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Ghel
Reviews
Dragonheart: A New Beginning (1999)
A children's version of the original
This movie was generally watchable as long as you kept in mind that it was a CHILDREN'S movie. Even so, I found some problems with it, and it certainly did not stack up to the original. First, the special effects were not quite as good as in the original. Second, the majority of the main characters were young, inexperienced, and naive. Only Goeff seemed to have some sort of interesting background, but he never elaborated on it. Lastly, the ending left much to be desired. At the last moment, the bad guy reveals a secret that was never even hinted at during the rest of the movie. The king is never shown to come out of his stupor. It's no surprise that the dragon saves the hero's life (that was telegraphed from the beginning). Nobody gets the girl (in fact, they never show her saying goodbye to the hero). All in all, the movie was a disappointment.
The Parent Trap (1998)
Better than the original.
It's not often that I say that; that a remake of a movie is better than the original. I would still suggest that you see them both, since both are good movies. This version has a few things that make it better. First (and probably most importantly) it has a 90s attitude instead of a 60s one. Second, the girl from England is much less stuck up than the girl from Boston. Third, the parents actually talked out their differences in this version and acknowledged how troublesome their relationship could be, both on themselves and their daughters. All this made for a much more enjoyable movie. The only thing I missed from the original that wasn't in this version was the catchy tune the girls were whistling on the way to the isolation cabin.
American Playhouse: Into the Woods (1991)
My favorite movie of all time.
This movie has everything: comedy, drama, music, action, and even a few morals (but even the morals don't spoil the fun). The setting, plot, and characters of Act 1 are quite familiar to anyone who grew up with the Grimm's fairy tales, but the stories intertwine in a way that makes them fresh and exciting. Act 2 starts off where Act 1 left off. Ever wonder what happened after Cinderella married the prince? Or Jack after he cut down the beanstalk? Or Red Riding Hood after she climbs out of the wolf's stomach? Well, here's your chance to find out. Act 2 shows that no one really lives happily ever after, yet that there's always hope. And it manages to portray this in a touching, yet humorous way.
I tend to judge movies by how many emotions I experienced while watching it. Did it make me laugh? Did it make me smile? Did it make me cry? This one did all three, and more. A truly great movie.
Spaced Invaders (1990)
Weak plot, poor acting, but extremely funny.
This movie is just plain silly. Almost every scene has some bit of humor: running gags, slapstick, and great jokes. The acting isn't that great, and the plot is cliche, but the jokes more than make up for that. If you have a chance to see this movie, I recommend that you do.