Reviews

OK people. Enough is enough. I'm standing up for this movie. I had walked into the theater not knowing what to expect. After hearing about the nudity, I was definitely intrigued. Yes, this movie has a TON of gross out jokes that make Something About Mary seem like Sesame Street. The gross out jokes will no doubt make many people uncomfortable. In retrospect, this movie should have probably been NC-17, but it was really pretty harmless. (the girl-in-the-movie-theater-talking-on-the-phone bit should have been done a long time ago) The stereotyping is pretty bad, but again, harmless. I was more or less shocked at the material, rather than offended. There could have been less Scream spoofs and more "old-school" horror jokes, but I wouldn't trade the Doofy material for anything. Great impersonation! Cheri Oteri was a wonderful presence, in a great Blair Witch knockoff. The ghostface killer does a nifty little Friday the 13th music impression. And, there is a very brief Halloween spoof with Cindy in the classroom. The sex jokes were way over-the-top but pretty darn clever. After seeing Me, Myself, and Irene (which was god-awful, especially if you're used to seeing Jim Carrey doing good movies) I was thrilled to leave Scary Movie thoroughly pleased. Regardless of the tagline, everyone should expect a sequel. (the movie is grossing a ton of money) I'm already buying my popcorn...

A friend of mine, who's crazy over limited release, independent films dragged me to see I Think I Do (promising me that I'd absolutely love it). Well, he was right!! This film was very well done, and I'd recommend it to everyone. Although it's theme is a gay storyline, the movie is so mainstream that even people with "homophobic issues" could still thoroughly enjoy it. The characters are intelligent, sexy, and oh-so-90's. The funny lines come in rapid succession, and the situations that the characters find themselves in are truly genuine. The main part of the story deals with this one guy who's in love with his "straight" roommate from college. (a very realistic concept) The gay guy never pursues the other out of fear of rejection. Several years later, the whole gang of friends attend a wedding and a lot of chaos ensues. Although I loved this movie, I had a slight problem with the ending. I won't give it away, but let's just say that the screenplay writer sacrificed reality, for the sake of a happy ending. We don't always get the happy endings in life that we would like. However, the movie as a whole was awesome, and a definite "must-see."

My first viewing of Disney's The Hunchback... left me speechless for hours. I was absolutely blown away by the stunning score and songs, the unbelievable visual panoramas, and the strong characterizations. Musically, the movie cannot be dismissed, and I'm still bothered by the fact that the film Emma managed to snag the Oscar that year. Hunchback's time period score is brilliant, incorporating Gregorian Chant and latin text in songs that are quite memorable, contrary to what some have said. The songs don't have the simplistic melodies of Under the Sea, but songs like Hellfire, Out There, God Help The Outcasts, and the opener are magical in their own rights. The movie is not for children, mainly because the dialogue, and themes are so dark.(should have been rated PG at least) The movie blatantly shows the dangers in mixing religion and good/evil. It's amazing to see how Disney succeeded in tackling the most difficult of issues: religion. Everybody can find something to relate to in this movie. I found Quasimodo to be the most complicated character on the big screen that I have ever seen. So many emotions, and so many choices to make. Does he long for the returned love of the girl of his dreams, or does he long for the love of freedom. In the end, the decision of freedom becomes the more important of the two, and the theme of sacrificing one's personal happiness for the happiness of others is a theme that's never been executed better by Disney. Congratulations Disney, for taking risks and succeeding with a film that will live on in the hearts of many.

I've been avidly watching Days... for 3 years now, and I have to say that the show has grown on me like no other. The storylines have been wildly entertaining, and the writing/dialogue has been turned up several notches within the past 6 months. Ever since Sami was sentenced to Death Row, the drama and tension has been relentless and thrilling. The acting on the show is really top notch, no matter what the critics or daytime Emmy voters may think. Newcomers like Craig and Nancy have really put a spice into the show, and promising storylines dealing with Kate and Vivian only heighten my already strong interest. The show can be as sensitive as it is wild. Take for instance the 180 degree character turn-around for Sami (maybe more like 179). Ms. Sweeney's acting is worth the show alone, and I can't figure out why she hasn't been Emmy nominated. And speaking of Emmy nods, I have to give props to Eileen Davidson and her plethora of characters, for she was the reason I became a Days addict. A soap exists for escape, a way to find guilty pleasures in everything that you always wanted to do, but couldn't really get away with. Keep it coming Days!