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Reviews
Murder in Small Town X (2001)
Very unique take on "Survivor" genre
Fox has been blasted in the past for their reality programming (Marry a Multimillionaire, Temptation Island, etc...), but they finally got it right with Small Town X.
Before I talk about what makes the show great, it does have some weak points. The players are not as interesting as the Survivor 2 bunch, and the game goes by without you even being able to remember some of their names. Also, you don't seen enough of the interactions between the players to understand their emotions towards each other.
But, the contestants are not what make this show interesting. Watching this show is like stepping inside a video game. There are several twisting plot lines to follow, and a number of clues and false leads to sort out. Due to these factors, X is more suited for audience involvement than the rest of the reality genre (with the possible exception of the Mole).
I hope that Fox runs something like this one again, perhaps with a different location or genre (X-Files style, anyone?)
Jurassic Park III (2001)
Good sequel with great FX (mild spoilers)
I know that everyone is going to say that this film is not on par with the first film, to which I would quickly agree. The original JP was a modern film classic, like Jaws, that was not written with the intent of a sequel. So, any attempt at a sequel will appear to fall short. However, when you look at this film on its own, it is a very enjoyable action film, with plenty of cool dinosaurs to keep audiences wowed.
Like the previous two films, this films puts a group of people in the midst of a dinosaur infested island. However, this installment comes across less preachy than JP2, owing to the fact that Jeff Goldblum (Ian Malcom) is absent from the cast. Instead, this film focuses more on the dinosaur's social behavior (specifically the raptors).
The way the dinosaurs were handled in this film, specifically the raptors, will make dinosaur fans happy. After the dumbed-down dinos in JP2, it was nice to see intelligent raptors again.
The plot of this film is somewhat linear, and predictable in places. This does not interfere with the enjoyment, since the action sequences are incredible, and there is a good amount of comedy worked in.
JP3 follows the pattern of previous JP movies when it comes to which dinos to show. Give the audience some glimpses of the herbivores, but put primarily carnivores on screen. The aforementioned raptors play a large roll, as does a new JP dino, the spinosaurus.
Bottom line: this is a formula movie. If you are wanting plot twists and a deep message, this movie won't be for you. But, if you are just wanting a fun summer movie, watch JP3.
Pitch Black (2000)
Amazing
After walking out of the film, I had the feeling that followed first viewings of films such as "The Matrix", "Dark City", or "Aliens". Yes this is a formula film, in its most basic overview. People are trapped in a confined location, not able to get help, and must survive attacks by an alien force.
Though the plot is formulaic, the execution is anything but. The first 10 minutes of the movie, as many have pointed out, is a sensory overload. You feel the excitement and confusion that would result from a crash landing of this nature.
In the time before the blackout, the director makes great use of lighting, filters, and wide angled lenses to portray the desolation of the desert. I never thought that watching a movie could actually make me feel the heat of a desert. This is probably the best use of color and lighting I have ever seen. (Plus, it is somewhat ironic that this has some of the brightest scenes ever filmed, and the movie is called Pitch Black)
The characters are great too. The team is filled with anti-heroes. They are not the people you would expect in a blockbuster film, but are similar to people you might meet in real life. Also, the choice to not use marquee actors and actresses makes the characters that much more believable.