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Reviews
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
In a word... astounding
Having seen trailers for this film more than a year in advance, I had extremely high expectations for this production. I'm happy to say that my expectations were not merely met, but exceeded. When the film became available on DVD -- I bought 3 copies! One to keep for myself (the 2-Disc Widescreen/Special Edition, thanks for asking), one to give to my parents and one more to use as a Christmas present for the party gift exchange at one of the annual Christmas parties that I'll be attending. Everyone should have a copy! I can't say enough good things about this film without sounding like I'm gushing. But, I sincerely adored it and can scarcely wait until 2008 when The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is finally released.
Van Helsing (2004)
I liked this movie even more than I thought I would...
I liked this movie even more than I thought I would. I got home only a few hours ago. I went out with a few girlfriends to see it just last night. I confess -- I first went to see it because of the rather good-looking Hugh Jackman.
But, what I walked away with was how impressed I was with the top-notch acting and the phenomenal special effects, as well. The characters were portrayed believably and I quickly acquired affection for them. During times when the protagonist or his friends were in danger, I found myself genuinely caring about them. I felt empathy for them and their struggles.
I think that this is probably the best movie I've seen in the theater this year. And I say that not as a giggly starry-eyed girl with a crush on the leading man, but as a middle-aged woman with a degree in theater arts.
I plan to see it again and I look forward to being able to purchase it when it becomes available on VHS and DVD.
The Country Bears (2002)
It was better than I thought it would be...
I'm afraid that the Disney Company made an enormous mistake in how they chose to market this particular motion picture.
If I hadn't already gotten a ticket (group sales tickets via a friend), I would NEVER have gone to see this movie based on the movie trailers and television commercials that I've seen thus far.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a pretty funny movie!
I recognize that there will undoubtedly be some people that won't "get" this film. So, try to imagine the 1984 film "This Is Spinal Tap" but with Zeb, Ted, Fred and Tennessee (The Country Bears) playing the parts of David, Nigel & Derek. It's a stretch, but worth the effort.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film and recommend it as a great family film!
P.S. I especially liked the song, "Kick It Into Gear" sung by Jennifer Paige. It was very, very good!
A Holiday Romance (1999)
Just the way I like my Christmastime/Romance Stories... sappy and sweet!
At first, I wasn't certain whether or not I wanted to watch this film, since I happen to deeply loathe Country/Western music. However, I watched it anyway... since I needed some help with getting into the Christmas mood, this year. Well, color me surprised! It turned out to be a good movie after all. A strong storyline, believable situations and outcomes and strong performances all around. But, what impressed me most was the young girl who played the part of Fern. She's a 14 year old actress by the name of Alison Pill. She showed such a wonderful range of emotions in her portrayal. To me, the best reason to see this film is her AND the duet that she sings with Naomi Judd, at the end. It's priceless! P.S. The other thing that made me happy with this movie... NO C&W MUSIC! ;-)
My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988)
Hey... it's not THAT bad! It was really kinda funny! =)
I rather enjoyed this film! I actually thought that it was a crack-up! Okay, so it's not the funniest movie that was ever made. So what?! Not every comedy was written by Neil Simon or Woody Allen. Of course, the fact that I saw it when it was first released (more than 10 years ago) might have something to do with my enjoyment factor. The special effects, especially by today's standards, are pretty corny. But, all in all, it was enjoyable. And hey, after all, where else can you get to see T.V.'s Buffy the Vampire Slayer stars, Alyson Hannigan and Seth Green, when they first appeared as boyfriend and girlfriend, years before their television romance began?!
Deep Impact (1998)
For once... a film that was better than the commercials!
While viewing the countless ads for this film, both on television and at the theaters... I was under the assumption that this was just another "our world is in danger, so let's do something about it" flick. I wasn't even remotely interested enough to go to the theater, in order to see it. Boy, was I ever wrong! I'm so glad that I gave it a chance, once it came to pay-per-view. I was amazed at how terrific this film actually was. There are so many different layers of conflict. It has a number of behind-the-scenes stories where you are allowed into the personal lives of some of the key players. But, most of all, there was a realism to these characters that resonated amidst all of the drama that played out before you. I would recommend this film to any adult and I gave it a 9.
Everything That Rises (1998)
A heart-warming and uplifting film
This was a wonderful and heart-warming film. It realistically portrayed some of the harsh struggles that can plague the American farmer of today. It was also very uplifting in that our heroes didn't give up in spite of the obstacles in their way.
It was refreshing to see that the solutions to their problems were reality based. They all made their own personal sacrifices to lift them out of their hardship. Their problems weren't solved magically, but by doing what was necessary to save their farm and their family.
This film was filled with love. But, not the hearts and flowers of so-called modern romance. But with the nitty-gritty type of love that is demonstrated by actions, not just with pretty words.
I personally feel that the most important part of the film is the way that Nathan's disability was dealt with. It didn't try to make it out to be something that it wasn't. They didn't waste time trying to look for some modern medical miracle cure. They dealt with it as a family. Best of all, the movie didn't treat Nathan like some courageous underdog. It treated him like he was a real person, whose disability, although it was a part of him, did not define him.