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Marie Antoinette (2006)
What the heck was Coppola doing???
It amazes me that Sofia Coppola continues to have a career, despite her ineptitude. The historical inaccuracies are bad enough, but the bizarrely placed rock music makes this movie a farce. The film ends very abruptly, almost as if they had run out of film, and then the idiotic music starts up again.
I honestly felt as though I had wasted two hours of my life watching this film. Kirsten Dunst is as wooden as ever, and Jason Schwartzman, although handsome, is completely wasted in this dud.
Someone should take away Sofia Coppola's camera. Her daddy didn't teach her well enough, and she has no business making movies.
One Eight Seven (1997)
A cross between Dangerous Minds and Psycho.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I switched to a broadcast of "One Eight Seven" the other night. Having grown up in a quiet Canadian suburb, I was absolutely shocked at the hellish portrayal of East L.A. and the sex and violence inherent in that area. At first, I couldn't believe that things could possibly be that bad. I mean, look at "Dangerous Minds"! Granted, things got bad, but they glossed over most of it and made everybody "Hollywood" pretty. Not so in "One Eight Seven". I'm not sure which is closer to the truth, as I am determined to stay FAR away from East L.A.
Samuel L. Jackson was fantastic in a role that can only be described as completely, insanely psychotic. The caring, compassionate teacher by day, who would suspect Mr. Garfield of killing one student and seriously maiming another? But as soon as the first student disappears, the viewer immediately has a horrible, sickening sense of the truth.
The end had me completely floored (yes, I saw it coming, but still. HOLY GUACAMOLE!) I was, and am still, totally shocked by the fact that an environment like East L.A., and a school like One Eight Seven can actually exist in today's world. But I'm afraid that it's oh so true. Maybe not where I live, maybe not where you live, but definitely here in North America, where we're supposed to be enlightened and aware. Scary stuff - NOT for the faint of heart (or stomach).
The Big Comfy Couch (1992)
Kids *LOVE* this show!
I don't know how long this show has been running, but I hope Loonette lasts until my kids are too old to watch. I have a 3.5 year old and a 1 year old, and they are rivetted to the tv during this show.
Loonette the Clown, her Grandma Garbanzo Clown, Major Bedhead the mailman, and the other characters teach such things as responsibility (at least once in each show, Loonette asks "Who made this big mess? ME?? then I have to clean it up, it's only fair!"), helping others, telling the truth, etc. I read the other review for this show and had to laugh. Of course adults aren't meant to take it seriously - it's not geared towards us - it's geared towards pre-schoolers and babies. The show has plenty of educational value - it won't teach you the alphabet or counting to 20, but it teaches VALUES and how to interact with others.
I think the imagination and creativity demonstrated by this show is admirable and definitely strikes the right chord with kids, who can't get enough of the Big Comfy Couch (my kids want one now... unfortunately, our house isn't big enough!). Thumbs up from the kids!
Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Very good, but extremely long movie!!
I think the editors were afraid to cut on this one - as far as I'm concerned, the film did not justify the budget... way too long, many scenes and side-tracking plot lines could have been done without. Brad Pitt was okay - by no means fantastic, but not bad either. His accent was a little uneven and at times he lost it completely. The only really incredible performance in the film was by the young Dalai Lama - just fantastic!
By the end of the film, I felt sort of cheated, but there were some really good moments - obviously a Brad Pitt vehicle though. Disappointing.
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Better than the first
I read the previous (scathing) review, and I felt that it was unfair. I thought that MI2 was much better than the first movie, and didn't make you come out of it saying "what the hell was THAT?" the way the first one did (with me at least). Nice action sequences by John Woo (but the car crash sequence was a TAD overdone - I got so confused). Thandie Newton seems to have been added to provide her sexy smile (which is about all she did). Her acting skills were severely underused in this role, but hey, it's an action flick! Cruise and Scott (Dougray Scott, the villain) gave really good performances (not the best of either career). I think it's interesting that no one has noticed William Mapother yet (some relative of Cruise's) - he's worked in and on many of Cruise's films, and I think it would be worth finding out just what the relation is :) All in all, I'd buy a copy and I'm sorry we missed it on the big screen! Great soundtrack, toned-down Woo, good action :) I liked it (and I started the movie thinking I'd hate it!)
Dogma (1999)
EXCELLENT movie!! Great commentary on contemporary religion....
Everyone gave an excellent performance, especially Alan Rickman (one of my heros), Ben Affleck and of course, Kevin Smith (who played a lovable Silent Bob). Alanis Morrissette's quirky performance as God in the final scenes of the film was incredible and I'm just sorry the movie ended when it did. This took the "crusade" type film to a whole new level, while raising some serious questions about organized religion as it now stands. Applause to Smith for his courage and vision in this film (we love Silent Bob!) and I personally loved all the pop culture film references :) See it. Five stars, 2 thumbs up, whatever.