jenpcraft Reviews

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)

See it more than once!

[10/10 · 6 August 2004]

This is one of my all time favorite movies. I love everything about it! The dialogue is ingenious, Gary Oldman, Tim Roth and Richard Dreyfuss are all superb and the concept is original. I found it much funnier on the second viewing; there is just so much to take in. It takes patience; you are thrown in seemingly in the middle of something. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, minor characters in Hamlet wander into the events of the play on call for their dialogue, and in between try to figure out their existence.

Sadly there is no US DVD, and I think the VHS is out of print. I have an old laserdisc, and I have heard that there's a UK DVD. If you do run across this I couldn't recommend it more strongly!

But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)

Sweet Silly Slightly Subversive Satire

[9/10 · 12 February 2004]

I just love this movie! I like the theme, the bright cartoonish look, the music, the acting. I rated it 8 out of 10. It makes a great romantic comedy.

Natasha Lyonne (Slums of Beverly Hills) is always so appealing and I really like Clea DuVall (Carnivale, Girl Interrupted). The supporting cast were all very funny! The intervention where Megan's friends and family show evidence of her "unnatural tendencies" had me in stitches!

There are moments when it tries to be more serious and I think those don't work as well. It's cute and quirky, and isn't really exploring new ground. It does drag a bit working up to the ending.

One thing that puzzles me is the R rating. I think it's sweet, kind of light and definitely teen appropriate. I'm not even sure where the rating comes from - theme and swearing I guess. There is a gay club with a raunchy name. There's not much in the way of sex, and no nudity.

I also absolutely loved the soundtrack - it was great and fit the film beautifully from beginning to end. Too bad it's not available too!

The Rainbow (1989)

Excellent DH Lawrence adaptation

[9/10 · 12 February 2004]

I loved this film. I went through a big DH Lawrence phase in my late teens and early 20's, and Ursula and Gudrun from Women In Love and The Rainbow were characters I loved and related to, despite and because of their flaws.

This is a beautifully written and filmed story of a young woman who just wants more than her ugly industrial town has to offer. She is influenced by a couple of unconventional older people in her life. I thought it was a sensual portrait of bisexuality and creative freedom

The Princess Bride (1987)

Fantastic and funny fairy tale

[8/10 · 3 July 2003]

I love this movie! It's sweet, but with satirical humor. The dialogue is great and the adventure scenes are fun. Rob Reiner shows an excellent touch once again with comedy and a childlike point of view. It manages to be whimsical romantic while laughing at the conventions of the fairy tale genre. I would recommend it to just about anyone. I've seen it several times, and I'm always happy to see it again whenever I have a friend who hasn't seen it yet. I haven't watched it with any kids, but I think it has lots for them too. There are wonderful quotes throughout. I think Mandy Patinkin absolutely steals the scenes he is in as the Spaniard Inigo Montoya, bent on avenging his father's death. I gave it 8 out of 10 mainly because it feels very light, but I may go back and change to 9 thinking of how happy this movie makes me and it's rewatchability.