Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Some Movie Reviews

Movie Categories:

COM - Comedy - Everybody likes a laugh.
DRA - Drama - The girls like these.
ACT - Action/Adventure/Thriller/Suspense - The boys love these.
INT - Intellectual/Difficult/Long - You will be watching these alone.
UNT - Untamed - Sex/Horror - You pervert!

CHI – Children’s

Five Star Movies

2001 – A Space Odyssey (1968) – 5/5. Stanley Kubrick’s dark, surreal film that explores the concepts of space exploration and artificial intelligence. There are two kinds of movie-watchers. The litmus test is this movie. – INT/DRA

All Quiet On the Western Front (1930) – 5/5 – A previously banned movie for its anti-war message, this film portrays the disparity between the idealism and the reality of World War I. Truly excellent – DRA

All the Kings Men (1949) - 5/5 - A political drama which follows the career of Willie Stark, a backwoods politician. The protagonist is his "axe-man," one of those politicians' helpers who make a career following around a person with whom they may develop moral differences. - DRA

About a Boy (2002) – 5/5 – Hugh Grant stars as one of the two boys in this tale of personal growth. I think this is a 5/5 because the humor is subtle and realistic, the characters are so well developed, and the message (however uncomfortably) hits home for me.- DRA

Airplane (1980) – 5/5 – Very funny comedy, a joke a minute. The greatest of the parody disaster movies of the 70's. - COM

Amelie (2001) – 5/5 – Gorgeous filming on location in France with high quality cinematography. These producers did their work, and did it in a way that is marvelous to look at. An magical and enchanting story of an introverted young woman. - DRA

American Beauty (1999) - 5/5 - My grandmother hated this film. So I didn't see it for a while. When I finally did, I found out why she hated it. This tragic film haunted me. It takes a cold look, if fictitious, at life in suburbia, and dismantles it in an inspiring way. - UNT

Annie Hall (1977) – 5/5 – I finally understand what makes Woody Allen great. By far the funniest and most unquestionably intellectual and interesting comedies about life and love I have ever seen - COM

The Apartment (1960)5/5 – Classic comedy about a bachelor pad used for the “occasional dalliance.” – COM

Apocalypse Now (1979) – 5/5 – So close to being perfect. A surreal and disturbing movie based on Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, directed by Francis Ford Copolla (of Godfather trilogy fame). Classic scenes – the cavalry takes over the beach, scenes of the cheapness of life, the bridge at the end of the Vietnam, the voice in the background screaming, “FU GI,” then silence. There are a few cuts that don’t fit, “One look at you, and I know there’s going to be heat.” Why didn’t they just fly the boat further upstream to avoid the beach? They built up to such a grand climax, that the actual scene surrounding the Colonel was fairly weak. There were no GI’s he had brainwashed, only natives. It didn’t get very far in his head, and the camera guy didn’t add much. On the other hand, there are so many unforgettable scenes, and classic images. The greatest scenes are when the cavalry attacks the Viet Cong outpost so they can surf on the beach that the Viet Cong controls. “I love the smell of Napalm in the morning, it smells like . . . victory.” – ACT

Apollo 13 (1995) – 5/5 – An exciting and unforgettable re-creation of the doomed journey of Apollo 13. Star studded, it’s an excellent drama. - DRA

Atlantic City (1980) – 5/5 – Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon star in an engrossing study of a crime city. The old and new collide in the city and in the movie. One feels like a window opened into the lives of these characters. Contrary to so many dramas, the characters (and actors) really seem unaware of our presence. Nothing important happens in the movie, it follows ordinary people living on the fringe, and trying to stay there.

Babbette's Feast (1987) - 5/5 - Foreign with subtitles. A warm, moving tale of two daughters of a puritanical Lutheran prophet in Scandinavia, the men who enter their lives, and Babbette a victim of French revolution, who they take in to be their cook and maid. - DRA

Back to the Future (1985) – 5/5 – A fast, fresh and fun twist on the time machine genre. – ACT/COM

Battle of Algiers (1965) – 5/5 – A very well done foreign movie about the revolution of Algiers against French colonization. Elements are disturbing and graphic and even more bothersome is the way the movie has a particular relevance to the situation of America in Iraq. It is a study of torture, dominance and terrorism as the tool of the weak and oppressed. The only problem is that the officer in charge of the French paratroopers is a little too insightful for his position and behavior. I suppose the voice of the writers had to be delivered by some character. – DRA/INT

A Beautiful Mind (2001) – 5/5 – The adventures a mathematical wizard into a reality only he could think himself out of. Moviemaking at its best. – DRA

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – 5/5 - This is the original classic drama. Three veterans come home to a country seemingly oblivious to the hardships of war and concerned by the influx of ex-soldiers into the workforce. This film explores the transition to civilian life, dealing with injury and dismemberment, and reunion with family. The stories of the three veterans are interwoven and simply magical on screen. - DRA

Black Hawk Down (2002) – 5/5 – The most action I’ve ever seen in a movie. It tires you out. And it’s as real as anything. It’s modern urban warfare meets the crazy American soldiers’ pledge to never leave behind a wounded, or even a dead. Most our soldiers seem to have died that way in this movie. - ACT

Blow (2001) - 5/5 - i.e. the return of Pee-Wee Herman. This documents the life and times of a major drug trader in the 1970s. It is absorbing, and characters are developed very well. It's violent and portrays drug usage, but for some reason I wasn't turned off at all. It's not pro-drug nor anti-drug, it just seems to show that certain forms of contraband are very attractive to smuggle. Johnny Depp is great, and doesn't make a very likeable character (likely because the true person on which the story is based was not a likeable person). It's just plain fun to see the incredible turns of events. My favorite scene: the money room. – DRA

Born on the Fourth of July (1989) – 5/5 – Extremely well done movie examining many psychological aspects of the Vietnam War. Very emotionally draining. - DRA

Braveheart (1995) – 5/5 – An action movie which is epic and memorable. It’s not perfect because it rambles a bit, but it is beautiful, and raw at the same time. The war scenes take moviemaking to a new level of graphic reality on a large scale. A tale of heroism and honor and, of course, freedom. – ACT/DRA

Brick (2005) – 5/5 – An overacted film noir, which is melodramatic, cliché and anachronistic. The great thing is that you take that, shake it in a mixer, and set it in a Los Angeles high school, and you have Brick. A thinker's drama. – DRA/ACT

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) - 5/5 - This is an unforgettable tale of POWs forced to build a bridge and an interesting twist between pride in one's work, and continuation of the war effort. Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kanobe) stars. The music is just as unforgettable as the intense plot. Listen for the Colonel Bogey March, as performed by Mitch Miller's Orchestra. - ACT

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) – 5/5 – Enchanting comic character study about two outlaws. Butch does something that western heroes don’t do; he runs. It is a western but not really typical of an American western. Directed by George Roy Hill, this movie cinched the immortality of Paul Newman and Robert Redford for me. The three reunite for another hands-down success in The Sting. – ACT/COM

Casablanca (1942) - 5/5 - An important classic about life in this African emigration outpost during Hitler's reign. A tragic love story is woven throughout an excellent plot. - DRA

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) - 5/5 - Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor and Burl Ives. Masterful rendition of Tennessee Williams' play. Full of symbolism, irony, and passion. Explores the greater emotions and motives of family life. Great line: "I have courage enough to die; do you have courage enough to live?" I found myself riveted. Burl Ives was even better than I remembered. A true movie classic. - DRA

Chicago (2002) – 5/5 – This one was a real surprise for me. I’ve seen the stage play twice, and twice I didn’t like it. I thought it was barely understandable, and not very interesting. The movie tightens the plot with visuals that tell the stream-of-consciousness story. I must say it was well done and musically and visually excellent. - DRA

A Christmas Story (1984) – 5/5 – Lavish and fun. An Indiana man tells stories from his childhood in an unforgettable way. Based on Jean Shepherd's novel, "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash." – COM

Citizen Kane (1941) - 5/5 - Orson Wells greatest achievement. The mystery of "Rosebud." This movie is based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, and Howard Hughes. It is social criticism, bringing humanity to the icons of capitalism, and making their sins all the more evident and understandable. Many critics consider it the greatest movie ever made. - Category INT

Cool Hand Luke (1967) – 5/5 – Very impressive film about a southern prison. Watch for the Christian symbolism. – DRA

Crash (2006) – 5/5 – A web of fictional entangled lives in Los Angles is weaved. The movie is a social commentary about race relations. - DRA

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) - 5/5 - A Hong-Kong style martial arts movie with modern Hollywood special effects and well done story. Cinematography is incredible, with dreamy scenes high in the treetops, to an underwater segment, and everything in between. This movie takes you into the world of ancient China - or maybe some fictitious place. However inaccurate, it really transports you into another world. Also insight into the life of an ancient Samurai-type warrior in a corny nod to Hong Kong genre films. It was surprisingly absorbing and transporting. Subtitled. - ACT

Dances with Wolves (1990) - 5/5 - Simple and beautiful. Kevin Costner's directing debut and supreme achievement. A tale of a civil war soldier who lives as a Sioux. - DRA

Dead Man Walking (1998) – 5/5 – A murderer has received the death penalty. This movie examines life after the death penalty. - DRA

Dead Poet’s Society (1989) – 5/5 – Probably the best coming of age story I have ever read. It reminds me of a novel I read in school. - DRA

The Deer Hunter (1978) - 5/5 - Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken. Intensely involving film tracing the lives of three American friends and the community that they love. The three go to Vietnam and back. Actual footage from the war is woven into a riveting plot. Extremely well acted. Perfect soundtrack. Only for the brave. Just ONE shot !- DRA

Dog Day Afternoon (1975) – 5/5 – A botched holdup in New York City is the setting for an excellent drama. – ACT/DRA

Dumb and Dumber (1994) - 5/5 – One of the funniest movies ever made. For those who like Jim Carrey's slapstick humor. Note the camera angles and dialogue when Carrey convinces Loyd to go with him to Colorado. It reveals the director's familiarity with movie making techniques of different genre. - COM

Enter the Dragon (1973) – 5/5 – The last full length Bruce Lee movie. Bruce Lee and director Robert Clouse bring us the finest example of a Kung Fu movie. There is not much plot, but the action scenes are unbelievably good. It’s a crown jewel of the genre. – ACT

Escape from Alcatraz (1979) – 5/5 – Based on a true escape, the movie is hard to resist, despite Clint Eastwood’s slightly off-putting acting. The pace is plodding, as the characters plot, and explodes at the end. – DRA/ACT

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – 5/5 – The entertaining adventures of a popular high school student out to enjoy the streets of Chicago. A comic, classic, feel-good movie. - COM

A Few Good Men (1992) – 5/5 – Military Justice on parade. Nicholson, Cruise, Demi Moore. All excellent in this riveting drama – DRA

The Firm (1993) – 5/5 – Excellent big screen adaptation of a legal thriller by John Grisham. – DRA

Footloose (1984) – 5/5. In this drama, an uptight Midwest town gets an infusion of 80’s rock and roll and dancing. We can all identify with being the outsider, but this outsider is armed with Kenny Loggins! - DRA

Forrest Gump (1994) – 5/5 – The world will never be the same since Forrest Gump lived in it. A marvelous movie, that belongs in the pantheons of Hollywood. - DRA

Frida (2002) – 5/5 – An excellent telling of the life story of a very interesting modern artist. Alfred Molina is great as Diego. – DRA/UNT

The Fugitive (1993) – 5/5 – An unforgettable film that develops at an unforgettable pace. This movie is based on the TV serial not unlike the modern “24.” – ACT/DRA

Ghostbusters (1984) – 5/5 – Peter Venkman and his fellow Ghostbusters take on the forces of Zuul. Hilarious classic. – COM

The Godfather (1972) – 5/5 – The movie deserves its notoriety. A military hero and “civilian” son of a mob boss involves himself in a killing to save the life of his father. He falls increasingly into the family business. His father wanted him to be truly powerful, like a Senator, but settles for a protégé. The life cycle of a Sicilian family organized crime ring is illustrated. The 40’s visuals are excellent, and the pace, timing, and feel of the movie are just right. There is a haunting scene juxtaposing the ceremonial Catholic symbolism of the blood of the Christ to the almost ritual cyclic bloodletting of gang violence.

Gods must be Crazy, The (1984) – 5/5 An intriguing and comic film about the interaction between Kalahari bushmen and civilization. - COM

Gone with the Wind (1939) - 5/5 – This movie will get old. It features an incredible portrayal of the “Old South,” during a time that will forever be gone with the wind. Excellent performances and some incredibly well said lines. Just a perfect movie. - DRA

Good Will Hunting (1997) – 5/5 – An inspiring drama about a genius stuck in a janitorial job. – DRA

Goodfellas (1990) – 5/5 – This is a movie that is inspired by The Godfather, and that inspires The Sopranos. It’s a fine portrayal of the American Mafia. It chronicles the life of an Irish-Italian man who joined the mob in his youth and ended up in the Witness Protection Program. It isn’t for the faint of heart. – DRA/ACT

Groundhog Day (1993) - 5/5 – This hilarious film with an ingenious plot features Bill Murray’s deadpan comedy. - COM

Hoosiers (1986) – 5/5 – One of the greatest sports movies ever. A small-town basketball team has an amazing year – DRA

Il Postino (1995) - 5/5 - A beautiful movie depicting simple folk who come in contact with a stimulating intellectual. The simple become transform themselves into deep, poetic people. The cinematography is incredible, and the honest acting is infallible. - DRA

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) – 5/5 – Indiana and his father team up to outwit the Nazis in an archeological search. Make sure you see Raiders of the Lost Ark first, and skip Temple of Doom. – ACT

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) - 5/5 - Any film with a family doctor as the protagonist is destined to be great. This thriller is simple, and effectively creepy. The plot unfolds at a perfect pace, and the scenes are memorable, especially in the parlor with Jack Belicec (King Donovan). Poor Dr. Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) tries to solve a disturbing mystery and eventually to save himself. My only complaint is the casting of dreamy Dana Wynter as a farm-town girl. She’s just back from Paris and off to London, and though nice to look at, is very out of place. - ACT

Jaws (1975) – 5/5 – A small coastal town is terrorized by a seemingly intelligent and aggressive shark. Dreyfuss is classic in his role as reluctant hero. An old crusty sailor, Quint, is brought to life by Robert Shaw. The scene in the boat where Quint is drunk and tells his shark story is one of my favorite ever segments of film. – DRA/ACT

Jurassic Park (1993) – 5/5 – A typical Spielberg blockbuster, this film combines excellent special effects with a fun and heady story. I missed Jeff Goldblum and I was happy to see him again. The acting is very good, and the action is very good. – ACT

Karate Kid (1984) – 5/5 – An 80’s classic coming of age film. Daniel LaRusso faces culture shock, bullies, and preppies while adjusting to a new home. He finds support in an old Japanese man, who teaches him karate. – ACT/DRA

Killing Fields, The (1984) – 5/5 – Haunting, horrible, and almost unbelievable re-creation of the hell that was Cambodia in the 1960’s. This will help you understand the worst authoritarian adaptation of Communism. Also, there is undeniable footage of President Nixon, leading America’s fight against Communism, denying the ongoing Cambodian bombings and stating that Cambodia is the supreme example of the “Nixon Doctrine.” The direction is flawless. I am most impressed by the seamless adaptation of news reports e.g. over the radio which is on in the car. Scene changes are excellent, mimicking sounds expected from the previous scenes. – UNT/DRA

The Last King of Scotland (2006) – 5/5 – Frightening and ultimately horrible. For Adults Only. The movie is a carefree romp into the hell which is African politics. - UNT

Little Miss Sunshine (2006) – 5/5 – Smart, funny, and dramatic. This is the real-life version of National Lampoon's Vacation. - COM

Long Walk Home, The (1991) - 5/5 - 1990 Sissy Spacek & Whoopie Goldberg - Wonderful story of the struggle against racial prejudice & sexism. - DRA

Longest Day, The (1962) – 5/5 – 1962. A celebration of the heroes of D-Day, June 6, 1944. A star-studded historic action movie. Excellent and a must-see. – ACT/DRA

Lord of the Rings Trilogy - The Fellowship (2001), The Two Towers (2002), The Return of the King (2003) – 5/5 – Finally a true tribute to the incredible Middle Earth trilogy. Peter Jackson does an incredible work transforming New Zealand into Middle Earth. This action is engrossing, and every detail is gorgeous even in goriness. A must see trilogy. The visuals play out exactly as I remember the books as I read them curled up in bed as a 12 year old boy. – ACT/DRA

The Mark of Zorro (1940) - 5/5 - Tyrone Powers - 20th C. Fox- Black and White. A great swashbuckling movie. Compare to the recent The Scarlet Pimpernel - ACT

Mary Poppins (1964) – 5/5 – Just a perfect Disney movie. The actors Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews are wonderful, and have perfect chemistry together in this fantasy which is engrossing and entertaining for children and adults alike – COM

Match Point (2005) – 5/5 – Very entertaining psychological thriller, with smart and witty dialogue courtesy of Woody Allen. It has a Hitchcock-like quality. It has been noted that it is a little anachronistic, like it should be set in the 40's or 50's but is set in modern day, and the characters don't act like modern-day people would. Other than that I found it very satisfying. - DRA

The Matrix (1999) - 5/5 – I have decided that I like this movie more and more. It has been upgraded from a 4/5 to a 5/5. But lets make one thing clear. One should NOT watch any of the other matrix movies, or the whole thing in your mind will be ruined, and you will be very disappointed. Yes, the movie is adolescent, and has a “trenchcoat mafia” fascination with guns, but there is also a truly great story of a no one becoming a someone. Exciting fight scenes and new special effects. The meaning of the matrix led to wonderful debates, before its sequels came out. - ACT

Meet the Parents (2000) – 5/5 – Hilarious account of young Mr. Focker’s introduction to Her parents. – COM

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) – 5/5 – The movie that introduced the American public to the filibuster. James Stewart is perfect in his role as a freshman Senator still idealistic and untainted by the dirty politicking of Washington. The movie shows what the American public wants their politicians to be. - DRA

Mulholland Drive (2001) – 5/5 – A hypnotic film spins around a crash on Mulholland drive, and a beautiful woman’s amnesic episode. – UNT

Munich (2005) – 5/5 – An appropriate, sometimes obviously philosophical study of the history of the Munich Olympic massacre and Israel's (and our) response to Islamist terror. – DRA/ACT

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) – 5/5 – A wildly funny masterpiece from the English comedy troupe Monty Python, delving into all things medieval. - COM

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) – 5/5 – Very well done “sleeper” hit about a Greek woman who meets a . . . heaven forbid . . . non-Greek. - COM

My Dog Skip (2000) - 5/5 - A story of Willie Morris, an intellectual, introspective boy and his dog Skip. This is the most touching boy and dog coming of age story I have seen. I was absorbed emotionally into the movie the entire time. - DRA

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) – 5/5 – I love this comedy about a family vacation. Chevy Chase’s greatest role. - COM

Night of the Hunter (1955) - 5/5 - The prowling of a disturbed man, a preacher on the outside and the devil inside -- " . . . come to you in sheep’s clothing but on the inside . . . they are wolves." Starts with an unusual scene. The film is from the perspective of children, with a Sunday-school score, and an innocent look at the evils in the world. This film is unforgettable and eerie, though not offensive. - INT

Nixon (1995) - 5/5 - A powerful, though maybe fictional, look at the president of the United States and the powers that affect the decisions of the White House. An expose that left me a little worried about the "wild animal" of American power and the easily abused role of the president. Though it is a long movie, I could have watched it for longer. I actually did. Keep watching after the credits, and the scenes that were removed to edit the movie are included. - INT

No Man’s Land (2001) – 5/5 – Excellent portrayal of the Bosnian war and NATO’s Role. So artistic and humanistic, I was blown away. – ACT/DRA

North by Northwest (1959) – 5/5 – Alford Hitchcock really hits the nail on the head on this movie about an executive that becomes entangled in a spy story. This movie is begging for an update, since the story is really good, but certainly told with the innocence of movie-making in the 1950's. I wish I were Cary Grant! That guy is so cool. - DRA

Not Without My Daughter (1991) – 5/5 – Unforgettable true story of a Christian woman who unwittingly ended up in Iran with her Muslim husband. This is the story of her imprisonment there. Captivating and very well done, the movie forever changed my opinion about inter-religious marriage, and Islam. – DRA

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) – 5/5 – Scary, entertaining, and inspiring. An inmate at an asylum rebels against authoritarianism. – DRA

Patriot Games (1992) – 5/5 – A Tom Clancy thriller, this movie is the best of the lot. Harrison Ford plays the role of super-CIA agent Jack Ryan. He comes across as an ordinary man who rises to an extraordinary situation. His interpretation of the character makes us all feel like powerful Americans. Better than Alec Baldwin and (Oh, God) much better than Ben Affleck. - ACT

Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) – 5/5 – Pee-Wee is ridiculously funny, memorable, and even cute. His physical humor is comparable to Jim Carrey or Steve Martin - COM

Planet of the Apes (1968) - 5/5 - A classic sci-fi in the 60s tradition. Don't go into this movie expecting the revolutionary visual arts of George Lucas, or our current (also quaint) view of space travel. But despite the somewhat dated appearance and limited efficacy of costuming there is a powerful story. I think that this would be probably a better book than movie, but I haven't read the book and I can't say. Four spacemen (one beautiful future Eve) are sent hundreds of light years into space to crash into a planet they know not where. All logged data are destroyed and they are left to their own devices to discover where they are and how to get home. A powerful warning so timely in the 1960s as to be a timeless landmark of the geopolitical, ethical, and religious attitudes of those times. Note they kill off the token Negro right away. - ACT

Platoon (1986) – 5/5 – Viet Nam at it’s worst. Critical liberal movies at their best. Charlie Sheen stars in this Viet Nam tale, a sure answer to his father Martin Sheen’s Apocalypse Now. – ACT/DRA

Poltergeist (1982) – 5/5 – Wonderful frightening thriller about a possessed house. Unfortunately, new house owners don’t check the history of the land on which they have developed. - UNT

The Princess Bride (1987) – 5/5 – A classic, even in its own time. This is a “cracked” fairy tale, presented as such, and has unforgettable dialogue and truly unique characters. – COM

The Producers (1968) – 5/5 – Very funny comedy, in a Mel Brooks style. Gene Wilder is top of his game. I agree with Christopher Null’s Review: "It's childlike in its silliness, adult in its message of how utterly idiotic starting WWII was, and downright brilliant besides." – COM

Pulp Fiction (1994) – 5/5 – Haunting storyline, the mood and feel of the movie are pure pulp [those gory, sexy comic books of the 1950s]. There is a retro feel to the movie, but it takes place in modernity. Samuel Jackson is just perfect in his role. A Quentin Tarantino movie, some scenes are explicit and will burn into your mind, so be careful. – ACT/UNT

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – 5/5 – One of the greatest action & adventure movies ever made. Join Professor Jones as he journeys the world seeking the most valuable of artifacts and battling his arch-rival, Bellock, who is on a mission for the Fuehrer. This film cemented Harrison Ford into the halls of the great movie stars. He owes much to screenwriter George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg. If you haven’t ever seen this one, don’t wait for tomorrow because it would be a shame to have lived and not to have seen this movie. - ACT

A Raisin in the Sun (1961) – 5/5 – Sidney Potier and other excellent actors of the fifties star together in this made for film version of an award-winning stage play. The filming is limited to the artificial boundaries of a pseudo-stage, and no filmmaking landmarks are made here. Instead, it features excellent acting and excellent stage presence and an excellent story and dialogue. – DRA

Ray (2004) 5/5. Ray is a life story and tribute to one of America’s most beloved entertainers, Ray Charles. The movie is excellent. Jamie Foxx does an incredible job of portraying the stereotypic walking and the writing and direction really explore his life in a very meaningful and thoughtful way. - DRA

A River Runs Through It (1992) – 5/5 – Don’t miss this drama. Though slightly too slow paced, this movie is visually and emotionally powerful. Brad Pitt is featured “mugging” his way through the movie, without much acting, and his face just looking around, since it is beautiful, doesn’t distract too much from the movie. The allegorical qualities are wonderful. The film seems to demonstrate that it is not the events of life, but the pattern a person falls into to handles the crises of life, which determines the outcome. – DRA

Romancing the Stone (1984) – 5/5 – Action-packed, sexy and funny. I loved it. – ACT

Roxanne (1987) – 5/5 – Steve Martin and his physical humor stars in this remake of the Cyrano de Bergera story. Yes, his nose is long, but even he can make a joke about it. He is fearless of bullies and fearful of rejection at the same time, and fiercely in love. - COM

Saving Private Ryan (1998) – 5/5 – Wonderful war movie, no detail was left out, including the meat grinder that was D-Day. A tribute to our forefathers who died liberating Europe. Pure 5 star acting and content – ACT/DRA

Scarface (1983) – 5/5 – Al Pacino stars as a mobster who has a meteoric rise to the top. The same characteristics that propel him to the top are his ultimate downfall. Very violent and extremely foul language. – ACT/UNT

Schindler’s List (1993) – 5/5 – Extremely well done drama based on an incredible book about a war profiteer who struggled to save the Polish jews conscripted to work in his factory. – DRA/UNT

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – 5/5

Shrek (2001) – 5/5 – This computerized animation is hilariously full of subtle content. A very nice moral is wound into a modern fairy tale. A top quality movie. – COM/DRA

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – 5/5 – Haunting and horrible, this film is an exploration into the mind of an antisocial serial killer who is quite sophisticated. Just please do not think that this rating in any way encourages the viewing of the follow-up, Hannibal, which is to be avoided. – DRA/UNT

The Sixth Sense (1999) - 5/5 - A Spooky drama done to perfection. Bruce Willis acts for real in this movie. No tough-guy attitude at all. I absolutely loved this film, because I see dead people. Category - DRA

Sling Blade (1997) – 5/5 – A mentally retarded man has to be reintroduced to life after serving time for a crime. – DRA

Sound of Music (1965) – 5/5 – There is rarely a movie as enchanting as this one. Musical and entertaining, it is a perfect movie adaptation of the stage play. – DRA

Spiderman 2 (2004) – 5/5 – Comic book action hero movies are rarely made to the satisfaction of those familiar with the hero. Spiderman 1 was good, but not great. Spiderman 2 fixed all that was wrong with Spiderman 1, and improved on it in almost every way. Spectacular visual effects are combined with excellent character development. Peter Parker has personal struggles like all of us, and this time his story is not prescribed. – ACT

Spies Like Us (1985) – 5/5 – Rivals National Lampoon’s Vacation for greatest role of Chevy Chase. I was rolling! - COM

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter . . . and Spring (2004) 5/5. A breathtakingly beautiful landscape is the setting for an allegory of the seasons in the life of a Monk. The story and plot are quiet, naturalistic, and cyclic like the seasons. - DRA

Stalag 17 (1953) - 5/5 - It didn’t take long after World War 2 to create this unforgettable film about an airmen’s prisoner of war camp in Germany. It doesn’t show the kind of brutality which probably occurred, but it highlights the indomitable spirit many of the men were able to keep. It is extremely well balanced between a comedy and a serious study of war. In fact, it is both. The acting is excellent, and the story just as good. It’s no wonder that it spawned an extremely successful TV series, Hogan’s Heroes. – DRA/COM

Stand by Me (1986) - 5/5 - Stand by Me is a landmark movie, and affected me forever. – DRA

Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) - 5/5 - An achievement in movie making, this movie introduces the wonderful characters of the Star Wars universe. The first three in the series are excellent. Unfortunately the magic is lost with the latter three. The VHS is “THX remastered” but it still looks awful. The DVD version is anxiously awaited, and long overdue. – ACT

Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 5/5. Empire is the best episode of the Star Wars series. Luke and Han and the entire rebellion have run away to a frozen planet in hiding from the Empire. Unforgettable scenes pass by while the empire gets revenge for the successes of the rebellion in Episode IV.

The Sting (1973) - 5/5 - If the music doesn’t get you, the incredible performances of Paul Newman and Robert Redford will. Directed by George Roy Hill, who also directed the two great actors in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – COM/DRA

Stripes (1981) – 5/5 – A classic Bill Murray with Harold Ramis (like Ghostbusters). These guys are just perfect together, and leave you hoping that people like this don’t join the Army.

Taps (1981) - 5/5 - I liked this movie far more than most critics. It is, like all great war movies, about the futility of war. It is a study of the teenage mind, of the mind of an officer in his declining years contrasted against the same in the formative years. It is also a study on the disparaging of a soldier’s values, and the stupidity of politicians. It isn’t realistic, and one coughs at the stubbornness of the National Guard and the lack of oversight of young cadets. Nonetheless, it is an engrossing, though predictable, film which is held together tightly by excellent dramatic performances all around. – DRA

Three Amigos (1986) 5/5 - Three Amigos is a hilarious comedy by two veteran comedians and a wonderful newcomer. - COM

Titanic (1997) 5/5 - Set in a wonderful time capsule, this blockbuster was a must-see in the theatre, and is a must-see again. Probably Leonardo de Caprio's crowning achievement, I was absorbed by his perfectly-cast character. Social injustices are explored in an entertaining way. It is a thrilling, tragic love story that touches the Victorian sensibilities in all. - DRA

Toy Story (1995) & Toy Story 2 (1999) 5/5. This thoroughly enjoyable film employs the same state-of-the-art computer animation that propelled the first in the series into instant popularity. The story is even more polished, the dialogue is comedic and sharp, and the casting of voices is infallible. Good character development remains the key to a fantastic movie. - COM

Training Day (2000) 5/5. A chilling fiction about the LA Police Department, this film explores the potential for corruption. Denzel Washington’s performance makes it a 5/5. It’s hard to watch and not for the faint of heart. – ACT

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) 5/5. This is a sure classic, which transports you into a world that was, and will never be again. As soon as you see him, you recognize the skill of Walter Huston, the father of the director. You will learn about prospecting for gold like never before. In this excellent story with an excellent cast, it becomes obvious why Gold Hat would need no stinking badges. – DRA/ACT

Twelve Angry Men (1957) 5/5. Twelve Angry Men is a total classic, in every sense of the word. This is the original courtroom drama. What is wonderful about this movie is that it all happens in the deliberation room, not in the courtroom. The story unfolds in a perfectly entertaining and absorbing way, and the viewers’ opinion swings like a pendulum. I loved it. - DRA

The Usual Suspects (1995) 5/5. Funny, thrilling and dramatic and suspenseful as a film can be all four at the same time. The labyrinthine plot makes you want to see it again. – DRA/ACT

War Games (1983) – 5/5 – A young hacker finds himself within the AI core of the US Army supercomputer. It is more human than he thinks, and it still has a lot to learn. - DRA

We Were Soldiers (2002) – 5/5 – The definitive Viet Nam movie. This brings less Hollywood lore and much more understanding to a war that few understand. It is brilliant in the way it incorporates an unflinching account of warfare with the right blend of human interest. The details of war in Nam are exquisite. The characters are charming. For the first time, the big screen respects the courage and determination and honor of the enemy Vietnamese as well.-ACT/DRA

What Lies Beneath (2000) - 5/5 – A very well done thriller. Harrison ford and Michelle Pfifer. Great suspense thriller. Almost in the tradition of the great Alfred Hitchcock, with 21st Century special effects, and the recent Hollywood obsession with the supernatural. No other genre re-creates terror as well as film. I found myself screaming a couple of times. (Apologies to the theatre audience). Michelle Pfeifer does wonders with fear. Highly recommended. - Anonymous Bruin – UNT

What’s Up, Doc? – 5/5 – Young and old alike find Barbra Streisand at the top of the comedy game in this entertaining film - COM

When Harry Met Sally (1989) – 5/5 – Romantic comedy about a thirty-something couple. They meet in several times and circumstances, and eventually commiserate over lost loves. The character development is excellent. They develop an ever more mature attitude about love. – COM

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) – 5/5 – Not quite as good as the books that inspired the movie, nonetheless this movie is unlike anything before or since. There is a magical and goofy feel to the movie. Wilder is excellent and as eccentric as the character he plays. I was upset as a child by Wonka’s lack of concern that children are apparently dying right and left. – COM/CHI

The Wizard of Oz (1939) – 5/5 – One of the memorable films of the 20th Century, destined to live as long as movies do – Kevin newday98074 - DRA

Four Star Movies

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8-Mile (2002) – 4/5 – Eminem’s “semi-autobiographical” film made by real filmmakers is very interesting with a solid plot and excellent soundtrack. Almost makes you like him, if that’s possible. – DRA

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954). This is the Jules Verne’s novel brought to life. First, I’ll tell about the novel, then the movie. It was amazing to me that the world’s first science fiction writer could envision in 1871 what eventually came to being in nuclear submarines and nuclear bombs. A conscientious objector from society who had created great technological progress, seemingly on his own, sails around in a submarine destroying human’s gun ships and living off the sea. This is Nemo. Nemo seems to be a cult leader, but unfortunately neither Verne nor Richard Fleicher have more than a superficial understanding of cult mentality, which is probably normal for their times. So in the movie, Nemo’s followers unquestionably follow him, and the movie shows them treating him like a captain, but in truth they behave like cult followers. This is where the reality and depth of the film could have been improved, because it is really a character study of Nemo. The story is of some would-be stowaways who travel 20,000 leagues in this submarine with Nemo and observe and analyze him. As it is, the film relies too heavily on the antics of Kirk Douglas’s character, Ned, and his trained seal to keep us watching. There are some exciting scenes, like the encounter with the African natives. From a modern perspective, the visuals were probably excellent for the time, but things like giant squids moving backwards, falling off the continental shelf into the deepest trenches ½ mile from shore and other oddities are slightly bothersome. Overall, it is entertaining and interesting, especially to observe what great things have been prophesied by Jules Verne, who is by all means a more potent prophet than Nostradamus. Unfortunately, the average viewer remembers only that Nemo fights a sea monster: a giant squid. The film is distracted from what is truly the greatness of the tale: that with his cult and his technology and his murder, Nemo is truly the monster under the sea.

Adam's Rib (1949) - 4/5 - Classic battle of the sexes. Filmed before mandatory feminist review of all films was put in place. - COM/DRA

Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972/1977) – 4/5 – Werner Hergoz directs an excellent foreign film exploring the motivations and methods of the conquistadors of Peru of the 16th century. A Conquistador is elected “emperor” of El Dorado, a fantasy legend of the Indians in their subjugation. Another conquistador is blindly driven by ambition, another, a Jesuit, kills an Indian who disrespects the Bible. - DRA

Alice in Wonderland (1951) – 4/5 – A classic Disney animated film boasts excellent musicals and wonderful illustration. There are a host of wacky characters for Alice to meet on her journey through “Wonderland.” - CHI

Alien (1979) – 4/5 – A science fiction classic. Sigourney Weaver is a stalwart crew member who is aboard a transport ship that comes in contact with an alien life form. A conflict arises. The timing is slow and suspenseful. - ACT

American History X – 4/5 –A family legacy of racism collides with the law and brings tragedy to this Los Angeles family. Edward Norton’s performance is riveting. Character development is excellent. Troubling subject matter is not for the faint of heart. – DRA/UNT

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) – 4/5 – The best so far from the Mike Myers’ Austin Powers series. A very funny spoof of James Bond, but also improvements in comic content from the first. – COM

The Aviator (2005) – 4/5 – A revealing, exciting, and empathetic biographical story of Howard Hughes. I found that my previous understanding of his life was shallow. He lived larger-than-life in an exciting time, and his story is really worth watching. The portrayal is very good. – DRA

Batman Begins (2005) – 4/5 – I think the best of the Batman series, and likely to remain so. There is a fairly interesting and psychologically complex plot. The movie delves into a deep character development and completes a picture of the young batman. This having now been done, the remainder of the movies will again be silly bad-guy fights. – ACT

Beetlejuice (1988) – 4/5 – A classic otherworldly comedy in the Tim Burton tradition. The story is lousy but the visuals are great. – COM

Ben Hur (1959) - 4/5 - An Epoch story of a Jewish Prince and his struggle with Rome and with his own identity. Multiple scenes and references to Jesus makes it seem like it's purposefully being sold to a Christian audience. - DRA

Better Off Dead (1985) – 4/5 – An odd comedy about an unusual young man who has built his life around his popular girlfriend only to have her break up with him. The chain of events in his spiral of hopelessness is a funny tour of the comic side of teenage life. - COM

Big (1988) – 4/5 – A 12 year old finds himself in an adult’s body. Yes it’s an overdone genre, but this one is quite funny. - COM

The Birdcage (1996) – 4/5 – This remake of La Cage Aux Folles (1978) had me rolling with laughter. If you have seen the original, this is only slightly better (if you are American) because of the updated cultural content and what I thought was a wonderful performance by Robin Williams, and an outstanding performance by Nathan Lane. The toast scene, so funny in the original, is preserved and lengthened a bit in this version. - COM

Body Heat (1981) - 4/5 - A sexy crime movie. Hot, but not stifling, this movie features the earliest of Kathleen Turner, nude no less. A forties type eighties movie that ends with an explosion. An excellent plot keeps your interest. - ACT/UNT

Bon Voyage (2003) – 4/5 – An amusing farce set in Paris on the eve of World War 2. As the German army invades Paris, the elite scramble, and an entertaining commingling of villains, starlets, politicians, and spies ensues. Foreign – DRA

The Bourne Identity (2002) – 4/5 – Very entertaining twist on an overdone plot. A spy wakes up and can’t remember who he is. He discovers he possesses all sorts of combat skills, and has to use his rediscovered abilities to determine where he fits in the twisted world of espionage. – ACT

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) – 4/5 – Audrey Hepburn continues her character roles in this highly entertaining, sometimes comic movie. It was much better than I expected. Jed Clampett comes back to seek Lula Mae. – DRA

Bullitt (1968) – 4/5 – The quintessential Steve McQueen. Bullitt is calm, cool, and self-composed even in the face of danger. His character is foiled against that of a politician and lawyer. “You work your side of the street, and I’ll work mine.” The best car chase (through San Fransisco no less) I have ever seen involves a pimped-out GTO and Bullitt’s mustang. San Francisco is recognizable and memorable. – ACT

La Cage aux Folles (1978) – 4/5 - This is excellent and a must-see for movie buffs. The dubbed english is great on the DVD. The American version (The Birdcage, 1996), is even BETTER for the usual modern American audiences, not deviating much from this story, with the comedy, antics, and visuals intact. - INT

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001) – 4/5 – Amazing adaptation of a novel commemorating the Italian soldiers in the Greek islands in WWII. A wonderful love story is woven around a tragic circumstance, and humanity is starkly contrasted against inhumanity. A wise Greek doctor narrates. I was not expecting a great movie,. I was drawn in and I realized that this was a real masterpiece. This story and the wonderful directing and acting made me truly Feel! - DRA/ACT

Cars (2006) – 4/5 – Fabulous, cutting edge computer animation with a great storyline. Cars is a fun, engaging movie for a family. – CHI

Cast Away (2000) - 4/5 – This was a highly publicized movie, which colors one's perceptions from the beginning. The story of a busy FedEx man stranded on an island. Now, first of all, the whole FedEx brand name thing is completely out of hand. Did they fund this movie? Second, it seems to drag on; I could tell my family was getting restless watching this movie. On the other hand, there are some incredible scenes and concepts. The airplane crash, especially once the airplane is in the water, is absolutely amazing and scary. It was fun to be with the Castaway when he learned to survive. It made me appreciate the technical advances of modern society, and society's interdependence. I had new insights into the value of modern medicine and dentistry, as well as appreciating the rich natural resources we have at our disposal. I really liked it, but it could have used another major overhaul to make it just right. The volleyball god/friend is awesome. I have a friend who married a volleyball once. Wilson is just not the best brand (Spalding is) but it makes for the best name, I guess. - ACT/DRA

Chinatown (1974) – 4/5 – Jack Nicholson plays a private eye in this thriller. The underworld of 1930’s LA is exposed. I think the underworld has gotten a whole lot dirtier since then (see “Colors”).

Cider House Rules (1999) – 4/5 – The arguments for, and against, legalized abortion are masterfully argued with the visually and emotionally vibrant backdrop of an orphanage. A young man who is categorically against abortion needs to explore the world, and have the life experiences. These help him learn that the most moral stances are ones that recognize ethical decisions to not have right and wrong answers. No one gets it, so I must explain that the rules are a symbol of the laws governing physician licensing and laws surrounding abortion, both of which are compromised as much as the cider house rules are. Probably the abuse happens on the roof. “Do you know what your business is?” – DRA

City Lights (1931) – 4/5 – Very entertaining and funny Charlie Chaplain. The first one I have seen, it is said to be of the best. Don’t miss this.

City Slickers (1991) – 4/5 – Billy Crystal. Quirky comedy about learning to survive on a cattle drive. Curly is great. – COM

Clash of the Titans (1981) – 4/5 – One of the great movies of my childhood, this movie will forever have an important place in history. It was created just at the dawn of special effects, and unfortunately this light did not shine on director Desmond Davis. Character development is wonderful and magical. Medusa is very memorable, and overall the movie is unforgettable. Because of the nature of the movie, it is appealing to those of us who were children at the time. It isn’t as interesting for adults. – ACT

Clear and Present Danger (1994) – 4/5 – Harrison Ford in the Jack Ryan role at his best. A CIA thriller that takes Jack Ryan to Central America to witness the violence and unrest firsthand. He discovers also about the dark side of politics. – ACT

Clockwork Orange (1971) – 4/5 – Two films in one. Stanley Kubrick does a good job putting a difficult story to film. It is repulsive and seductive. The greatest feature is ongoing narration in 1960’s English slang. A dazzling, sophisticated, horrible and musical display of violence and sexuality. The second is a comical study of society’s responses. The film displays graphic stylized brutality and sexuality, and this must be considered. - UNT

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) - 4/5 - A suspenseful science fiction landmark. Many will argue that this is an enduring classic and should be 5/5. But the second and third time one sees this movie, it seems to move too slowly. Note the wonderful scene where Roy makes the mountain in his living room. This is a wonderful example of Steven Spielberg’s peaceful, upbeat attitude about extraterrestrial life. In E.T. it becomes even more sweet and personal. This is very different from the typical War of the Worlds mindset of evil aliens. - ACT/DRA

Colors (1988) – 4/5 – One of the classic works about the street gangs and their interaction with police. A subplot of rookie cop versus experienced cop is well done. Well acted, and visually interesitn, it’s an important movie to see. It spawned such movies as Training Day, and others of an entire genre. Robert Duvall and Shawn Penn are excellent. – ACT/UNT

Crocodile Dundee (1986) – 4/5 – Funny and entertaining, Paul Hogan breaks through to American theaters with an interpretation of the Australian outback’s tough-guy. - COM

Day of the Jackal (1973) – 4/5 – A finely crafted movie about the meticulous planning for an assassination of Charles DeGaulle. The scenes are a tour of Europe, and the Jackal’s intelligent cold-hearted style makes it all the more impressive. – ACT/DRA

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) – 4/5 – Seems so ahead of its time, as an old film, it eerily moves fast enough to keep your attention. The characters are caricatures, and the film sits like a morality play; politicians, the military, and the media behave in kind of a reflex, thoughtless way. A child with insight gives us the most authentic take to an encounter with an Alien. What is great about this film is, one can tell, it is made during a time when people actually considered alien visitations as being likely. - DRA

Die Hard (1988) - 4/5 - Bruce Willis at his best (for his other great movie - see Sixth Sense). Action, suspense. Willis's character loves to swear, but is sly and smart when he is locked in a building with hostages and hostage takers. It's not surprising that so many people confuse this with Lethal Weapon (see review of lethal weapon). - ACT

Dirty Harry (1971) – 4/5 – The Pulp Fiction of the 1960s apparently. It seems like the definitive Clint Eastwood movie. A San Fransisco detective, Harry has his own get-the-job-done attitude toward crime. It is a landmark, like The French Connection, in gritty urban cop dramas. Well done – ACT/UNT

Digging to China (1998) - 4/5 - a heartwarming movie about two unlikely "children," a marginalized little girl and a man with Cerebral Palsy. - DRA

Dirty Dancing (1987) - 4/5 - A Rebellion story where the bad boys and the good boys are really both bad. Backdrop of very talented dancing and a look into the vacation spots of past rich people. - DRA/ACT

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) – 4/5 – Two con artists work the same city in a classic comedy. Steve Martin always entertains with his very physical comedy. “I love me here!” - COM

District B13 (2004) – 4/5 – French action thriller featuring amazing feats of skillful free running, taking a political issue to task with style. - ACT

The Doctor (1991) – 4/5 – A physician becomes ill and learns to see the hospital from the perspective of the patient. This movie had much impact on me. Mostly because I can relate to him unfortunately. - DRA

Dogs of War (1981) – 4/5 – Almost excellent war story. A very interesting study on the complicated lives and allegiances of the American mercenary-soldier. The viewer is disappointed by the actual action, because the buildup is so excellent. The greatness of the film is in the character development, which is unbeatable. - ACT

Donna Flor and her Two Husbands (1976) - 4/5 - This Brazilian film is about a woman who marries an abusive but passionate man, It is very well done and artistic. – DRA

Driving Miss Daisy (1989) – 4/5 – A memorable film about the power-struggle relationship between a rich & powerful woman and her chauffeur. - DRA

Doctor Zhivago (1965) - 4/5 - A drama of epic proportions. Very well performed portrayal of a poet in Russia - the movie was made from a novel by a poet who loved two women. We can forgive him for sleeping in the bed of another woman who is not his wife. The hairstyles are very 70's and are the only out of place element. Filmed in Spain. - DRA

Easy Rider (1969) – 4/5 – A MUST see. Captain America and Billy ride from LA to the Mardi Gras and give us a tour of the unique US of the late sixties, a time that hopefully will never be again. It is so different from everything 90s. Jack Nicholson makes his big opening into movies. – DRA

Elephant Man (1980) – 4/5 – A compelling biography and illustration of the existence of a deformed man, but incomplete. It focuses on the wrong relationships and never feels satisfying. See Roger Ebert's review - DRA

The Emperor’s Club (2002) – 4/5 – A prep-school drama about a classical history teacher. Though the genre has been overdone, this is a very nice story about the impact he has on the life of his students, and how his students impact him. A wholehearted movie. - DRA

Empire of the Sun (1987) – 4/5 – Follows the experiences of a young English boy in Shanghai through WWII. I thought it was great. - DRA

The Endless Summer (1966) - 4/5 - An immensely entertaining introduction to the world of surfing for non surfers. An important landmark in surfing and surfing movie genre for surfers. All around worth every minute! I think I met Corky in Huntington Beach one time. He's a really nice guy. See the minute that made him famous. - ACT

Finding Nemo (2003) – 4/5 – Pixar and Disney score another hit with a tale of a little handicapped fish who gets lost, and the father who has to travel a scary ocean to find him. – CHI

Finding Neverland (2004) – 4/5 – Excellent movie about the real-life situations surrounding the authorship of the story Peter Pan. Based on a true story, this film is emotionally powerful. It reminded me about the power of imagination, which, as adults we tend to forget. - DRA

Frailty (2002) – 4/5 – Horror, family style. This is a haunting, excellent movie. Two poor little boys are the victims of a father who has lost his mind and has become a serial killer. – UNT/DRA

Father of the Bride (1991) – 4/5 – A hilarious updated remake, Steve Martin’s life is turned upside down by his daughter’s upcoming marriage – COM

La Femme Nikita (1990) – 4/5 – The original story of the secret agent taken from among the convicted criminals. This is a theme much worse done in XXX. Nikita is convincing and haunting. French. Subtitles. – ACT

French Connection (1971) – 4/5 – This is a landmark film in evolution of the urban police drama. Directed by William Friedkin. Friedkin explores the amorality of the modern vice cop, and gives a non-judgmental view of how the police enforce the ban on the proliferating drug problem. Notice that Dirty Harry came out the same year. Dirty Harry is kind of unrealistic, contrasted by the commonality of the crimes perpetrated in this movie. Basically, Gene Hackman’s character, Popeye, has great NYC cop instincts. He tails a group involved in international heroin smuggling. The magnitude of the crime is not as dramatic as Dirty Harry, nor is it as glorified a role, but Hackman does a great job. The real star of this film are the pimped-out 1971 cars, which I loved to watch. I could only say, “look at those boats!” - ACT

Frequency (2000) - 4/5 - A suspenseful yet poignant story about time interfaces and how a son connects with his dead father 30 years in the past through a ham radio and a freak of nature (some auroras and stuff) and is able to change the course of his life. Sounded formulaic per the trailers, but ended up being very entertaining and thoughtful. Besides the time travel/father son plot, there is also a "catch the serial killer" subplot. Will appeal to many viewers. Good "Father's Day" fare. And Dennis Quaid's NY accent wasn't too bad (better than Kevin Costner's pathetic attempts at a British accent...cross reference to "Robin Hood") - Anonymous Bruin - I must say that I agree with Anonymous Bruin. I saw it with my father, and we loved it together. - Ryan - DRA

Frida (2002) – 4/5 – An artistic film about an artist plagued by chronic back pain and love for an unworthy man. - DRA

From Here to Eternity (1953) - 4/5 - A classic movie of pre W.W.II Pearl Harbor - a tragedy. - DRA

Gabbeh (1996) - 4/5 - Foreign - Very artistic movie where a carpet enchanted with the spirit of the weaver retells its story. The story seems slow at first, and is quite unusual to our American tastes. But we fall in love with the dramatic cinematography and poetic story line. Full of all of the suspense of an action thriller with a pastoral love theme. - INT

Get Shorty (1995) - 4/5 - Entertaining story, well acted, funny. Mob violence meets Hollywood - and they meet with a bang. - ACT

Gladiator (2000) - 4/5 This is a wonderful reproduction of classical Rome with incredible pseudo-cinematography, archeologically correct architecture and good period costuming. The plot is exciting and simple. On the other hand, it is slightly over-dramatized and when compared with a classic like Braveheart, one can see that the character development is slightly lacking. We don't see the soft side of this warrior. Not to say the directors don't try, but we end up simply understanding his rage, rather than feeling his weaknesses with him - Just when we thought solid “hero” movies were obsolete. An intense, action-packed film in the tradition of Ben Hur, Spartacus and the like with the framework of a Shakespearean tragedy. It’s refreshing to see a movie featuring a true “hero” in this era of muddled moral values and relativistic truths; the good and bad are clearly delineated—hence, we don’t get lost in the esoterica, but enjoy the movie for the good story that it is. - Anonymous Bruin - ACT

The Graduate (1967) – 4/5 – An older married woman seduces a younger man, who later falls for her daughter. The human drama unfolds and is a Classic American Film. – COM/DRA

Grease (1978) – 4/5 – Classic Musical. – COM/DRA

The Green Berets (1968) – 4/5 – One of the first Viet Nam war movies. John Wayne stars in a WWII style movie about Viet Nam. It is a pro-war propaganda of the time, as much as many others are anti-war. - ACT

Harold and Maude (1971) - 4/5 - An unlikely friendship between a troubled teenager and a woman who has seen all too many troubles. Harold's suicidal antics make a tense subject matter hilarious at times. Notice Maude's tattoo (it's key to understanding the story) - DRA/COM

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (#1 - 2001) – 4/5 – An excellent children’s story with fabulous characters combined with 2002 state-of-the-art movie making and special effects. I really liked it! - DRA

Harvey (1950) – 4/5 – More of a play than a movie, Harvey is an entertaining production about a drinking man with an imaginary friend. There are funny plot twists, and however corny, the feel-good movie works. The screenplay explores only shallowly the social issues it touches on, but it touches on plenty. - DRA

Heat (1995) – 4/5 – Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro (two actors that many of us confuse with each other) star as organized crime ringleader, and lead of a police organized crime task force. The two come face to face, and recognize the similarities in their lives. It’s action packed, violent and exciting. - ACT

History of the World, Part 1 (1981) – 4/5 – Mel Brooks’ adult comedy lampoons the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, the Spanish Inquisition, and the French Revolution. If you like Mel Brooks don’t miss this one. If you don’t like Mel Brooks, then leave it. If you don’t know Mel Brooks, then watch this one. - COM

House Boat (1958) - 4/5 - 1958 - Carey Grant and Sophia Lauren
A classic family movie. Lauren delivers a wonderful performance as an Italian upper-class woman who finds herself the maid of a broken family. The rest is Hollywood. There are plenty of funny situations that provide for entertaining viewing.
Betty: 3/5 - This tale of a newly widowed father (played by Cary Grant) making the best of his three newly acquired children while maintaining his high profile Washington D.C. job is often funny, sometimes unsettling and occasionally heart warming. It's old movie style, music, song, dress and often simple/clean inter-human dynamics is refreshing for the movie buff. Sophia Lauren dazzles with Hollywood as the Italian "maid" who befriends the children and ignites good father behaviors. Viewing from the evolved perspective of today with regard to how we treat children makes parts of this movie seem somewhat disturbing. I felt unsettled when the children displayed adult emotion and behaviors. - DRA/COM

Howard's End (1992) - 4/5 - A visually beautiful movie, remembering English high society. See how the sins of mankind don't discriminate between the rich and the poor, the educated and the ignorant. But he who is rich and educated may have a greater responsibility for own his sin. The rich icon here seems uninterested. This is a tale of hope, hopelessness, tragedy, and forgiveness. - DRA

Hunt for Red October (1990) – 4/5 – A memorable thriller about a Soviet Submarine captain who leads his sub too close to American shores. Jack Ryan, Tom Clancy’s CIA super-analyst, helps guide the US response to this deadly threat. - ACT

Ikiru (1952) – 4/5 – The story of a bureaucrat who changes his life radically when he finds out he doesn’t have long to live. It is a criticism of inefficient bureaucracy, but also a criticism of the indifference with which we live our lives. It is Japanese 1950’s culturally, so it is set in a Japan newly struggling with democracy. The movie features a whirlwind tour of the nightlife of Tokyo at the time. From a physician’s perspective, there is as a very interesting segment which highlights paternalism in medicine in chapter 5-6 of the 2003 DVD. The movie plods along, requiring patience. This was a cultural experience for me. The storyline with regard to the tragedy is simple, and sweet. An eerie love song ties it all together. – DRA/INT

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) – 4/5 – Classic Indiana Jones adventure, but disappointing compared to the others. Unpalatable sub-plots. - ACT

Insomnia (2002) – 4/5 – Excellent and suspenseful drama about an investigator grappling with his integrity. – DRA

Jerry Maguire (1996) - 4/5 - Jerry learns to live and love in this greatest of date movies. DRA

The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002) – 4/5 – A fascinating autobiography of the film producer Robert Evans. He ran Paramount for some time, and produced The Godfather, and later independently produced Chinatown. He was instrumental in a few other well-known films. The most intriguing part to me personally is how Paramount hired authors to write Love Story in the 1960’s and brought it to the screen to appeal both to the youth and the older generation at a time when a divided America needed a great night together at the movies. It details important events of his life, like how he spent $390,000 for his Hollywood dream mansion, married a major actress and model who was later stolen away by Steve McQueen, how he was eventually ruined, and how he came back. - INT

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) – 4/5 – A very engaging and interesting take on the Christ story. This explores the deepest reaches of the theology of the Passion with a fictional alternate possibility. - DRA

La Bamba (1987) – 4/5 – A drama depicting the life of Ritchie Valens, who died prematurely after performing “La Bamba.” – DRA

Legends of the Fall (1994) – 4/5 – Epic film of a Montana family affected by WWI. - DRA

Lethal Weapon (1987) 4/5. Lethal Weapon is a great action flick about a suicidal cop who finds meaning in an exciting series of shoot-outs. - ACT

Lolita (1962) 4/5. Lolita is a metaphor for the way Europe may be enticed by American values. A professor has a pedophilic relationship with a young girl. The unfolding of the story is dark, and excellent. - DRA

M (1931) 4/5. You have to see M with forgiving eyes. The technique of dubbing sound was obviously very new and was not well done here. Otherwise, M is amazingly good for a film for 1931. This is for more of the movie-buff audience. Although the manhunt is very interesting, and the chase scene relatively exciting, it is the complexity of the treatment of the pedophile murderer that is way ahead of its time. - DRA

The Maltese Falcon (1941) – 4/5 – An entertaining detective story from the early 1940’s. The acting is fair. Bogart is famous for this film, but his Casablanca was better. I still don’t see what all the fuss is about that actor. The most notable performance was that of Sydney Greenstreet, the Fat Man, or Mr. Gutman. The conversation when the Fat Man meets Detective Sam Spade is very entertaining. The name Mr. Gutman seems to be a double entendre, an alias. The story is only fair, and will need a complete reworking if a future remake is to be any good. A more naïve audience is required to suspend disbelief in the 1941 version. An excellent plot twist was aborted prematurely. We weren’t initially sure if Sam Spade hadn’t done in his partner. The way he treats the partner’s widow is very unusual, and seems to have been a failed attempt to move that plot element along. I would like to have seen Sam still under suspicion by the audience until the very end. The interaction between the private detective and the police and the serial success of Spades ridiculous fast-talking are examples of why the movie is difficult to accept at face value. Though the acting and the plot could be much better, and hopefully will be in its next incarnation, as an example of a solid example of the 1941 filmmaking, Maltese Falcon earns a 4/5 in my book. – DRA/ACT

A Man Called Horse (1970) 4/5. Richard Harris - A dissatisfied Englishman in the Nineteenth Century finds himself a workhorse in American Indian society. This is a fascinating work of re-creation without obvious snobbery or prejudice. It’s definitely worth a look. Some scenes haunt you for days. - ACT/DRA

Man on the Moon (1999) 4/5. Man on the Moon is a very entertaining and funny biography of Andy Kaufman, performed by Jim Carrey. There is a great lounge singer scene. - COM

The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997) – 3/5 – Bill Murray, not at his best, but a fun movie. One of my mom’s favorites. - COM

The Mask (1994) - 4/5 - This is the movie that showcases the incredible physical comedy of Jim Carrey. The plot is pretty good, and the special effects are good too. – COM

McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971) – 4/5 – A character study of a frontier entrepreneur and his relationship with a professional madam. It explores the essence of a relationship, and the barriers to one. It explores the entire gamut of the town life of miners, and seems like a landmark in terms of a different take on the old west in filmmaking. The greatest scene is when McCabe takes a soliloquy and speaks his heart to Mrs. Miller in her absence. – DRA/ACT

Men in Black (1997) – 4/5 – Great summer movie fun, this is a fun family movie. It is funny, exciting, and a visual achievement. It is original and quirky. – COM/ACT

Metropolis (1926) - 4/5 - A very memorable criticism of social inequality in a modernist/realist/futuristic society. - INT

Monsters, Inc. (2001) – 4/5 – An original children’s movie. Like most Disney/Pixar ventures, this one is smart and fun enough for the adults to enjoy. – COM/CHI

Minority Report (2002) – 4/5 – Is our legal system fair enough? Should we use new tools that are more technology-based? How should we treat “suspected terrorists” in our legal system. This futuristic action movie actually addresses these issues. Good timing. – ACT

The Mission (1986) – 4/5 – A story of a Jesuit priest who must fight against the greed and corruption of his superiors. Cinematography is wonderful, but the film has a dream-like quality and a plot that’s hard to follow. Compare to “Aguirre, Wrath of God.” - DRA

My name is Joe (1999) - 4/5 - A believable relationships story about dealing with real life issues and people with problems. - DRA/INT

Mystic River (2003) – 4/5 – A dark, twisted drama that has its basis in a traumatic childhood event, and follows the three former childhood friends as they deal with the events of a tragic night. The filming and storyline are very involving, and it is well acted. There is excellent character development. Only problem is at the end, the story falls apart a bit. The storyline is almost very convincing, but it doesn’t quite make it, and therefore doesn’t qualify for 5/5, although a very good film - DRA

Never Cry Wolf (1983) - 4/5. A researcher is transformed by his study of wolf behavior. A great line: an Inuit shows a toothless smile and says, "That's what happens when a meat-eater becomes a sugar-eater." - DRA/ACT

The Never-ending Story (1984) – 4/5 – A boy, tormented by bullies, escapes into a fantasy world with a peculiar book. A surprise success from a German director - CHI

A Night at the Opera (1935) – 4/5 – My first Marx Brothers movie. They mock the social establishment while not mocking the opera per se. A corny love story is woven in, but without compromising the quality of the movie. A story about a deleted scene in the beginning is very interesting - COM

Nurse Betty (2000) - 4/5 - Have the two bad guy comic relief actors ever acted so well? I was surprised by the innocence vs. experience theme of the movie. Graphic at first, and humor with a hard edge, but so well done. Have you ever heard of dissociative fugue? This movie is about that. - ACT/DRA

Oh Brother, Where art Thou? (2000) - 4/5 - Very visually interesting and absorbing to watch the adventures of three escaped inmates in the South. Very creative. - COM

Patton (1970) - 4/5 - A very good movie with an excellent monologue in the beginning. The story of a primmadonna warrior who misunderstands as much as he is misunderstood, but is arguably the best. A demonstration of how living in the structure of the society and obeying is more important than being excellent at what you do - especially poignant since what he does best he does by bending others to his will. - DRA

Philidelphia (1993) – 4/5 – An important and poignant story about AIDS and the way it changes life. - DRA

Pi: Faith in Chaos (1998) - 4/5 - a surreal movie - somewhat provocative and cerebral - dark - R rating - INT

Pirates of the Caribbean. The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – 4/5 – A surprisingly good movie adaptation of one of the greatest amusement park rides of all time. – ACT

Pride and Prejudice (2005) – 4/5 – Excellently abridged version of the story of the same name. Acting is excellent, and the point of the whole thing is not lost because the story moves so quickly. - DRA

Psycho (1960) – 4/5 – The classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller. A demanding and impatient woman lives upstairs in a slow motel - DRA

Rain Man (1988) – 4/5 – A man meets his brother who is a grown idiot-savante – DRA

Rear Window (1954) – 4/5 – An Alfred Hitchcock classic. Jimmy Steward is laid up in his apartment, and witnesses strange things afoot as he becomes a shut-in snoop. - DRA

The Red Violin (1999) - 4/5 - This could have been a truly perfect movie. I can't put my finger on what was wrong with it. Maybe the selection of the protagonist. But it has the trails of greatness. The story of a violin created by a master in the throes of mourning. The violin is followed through the tumultuous world until the present day. - DRA

Road to Perdition (2002) – 4/5 – Another Tom Hanks success. The personal side of a mobster in the 1940s. Not perfect, but well done. –ACT/DRA

Rush Hour (1998) – 4/5 – Very funny film. One of Jacky Chan’s first roles on the American big screen. Chan and Tucker are the best Asian & Black combination since Tiger Woods. – ACT/COM

School of Rock (2003) 3/5. School is in; it’s just that it’s the teachers first time there too. This is a very entertaining movie with Jack Black. It has heart and it’s entertaining. COM

Seabiscuit (2003) – 4/5 – Very nice adaptation of a novel to the movie screen. I was clapping in the theatre. – DRA

Searchers, The (1956) – 4/5 – Considered one of the greatest John Wayne movies of all time, this movie is both beyond its time, and moored in it. The limitiation is the ethnocentric “Texican” attitude is pervasive and inextricable as part of the plot. The Indians are simply bloodthirsty and bad. The whites are civil and seem to be defending themselves only. John Wayne is actually extremely good, the tough veteran who has to fight just as he is getting over the war. His character, Ethan, is mysterious, dark, and prejudiced, and Wayne seems to be made for the role. There are memorable heart wrenching and heartwarming scenes. – ACT

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) – 4/5 – A young boy finds he has a talent for chess that that changes his childhood. Joe Mantegna is very believable as his father. - DRA

Signs (2002) – 4/5 – Very good thriller. I’m so very impressed with this new director. – ACT

Sixteen Candles (1984) – 4/5 – Molly Ringwald - An 80’s classic. Don’t miss this chick-flick with an animal house party twist. – COM

Sleepless in Seattle (1993) – 4/5 – Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks have onscreen chemistry. Akin to An Affair to Remember - DRA

South Park Winter Wonderland (2001) – 4/5 – IF you like South Park you will laugh out loud at the classic “Circle of Poo” song, boy band Fingerbang, Jesus’ millennium show for 1999, and Romper Stomper, Cartman’s unlikely friend in the big house. Parker, Stone, and Hayes have an in-your-face shock ‘em comedy style that is responsive to the shifting winds of popular culture. These episodes are all available in the season boxed sets. – COM

South Park Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999) – 4/5 – This is the most offensive and shocking South Park I’ve seen. If the title doesn’t give you a hint, you should know that this movie is EXTREMELY offensive. http://www.capalert.com/capreports/southpark.htm/ On the other hand, it is really funny, in a sick way, and the whole movie is set to a bitingly ironic storyline. The musical parodies of Broadway are the main reason to see this movie. As always, from Trey Parker, the music is absolutely excellent, the lyrics are clever and they actually qualify this cartoon as a musical in my opinion. – COM/UNT

Speed (1994) – 4/5 – Very good tense high speed action movie. The pace is like a Steven Segal, but the storyline and acting are much better. It’s Sandra Bullock’s breakthrough role, and even Keanu Reeves looks like he’s having fun.

Spider Man (2002) – 4/5 – Unassuming Peter Parker’s Transformation into Spidey. Very good. - ACT

Spinal Tap, This is (1984) - 4/5 - What a hilarious documentary of a Rock Band! You don't want to miss this one, if you grew up around Glam Rock ( or Heavy Metal ) you will love this movie. The world of rock and roll through the eyes of an aging couple of rockers who have had their five minutes of attention in popular culture. P.S. The band isn't real. - COM

Spy Game (2001) – 4/5 – CIA operative goes rogue, and his old superior comes to his rescue. Engrossing, well done, great action, and entertaining. - ACT

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) - 4/5 - Movie adaptation of a Broadway play. A very moving and disturbing movie with excellent acting and dialogue. Shows of the shadowy side of human nature and human frailty. - DRA

Superman II (1980) – 4/5 – The legend of Superman will never be the same. On the one hand, the movie is freed from the Superman tradition. Mario Puzo, the screenwriter, leaves the Superman formula behind. This leads to unusual and unexpected situations, which is refreshing. Also, the special effects bring the legend to life in a new dimension. But the movie is dark, cruel, and violent, and this casts a shadow on the enjoyment. – ACT

Supersize Me (2004) – 4/5 – Morgan Spurlock’s timely and honest reality-documentary about fast food in America. It’s informational, accurate and interesting. Because he ate so many calories, it’s hard to tell if it was the fast food or the caloric intake that caused his problems. He should have just confined himself to the menu and observed his caloric intake, rather than forcing it down. For dramatic effect, though, the strategy impressed us all. Eww. – DRA/INT

Terminator 2 (1991) – 4/5 – This gets a better review than Terminator the original, and not just because the heroine has lost the early 80s haircut and now looks buffed out and hot. Special effects are improved, and the movie somehow seems tighter. Action scenes are aplenty. - ACT

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)- 4/5 - A poor boy living in the meat packing district of New York during the times of great family money finds an "in" to the world of the lazy and rich. He has useful talents that he uses to continue in that world. Definitely not for children. - Rob: 5/5 - Nice scenery. Creepy characters but an interesting concept overall. - DRA

Team America, World Police (2004) – 4/5 – It should be NC-17, with a graphic (foul) doll-sex scene. It is offensive for offence sake, and the puppetry is amazing. I was blown away by the great scenery, attention to detail, and hilarious overgeneralizations even in the costuming and settings. For example, Paris and the Panama canal are presented exactly as an ignorant American might imagine it, instead of as they are. The funny part is panning the action-movie genre. It's amazing to me than nearly everyone, critics included, hated this movie. - COM

There’s Something about Mary (1998) – 4/5 – Ben Stiller nails the laughs in this comedy about finding the perfect girlfriend. This came out in an era of American moviemaking which focused on toilet comedy. It turned me off to the movie, but when I finally saw it, the comedy was worth looking past the gross humor. – COM

Top Gun (1986) – 4/5 – Very memorable with excellent character development, an exciting setting, and eye-popping action sequences. The dialogue is somewhat lacking. – ACT/DRA

Train of Life [Train de Vie] (1999) – 4/5 – Very thought provoking foreign [French] film about the escape of a village of Jews in France in Hitler’s time. – DRA/INT

Trainspotting (1996) – 4/5 – A tragic and comic film about a group of Junkies in Edinburgh. Renton has to choose between a stable life and a life of looking for the next score. – DRA

Tron (1982) – 4/5 – I don’t think history will appreciate what a great movie is Tron. It isn’t perfect, as Leonard Maltin points out, “the story runs out of steam.” The special effects are a leap forward for the time, and probably can’t be appreciated by more modern audiences. The concepts of artificial intelligence and “singularity” theory are pioneering for the time. The movie captures the great era of arcade video games. – DRA/ACT

True Grit (1969) – 4/5 – John Wayne helps a young girl track down her father's killer. The character is not just played by John Wayne, it is the honed character that this character actor had perfected. The story and movie are good, but the institution of the "John Wayne Western" is what is palpable in this film. – ACT/DRA

Twins (1988) – 4/5 – Comedy about brothers separated at birth. - COM

Undercover Brother (2002) – 4/5 – LMAO – (Laughed my Ass Off) – COM

Unforgiven (1992) – 4/5 – Star studded western about a retired villain of the old west who decides to sign on to a vigilante assassination attempt. It’s fairly violent, but very memorable. The trek through Middle America on horseback is beautiful. – ACT

Waking Ned Devine (1998) – 4/5 – A pleasant comedy set in beautiful Ireland, filmed on the Isle of Man. Scores big. - COM

Wall Street (1987) - 4/5 - Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, Daryl Hannah, Sean Young - A vivid snapshot of Wall Street insiders, contrasting the brokers with the big sharks. Take the ride with a young broker up the rungs of the ladder of Wall Street wealth. The moralizing is slightly overdone, but poignant. - DRA

Whale Rider (2003) – 4/5 – A fresh, different movie about a crisis in a Maori tribe. Excellent and heart-wrenching. Almost perfect except the story is a little too simplistic. - DRA

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (1962) – 4/5 – Finally I got to know Betty Davis’s eyes. A masterful suspense drama. – DRA

Willow (1988) – 4/5 – The diminutive Willow and the almost-hero Madmardigan team up to save an enchanted world from evil. Do they succeed? Listen to the prophecy. Some great scenes mixed with some good and some bad acting. The movie is unforgettable, though. The poorly done parts are even endearing. - ACT

Windtalkers (2002) – 4/5 – Emotionally charged war film about the great contribution of the Navajo to the struggle of WWII. – ACT

Witness (1985) – 4/5 – Harrison Ford poses as an Amish to protect a witness. – ACT/DRA

Young Frankenstein (1974) – 4/5 – Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder join up for laughs in this next-generation of Frankenstein comedy. It’s got longevity, as a friend told me. - COM

Three Star Movies

8 ½ (1963) – 3/5 – Fellini. The movie is a dreamscape, with flashbacks galore, and deep symbolism which is mostly lost on the viewer. The movie is unintelligible until about halfway through, when the pieces start to come together. If you want to experience a critically acclaimed “masterpiece” untainted by a synopsis, then stop reading here. This is a very difficult to watch movie, and I am lucky to have made it halfway through without shutting it off. In the end, though it mostly made sense. If you are interested in a synopsis that will give you heart, it follows. An Italian director is haunted by his life, and his many lovers but inability to truly love. He can’t decide between a blockbuster Science Fiction production or a piece about the psychology of his own life. He is constantly pressured by his actors, producers, and staff to get on with the movie. His wife and friends are insulted that he would try a foray into a personally revealing movie, (which is what this movie actually is) but it is almost a therapy for him. He develops writers block, and has to face that his creativity is scattered, his production is losing money, and his personal life is in shambles. - INT

9 to 5 (1980) – 3/5 – Excellent character development. Once the stage is set, the story itself is very weak and unrealistic. The wonderful hit title song is by Dolly Parton. - COM

10 (1979) - 3/5 - Comedy about mid-life crisis. Not exactly what you expect - much better. lots of nudity. - COM/UNT

2010 (1984) – 3/5 – I have no idea why they thought that by 2010 the world would be so different. There is nothing special about 2010 in contrast to 2001. That is the summary of the comparison of the two movies, too. Kubrick’s 2001 is imaginative, poetic, Hyams’ 2010 seems pragmatic and traditional. The importance of this movie is that it is a landmark in special effects. It is no Star Wars, however. Like the Star Wars sequels which re-defined “the Force” as “the effect of Midichorians,” imagination is now lost. Unfortunately it tries to tie up all the loose ends of 2001, and define what is meant to be a metaphor.

Abyss (1989) – 3/5 – Deservedly nominated for best visual effects, this movie is dazzling in drama and eeriness. The doomed crew has, as Maltin says, “[more than] one crisis too many,” but overall it is mesmerizing. Unfortunately, the end seems like a real cop-out. Apparently the special edition has some of the footage that ties the story together a little more tightly, although still leaving something to be desired. – ACT

Air Force One (1997) – 3/5 – Harrison Ford puts on a great performance as the President of the United States fighting terrorists hand-to-hand on his own plane. Unfortunately there is little else memorable. – ACT

Alamo, The (2004) – 3/5 – An attempt to make an unforgettable classic. Unfortunately, despite reasonable acting, the directing makes the movie entirely forgettable. An article about the Alamo in Smithsonian this year was much better. – ACT

All the President’s Men (1976) – 3/5 – In a simpler time, the public trusted the President, and a campaign spying episode was considered a “big deal.” Two reporters disembarrassed the public, and their investigative reporting threatened the President’s job. Have our reporters lost some of that true grit, or is there too much now? A debate may follow this good movie. - DRA

Almost Famous (2000) - 3/5 - An intriguing, thought-provoking and evocative look inside rock & roll in the 70s. Many will be offended by the probably realistic way young women are taken advantage of in this movie. The writer paints an unrealistically bleak portrait of traditional values, and it becomes a necessity for a young boy to hook up with a rock band under the auspices of rock journalism. - DRA

The American President (1995) 3/5. A fun movie, that isn’t so fun. The president has to be careful who to date, and how to date, if a widow. Also, there is plenty of liberal propaganda to boot. DRA

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) – 3/5 – Entertaining parody on the James Bond Series. The sequel (1999) is even better but in 2002, Goldmember’s pass was revoked. - COM

Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), and Batman Forever (1995) – 3/5 – When I first saw Batman, I was disappointed to see that the brightly colored, upbeat Batman from the television shows didn’t return. Instead, I found Tim Burton’s film noir more interested in the visual exploration of the concept of “Gotham.” Don’t get me wrong, what he set out to accomplish he accomplished, but unlike the hero-building Superman and Indiana Jones, he usurped the Hero, and created nihilism. Batman is a subdued man with a dark side, more than an action hero. Batman & Robin, the fourth in the series, is a 2/5. As Roger Ebert noted, “The great Batman movie is yet to be made.” - ACT/DRA

Battle of the Bulge (1965) - 3/5 – There is nothing distinguishing about this WWII movie. The script gets in the way of a well-costumed, well-recreated wartime France movie. It’s semi-realistic, but if you want to learn about the battle, it’s not all the facts, but it’s an entertaining way to start. – ACT

Being John Malkovich (1999)– 3/5 – Well now I know who that guy who plays the jewel thief is. I laughed when I couldn’t think of the name of a movie he was in, but instantly remembered his face. I agree with Bruin that it is unclear why he is the vessel, but I’m glad because it is well done, and entertaining. This is a black comedy by the way, and isn’t a roll-on-the-floor-laughing show but I did laugh out loud at times. – Ryan. Difficult to coherently describe this film. In one word, “weird”. Interesting concept of entering someone’s mind through some metaphysical portal and thereby attaining immortality. Something Kafka might have produced if he was a film maker in the 21st century. How John Malkovich got the dubious distinction of being the premiere “vessel” is unclear. - The Anonymous Bruin - INT /COM

Behind Enemy Lines (2001) – 3/5 – Not very convincing, but not a bad modern war film – ACT

Beverly Hills Cop (1984) – 3/5 – Good movie starring Eddie Murphy as a smart-mouth investigator. – ACT

Billy Elliot (2000) – 3/5 – Billy’s father wants him to go into sports. Billy is a dancer at heart. The two have to work out their relationship. - DRA

Blade (1998) & Blade II (2002) – 3/5 – Action/Combat, in an alternate reality (vampire world). Pretty Good watching. - ACT

Blood Simple (1984) - 3/5 - A lower score only because of the unbridled violence and inhumanity it explores. Definitely not a movie for children. It is very well done for the story it delivers. Similar to Fargo, which I think was directed by the same person. Note the masterful presentation of roadside highway scenes and full of planned violence gone wrong. I feel frustrated that the actors don't communicate clearly with each other, almost to the point of sacrificing all realism. Also the same actress. - DRA/UNT

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) – 3/5 – Better than the sequel, but not as good as the original. You really don't have to see the second one to appreciate the third. – DRA/ACT

Boys in Company C (1978) – 3/5 – The Boys is about the futility of war. An anti-war movie about Vietnam gives us a tour of the worst side of that conflict that might have been observed. Gross incompetence and poor prioritization by poor leadership is the constant fare. You feel guilty just watching this movie. - ACT

Bringing Down the House (2003) – 3/5 – Very good comic performances from Steve Martin and Queen Latifah. Don’t miss Freak Boy. – COM

Caddyshack (1980) – 3/5 – Classic Rodney Dangerfield. Very funny. - COM

Catch Me If You Can (2002) – 3/5 – Roger Ebert says its “effortlessly watchable.” He’s right. It’s no major movie event but it is entertaining and very well done. The costumes and re-creation of the time period is worth noting, said Margret McGurk. – DRA

A Civil Action (1998) – 3/5 – Based on a true story, a lawyer faces the case of his life in environmental law. – DRA

Clueless (1995) – 3/5 – The rare teen comedy worthy of watching. Based on Jane Austen’s Emma. – COM

Cocktail (1988) – 3/5 – The star of Legend returns for this romantic fun drama about a bartender and his quest for love and success. Great to see the New York City scene of the late 1980s. – DRA

Cookie’s Fortune (1999) – 3/5 – An entertaining tour of a Mississippi. Cute and comedic. – COM

Crimson Tide (1995) – 3/5 – A noisy and gripping battle of wills occurs when one man’s hunch tells him he’s about to inadvertently start World War III. - ACT

The Cruise (1998) – 3/5 - A Fascinating look into the mind of a New Yorker in love with New York. – INT

Ed Wood (1994) - 3/5 - A bad movie about a director of bad movies. Tim Burton. – COM

Edward Scissorhands (1990) – 3/5 – A fantastical story, in the Tim Burton style. It is almost a fairy tale – DRA/COM

Enemy at the Gates (2001) – 3/5 – I liked this movie much more than the critics did. Maybe because I tend to play video games in which I can play a sniper. I thought it was tense, and a great visual re-creation of the horrible Nazi-Russian conflict. The dialogue and story line are not as strong. – ACT

Erin Brockovich (2000) - 3/5 - Ever seen the movie A Civil Action? Well, Julia Roberts stars in a great remake of that movie. One reviewer called it "A Civil Action with Tits." Yes, her push-up bra makes for a very distracting movie, especially since the camera angles tend to overplay the "Hi, I'm a sexy ex-beauty queen with a taste for revealing outfits" thing. Anyway, she conquers an evil, faceless corporation accused of pollution with her true grit. - DRA

Face/Off (1997) – 3/5 – An entertaining lawman pursuit movie. Nothing spectacular, but a thrill ride. - ACT

Fargo (1996) - 3/5 - A graphically violent look at a crime story in North Dakota among some incredibly dull people - perhaps too dull for reality. - UNT/DRA

Father of the Bride 2 (1995) – 3/5 - Steve Martin plays another lovable dad role, this time in mid-life crisis. Fairly well done, but most should stop with the first unless you are looking for more Steve Martin. - COM

Field of Dreams (1989) – 3/5 – One of the most appealing sports movies ever. - DRA

Frances (1982) – 3/5 – An important but painful movie to watch. This film documents the life story of Frances Farmer, who, as a result of blacklisting in Hollywood was committed to the depraved state mental hospital system. It is fairly slow moving and agonizing at times, especially to come face-to-face with the ignorance and injustice in America. - INT

Frenzy (1972) - 3/5 - Alfred Hitchcock. Serial Killer strangles women. Morbid thriller. UNT/DRA

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) – 3/5 – A feminist bonding movie that is endearing and entertaining - DRA

Galaxy Quest (1999) – 3/5 – Fun Spoof on the Trekkie phenomenon. – ACT/COM

Ghost (1990) – 3/5 – Emotional drama with a little too much action and comedy mixed in to be convincing. There are several passionate scenes worth seeing – DRA

Goldfinger (1964) – 3/5 – James Bond 007 #3 – Follows the Bond formula. Bond must thwart Goldfinger, who is trying to contaminate the gold at Fort Knox. This Bond displays particularly blatant hyper-sexuality. – ACT

Giant (1956) – 3/5 – A drama illustrating a big Texas rancher’s life and family dynamics. Definitely a classic and very nice performances from Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. Also, it is a glimpse at old Texas. The movie is long, and seems to ramble a bit. There are three or four separately developed plotlines, and the trouble with the movie is that it doesn’t know which one to focus on. They are: 1) The rancher versus oilman dilemma, 2) the history of Texas as “stolen” from the Mexicans, 3) Mexican racism in Texas, and 4) Raising children to go their own way. So the movie comes across as a rambling biography, and ends in a silly soliloquy about babies. It is memorable, but important only to really see how skillful and charming an actress is Elizabeth Taylor.

Girl, Interrupted (1999) – 3/5 – Good movie about a girl who admits herself into an asylum in the 1960’s. Winona Ryder’s character is not very interesting, or convincing. She doesn’t seem borderline at all. Angelina Jolie gives a very good performance. Overall this is no Cuckoo’s Nest. Some insight but not very moving. It was great to see Britanny Murphy finally get what she deserves. - DRA

Green Mile, The (1999) - 3/5 - A nauseating look inside death row, where one day a stupid and sadistic guard issues in the mean looking inmate who eventually changes the lives of everyone he comes in contact with via mystical dust breath. The movie has a promise of greatness, until the supernatural starts to intervene and gets in the way. At this point the viewer must step back and address the move from a new perspective. From a second vantage point, the movie again starts to engross and entertain. Don't watch if you are sensitive to horrible and violent acts. A fine performance as usual from Mr. Movie. Rob: 5/5 - A giant death row inmate solves problems in the 30’s by sucking the evil out of people and blowing it out as angel dust (not PCP). A miracle. Well done! - DRA/UNT

The Heist (2001) – 3/5 - Gene Hackman. There are many “Heist” movies. This one is fairly complex and nice to watch. – ACT

Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets (#2 - 2002) – 3/5 – Not as new and original, still visually entertaining with a great story especially for the young. – DRA/ACT

Hart’s War (2002) – 3/5 - Based on a novel by John Katzenbach, this is a smart, compelling story about justice, deception, and pragmatism in the time of war. The problem is that based on what you see, you can’t respect the character who is actually supposed to be the hero. - DRA

High Fidelity (2000), John Cusack - 3/5 - An introspective young man owns a record store. He finds out about himself and rehashes his love life history when his current love life is falling apart. This is a funny glimpse into the subculture of the vintage used record store subculture and a cute romantic comedy. Adult language and situations. - COM/DRA

Horn Blows at Midnight, The (1945) - 3/5 - I saw this on a big screen at the OCMA (Orange County Museum of Art) Friday classics series. It was really a lot of fun. Jack Benny's under reacting humor is great. He's classically funny by not doing anything, rather than by saying anything in particular. It's witty, and corny. And it's classic 1945s (white) Hollywood fare. They say Benny was not proud of it, but it's one of the most enduring of his works. - COM

Hunter, The (1980) - 3/5 - Steve McQueen, Kathryn Harrold - An afternoon action channel flick, Hunter is both dated (70s) and timeless. A story based on the life of Ralph "Papa" Thorson, a bounty hunter. He is a man out of his time, a point overplayed in the movie. A gunslinger in a city motif is wound into good character development. It was fun, and it must be the movie original which inspired the TV series. This is Steve McQueen a.k.a. "The King of Cool's" final movie. – ACT

Independence Day (1996) – 3/5 – The action film which tried to dignify the stripper as a justifiable job. Another save the world against aliens movie, Will Smith chooses a role which is a tried a tested formula for American movies which are blockbusters though they aren’t very good. - ACT

Insider, The (1999) - 3/5 - Fairly exciting drama about the smoking gun tobacco files. – DRA

The Jerk (1979) – 3/5 – Corny Steve Martin movie - COM

K-19: The Widow-Maker (2002) – 3/5 – Submarine Captain genre-movie. Retells the story of K19, a nuclear-weapon equipped sub with a crew just trying to survive Soviet engineering. – ACT/DRA

Kelly’s Heroes (1970) – 3/5 – Action-packed and comedic. These GI’s are after the loot of war in occupied France – ACT

L’Anee Des Meduses (1987) – 3/5 – One of those sexy-looking foreign movies at the rental store, this movie takes place on the topless beaches of the French Riviera. The sexual lives of several vacationers twist around a plot that is actually quite fascinating, with a nice artistic twist toward the end. – UNT

The Last of the Mohicans (1992) – 3/5 – I remember this movie having been the most violent I had ever seen upon watching it. Apparently the plot of the movie is much better than the book upon which it was based. This is the 4th remake of this story, probably the best. See 1920, 1936, 1977 – ACT

The Last Samurai (2003) – 3/5 – Tom Cruise is a mercenary for the Japanese government to help them rid themselves of the rival samurai. He has a change of heart. - ACT

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) – 3/5 – Lost some points for being unoriginal, but still pretty exciting – ACT

Lost in Translation (2003) – 3/5 – A serious comedy about an aging actor in mid-life crisis, and a young bride having a difficult time keeping her husband’s attention. They become close, kind of. – DRA

Manchurian Candidate (1962) – 3/5 – PTSD strikes Korea Vets and turns out they have been brainwashed, one to be an assassin. There is an unrealistic twist at the end. It’s great to see a scene where Frank Sinatra is karate fighting. – ACT/DRA

MASH (1970) – 3/5 – Tom Skerritt and Donald Sutherland star as the two zany surgeons who employ black humor in the middle of the Korean War to lighten everyone’s suffering. The movie is thinly veiled anti-Vietnam sentiment which has become mainstream in 1970. These two main actors seem much more frightening than the [more] lovable Alan Alda and Wayne Rogers. The television version, therefore, makes for more entertaining fare. – COM

Man on the Moon (2000) – 3/5 – Jim Carrey channels Andy Kaufman, who pioneered a comedy bordering on performance art. Very interesting. – COM/DRA

The Man who Knew too Much (1956) – 3/5 – Hitchcock spy thriller. My main problem with this movie was the lame que Sera Sera song over and over - DRA

Manhattan (1979) – 3/5 – Very good movie, but didn’t enthrall me. Woody Allen. – COM/DRA

Meet the Fockers (2004) – 3/5 - Almost as funny sequel to Meet the Parents. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I laughed. – COM

Memento (2000) – 3/5 – Unique filmmaking, with the story told from the end to the beginning. The plot is twisted and fascinating. Unfortunately, you do walk away from the film impressed by it’s making, but with a sinking feeling that mankind is simply evil. – ACT

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) – 3/5 – Excellent cinematography and very good character development. The movie fails to make me want to become a geisha, however. - DRA

Mission Impossible (1996) & MI-2 (2000) & MI-III (1006) - 3/5 - Ryan: I could not believe the incredible stunt work in this movie. Story was fairly good. Fight scenes were great. We missed the ever-burning fuse. The sexual innuendoes were too strong at first. I agree with Bruin about the mask thing. - Bruin: 3/5 - Classic action-adventure fare. The choreography of the fight scenes were quite good. Underlying theme of 2 guys fighting over a girl with some biological warfare motif thrown in for good measure. Wish there was more of Anthony Hopkins and less of Tom Cruise. The mask thing was kind of hokey, but all in all a very entertaining, fun movie. Good summer fodder. - Anonymous Bruin - ACT

Mulholland Falls (1996) - 3/5. Old school cops keep the mobs out of LA with some gang violence of their own. When the alpha-male cop finds his lover has been killed, he digs deeper and finds an intricate and explosive murder plot, taking him past the limits of his jurisdiction. – ACT/DRA

Napoleon Dynamite (2004) – 3/5. Dynamite is a funny story about outcast teen’s struggle to find his own niche. His family’s antics and the crazy Idaho town are featured as the comic substrate. Napoleon loves to dreamily draw fantastic animals, and he is funny to watch sympathetically. The story is less developed, at the expense of featuring Napoleon in situation after situation, but the life of a teen often seems not to follow a well developed story-line to begin with.

None but the Brave (1965) - 3/5 – Awaiting Ryan’s Viewing (not on netflix)- A World War II tale of Japanese and American soldiers stranded on a remote Pacific Island after separate warplane maneuvers failed. They must survive despite broken communications with their respective command posts. An interesting, partly moving portrayal of military men who need each other to survive and face to face want not to kill or wage war. Dialogue and acting mediocre, killings easy and surreal, yet, a must see for the few profound lines and implied plea to the viewer... to question - why we still wage war. - Betty - ACT/DRA

Nurse Betty (2000) – 3/5 – Hollywood Fugue. Entertaining variation on a theme. - COM

Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – 3/5 – Fair movie about a Las Vegas heist. – ACT/DRA

Officer and a Gentleman, An (1982) – 3/5 – Entertaining movie with young Navy recruits hoping to be officers. The protagonist comes from a shady background. He learns some important lessons. The sub-plot is about poor white trash finding a husband. – DRA

Once upon a Time in China (1991) – 3/5 – Superb Hong-Kong style martial arts movie, in Chinese. It is a 4/5 movie but it is crafted for an Asian audience which makes it seem silly sometimes to our viewing. The portrayal of the American government as complicit in a purposefully deceitful campaign to acquire foreign laborers from China is stinging. The movie just keeps gets better and more compelling. Jet Li is excellent - ACT

Phenomenon (1996) – 3/5 – John Travolta learns to break glass with his mind. - DRA

Pleasantville (1998) – 3/5 – Visually stunning, a complex plot comparing the virtues of the 1950s with the virtues of the 1990s. Missed greatness, but quite good. - DRA

Powder (1995) - 3/5 - A good movie about a boy born abnormal, abnormally wonderful. He is ostracized from society because he is different and unusual. His supernatural powers are overdone, which makes this potentially great movie get a good rating. - DRA

Punch-Drunk Love (2002) – 3/5 – I think the critics liked this one more than me, but as you can see my 3/5 are pretty good movies. A quirky man’s life-changing week while falling in love with a woman we are never quite convinced isn’t also out to get him. – DRA

Quiz Show (1994) – 3/5 – Robert Redford’s expose on quiz shows. Turns out they are rigged. Though it is solid and well done, the film plays like a serious documentary and is a little too pensive for modern audiences which have been disembarrassed of Television’s purity for a long time. - DRA

Ransom (1996) – 3/5 – Action/thriller about a rich man who must deal with the nightmare of a daughter taken for ransom. - ACT

Recruit, The (2003) – 3/5 – The critics tore up this movie. I liked it a little more. Probably this is because I like CIA thrillers. If you like that genre, then this is a nice one to catch. Otherwise, it is formulaic and forgettable. – ACT

Reservoir Dogs (1992) – 3/5 – Ugly, violent, horrible movie. A Tarantino classic. Displays the ugliness of crime with fantastic acting and suspense. No quarter is given to the appearance of propriety in a mob movie. The movie is fantastic. It is so gut-wrenching as to not have my recommendation, though. - ACT

The Rock (1996) – 3/5 – An exciting assault on Alcatraz, a base for a terrorist threat. Kind of unbelievable, but good action. Cage steals the show with his wimpy persona in the midst of heroic bravado. - ACT

Roman Holiday (1953) – 3/5 – A great tour of Rome, and introduction to Gregory Peck. Audrey Hepburn’s performance “Oscar-winning?” Whatever. Worst director of female character is the only Oscar I would give. – DRA

Rudy (1993) – 3/5 – An uplifting sports movie about a boy’s struggle to play football for Notre Dame. A Crowd-pleaser like Hoosiers- DRA

Rules of Engagement (2000) - 3/5 - As courtroom military dramas go, this one isn’t as good as A Few Good Men (one of my favorites). But is entertaining nonetheless. The Good and the Bad aren’t as well-defined in the story, and for simple-minded folk such as myself, that was a bit dissatisfying. Tommy Lee Jones does a good job of portraying an inept lawyer. - Anonymous Bruin. There are a few really climactic scenes at the very beginning. Then it gets into JAG. I have to agree with Anonymous Bruin here. 3/5. DRA

Rushmore (1998) – 3/5 A quirky, witty and memorable film. As Roger Ebert noted, the character development is excellent. It is enchanting to watch Jason Schwartzman fall in love with his prep school teacher. Unfortunately, the movie isn’t as compelling when a silly conflict is played out. – COM

Sabrina (1995) – 3/5 – Updated and better than the 1954 version. - DRA

Say Anything (1989) – 3/5 – Romantic comedy about an average student falling in love with the graduating valedictorian. A smart, fun high-school in the 1980's movie. The most often parodied love scene in history is when the young man uses a ghetto blaster to serenade his love. - COM

Sexy Beast (2001) - 3/5. You want mob nightmares, rent Sexy Beast. Ben Kingsley makes a frightening antisocial who is recruiting for a great heist. The movie is extremely violent and perverse, so beware. UNT/ACT.

Shakespeare in Love (1998) – 3/5 – A little corny, but a good story. – COM, DRA

Shane (1953) – 3/5 – Classic western, with a good story, stunning vistas. It isn't perfect, and doesn't redefine the genre, but it is interesting and watchable. You can almost watch it and just wish they could have been a little ahead of their times and it would have been much better. - DRA

The Shining (1980) – 3/5 – A little boy has “The Shining,” the ability to read minds, see the future, and the past. He fears his father will hurt him and his mother, and his clairvoyance into the future comes to life. The drama is unforgettable, but as most critics say, misses the mark. The father becomes insane far too soon, and loses the interesting parts of his character, whereas Shelly Duvall seems to become an amazing actress toward the end of the film. – UNT

Sister Act (1992) – 3/5 – Whoopie Goldberg comedy. She has to pose as a nun as witness protection. Of course she doesn’t fit in so well. – COM

Sleeper (1973) – 3/5 – I think the most enjoyable Woody Allen movie I’ve seen. I liked this one. A 1970’s zany futuristic farce and commentary on culture, government. It’s low budget and silly, but a time capsule of comedy. - COM

Sneakers (1992) - 3/5 - This is a very average spy thriller from the early days of computers. - DRA

Soldier (1998) – 3/5 – Kurt Russell – Futuristic combat eye candy. Not much substance – ACT

Spiderman (2002) – 3/5 – Pretty good action entertainment. The morals are stretched thinner than a snapping web. The main reason to see this film is to have the background to experience Spiderman 2 (2004). - ACT

Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) – 3/5 – I’m writing this review three years after seeing it. For the life of me I can’t remember an interesting thing that happened in this movie. It was neutral, not as painfully awful as Episode I. There is a good unraveling of the plot to come, and tight tying in to the original StarWars series. Some of the love scenes with Natalie Portman are fast-forward candidates. – ACT

Stranger than Fiction (2006) – 3/5- Interesting dark comedy about a character in a novel becoming self-aware as a character in a novel - DRA

The Sum of All Fears (2002) – 3/5 – When Neo-Fascists detonate a nuclear bomb in Philidelphia, the US and Russia have to trust each other with the help of Jack Ryan. – ACT

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (PG-13) – 3/5 – Entertaining and stupid, not a classic, but a vacation from serious. - COM

Taxi Driver (1976) - 3/5 - A disturbing look at the unique subculture and the underworld of New York, through the eyes of a naive, disturbed man. - INT/UNT

Tea with Mussolini (1999) - 3/5 1999 - Excellent portrayal of the developments of W.W.II on English/art society within Italy, well contrasted with the rising fascist movement. – Ryan - 3/5 - Confusing in the theme it was trying to portray. Was it a serious look at WWII or was it a lightweight personal story? This film doesn't quite know where it is headed. Patti - DRA

Terminator, The (1984) – 3/5 – Some suspenseful scenes, a fair plot, and one classic line, “I’ll be back!” Not good enough to spawn a series of sequels. - ACT

Thin Red Line, The (1998) – 3/5 – Great war movie about the taking of a pacific island in WWII. Very introspective. I don’t really want to watch it again, though. – ACT

Three Men and a Baby (1987) – 3/5 – Entertaining enough, this movie features three smooth, good looking movie stars, cast as bachelors who inherit a baby. - COM

Tommy Boy (1995) – 3/5 – Classic Chris Farley and David Spade. They play off of each other very well in a hilarious way. - COM

Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – 3/5 – An action movie, the most historically correct movie about the invasion of Pearl Harbor yet made. Entertaining, and with painstaking cultural respect for the Japanese. – ACT

Trading Places (1983) – 3/5 – Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy trade places from an upscale trading job to the streets. It is comedic and silly but has some heart. - COM

Traffic (2001) – 3/5 – Good movie, a little difficult to watch about the damages of both the drug trade and the war on drugs. Kind of liberal preachy at times. – ACT/DRA

UHF (1989) – 3/5 – If you aren’t ready for the zany comedy of Weird Al, then this is a 2/5. If you can be patient with the agonizing storyline, and overacted bad guys, there are dozens of hilarious and memorable scenes and quips. – COM

US Marshalls (1998) – 3/5 – Tommy Lee Jones returns to his successful role (in The Fugitive) but adapted to a new screenplay. Jones’ acting is memorable. But don’t miss The Fugitive. - ACT

The Untouchables (1987) – 3/5 – I’m not going to watch this movie again. It had been awhile, and I couldn’t remember the story very well. It’s too unrealistic. The movie makes the group of 4 untouchable cops look so vulnerable all the time. It’s worth seeing once just to understand that paragraph in American History when Al Capone gets locked up for income tax evasion. The music is disturbingly inappropriate and Kevin Costner pulls another of his terrible acting stints. – ACT

Wag the Dog (1997) – 3/5 – Haven’t seen this since it came out. I remember it as a solid, smart comedy about the white house, but not super memorable as a comedy. – COM

The Waterboy (1998) – 3/5 – Waterboy is one of the best Adam Sandler movies out there. It’s inane and stupid, but reaches serious funniness many times. Not quite as good as, say, Tommy Boy, but an SNL star movie in the same genre. – COM

The Wedding Singer (1998) – 3/5 – A silly comedy, but, like Waterboy, very watchable and entertaining. – COM

What Women Want (2000) – 3/5 – A chauvinistic guy finally hears what people think about his rude behavior. He learns what women want. Entertaining enough to watch. – DRA

Weird Science (1985) – 3/5. This is a zany and memorable teen comedy from the 80’s. – COM

Woodstock, Three Days of Peace and Music (1970) 3/5. Man, It is really a trip to see these clips of this unbelievable festival. A perfect storm of music, free love, drugs, and counter-culture, the concert is really unbelievable. The danger, lack of crowd control, and free-for-all spirit are highlighted. The best part is the very up-close music filming, with cameramen literally dancing onstage with the artists. Don’t miss the Who’s performance, and Fleetwood Mac.

X-Men (2000) - 3/5 - Ryan: Exciting adaptation of the comic book series. Wolverine is followed through his first encounter with the X-men, and his first great battle against the evil Magneto. This movie is great for the box office, but no award winner. Movie making technology is at a threshold where movies like this are becoming possible. - Anonymous Bruin: A fun adaptation of the comic series. I saw it sans any comic book background and the story stood well on its own. Great special effects and action-adventure storyline. Patrick Stewart and Ian Macgregor were well-chosen for their respective roles.
Varton: GREAT MOVIE.....! For those of you who kept up with the X-Men Comics, this is a must see..... I role-played Marvel Superheroes as a teenager....and I loved it. It was truly the funnest thing to see a game that I used to love put into an entertaining movie. It was really a lot of fun.... Anyway....if you haven't seen it....please re-consider and go see it with a loved one. - CATEGORY: ACT

XXX (2002) – 3/5 - Punk tough guy finds out the government wants him to be the next James Bond. – ACT

You’ve Got Mail (1998) – 3/5 – Romantic comedy is cute, but Sleepless in Seattle is better.

Two Star Movies

48 Hrs. (1983) - 2/5 – Set in San Francisco and (apparently) rural Alabama this is a dud version of Bullitt. Nick Nolte is unlikable in every way, and the police are not even believable. The language is foul. The redeeming quality of this movie, which saved it from a “1/5” is the wonderfully funny performance by Eddie Murphy. – COM/ACT

Ace Ventura Pet Detective – 2/5 – A Jim Carrey typical role, certainly not his best. – COM

Addams Family (1991) – 2/5 – Average humor. - COM

La Avventura (1960) – 2/5 – I ended up watching this movie in 6x Fast Forward. The dialogue and story move so slowly that I didn't miss a thing. Painful viewing otherwise. Good: 2 beautiful Italian divas in negligees. Postwar Italy is beautiful. Romance with a sad ending, there should be more. Bad: slow, boring, terrible dialogue e.g. "Anna! Anna! Anna! Where is Anna? Anna! Anna! I wonder where Anna is!" The women act like proud petulant women I wouldn't touch with a 10' pole. They act like the cool kids from high school. A groundbreaking film from the 1960’s. Well, I’ve seen better since then. – DRA/INT

Alice’s Restaurant (1969) - 2/5. This is a movie about the hippie movement. A draft-dodging musician stays with a hippie troupe and helps build a movement. The movie is slow, melodramatic, and seems to display the whole counter culture thing as a big waste of time. Apparently, if you watch the movie (after having seen it) with Guthrie’s running commentary it’s much better. I can’t. I had to watch the end in fast forward because I was so sick of watching it. - DRA

And God Created Woman (1987) - 2/5 - Supposed to be sexy, this movie was a rated-R version of a dud TV show. An inmate finds something, I'm not sure. - UNT

Armageddon (1998) – 2/5 – A dry story about a bunch of oil drillers who suddenly have “The Right Stuff” to go into space and save the world from an asteroid. - ACT

As Good As It Gets (1997) – 2/5 – When I saw the dysfunctional relationship between a depressed woman and an older curmudgeon, I thought to myself, “Is this as good as this movie gets?”

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) – 2/5 – The worst Austin Powers so far . . . very disappointing . . . and painful to watch. – COM

Backdraft (1991) – 2/5 – The story seems like it would be exiting, and the visual effects are great, but the movie is limp, and uninteresting. – ACT

Bad Boys II (2003) – 2/5 – Caught the last third of the movie, which was barely watchable, and seemed like terrible acting, and reasonable action. - ACT

Batman and Robin (1997) – 2/5 – It’s too bad there is still money in the Batman franchise because they keep getting worse instead of better. - ACT

Beautiful (2000) - 2/5 - This movie could have been poignant. Instead, it turned into a silly display of childish pranks, adults taking revenge, and bleary-eyed sappiness toward the end. The point of objectifying women with beauty contests is the backdrop, not the theme. – DRA

The Birds (1963) – 2/5 – This just doesn't stand the test of time. I was very unimpressed - DRA

Blade Runner (1982) – 2/5 – There are many who are deep fans of this movie. I noticed that others really liked it, but I never could understand why I didn’t. When I think back, it is beautiful, a futuristic look (like a Los Angeles/Tokyo of 3000) It is bleak and repulsive, however visually stunning. The storyline is weak, and detached. The film is important because of the visual effects. – ACT

Borat (2006) – 2/5 – OMG homosexual scene. A comedian travels America 'owning' unsuspecting people the whole time. - COM

The Bourne Supremacy (2004) 2/5. There is nothing new to this installment of the Bourne Identity. Don’t bother with this one, as it is barely watch-able: the director decided to use a “shaky cam” approach. Take Dramamine first. - ACT

Bring It On (2000) - 2/5 - Anonymous Bruin's review of the first 1/3: Actually only got to see 1/3 of this movie 'cause I snuck in illegally while waiting for another movie. Shhhhh. Don't tell. But the first 1/3rd was actually fun -- think I may have enjoyed it more if I were back in high school. Instead, I found myself feeling old and bitter amidst the sea of screaming, squeaking teeny-boppers in the audience. The film's about a bunch of cheerleaders and some cheerleading competition with the usual teenage "love" angst motif thrown in. - Anonymous Bruin (Note I was told that Anonymous Bruin owns Bring It On action figures) - Anonymous Bruin's review of the second 1/3: Bring It On (middle portion) -- Snuck in to see the middle of the movie...one of these days, I'm going to see the whole darn thing, albeit in piecemeal fashion. Not willing to fork over money to see it, though. So, we left off at the National Cheerleading championships -- the Toros end up with a copied routine and are almost disqualified. But as defending champions, they still get to go to the Finals in Orlando. Torrance (the leading protagonist) breaks up with her loser boyfriend and hooks up with this other guy (I think he's from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but not sure...not that I watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer or anything...) Tune in next time for the reviews of the END of the movie. (PS -- contrary to Ryan's assertions, I DO NOT own Bring it On action figures. ) - Anonymous Bruin (Note the Anonymous Bruin is not convincing me that this movie deserves more than 2 out of 5) -: DRA

The Candidate (1972) - 2/5 - Robert Redford brings to screen another one of his sleepy performances. A good idea for a movie, but it doesn't really go anywhere. It isn't believable. It makes Republicans look evil in a good guy vs. bad guy limelight. And Redford looks as bored with the film as I was. - DRA

Charlie’s Angels (2000) 2/5 – Worth watching for the Hong-Kong style fight scene in the alley. Laughs. - ACT

Chicken Run (2000) - 2/5 - Ryan: Was it just me or was this movie just boring. Even the kids were wiggling around, running around the house. A spoof on The Great Escape that just didn't capture the need to escape because all the chickens were so stupid. You couldn't feel sorry for them, and I just wanted the whole thing to end. Bruin: 3/5 - A delightful, original film by the makers of “Wallace and Gromit”—the British claymation production with a cult following. The story line was cute, the British humor (er...”humour”) was funny and the animation was impressive. A fun movie for the entire family. - The Anonymous Bruin - COM/DRA

Cold Mountain (2003) – 2/5 – A contrived love story, which takes place in the backdrop of the Civil War. Two small southern town residents fall in love though they don’t know each other, and the man goes off to fight for the South. The strength of the movie is the visuals, and the unique portrayal of the disrupted south and plight of the women left behind as well as the unenviable situation of the rebel deserters. I guess if you consider Gone With the Wind, it’s not that unique. - DRA

Con Air (1997) – 2/5 – A bunch of psychopathic murderers escape and hijack a plane and crash into Las Vegas. Formulaic and forgettable. - ACT

Cotton Club (1984) – 2/5 – In the heyday of Harlem, in the days of prohibition. Boring. – DRA

Cries and Whispers (1972) – 2/5 – A surreal intimate portrait of four emotionally dysfunctional women in close quarters while one dies. I'm done with Ingmar Bergman. It is painfully slow, claustrophobic and bizarre. As an aside, it is visually unconvincing for a physician also. The only interesting thing about the DVD is the excellent interview with Bergman included in the extras. I had also rented Wild Strawberries (1957). I sent it back unviewed. I did not want an encore. – DRA

Days of Wine and Roses (1962) – 2/5 – I couldn't finish this one, as the premise and acting were so difficult to swallow that it just was unrealistic and boring - COM

Death Becomes Her (1992) – 2/5 – Creepy and forgettable. - DRA

Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999) - 2/5 - The film is as inane as the title. But if you’re post-call and wish to give those neuronal synapses a rest, this is the movie to see. Lots of laughs preying on baser instincts (i.e. poop jokes, sex jokes, etc...) Rob Schneider is a one man show. - Anonymous Bruin - COM

Dr. Doolittle (1998) – 2/5 – Eddie Murphy just doesn’t capture the magic of the Dr. Doolittle books at all. – COM/CHI

Dragnet (1987) – 2/5 – Pretty good comedy loosely based on the TV series of the same name. – COM

Eraser (1996) – 2/5 – Farcical portrayal of an undercover US marshall who “erases” identities of witnesses, but has to become an action hero to “erase” his enemies. - ACT

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) (1972) – 2/5 – A typical Woody Allen comedy. There are seven comic sketches about sexuality. The movie is funny in a Woody Allen sort of way. I liked the one at the end, about what happens inside the body of a man before, during, and after a sexual encounter. There isn’t nudity, but a lot of adult references. – UNT/COM

Eye of the Beholder (2000) - 2/5 - A woman serial killer (Ashley Judd) goes on a rampage across the country while being stalked by a schizophrenic secret agent (Ewan Macgregor). Confusing all the time without clearing up at the end. - Rob - ACT/UNT

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) – 2/5 – This propaganda piece never belonged on the big screen. He makes plenty of innuendos, and just waits to see what sticks. This is Michael Moore’s controversial “documentary,” mostly on the Saudi influences on the Bush family. He seems to advocate that we would have declared war on Saudi Arabia rather than working with the current Saudi leadership against terror. He decries what he sees as an industry conspiracy both to place George W Bush into the White House and to initiate the war with Iraq. He claims that President Bush was on vacation 45% of the time before 9/11, which is incredibly disheartening. There have been plenty of responses to counter the movie’s claims, which are just as convincing. He allows Bush’s own words to hang Bush. One walks away amazed at the influence of industry on the political process, and awfully disappointed with the choices one has for president. This movie was very timely 6/2004. I’m not sure much endures, since parts of the movie have to be seen in the context of the 9/11 commission findings which came out just that month, and already then negated some of the movie’s claims. – INT

The Fast and the Furious (2001) 2/5. Fast is an entertaining ride, although a brain-dead story about a group of Honda enthusiasts who pull over big-rigs to rob them by performing zippy maneuvers on the freeway. Apparently, it is a plagiarized version of Point Break. - ACT

Final Destination (2000) - 2/5 - As scary teenage flicks go, this one ain’t bad. The anticipatory angst is well worth the price of the movie ticket. An eerie “Twilight Zone” meets “Nightmare on Elm Street” premise. If you happen to be a airplane-o-phoebe (don’t know what the fancy word for that is)...this movie if definitely not therapeutic. - Anonymous Bruin - UNT

Flatliners (1990) - 2/5 - fair movie - very surreal, dark, story is somewhat unrealistic but entertaining definitely an R rating. - DRA/ACT

Gangs of New York (2002) – 2/5 – Not to be seen by children, this movie is revolting in the way that Kill Bill is, violent, but nauseatingly. The movie is very well done, exploring the subculture of tenement gangs in the 19th century New York City Five Points region. The love story is more of a lust story. – ACT/UNT

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) – 2/5 – I could hardly stand to watch this, and had to shut it off. What’s this innocent, fake 18 year old doing with an older black man. The fault is that the story does not even try to convince you that they belong together, and from what we see, they obviously don’t. The “lovebirds” give an ultimatum: Now or never! Why can’t they date for a while? It doesn’t make any sense, but accosts you like you are a racist if you don’t approve of their rush to marriage. - DRA

Highlander (1985) – 2/5 - I agree with the critics who rated this movie poorly when it first came out. Created by college students and an MTV director, there is a lot of fighting, flashy swordplay and constant battling. Besides increasing teenage testosterone levels, there is no real connection to the real world, and no wonderful allegory like matrix. I never saw what my friends saw in this movie. I'll never force myself to see it again. - ACT

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) - 2/5 - Jim Carrey. A funny story telling of Dr. Seuss Classic. At first I thought, "Do I really have to sit through two hours of this?" There were times that I was absorbed, but most of the time it seemed like ill-placed effort. The grinch was a little too Jim Carrey. - COM

Hulk, The (2003) – 2/5 – I feel I was tortured during a flight as a captive viewer of this film. Forty minutes into it, I had to pick up my Time Magazine and read that instead. A re-release of some of the TV show episodes on DVD would be much more interesting. – ACT

In-Laws, The (2003) – 2/5 – Dreadful comedy about a daredevil CIA agent who just can’t slow down to make his daughter’s wedding nice. – COM/ACT

Invincible (2006) – 2/5 – My family watched this movie while we played a card game. We laughed at the corny, predictable storyline. Guess you would have to really love football to be drawn to this lifetime movie. - DRA

It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) – 2/5 – Quintessential 1960’s “supercomedy.” Hire 10 superstar comics and have them act zany for two hours. I watched this as a young kid, and I wouldn’t touch it with a 10’ Polack. - COM

Kill Bill (2003) – 2/5 – Disturbing as always, this Tarantino film has no real subject, except itself. It is a film about making a pulp-samurai movie. It also explores the limits of on-screen violence. There are many novel filmmaking techniques, but unfortunately it is revolting. The gore and graphic evil are simply too much to watch. – UNT/ACT

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) – 2/5 – about one-third as good as an Indiana Jones movie. - ACT

Little Women (1949) - 2/5 - This was a great synopsis-like movie, but I feel like there was so little character development and so much melodramatic acting that it was definitely not a timeless classic. The melodrama must be somewhat tongue-in-cheek. At the same moment that the dialogue criticized the use of melodrama, it was occurring on the screen. Worth seeing if you ever wondered what the book is about. - DRA

Matrix Reloaded (2003) – 2/5. Reloaded is a very disappointing sequel to Matrix 1999. How can a character develop once he has become all-powerful? You’re right: he can’t. And that’s why this is so boring.

Michael (1996) – 2/5 - A story of a violent angel who dies and helps two people become boyfriend and girlfriend. Fair at best. - Rob - 4/5 - I feel Dr. Smith was too harsh in his criticism of Michael. Michael is merely a sweet angel who enjoys sugary treats. - DRA/COM

Money Pit (1986) – 2/5 - Just doesn't do any character development. The protagonists are so stupid we feel they probably deserve the house they bought. There are some very well timed gags, but its the same thing over and over. - COM

Mummy, The (1999) - 2/5 A brain dead action/comedy which can't decide if it's action or comedy. It has a flesh eating bug theme. Rob - No Score - The Mummy is based on a biblical story and Ryan's comments are blasphemous. - ACT/COM

My Darling Clementine (1946) – 2/5 – A classic western about the Clanton brothers meeting Doc Holiday and Wyatt Erp at the OK corral. This was barely watch-able. I kept telling myself it wouldn’t be long till it was finally over. It is slow, boring, and the dialogue is stilted. - ACT

My Own Private Idaho (1992) - 2/5. Not worth watching, this is a silly attempt at a poetic picture of young drug addicted males who happen to all be beautiful models and all choose a life of crime and male prostitution. A tangled web of paternities and friendships follows the lives of two, one suffering from narcolepsy, which is nicely explained by a dictionary entry in the beginning. The dialogue is peppered with spontaneous periods of Shakespearean speech. On the whole it is very unsatisfying; especially for the amount of the distasteful underbelly of society we are forced to see. - INT/UNT

Office Space (1998) - 2/5 - My brother, who works in a cubicle with bosses apparently just like those depicted, loved the movie, and swears by it. It has quite a following, and there are a few characters that are fun to think about afterwards. The problem was that all the character development that was done was five minutes of the movie, and the rest was some crackpot scheme. - COM

Pearl Harbor (2001) – 2/5 – Too bad Ben Affleck was discovered. He knows how to really turn a good story into a hollow movie – ACT

Police Academy (1984) – 2/5 – Irreverent, bawdy comedy. - COM

Poseidon Adventure (1972) – 2/5 – One of the AFI’s 100 top thrillers, this movie is a linear, unsympathetic, overacted disaster story (see also Towering Inferno, Airport). The first 1/3 of the movie is useless. Then people die one by one as they struggle with their personal problems. Shelly Winters is miscast as a Jewish wife, but surprises everyone by keeping her ass moving through the whole adventure. Stella Stevens keeps to her bargain and reveals as much of her ass as possible during the entire adventure. Nominated for multiple academy awards, the only award it received was the theme song. The theme song has nothing to do with the movie. It’s called “Morning After” and it is as haunting as anything in the film. You will find it echoing around in your head for days. Imagine 1973 cars blasting the Morning After theme. A snafu is seen during a big celebration during which a 70’s modern band is playing this dreary song, and the crowd is dancing quite a jig at the same time (apparently to some other song). The money shot of the whole movie is the good ship Poseidon upside-down. Not filmed from underwater, and not from above, the image is just strange. After looking closely, it’s simply an image of a ship at night taken from helicopter, and turned upside-down. The importance of seeing this movie (and the other two of the disaster craze) is really of appreciating how very wonderfully funny the scene in the movie Airplane (the disaster-series parody) really is when the little boy comes up to the pilot’s seat. – DRA/ACT

Pretty Woman (1990) – 2/5 – The tenets of the plot are just so untenable. Julia Roberts annoys as always. – DRA

The Quiet Man (1952) – 2/5 – I’m glad to have watched this movie, to see the beautiful landscape of Ireland in the 1950’s as portrayed to be even earlier. Also the interesting Irish culture was entertaining. The story, though, was just tolerable. John Wayne is good here in a tranquil role. This is a quality and wholesome family movie about two older adults dating in the Irish culture. A big winner in the Academy Awards 1952. – DRA

Risky Business (1983) – 2/5 – I just can’t find the interesting part of this movie, where a teenager turns his parents’ house into a brothel while they are away. – COM

The Rules of the Game (1939) – 2/5 – Considered one of the greatest films ever made. My take is different. In desperate need of an update, this French film is meant to be critical of hypocritical French elite. Unfortunately, an essential plot element is that there is a beautiful Austrian foreign woman who is very enchanting. What is on the screen, though, is a very unappealing lady who has poor posture, and never smiles. She apparently was cast because of some relation, not because of her acting skill. The director is successful in displaying the elite as silly, with two and three lovers at a time, but also seems to take them seriously. The movie is a tragedy, a romance, a comedy all at once, and is quite unsuccessful at all three. The chase and fight scenes are like keystone cops. There are many good one-liners, “wisdom” of the French elite. As they play “the game,” one can see the most important rule: If it is for fun, lovers are fine. If it for living together, it can be deadly. For a 1939 “classic,” stick with the Wizard of Oz, or Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. – INT

Runaway Bride (1999) – 2/5 – Two good looking actors have interesting exchages in this lame move – COM/DRA

The Russians Are Coming!, The Russians Are Coming! (1966) – 2/5 – A comedy of a frenzied town shocked by the arrival of a submarine crew of Russians. They find they have more in common than they expect. The film earned three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, but I was under-whelmed by the slapstick, and some contrived plot elements. – COM

Sabrina (1954) – 2/5 – Just couldn’t come to enjoy this story of a tycoon’s family intrigues. - DRA

Saturday Night LiveMr. Bill Collection (1975) – 2/5 – Must be incomplete, but a good intro to the Mr. Bill I remember seeing as a child. Mr Hand makes me laugh. Very short, and kind of dry. Probably a whole lot better once a week than 40 in a row. – COM

Scary Movie 2 (2001) – 2/5 - There is only one part worth watching. After you see Charlie’s Angels, the spoof of a fight seen is hilarious. – COM

Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) - 2/5. This movie is a psychological piece about four peoples sex lives. A very weird guy comes to stay with a friend, and three people’s lives are turned upside down by his – um - honesty? I really can’t relate to this weird guy as anyone I have ever known or heard of and he doesn’t come off realistic. Watch-able, but not great. - UNT

Shaft (1971) – 2/5. The original “Blacksploitation” film. The bottom line: Shaft is a real asshole. You really want to like him, but the portrayal of Shaft makes it impossible. He has a baby face that doesn’t go along with the tough-guy character. His interactions with the police are not even plausible. He is a misogynist. He has no sense of humor, and several times starts cackling uncontrollably at his own jokes which go like this, “I just said, ‘Up Yours!,’ Ha Ha Ha Ha.” It’s really not worth watching; even to better understand the good comedy, Undercover Brother. For a 1971 film, there is precious little in the way of sweet 70s cars. Redeeming features: the idea could have been very well done, but the acting and directing got in the way. The music is great, even the corny theme song. – ACT/UNT. – reviewed for netflix but maybe they didn’t accept, check.

Shallow Hal (2001) 2/5. A vain attempt to convince the world that morbid obesity should be overlooked in a potential mate. It has funny moments but doesn’t let us laugh easily, as it subsequently whops us over the head for laughing. COM

Six Days, Seven Nights (1998) - 2/5 - an overdone story about two people stranded on an island. Another in the genre of Old Famous Star meets young new sexy face. And it wasn't even a James Bond flick. - ACT/DRA

Spaceballs (1987) – 2/5 – Mel Brook’s version of Star Wars. There are many hilarious gags that make you smile ever after. It’s cornball though, and low tech on the visuals. – COM

Spiderman III (2007) – 2/5 – Disappointing sequel to one of the greatest film sequels ever (Spiderman II). The plot is just plain dumb.

Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) – 2/5 – This movie is extremely sad and extremely painful to watch. Those of us who loved the original Star Wars series were disappointed to see George Lucas had lost his faith in the Force. He now believes that instead of a mystical power, it is an inherited microorganism that lives in more concentrated form in certain people, like Anakin Skywalker. Fart jokes, a stupid animal with a Caribbean accent. It was disappointing to see that Lucas has lost his imagination, and the clone wars and pre-history of Star Wars that we all imagined is actually much better than the real thing. Lucas should really have team-written this episode.

Swordfish (2001) – 2/5 – A forgettable criminal computer hacking drama. Lame. - ACT

Tango & Cash (1989) – 2/5 – Stallone and Kirt Russell. Star studded & barely watchable. - ACT

Tears of the Sun (2003) – 2/5 – The only tears I shed were that the movie didn’t just end after the first 20 minutes. What nonsense. An action movie with only one good action scene, at the second village. Just scene scan the DVD to that scene and shed no tears. – ACT

Three Wishes (1995) – 2/5 – Patrick Swayze. This story really could have been something good. Unfortunately it forays into the magical and ends in a happy but bittersweet ending that is ridiculous. - DRA

Thrill of it All, The (1963) – 2/5 – I’m going to disagree with the critics here. This movie simply does not survive past the 60’s. James Garner and Doris Day both gave a great performance. There are several scenes that explore the tension between the sexes in an enthralling way. Unfortunately, poor directing, overacting, and a contrived plot anchor the film down. The “women’s place is in the home” moral message doesn’t translate to a modern audience well equipped to grapple with issues surrounding women in the workplace. Even as a man I’m offended by the fact that the husband’s immoral, hurtful, and offensive manipulation is presented as if it were comedic. A pair of old men overacts their parts, as well as both the couple’s children. These four actors’ deliveries make the movie almost unbearable in parts. The little girl is the cute one from Sound of Music. What was cute and silly in the 1960’s doesn’t deliver the laughs in the 2000’s. For example, at one point workers cart away soap bubbles in 3 large trucks to emphasize how many bubbles the studio created for the film. Please. The conclusion is disappointing to a modern audience. There is nothing thrilling about this film. I couldn’t wait for the commercials. – COM

U-Turn (1997) – 2/5. The movie is a study of inhumanity and violence. This should be seen only by the cold-hearted. The direction is odd, almost an experiment in how strange can I direct? Sean Penn was perfect for this movie, because he is so unlikable to start with. Also, it was great to see J Lo get killed. – UNT/ACT

Watership Down (1979) – 2/5 – Whatever point there was to creating this violent and upsetting cartoon with serene animation was completely lost on me. I couldn’t tell if the naïve dialogue between rabbits was aimed at children or adults. I thought it dragged and dragged, and was very linear. Several rabbits listen to the scared musings of a paranoid runt with an anxiety disorder, and decide to flee their burrow. They meet rabbits who are being hunted and snared, and they meet a rabbit military stratocracy. A stupid bird reminds me of Jar-Jar Binks, of Star Wars fame. The paranoid, frightened, violent story is illustrated in lush pastel. This one is very strange and very overrated. – DRA

To Wong Foo (1995) – 2/5 – What WAS this movie? There were such corny moments hardly bearable to watch, but there were really funny, touching parts too. It’s too bad there were too many fatal flaws, such as the lame-looking “socials” and the very superficial treatment of domestic violence. Not worth seeing, but you already knew that. How many 2/5 movies is Patrick Swayze going to collect here? - COM

Total Recall (1990) - 2/5 - Schwarzenegger saves the Mars air supply. – ACT

The Towering Inferno (1974) – 2/5 – I liked the pyrotechnics! A star studded cast fights a fire in a skyscraper. Malton calls it “All-star idiocy.” The plot is: a very high building has a flimsy design, and the sprinkler system isn’t working. They go ahead and start putting in tenants anyway. Then they have a celebratory party and the thing lights on fire. Then one after another, people die in a grisly way. The producers get free use of public resources (fire trucks, etc.) by making the Fire Chief Steve McQueen and having him single-handedly perform a variety of American Hero stunts. - ACT

The Toy (1982) - 2/5 – This is a tasteless comedy about a rich boy who buys a person to be a friend and servant. That person happens to be a Negro. - COM

Unbreakable (2000) - 2/5 - That guy who made The Sixth Sense made this time a barely tolerable movie. Interesting twist at the end. – ACT

Uncle Buck (1989) – 2/5 – Uncle Buck, usually a foul-up, ends up with responsibility for the kids on a summer vacation. John Candy is good as the surprisingly decent uncle. But the writing and a few gags reveal that Uncle Buck is a very frightening man indeed; we can never get very comfortable or laugh very hard, for fear. - COM

Vertical Limit (2000) - 2/5 - A rock climbing / mountain climbing movie. Survival on K2. This movie is about dying while rock climbing. It's adrenaline rush after adrenaline rush, and it never slows down. The characters are two-dimensional, and the story is contrived. But if you want to see some incredible (although fictional) rock-climbing, this movie is great. - ACT

One Star Movies

Absolute Power (1997) – 1/5 – Clint Eastwood bombs in this thriller – ACT

Armitage III – Poly Matrix – The Movie (1997) – 1/5 – Well, I tried this genre for the first time. Terrible Cartoon about the conflict between Man and Robots. Actually a good idea, but the story line, the bad guy character, and the silly dog-collared main character ruin it. – ACT

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) – 2/5 – The worst Austin Powers so far . . . very disappointing . . . and painful to watch. – COM

Brewster’s Millions (1985) – 1/5 – One of the disappointing comedies that motivate me to create a review page. Even John Candy and Richard Pryor can’t rescue this recycled bad plot. - COM

Cannonball Run (1981) – 1/5 – A waste of everyone’s time for a few car chase scenes. See Smokey and the Bandit instead – ACT

Casanova (2005) – 1/5 – I saw this out of the corner of my eye without dialogue. Horrible. – DRA/ACT

Charlie’s Angels – Full Throttle (2003) – 1/5 – Unrealistic from the very first. More like a comic book but stupider. – ACT

Cliffhanger (1993) – 1/5 – This is the movie when I promised myself I would never watch another Stallone movie. Couldn’t finish it – ACT

Dune (1984) – 1/5 – I drove all the way from Tooele, Utah to Salt Lake City to see one of the most anticipated films of all time. What an incomprehensible disaster! - ACT

Ghosts of the Abyss (2003) – 1/5 – Looks like it would be an interesting documentary on Discovery Channel. Features the “Most Advanced” 3D technology. Back to the 3D technology drawing board, guys! See it if you like to see double. – ACT

Hannibal (2001) – 1/5 – A horrible movie with disgusting scenes I wish I could burn out of my mind. It makes me sick to think I watched this movie. - UNT

Joe Dirt (2001) – 1/5 – Barely entertaining enough to watch. It does draw you in though it’s poorly done. – COM

The Legend of Johnny Lingo (2003) – 1/5 - CHI

Little Nicky (2000) – 1/5 – Saw 15 minutes and it was clear how to rate this goofy-ass film. - COM

Master of Disguise (2002) – 1/5 – Dana Carvey. Maybe this is funny for kids, but I doubt it. – COM

The Mummy Returns (2001) – 1/5 – Satanic warriors take on a pretty good looking guy, and lose. - ACT

Mr. Hulot’s Holiday (1953) – 1/5 – French comedy – I concur with this review by “MN” on Netflix: As a classic and foreign film buff, I rented this one after reading Ebert's positive review/essay, but I couldn't even finish it. As a matter of fact, I wanted the hour of my life back that I DID get through. This movie was awful. The supposed sight gags weren't funny, the movie was slow, and the character is quite dated. Only the Jerry Lewis loving French could possibly find this amusing. The only redeeming quality seems to be the development of the relationship between the blonde and Hulot . . . kind of cute in ways, if you can stay awake through the slow-movng and unfunny plotline long enough to get that far. Rent this if you're having difficulty sleeping. Otherwise, rent "Bean" or Benny Hill for better, or at least funny, slapstick. - COM

Resident Evil (2002) – 1/5 – I only dropped in for the last 30 minutes. What a seriously freakish and lame movie. A corporation creates a virus which creates both mutants and zombies. Features some ¼ naked women. - ACT

Road Trip (2000) - 1/5Even though I haven’t seen this movie – I thought it was important to make it clear that this is a 1/5 movie. See Anonymous Bruin’s Review: Probably one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. (Is it possible to give this ZERO out of 5 stars?) Had some cheap laughs here and there, but the inanity and stupid storyline managed to overwhelm any redeeming element of humor. Basically a lame story about a bunch of dumb, hormonally driven, cerebrally challenged college boys on a road trip. I’m loath to even admit I saw this movie, but I did, and here is my repentance. Please provide a public service announcement and advise others against seeing this film as mass popularity will only breed further movies of this useless genre. - COM

Scary Movie (2000) - 1/5 - Yet another 1 out of 5 star lame, teenage film. (Don’t I ever learn? you may ask...) Had some cheap laughs, but the chuckles can all be gleaned from the previews; the full length film didn’t add much more. - Anonymous Bruin - COM/UNT

Wedding Crashers (2005) – 1/5 – Uncomfortable, silly comedy that just wasn’t funny enough to keep watching. It was inappropriate and stupid - COM

Written on the Wind (1956) – 1/5 – As melodramatic and inane as the 1950’s. This movie is only interesting for people who are currently living in 1956. It is sexist and ridiculous and I couldn’t finish it. – DRA

Wyatt Erp (1994) – 1/5 – Does every movie with Wyatt Erp have to be bad? Kevin Costner delivers another of his epic performances. - ACT

Television Entertainment/Drama– 5/5

24: Season 1,2 (2001,2002) – Fox. This is the perfect serial thriller for people who like CIA thrillers. It’s The Fugative for generation X. Kiefer Sutherland plays a very convincing counterterrorist official who has to go outside protocol to get the job done. Just as one sub-plot winds up, another starts. Though it is a little tiring and the viewer would like a nice end to the madness, he wants it to go on just the same. – ACT

Band of Brothers (2001) – A tribute to Easy Company, an airborne infantry company. True stories told by the heroes that fought Hitler’s troops and masterfully brought to the big screen. Eight one-hour episodes, each telling a unique story while weaved into one larger story. – ACT/DRA

Battlestar Galactica Miniseries (2003) – The long (4h) opener to a re-creation of the classic miniseries. Ronald D. Moore writes on the webpage an excellent list of the articles of faith which guided his resurrection of science fiction. Example: “We believe that science fiction provides an opportunity to explore our own society, to provoke debate and to challenge our perceptions of ourselves and our fellow Man.” His team has done an excellent job at that. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the disc as received from Netflix was mislabeled and I ended up watching this instead of the original. I was surprised and confused: “This isn’t the way I remember it! – This looks like computer-generated animation!” – ACT

Battlestar Galactica Season 1 (2004) – A drama based on character development, twists on modern public events, special effects and nods to a popular science fiction series of the 1970’s. More sophisticated than the original. – ACT

Battlestar Galactica Season 2, 2.5 (2005) – Engaging and thoughtful action and drama explores issues relevant in today’s world while still being an excellent space-opera. Torture, balance of civilian and military power, sexuality, and much on religiosity is explored. – ACT

Bleak House (2005) – British production of Charles Dickens' novel. The acting, setting and story are excellent. - DRA

Law and Order: Season 1,2,3 (1990,1991, 1992) – This is a gritty, suspenseful, and thought-provoking series which is a modern classic. There is an interesting commentary with the first disc, talking about how the networks really didn’t like carrying this show, and now (in 2005) it is a darling. I have missed 15 years of this because it was always too controversial, I thought. Also, when I started watching it, it was SVU, and seemed morbidly p. Now it is great to finally see the original. – DRA

MASH: Season 1 (1972) – With the Korean War as a black backdrop, MASH is a protest against war, but a comedy at the same time. Alan Alda’s engaging brand of sarcastic wittiness was an improvement on the theatre version. Season one is classic 70’s material, with rife sexuality, a token black nurse and black surgeon, and rampant political incorrectness in terms of racial slurs, and sexism. I find it refreshingly non-sterile. During the course of the season, one sees evolution, experimentation. Take the theme song for example. They first took away the extremely depressing words as heard in the movie and made it music only. Later, they tried a happy version, which must not have seemed right, because it reverted back to the music in subsequent episodes. In the climax of the season, we find Radar is quite a good drummer. Pierce (Alda) is sometimes engaging and sometimes seems like such a jerk. Watching his character change (possibly because of different writers) is interesting. This is one of the best TV series I have ever seen. When do they study? I need a mule. – COM

MASH: Season 2 (1973) – Still stinging, smart and funny. They have figured out the formula, after some experimentation with the characters during season one.

MI-5 Season 1 (2002), Season 2 (2003), Season 3 (2004), Season 4 (2005) – Excellent British spy show set in London. The last episodes of season 2 are fabulous. More dreamscape/flashback sequences are present as well as an enhanced storyline, converging on a 24 storyline. – ACT/DRA

The Shield, Season 1 (2002) – Unexpectedly good cop drama. This is a gritty, ugly drama, but compelling. It reminds me of Training Day. – ACT/DRA

The Sopranos: Season 1, Season 4 (1999,2003) – I was hesitant to watch this series. I watched the first disk, and was absolutely hooked. This is a thoroughly entertaining, excellently acted and directed drama. It’s certainly violent. The story is told from a very unusual perspective of a mobster trying to make sense out of his life. It is really a soap opera about middle age in the suburbs, but told from the perspective of a mob leader who is just likable enough to be accepted as the protagonist. Trying to analyze the personality disorders and how it enables him to function but disables him at the same time is the fun of the series. - DRA

South Park: The Complete Third Season (1999) – Comedy Central. 17 hilarious episodes. My favorite is Chimpoko-man and the Christmas special. So irreverent, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have popular culture pegged. – COM/UNT

South Park: The Complete Fourth Season (2000) – Best Episodes: Tooth Fairy Tats 2000, Cartman’s Silly Hate Crime, NAMBLA, Something Yyou Can Do With Your Finger, Fourth Grade, Fat Camp, Molestation Adventure. – COM/UNT

The Wire – Season 1 (2002) – The HBO answer to The Shield. The wire seems more realistic, and the police are dramatized as very limited in power by the reality of legal process and limited resources. The FBI seem to have the tools that they need, but the police are stuck with typewriters, not computers. In one scene, the police put up surveillance on a drug distribution gang. A rival gang's surveillance is even more effective than the police, observing both simultaneously. - DRA/ACT

Television Entertainment/Drama – 4/5

24: Season 3,4 (2003,2004) – Fox. The saga continues. It’s about season three that you start to wish that there could be some resolution at the end of each hour. Don’t watch more than one episode a day, or it becomes exhausting. – ACT

Foyle's War – Series 1 (2003) – It is with great success that a historical time period, wartime England, is portrayed. It is a backdrop for tales of mystery as told through the likable inspector Foyle. - DRA

The Shield, Season 2,3 (2003,2004) – Gritty and ugly. This cop drama continues, not quite as good as the first season. The limitation is the ability to believe that police work is done without lawyers and paperwork. The story is compelling and interesting, though. – ACT/DRA

The Simpsons: Season 1 (1989) – The inaugural season of The Simpsons is a little rough compared to later seasons. The smart, funny cartoon was a great surprise for the world, and a revolution in television. Take in a few of the commentaries. - COM

The Simpsons: Season 2 (1990) – The Simpsons continue to entertain, now with guest appearances. - COM

The Simpsons: Season 3 (1991) – Better pace yourself. If you just got through season 1 and season 2, the episodes now start to become a blur. Let a few days pass between each episode for greater Simpsons pleasure. – COM

Six Feet Under: Season 1 (2001) – This new series is smartly written, engaging. It tackles modern life aggressively, touching on so many important issues it is hard to believe. It takes on homosexuality, which decreases the potential audience terribly, but makes it so interesting. The show’s trouble is that it is depressing. It is so smartly written, that it seems unlikely that mere mortals would spout off such well-said things day after day. Sometimes it seems apparent that different actor’s lines are written by the same person, because the expressions seem similar. They make it a dark comedy-like drama, with a protagonist son, trying to learn to deal with death, and thereby teaching us about the process of dying in the meantime. It explores issues of love and sex, bonding, family, drugs, church, the concept of corporation versus small business and a score of other issues. Though sometimes painful to watch, I can’t wait to see what Season 2 brings.

The Sopranos: Season 2,3,5 (2001, 2002, 2004) – The Soprano family soap opera is one of the coolest, meanest, and best written I have ever seen. Watching the evolution of the cell phone and post-9/11 culture is amazing. I find myself drawn to the series, but revolted by it at the same time. At first I though the character of Janice was the worst part of the series. Her character turns out to be the lynch pin to understanding the inner pathology of the Sopranos. Though unrealistic from a Mobologist point of view, the series does display many realities of the mob. The backbone is gambling and loan-sharking and then getting into the businesses (even finance) of the people who owe them. The soap opera is really the tale of approaching middle-age in the suberbs, but told from a mean perspective. - DRA

South Park: The Complete First Season (1997) – Crude, and hilarious, South park is The Simpsons with an incredibly dirty mouth, and excellent musical numbers. This season is the introduction to the lovable boys of South Park. Best episodes: Starvin Marvin, Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo. – COM/UNT

South Park: The Complete Second Season, Season 7 (1998,2003 ) – Crude, and hilarious. South Park continues to be terrorized by four small boys. Best episodes: Chickenlover (respect Cartman’s authoritah), Clubhouses, Gnomes. Casa Bonita and Raisins was my favorite. – I'm a little bit Country was a great musical. - COM/UNT

The Unit: Season 1(2006) – Fun fictionalized and idealized view into the life of a special forces unit – ACT/DRA

The Wire – Season 2,3 (2003,2004) – A little transparent plot manipulation, and all the usual suspects (in terms of the police) are back on the same team. – DRA/ACT

Television Entertainment/Drama – 3/5

24: Season 5 (2006) – Good watching, but nothing at all like experiencing season one for the first time. - ACT

Numb3rs – Season 1 (2005) – Reasonably good. mathematics and CSI meet here. - DRA

The Sopranos: Season 6 (2005) – I quote: "Stick a fork in it; this show is done. While still entertaining, this season really fell short of the previous ones. Time to end it." - Noir Junkie

Television Entertainment/Drama – 2/5

House, MD Season 1 (2004) – As an internal medicine physician, the premise of the drama doesn't ring true at all for me. It is too divorced from reality to be interesting for me. Much of the fancy graphic work is already in my head and only appears inaccurate and oversimplistic. I couldn't watch even one episode. - DRA

Six Feet Under Season 2 (2001) - I just stopped watching Six Feet Under from the beginning because I couldn't stand the language. In disc 2 of Season 2, every character uses the F word about 16 times per episode. I can't watch it with anyone. It is an enlightening (if not a depressing) show, and I'm sorry I can watch no more of it. The F bomb is being dropped seemingly because the writers cannot think of any other way for the characters to express themselves. Also, all the characters sound the same in dialogue. They are so clever, but sometimes too clever for reality (except Nate). Anyway, you lost an avid viewer. The scene where Brenda and her mom talk about the mom's sex life was just too much. The series seems to be tailored for an audience as crude as the writers but I'm happy that is not a very large group. I'm open minded but not crude. By the way, the first season (after a little bit of a rocky start) was better. – DRA/UNT

SNL: The Best of Chris Farley (2000) – I liked Farley, but this selection wasn’t particularly fun to watch. – COM

MASH: Season 3 (1974) – After season one and season two, this is no different, and seems to be tiresome. I don't know how they were so successful with the same formula for so long. I'm done with MASH DVDs even before Colonel Potter arrives. - DRA

Documentaries I liked (3-4-5 only)

Beastly Countdown (2004) – Animal Planet – The Most Extreme Series - Halloween – Scary Animals. Excellent entertaining information, especially for teenagers. Information about why and how scary animals developed their reputations. - INT

Civil War: Ken Burns (1990) – Fabulous documentary. This is as professional a presentation as I have every seen.

Cosmos – A personal Journey (1980) Carl Sagan – The greatest TV documentary of all time. Sagan has a style all his own in exploring the glory of the universe, humanity, and life with us all.

Everest: IMAX (1998) – Well done documentary about the ultimate adventure in mountain climbing. A definitive documentary, I'm sure – ACT

The Land Where the Blues Began (1975) - Alan Lomax hosts. The only thing that brings a lower score to this documentary is the lower budget that was available to create it. But even the limited financing to tell the story fits perfectly with the story to be told. It documents the lives of the blacks of the Mississippi valley and the foothold of the Blues. This is a pleasant surprise and may bring tears at the injustices the old people interviewed suffered through, and smiles at the psychology they used to cope with it. Then maybe you'll know what it's like to sing the blues. - INT

Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: Egypt (1999): very short intro. Dark Age England (2000): Good story of king Arthur.

Macchu Picchu – History Channel. Viewed in 2003. Good historic treatment of the discovery and current theories surrounding Macchu Picchu. – INT

National Geographic: Inside the Vatican (2001) – I watched this as the pope had died, and the world’s attention was on the Vatican. I can’t believe it was available for rent on Netflix. It was very interesting, and I felt like I learned more about the Vatican than if I had been there. I saw the people I wouldn’t have seen, places I wouldn’t have seen, but I didn’t have the sensation of seeing the art all around me, and the glory of the place. Also, I didn’t have to wait in lines. I had a more positive opinion about the Catholic Church after having seen this video. – INT

Nature: Reptiles (1982) – Award winning PBS series, excellent documentary of alligators and crocodiles.

Normandy Invasion (1945) – Interesting.

Tales of the Gun: Kalashnikov – History Channel.

Walking with Dinosaurs (2000) - Discovery Channel. A landmark in technological achievement, this Discovery Channel program reminds us of the greater good for which television was invented. In national geographic style, this program highlights certain animals, putting them in scenarios interesting to a human viewer. No expense is spared in realism, and scientific interviews provide the bridges between scenes. Many disclaimers as to what is conjecture and what is certain. This has appeal to small children and elders alike. – INT

Walt Whitman - Voices and Visions (1988) by Mystic Fire Video - A wonderful reminder of the timeless life of one of America's great poets. It deals with his life, his homosexuality, his people, growing up in Long Island, his embracing of birth and death equally. It tells of the time he spent visiting the makeshift hospitals for the dying Civil War combatants, and how they loved the old man with the beard. It dissects his great work: Leaves of Grass. In short, it gives a beautiful framework through which to commence on a perusal on Whitman. Within a week I was reading from my own copy of Leaves of Grass and loving it, especially helped by the insight that this thoughtful little video brought me. – INT

Wings of Glory: Chapter 22: The Airforce and the Atomic Bomb (1996) – 1950's documentary. Unbelievable power, unbelievable naivety (no mention of the A bomb possibly used against us), and wonderful footage of the original A bomb and H bomb tests. – DOC