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Brook K · 07-20-2007, 11:19 AM

Ghost Rider - Can't say I wasn't warned...Actually this is not awful, just pretty mediocre. It has it's moments here and there, I liked how the Penance Stare was filmed and the baddies were actually credible unlike say, the FF movies. However, putting aside the so-so script, corny dialogue and uninspired direction, the whole project is flawed by Ghosty's look. A too-small flaming head on a broad-shouldered (was this Cage or a stuntman?) person just looks silly. - C

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - I probably agree with many of the points the two Adam's made above, and yet the whole thing worked for me exceedingly well. This was by far my best experience with a Potter film. Despite cutting out loads of material, it get's to the heart of the book and the core of the characters in a way that the other films never quite managed. It also is one of Gary Oldman's finest performances, doing a great deal with his limited screentime. Yes there could have been more of many things (Snape is always criminally underutilized given how Rickman just inhabits the character, Luna, the still-banished Doby, the Longbottoms (I would have cut the Trelawny scenes to see Frank and Alice in the asylum), and the Prefect material would have been a great scene for Ron and given him a little more to do in the movie), but the material we have is emotionally resonant and true to the spirit of Rowling's creations. I feel much better about The Half-Blood Prince and Yates now, then I did going in. - A-

Bridge to Terabithia - Not much to say that hasn't been said about this quality family film that deals with friendship and loss. I like how much it engaged my kids, my daughter read the book the next day at camp, and my son is still asking questions about it three days later. A small criticism is that the final scenes felt rushed and didn't come off nearly as well as the earlier scenes in the film. And not to sound too much like George, but despite my generally positive feelings about it, 4/5's of the film is very good, this doesn't feel like a film I want to revisit. - B+

King: Man Of Peace In A Time Of War (2007, Henry Stephens)
Hour long documentary spends 35 minutes or so on a brief, but not insubstantial, overview of Martin Luther King's life and career, interspersed with "talking head" interviews with various political and entertainment figures (Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Laurence Fishburne, Eriq LaSalle, etc). The last portion of the film is an archival interview with King appearing on the Mike Wallace show and discussing his views on Vietnam and other social issues of the time. Compelling material, though I was hoping for a more focused treatment of King's involvement with Vietnam issues. - B

07-20-2007, 11:19 AM	#91 of 186
Brook K Member Location: St. Louis, MO Join Date: Feb 2000 Local Time: 08:03 AM Local Date: 12-02-2008 Posts: 10,464	Re: 2007 Film List Ghost Rider - Can't say I wasn't warned...Actually this is not awful, just pretty mediocre. It has it's moments here and there, I liked how the Penance Stare was filmed and the baddies were actually credible unlike say, the FF movies. However, putting aside the so-so script, corny dialogue and uninspired direction, the whole project is flawed by Ghosty's look. A too-small flaming head on a broad-shouldered (was this Cage or a stuntman?) person just looks silly. - C Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - I probably agree with many of the points the two Adam's made above, and yet the whole thing worked for me exceedingly well. This was by far my best experience with a Potter film. Despite cutting out loads of material, it get's to the heart of the book and the core of the characters in a way that the other films never quite managed. It also is one of Gary Oldman's finest performances, doing a great deal with his limited screentime. Yes there could have been more of many things (Snape is always criminally underutilized given how Rickman just inhabits the character, Luna, the still-banished Doby, the Longbottoms (I would have cut the Trelawny scenes to see Frank and Alice in the asylum), and the Prefect material would have been a great scene for Ron and given him a little more to do in the movie), but the material we have is emotionally resonant and true to the spirit of Rowling's creations. I feel much better about The Half-Blood Prince and Yates now, then I did going in. - A- Bridge to Terabithia - Not much to say that hasn't been said about this quality family film that deals with friendship and loss. I like how much it engaged my kids, my daughter read the book the next day at camp, and my son is still asking questions about it three days later. A small criticism is that the final scenes felt rushed and didn't come off nearly as well as the earlier scenes in the film. And not to sound too much like George, but despite my generally positive feelings about it, 4/5's of the film is very good, this doesn't feel like a film I want to revisit. - B+ King: Man Of Peace In A Time Of War (2007, Henry Stephens) Hour long documentary spends 35 minutes or so on a brief, but not insubstantial, overview of Martin Luther King's life and career, interspersed with "talking head" interviews with various political and entertainment figures (Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Laurence Fishburne, Eriq LaSalle, etc). The last portion of the film is an archival interview with King appearing on the Mike Wallace show and discussing his views on Vietnam and other social issues of the time. Compelling material, though I was hoping for a more focused treatment of King's involvement with Vietnam issues. - B Yes, Captain Hammer's here, hair blowing in the breeze. The day needs my saving expertise! - Captain Hammer, Corporate Tool 2002 Sight & Sound Challenge: 314 Last Watched: An Autumn Afternoon Last 10 Films Watched: Flicka - C+ / Bicycle Thieves - A Le Deuxième Souffle - A- / Transsiberian - B Fanfan la Tulipe - B+ / Hancock - B- The Nightmare Before Christmas - A- / Tropic Thunder - B Penelope - B / Missing - B+ DVD BEAVER My Collection Last edited by Brook K : 07-20-2007 at 11:25 AM.