jaxonian Reviews

Zero Kelvin (1995)

A hybrid of thoughtfulness and action

[10/10 · 5 January 2002]

As a squeamish woman who rather hates film violence, I have to say that Zero Kelvin was an exceptional film. Henrik Larsen is a struggling writer who wants "raw material" and subjects himself for a year with 2 experienced hunter-trappers. I agree with the other film reviewer that this is a "character study" but want to point out that it is not flat or dull by any means. There's plenty of action throughout. I don't think that Larsen's boss and nemesis, Randbaeck, is evil but "troubled", and this distinction gives a lot of credence to the true struggle and relationship between the two men.

The Mexican (2001)

Surprisingly cute and raw

[8/10 · 11 November 2001]

I just purchased this movie in an effort to stock up on action/adventure. The Mexican definitely fits into that definition! Brad Pitt as Jerry is finally trying to do the right thing here-he meets all the requirements given him. But "Fate" has something else in store for him. His girlfriend dumps him as Jerry is leaving the country for "a job", but is still kidnapped and considered a negotiating piece. The romance is almost nonexistent, but that's okay, because romance and bullets don't mix. I think they could have shaved off most of Julia Roberts' performance and the story would still have been more than taken care of. She was NOT believable nor sympathetic and I felt more for her kidnapper than for her. Brad Pitt, however, was great as the desperate mob peon trying to do his work. You could feel his anxiety and disappointment with each obstacle. You could sympathize with his blunders. So what if he's good looking?! He still can act and he does it well. James Gandolfini also presents a good case and it's too bad he kidnapped Roberts. If he had played opposite Pitt, I think the movie would have moved a lot quicker and less painfully. But overall, the story was surprisingly cute and raw and you can appreciate the cultural confusion between rural Mexicans and Ugly Americans.

Mrs. Mike (1949)

Falls short of the book

[5/10 · 8 September 2001]

This film is based on the novel, Mrs. Mike, which is based on the real life woman, Kathy O'Fallon Flannigan. While it is an adequate film by itself, it sells the story short. It panders to romance and drama, when the book is quite dramatic in its own right. A Boston teenager is sent to live with her uncle in frontier Canada because of her fragile health. She eventually falls in love with own of the few-if only-young, white males in the region. They marry and depart for the northern wilderness to set up house and home. The rest of the movie is about her struggles and joys of living and travelling in this rugged country. Sadly, the movie ends where the book took off on a whole new, inspiring tangent. We are left with the typical "happy ending". I gave this a 5.

Xanadu (1980)

"Suspend me in Time"!

[9/10 · 12 August 2001]

I saw this movie, Xanadu, when I was just 10 years old, when it first came out in theatres. I went back and ended up watching the movie about 4 times while it was in town. The music, dancing and skating sequences are mesmerizing. I fell in love with ELO. Gene Kelly is still debonair and swift on his toes. Olivia Newton-John as a muse was, and still would be, a fresh idea in movies. We're always handed witches, aliens and angels-rarely muses, why is that?

So, I have rewatched this in adulthood and I gotta admit, a lot of the dialogue-and Michael Beck's entire performance-are embarrassingly horrid. But the above mentioned great things about this movie make it still wonderful. It's all about needing to get out of your comfort zone and taking risks, because if you don't, you're letting yourself down and depriving others of your unique gifts. It's a good example of multi-generational working together. Give this movie a chance!

Fanalysis (2002)

Short but Sweet Commentary on SciFi/Fantasy Fandom

[9/10 · 16 July 2001]

Mr. Bruce Campbell's documentary is both a voyeuristic peek at the wide spectrum of the fandoms of Science Fiction & Fantasy media and a commentary of the importance of the fan/artist relationship. We see behavior at conventions, there are interviews with actors (Ted Raimi)and theatre owners and the fans themselves. There are the extreme fans who go to any length to look and act like their favorite characters. There are the mild mannered ones who just go and collect memorabilia. Mr. Campbell explains the necessity of the fans, at the same time expresses a desire to keep the relationship "balanced", not too close, but not distanced. Mr. Campbell is an accomplished actor and author. His love and concern for his fans show through in this brief glimpse of his reality. A real treat for anyone who recognizes himself or a family member in this commentary-or just wants to see Bruce in action!

You've Got Mail (1998)

This is a poor substitute for the original story.

[4/10 · 9 June 2001]

I finally had the displeasure of seeing this movie. I waited until it was on TV and thought I might as well get it over with. I'll admit, Tom Hanks is a great actor but his name has carried some awful mainstream movies. This is no exception. Based on the play and subsequent movie, The Shop Around the Corner (1940), the plot and background story is changed drastically. There is little on-screen chemistry between Hanks and Ryan here and even character inconsistency within the movie itself. Then, with this story so different than the original, they copied a couple of scenes almost word for word and it came off so disjointed. Tom Hanks is no Jimmy Stewart and Meg Ryan no Margaret Sullavan. With few exceptions (eg. Maureen Stapleton), the supporting cast offered no help. They were more annoying than the stars. Again, a sharp contrast with the original where there were a couple of very witty subplots and extremely interesting side characters. For the sake of the author of the story, Miklos Lazslo, please see The Shop Around the Corner for some real sizzle and romance!