LigiaMontoya Reviews

Mulan (1998)

What ever happened to good plots?

[6/10 · 30 April 2014]

This isn't a BAD movie. The problem is that it's the same movie Disney ALWAYS makes. Thorough formula, completely predictable, sometimes it seems like they just change the names.

Eddie Murphy's Dragon was totally irritating. If a movie must have a comic buffoon, the character should at least be funny, and have enough charm where you understand why the other characters put up with him.

The cricket was cute. The two lead characters were good. The music was subpar. But overall, there's just no reason to watch this movie instead of a dozen others. I didn't HATE it. Heck, I kind of enjoyed it. But it's forgettable.

Doctor Dolittle (1967)

I quite enjoyed it.

[9/10 · 5 February 2014]

I have to say that it flags in the second half, but I thought the first half was absolutely wonderful, the songs were terrific, it looked beautiful, it was by turns funny and touching. I was sitting there saying, "Why in the world did this flop? It's wonderful!" But I guess it cost an enormous amount to make.

Loved Harrison; Loved Newley; Loved the songs; Loved the sets. I DO wish it ended as strongly as it began, though.

"Like Animals" - which I had never heard before - floored me. What an incredible song for someone who loves animals. And what a fantastic performance of it.

Whatever Works (2009)

The title is the man's moral philosophy

[2/10 · 3 February 2014]

"Whatever works." There it is. Laid out in a movie for all to see. Cheating on those who trust you. Betraying your nearest and dearest. Tearing your own family to shreds. All of that is justifiable, all of that is acceptable, as long as it "works." Whatever exactly that means.

I view this movie as Woody Allen's admission that he is a completely amoral human being. A man who has no boundaries whatsoever. A man who will do anything - no matter how reprehensible. And hurt any one - no matter no how close to him - as long as there is something he wants. And the simple fact that he wants it makes it OK to do it in his mind.

That's who the man is, and if you watch this movie, he pretty much admits that that's who he is.

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Fan-frigging-tastic

[10/10 · 12 December 2009]

Just astounding. The story was genuinely touching, the intense scenes jumped out at you, the humor was funny, the acting was excellent, and the music was the best soundtrack of any Disney movie since The Little Mermaid (A standing ovation for Randy Newman). There is also something about the 2D animation - it just has more personality and emotion than CGI. I just saw it tonight, and I am honestly floored.

Disney, for the last few years, has suffered from a lack of creativity. The movies have all been interchangeable with the same plot recycled. This one is different, new and really just the best animated picture I've seen in a long, long time. The applause in the theatre was very much earned.

Josie and the Pussycats (1970–1972)

Great old cartoon

[8/10 · 16 November 2009]

Similar to the Archies or Scooby-Doo, with a notable distinction: really good music. Led by the vocals of Motown Artist Patrice Holloway (Brenda Holloway's sister, who actually played Valerie on the concert tours) and backed by the vocals of future Charlie's Angel Cheryl Ladd as Melody, the producers used ace studio musicians and ace singers to produce real soul music - in a cartoon.

I wonder how many people who like this show were aware that there was a live band that went on tour with the songs as "Josie and the Pussycats" to promote it?

It was also funnier than either the Archies or Scooby-Doo. Although Alex annoys me - he's exactly the same character and Shaggy on Scooby-Doo. But Alexandra is hysterical.

Valerie was also the first regular black character on a children's cartoon show.

The Pink Panther 2 (2009)

Not as bad as you think

[6/10 · 8 February 2009]

It wasn't that bad, and I have to say, the audience clearly enjoyed it - more than I did.

It's nowhere NEAR as good as the original, though, and the problem isn't Steve Martin - he's fine. The problem is the script. The writers seem to not quite GET the character of Inspector Clouseau. Martin's Clouseau actually SOLVES the case - he doesn't bumble into it. He sort of a total idiot who's also sort of a genius, and it doesn't work. There is also a sappy, predictable, romantic subplot that's actually embarrassing.

You ever get the feeling that every movie has the same plot? Well, this one has that plot.

Still, it had some laughs, and I didn't hate it. Jean Reno was great as always. Cleese had a funny scene. Martin had a few funny scenes.

But really, they should just make something else rather than make mediocre comedy out of what was GREAT comedy

Betrayal (1983)

cubear said EXACTLY what I would have said.

[1/10 · 29 September 2006]

It was the first movie I ever walked out of, too; in fact, I might have been cubear's date. I was with my girlfriend at the time, and we walked out about a half hour in. Horrible. A lot of hyper-dramatic dialogue presented out of chronological sequence so it was almost impossible to follow, and I just didn't care enough about any of the characters to make it worth the work of following the incredibly confusing sceenplay.

Is Ben Kingsley always a great actor? Sure. But he has to have to have something resembling decent material to work with. Honestly, people were just discussing what was the worst movie ever, and - excepting truly laughable turkeys like Plan 9 from Outer Space - this was the movie I thought of.

Keeping Up with the Steins (2006)

Not as good as it should have been.

[4/10 · 25 August 2006]

What bothers me about this movie is that it SHOULD have been better: there's real potential. The characters were enjoyable, the idea was good, the acting was excellent. But the whole things was very unconvincing. It was a common plot: a total idiot has a conversion and sees the light. But for that to work, it has to be at least a LITTLE convincing. In this case, the "conversion" was entirely off-screen, probably because they realized that it was just too extreme to make work on screen. Everything was all solved at the end, in a way that was too pat, too sudden and too simple. So it comes across like a long sitcom instead of a movie.

When Do We Eat? (2005)

Fantastic

[9/10 · 8 April 2006]

This is one absolutely terrific movie. It's not only terrific - it's unique. And it pulls off an amazing trick - it's both very funny and very uplifting and religious - WITHOUT making things simple and pat. Jack Klugman is wonderful. All of the acting is wonderful. I do not understand why this isn't being release everywhere in time for Passover. This is a must see. Some people here said that there was joke after joke. I didn't see that. I saw a funny movie that made me smile a lot and only occasionally laugh out loud - but it also made me tear up, and I left the movie feeling wonderful.

And it isn't just for Jews. I'm not Jewish. It's for everyone.

Nanny McPhee (2005)

Fun movie, but could have been better

[7/10 · 20 February 2006]

Nanny McPhee is enjoyable, and by all means should be seen by any film lover. But it should have better - it has a good concept, it has great acting, it has a fun story, so it should have been *terrific.* But it isn't terrific - it's just good. A bit more attention to cleaning up plot details would have put it over the top. There are real plot problems.

Negatives: 1) Some plot twists are completely projected. You see them coming a mile away.

2) The climax is really unconvincing and seems to have been thrown together. You could even call it hackneyed. I don't know, maybe they were running out of money or time. And that's bad for a movie's climax. But by the time it comes, you already like the characters and the movie, so you are willing to let them get away with it. But it should have been better. I'm trying to not write spoilers, but I mean really - a food fight? And the "trick" that the kids play to win at the end is really just foolish, and wouldn't actually fool anyone.

Positives: 1) The acting. I love Emma Thompson, and I'm glad to see her writing a screenplay. *All* of the acting is good. Thompson, Jacobi, Lansbury are, of course, but so are the actors I never heard of.

2) The movie portrays a pleasant sort of fantasy Victorian world that is always fun to visit.

The characters. The Title Character is one that can easily become a classic, and I think Emma Thompson might have written it just so she could play her. The kids are great, and the movie successfully makes you sympathize with them, even after portraying them as little monsters. The same for the Dad.

The movie is almost *corny*, but you can't help liking it, simply because you like the *people* and because you *want* it to be real.

I can't give it a high rating because of the flaws, but it's certainly worth seeing.

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)

Spotty

[6/10 · 12 February 2006]

This movie is certainly one a Shakespeare fan should see, because it's strong point are very strong. It's strongest points are Cagney and the sets. Cagney is absolutely wonderful as Bottom the Weaver and the sets are just gorgeous, and recreate what the thing looks like in your mind. Olivia De Haviland is also quite good, and Anita Louise, as Titania, is just beautiful.

One the negative side, some of the other performances are *not* so good, and when they are bad, they are horrid. Victor Jory, as Oberon, is awful and bizarre to watch; the other lovers besides Haviland are terrible to point of hilarity; and most painfully, Mickey Rooney turns in what may be the single most irritating performance ever done by any actor in a major Shakespearean role. Rooney (whom I usually like) is absolutely horrendous, and should have been embarrassed about this for the rest of his life. He leaves you open-mouth in sheer amazement, he's so bad.

But Cagney makes it worthwhile to sit through Rooney. Jimmy isn't thought of as a Shakespearean actor, but I don't think anyone has ever played Bottom better

The Pink Panther (2006)

I really liked it

[8/10 · 12 February 2006]

I went to this movie expecting to be disappointed - the delays in releasing it made me assume that it wasn't very good. I was wrong. It was great fun, and apparently the rest of the audience agreed - the theatre was packed, and they broke out into applause at the end.

Steve Martin says he *didn't* try to imitate Peter Sellers. I'm not sure what he meant, since it certainly looked like imitation to me - but he *did it well*. The pratfalls and slapstick were genuinely hysterical, and there several times when I laughed out loud, and I am one of these people who *seldom* laughs out loud.

Kevin Kline is also excellent, and Jean Reno does a *terrific* acting job as Clouseau's sidekick.

Don't listen to the critics. Go see it. This is a very funny movie.