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chord97
Reviews
Bug (2006)
Don't even watch with a free ticket "Spoiler Alert"
Awful. I like Ashley Judd. I like psycho-horror-mystery-noir-forensic genres. Spoiler alert:
This movie was so bad I began to count the minutes until it ended. The favorable reviews for this movie must have been posted by the production crew.
The plot was nearly non-existent.
Character development was non-existent.
Resolution? Nothing surprising other than there really wasn't any, unless you could call the obvious "can of gas in the room, with candles, and two psychos freaking out" an adequate resolution. My take is that the can of gas should have been applied to this movie before being released.
Yes: gratuitous nudity of Ashley...save your money...ain't worth it!
A Place in the Sun (1951)
Retch
I totally agree with the summary posted by deathfrank2000. Excellent and concise analysis...thank you.
Clift: How dumb and vacuous can a 'boy' be. He portrays a self indulgent boy more than a man. His looks can't carry the day. Perhaps he could model for a Ken doll, but really had no business in this movie.
Elizabeth: Weak, unbelievable role. Yes she is one of the most beautiful women in the history of cinema. There was no depth to her character, but she did her job well.
Shelley: Made to look and act so frumpy and whiny that the viewer just wants her to leave the movie set.
Plot?: Very weak and unbelievable. Clift acts so dumb in his plotting to murder Shelley that we just don't care if he gets caught.
Star of the movie?: the radio sitting in Shelley's bedroom window during the rain storm.
Scene I would have enjoyed: Clift, with shaved head, getting juiced with Ole Sparky. Not for his murder, but rather for his vacuous and self indulgent acting.
3 stars for the radio and Elizabeth's beauty.
Sex and the City (1998)
Shallow, stereotypical, unimaginative, regressive...
Boring people, gold-digging women, unfunny script, shallow plots. The series is a turn-off, and serves only to trivialize sex. There is nothing erotic about this disaster. The bottom line is that the story props up sexual stereotypes that should have been left in the dust bin 20 years ago...women as dependent and whiny, men as jerks and dick-heads.
Safe House (1998)
I hoped for better...Patrick isn't aging well...
Safe House was a wasted effort though beautifully filmed. I used to anticipate each new ST-TNG with bated breath, but now have concluded that Patrick Stewart is an over-rated, narcissistic actor. A lot of his acting appears quite self conscious and shallow. Safe House should have included the psychiatrist in half of the movie, to have a chance of succeeding. The surprise ending was obvious within the first half hour. Watch the movie and waste a couple of hours.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Skin deep beauty...Also the best 10 minutes of film ever!
This is a good movie...if you like The Twilight Zone, you will like this. Some of the movie transitions gave me goose flesh. SPOILER ALERT: One thought: The movie revealed a prejudice against disfigured and/or "ugly" people. How fragile our self worth would be if we merely judged ourselves by the geometry of our face...what about integrity, character, and compassion...the script disappoints at the end, when it is revealed that if Cruise's character chooses reality, his face can be fixed with new technology...choosing "reality" should have included living with his new challenges, and growing because of them. The 10 minutes of this movie are some of the best in my viewing experience. Reflections on the 9/11 WTC terrorist attacks are inevitable and powerful. One gets a glimpse into one's own soul...
Blood Work (2002)
Disappointing for Eastwood fans
Poor cinematography...problems with lighting of characters and scenes. Poor acting by Hispanic 'lover'; weak script, shallow plot, with obvious solution. This film probably should never have been made. At best, see it at a matinee.
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Watchable, but no real payoff...
I bought the DVD, being a fan of Twin Peaks. This is the same world as TP and I liked that aspect. Spoiler warning...the scene that sticks in my mind is the Aunt and Uncle smiling (tooooo much) after they leave Betty...Rod Serling could have interjected his comments at that point. I enjoyed the scene of the women making love...of course I wanted more!! Hollywood is so timid about really developing erotic scenes, as if the American audience really can't handle it! There are no chapter divisions on the DVD. The movie is good, not excellent, and is quite watchable.
Finding Kelly (2000)
Enjoyable; believable; great acting; good mystery story line
I still read old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books to relax and enter into a nice fantasy space. This movie will take you there and is refreshing. The entire production team got it right this time! (Don't watch this movie if you want to see wise-cracking sleazy kids with idiot adults appearing just to ridicule and humiliate!)
Spider-Man (2002)
Entertaining; great acting by Toby McGuire; something missing
As a long time Spiderman fan, I finally saw the movie last night. I found myself enjoying the movie as vignettes rather than a movie that really 'takes you there'. Something was missing...perhaps a more profound epiphany as the spider and human DNA combine...I rare forgot I was watching a movie (the fact that the movie stopped 3 times with the lights coming up didn't exactly help!). Toby McGuire is excellent as Spiderman...I hope there is an even BETTER sequel coming!
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Great movie; Madeline sucked though...
Incredible action and screenplay; great acting by Mel Gibson; extremely poor casting of Madeline Stowe as his wife...I kept looking at her puffed/?enhanced/Julia Roberts lips as she slept walked through this movie. We Were Soldiers provides a sense of the sacrifice our soldiers have given us in battle, and will leave you breathless!!
Intensity (1997)
Wasted opportunity for a good thriller
Fantastic acting by the serial murderer actor. Lousy scripted actions for the female protagonist. Typical 'limp wrist' holding the knife, then a revolver, awaiting the inevitable dropping of the weapons. Though 'street-wise' she didn't even confirm her revolver had loaded cartridges. When she gets a chance to talk to someone, the protagonist does the usual hysterical babbling. If you watch this movie, it is a mistake to figure out ways to solve her problem. After about 10 wasted opportunities I became nauseus at her stupidity, and began cheering for the serial murderer. This movie is truly a waste of time and film. BTW I thought that Koontz's book "Intensity" was quite dumb also, not one of his better efforts. No wonder they had to use the obnoxious dust cover to get your attention in bookstores!