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Reviews
Man of the House (2005)
A misunderstood gem of a movie.
Such scathing reviews and misguided attempts at deep analysis -- all for a simple little Texas comedy! Really! Maybe it's a Texas thing, but I stand aghast at how far off target the negative reviews are. Highlighted by the tremendously funny deadpan humor of Tommy Lee Jones, "Man of the House" is a gem of a lighthearted film that does a great job of tapping into the energy of all things Texan and all things Austin. It's a mistake to expect a serious movie, as the corny, oddball stuff that happens is just a setup for Tommy Lee. Give us a break with this "University of Mordor" and "silly cheerleader film" stuff - this movie is a Texas-sized barrel of laughs! Go look for metaphysical truths in other movies -- put Willie Nelson on, invite some friends over, grab a Shiner Bock, and prepare to roll on the floor with laughter....
Tycus (1999)
Overlooked classic in the genre of apocalypse.
Fans of apocalyptic movies will savor this well-made low-budget thriller that is essentially a remake of the 1951 George Pal classic "When Worlds Collide." A comet is headed for a near-collision with earth, and when his fellow scientists disregard his warnings of doom, eccentric scientist Peter Crawford (Dennis Hopper) gathers a group of private investors to secretly construct an underground sanctuary.
The story unfolds through the eyes of muscle-bound Gulf-war veteran Jake Lowe (Peter Onorati)who inadvertently discovers Crawford's hidden sanctuary and then decides that Crawford is wrong for keeping his project hidden from the rest of humanity. As the comet approaches, the subject of who should live and who should die makes for interesting drama.
While the special effects are not in the same league, I enjoyed the story more than I did Spielberg's War of the Worlds, because I feel this screenplay is better. Some suspension of scientific reality is required, but it's worthwhile for the development of a good story. I highly recommend this film to fans of the genre.
War of the Worlds (2005)
When the explosions and effects end, there's emptiness.
I love Spielberg's films and have enjoyed almost everything Cruise has done. Also, the novel "War of the Worlds" is probably my all-time favorite, and I read it at least once a year. Understandably, my expectations for this film were very high.
All the ingredients thrown into the pot should have created the final and definitive version of Wells' novel. Sadly, the soup is bitter and leaves one feeling empty.
I'll agree with the reviewers that say Cruise and Dakota Fanning give excellent performances. I agree that the CGI invaders and their tripod machines provide some of the most realistic and terrifying moments ever captured on film. I agree that the movie has all the elements of a Hollywood special effects blockbuster. But somehow, none of these qualities is enough to satisfy a true fan of the story this movie is based on.
In truth, this film has little to do with the original novel, other than that there are invaders from space who: (1) use tripod machines to try to conquer the world, (2) feed on human blood, and (3) are defeated in the end by germs.
The few elements of Wells' original story are quickly shoved into the background, as the movie focuses on the tensions between Cruise's blue-collar character and his two children, as they flee the invading aliens on their way from New York to Boston.
I left the theater shaking my head in disappointment. Wells' story is one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written, and this movie is but a pale shadow of it, when it could have been so much more. The movie is not about retelling Wells' story - it's about showcasing some "wow" special effects and providing a stage for Cruise to build up more of his star power.
Those of us who really care about this story are left feeling empty....
The War of the Worlds (2005)
Mildly interesting to H.G. Wells fans, but otherwise dreadful.
As a fan of H.G. Wells and a collector of movies based on his stories, I had very high hopes for this one. I was willing to overlook the weak cast, low-budget production, and amateurish special effects if only the movie makers were able to bring forth the essence of Wells' remarkable story. Unfortunately, they failed by a wide margin. The fact that this is the most faithful screen adaptation of the novel does not mean it is a good movie. After about the first 30 minutes, it actually becomes painful to watch. A definite turning point for the worst is the terrible acting of John Kaufmann as the Curate in what should have been some of the most pivotal scenes in the movie -- the entrapment in the scullery and the revelation of what the invaders really are. There are a few bright spots scattered throughout, but overall, this more closely resembles a film made by college students on a shoestring budget for a class project. Would they have passed? Probably not.
Doc Hollywood (1991)
Unique and very entertaining.
Doc Hollywood is one of only a handful of movies that I never tire of watching. It's a vacation for the mind -- the story of a brash big city surgeon (Michael J. Fox) who, after a minor car crash, finds himself trapped in the "twilight zone" of backwater USA, only to make a series of amazing discoveries about life off the beaten path. It's a nice love story with a wonderful cast set in the fictional town of Grady (the "Squash capital of the South"), which is straight out of Norman Rockwell with a touch of Mayberry RFD. It's the kind of place that, if it existed, you would immediately move there. Since it doesn't, the next best thing is to watch this very entertaining movie.
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Better than "You've Got Mail"?
I saw this movie after watching the 1998 remake, "You've Got Mail," and was pleasantly surprised. In many ways, it is superior to the more recent offering. Although I can't understand why the movie was set in Budapest, Hungary with an all English-speaking cast that included Jimmy Stewart, the film captures the viewers' attention with interesting characters and a great story. I thought Stewart's performance as Alfred Kralik was outstanding, while Margaret Sullavan's work as Klara Novak seemed a bit stilted and unconvincing at times. The entire movie hinges on making the viewer believe that Klara can go from hating Alfred to accepting his offer of engagement in one scene. Sullavan doesn't quite pull it off, and the movie ends a bit too abruptly, but otherwise, this is an interesting show.