tulsastorm Reviews

Bubble Boy (2001)

Perfect Modern Day Farce

[7/10 · 22 September 2005]

OK, I admit it. I was a child of the 80's. I distinctly remember sitting in elementary school and reading about the boy who lived in a bubble in my Weekly Reader. Naturally, when I saw the trailer for this movie, I asked myself, "Hey, whatever happened to that boy that lived in a bubble?" I knew I had to watch this to satisfy my curiosity. You've got the perfect character...an odd teenage boy that lives in a bubble. Write up an adventurous plot and throw in a cameo by Fabio and some M. C. Hammer on the soundtrack, and you've got yourself a movie that no Gen-X'er can resist.

I was fully expecting this film to be along the lines of "Wayne's World" or "A Night at the Roxbury." The characters are hilarious and exaggerated, but the non-existent plot drags on like a 10 minute skit that has gone 80 minutes too long. To my surprise, Bubble Boy has a fast-moving plot. OK, it is somewhat of an overused plot: Boy falls in love with girl; Girl gets engaged to someone else; Boy interrupts the wedding to get the girl back. You've watched enough movies like this to know how it is going to end, but, as always, it's the journey that Bubble Boy takes to get there that makes this movie interesting and redeeming. Just when you think Jimmy is finally on his way to Niagara Falls, and the movie is going to start dragging, BAM! The ice cream truck hits a cow! After mud wrestling two women while Japanese male spectators cheer him on, Jimmy is back on his way. Just when you think it can't get any more crazy, it does. That bubble plastic must be some tough stuff.

There is an important lesson can be learned from this movie. It is best expressed by Jimmy's dad who is really the only normal character, and only speaks once in the entire movie. He asks, "What if Neil Armstrong flew to the moon, but never set foot on it?" This movie is about taking chances...breaking out of our so-called bubbles, and experiencing life...not just sitting around watching it pass us by.

The dialogue and the jokes can be lame sometimes, but the humor really comes from the absurdity of the characters and the improbable situations the main character runs into. I have to give the writers an A+ for imagination. The movie is sanitized for younger viewers, but gives a wink and a nod to more mature viewers. This is a perfect modern day farce if you are looking for a light and uplifting comedy at the rental store.

FYI, in case you wondered, the original bubble boy, David, died at the age of 13 back in 1984 after an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant. Today, infants born without immunity to disease undergo the transplant procedure at a young age, so they don't have to live the rest of their lives in a bubble.

Red Dirt (2000)

Good Character Development, Unsatisfying Ending

[15 September 2004]

Red Dirt takes place in a tiny rural community in southern Louisiana along the banks of the Mississippi River and revolves around Griffith. Full of angst, Griffith longs to leave this seething cess pool after graduating from high school, but feels he should stay and watch after his Aunt Summer (or as he says, 'Summuh') who raises him like a mother after Grif's parents. Summer is mentally ill...perhaps depression or bi-polar...and mostly stays cooped up in her room listening to depressing opera music. When he's not working around the farm or taking care of his aunt, Griffith hangs out with his cousin, Emily. Things change when a young drifter, Lee, strolls in and befriends Griffith.

The southern accents are slathered on a little thick to put it nicely. Normally, I can understand someone with a deep southern accent, but I frequently had to stop and replay the DVD to catch some of the dialogue. Some scenes are portrayed a bit over-dramatic as well...mostly the ones with Summer. There were several times I couldn't help but bust out laughing over the contrived dialogue and acting which is not necessarily a good thing for a dramatic movie such as this. Maybe this particular rental DVD had some scratches on it, but I came across some very noticeable jump cuts.

You have to wade through a lot of character development to get to see anything remotely gay, and then, seemingly, Griffith comes to terms with himself overnight. We see a quick male-on-male kiss and that's the end of that. To Tag Purvis' credit, the controversial issues are presented very matter-of-fact.

What can I say about the ending without giving it completely away? The characters that are complacent enough with living here move out, and the characters who long to leave wind up staying. No real explanation is given.

Overall, the ending seemed hasty and unsatisfying after sitting through a lot of beautiful cinematography. If you have ever longed to get out of the place and situation you are in and discover your true potential elsewhere, but kept coming up with excuses to stay...probably due to the fear of the unknown..., you will see yourself in this movie. Otherwise, move along. There is nothing to see here.

Rites of Passage (1999)

A little short on drama and a little long on suspense

[9 July 2004]

Never in a million years did I imagine a low-budget gay-oriented production could bring actors of such high caliber on board. Dean Stockwell (Quantum Leap) and Jason Behr (Roswell) make this film stand out in the video store. Jason doesn't get any hotter than this!!! Plus, he can act!

Briefly, Rites of Passage is a thriller that will keep you guessing all the way to the bitter end. Del (Stockwell) is caught having an affair by his successful son, D.J. After wrapping up a business trip in San Francisco, they go off to the family cabin to talk things out where they find Campbell (Behr) already staying. Campbell and his father are not on the best of terms after dad has a knee-jerk reaction upon seeing Campbell and his boyfriend, Billy, together. The incident happened well over a year ago, and the two are forced to interact now with D.J. in the middle.

There are so many character revelations in this movie, I found it difficult to get wrapped up into the story. Just when I think I've discovered what makes the characters tick and get into the heat of the moment, another element of a character (mostly Campbell) is revealed, and I find my bewildered self sitting on the living room couch again. Therefore, I am probably overanalyzing the film, but only because it had the potential to be so much more with a few small changes. Not that it makes any difference, but the screenplay is a semi-autobiographical tale by Victor Salva who also directs.

The first gripe is the opening scene. Despite how it plays out, this is mostly a psychological thriller. Furthermore, the movie does not revolve around these characters. We don't even meet the central character, Campbell, until 12 minutes into the film. It would have helped if the conflicted relationship among the father and two sons was well established at the beginning of the movie, and leave the twists for the plot. Perhaps it would spoil some of the suspense, but I think it would allow the viewer to identify with a character and put themselves into that character's position.

I would have also toned down the abundant use of nicknames for each character. It is not confusing, but not realistic either. And when there are only two people in a scene, it is rather pointless to be using names at all except to get the other person's attention.

* Begin Spoiler* The ending is painful to watch. I'll attempt to discuss it without revealing too much. Despite his heroics, Campbell comes out looking very needy and stupid, and you realize he now has a lot more to deal with than the frigid relationship with his dad. With such an open-minded and supportive brother, I don't understand why Campbell needs his father's acceptance. Obviously, Campbell is still very much in love with Billy, but the new relationship between Campbell and Frank is not explored to any great length in this film. On the surface, I find it hard to believe these gruff and condescending escapees could convince even the most gullible person to go along with their plot. One would think D.J., the big shot attorney, would at least have the foresight to burn the letters before the police arrived; thereby, destroying the incriminating evidence. The story could have ended on a brighter note if the family had no prior relationship with the escapees. *End Spoiler*

Overall, this movie falls a little short on drama and a little long on suspense. The acting won't leave you disappointed, though. If you like this genre, The Deep End (2001) is another (only slightly gay) thriller with a more positive ending.

Camp (2003)

Cinematic Audition Tape

[29 June 2004]

I feel like I just watched a 2 hour audition tape for Dawson's Creek: The Next Generation. The movie consists of young actors and actresses performing their hearts out in brief snippets of every Broadway play you can think of. The acting was excellent, but there wasn't much of a story line in this movie. Bert, the washed up musical songwriter, tries to give these kids a reality check, but soon realizes that drama camp is not about developing acting skills. It is an outlet for nerds, geeks, and misfits of all kinds to feel safe and accepted. This realization comes in the middle of the movie, but could have made for a nice climax and conclusion if it were played out.

Vlad, the too-cute-to-be-straight newcomer, shakes things up a bit this year. He wants to be at the center of attention, and he is. He flirts with every girl (and guy) and breaks their heart. It was easy to have his way with the women since all the rest of the guys gay. (When I was in speech & drama in high school, I certainly don't remember all the guys being gay.) Vlad befriends Michael, a black Hispanic transsexual gay teen with bad skin. Vlad makes a few misguided attempts to help out his friend, and it is painful to watch Michael following it. While my straight friends might mean well, they just don't understand what it is to be gay. Michael fires back that Vlad doesn't know...he's leads a perfectly normal life. Vlad reveals he is a little obsessive-compulsive and takes medication to suppress it. Ooh, that hardly equates to being gay. Maybe if Vlad had a terminal illness or his mother just died, I could feel sorry for him.

I'm on the fence about recommending this film. It really is an audition tape for the actors in cinematic form. Maybe if some of the musical numbers were toned down, more time could have been spent developing some of the supporting characters or actually building up to a climax. It had to have cost some money to obtain the rights to reuse those songs and dialogue anyway. If you went to drama camp, this movie might be worth watching to stimulate some good (and not so good) memories. Otherwise, skip it.

Latter Days (2003)

Ends Better Than It Begins

[7/10 · 14 April 2004]

In the first 20 minutes of this movie, I thought this was another one of those badly written and badly acted flicks that also doubles as soft porn. Fortunately, I gave this film the benefit of the doubt, and it actually turned out to be one of the better indie films I've seen.

Aaron flies from small-town Idaho to an extremely gay-friendly L.A. to join 3 other young men in recruiting the heathen over to the Mormon Church. Christian sees Aaron moving in to the apartment building and sets out to get to know him better. Aaron's buddies catch them kissing, and Aaron is sent back to Idaho to be excommunicated from the church. Christian realizes he can't get Aaron out of his mind, and attempts to find him. That's the story in a nutshell.

The acting wasn't bad. You've got some experienced actors such as Jacqueline Bisset, Erik Palladino (from ER), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Third Rock from the Sun), and Amber Benson (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) to raise the bar a little bit for the unknowns. While you won't recognize the music, it ties the movie together well. My favorite scene was when Christian pays a quick visit to Aaron's mom who realizes that two men can love each other after all. Unfortunately, that was the last we see of dear old mom.

My main complaint is that the story was a little too swift in building emotion to be realistic. Christian gets a minor scratch, faints, and requires the assistance of Aaron to make it back inside his apartment. I'd hate to see what happens when Christian gets a paper cut. Later in the movie, Aaron's mom tells Aaron he is going to hell, slaps him, and they both start crying like babies. They stop sobbing suddenly, utter a couple more lines of dialogue, and Aaron walks away without a tear in his eye. Aaron's screen time is nil toward the end of the movie, so we are left wondering if the love interest is mutual between Christian and Aaron.

On the surface, the movie seems to perpetuate the stereotypes that Mormons and homosexuals are out to recruit other people to their cause. In the end, Christian, the shallow gay guy, gives meaning to his life, and Aaron, the Mormon, takes a more liberal view of the world. This movie is definitely worth watching at least once.

The Brotherhood 2: Young Warlocks (2001 Video)

Better than the first, but not by much...

[3/10 · 24 January 2004]

After watching the disaster called The Brotherhood, I vowed I would not watch any of the sequels. I guess curiosity got the best of me because there I was buying Brotherhood II on PPV. The acting and dialogue were much better than the first movie; however, the plot was missing entirely from this film. At least the first Brotherhood had some potential to be better than it was.

Also, I wouldn't call this a sequel. The first movie had a Dracula theme. This movie has a completely different set of young actors and focuses on witchcraft. If you are expecting any wand waving or hocus pocus, you will be sadly disappointed. About the only magical transformation you'll see is 3 dweebs become the most popular in school, and yet still remain only marginal looking.

If this movie is directed toward a gay audience, I don't see the point in wrapping up overt homoeroticism in an otherwise heterosexual plot. That's what makes The Brotherhood movies so frustrating and unrealistic to watch. Let the guys lust after each other already! And for gosh sakes, give these actors something other than cheap white boxer-briefs to run around in. Unless you've got the time and money to blow on this flick, don't bother.

The Journey of Jared Price (2000)

Worth the cost of a rental...

[6/10 · 23 January 2004]

The Journey of Jared Price has some very talented actors considering it is an indie film. The plot has potential as well. However, the dialogue becomes contrived at times if not completely ad libbed (ex., when Jared goes to Robert's room). About half way through the movie, the story seems to turn into the journey of Matthew Haines more than Jared. The scenes with Matthew and his assistant are pointless. We know Matthew is a creep, and he doesn't take her advice anyway. Furthermore, a trusting relationship between the two was not established as well as the relationship between Mrs. Haines and Jared. More time should have been spent on the budding relationship between Robert and Jared. Other than a few minor gripes, this movie is definitely worth watching at least once.

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

More dialog, less action

[23 December 2003]

My major complaint with the current trilogy trend is that there needs to be a recap of the previous movie. At least it's only a year between the Lord of the Rings' releases. It's been 4 years since `The Matrix' was released, and while I have a good memory, it isn't that good. While set 6 months into the future, `Reloaded' takes a step back and attempts to introduce some of the finer details of how the Matrix works. It's been so long since I saw the first movie, I'm not sure that this movie is completely consistent with the first.

Also, the action sequences go way too long. I can only tolerate so many repetitive karate chops, unrealistic flips, and special effects before my attention wanders elsewhere. They contribute very little to the plot. For example, the expressway scene could use a little cutting. The scene with all the Agent Smiths coming out of the walls was a waste of film. We see Neo doing his `Superman thing' at the start, and it was predictable that a similar move would be his only way out of this predicament.

Finally, we learn there are some good computer-generated characters in the Matrix such as the Oracle and the Keymaker. The scene with the Oracle is very enlightening. But two-thirds into the film, it got me wondering. If Neo and the gang can read the Matrix code and insert themselves into it, why can't they program an anti-Agent Smith, or some other viral characters that leads to the Matrix shutting itself down? Furthermore, like the first movie, the relationship between Neo and Trinity seems very wooden, sterile, and unexplored. I have a hard time understanding why Neo made the decision he did at the end.

`The Matrix' series introduced a world of alternate realities and warned us that not everything is as it seems. The special effects are amazing, and the plot is unparalleled. It is a great storyline and could probably be transformed into a successful TV show if the writers chose to do so. Despite my criticisms, this movie is still one of the better ones I've seen, but I have even higher hopes for `Revolutions'.

The Brotherhood (2001 Video)

Good plot, bad writing

[3/10 · 11 December 2003]

The writer had a good plot, but the writing is just plain hokey. Many of the scenes just go on and on with this forced, contrived dialogue that had me squirming in my chair. The sarcasm went too far as well. The actor playing Devon has a nice body, but his performance was noticeably stoic compared to the other actors. Despite being a low-budget film, some money was put into the sets. I would have laid off of the thunder and strobe lights though. If it was lightning and thundering that much here in Oklahoma, I would be hiding in the bathtub. The odd thing is, it never rains in the movie. The idea of a gay vampire movie is a good one; however, it was poorly executed in this movie.

P.S. Your Cat Is Dead! (2002)

It all works out in the end

[7/10 · 11 December 2003]

Jimmy is still getting over the death of his best friend. His one-man show gets the axe. He's being evicted from his apartment. His girlfriend leaves him for another guy, and his cat dies. He's been burglarized 2--now almost 3 times--this month. Eddie the divorced father turned gay burgler picked the wrong day to mess with Jimmy.

After having wrecked my car this week, enduring some rotten weather, and a handful of other minor complaints, I watched this movie. I realized, like Jimmy, that it could be much worse, but everything works out for the best in the end. This isn't the best (or worst) movie, but it is worth the warm, fuzzy feeling you get at the end.

Circuit (2001)

Another Party Movie

[5/10 · 29 October 2003]

I read some of the comments here before I watched the movie, so I had an idea of what to expect. Basically, this movie is a Queer As Folk wannabe. Imagine QAF without the lesbians, the humor, and the full frontal nudity. Then, add lots of beefy guys, even more drug abuse, and lame club music, and you have Circuit. I didn't completely hate the movie, rather, I just thought it was mediocre. The eye candy makes it tolerable. From someone who listens to dance/club music all the time, I found the soundtrack to be over hyped. The movie walks a fine line between portraying gays in a positive/negative light. If you like this subject matter, try Go (1999) and Groove. They are a little more mainstream and gay-positive, and the soundtracks are better.

Chuck & Buck (2000)

Disturbing and Developing Disabled

[1/10 · 29 October 2003]

Spoilers herein:

I purchased this movie via pay-per-view, so I felt mildly obligated to watch it through the end. What a waste. We start out with Buck, a somewhat mentally challenged young man perhaps in his late 20s who still lives with his mom. She dies, and Buck seems to be vaguely aware of it. He takes his inheritance and moves to Los Angeles where he stalks his childhood friend, Chuck. Like most normal people, Chuck (a.k.a., Charles) has grown up and is in involved in a committed heterosexual relationship. In order to get Buck to stop stalking him, Charles agrees to fool around one last time with Buck...like they did when they were much younger. End of movie. Roll credits. The central characters are not dynamic, and the climax of the movie is practically non-existent. The film has been marketed toward a gay audience, but you have to wade through the first hour before you see anything remotely gay. I think I despised this movie so much because I prefer to live in the present and believe that I am growing and evolving. Buck is someone who dwells in the past and would be someone I would certainly avoid in real life.