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Reviews
The Godfather Part III (1990)
Suffering From Expectations
A writer and a producer/director combine to create a story that produces not one, but two of the greatest movies ever made, both legendary cinematic classics, and the only movie and its sequel to both win the Oscar for best picture. Then, 16 years later, it is announced that a final movie, the last chapter in the trilogy, is being released to complete the story. Of course, the expectations for this movie will be tremendously high, so high that anything less than a spectacular film will be written off as a disappointment. This is the atmosphere that "The Godfather: Part III" was introduced into, an almost impossible situation that even a good movie was destined to fail in. Which is exactly what "Part III" is: a good movie. Taken on it's own, this a good film, with some fantastic actors (Al Pacino, Andy Garcia, Diane Keaton), a compelling story, and well directed. Of course, the problem this movie suffers from is it can't be taken on its own. Presented using most of the same characters, and as the final chapter in one of the most loved film story lines of all time, comparisons to "The Godfather" and "The Godfather: Part II" are inevitable, and this is where "Part III" suffers. It is not the equal of either of the first two movies; not that this would normally be a tragic sin, as 99.9% of all films are not the equal of the first two movies. But the buildup of 16 years since "Part II" had been released, plus the general expectations surrounding anything to do with "The Godfather" saga, are too much for this film to overcome. ***1/2 out of *****
Web of Seduction (1999)
Very Sexy Movie
First of all, if you're going to watch this a movie, or ANY movie of the soft-core/erotica type, make sure you get the UN-rated version. Secondly, I find it laughable when people are critical of movies like these for their "lack of plot". Who actually watches a soft-core movie like this for a good story? The purpose of this, or any other movie like this, is to arouse the viewer with sexy looking, non-explicit love scenes (i.e., no hard-core, close up shots like you'd expect in a porno)...and this movie does a very good job of that. All three of the female members of the cast (Tracy Smith, Lauren Hays, Nancy O'Brien) are attractive, especially Tracy Smith. All three give realistic performances during their sex scenes, as if they're actually having sex and enjoying it. And the hot tub scene between Tracy Smith and Nancy O'Brien is especially erotic to watch. If you're looking for a well thought out, suspenseful movie, with a tight plot, great acting, and good character development, I suggest you watch L.A. Confidential. If you're looking to arouse your libido with good sex scenes involving beautiful women, make sure you get the un-rated version, sit back, and enjoy.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Greatest War Movie - Despite What the Germans Say
This is a brilliant film. I have never seen a film that gives a better sense of what it is like to actually be involved in combat, in all its shocking and horrifying reality. It also is rare that a World War II film comes along that actually shows American soldiers as real people, who sometimes do things they'd rather not talk about under the intense stress of combat. Take, for example, the American soldiers who shoot the two Germans who are trying to surrender during the D-Day landing. Or Corporal Upham, who is too scared during the final battle to save one of his comrades from being killed. Scenes such as these help lend a humanity to the movie so that, while still rooting for the main group of characters, you realize that sometime, during war, men act in a way that they never would during peace.
Now, as for the issue of the portrayal of the Germans during the movie, first of all, I don't see how some people are complaining that they were portrayed as "stupid". I can't think of a single scene in which the German soldiers are shown to be acting stupidly. Are they shown losing the battle? Yes, they are. But guess what? That's what actually happened! News flash: The Germans lost the war! A film that shows brave German soldiers successfully stopping the Americans and British on the beaches and driving them back into the sea would be nothing but a giant work of fiction, because it never happened. And as for all out German "friends" complaining that Germans are always portrayed as the bad guys and evil in World War II films, I have news for you: Germany was the bad guy. Germany acted in as evil a way as a country can act. Germany tried to conquer an entire continent because it felt it was it's destiny. Germany mercilessly butchered millions of Jews and other "undesirables" because they weren't "pure". If Germans don't like being portrayed as evil during World War II, then maybe they shouldn't have acted evil during World War II.