/14/04

The Bourne Identity Another stupid hit man movie. Well, not really all that stupid, as hit man movies go, but still, in the end, who cares about these characters? Viewed about 2/1/04.

The Caine Mutiny Excellent sea adventure and courtroom drama, never a dull moment. Humphrey Bogart's best work ever portraying a rather pathetic character. Solid support from the cast, maybe especially from Jose Ferrer as a cynical attorney. Viewed in February, 2004.

Lost in Translation This Best Picture nominee left me scratching my head--what's all the fuss about? It's so low key as to be almost soporific, rescued only by Bill Murray's wry persona and Scarlett Johansson's subtle sexiness. It's just worth watching, but don't expect a lot. Fans will say I just don't get it. Viewed in February, 2004.

Pirates of the Caribbean Almost hated it except for Johnny Depp's quirky and funny performance (NOT worth the price of admission) and some great special effects. Too long. Viewed about 2/1/04.

Twelve Monkeys Worth seeing and actually pretty impressive. But not that memorable a week later. Bruce Willis good, as usual. Viewed in January 2004.

Reign of Fire I liked it a lot, found the critics to be overly critical. Tense all the way through. The biology is preposterous, though. Viewed in January 2004.

Giselle and Swan Lake Got these DVDs for Xmas. I'm not completely happy with either, alas. The Baryshnikov Giselle (which I DIDN'T get) is absolutely awesome. Viewed January 2004.

Finding Nemo Impressive graphics, but not funny or touching enough; would rather see Toy Story 2 again. Viewed January 2004.

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