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jroen
Reviews
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Bring back the plastic, the steal and the scale models
First of all: I enjoyed myself. But that's as far as it goes. Even though EP-II has its moments, I think the domination of CGI makes this film (and EP-I) look pale in comparison to the EP IV, V and VI. Most of the space-ships are too smooth, too fake to be believable. Where as the actual steal of e.g. The Millenium Falcon made it more real. The old spaceships, aliens etc. were made, created and built out of real material and even though a lot the time they were scale-models and Lucas used trick-filming, it worked good. Which cannot be said all the time of the new space-ships etc.
And of course the acting of good actors as Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson etc. doesn't benefit of having to perform on a set that probably only consits of blue screens, bc the actual set and opponents are created on computer. Even Yoda looked better in the old movies, where he was wonderful done puppet, whereas now it shows that even he is created on a PC.
But there are just enough good things in this movie make it enjoyable: the hints that tell us how the Empire will be constructed, the clones that will become stormtroopers (and *they* look much better in this movie), Tatooine is still the most interesting spot in the universe, Yoda duelling with Count Dooku, Padme kicking as in the arena (notice that her white outfit gets more shredded, and thus more sexier as the arena-battle continues -- compare to Princess Leia in the gold bikini in EP VI). And the Jango/Boba Fett plotline is good too.
But the missers are also there. What about the scene with Anakin in Padme as they arrive to save Obi-Wan and get trapped in some sort of mine/machine-plant? Totally unneccesary. Haydn Christiansen doesn't convince as Anakin, his anger when he killed the tusk-warriors isn't too real. Mostly he is just irritating. Someone like Ryan Philippe would have done a better job (I guess, but Ewan McG.'s acting is also less then we know of him).
I didn't see the original StarWars untill 6 years ago, on video. And the acting there was sometimes cheesy too, but I was overwhelmed by the snow-attack in EP V, with the "walkers" etc. Well, the podrace in EP I came close to that, but in this movie I haven't seen anything that caught my breath or made me feel the threat of danger and doom that Yoda hints to in one of the final scenes.
I'm sorry, especially because I wanted this movie to knock me off my feet.
Minoes (2001)
Heart-warming, funny and not only for children.
December 2001. Amidst the noise of the other novel adaptations (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Discovery of Heaven) comes a simple, loveable, heart-warming story of a cat that turned into a young lady.
Based on the famous children's book by Annie M.G. Schmidt, the movie tells of a young lady Minoes who takes shelter at Tibbe's house. Tibbe is a shy reporter on the verge of getting fired, because he is too afraid to go up to people to get any news. But Minoes turns out to be a big help. She still speaks with cats and in this way she hears about all the things happening in town. She tells tibbe the news and in return he lets her stay at his room. Things get complicated as Minoes and Tibbe find out about an evil plan of one of the town's most fore-standing men. But with help of the cats and Tibbe's neighbour-girl Bibi, they are too good a team to be beaten.
The story is one thing, but there is more to enjoy. The overall feeling of a small-town community comes through well. The characters are clearly drawn-out, the situations are simple and the world-events are fare away. People care about the fish-car that got crashed and a pot of golden coins found in the cemetary.
In that environment we get to know Minoes, played by Carice van Houten. She puts the problems and enjoyments of being a young lady with cat-qualities convincingly to the screen. She climbs roofs, is fond of fish and is terrified of even the smallest dog. Throughout the movie she more and more finds a balance between being human and cat at the same time. And that is the most important theme of the movie, being happy with your self and standing up for that. Tibbe, the reporter, has to overcome his shyness to stand up to the evil plans of mr. Ellemeet and convince the townspeople of those evil plans. But fortunately he has Minoes, Bibi and bunch of cats to back him up. Tibbe, played by comedian Theo Maassen, is fun to watch and really makes you feel for his problems.
And there is more, like the talking cats that all have different personalities, all the other actors that do great jobs, the typically dutch look and feel of the movie etc. But above all Minoes shows us the heart-warming qualities and timelessness of a well-made, old-fashioned, simple story. Treat yourself and take your kids or somebody elses.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Entertaining but not satisfying.
With the movie finally here out in the open it's hard to say if expectations weren't too high. It all sounded good: a fine cast & J.K. Rowling being mainly involved. Could this go wrong?
Well, yes and no. First of all: the cast is fine, the adultcast is great even (with Hagrid being my favorite and a fabulous John Hurt as mr. Ollivander). The kids are fine too, Emma Watson does a great job als Hermione. The locations look great, Hogwarth's is fabulous - with the floating pumpkins at Halloween as a subtle highlight. And of course, after reading the books, it's fun to see it all for a change. Then there are scenes that are truly fascinating, like quidditch, the dark forest and the chess-play. John Williams's music is very good. So, there *is* a lot to enjoy. And the computer-generated moving stairs are beautiful. But even in this movie the most scary element (invisible Voldemort in a black cloak drinking unicornblood and threatening Harry) is just a piece of black cloth. As where the CGI-troll wasn't scary at all.
The major lack in the movie is it's pace. It's too fast. There is simply too much to tell and the movie can't choose between plot (what is the philosopher's stone and who wants to steal it) and simply showing Harry's life on Hogwarth's (school, quidditch, magic). It's clear that a 2.5 hour movie cannot do this both properly. Sometimes it feels like we're zapping through Harry's life, and the fact that the events in the movie take about a year doesn't come through at all.
I believe this all comes from the involvement of J.K. Rowling and the filmmaker's idea to stick as close to the book as possible. The movie is indeed close to the book, too close I think. Someone like Spielberg - who didn't get the job - would have made the story more into a movie and less into a combination of scenes.
With this movie, you keep feeling like you are on the sideline, looking in on Harry's life, where you should be drawn in to his world, like in the books. Now it's just a bunch of nice pictures, changing quickly and leaving me unsatisfied and longing for the warm long lasting bath the books are.