Reviews

I watched this show with my family when it used to be on HBO, and I just remember how much I loved the adventures and new characters. I found an old tape of them last month and watched them again...and man, they were just as much for adults as they were for kids. It was a really escapist, communist-themed show. All the characters represented something different, some element of a "perfect"community. It was crazy to watch it again and see it in a totally different light. It was then and still is one of the best television shows ever made, period. Even though Convincing John and the gypsy music group scared the hell out of me as a kid (I don't know why!), I loved it then and I love it now. LONG LIVE THE FRAGGLES!!!

Seen "Braveheart"? Seen "West Side Story"? Mix em together, you have "Gladiator". This was supposed to be the most original, amazing film of the year. What it really was was crap thrown together with a hot lead actor (who was totally undeserving of his Academy Award, as it should have gone to Ed Harris for "Pollock"), a bunch of special effect tigers, and an ending you could have seen from a mile away. Want to see a good Russell Crowe movie? Watch "LA Confidential" or "The Insider". This gets a dismal 3/10.

Although I think it was stupid for the people at "The Cosby Show" to drop Denise Huxtable in the first place, I think "A Different World" was great, especially at the very beginning. Lisa Bonet and Marissa Tomei were great together, no matter what anyone says. Yes, the show was still really good after they left at the end of the first season, but nothing beats the originals.

"October Sky" has got to be one of the best films made in 1999. While it seems, on the surface, to be directed towards kids, it is really a lot more. Yes, it shows kids the upside to school, to science and math, and to following your dreams for what you want to be when you grow up. But this movie, as anyone who sees it knows, has more than that one storyline. There is the classic coming-of-age side to it where we see four friends finding out who they are and what they are passionate about. We see one of them defying his father who seems to be heartless, but who later comes to the rescue of another one of the boys. And we also see a true life account of one of the most remembered parts of our nation's history--the beginning of the Space Race. The film opens with Sputnik being launched and seen flying through space over the small town in which the characters live. From there, one boy gets an idea to build a rocket, and soon his two best friends and their brainy classmate join him. We follow them through their greatest achievements and their lowest times. And in the end, we see where their desire to learn and passion for knowledge take them. This movie is an absolute 10 out of 10 for me. If you haven't seen it, go rent it. If you HAVE seen it, see it again.

Like "My So-Called Life" before it, "Freaks and Geeks" has been killed off by a network because of low ratings. HELLLOO???? Anyone ever heard of a show called "The Practice"? Well, until 1998, no one did. It was buried on Saturday nights on ABC, the worst move the network could have made. Finally, someone pushed it to Sunday,a nd look what has happened now. I wish the Powers That Be at the Peacock could have watched just one more episode of "Freaks and Geeks" and understod how so true to life, how funny and witty, and just how horrifying it was. Like it or not, the stuff that happens to the characters each week is real, or at least updated ot a 90's/2000 version. But let's face it, they care about demographics, not the feelings of the viewers. NBC gave "F+G" the ax today; let's hope another network is smart enough to pick it up and put it where it belongs.

This is by far one of my favorite Broadway shows ever. Bernadette Peters is absolutely unparalleled on the stage, Sondheim and Lapine have pulled off another masterpiece, and Joanna Gleason TOTALLY deserved her Tony award for this. In my mind, this musical was far superior to the one that beat it out for 1989 Best Musical (Phantom of the Opera). Anyone who liked this would like "The School for Scandal", which stars Barbara Bryne (Jack's Mother). I suggest you check it out.

When I saw the first trailer for "Tuesday's With Morrie" during November sweeps, I was ecstatic. Since reading it last spring, it has been my favorite book, one that I quote from quite often. The movie was just as moving as the book. Jack Lemmon, one of my favorite actors, gave an impressive, Emmy-worthy performance as Morrie, and conveyed with just the right amount of class, dignity, heart, and emotion the message the dying mentor left as his legacy. Hank Azaria, known mostly for his comedic roles on Fox's "The Simpsons" and in the hilarious film "The Birdcage", showed his convincing serious side as Mitch, who we find loosening up and becoming more emotional throughout the movie. Also impressive was Wendy Moniz as Janine. The scene where Morrie asked Mitch to step outside so Janine could sing to him was one of the most emotional, and certainly one of the most moving. The book made me cry. The movie made me cry harder. Kudos to Oprah Winfrey for producing an impressive film, one not laden with special effects and terrible plots, but one of real life and a story of those who can touch so many people without ever knowing it. My score? A perfect 10.

After watching reruns of this show, I came to the conclusion that the original episodes, with the original family, the Pembrokes were the best. After they left, the show went downhill, at least for me. Still, it was a great show and I love watching the reruns!