Change Your Image
katiemartens-1
Reviews
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
A Real Swashbuckler!
I love this film for its story line; the epic battles between good and evil, the cling clang clash of sword play in days when battle was a face-to-face affair, to excitement of revenge and adrenaline of a good mystery. This is a FANTASTIC TALE!!
Unfortunately, I cannot love it COMPLETELY. Don't get me wrong, I will still recommend it to anyone I come across who looks like they might be in need of a movie for the evening :). Nevertheless, the film itself has a few flaws, I felt. My biggest problem is the casting choice for the main character, Jim Caveziel (Jesus in "the Passion") as Edmond Dantes/ the Count. Guy Pearce plays a PERFECT nasty best friend, and the girl, boy, and servant are OK. So basically, you have Guy Pearce, and a healthy list of small supporting characters, carrying the film.
I still recommend this film; if you like it, read the book, even if you're not a "reader", you'll LOVE it!.
Also if you like it, here are some other movies I think you may enjoy:
"Tristan and Isolde" - a fairly recent action/drama that didn't have enough budget for a lot of promoting, but did have enough to pay for gorgeous cinematography, lots of battle weapons and burning sets, and a truly wonderful cast. Also, some of the same producers.
"The Princess Bride" - I'm not sure if I've EVER found someone who did NOT love this movie. Truly deserving of it's "cult" status, try it and see why we all love this lighthearted epic romp!
"The Three Musketeers" - With all the killing, conspiring, and womanizing, you'd hardly believe this was a Disney film. But don't let that dissuade you! :) With a cast like Oliver Platt, Keiffer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Chris O'Donnell, Rebecca De Mornay, and Tim Curry as the quintessential bad guy, this one is a classic!
Seraphim Falls (2006)
Kind of a "Reservoir Dogs" meets Western, movie!!
What does a post civil war, quasi-western-movie (recollections of "Cold Mountain") have to do with shoot-em-up-Tarantino- "Reservoir Dogs" you ask??? Well, because besides being a bit of a western, with rugged men toting guns on horseback, and a bit of a drama, with sad faced innocents, glimpses of lost love, and lots of deaths, "Seraphim Falls" plunges along into a great chase story without ever revealing who the bad guy is.
Peirce Brosnan's character starts off getting the run-down and the gun shots, so you figure he must have done something bad. But then you see Neeson's character is acting like, well, an ass, so you figure maybe Brosnan's the good guy. And it goes back and forth like that with only brief flashbacks of the past to keep you guessing. Thus, I give it a "Reservoir Dogs"-esquire quality. :)
FYI: A few pretty pretty vivid, squeamish scenes. It shouldn't dissuade the girls from watching, just cover you eyes for a while!
Reba (2001)
A dysfunctional "full house"
I was quite sure I would hate this show, but once it appeared on Lifetime (TV network) nearly every hour, I was forced to watch an episode... I don't know if I have ever LAUGHED SO HARD at a TV show! Being a 23 year old girl, I was first drawn in by "Van", whose quasi-hammy/ quasi-brilliant antics are ridiculously endearing. But after only two episodes (in the middle of what season I don't even know!) I was drawn into "Reba's" life, her worries and fears, and more so her laughs.
The show is far more honest and sophisticated than any previous family-sitcom-front-runners, (ie: full house, step by step, Roseanne, etc) despite the Texan drawl. :) What wins over is its overwhelming warmth, you CANNOT help but smile at some point during the 30 minutes. Consider it your 30 min. challenge from me!!) and far more witty. If you like a variety of genres, from Frasier to Roseanne, from Grey's Anatomy to Desperate Housewives, I guarantee you will love this show!
Tristan + Isolde (2006)
In the war between England and Ireland, Tristan & Isolde fight to justify their love within the walls that are crumbling...or enclosing... around them.
If you liked Count of Monte Cristo, you'll love this.
The acting is superb, the kind you get when you use B-list actors who are bound and determined to prove they're every bit as good as the A listers. The cinematography is also excellent; it includes enough sunshine and greenery to keep the darkest moments of the film from becoming too morose.
The waring aspect of the story, with fighting and blood and swords- swish, clang, swish, and all of that!- keeps the pace of the movie fast and heart thumping, (even for the guys in the audience). Meanwhile, the love story is ill fated enough to be suspenseful, but without making you sit in frustration wondering why they even bother trying! (ie: Romeo and Juliet)