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Reviews
The Last Castle (2001)
A parable!
Ok, so this movie is not so "real", but if ever you believed that reality TV is anything resembling true events then you are living in a very sad planet. The Last Castle is a parable of sorts, not to be taken literally. What it points at is a simple morality. Unlawful orders are to be disobeyed. Whether they come from the Boss, the Lawmaker or the President. In this morality play, albeit its inherent entertainment value, there is also a valid exercise in wishful thinking. It is a dream about courage; the kind of courage that refuses to follow the dictates of an immoral bloodthirsty authority, be it boss, lawmaker and, as the final shot of the american flag seems to indicate, a president. See it from this perspective and the film attains a totally new reson d'etre, full of symbolism and rallying cries. The flag has to be taken back and flown in freedom, at whatever costs.
Saving Jessica Lynch (2003)
So?
The real story of the Jessica Lynch affair is how the Pentagon lied to the country trying to depict miss Lynch as a hero, fighting off the enemy, when in actual fact all she suffered was getting injured and caught by the enemy. It was strange that CBS chose today to air (60 mins) the real story of what happened on that day and by the looks of it Jessica did not do much , contrary to the usual lying spin we get from our leaders today. The film, although technically well done is about nothing, with no conflict no interest and a who f*%&+#@ cares outcome. It is about nothing and the only reason why this story surfaced is because of the lie perpetrated by those who would blind us about the horrible immoral and unworthy war we are sending our children to.
Anger Management (2003)
lots o gas, signifying nothing!
Why would so many talented people get involved in this piece of garbage? One of the worst movies of the year, with absolutely no respect to any audience intelligence. I left the theatre angry, unable to manage the feeling that I've been had by a bunch of artists that should know better.
Code 46 (2003)
Haunting
It will be very difficult not to compare this to Blade Runner and when one does then this film does not come up to par. It is a haunting piece which left too many questions unanswered. Performances are great and direction superb, so why did this film leave me so cold and indifferent? CODE 46 is another film about a very bleak future supposedly just around the corner from our time space. (Why are films about the future always so bleak?) Authorities have managed to find a way to eradicate memories and it is this plot point that carries what could have been explosively emotional fireworks. Sadly there is no real spark between the two leads and by the time you figure out what this is about (manipulation of memory - among other themes) it's way past the comfort zone. (SPOILER NEXT)
And then the car accident. Too much guys. Honestly. I wanted to care but I couldn't. This film has been crafted by great professionals and talented artists all round, but the script falls somewhat short of a coherent narrative. Lots o shiny style covering a murky tale. The unnesessarily long dance sequence and first simulated love scene simply went on and on and on and.... There is a great moment when the picture cuts back and forth between a previously established dream sequence and the continuation of narrative. A brilliant sequence worthy of a talented film maker. The photography is stunning and deserves accolades. I really did not want to hear that comment on my way out of the theatre during the Toronto Film Festival, about how clever the director was to avoid seeing cars on the streets and highways which of course would have ruined the future theme, by insinuating that the characters travelled during early hours and therefore traffic was light. I wanted to tell him they could have easily used CGI...but tell me it ain't so Mr. Winterbottom!
Basic (2003)
Huh?
What? So the female interrogator was being duped right? And that's because.....she.....why exactly? Ok so....who was.....I can't get it! Oh I was not supposed to get it!!!!! Oh I see! Was well done tough, I mean,action wise, suspense, but it means nothing. Oh! right! That's what films are made for today. To mean nothing! Take a hike!
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Loved it!
Loved it. Thanks. A well made entertainment. I think the moonlight swordfight will make cinema history, among the greatest moments in the art. Thoroughly enjoyable piece of fluff, that is relaxing and fun. It kind of reassures me that left in the hands of those that know, there might still be hope for the "good old ways" of cinema art. Kinda goes in the face of the ultra sexist, artistically bankrupt, presumptous pieces of summer mindless garbage like, among many, "Charlie's Angels Full Throttle" and "Legally Blonde II". The audience clapped at the end of Pirates, the hall was full and smiles abounded as they left the hall. What better way to say "it worked!".
Un homme et une femme (1966)
What's the fuss all about?
Whatever the fuss was over this film simply escapes me today(2003). I tried to assess it from a perspective of "new cinema" for the era it was made in, but that did not help the nagging feeling that this film maker was lazy and fundamentally deficient in film art when he created this boring exercise in arrogance. So why all the awards? An example of "emperor's new clothes" syndrome I guess. Some misguided critics jumped on an enlightened band wagon and the rest followed. This film is bad cinema: tight closeups of people talking without the sound. Out of focus shots. Black and white interspersed with color which was distracting, abstracting and foolish. Disjointed scenes that have no impact on the whole - what in heaven's name is the purpose of the dog on the beach running around at water's edge?) Structure is non existent, (and the critics here may intone "that was the intent, destructuralist cinema contravening the Hollywoodian schlock of the times), direction is erratic and puerile, and the subject matter void of any basic dramatic substance. So, in view of the opinion of those who are supposed to know better than I, I will assume that I did not get "it", and this angers me.
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
Who do these producers think they're kidding
Just awful. We enjoyed the first so much, we all went to see this sequel. We've been had! We want our money back! They really suckered us in and we are so angry we actually PAID to see this unfair, badly made, money grabbing rip off/con of a movie. OOOOooo. We're so mad. WHY? Because of the really Bad jokes, silly script devoid of all the humour and "honesty" of the first comedy, the worse acting ever (even worse than Hulk) and the arrogance of these producers who obviously have no respect for their audience. They think we are all morons guys. And you know what? They're right because we went and spent our hard earned cash on this garbage.
Hulk (2003)
A hulking mess
I think I only hated one movie more than this one: The Royal Tenenbaums. The reason for that is that I got Soooo BOOOOOOred with this piece of nonsense. People were laughing throughout and some others left. I wish I did too. I think director Ang Lee took this material too seriously. The way the actors were directed simply did not mesh with the material, which had some of the worst writing. Writing about this is boring too.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
What a waste of time!
My frustration is compounded by the fact that many people loved this movie. I hated TRT with a passion. I have never gotten out of a movie theatre feeling so terribly upset and depressed. But perhaps I just cannot understand this form bankrupt humour. I begged my companions to leave half way through but they opted to stay and I had to endure it to the end. I distinctly heard several people laughing but to my great relief the majority were silent, very silent. Can I have my money back?