nick_clemons Reviews

Rock & Rule (1983)

Sometimes I wish I was still 10 years old...

[5/10 · 16 June 2005]

I have to say, I was very excited when I learned that this movie was going to be released on DVD. I vaguely remember seeing this as a 10 year old in the 1980s and being impressed (granted, as a 10 year old).

So I rented it last night and was overall disappointed, but I must say its probably because I had over-hyped it with my own cloudy memories. I found the animation and the general artwork to be very impressive. The songs were fantastic, especially "My Name is Mok", but I found the characters to be generally annoying and the story lacking much development. Mok was the only character who was interesting and entertaining. Omar was a self-absorbed narcissist who doesn't give the audience a reason to empathize. Omar's companions were overly juvenile as were Mok's assistants.

The story has a great basis--dangerous post-apocalyptic world of mutants. But we don't really get much of a feeling for this world beyond the initial set-up. Also, we know that Mok wants to raise a demon, but why? Did I miss it or is it never really stated? I assume he wants to dominate the world, but it seems to me that he pretty much does already.

Overall, the movie is lacking character development and follow through on the story. The music is fantastic and the animation is great. Its kind of a mixed bag. I only wish it had lived up to my expectations.

Man Bites Dog (1992)

Vouyeur as criminal

[7 January 2002]

The comments I've seen from people regarding this movie tell me that folks are missing the point about "Man Bites Dog". Sure the filmmakers are telling us that violence is bad and that society is too accepting of violence in our everyday lives. However, they are are also showing us, through the characters of the film crew that we are active participants in the violence. The film crew at first takes an detatched role in Benoit's killing streak. They are leery of him and he is not a character they have a great deal of respect for, but they are in a quest for realism and accept his indulgences in order to get a groundbreaking film.

Soon they become enchanted by his violent lifestyle and start assisting him with his crimes. By the end of the movie, there is no separation between the film crew and Benoit. This is a direct commentary on the public's contribution to violence in society by our patronizing of violent multi-media. The movie is also commenting on the media's (especially TV) willingness to glorify the actions of various and sundry criminals with overexposure. But really, the film crew represents us the viewer, the consumer, who are initially repulsed by the crimes of Benoit, but soon want to know more about him, and eventually become his boosters and ultimately his co-conspirators.

The filmmakers are ultimately saying that because we as consumers too readily accept violence in movies, TV, books, magazines, etc. etc. that we are ultimately responsible for a more violent society.

Summer Catch (2001)

Why does Freddie Prinze, Jr. keep getting roles?

[3 January 2002]

Upon seeing this movie on video over the weekend, I struggled to decide if this movie or "Ghosts of Mars" was the worst movie of 2001. Now that I have had time to think about it, there is no question in my mind that "Summer Catch" is the "winner".

It was hard to decide where to begin with this turkey. But since this is an obvious Freddie Prinze vehicle, let's start there. In all of his movies, Freddie wants us to think that he is more than just a pretty-boy jock with styrofoam popcorn jammed into his brain cavity, despite the fact that his acting ability always leads us to think even less of him. It is impossible to make Freddie appear like a sympathetic character to the audience as Freddie delivers his hackneyed lines without passion. This movie is no exception. Why do writers, directors, producers, casting agents, etc. think that they can pass this nitwit off as a sympathetic character? In short, he's terrible.

Next, the plot. Not a bad initial idea for a movie. Freddie is the local boy who makes the local team in the Cape Cod Baseball League (a premier amatuer league for college players) and gets one last chance to make it to the big leagues. But that's where the good ideas end. The writers (I'm assuming it was a committee of marketing reps who wrote this movie) introduce us to so many tired conventions that we soon lose track of them: rich girl, poor boy love story; dead mother; drunk father; aloof brother; prior opportunities for glory blown...etc. etc. Freddie has to overcome more obstacles than Job. Each one of these story lines is presented in a predictable way that leads to over-acting and mellowdramatic slop. There are many other tired cliches, some that work better than others. There is the grizzled coach (admirably played by Brian Dennehy), the loony sidekick (well-played by the talented Matthew Lillard, why does this guy continue to team up with Freddie?), and the annoying little sister (who shouldn't have been included in this story at all). While a formula like this sometimes works, it is just too forced in this movie.

I was going to continue writing about this, but I feel now as though I'm wasting my time. Do yourself a favor and pass this one over and go rent "Bang the Drum Slowly" if you really want to see a baseball movie.