The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (Wow! Long title...) is an interesting drama about an awful mother and her two teenage daughters. The mother, Beatrice (Joanne Woodward), is a widow who doesn't really work. She instead chain smokes, complains about everything, insults everyone, including her kids, and doesn't seem to know how to raise children. Her oldest daughter Ruth (Roberta Wallach) is a popular cheerleader, who occasionally has convulsions. Youngest daughter Matilda (Nell Potts, Woodward's real life daughter) is good at science, but is very shy and has no friends (despite being more attractive, in my opinion). They have an old woman as a border to earn some money. This movie is very sweet and deals realistically with family problems. Beatrice is obnoxious and self-centered and Ruth is the same. The only character one can sympathize with is shy Matilda. The film was directed by Paul Newman, husband of Woodward and father of Potts. It was based on a play by Paul Zindel, who wrote a book, "The Pigman", that I had to read for high school. I think the movie was once available on VHS, but it's probably out-of-print. I hope someday the Newman family will take some time off from making spaghetti sauce to collaborate with 20th Century Fox to give this movie the deluxe DVD treatment.
Reviews
6 Reviews
Resident Evil
(2002)
A very good video game inspired movie
10 June 2006
I have a confession: I've never played any of the Resident Evil games. But I have seen the movies and I love them.
The story starts with a disgruntled employee of a illegal research facility releasing a chemical virus through the ventilation system. All the employees quickly die. Then we are introduced to a young woman (Milla Jovovich) with amnesia who is somehow connected to the facility. Suddenly a young man bursts into her home, followed by commandos who are there to exterminate the employees who are now flesh-eating zombies.
I found the film to be exciting, scary and well made. Jovovich is very good in the role of Alice, who discovers she has fighting skills that come in handy when battling the undead. (I love the scene where she climbs the wall and kicks the zombie dog in the head!) Be sure to pay attention to all the "Alice in Wonderland" references.
The audio commentary from the cast and crew on the DVD is entertaining. Jovovich points out all of her nude scenes. She also mentions that the American distributor wanted to change the voice of the little girl (Michaela Dicker) who plays the Red Queen, but the American girl's voice was too sexy for a little girl!
All in all, a good Saturday night flick.
The story starts with a disgruntled employee of a illegal research facility releasing a chemical virus through the ventilation system. All the employees quickly die. Then we are introduced to a young woman (Milla Jovovich) with amnesia who is somehow connected to the facility. Suddenly a young man bursts into her home, followed by commandos who are there to exterminate the employees who are now flesh-eating zombies.
I found the film to be exciting, scary and well made. Jovovich is very good in the role of Alice, who discovers she has fighting skills that come in handy when battling the undead. (I love the scene where she climbs the wall and kicks the zombie dog in the head!) Be sure to pay attention to all the "Alice in Wonderland" references.
The audio commentary from the cast and crew on the DVD is entertaining. Jovovich points out all of her nude scenes. She also mentions that the American distributor wanted to change the voice of the little girl (Michaela Dicker) who plays the Red Queen, but the American girl's voice was too sexy for a little girl!
All in all, a good Saturday night flick.
Petite Princess Yucie
(2002–2003)
An excellent fantasy series
19 May 2006
A while ago, I saw a dubbed episode of this show on Anime Network on Demand and instantly fell in love with it.
The story involves a 17-year-old girl cursed with a 10-year-old's body who learns of a special contest for girls. The prize is a tiara that can grant the Platinum Princess (the contest winner) any wish. Yucie desperately wants a grown up body. The problem is she isn't the only girl with the same problem and goal. Candidates from the worlds of demons (Glenda), spirits (Cocoloo), heaven (Elmina), fairies (Beth) and humans (Yucie) are all in competition. Yucie also falls in love with a prince who, of course, she doesn't like at first because he teases her about her forehead. The penultimate episode is very sad, but I won't spoil it here.
The opening song is really catchy and the animation is very colorful. Although it has mild violence and a few swear words (if you're watching the Japanese version - which I recommend), it's suitable for most kids. I liked that Kikuko Inoue (Belldandy in the Ah! My Goddess OAV and movie) voiced the queen. Chisa Yokoyama (Sasami/Pretty Sammy/Tsunami in Tenchi Muyo! and Magical Girl Pretty Sammy) has a small role in the final few episodes. The end credits song is on Yoko Ishida's CD "Sweets" (available in the U.S.).
I highly recommend this wonderful show!
The story involves a 17-year-old girl cursed with a 10-year-old's body who learns of a special contest for girls. The prize is a tiara that can grant the Platinum Princess (the contest winner) any wish. Yucie desperately wants a grown up body. The problem is she isn't the only girl with the same problem and goal. Candidates from the worlds of demons (Glenda), spirits (Cocoloo), heaven (Elmina), fairies (Beth) and humans (Yucie) are all in competition. Yucie also falls in love with a prince who, of course, she doesn't like at first because he teases her about her forehead. The penultimate episode is very sad, but I won't spoil it here.
The opening song is really catchy and the animation is very colorful. Although it has mild violence and a few swear words (if you're watching the Japanese version - which I recommend), it's suitable for most kids. I liked that Kikuko Inoue (Belldandy in the Ah! My Goddess OAV and movie) voiced the queen. Chisa Yokoyama (Sasami/Pretty Sammy/Tsunami in Tenchi Muyo! and Magical Girl Pretty Sammy) has a small role in the final few episodes. The end credits song is on Yoko Ishida's CD "Sweets" (available in the U.S.).
I highly recommend this wonderful show!
Mahô no stêji fanshî Rara
(1998)
A very cute magical girl series
17 May 2006
Fancy Lala is a children's magical girl series, but it can be enjoyed by the young at heart. Miho is a ten-year-old girl who encounters two dinosaur fairies who give her a magic pen and pad. By drawing clothes on the pad and reciting some magic words she transforms into an older version of herself whom she dubs Fancy Lala. She is then scouted by a modeling agency. Soon they have her auditioning as a singer as well. Along the way Miho learns about growing up, having a crush and how hard the entertainment industry is.
I got interested in the series after seeing the trailer (the opening credits) and digging the song. The song, I discovered, is titled "La La La...When You Wish Upon Your Lips". I mistakenly assumed that Lala was a long haired girl, but actually she has short hair and sometimes wears a wig.
The second DVD has a text interview with the creators, which is best read after watching the entire series (preferably in Japanese). Some of the creators previously worked on the series Magical Angel Creamy Mami. Thanks to a enterprising penpal who no longer writes to me, I have seen the fan-subtitled versions of the first four episodes of Creamy Mami. The two shows have a few things in common, such as the lead characters transforming into older versions of themselves and becoming pop stars. Creamy Mami is more of a slapstick comedy mixed with a huge dose of fantasy. Fancy Lala is a fantasy, but is more down to earth. I like both shows, and I hope Creamy Mami gets a legit U.S. release someday, but I think Fancy Lala is better.
In any case, I highly recommend Fancy Lala. Enjoy!
I got interested in the series after seeing the trailer (the opening credits) and digging the song. The song, I discovered, is titled "La La La...When You Wish Upon Your Lips". I mistakenly assumed that Lala was a long haired girl, but actually she has short hair and sometimes wears a wig.
The second DVD has a text interview with the creators, which is best read after watching the entire series (preferably in Japanese). Some of the creators previously worked on the series Magical Angel Creamy Mami. Thanks to a enterprising penpal who no longer writes to me, I have seen the fan-subtitled versions of the first four episodes of Creamy Mami. The two shows have a few things in common, such as the lead characters transforming into older versions of themselves and becoming pop stars. Creamy Mami is more of a slapstick comedy mixed with a huge dose of fantasy. Fancy Lala is a fantasy, but is more down to earth. I like both shows, and I hope Creamy Mami gets a legit U.S. release someday, but I think Fancy Lala is better.
In any case, I highly recommend Fancy Lala. Enjoy!
Cardcaptor Sakura
(1998–2000)
Why I love Tomoyo
8 May 2006
I think Tomoyo Daidouji is the cutest, smartest, most wonderful character in the history of fictional stories! She's also very observant, an excellent singer (her voice is provided by Junko Iwao), a good cook, a good friend and very creative. She knows how to design and sew costumes and she knows everything about videotaping and editing. Amazingly enough, Tomoyo never gets angry or says a cross word. I only wish I were as wonderful as Tomoyo. The only reason I repeatedly rewatch Cardcaptor Sakura is because of Tomoyo! Cardcaptor Sakura is the greatest anime series in the world because of Tomoyo! Tomoyo, I want to marry you!
Totally Spies!
(2001–2014)
The best cartoon on TV
5 May 2006
Totally Spies is absolutely the best cartoon I've seen in years. I'm not counting anime, because anime shows are in a league of their own.
The show is about three high school girls who are actually spies for a government organization called WOOHP - The World Orgaization Of Human Protection. Sam is the smart and sexy redhead (and my favorite character), Clover is the conceited and cute blonde and Alex is the airheaded and, uh, elegant brunette (and token African-American). Their boss is Jerry, a bald British guy. Jerry supplies them with girly gadgets, such as compowders/x-powders (compact computers), lipstick lasers, windtunnel 9000 tornado-blast hairdryers and the like. They take on evil toymakers, cookiemakers and various megalomaniacs. At school they contend with a rich, snobby girl named Mandy. Clover and Mandy always fight over boys.
There are many stand-out episodes. I liked "Boy Bands Will Be Boy Bands", which has some witty dialogue. One boy band member says, "We're just doing the boy band thing to jump start our acting careers." I swear that's a reference to actor Mark Wahlburg, who used to be the lead singer of the boy band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. I'm not a fan of real life boy bands, but I love this episode. Then there's "Alex Quits", in which Alex does quit when she becomes jealous of new spy recruit Britney. The villain is a guy named Willard, who wants to slow down the world to a snail's pace. I love his voice.
Speaking of voices, actress Jennifer Hale voices both Sam and Mandy. She also voiced Jessie in Jonny Quest: The Real Adventures.
There are three DVDs with four episodes each. I wish there were season 1,2 and 3 boxed sets. I love season 4 so far. Now we need a theatrical movie.
The show is about three high school girls who are actually spies for a government organization called WOOHP - The World Orgaization Of Human Protection. Sam is the smart and sexy redhead (and my favorite character), Clover is the conceited and cute blonde and Alex is the airheaded and, uh, elegant brunette (and token African-American). Their boss is Jerry, a bald British guy. Jerry supplies them with girly gadgets, such as compowders/x-powders (compact computers), lipstick lasers, windtunnel 9000 tornado-blast hairdryers and the like. They take on evil toymakers, cookiemakers and various megalomaniacs. At school they contend with a rich, snobby girl named Mandy. Clover and Mandy always fight over boys.
There are many stand-out episodes. I liked "Boy Bands Will Be Boy Bands", which has some witty dialogue. One boy band member says, "We're just doing the boy band thing to jump start our acting careers." I swear that's a reference to actor Mark Wahlburg, who used to be the lead singer of the boy band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. I'm not a fan of real life boy bands, but I love this episode. Then there's "Alex Quits", in which Alex does quit when she becomes jealous of new spy recruit Britney. The villain is a guy named Willard, who wants to slow down the world to a snail's pace. I love his voice.
Speaking of voices, actress Jennifer Hale voices both Sam and Mandy. She also voiced Jessie in Jonny Quest: The Real Adventures.
There are three DVDs with four episodes each. I wish there were season 1,2 and 3 boxed sets. I love season 4 so far. Now we need a theatrical movie.
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