.
12/6/03 at 7:51pm
- Joined: January 2003
- Post Count: 1,625
Recent Reviews
-
FUNNY PEOPLE 2-Disc Unrated Collector’s Edition Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment Year: 2009 Rated:R Film Length: 2 hours, 26 minutes (theatrical), 2 hours, 33 minutes...
-
There are continual jolts of electricity spread throughout Matteo Garrone’s Gomorrah. It’s akin to the shock-to-the-system kick one got when he was first exposed to Martin...
-
Four Christmases Directed By: Seth Gordon Starring: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Kristin...
2003 Film List
12/6/03 at 8:23pm
- Joined: November 1998
- Post Count: 7,588
The Last Samurai
7 of 10
If you ever wanted to understand the difference between an Oscar level film and a routine formula action flick posing as one just sit down and watch Dances With Wolves and then The Last Samurai. This is not a knock on TLS for being LIKE DWW in terms of premise. It just so happens that the similarity clearly shows how something can be done well or done clumsily. Samurai is clumsy formula at its worst, wasting an Oscar-level premise on an empty script that fails to follow any of its deeper paths to greatness.
While I knocked Gladiator as being non-Oscar caliber (and I still do), it certainly was much more worth of that praise than this film.
TLS constantly falls back on the very worst in direction and script cliches, for example two DIFFERENT inner monologues (just who's telling us this story anyway?) are used in some bastardization between DWW and Road Warrior, yet so sparingly that it fails to be established as a consistent convention (just think about the reporting/telegraphy station gimmick at the end of Gangs of New York for "not established).
I also didn't appreciate the use of flashbacks to explain why this already established broken, drunken warrior would be crying out for saki. I guess the director thinks none of us would get it.
The only way I can explain some of the better reviews this film is getting is that you can make up for a lot in the last act and that is one of the film's greatest strengths...very well staged battle sequences. There is nothing like seeing hundreds, maybe thousands, of real extras well choreographed. The final battle did have some staging that is reminiscent of Kurosawa (at least half a point came strictly for that alone)...but the comparisons end there.
Not a bad film but definitely a letdown as an Oscar contender. Nowhere near the same league as the film from a similar genre, Master and Commander.
7 of 10
If you ever wanted to understand the difference between an Oscar level film and a routine formula action flick posing as one just sit down and watch Dances With Wolves and then The Last Samurai. This is not a knock on TLS for being LIKE DWW in terms of premise. It just so happens that the similarity clearly shows how something can be done well or done clumsily. Samurai is clumsy formula at its worst, wasting an Oscar-level premise on an empty script that fails to follow any of its deeper paths to greatness.
While I knocked Gladiator as being non-Oscar caliber (and I still do), it certainly was much more worth of that praise than this film.
TLS constantly falls back on the very worst in direction and script cliches, for example two DIFFERENT inner monologues (just who's telling us this story anyway?) are used in some bastardization between DWW and Road Warrior, yet so sparingly that it fails to be established as a consistent convention (just think about the reporting/telegraphy station gimmick at the end of Gangs of New York for "not established).
I also didn't appreciate the use of flashbacks to explain why this already established broken, drunken warrior would be crying out for saki. I guess the director thinks none of us would get it.
The only way I can explain some of the better reviews this film is getting is that you can make up for a lot in the last act and that is one of the film's greatest strengths...very well staged battle sequences. There is nothing like seeing hundreds, maybe thousands, of real extras well choreographed. The final battle did have some staging that is reminiscent of Kurosawa (at least half a point came strictly for that alone)...but the comparisons end there.
Not a bad film but definitely a letdown as an Oscar contender. Nowhere near the same league as the film from a similar genre, Master and Commander.
12/6/03 at 9:10pm
- Joined: October 1998
- Post Count: 3,501
It appears that you and I are on the same page with The Last Samurai, Seth, although I did not find the manipulation as blatant as in The Patriot. Speaking of false moments, how about the sudden visions of tree blossoms as katsumoto was about to... you know what. 
Not even close.
~Edwin
Quote:
| Nowhere near the same league as the film from a similar genre, Master and Commander. |
Not even close.
~Edwin
DVD Unwind: Paradise Now (Coming) • King Kong - - • Keane • The Squid And The Whale • A History Of Violence • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • The Best Of Youth (Italy) • Good Night And Good Luck • Howl\'s Moving Castle • Walk The Line - - • Zathura • North Country
12/6/03 at 9:36pm
- Joined: February 1999
- Post Count: 978
Ok, in case anybody caught my gaffe, I've fixed the really egregious error in my datbase: I've fixed the title of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (from [/b]The Far Side of the Road[/b])...
I've heard of the phrase "It's a small world" before, but I sure as hell didn't mean it so literally!
I've heard of the phrase "It's a small world" before, but I sure as hell didn't mean it so literally!
12/7/03 at 7:37am
- Joined: October 1998
- Post Count: 3,501
Arman, my ratings may not reflect it but currently there are about 25 or so films that separate Master and Commander (M&C) vs The Last Samurai (TLS). That's what I meant when I said "Not even close". For me, not all films are the same even though they might get the same rating.
M&C is at the top of my 3 1/2 star ratings while TLS is close to the bottom of my 3 1/4 rating.
For me, TLS is one of the hardest films to rate. There is so much to like about it but at the same time, there is so much not to like about it. That's why it is better to rely on someone's worded review rather than just the simple star rating. Who knows, I might downgrade it even more the more I think about it.
I'm glad that you enjoyed it though.
~Edwin
M&C is at the top of my 3 1/2 star ratings while TLS is close to the bottom of my 3 1/4 rating.
For me, TLS is one of the hardest films to rate. There is so much to like about it but at the same time, there is so much not to like about it. That's why it is better to rely on someone's worded review rather than just the simple star rating. Who knows, I might downgrade it even more the more I think about it.
I'm glad that you enjoyed it though.
~Edwin
DVD Unwind: Paradise Now (Coming) • King Kong - - • Keane • The Squid And The Whale • A History Of Violence • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • The Best Of Youth (Italy) • Good Night And Good Luck • Howl\'s Moving Castle • Walk The Line - - • Zathura • North Country
12/7/03 at 8:29am
- Joined: January 2000
- Post Count: 485
Some interesting responses to The Last Samuri I'm reading here. I'm just wondering now on what should be read into that 'advance screening' effort by Warner Brothers.
12/7/03 at 9:24am
- Joined: October 1998
- Post Count: 3,501
Arman, if you are still questioning whether I enjoyed TLS while at the same time saying that you know what I meant, then I think you are contradicting yourself.
I enjoyed TLS more so for its technical aspects. I am able to recognize a film's strengths while at the same time comfortable talking about its many faults. To me, that is honest critiquing.
~Edwin
I enjoyed TLS more so for its technical aspects. I am able to recognize a film's strengths while at the same time comfortable talking about its many faults. To me, that is honest critiquing.
~Edwin
DVD Unwind: Paradise Now (Coming) • King Kong - - • Keane • The Squid And The Whale • A History Of Violence • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • The Best Of Youth (Italy) • Good Night And Good Luck • Howl\'s Moving Castle • Walk The Line - - • Zathura • North Country
12/7/03 at 11:59am
- Joined: October 1998
- Post Count: 3,501
I was reviewing my rating for last year’s Gangs of New York in which I also gave that film 3¼ stars. I would put Samurai and Gangs along the same lines – technically beautiful and at times, wonderfully acted but very uneven in its story, intent and plotting.
At least, I’m consistent with my ratings. For a moment there, I thought I was being inconsistent.
~Edwin
At least, I’m consistent with my ratings. For a moment there, I thought I was being inconsistent.
~Edwin
DVD Unwind: Paradise Now (Coming) • King Kong - - • Keane • The Squid And The Whale • A History Of Violence • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • The Best Of Youth (Italy) • Good Night And Good Luck • Howl\'s Moving Castle • Walk The Line - - • Zathura • North Country
12/7/03 at 8:21pm
- Joined: July 2000
- Post Count: 3,481
How was the first half, Arman? It will be a while until it hits our local screen.
12/8/03 at 2:55am
- Joined: February 2000
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Post Count: 9,034
Matrix Revolutions, it had me for awhile as I appreciated the fact that it got rid of most of the mumbo jumbo, red herrings, and contradictions in favor of fast moving, semi-intelligent, well-executed action scenes. For something over half the movie it was a nice surprise. Then the Neo story began in earnest and the movie headed for Dudsville, wringing every ounce out of every action cliche in the book and mucking its climatic battle. C+
2002 Sight & Sound Challenge: 318 Last Watched: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Last 7 Films Watched: Downhill Racer - B+ / Whatever Works - B / The Legend of Jimmy the Greek - B / A Little Princess - B+ / Away We Go - A- / X-Men Origins: Wolverine - C / Rudo y Cursi - C+
12/10/03 at 5:34am
- Joined: October 1998
- Post Count: 3,501
DVD Unwind: Paradise Now (Coming) • King Kong - - • Keane • The Squid And The Whale • A History Of Violence • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • The Best Of Youth (Italy) • Good Night And Good Luck • Howl\'s Moving Castle • Walk The Line - - • Zathura • North Country
12/10/03 at 1:19pm
- Joined: February 2000
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Post Count: 9,034
Edwin, shouldn't Nowhere In Africa be considered a 2002 film since it won the Best Foreign Film Oscar? That's where I counted it anyway.
Whale Rider - another in a long line of female empowerment, "anything you can do I can do better", movies. This one works primarily because of the performance of its young lead actress and its use of Maori culture. It suffers a bit from some uneven editing; some scenes could have been tightened while in others we see brief glimpses of things that are never referred to again. But this is the kind of story that can't help but capture your emotions with the girl wanting so badly to please her tradition bound grandfather. B
Whale Rider - another in a long line of female empowerment, "anything you can do I can do better", movies. This one works primarily because of the performance of its young lead actress and its use of Maori culture. It suffers a bit from some uneven editing; some scenes could have been tightened while in others we see brief glimpses of things that are never referred to again. But this is the kind of story that can't help but capture your emotions with the girl wanting so badly to please her tradition bound grandfather. B
2002 Sight & Sound Challenge: 318 Last Watched: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Last 7 Films Watched: Downhill Racer - B+ / Whatever Works - B / The Legend of Jimmy the Greek - B / A Little Princess - B+ / Away We Go - A- / X-Men Origins: Wolverine - C / Rudo y Cursi - C+
12/10/03 at 5:17pm
- Joined: October 1998
- Post Count: 3,501
Quote:
| shouldn't Nowhere In Africa be considered a 2002 film since it won the Best Foreign Film Oscar? That's where I counted it anyway. |
Brook, my criteria is "First U.S. non-festival theatrical 2003 release". But then I was thinking that I saw Spider in its Oscar qualifying run and I considered it as a 2002 film. I'm pretty sure that Nowhere In Africa also made a one-week Oscar qualifying run in 2002 so I guess technically it should be a 2002 film.
If that's the case then City Of God would be a 2002 film, as well. Now, I'm confused. Let me think about this.
~Edwin
DVD Unwind: Paradise Now (Coming) • King Kong - - • Keane • The Squid And The Whale • A History Of Violence • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • The Best Of Youth (Italy) • Good Night And Good Luck • Howl\'s Moving Castle • Walk The Line - - • Zathura • North Country
12/10/03 at 8:23pm
- Joined: December 1969
- Post Count: 9,306
No, both Nowhere In Africa and City Of God are considered 2003 films for the list (right, other Jason?) - the Academy nominating rules for Best Foreign Language Film are convoluted and archaic, basically stating that a movie must be released that "year" (which, for the purpose of this category, runs December-November) in their home country and be submitted by the country's film bureau.
City Of God didn't open in the US for a regular qualifying run until January '03, and Nowhere In Africa didn't open until April '03. Nowhere In Africa, however, is disqualified from being nominated for "regular" Oscars this year because it was a FLF nomination last year, while City can be because the people who whittled down the submitted films to five last year were idiots (IMESHO).
City Of God didn't open in the US for a regular qualifying run until January '03, and Nowhere In Africa didn't open until April '03. Nowhere In Africa, however, is disqualified from being nominated for "regular" Oscars this year because it was a FLF nomination last year, while City can be because the people who whittled down the submitted films to five last year were idiots (IMESHO).
Jay's Movie Blog - A movie-viewing diary.
Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
Trading Post Inn - Another gender-bending soap, with different collaborators writing different points of view.
"What? Since when was this an energy ball...
Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
Trading Post Inn - Another gender-bending soap, with different collaborators writing different points of view.
"What? Since when was this an energy ball...
12/10/03 at 9:18pm
- Joined: June 1999
- Post Count: 1,442
"No, both Nowhere In Africa and City Of God are considered 2003 films for the list (right, other Jason?)"
Yeah, both films are on my list too, it works for me. "Spider" I saw at VIFF 2002 and it opened in a few theaters in Canada in December, then opened again in major cities this March.
It's good to keep continuity on the list here.
Jason
Yeah, both films are on my list too, it works for me.
"Spider" I saw at VIFF 2002 and it opened in a few theaters in Canada in December, then opened again in major cities this March.It's good to keep continuity on the list here.
Jason
Buy National Treasure on DVD today...\"The best movie I saw on Saturday night from 7pm to 9:30. The DTS track is freakin\' awesome!\" --Multiplex Drone
12/10/03 at 9:20pm
- Joined: February 2000
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Post Count: 9,034
You're right. Looks like I also need to bring The Man Without A Past forward, which was a much better film than Nowhere In Africa, but Nowhere is a typical "safe" choice.
Nowhere In Africa - B
The Man Without A Past - A-
Next Up: Millenium Actress
Nowhere In Africa - B
The Man Without A Past - A-
Next Up: Millenium Actress
2002 Sight & Sound Challenge: 318 Last Watched: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Last 7 Films Watched: Downhill Racer - B+ / Whatever Works - B / The Legend of Jimmy the Greek - B / A Little Princess - B+ / Away We Go - A- / X-Men Origins: Wolverine - C / Rudo y Cursi - C+
12/10/03 at 9:58pm
- Joined: October 1998
- Post Count: 3,501
Okay, Jason S. is right. I was getting the one-week qualifier confused with the Best Foreign Film rules. Sticking with my criteria, both COG and NIA are considered 2003 films.
Thanks, guys.
~Edwin
Thanks, guys.
~Edwin
DVD Unwind: Paradise Now (Coming) • King Kong - - • Keane • The Squid And The Whale • A History Of Violence • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • The Best Of Youth (Italy) • Good Night And Good Luck • Howl\'s Moving Castle • Walk The Line - - • Zathura • North Country
12/10/03 at 10:41pm
- Joined: August 2003
- Post Count: 2,125
I've been meaning to add my list since January to this thread and just never did. Better late than never, I say!
Total Movies seen: 63
Top Movies of 2003
4 Stars
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Finding Nemo
Lost in Translation
Better Luck Tomorrow*
City of God
The Man on the Train*
In America
21 Grams
Monster
3 1/2 Stars
Bend it like Beckham
Mystic River
Whale Rider*
Thirteen
Matchstick Men
American Splendor
Dirty Pretty Things
All the Real Girls*
Master and Commander: Far Side of the World
The Italian Job
X2: X-Men United
Bruce Almighty
Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl
The Rundown
Bad Santa
The Last Samurai
Hollywood Homicide*
Intolerable Cruelty
May*
Identity*
Shanghai Knights*
Kill Bill Volume One
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Open Range
28 Days Later
Elf
School of Rock
American Wedding*
The Cooler
Good Thief*
Shattered Glass*
Fog of War
Something's Gotta Give*
3 Stars
The Hulk
Daredevil*
S.W.A.T.*
Seabiscuit*
Runaway Jury*
Swimming Pool*
Big Fish*
2 1/2 Stars
Tears of the Sun
Old School*
The Core*
The Missing*
2 Stars
Down with Love*
Underworld*
0 Stars
The Life of David Gale*
Bad Boys 2
Legally Blonde 2*
Dumb and Dumberer*
Texas Chainsaw Massacre*
Cat in the Hat*
*1st viewing of movie was on DVD, not in the theater
Movies I need to see on DVD that I didn't see in the theater
Cold Mountain
House of Sand and Fog
The Barbarian Invasions
Big Fish
Brother Bear
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Bubba Ho-Tep
Love Actually
Shaolin Soccer
Triplets of Belleville
Mona Lisa Smile
Paycheck
Peter Pan
City of Ghosts
The Recruit
Phone Booth
Gods and Generals
A Man Apart
LXG
Daddy Day Care
Anger Management
Confidence
The Order
The Hunted
Bringing Down the House
Basic
Head of State
Veronica Guerin
Dark Blue
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Spider
Poolhall Junkies
Irreversible
Laurel Canyon
Nowhere in Africa
Dreamcatcher
Raising Victor Vargas
Lilya 4-Ever
Capturing the Friedmans
Sweet Sixteen
Holes
And Now...Ladies and Gentlemen
Anything Else
Asassination Tango
Autumn Spring
Buffalo Soldiers
The In-Laws
L'Auberge Espanol
Levity
Magdalene Sisters
Man Without a Past
A Mighty Wind
Navigators
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Owning Mahony
Pieces of April
Prozac Nation
Secondhand Lions
The Shape of Things
The Singing Detective
Together
Winged Migration
Wonderland
Casa De Los Babys
Dancer Upstairs
Freaky Friday
Human Stain
Jet Lag
Le Divorce
Mambo Italiano
Sinbad
Spellbound
Sylvia
Under the Tuscan Sun
Alex and Emma
Beyond Borders
Bulletproof Monk
Gigli
Gothika
Haunted Mansion
In the Cut
Just Married
Medallion
Northfork
View from the Top
What a Girl Wants
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Stuck on You
Man, do I have some catching up to do!
Total Movies seen: 63
Top Movies of 2003
4 Stars
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Finding Nemo
Lost in Translation
Better Luck Tomorrow*
City of God
The Man on the Train*
In America
21 Grams
Monster
3 1/2 Stars
Bend it like Beckham
Mystic River
Whale Rider*
Thirteen
Matchstick Men
American Splendor
Dirty Pretty Things
All the Real Girls*
Master and Commander: Far Side of the World
The Italian Job
X2: X-Men United
Bruce Almighty
Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl
The Rundown
Bad Santa
The Last Samurai
Hollywood Homicide*
Intolerable Cruelty
May*
Identity*
Shanghai Knights*
Kill Bill Volume One
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Open Range
28 Days Later
Elf
School of Rock
American Wedding*
The Cooler
Good Thief*
Shattered Glass*
Fog of War
Something's Gotta Give*
3 Stars
The Hulk
Daredevil*
S.W.A.T.*
Seabiscuit*
Runaway Jury*
Swimming Pool*
Big Fish*
2 1/2 Stars
Tears of the Sun
Old School*
The Core*
The Missing*
2 Stars
Down with Love*
Underworld*
0 Stars
The Life of David Gale*
Bad Boys 2
Legally Blonde 2*
Dumb and Dumberer*
Texas Chainsaw Massacre*
Cat in the Hat*
*1st viewing of movie was on DVD, not in the theater
Movies I need to see on DVD that I didn't see in the theater
Cold Mountain
House of Sand and Fog
The Barbarian Invasions
Big Fish
Brother Bear
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Bubba Ho-Tep
Love Actually
Shaolin Soccer
Triplets of Belleville
Mona Lisa Smile
Paycheck
Peter Pan
City of Ghosts
The Recruit
Phone Booth
Gods and Generals
A Man Apart
LXG
Daddy Day Care
Anger Management
Confidence
The Order
The Hunted
Bringing Down the House
Basic
Head of State
Veronica Guerin
Dark Blue
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Spider
Poolhall Junkies
Irreversible
Laurel Canyon
Nowhere in Africa
Dreamcatcher
Raising Victor Vargas
Lilya 4-Ever
Capturing the Friedmans
Sweet Sixteen
Holes
And Now...Ladies and Gentlemen
Anything Else
Asassination Tango
Autumn Spring
Buffalo Soldiers
The In-Laws
L'Auberge Espanol
Levity
Magdalene Sisters
Man Without a Past
A Mighty Wind
Navigators
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Owning Mahony
Pieces of April
Prozac Nation
Secondhand Lions
The Shape of Things
The Singing Detective
Together
Winged Migration
Wonderland
Casa De Los Babys
Dancer Upstairs
Freaky Friday
Human Stain
Jet Lag
Le Divorce
Mambo Italiano
Sinbad
Spellbound
Sylvia
Under the Tuscan Sun
Alex and Emma
Beyond Borders
Bulletproof Monk
Gigli
Gothika
Haunted Mansion
In the Cut
Just Married
Medallion
Northfork
View from the Top
What a Girl Wants
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Stuck on You
Man, do I have some catching up to do!
12/11/03 at 7:19pm
- Joined: December 1969
- Post Count: 9,306
Quote:
| As for City of God not being here, since it was released in NY/LA in 2002, I put it on Best of 2002 list at #3 overall. |
Jay's Movie Blog - A movie-viewing diary.
Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
Trading Post Inn - Another gender-bending soap, with different collaborators writing different points of view.
"What? Since when was this an energy ball...
Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
Trading Post Inn - Another gender-bending soap, with different collaborators writing different points of view.
"What? Since when was this an energy ball...
12/11/03 at 11:05pm
- Joined: August 2003
- Post Count: 2,125
Just saw Better Luck Tomorrow. A masterpiece. Justin Lin is a name to watch out for. I'll be eagerly looking forward to his next movie. The cast was excellent. I recognized Steve as one of the MILF guys from the AP movies right away. The cinematography was breath-taking. I couldn't belive some of the shots that were pulled off, especially the one in the garage of the camera circling the three guys. Those that have seen it, know what I'm talking about.
Since everywhere I've looked has City of God as a 2003 release, I'm gonna put it on my best of 2002 and 2003 list.
Quote:
| Except it wasn't; it played some festivals (where I saw it), but Miramax didn't give it a US release until January '03; filmreleases.com shows a 17-Jan-03 NY/LA release, a 24-Jan-03 wider/limited release, and that's all. |
Since everywhere I've looked has City of God as a 2003 release, I'm gonna put it on my best of 2002 and 2003 list.
12/12/03 at 10:46pm
- Joined: February 2000
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Post Count: 9,034
Millenium Actress - The premise of a defunct movie studio making a documentary about its most famous actress is an intesting one, but the execution did not work very well for me. While I was generally interested in the story of her life and enjoyed the animated take on some of the genres of Japanese film, the continuous use of the filmmakers as not only observers, but commentators and even participants within the historical story fell flat for me. Their comic relief or even just their continual aghast expressions often gave poor punctuation to what would have been an emotional scene without their presence. B-
Next rental: Dark Blue
Next rental: Dark Blue
2002 Sight & Sound Challenge: 318 Last Watched: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Last 7 Films Watched: Downhill Racer - B+ / Whatever Works - B / The Legend of Jimmy the Greek - B / A Little Princess - B+ / Away We Go - A- / X-Men Origins: Wolverine - C / Rudo y Cursi - C+
12/13/03 at 10:41pm
- Joined: October 1998
- Post Count: 3,501
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers - Special Extended Edition fleshes out some of the characters even more while setting it up for a very satisfying finale.Next Up: Babí léto (Czech Republic)
~Edwin
DVD Unwind: Paradise Now (Coming) • King Kong - - • Keane • The Squid And The Whale • A History Of Violence • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • The Best Of Youth (Italy) • Good Night And Good Luck • Howl\'s Moving Castle • Walk The Line - - • Zathura • North Country
12/15/03 at 6:11am
- Joined: October 1998
- Post Count: 3,501
Bruce Almighty – With over $240M in its box office till, I can certainly see why it played so well, especially in the Bible belt states, more so probably for its theology than for its comedy. But its messages serves more to reinforce rather than an as a full fledge revelation, while its comedy wanes.~Edwin
DVD Unwind: Paradise Now (Coming) • King Kong - - • Keane • The Squid And The Whale • A History Of Violence • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • The Best Of Youth (Italy) • Good Night And Good Luck • Howl\'s Moving Castle • Walk The Line - - • Zathura • North Country
12/15/03 at 9:10pm
- Joined: February 2000
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Post Count: 9,034
Edwin, send back Bruce Almighty, its out of stock for me.
The Cooler: I highly, highly recommend "The Cooler". Featuring a dual storyline, the primary portion is William H. Macy's "Cooler" character, a man with such bad luck that it rubs off on anyone he gets near, making him a perfect casino employee. But he has a hollow, nothing life of disappointment and mistakes. In meeting a cocktail waitress played by Maria Bello, he finds hope for something better. The other part of the story is about the battle between the new family theme Vegas (represented by Ron Livingston of Office Space fame) and the old school gangster Las Vegas rep'd by casino owner Alec Baldwin.
The rest of my review is in the Indie thread. This is going on my top 10 list: A-
The Cooler: I highly, highly recommend "The Cooler". Featuring a dual storyline, the primary portion is William H. Macy's "Cooler" character, a man with such bad luck that it rubs off on anyone he gets near, making him a perfect casino employee. But he has a hollow, nothing life of disappointment and mistakes. In meeting a cocktail waitress played by Maria Bello, he finds hope for something better. The other part of the story is about the battle between the new family theme Vegas (represented by Ron Livingston of Office Space fame) and the old school gangster Las Vegas rep'd by casino owner Alec Baldwin.
The rest of my review is in the Indie thread. This is going on my top 10 list: A-
2002 Sight & Sound Challenge: 318 Last Watched: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Last 7 Films Watched: Downhill Racer - B+ / Whatever Works - B / The Legend of Jimmy the Greek - B / A Little Princess - B+ / Away We Go - A- / X-Men Origins: Wolverine - C / Rudo y Cursi - C+
