mpr3t Reviews

Widow of St. Pierre (2000)

A pleasant surprise

[30 September 2004]

I must say that this is one of those films that really stuck with me for weeks after watching it, both for its evocative cinematography as well as its acting and mood. I must take issue with a previous reviewer who called this movie "preachy" or "too liberal". The central moral dilemma in this film is precisely that we cannot understand, much less judge, a human being by a single action. It is true that Auguste commits murder, but what the director then sets up is the largely unspoken debate as to a man's worth to society. One can of course argue both ways, that the law must be enforced no matter what, or that his contributions to the community are worth more than his death. It isn't preachy at all, because the film doesn't tell us what to think, it's up to us to reflect on this. Life isn't black and white, despite what our politicians would like us to believe, it's shades of grey.

Hell (1994)

Great film

[9 March 2004]

I still think of L'Enfer as a great film, rife with psychological torment and anguish. It may not be Chabrol's best (as others have pointed out), but it is nonetheless very good. This is in my opinion also one of Beart's best performances. The cinematography is terrific, with wonderful contrasts between the idyllic, sun-drenched locale and the dark, tormented and claustrophobic emotional dimension. The plot is somewhat predictable, but the "meat" of the movie is on the psychological development of the main characters, not on "what happens next". Overall, I highly recommend this film to any fan of cinema.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Still amazing

[10/10 · 17 November 2003]

Still, after all these years, one of the most transcendent cinematic experience. The usual criticism leveled at 2001 are that it's too long or boring, or that it hasn't aged well. Rubbish! This is the antithesis of a popcorn movie, and as such requires a commitment on the part of the viewer. The effects are still solid, and besides, this isn't a movie that relies on special effects... The ending sequence has always been more suggestive than anything else. A true masterpiece that still echoes in every sci-fi film made today.

Ghost Ship (2002)

Not as bad as people think

[7/10 · 9 April 2003]

I am sick and tired of people who watch horror thrillers only to later fault them for not being Shakespeare. This is an effective--if convoluted--thriller with a different mood/setting than the usual abandoned house/woods locale.

The effects are really well done, and some are quite gory, for fans of the genre. The acting is uneven, but doesn't impede the action in any way. Overall, I recommend renting this if you're in the mood for some horror.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Vastly over-rated

[1/10 · 9 April 2003]

When did the American moviegoing public get hypnotized? Why is an over-hyped visual effects vehicle with a mediocre story (book is better, but also over-rated) and TERRIBLE acting such a blockbuster? Wood is simply awful, always staring at the screen with the meek demeanor of someone about to receive a colonoscopy; his buddy Sean Astin is laughably bad, as are most of the supporting cast.

I was insulted by the contrived and predictable pace of this film, and only the visual effects could keep my interest, at least for the first hour or so. Dialogue-journey-battle, lather-rinse-repeat. Yawn.

Intensity (1997 TV Movie)

Best Koonz adaptation yet

[9/10 · 6 July 2001]

Intensity has to be one of my very favorite thriller novels, partly because of the well developed characters (for a thriller). Much to my (pleasant) surprise, the movie does a very solid job of capturing the essence of Koonz's writing. McGinley doesn't look like the Edgler Vess I'd pictured, but he does a great job in this character. Overall, I wish they'd come out with this on DVD so that others could have the chance to see this film.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Eye candy but little else

[5/10 · 3 July 2001]

I'm a big fan of Tomb Raider in general and was both happy and disappointed after seeing this movie. I was relieved that Angelina Jolie did a commendable job of filling Lara Croft's boots. She did the British accent convincingly, and although she tended to overplay the surly demeanor, she was quite good. The major fault to this film, however, is the infantile plot. You would think that for a multi million dollar summer blockbuster they would have bothered to hire a writer, but apparently not. The plot is full of holes (Lara has the key they seek; why not destroy it and prevent the end of the world that way?) and plays like a video game, meaning that it is a thin excuse to move from exotic locale to exotic locale. The visuals are great, the soundtrack is fun, and overall it's a fun movie. I could only imagine what a good writer and director could have done with it, though...