October 31, 2005
Review – Dreamer
:(1hr 38min – Rated PG ) Dreamer is the completely predictable tale of a girl who believes in her misfit crew of a horse that had broken a leg, a trainer that has bad luck, and an overweight jockey that attempt to race again at the most prestigious horse race there is. And with that statement you probably can guess the start, the ending, and everything in between. It is just that predictable and just that sappy. About the only thing that saved this film as entertaining is Dakota Fanning’s role as the little girl. Reports are that it was originally cast for a boy but they wanted Dakota. After an hour and a half, I can understand why. But I do not understand why a girl of her talent chose to play such a shallow role. For more information or to purchase tickets: Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story
(Filed under: Reviews, Movies)
October 17, 2005
Review: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
:(Rated G, running-time: 94 minutes) Long-time readers of this report know that I am a sucker for well-done children’s movies. My favorite movies include Disney favorites such as The Lion King
Wallace is a British inventor that lives with his non-talking dog Gromit. It doesn’t take long to meet the pair and realize that despite Wallace’s desire to create new things, it is Gromit that is the brains and glue of the operation. It is Gromit that is forced to try and clean up the inevitable mess created when Wallace attempts to change a rabbit’s nature so that it does not eat the neighbor’s plants creates a Were-Rabbit.
The film is a delightful spoof of horror films and is done in the usual quirky dry-British wit way made famous by Aardeman Entertainment. It is a superb work of art and I would highly recommend it. For more information or to purchase: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
(Filed under: Commentary, Reviews, Movies)
October 10, 2005
Review: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
:Few movies being with so much going for them and end up so so flat. Unfortunately, “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Eventsâ€? is one of those films that you leave wanting and wishing it was so much more. It had everything in its reach to be a great film. To begin with, the movie is based on the widely popular books by Daniel Handler, whose eleven books in the “Series of Unfortunate Eventsâ€? have huge fans. Second, the cast on paper is superb: Meryl Streep, Jim Carrey, Jude Law, and four amazing children (two are twin babies that play the same character) that really shine. The director and the set designer create a world that is a delight to have on screen. And the opening scene that warns the viewer that the file is not a happy tale and that we should leave the theater to watch something more enjoyable like the Happy Elf really drew me in. But ninety-seven minutes later (the run time for the film) I could not wait for this film to end.
The story is of three children that lose their parents and are relocated to live with an evil family member (Jim Carrey) that wants their inheritance. Each of the children are blessed with an amazing ability. The oldest daughter is an inventor, the middle son devours books and remembers every word, and the youngest daughter (a mere baby that cannot speak, yet has by far the funniest lines) who has sharp teeth and chews through anything are a super-trio that are the equal to the events they are put into. And that is exactly the problem. Superhero movies are difficult to make. When someone (in this case a trio) have powers that cannot be defeated, there is little vulnerability or growth. Without those, it is hard to feel the human condition on the screen and it makes a very boring plot with little character development or suspense. By the third time the children had escaped harms way: the eye candy had worn off and the joy was gone. Most unfortunately the film had fallen flat. More information or to purchase: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (Widescreen Edition)
(Filed under: Commentary, Reviews, Movies)
September 10, 2005
Review: The 40 Year-Old Virgin
:(Rated R): Every now and again, each of us will enjoy a movie that is crude that we know we should not be enjoying. The 40 Year-Old Virgin is that type of movie. It is not for the faint of heart. The premise is simple, a forty-year-old scifi geek that has never had sex falls in love. This path obviously changes everyone around the main character. But along the way every sex joke imaginable and every uncomfortable situation he could be placed in is shown. It works because of the cast of characters developed around Steve Carell by the same team that brought us last year’s comedy classic Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy. In fact it is downright hilarious and even a bit heartwarming but only if you can stomach a movie that will make your mother blush. For showtimes or to purchase: The 40 Year Old Virgin