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Reviews
V for Vendetta (2005)
Uplifting as never before!
For real movie buffs, certain films should simply never be missed. I add "V For Vendetta" to that list which would include such films as "Gone With The Wind", "Citizen Kane", "On the Waterfront", etc. This film is unlike any you've ever seen or will ever likely see again. For an actor to deliver such a stunning performance and yet never show his face, is something truly amazing and indeed rare. I can think of no other actor than Hugo Weaving who could deliver such a performance. Stunning! And Natalie Portman shows her true abilities in this most exciting, uplifting and heartwarming of films. I won't say another word about the film because this is one that should be viewed "from scratch" as it were. You'll realize the brilliance the first time you see it...then you'll continue to realize it's beauty even after you 100th viewing. Enjoy!
The Twilight Zone: The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street (1960)
Prejudice and Panic
There is an old adage which says, "throw ten people in a room together and they may not pick a leader but they'll darn sure pick someone to hate." Serling plays out this adage on the screen wonderfully. A normal street in a normal town in Anywhere U.S.A. is the setting. As strange occurrences begin to happen in the neighborhood, a child's explanation of the events sparks a wave of fear and prejudice in a group of neighbors. The ensuing panic causes otherwise friendly people to turn on one another. This is a short episode (30 min), but it is flawless in portraying the truth about how people can tear themselves apart when fear and panic set in. Pay close attention to the ending - it is a statement of the human condition that still rings true today. This is perhaps my favorite episode of the entire series.
Night Skies (2007)
Hideous...don't waste your time
This STORY had potential, but was ruined by bad writing and worse acting. It had one redeeming quality....the movie begins with US Senator John McCain expressing his interest in UFOs. The time I wasted on the movie was well worth that little tidbit of information about a potential Presidential candidate!! Thank you Director Roy Knyrim for that little heads-up! So, here we go -- group of 30 something actors, playing young people on their way to Vegas by way of a back road. After bashing into some guy who is working on his truck, chaos ensues. Soon they are under attack by aliens (which were not half-bad looking, as aliens go).The special affects were great, but so overshadowed by the terrible script and bad acting.
Saw (2004)
One mistake! (spoiler)
I really loved this film. The acting, the plot....all of it was marvelous. But during the last five minutes of the film, the writers made a terrible mistake and lost my respect. Cary and Danny did a fantastic job in their roles...especially Cary (I'm sorry we haven't seen more of him lately). Everything in the film was believable, right up until the last five minutes when the writers give you a surprise that ruins the entire film. Two men, chained to pipes and locked in a small room for 7+ hours. Between them, one man lies dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. During the last five minutes of the film, the dead man gets up. OK, well...sorry, but unless the two men chained to pipes were complete idiots, I just can't see it. Neither of these men saw him breathing? He was able to lie absolutely still and never move once? He also had a little remote control that he clicked a few times to give the two men electric shocks -- he did a marvelous job of not moving at all while doing this. The twists and turns of the movie were simply wonderful and believable...right up to the last five minutes.
Mystic River (2003)
Degrading to victims of childhood abuse - lousy
Spoiler Alert Performance wise, not what I've come to expect from Sean Penn. Clint Eastwood should be ashamed of himself. One of the most powerful themes running through the movie was childhood sexual abuse and Clint treats this theme like so much garbage. Throughout the movie, the friends of the abused child (Tim Robbins),(now grown up) have abandoned him. He is referred to as "a basket case" and "damaged goods." And in the end, he is murdered and his death is treated as "no big deal, he was messed up anyway." Clint Eastwood and Tim Robbins should be ashamed of their insensitive portrayal of an abused child. Kevin Bacon delivered a ridiculous milk-toast portrayal of a cop and supposed friend. Do not waste your time and if you were sexually abused as a child, this movie will be very triggering - do not watch it.