Change Your Image
joy314
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Cinderella (2021)
Upbeat, fun, witty, and delightful
Don't listen to the naysayers...this is an upbeat, fun, witty, delightful, and thoroughly modern take on the classic tale. The musical numbers are joyful and hearken back in their production style to the old Hollywood musicals of the 30s and 40s. The humor is witty and irreverent and the point of view from which it interprets this familiar story is, absolutely, a female perspective. I loved this movie!
The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)
Not even Morgan Freeman could save this one
OK.....who owed whom the favor that resulted in this film being made? Not even the great Morgan Freeman, whose performance is the ONLY positive thing about this movie, could completely save it. It comes off as a piece written as a college - or maybe even high school - drama class assignment. The writing is just plain bad, the dialog stilted and trite. The plot is predictable. You know 5 minutes into the film exactly how its going to turn out. The characters are caricatures and the casting a disaster. This is the first film I've ever seen where even the great comic Fred Willard didn't make me laugh. This movie was painful to watch.
The Happening (2008)
The only thing "happening" was audience disappointment
I have been a fan of M. Night Shyamalan's since The Sixth Sense. I've enjoyed all his films and even enjoyed - and defended! - Lady in the Water. But there's not a whole lot to defend in The Happening.
The basic overarching premise of the film is a good one. But that's where it ends. It's a one-note film that goes on and on with little plot or character development. And the script is embarrassingly sophomoric, filled with unnatural comic-book style dialog. It honestly sounded more like someone's college project than a professionally written script. It was painful watching Mark Wahlberg trying to make something out of the poorly written lines he was given. The only successful moments of the film were the ones where Wahlberg injects some humor into his delivery.
If Shyamalan doesn't want to hire some good writers, its time for him to find another line of work.
Addendum 7/10/08: I've read other reviews since I wrote this, both on IMDb and other sources. I have taken into consideration others' views and opinions and the notion that Shyamalan was "trying to make a B movie." I still stand by my first review. Even if that's what he was trying to do - actually, ESPECIALLY if that's what he was "trying" to do - its still a poor attempt. If you want to see a successful homage to a classic genre, see "Far From Heaven," (a nod to the 1950's director Douglas Sirk) or "L.A. Confidential," (a tip of the hat to the film noir/detective genre). But if "The Happening" is supposed to be an homage to the B movies of the 50's and 60's or even Rod Serling's Twilight Zone series, it is still profoundly lacking.
The Brave One (2007)
Extremely disturbing revenge fantasy (**contains spoilers**)
I consider myself a reasonably sophisticated movie-goer and a fair critic. So after seeing "The Brave One" today and then reading the majority of user comments presented here, I ask myself, "Am I missing something?" Jodie Foster and Terence Howard are wonderfully talented actors, I agree. And, indeed, their performances may be the best thing about this film. But aside from the completely morally bankrupt and disturbing ending, I just don't even think it was that well-written. Most painful of all was the audience's reaction to this film. I winced every time another act of violence was applauded. You can try to read all kinds of things into this film, but I feel that the makers of this movie are basically pandering big-time to the general public's ever-increasing thirst for explicit graphic violence in films, as well as the "I'm-mad-as-hell-and-I'm-not-going-to-take-it-anymore" frustrations of Everyman. This extremely disturbing revenge fantasy gives a loud and clear approval to vigilante justice, murder and police corruption.
White Palace (1990)
Totally unbelievable
Am I missing something here? A trashy 40-something waitress picks up a cute, drunk younger man in a bar. She takes him home, basically rapes him, ( I know, I know....he seemed to be enjoying it, didn't he?) and then all of a sudden he can't do without her? I'm not buying it. There is not one word - not one line - not one shred of respect, admiration, fondness, or friendship between them. There is not one scene that convinces you that they really are compatible in any way. You get the feeling he doesn't even LIKE her very much. They have great sex - no question. But this is supposed to be the basis of a life-changing relationship for him? It is so totally unbelievable. I like Susan Sarandon and I like James Spader. But they should have gone back to the drawing board on this one before they ever released it. The older woman/younger man story is great. But let's get some better dialog and at least a couple of scenes to convince us that there might be a real relationship here.
The Village (2004)
A beautifully filmed, wonderfully acted story
Forget the jaw-dropping last minutes of The Sixth Sense. And don't expect the clever, subtle plot device of Signs. See The Village with an open mind and no expectations.
M. Night Shyamalan's latest film has been, first of all, undermined by a totally misleading trailer and, second, sabotaged by viewers expectations that every film he gives us will have a pull-out-all-the-stops twist ending.
The Village is a beautifully filmed and wonderfully acted story whose message is simple and direct. The ending is not so very hard to guess but you'll have a better time if you don't try and just enjoy a well-told tale. And should you suspect you know where its all going, it doesn't really matter. It doesn't detract from the beauty - and the message - of the film.
(SPOILER FOLLOWS) We carry our humanity with us -- with all its dignity and divinity, all its baseness and flaws -- wherever we go. We cannot wall it out. Within The Village exists love, hate, fear, sickness, death, mental illness, strong emotion and crimes of passion. The "towns" outside of the village contain kindness and compassion even as they also contain tragedy and inhumanity. The Villagers have, in the end, left nothing behind.
WUSA (1970)
A powerful piece
I have to agree with those who praise this film and realize that its not everyone's cup of tea. Although I appreciate the criticisms that some reviewers have leveled, it is wise to keep in mind that it is unfair to criticize a film 30+ years after its release through a contemporary lens. The sense of humor that some have found "lacking" is something that develops with the objectivity of lapsed time. During the late 1960's, many of us found little humor in the assassinations and general insanity that seemed to fill the political landscape. Like the previous reviewer, I, too, have been looking for this film for years and hope to see it on DVD one day soon. I found it to be a powerful piece.
Nicholas Nickleby (2002)
A gem of an adaptation....
I went to see Nicholas Nickleby not expecting much. "What do today's filmmakers know about adapting Dickens for the screen?" I thought. I was pleasantly surprised! This is a gem of an adaptation: well cast and acted, with high production values, and beautiful cinematography. It is NOT for those who only like high action, car chasing, multi-explosion, graphically violent films. The majority of popular films today have left a certain portion of the movie-going audience with an appetite for gore. Nicholas Nickleby is a beautifully rendered, literate, high-quality film. Ignore those negative reviews and see it...you won't be sorry!
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
Destined to become a cult classic....
If you didn't like Joe Versus the Volcano, you didn't get it. It's a modern day fairy tale, a live-action cartoon, stylistically filmed, and well-played by consummate actors Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. A sweet, humorous, gentle and romantic fantasy, it's message is simple and universal. I found it delightful...one of my all-time favorites. I wouldn't be at all surprised if this little jewel of a film is re-discovered in years to come. It has all the makings of a "cult classic."
What Dreams May Come (1998)
Disappointing....
A visual feast, this film was a scriptwriting disaster. I love fantasy. I love Robin Williams. I wanted so much to like this film, but it just wouldn't let me. If you must see the special effects everyone's talking about, wait 'til it comes out on video.