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Reviews
Thir13en Ghosts (2001)
Great visuals with an above average plot
I see that most people aren't nearly as fond of this one as I am, so I feel compelled to write why I *did* like it.
First, the visuals were really good. Many thrillers have to avoid showing detail about the villains because details end up being fake looking or difficult. This is one of several reasons why so many take place at night. Thir13en Ghosts works around that by giving the protagonists special glasses which allow them to see the ghosts. It's a lot less goofy than seeing it written in this review makes it sound and it means that the movie doesn't have to be shot in the depths of night.
Second, the story was up to the task and original. I'll not dwell on this too much as the story centers around the house and the house is one of the main characters in the movie, but suffice it to say I was pleased with the twists.
This one isn't going to win any awards, but it's a really solid film for it's genre.
Return to Paradise (1998)
Perhaps the most overrated movie on IMDB.
The really high quality performance of Joaquin Phoenix couldn't come close to saving this film.
The plot was difficult to believe from it's inception, and went rapidly downhill from there. The basic premise is that three friends buy dealer quantities of hash without a hope of smoking it all before they leave Malaysia. They steal a bicycle from a local rental and when the cops show up to question Lewis apparently they do a complete search of his hovel and find the drugs. As with so many things in this film, the reason for a complete grounds search is unclear.
After extinguishing all legal avenue's Lewis' sister (played by Anne Heche) is sent to the U.S. by Lewis to get his friends to come back and serve their time in prison in order to get him off death row.
For reasons which aren't well explained the friends don't jump at the chance and catch the next flight out. Instead they play hard to get to Lewis' sister, who is implausibly hiding the fact that she is related to Lewis.
Confused yet? There's more.
While Lewis' sister is hiding her identity, she and Sheriff have an affair. Despite the fact the he has made it clear he isn't going to go back and save her brother we are to believe that she could become interested in him.
While that oddness is going on there is a sub-plot of a reporter who wants to run a story about Lewis. Beth says no because that could get Lewis killed. Apparently the Malaysian government would see the story as a slap in the face. Beth again fails to reveal her identity for unknown reasons, but the reporter agrees to wait until after the government deal is made to run the story.
Finally, in the middle of the courtroom proceedings in Malaysia word gets out that the story has been printed. The reason for which is yet another unexplained contrivance. The Malaysian judge then decides to go ahead and execute Lewis, but also keep Sheriff in jail for a spell.
After all this, Beth's new found and inexplicable love for the man who didn't want to save her brother is unflagging and there is a gut wrenching, er, heart warming scene at the end where they are reunited.
In short, I am astounded at how highly the IMDB community as rated this flick.