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Reviews
Fatal Attraction (1987)
Superb Movie All the Way Around
I absolutely love this movie.
I find everything about it amazing
The opening sequence with the a different NYC skyline view, not your usual skyscrapers, the pace, the score. The family in their cozy Manhattan apartment, with the lovable golden lab.
And then there's the acting, OMG
It is a given that Glenn Close is AMAZING in this. Michael Douglas and Anne Archer are incredible too. Glenn's ability to go from mysterious temptress to repelling stalker is beyond belief. Dan (Michale Douglas) is an adulterer. But at the same time his character is still such a genuine loving and dotting father and husband...He balances being pursued by a psychotic woman as he continues to go to work, get surprises for his daughter, be tender to his wife, hang out with friends, etc. Beth (Anne Archer) is as sweet as she is gullible. So many red flags, but again, Dan was so great in being the perfect husband (aside from cheating on his wife that is). Even the little girl, Ellen (Ellen Hamilton Latzen), was amazing at such a young age.
There are parts of the film when Glenn Close's character, Alex, looks absolutely stunning...like when she see's Dan struggling with his umbrella. And in other shots, she is intentionally made to look very off putting, as her character spirals downward.
The scenes where Alex sits alone, flicking a light on and off, listening to Madam Butterfly, contrasted against the scenes of Dan, Beth and their friends having a great time bowling is really powerful.
What initially draws most people to this movie (as it did me) is the subject matter and seeing it all play out. But over time, I come to love the cinematography.
The only thing that keeps me from giving this 10 stars out of 10 is the ending.
Now that I'm older, I believe the original, intended ending is better and more realistic to Alex.
Dear Dumb Diary (2013)
Energetic Funarama!
I found this movie to be energetic and fun. It appealed to both the kids and adults in our house hold. I also felt it was overall positive and sent good messages such as: Working with what you got Standing up to a wrong Learning about what lies behind people's exteriors
I did not find the movie to be creepy...although there were some gross parts. But those gross parts were at a child's level, so noting inappropriate there.
I believe that part of the reason why this movie was such a big hit with our family is because we just turned it on out of the blue....no big anticipation and expectations. Just a nice unexpected treat to watch during our winter break.
Together Brothers (1974)
A Nastalgic Gem
It was back in the mid seventies. I was about six or seven. My parents put my brother and me in the car. I believe I was in my pj's. We headed to a drive in somewhere. "Together Brothers" along with "Bingo Long and the Traveling All Stars" was playing.
I remember telling all my friends about the movie, "Together Brothers" the next day.
A few weeks ago, I noticed that it would be playing on the IFC, so I set the DVR, and watched at the same time it was recording, and once after wards (I was working late that week and had a few hours to myself in the mornings).
The movie is still amazing and must have had a profound effect on me. I recalled a bunch of scenes, as they came up, while others were completely faded from my memory, but still. The movie was, and still is, COOL.
While the movie is obviously dated, in the terms of the setting, clothes, etc., it seemed very modern at the same time: The type of jokes, exploring transexuality, and that sort of thing.
Of course the actors seemed so "grown" to me, when I watched this as a child. After watching it well into adulthood, the actors appear as they are...just young kids. As another poster pointed out, they did remind me of the Cosby Kids on the Fat Albert cartoon. My husband even walked by and made a comment to that effect.
Having non actors play the parts made it all seem more realistic.
A nostalgic gem!
AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem (2007)
Take me back to the old days of Aliens and Predator-SPOILERS
My husband and I had my mom watch the kids so we could have a date night and watch this. We should have stayed home and saved our money. HORRIBLE! I can't say what has not already been said, like gaping plot holes, too dark and fast to see anything; not that you would want to. The people who like this film seemed to be impressed over the gratuitous violence against children! At least AVP, which also sucked, began to explain some of the mysteries in Alien and Aliens: How a ship had crashed landed on a planet, infested with some strange organism. But this movie undid all that! I had an idea it would not be good...but I was looking for some connection with Ripely character, like perhaps she is the great great great grandchild of some of the characters in AVP-R. For those of us who remember and are fond of the first Alien movies, AVP-R totally raped those plot lines. For instance, in Aliens, Ripely stresses how not even one of the Alien organisms can get to Earth. Yet a whole town gets invested with them in this movie and the "containment" that the government did is supposed to cover all that up. Fine, but now how is government going to cover up wiping out an entire town?
Mysterious Skin (2004)
A different prospective-contains light spoilers
I've read most of the reviews about this film and must say they were all wonderfully and accurately written...looking at the dark subject matter and the way it was portrayed so well, making the viewer figure out things for themselves, not being preachy, etc.
I just want to add that even though pedophiles are out there and take advantage of children where they can...its worth noting how the coach picked his victims. Both victims came from extremely different families, but they did have this in common...their families were not really there for them. Neil's mom was focused more on getting laid by her boyfriend of the moment, which is why Neil ended up in little league anyway, and his mom used the little league as a free baby sitter, chauffeur, etc. for Neil.
Brian's mom was quite different, and seemed to be there for him most of the time; concerned, and a bit over protective. However, he had a distant father who seemed withdrawn from the family, while he was still married. I forget what happened when Brian ended up having his "experience" with the coach, but neither parent could pick him up from baseball practice.
My big take away...be quite visible in your kid's life. Even though you can't be with them all of the time, make it known that you are a strong presence