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Reviews
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Truly Memorable
I saw this film just one time on HBO about 14 years ago and I can't really say I remember every detail of the plot...but it is filled with some scenes that will probably stay with me till the day I die.
Specifically I mean those scenes that take place in the woods! John Turturro was simply unforgettable in his big march into the woods scene as he perfectly personified every person's ultimate desperation and Gabriel Byrne almost matched his desperation when he had to prove he had actually carried out his orders. I'll never forget this film because no other two scenes have ever caused my heart to pound so loudly in my ears like that!
Hulk (2003)
Many excellent sequences make this worth renting
From the opening titles sequence, where we see a starfish's arm sliced off to illustrate regeneration (the starfish will regrow the missing limb plus the arm will grow into a whole new starfish), I knew this adaptation was being played very serious. Trust Ang Lee to turn a typical comic book story into some serious philosophy of the good and evil that lurks in all of us...and add to that the eternal conflicts between fathers and sons.
That being said, this isn't the movie I would have made. There are too many minor nitpicks in the story that could easily have been fixed. First, I would have preferred a more realistic and less comic book rendition of the Hulk. Just as most musicals destroy any illusion of reality when everyone simultaneously bursts into song, this film's CGI is way too reminiscent of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" for my taste. Second, the film's time frame should have been placed further into the future so that the pivotal genetic science aspects would more accurately parallel reality. Finally, it was plausible on the TV show for Lou Ferrigno to still be wearing tattered trousers after the transformation since he was maybe about 6 inches taller than Bruce Banner. It isn't plausible if the Hulk is King Kong's size, as Ang Lee has decided to portray him.
Everything else about this film though is topnotch...you can see every cent of the $120 million+ they spent making this, right up on the screen. If you don't go into this with too high of expectations you will likely not be disappointed.
Deep Impact (1998)
Worth your time
While it's not perfect, this film does paint a realistic scenario of the attempts that various governmental agencies might use to prevent rioting and panic in such a desperate situation. The special effects were well done, there is a nice buildup of suspense and the acting was adequate. Maybe it's just me but while I was watching the film the fates of the various characters took a second seat in my mind to what my family, friends and myself would be doing in such a situation. Do you just give up or do you struggle to survive no matter what the odds? I think this film makes the case for never losing all hope, which I found to be inspirational.
Casualties (1997)
I hate cliches
I don't want to spoil the ending so let's just say it borrows from many horror/slasher films we've all seen 1000 times. The set up was interesting and the acting was quite riveting at times but the inevitable culmination of the action sequences towards the end were predictable and unsatisfying. I don't know why you would make a film with so many loose ends unless you were too desperate to make any statement condemning spousal abuse. Straight-to-videos are prescreened for test audiences and don't get distributed for a reason.