Reviews

Years ago I saw a wonderful movie with imaginitive sets, quirky direction, a memorable and magical story, and of course, Johnny Depp. This was the movie that made me a devoted fan of his and cemented my love of Tim Burton's films. Recently, I re-watched this gem and felt that it still holds up after 13 years. Depp is unforgettable in this role of an outsider who is at first joyously welcomed into suburbia, only to be cruelly shunned and driven away by those same "friendly folks". It's a testament to his great acting and a well-written screenplay that would make me fall in love with this odd character.Despite heavy make-up that renders him practically unrecognizable and a voice that is equally unrecognizable, I was quite taken with this incredible actor. (It was not until I saw "Cry-Baby" that I realized what an attractive guy he is too.)Anyway, "Edward Scissorhands" was one of my favorite films of the '90's and I think one of the best and unforgettable of the decade. An instant classic.

WOW! What a great film. After seeing this film I feel like taking a drive to the Santa Anita track and catching a race. (I have never been to a horse race before. But there's always a first time.) Anyway, I feel that this is definitely one of the best (if not THE BEST) films of the summer. I know it's too early to tell, but I feel that this is a worthy candidate for Oscar contention. Great writing, direction, acting, set direction, and cinematography. I loved the race scenes. I felt like I was one of the racers, yet I also felt like a spectator rooting for Seabiscuit to win. Kudos to the team who put together such incredible sequences. I'm also glad to see Tobey Maguire follow up a huge hit like "Spiderman" with a moving drama such as this film. Other notable actors follow up on commercial hits with more commercial (and mindless) movies that may make them richer, but lose their credibility as great actors. I also like to comment on the fact that rarely have I sat in a movie theatre where the audience applauses at the end and when the actors names appear on the screen. Obviously we all loved this movie and appreciate a great film. I loved the character development and the theme of the story. There's an underdog in each one of us and if given a chance, we too can succeed. Again kudos to the filmmakers who brought such a fine film to the screen. :)

Whenever I watch movie documentaries I always end up compiling lists of what to see or I'm reminded of certain films and I re-watch the movie to refresh my memory of it. Such is the case with "Barry Lyndon". What a beautiful piece of filmmaking. I can see why it won Oscars for cinematography, art direction and costume (as well as musical adaptation). I agree with others who have said that "Barry Lyndon" is like an 18th century painting that has come to life. Although it is a bit slow at times, I was completely engrossed in the story and the setting. The cinematography is outstanding! Each frame is a painting that can be considered a mini-masterpiece. Those interior shots are unforgettable and (I believe) unmatched to this day. There's a timeliness to it that pulls the viewer deeper into the story. The costumes are a delight and as a fashion history buff, I was mesmerized by the sumptuous materials and styles. I loved the music and as is the case with a lot of Kubrick films, classical music is used to "amplify" an emotion or scene. To this day, when I hear Strauss, I think of "2001: A Space Odyssey". It is a shame that "Barry Lyndon" was considered a flop. Fortunately for film buffs like us, it will always be regarded as one of Kubrick's best.

It doesn't get better than this. I love the epics and this is definitely one of my all-time favorites. I have always been a fan of David Lean's work and this film shows why. They don't make movies like this anymore. Today those beautiful desert vistas would probably be digitized as well as the cast of multitudes. Nothing beats the real thing. About 14 years ago, I had the pleasure of seeing the restored version on the big screen. What an incredible experience that was. Recently, I saw the Special Edition dvd and it just revived my love for these epics again. (I'm sorry, but so-called "epics" like '97's "Titanic" have nothing on this film.) You want to see an epic? Check out "Lawrence of Arabia" or "Dr. Zhivago". These are truly EPIC movies. (P.S. -- One of my all-time fave scenes is when Lawrence is standing on the roof of the train. My God-- that flowing robe and the sight of a young and handsome Peter O'Toole-- I tell you if I was around at the time I would have been going to the theatre every week to see him and that magnificent film.) :)

First, I just want to say that I was brought to tears twice during this film. Personally, this indicates that the film was great, since I rarely cry during movies (even the "tearjerkers"). Anyway, I found this film to be quite thought provoking. Despite what some critics have said about it, I felt the merging of Kubrick and Spielberg's film styles worked quite well. It is definitely NOT a children's fairy tale movie, rather, it is an adult film. One could say that "A.I" is either a dark version of a Spielberg film or Kubrick lite. Either way it works. Briefly, the story concerns the journey a young mecha (mechanical being)named David takes to find the Blue Fairy (she of Pinocchio fame)to make him real. Along the way he encounters Gigolo Joe, a lover robot, who helps him find the Blue Fairy. As he did in "The Sixth Sense", Haley Joel Osment gives another outstanding performance. He is truly an accomplished and gifted actor who just happens to be a child. He carries this film and does it well. David may be a robot child, but I found him heartbreaking, especially in the scene when his human mom abandons him in the forest. Jude Law is great in a small role (that I wish I could have seen more of--but that's because I absolutely love him). There are a couple of details (which I won't divulge due to it's importance to the plot)that had me wondering when they occured. But that's what makes this a film stay with you long after you see it. Personally, I will see it again after I tire of the other noisy special effects laden movies that will populate the rest of summer.

Fasten your seat belts and enjoy this wild ride into the whacked out world of Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge".I saw it a week ago and was still recovering from it when I decided to see it again last night. It is truly one of the most amazing film experiences I have ever had. The art direction is stunning. The colors are brilliant. The camerawork is out of this world. But it's the editing that truly makes this picture. Anyway, I absolutely loved the music. Thanks Baz and company for including some of my all-time fave songs. As for the two leads...who knew? I agree with everyone when asking "who knew that Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor could sing?" But sing they do and what a great job they do. (I swear if Ewan ever releases an album of songs, I'll buy the first copy.)A favorite scene of mine is when Ewan sings "Your Song". Oh my God! I just melt when I hear that song. I also loved the scene where they're both singing on top of her "elephant" apartment and the "Roxanne" tango scene with Ewan singing another song at the same time. What an incredible scene. Anyway, go out and see it or see it again. It was "spectacular spectacular"!

Presently, "Moonlighting" is being shown on cable (Bravo)here in the U.S. I must say watching these episodes after fifteen years brings back a lot of joy for me. It was one of my favorite shows of the '80's. I remember enjoying the verbal sparring between Maddie and David. It was also fun to watch what antics David would pull. True, some episodes weren't all that great, but what T.V. show has been truly perfect? Anyway, for the most part "Moonlighting" was a wonderful show that was well-written. As I watch these episodes again, I'm struck by how beautiful Cybill Sheperd was photographed and how young looking Bruce Willis was. (I think they've aged pretty well.)Last night I saw "Twas the Episode Before Xmas" and loved how they (writers and actors) frequently broke through the "fourth wall". That's another thing I loved about the show. It frequently broke through the "fourth wall". In all, "Moonlighting" was a witty romantic comedic show that put a whole new spin on the detective show genre.

"The Sixth Sense" is about a troubled youngster who communicates with the dead and the relationship he develops with his psychiatrist. Haley Joel Osment gives an unforgettable performance as the haunted child. Bruce Willis plays the sympathetic psychiatrist who tries to help the boy deal with his "gift". The mood of the film is set from the opening scene in which we see a red light bulb turned on and a woman enter a cold wine cellar. The nuanced scenes that follow lead to an unforgettable ending that requires a second viewing of the film. The writing is suspenseful and tight. True, it does start off a bit slow, but upon my second viewing, I realized this is part of the film's mood. "The Sixth Sense" is probably one of the best psychological thrillers that I've seen in a long time and brings to mind one of my favorite (and I think one of the best)psychological thrillers of the '70's - "Audrey Rose". (Although that film deals with reincarnation, I think the mood is somewhat similar.)