Julie-30 Reviews

Heer & meester de film (2018 TV Movie)

Loved the series, hated the movie.

[3/10 · 22 February 2019]

It's difficult to explain why I disliked the movie so much without spoilers.

The series was fun. The movie wasn't. It was convoluted and stupid and less believable than the series, but not in a good way.

By the end, we find out that Harald was the bad guy who wanted Valentijn dead. But what isn't mentioned is that, if he wanted Valentijn dead, there's a good possibility that he's behind Suze's death too. I'm short, the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. I'd love to have that hour-plus of my life back.

Persuasion (2007 TV Movie)

It's just so sad.

[5 July 2010]

Not the story. This film.

"Persuasion" is my favorite book in the world, and this adaptation has very little in common with it. It's hard to decide where to begin when listing what's wrong with this film, but I will try and say that the absolute worst thing is changing the constancy conversation. In the book, this conversation is between Anne and Harville; it takes place in Bath (towards the end of the story); Wentworth hears it. But, for some bizarre reason, the writers of this film places the conversation in the middle of the story (in Lyme); it's between Anne and Benwick, and Wentworth never hears it.

If he never hears the conversation, then what is the impetus for him to write his letter? None, that's what. They butchered what is arguably the most beautiful love letter in English literature and I cannot figure out why. Instead, they have Anne run. And run. And then run some more. And they have Mrs. Smith run too. Yes, the same Mrs. Smith who's supposed to be an invalid. When I saw this film in a public setting, people laughed, and that's just wrong.

I desperately wanted to love this film, but I just couldn't. Yes, RPJ is eye-candy, but his good looks are just not enough to save this film from being the wretched mess that it is. Don't waste your time or your money on this one.

Indoctrinate U (2007)

Outstanding film with a very important message.

[8/10 · 17 April 2008]

I lived through situations that resemble the stories told in this film. These stories are not exaggerations. They are not made up out of whole cloth. They are absolutely true. But Leftists don't want tuition-paying parents to know the truth of what goes on in academia and they will do anything to retain their hold on the minds of their students. A university's purpose is to teach young adults how to use their brains, not what to think. But you'd never know that from the Leftists on today's campuses. Can the people who gave this film negative reviews deny that academia is comprised overwhelmingly of Democrats/Liberals? If they do, they are even more disingenuous than I'd thought.

All parents of college-bound children should see this film.

The Way We Live Now (2001)

A travesty from start to finish.

[1/10 · 7 February 2008]

The book The Way We Live Now is arguably Trollope's masterpiece. The book is a brilliant story of white-collar corruption that Davies turns into a recitation of Sir Felix Carbury's sexual conquests. Trollope's Sir Felix is worse than a cad; he is a scoundrel. But Davies glosses over the terrible things he does to his mother, to his sister and to the other women around him and makes him appear to be nothing more than a misunderstood young man. The end of the book is not ambiguous, but the end of the series is.

One other thing I hated, and this most likely has nothing to do with Andrew Davies. Miranda Otto was awful as Mrs. Hurtle. I cannot imagine anyone believing she is an American.

What a waste of time. I want those hours of my life back.

Get Smart (1965–1970)

Get Smart was the BEST!

[9/10 · 24 May 2005]

Its writers/creators included Mel Brooks and Buck Henry.

'Nuff said.

But, since IMDb won't let me get away with saying just that, I'll just have to write more.

How can you go wrong with something by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry? It's obvious that the actors are thoroughly enjoying themselves in this show, and this enthusiasm was infectious. I was a very little girl in 1965, and I used to sit up with my father to watch TV after dinner and the nightly installment of whatever book he was reading to us. We sat together and watched Get Smart, Hogan's Heroes, McHale's Navy, among others, all of which are now considered classics. Why? Because, while the shows themselves were very topical (Get Smart was about the Cold War - as is Bullwinkle -- and Hogan and McHale fought in WWII which had ended barely 20 years earlier), the humor itself did not rely on specific current events. They were just out-and-out funny.

They still are.

Bride & Prejudice (2004)

Highly entertaining adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel.

[7/10 · 13 February 2005]

I wasn't quite sure what to expect, having never seen a single Bollywood film, and was leery because I had read the scathing review in the New York Times.

But I am so very glad I went. The song-and-dance numbers were as silly as I'd thought they might be, and the poorly done lip-synching threw me for a minute, but once I remembered that these were both common in Bollywood films, I accepted that and moved on.

The plot was adapted quite nicely from the book, and it showed me that Chadha understood the source material very well.

This is one for the "wish list."

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

The book was better. The first movie was better.

[7/10 · 14 November 2004]

But, oddly enough, I still liked this version of The Edge of Reason.

It's hard to put my finger on why -- because I'm not quite sure why some of the book's original plot lines were ommitted, and because I thought the Rebecca subplot was gratuitous -- but I did like it.

The first book was not-so-loosely based on Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." The first movie left a lot of that in, and even included a lot of "inside jokes" for those of us who are familiar with that delightful book and the filmed version starring Colin Firth as Fitzwilliam Darcy. "The Edge of Reason" was not-so-loosely based on another Jane Austen novel, "Persuasion," but any overt Austen references are completely wiped out here.

The character of Giles Benwick is based on an Austen character named Benwick who has recently lost his fiancée, but that is the only Austen reference from the book left. It's a shame, too, because I liked that particular subplot in both Austen's "Persuasion" and Fielding's "Edge of Reason."

Given that I've complained about several aspects of this film, I'm still rather surprised that I liked it. Could it be because Bridget is still Everywoman and because Mark Darcy is still the Perfect Man (and probably because he's still played by the ever-dishy Colin Firth)?

Who knows. All I do know is that it was cute, it was funny and it was entertaining. You can't ask for much else.

It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

I LOVE this movie.

[9/10 · 1 August 2004]

I was only 4 when it was first released, but my parents took me when it was re-released later. It has since become a family favorite. It was one of the first videos my parents bought when they got their VCR.

No, there aren't a lot of women in it, but it should not be judged by today's customs/attitudes. Regardless of the number of women, it's hysterically funny. The actors' timing is PERFECT. The story is absurd, but so are the characters. Everyone/everything is over the top, but it works beautifully.

$350,000 doesn't sound like a lot of money today, but if you consider that $10,000 a year was a good salary back then, you will understand the excitement these people felt at the thought of a shot at a share of this money.

Truly one of the funniest movies ever made.

Ned Kelly (2003)

Absolutely godawful. (spoilers)

[1/10 · 10 April 2004]

This has to be the worst piece of garbage I've seen in a while.

Heath Ledger is a heartthrob? He looked deformed. I wish I'd known that he and Naomi Watts are an item in real life because I spent 2 of the longest hours of my life wondering what she saw in him.

Orlando Bloom is a heartthrob? With the scraggly beard and deer-in-the-headlights look about him, I can't say I agree.

Rachel Griffiths was her usual fabulous self, but Geoffrey Rush looked as if he couldn't wait to get off the set.

I'm supposed to feel sorry for bankrobbers and murderers? This is a far cry from Butch Cassidy, which actually WAS an entertaining film. This was trite, cliche-ridden and boring. We only stayed because we were convinced it would get better. It didn't.

The last 10-15 minutes or so were unintentionally hilarious. Heath and his gang are holed up in a frontier hotel, and women and children are dying because of their presence. That's not funny. But it was funny when they walked out of the hotel with the armor on, because all we could think of was the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I kept waiting for them to say "I'll bite yer leg off!" We were howling with laughter, as were several other warped members of the audience. When we left, pretty much everyone was talking about what a waste of time this film was.

I may not have paid cash to see this disaster (sneak preview), but it certainly wasn't free. It cost me 2 hours of my life that I will never get back.

Miracle (2004)

Absolutely incredible.

[8/10 · 31 January 2004]

Yes, I knew how it ended, but that didn't stop me from sitting on the edge of my seat with my heart in my throat for the games. They did a great job re-creating the period, and a stupendous job with the hockey scenes. I especially liked the "where are they now" montage at the end.

The casting was fabulous -- Kurt Russell WAS Herb Brooks.

In addition, I really liked how they used the actual broadcast commentary from Al Michaels and Ken Dryden during the games because that really brought back the feel of the time. People applauded every US goal and every US save. They stood and applauded when it was over. This is the ultimate feel-good movie, and I for one, am completely unashamed of the patriotism. It was an accurate portrayal of life at that time; a time when people in the US needed what these boys gave them.

Good job Disney!

Next Stop Wonderland (1998)

An underappreciated gem.

[8/10 · 14 November 2003]

I saw Next Stop, Wonderland when it first came out, and was struck by its simplicity. There are not a lot of bells and whistles. No "beautiful people." No sex, no violence, no one-liners volleying back and forth. Just a delightful little movie with excellent acting, intelligent dialogue and an intriguing plot. I never cared much for bossa nova music and, while I still don't love it, it definitely works here.

The city of Boston is treated like just another character in the film, and this works like a charm. I own it on DVD and watch it regularly because it never grows old.

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)

Just adorable.

[4 July 2003]

I really liked Legally Blonde but, since I am a real skeptic when it comes to sequels, I was very dubious about Red, White & Blonde. But, today was the perfect day to spend in an air-conditioned theater with a fluffy movie, so this was the movie of choice.

It's not as entertaining as the original, but it's cute nonetheless. It's not meant to be taken seriously, so I didn't. The cast did a terrific job reprising their original roles, and Bob Newhart was his usual deadpan self.

We're not talking great cinema here, just fluff, and Red, White & Blonde fits the bill perfectly.

The Big Easy (1986)

Simply the BEST.

[9/10 · 8 June 2003]

I'm sorry that people from New Orleans don't like this one. As someone who has lived in New York City and its environs for her entire life, I have PLENTY to say about innacuracies in movies and TV shows made about my home town. But if, as in this case, the final product can overcome any inaccuracies, why complain? Forget about the nitpicky details and have fun.

Sure, Dennis Quaid's accent is over the top. Sure, they got some things about New Orleans wrong. But who cares? The plot and the acting are both terrific, and the chemistry between Quaid and Barkin is potent; even when their characters are not speaking to each other, it's still pretty obvious that they can't keep their hands off each other. The love scene is done beautifully, and is far sexier than it would have been had it been more graphic.

I just wish the DVD treatment had been better. Other than that, I give The Big Easy 8 out of 10.

A Mighty Wind (2003)

Absolutely hilarious!

[8/10 · 5 May 2003]

I think that, perhaps those who were offended by this film's treatment of folk music may have taken the film a tad too seriously. I have relatives who were good friends of Pete Seeger and the other Weavers, yet I thought this film was hilarious.

Almost every facet of life has something that can be poked fun at, and Christopher Guest and his ensemble have an excellent knack for finding something worth lampooning in just about any situation. I think my favorite characters were the Bohners (of the New Main Street Singers) and Lars, the Swedish-born public television executive who tosses around Yiddishisms better than most native NY-ers.

I loved Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, but A Mighty Wind is now my favorite.

Bravo to one and all.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Idiotic, stupid, inane, boring... Take your pick.

[1/10 · 30 April 2003]

The only scary thing about this movie is how bad it was.

The "students" were absolute cretins. If you find a river or a stream when you're lost, YOU FOLLOW IT!

Some people were nauseated by the herky-jerky camera work. This is not what offended me. What offended me is that they were stealing my money and underestimating my intelligence. The reviewer who praised their marketing skills hit the nail right on the head. This was a great money-making scheme. I'm normally not taken in by hype, but a friend was dying to see it, so I tagged along. This friend said she was scared, but I was sitting next to her trying not to laugh at how dumb the whole thing was.

To each her own...

Chariots of Fire (1981)

Truly an outstanding film.

[9/10 · 26 January 2003]

I beg to differ with several previous reviewers. This film is neither bland nor is it solely about professionalism vs. amateurism.

This film is about what drives people to do what they do. Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) runs for the glory of God, whereas Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) runs to prove his worth to a society that was anti-Semitic. Even though they run for different reasons, their drive and determination spur them on. They stand up for what they believe in and refuse to sacrifice their principles because it is the easy way out.

The supporting cast is also extraordinary, with Nigel Havers, Nicholas Farrell, Ian Holm and Sir John Gielgud all making important contributions to the final product.

There is absolutely nothing unnecessary in this film. The writing, the direction, the acting, the dialogue are all outstanding. And then there's that haunting score.

Once again, this is truly an outstanding film. One with universal themes that transcend time and place.

Peter's Friends (1992)

One of my favorites.

[8/10 · 3 January 2003]

I can watch Peter's Friends over and over without getting bored. The characters are about the same age I am, and my friends and I have shared many of the same experiences. The script is witty and clever, the characters are well-developed and the actors are superb. What more can I say besides "I want the DVD!"

Desk Set (1957)

Count me as another librarian who loves this movie!

[23 September 2002]

I've seen "Desk Set" at least 10 times, and it never gets old. Spencer Tracy and the Great Kate are wonderful in this delightful classic. It truly is timeless because, 45 years later, librarians are still forced to prove every day that humans can do the job better than computers can.

Every time I see it, I check Amazon, etc. to see if it's available yet on DVD, and I am always disappointed to learn that it is not. What a shame. This movie is perfect for a good DVD treatment. It's got Tracy, Hepburn, Dina Merrill and Joan Blondell...how can you go wrong?

The Rookie (2002)

I loved it.

[30 March 2002]

"The Rookie" is indeed based on a true story. I heard an interview with Jim Morris, the man on whose life the film is based, and he said that the film had not been "Hollywoodized." While some things were added or deleted to make the story fit, the overwhelming majority of what you see on film actually happened.

He did have a difficult relationship with his father. He did challenge his students to win their District title in exchange for a promise to try out for a professional baseball team. He did get called up and pitch his first game as a Devil Ray at The Ballpark in Arlington. He did strike out the first batter he faced. And so on, and so on.

While they did clean up the language one would normally hear in a clubhouse, the rest of the film rings true to life. Quaid is outstanding as Jim Morris, and Rachel Griffiths is delightful as his loving wife, Lorri. The young men who played the members of the high school baseball team he coached had just the right amount of teenage swagger.

I cannot recommend this film enough. It proves what I've always believed, that "Baseball is life; the rest is just details."

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Loved it!!!!

[9/10 · 29 April 2001]

I've read the book more than once, and was a little leery of the film, but those fears were completely unfounded. This movie was truly one of the funniest I've seen in a long time.

I know that some feminists don't like this character, but they just don't seem to get it. I am a woman of a certain age and, while I can't say I know anyone who is exactly like Bridget, I can say that every woman I know has some elements of Bridget in her. Whether or not the anti-Bridget factions like to admit it, women have always obsessed about their weight, or about men, or about their parents, or whatever. What the people who snub their noses at this book/movie fail to see is that Mark Darcy has his own neuroses. This is a man whose mother who shows a dubious taste in Christmas gifts (but he loves her enough to wear them in public), a man whose wife had an affair with his best friend (but is too much of a gentleman to discuss it), a man who wants to have fun but who isn't really sure just how. Hence his attraction to Bridget. But since the story is told from Bridget's point of view, we dwell on her problems, not Mark's. Bridget is Everywoman, and Renee Zellwegger turns in a stellar performance in this role.

Colin Firth, who was a fine Fitzwilliam Darcy in the 1995 version of Pride & Prejudice, is, in my humble opinion, even better as Mark Darcy in this modern twist on the Austen novel. Hugh Grant should stick with playing cads and forget about the stammering leading man he has played once too often. He is wonderful as the Wickham-like character who has no scruples about taking what he wants, regardless of the consequences.

Gemma Jones and Jim Broadbent are terrific as Brigdet's parents. Jones is delightful as the ditzy mother who goes off to "find herself," only to discover that her real happiness lies at home. I would have liked to have seen more of Broadbent, but it was not to be, unfortunately.

From what I gather, the closing credits seen in Europe are different from those seen in North America. While Europeans get to see interviews with Bridget's family and friends, we North Americans get to see home movies of Mark's 8th birthday party. Not surprisingly, Bridget is the life of the party; she stuffs cake into her mouth and strips down before jumping into the paddling pool while Mark sits quietly and watches. I can only hope the DVD has both endings.

I've seen the film twice, and I have to say I managed to laugh even harder the second time. My advice to the naysayers? Lighten up. This movie is FUN.

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

v.v.g.

[9/10 · 22 April 2001]

Yesterday, I saw it for the second time, and it was just as delightful as it was the first time. In fact, I may have laughed harder because I was able to catch things I had missed the first time.

Renee Zellwegger was great, Colin Firth was (sigh) wonderful, Hugh Grant was a brilliant cad, Gemma Jones and Jim Broadbent were terrific... I could go on forever. True, it doesn't follow the book exactly, but the departures worked for me. "Pride & Prejudice" is one of my favorite books, and BJD does for P&P what "Clueless" did for "Emma" and "Metropolitan" did for "Mansfield Park." It's a modernization that shows respect for the original.

I'll probably see it a couple of more times before the DVD comes out. Does anyone know when this is scheduled?

Bedazzled (1967)

Great film!

[8/10 · 9 January 2001]

First, I must point out that I have read Dr. Faustus, and am well acquainted with the Faust legend. I saw this film in conjunction with a reading of Christopher Marlowe's play, back in late 1976/early 1977 (senior year of high school). I was already familiar with Cook and Moore, and thought this was one of the funniest movies I had ever seen.

It's 24 years later, and I still think so.

I rented this the other week because of the release of the remake. I had tried to get it for ages, but other people had the same idea, and beat me to the video store. Yes, it's a bit dated, but how can one expect it not to be? After all, 34 years is 34 years. How could something not be dated after all this time? But it's still hilarious, and the themes are timeless, so the story itself will never get old.

The trampolining nuns are worth the price of the rental all by themselves.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

I loved it!

[8/10 · 29 December 2000]

I thought that Fargo was brilliant and that The Big Lebowski was stupid, but I loved O Brother to death. The music is right up my alley, and George Clooney surprised me with his performance. The comment about his accent coming and going interested me. Clooney was born in Lexington, Kentucky and grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati, so a southern accent is not entirely foreign to him. I thought he did a creditable job with it.

Charles Durning has made a very good living playing good ol' boys, and he does his usual stellar job here. Holly Hunter's character doesn't have much screen time, but she definitely made the best of it.

Yes, the story is pretty silly, but I rarely take anything seriously so it didn't bother me in the slightest. On the contrary, I laughed more here than I have since Chicken Run.

Flambards (1979– )

Even better than the books.

[9/10 · 27 November 2000]

I saw this for the first time back in the early 80s and fell in love - with the story, the cast, the music - with everything about it. I was already in my early 20s, but I dropped everything to watch it. It's wonderful. There are scenes that are laugh-out-loud funny, but I start to cry when Christina and William fly the Channel, and it's almost non-stop from there until after Isobel's birth.

I am, however, very surprised that none of the younger cast members has gone on to "bigger and better" things. They are all very talented and were wonderful in their roles. I'd love to see them do other things.

It is unusual for me to prefer an adaptation to a book, but in this case it's true. The books are enjoyable, but the series is a delight. Back in the days before VCRs, the books were all I had, so I bought them and read them all more times than I can say.

When the tapes came out, I was ecstatic. I ordered them immediately and had a Flambards marathon (repeated several times over the years!). Now I dream about the day it comes out on DVD...with commentaries!

Body & Soul (1993– )

As good as this series was, the book was better.

[5/10 · 20 November 2000]

I've read the book countless times, and the series pales in comparison. I thought that the writers of the teleplay made more changes than were absolutely necessary (why change the family's name, for example?), and that some of the spirit of the book was missing.

I have always regarded this book as the story of a woman who comes of age both spiritually and emotionally. She has to decide what is important to her, and why. In the book, her struggle to make the best decisions for her future is played out more. We see more of her relationship with the other nuns, and we see how her leaving affects them. In the film, the only other nun we really get to see is Sister Dominic.

In the film, her reasons for leaving appeared to be more cut and dry. In the book there is a lot more nuance. I can't not recommend the film, but I can recommend that those who liked it read the book. It's beautiful.