Reviews

First of all....I love it! "West Wing" is a television show like no other. After just a little more than a dozen episodes, it has already received Golden Globe nominations for "Best Drama Series" and two for "Best Actor" . It is considered one of the best shows on television this year as rated by numerous entertainment and news magazines. I am confident you will see it leading the pack for Emmy nominations as well.

Newsman Edward Murrow (1988) said "[Television] can teach, it can illuminate: yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance, and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful." Well, it's now 2000 and we have a television show that does inspire and challenge us to make our society better. But I know what you are thinking? Isn't "West Wing" a television show about the White House and the Presidency? If it's based upon reality, shouldn't that be a comedy more so than a drama? Your assumption by comparing the Clinton Presidency and the current political climate to that of a television comedy is probably correct, but then one of our main networks (NBC) could then be accused of making light of a sad situation. Instead, NBC has risen above the bad jokes or rips on our political system, and created a television show that provides us hope and comfort in the belief that those in government service and politics truly do care about the "man or woman on the street" . I believe that every single person in this country hopes that someday we will have a President who can truly identify with each and everyone of us, one who understands our fears, our struggles, and our dreams. A President, who in either 4 or 8 years of service, makes life better for all of us on a daily basis. Someone who knows about grocery store scanners, knows their favorite "Value Meals" by number, and yet has the wisdom and knowledge to put forth and into action ideas that make this country a better place. We don't seek a President who is super-human, but a President who isn't afraid to show that he is human. Someone who demonstrates their leadership with an exceptional amount of courage and has ideals that inspire us to challenge and overcome the struggles we face as individuals and as a society. And that person is a guy named Jed.

"West Wing" has selected former New Hampshire Governor Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen) to be President of the United States. He holds a Noble Laureate in Economics, has been a former Congressman, and is a descendant of one of the original signers of the Constitution. He is happily married to Abigail "Abby" Bartlet, his First Lady and M.D., for more years than he can remember (played by Academy-Award winning actress Stockard Channing). Abby helps keep his feet firmly on solid ground. In addition, President Bartlett suffers from a form of multiple sclerosis, but has chosen to keep his condition private from the staff and the public.

Surrounding the President, is his staff, located in the West Wing of the White House. Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, a former Labor Secretary and recovering alcoholic/ drug addict (John Spencer) leads the team. Communications Director, Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) attempts to challenge the staff to bring forth changes in domestic policy that will make America greater than she is. Toby's not afraid to challenge the President and others to take stronger stands on social issues. You can feel his frustration and anger as worthwhile battles are lost to politics. Deputy Communications Chief, Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) puts the spin on the White House message and while he is as committed as Toby, he also know which battles are worth fighting for. Press Secretary C.J. Gregg (Allison Chaney) is bar far one of the most personable characters on the show. While she is one of the most visible members of the White House staff, due to her role, she is limited in her ability to influence policy and is sometimes relegated to a simple role of sharing the message with the press. The White House staffers who will either develop a loyal television following or rate a strong dislike are Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford of Wisconsin) and Political Consultant Dr. Mandy Hampton (Moira Kelly) who used to be significant others. They are the ones whose role it is to play politics, but every so often you see a caring and human side of them that politics hasn't yet touched.

Finally you have fantastic supporting West Wing staff such as Presidential Aide Charlie Young (Dule Hill), Vice-President John Hoynes (Tim Matheson), Aide Donna Moss (Janel Moloney), First Daughter Zoey Bartlet (Elizabeth Moss), Journalist Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield), Presidential Secretary Mrs. Landingham (Kathryn Joosten), and Aide Margaret (Nicole Robinson). In addition, you have repeating roles by Supreme Court Justice Nominees, Cabinet Officers and the Joint Chiefs.

You don't have to watch "West Wing" on a regular basis, for each episode carries it's own weekly issue or storyline with a few overlapping sub stories that are easily picked up on. You see issues of nuclear war, terrorism, religion, hate crimes, gun control, alcoholism and health all taken up in less than 60 minutes. Watching how these White House Staffers go about their daily duties is both encouraging and exciting. You gain a sense of hope that if our current White House staffers even care just a touch of how these people care, then maybe things aren't too bad. The sad part is you sometimes find yourself wishing that Jed Bartlet was running for President, for you know he will spend more time working for solutions to our nation's ills rather than being the source of them. Bottom line...we haven't seen any White House Intern storylines yet, but let's hope that the "West Wing" writers just thought a story of a President and an Intern would read to much like bad fiction. Rating 10 of 10.

First of all....I kinda sorta liked it. I thought "Deuce Bigalow" was an okay film, not great in any way, but not a total slug either. While I may agree with you that the title of the film alone would be an indication as to whether or not I thought this film had a chance to be nominated for a "Golden Globe", "Academy Award" or even a "People's Choice" award, I still held out hope that this film may have had some redeeming qualities that were not readily visible in the title. You know the old saying, "you can't judge a book by it's cover", just like you can't "judge a movie by it's title".

For all I knew, "Deuce Bigalow" could have been another blockbuster (no not the video store) like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (example of sarcasm) or "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective". Well, in this film Deuce could have been from Texas. This movie had a few unique moments....but first the storyline....Deuce is a world-class fish tank cleaner. Deuce finally gets a chance to take care of a great fish tank, but somehow screws things up and ends up needing to replace it. Well Deuce is broke, so he stumbles across the idea of becoming a male gigolo. Well, with all ethical, moral, and legal arguments aside...Deuce as a gigolo is like imagining a former Arkansas Governor becoming President of the United States. Somehow Deuce pulls it off and his career is on its way. (I guess dreams do come true sometimes.) Now as all "love/sex/comedy/R-rated" stories go...Deuce falls in love with one of his clients. Okay, you get the picture. Deuce is lacking in credibility, story line, decent actors, and humor.

Bottom line...."Deuce Bigalow" starring Rob Schneider is more like a "Saturday Night Live" skit or "Energizer Bunny" that keeps going and going and going....until the audience begins wondering why don't they.

First of all....I liked it. Even though there has not been any talk of a sequel to the new movie "House on Haunted Hill", the audience should prepare themselves that in the year 2015, you may be attending the local theater to see "House on Haunted Hill #15...Revenge of the Remodeled Home". "House on Haunted Hill" does not have an all-star cast, nor does it have all those flashy special effects, but it does have the ability to throw a few curves your way. In one scene, I actually had the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and in another I enjoyed a quick knee reflex that allowed me to kick the seat in front of me (thus enhancing the movie's frightful effect on the person sitting straight ahead.) Geoffrey Rush, Taye Diggs, Peter Gallagher, Famke Janssen all put forth great performances to make this a well-done film. I was sold on the film the moment I saw the scene (which also appears in the trailers) of the woman videotaping around the haunted house and discovers in her camera's viewer a room full of ghosts performing an operation, she then lowers the camera, looks with her own eyes, sees the room is empty, and then looks back through the camera and now sees a room full of angry ghosts staring back, and yes you guessed it, this is when the hair on my neck stood up. Some of you may remember an old Don Knotts' film, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken", in which Don is challenged to spend a frightful evening in an old haunted house, he accepts the challenge only to be forced from the house in the middle of the night. This film, has a similar concept and a few good laughs, but the difference is that this house won't let you leave even if you want to. So I would think this movie is more like Don Knotts staying over at "Amityville". You have a touch of humor, a few special effects, a few scenes in which you close your eyes, and an ending which leaves you "hanging" with the feeling that this isn't the last time you will visit this house. Bottom line...do you really suppose there are people out there who truly would stay overnight in any situation that involves ghosts or haunted places? Because while I like to think that I would be up for a good challenge....I also know that if I couldn't have done what Don Knotts did, I surely wouldn't be able to stay a night at the "House on Haunted Hill".s

First of all...I liked it. "Bicentennial Man" is a pretty cool film. Robin Williams is an android/robot purchased to do chores around the house of a wealthy family. The family names him "Andrew" and he slowly begins becoming a part of their everyday routine. But somehow, he begins to learn and begins to develop a deepening relationship with the family. While the movie is new, the storyline is a bit old, for it not only brings forth images of "Planet of the Apes", but also those from old TV shows as "Hazel", "The Jeffersons" and the "Brady Bunch". Now this isn't all that bad, it's just a bit repetitive. What it also does is bring a bit of the "Terminator" and 21st century reality into the picture. We are reading more and more about computers that can learn from their mistakes or robots that can perform simple tasks now. If you can imagine both the thinking computer and the robot being combined in the near future, then you have the "Bicentennial Man". While Robin Williams presents the story in a very warm and touching manner (similar to his role in "Mrs. Doubtfire"), you can't help but think about reality. I can't help but think of all the different animal rights groups that are around, protecting this species and that, protesting wearing of fur or eating of meat, keeping our tuna free of "Flipper", and making sure that no animal was harmed in the making of a movie...are we eventually going to see "Robot Rights" groups making sure they too were not harmed or scratched in the filming of a movie? Who knows? All I know is that I got off on a tangent here when all I wanted to say was...bottom line...while the real "Bicentennial" was 24 years ago, you will enjoy this "Bicentennial" today.

First of all....I loved it. "Never give up, never surrender" is definitely the motto for audiences who love sci-fi and/or comedies....never give up hope that someday someone might make a great sci-fi comedy. That day has arrived.

"Galaxy Quest" is by far one of the funniest movies this season. Tim Allen is Commander Peter Taggert or at least has played him on TV for four years. Now Allen and the careers of his crew have been limited to electronics store grand openings and/or sci-fi conventions.

That is until one day when the Thermians, led by Enrico Colantoni, arrive at a convention to recruit Commander Taggert to lead them against their enemies. Add the supportive crew of Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Daryl Mitchell, and Sam Rockwell to Tim Allen and you have one hilarious film.

The simplest way to describe this movie is imagine the Star Trek crew being recruited to fight off evil today....imagine Captain Kirk, Spock or Bones (well maybe not Bones because he died this past year for real), but imagine the others truly getting on a real Enterprise. For example, Sigourney Weaver's sole job is to repeat what the computer says, while Sam Rockwell or "Guy" is the guest appearance guy that always gets killed. One of my favorite scenes involves the crew on a strange planet looking at aliens who appear to be miners and the lines that are delivered are just hilarious. This is movie making at it's finest, it truly is.

For everyone who has religiously watched soap operas or any television series on a weekly basis knows how easy it is to identify the actor solely as the character they play on television. Be honest here, when we watch William Shatner doing "Rescue 911" we all know that it's really Captain Kirk just taking a side job until the next Star Trek movie comes out. It's the same as saying that we would rather have Martin Sheen of "West Wing" be our President than Uncle Bill. I promise you that there is not a minute of this film that you won't enjoy.

Bottom line....young or old, this is one film you won't want to miss out on.

First of all....I loved it. Denzel Washington's best film to date and that definitely was not an easy task for him to accomplish. If you recently enjoyed seeing Denzel in the "Bone Collector" then you'll love him as the "Hurricane". "The Hurricane" is based on a true story of Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter, a contender for the World's Middleweight Championship in the 1960s. That is until he is arrested and convicted for the murder of three people. From the beginning the audience is led to believe that Carter is wrongly accused and convicted solely on the actions of a corrupt police official and on the rising racial tensions of that time period. Many times movies have taken liberties with a story and presented it in such a fashion to make the audience believe what they are seeing is completely and 100% true and accurate. We went through it with the movie "JFK" and "Nixon" to name just two stories based upon "truth". However, "The Hurricane" is different. You watch this film and you can't believe the injustice that you are seeing nor can you imagine that such an injustice could continue for almost 20 years. But it can and it did. Check out any web site on Hurricane Carter and you are amazed with what you will find. This film details the story of a young man living in Canada who picks up a book at a used book sale. The book is written by Rubin Carter and chronicles his life from youth through incarceration. The young man writes Rubin Carter in prison to tell him of the impact that his book has had on his life and in return the youth begins to have an impact upon Carter. From here you are thrown into a web of deceit and corruption as the youth and his legal guardians attempt to free Rubin Carter from prison. Throughout the film, you can't help but imagine that you are watching an A&E biography of the man rather than a movie. The film keeps your interest throughout, but it is not until the final courtroom scene when Rod Steiger playing a Federal Judge hears Rubin's case and has to make a decision. It has been a long time since I have been at a film where the audience breaks out in applause and cheers towards the close of a movie, but "The Hurricane" does it to you. It draws you in from the beginning and doesn't let go until you, as an audience member, personally grasp the injustice. Bottom line...Denzel Washington will surely be a contender, as Rubin was. Let's just hope Denzel wins.

First of all....I liked it. "American Beauty" is definitely a unique film. After viewing it, one can definitely say that it is highly unlikely that they have ever seen a film quite like it before. Do I recommend it, well it definitely depends upon your frame of mind at the time you plan on seeing it. There are a few frames of mind in which I think you should see this film...1) if you are in a good mood and not willing to take life too seriously; 2) you're feeling cynical about the American family and are questioning our values and need supporting evidence; or 3) you think your own family is messed up and need a point of comparison. If you are in any of the above three frames. I think you will enjoy this film tremendously. However, if you are going to a movie to escape life's problems and be entertained...I suggest you stay away. Kevin Spacey plays a father going through a psuedo mid-life crisis, quits his job and searches for happiness in his marriage and in daily living. Annette Bening is Spacey's wife, who has passed through her mid-life crisis and has embarked upon life's next stage....only to be brought back to reality by her husband's behavior. Add to this setting, an introverted daughter, gay neighbors, and a militaristic conservative minded neighbor and his rebellious son and you have a typical American neighborhood....and maybe not. Dreamworks produces a film that crosses many boundaries and embraces quite a few taboos without questioning the impact or challenging the results of such behavior. The film simply presents a version of an American family and their neighbors and then lets the audience decide whether or not to accept it. Can the audience relate the characters? You sure can. Can you identify with each and every character?..probably not....but again you don't really know your neighbors or the people down the street do you? Bottom line....you may feel that American Beauty is a very good film, but you will definitely agree that it is not a feel good film.

First of all....I liked it. Now here's a story of a boy who can see dead people...no I am not talking about the Bruce Willis movie, but Kevin Bacon's. The difference...while the little boy can see dead people...so can the dad. Stir of Echoes has the son seeing people he doesn't want to see and giving messages to people who may not want to hear them. Bacon, while at a party, gets hypnotized and the hypnotist throws a suggestion in his mind for Bacon to be more "open minded"...this leads to his new "look" on life or death depending on your perspective. The filming is gritty, has some intense scenes, and a bit of the "oh wow" that comes from the audience makes for a great viewing experience. Stir of Echoes far surpasses the storyline of "Sixth Sense", but falls short at the box office. Bottom line...while some film storylines die right away...this one lives on and on and on.

First of all...I liked it. "End of Days" brings forth an end to those days of wondering where has Arnold Schwarzenegger been. Well, Arnold's back. This movie is about the end of 1999 and the "behind the scenes" struggle taking place between good and evil. While we are all worried about bank cards not working or wondering if they'll have gas at McDonald's so we can still get a burger...others (at like the Pope's level) are worried about the devil getting loose and wrecking havoc for the next 1000 years. While watching this film, I kept thinking "where are all the records?" Someone had to have taken notes of what happened the night 999 ended (I suggest we look for them near old "Y1k" compliant stickers). However Arnold is neither of the above, he doesn't care about his bankcard nor does he seem to worry about good vs evil. He just wants to have a few drinks, break a few heads, and make some cash. That is until he meets the devil. The devil has the nerve to get a bit arrogant with Arnold (imagine the gall) and in the process ticks him off. If the devil thought the Pope was gonna be tough New Years Eve, he couldn't begin to imagine what Arnold was going to do. This film is pretty good, but obviously some connecting scenes must have ended up on the cutting room floor...for example, we initally see a very visible local priest (played by Rod Steiger) who literally disappears from view by the film's end and we don't know why? Bottom line..."End of Days" is an action thriller that will keep your attention throughout....however, I think it may die out at the box office earlier than January 1st.

First of all....I really liked it. Sure this film is just one more in the many fright flicks being produced today, but this one is based upon a very cool premise....Urban Legends. Whether you know it or not, you have all heard an urban legend, but you may have thought it to be real. Urban legends include the guy hiding in the backseat of a car ready to kill the driver, but a gas station attendant tries to alert the woman driver, but fails; the couple that parks and the boyfriend leaves the car for a moment only to be found later swinging from a tree limb above the car; that combining pop rocks and soda can cause you stomach to burst; or if you wake up in a tub of ice, you know your kidneys have been removed...those are all urban legends. This film takes a look at those and more but does it in a very creative way...a serial killer who bases the kills on urban legends. Has the director been successful at bringing these stories to life? Definitely yes. I found myself screaming out loud numerous times, but yet there are some comical overtones in the film also. The setting is a college campus that has a boarded up old building that is closed because of a terrible incident that took place there many years ago...no...it's not the "C" building. Bottom line: if you fear ending up in a tub of ice, then check out this film for an even better chilling time.

First of all....I loved it. Denzel Washington plays a severely disabled former New York police detective who is called upon to help solve a rash of recent murders. With the help of Angelina Jolie, a foot patrol officer, he is able to track the killer's next moves. This film is extremely intense and some of the scenes extremely gorry. I found myself jumping numerous times and kept on the edge of my seat for the rest. Bottom line...no wonder this is rated R, I could just imagine some kids wanting to collect things other than baseball cards or stamps.

First of all....I didn't overly care for it, but you may like it. Here we have the true story of an Irish family and the many struggles they face. And yes they do face some pretty serious struggles and contend with tragedy around every corner.

Unfortunately, the film is not able to adequately portray these tragedies so that the audience member can be emotionally moved by them. Now while this film is based upon a bestseller, which will undoubtably bring countless patrons to the theater to see it. I suggest that if you want to truly identify with the story, then read the book.

I will attempt to briefly describe this movie for you...it's a story of an Irish Catholic family who comes to America only to turn around and go home when things don't turn out well for them. However in Ireland they face even worse hardships, but are at least close to family. But the family is definitely dysfunctional, so they probably should have stayed put in the USA.

Now I am not trying to make light of their tragedies, but after watching 3-4 children die in their family and the father not being able to find a job for 15 years of daily looking, something should kick in and say you need to do something different. Everyday you watch the children get taunted by their peers at school and then return home to a parents who can't provide them food or proper shelter.

That in itself makes the story sad, especially when you know it's true, but it's presented so repetitively that one gets bored watching it. Parts of the story are interesting, for instance, watching the unique relationships between the family members that are based upon the person's religious upbringing or where in Ireland they were born. But these interesting parts are not enough to bring this film to the level of recommending it.

Bottom line...I provide this film with the rating I did, not because it deserves it, but because I too am an Irish Catholic and don't want to face the guilt of giving it a lower rating.

First of all....I really liked it. While many of you may be turned off immediately by a film with a title like "Stigmata", this is a great film. Stigmata is about persons with a deep religious faith who take on the outward signs of crusifixtion as Christ did. These people develop thorn cuts on their heads, bleed from the hands and feet, and wounds in their side. This is a film that brings elements of possible demonic possessions with the response of the Catholic Church. At times the audience may wince at the gore but also be entertained at how it is presented. As I sat watching this film, I wondered what I would do if I encountered a person floating in the air hanging on an imaginary cross....would calling 911 bring the relief or help I seek? I could just imagine a Milwaukee cop showing up and quickly leaving (but still having enough time to stop and give me a parking ticket first.) This film will cause you to wonder....do these things really happen? Do other religions other than Catholics have stigmatas, and how come they don't make movies with non-Catholic priests responding....here comes Jim or Tammy Faye to take care of a demon, now that might sell. The film is well done, it keeps your attention, it challenges you, and is well acted and filmed. Bottom line...if you are looking for a thriller that leaves you questioning a few components of your personal faith, then this film is for you.

First of all....I loved it. "The Insider" is the ultimate film to date regarding corporate greed, a corporate lack of concern for the welfare of the general public, and the emotional struggle of those who want to expose it. "The Insider" adds salt to the wound by exposing the failure of the news media, in particular "60 Minutes", to report an important story on the tobacco industry that would both expose corporate greed at the public's expense and save lives in the future. "The Insider" takes a look at a corporate executive, Dr. Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe) who makes the heart-wrenching personal decision to break his "morally & ethically wrong corporate agreement" regarding the corporate's knowledge of documented health risks that cigarettes pose to the public. Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) is a "60 Minutes" producer who wants the story told. For the next few hours, you watch the behind the scenes power struggle from all perspectives. You see Bergman (Pacino) risking his career by fighting the CBS corporate execs over a basic issue of "right vs wrong". Dr. Wigand (Crowe) also risks and loses everything when he chooses to do the "right" thing and share his story. The film brings forth strong emotions from both Pacino and Crowe. So strong is their acting that you lose sight that these two are just the actors and not the real participants. Earlier I mentioned that this is the "ultimate film to date" on exposing the ills of our society....previous exposures came in such great films as "Class Action" and "Civil Action" and in the story of a real life whistle-blower, John Dean (Watergate). "The Insider" almost makes you wonder what would have happened in this country 25 years ago if the "Washington Post" was afraid of being sued as "60 Minutes" was in this story. Bottom line...while this movie takes 180 minutes to tell a "60 Minutes" story, you will feel like the "ultimate insider" as you witness some very sad moments in recent history.

First of all....I really liked it. Well it's about time we had a football version of "Hoosiers". Okay, it may not be exactly like Hoosiers, but it is a great film about high school football. If you have ever read the book, "Friday Night Lights" about football in Odessa, TX, this is the closest you will see to a movie version of that book. We hear so many stories of how some parents relive their lives through their sons/daughters sports accomplishments, some good stories and a few sad ones....this movie plays upon the sad ones. While it is a "feel good" movie of youth rising up and taking control of their own lives, it is also a film that can be used to keep some parents and coaches in check. Bottom line....simply, you will enjoy this film.

First of all....I liked it. Now this does not mean that you will necessarily like it, but if you are willing to take the film at "face" value, you will enjoy it. Myles Berkowitz directs and stars in this film which is apparently his first attempt at making a major movie. Think back a few years to the movie "Clerks", some young filmakers trying their hand in the business. This film does the same, but plays upon the audience to figure out if it is really a true story or a made-up one to resemble a true story. Here is Myles making a movie about love and in order to make the movie real, he decides to film himself going on 20 dates. As we all know (okay maybe not all of us), but we have heard that while not all dates go well, some of them are totally hilarious. So in this film, you will see some pretty hilarious ones and some totally boring ones....but that's the realness of the movie. I would suggest that you take a chance and see the film....if you don't like it, well you at least experienced something new in the movies. Bottom line...take a date to the movie and try and figure out which one of the 20 dates best matches the one you are currently on. Rating: 7 of 10

First of all....I liked it (but not the first half hour). Okay, I know you are wondering what I meant by saying not the first half hour, that's because it was totally boring and I began to fall asleep. If you can last beyond the first 30 minutes, the movie picks up and you begin getting into it....but prior to that you are feeling like you did in high school when the English teacher said we are going to be reading Shakespeare this quarter. I do question how in the world they got nominated for so many Oscars, but we'll see how many they actually end up winning. If you are looking for period pieces, go see "Mrs. Brown" and "Elizabeth", which by the way share many of the same actors from this movie (do you think they got to keep their costumes?) Okay quick story review...lets follow young Bill Shakespeare as he falls in love and learns the lessons of love in order to write his classic "Romeo and Juliet". While this film was entertaining, it just isn't for everyone. Bottom line...if you are making a movie about 20 dates that you will be going on, then this definitely could be one of them.

First of all...I truly hated it and yet liked it. Okay, I know you are wondering what kind of rating is that, but it is true. While I hated the film for it's violent content, I liked the quality of the story and the outstanding performances by Brad Pitt, Ed Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. Any film that makes "Natural Born Killers" look like a Disney movie is a film that is truly not for everyone. My immediate reaction after seeing this film was that I would not encourage anyone to see this film, nor would I even want to review it for fear that it might spark someone to want to see it. I don't think I have ever seen a more violent movie nor do I ever want to see one. "Fight Club" is truly in a class by itself. It is a film that you would not want to take a date to, nor is it a film that will entertain you...I can't imagine someone running down to the local Blockbuster and picking it up for a quiet evening at home. I am not one for censorship nor am I one for banning a film, but I would seriously question the judgement of someone who viewed this film and considered it entertainment. The story centers around the relationship of two people, Pitt and Norton, and the enjoyment they get from beating the "heck" out of each other. They fight not for sport, but for the pure enjoyment they feel from the pain they inflict upon others and in return have inflicted upon them. Bottom line...I feel it's time we add another rating to our rating scale..."NRQ"..."No Redeeming Quality". This film has no redeeming qualities, is not entertaining, nor should anyone see it...but it definitely is one film like no other.

First of all...I liked it. "Mystery, Alaska" is an attempt to be the "Hoosiers" of ice hockey. It falls short of that, but it does make for an entertaining movie. Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria, Mary McCormack, Lolita Davidovich, Burt Reynolds, Maury Chaykin, and Colm Meaney are truly entertaining in this film. All the characters seem to come together and play upon each other perfectly. The film flows well and the audience wishes the town of Mystery, Alaska success as they take on the New York Rangers in a ice hockey match. The negative....we have all seen the movies of a small town taking on a bigger opponent in a sports match that will bring glory and true joy to the town and it's inhabitants. What's next? Will we be seeing the small town with a dedicated high school football team take on the Green Bay Packers and win? Probably not, but seeing them beat the Vikings or the Bears...now that's possible. Bottom line...it's a good movie, but the storyline is a bit frozen in time.

First of all....I liked it. Now I know what you are thinking....you thought this reviewer didn't like horror films...well that's true, I don't, because I don't like screaming out loud in the theater (tends to be kinda embarrassing).

You see when I go and see a scary movie, I jump, I kick the seat in front of me, I fling my arms, and at times, I let out a loud yell. Now those seated next to me are only bothered if they are in the seat to my right, because that is the direction I jump and end up hitting them.

Okay enough about me. How would I describe "Scream 3", well simply put, it made me scream out loud approximately 7 times, jump twice, and fling my arms to the right just once (while I was with five others, the seat to the right of me remained empty). So in my book, that's a pretty good movie.

Wes Craven, the ever so delightful Director, has created another fantastic film. He incorporates elements of the previous two movies by bringing back not only some of the characters, but also the old storylines. You see, Wes is a truly a creepy person. He creates the illusion of a movie within a movie (sure he did the same thing in the last Freddy flick, but this time he's better at it).

You see in this movie, he is making "Stab 3" and it's based upon the true life story of what we saw in "Scream 1". He has actors playing the parts of the people killed in the first movie and has recreated the town of Woodsboro on the set of "Stab 3". Well, guess who shows up...yep the masked guy with that cool voice-changing gadget (obviously designed by an MSOE graduate, because it's so cool and works perfectly).

I have to stop here to make a quick comment...isn't that mask just totally freaky? We all know Freddy with his scissors and Jason with his hockey mask were a little freaky looking too, but you have to admit that the masked guy is just plain old creepy. Okay back to the story, while the masked guy keeps showing up around corners, the basement, and in the closets, the characters (and ultimately the audience) keep on going into those places only to end up being the next best thing to sliced bread. How does one believe the masked guy is still alive? Didn't we see him or her die in the previous two movies, so who is the killer now? Well, the killer is....ha, thought I was going to tell didn't you? Well I'm not, but the explanation laid out in this film is quite cool and quite believable.

Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott), Courtney Cox (Gale Weathers), David Arquette (Dewey Riley) and Liev Schreiber (Cotton Weary) are all back for another round, but this time they are joined by their acting counterparts to bring about a great movie within a movie with a creative storyline.

Bottom line....if you hear a rather large male screaming out loud during a scary movie and you think it sounds like a girl screaming....I would prefer that you say it sounded more like a mature woman. I do have feelings you know.

First of all....I didn't like it. At first sight, you would think this film has the potential of really touching the audience's heart, but instead the only thing this film impacted upon was your wallet. Val Kilmer plays a massage therapist, who has been blind since a child, but has an enhanced sense of touch. Enter Mira Sorvino who is seeking a retreat site to get away from it all and finds herself at the mercy of Val's magic touch. While re-energizing, she finds time to contact a world-renowned eye doctor who can restore Val's sight. Amazingly, all this seemed to be developed within the first 15 minutes of the film. I found the movie boring, predictable, and way to fast. I felt as though I missed something...like two hours of the film. There was very little cohesiveness in the transition between scenes and almost no character development. Sorvino was predictable and spacey, which became a lethal combination. You will be bored, you will be tired, you will be wondering when this film will end. The only person I liked in this whole movie was Nathan Lane, who played a vision-therapist. Now the film was not designed to be educational, but I felt Lane's character taught me something about blindness and sight that I didn't previously know. Bottom line...Val Kilmer looked more like he was doing a "blu-blocker" commercial rather than putting his acting skills together for what could have been a strong role.

First of all....I liked it. You might be wondering what type of film is this...well, put simply...it is a feel good movie. It makes you feel good for a few reasons: watching a family grow and struggle as they deal with each other's individuality; knowing that sometimes dreams do come true; and that even the most stubborn person can change. Here is a story of a second child who is lost in a family structure that focuses on the accomplishments of the elder sibling and rewards the younger sibling only when he does exactly what is expected of him (no matter how low those expectations may have been.) This is the true story of a young man and his friends who dreamed they could reach the stars (literally) and someday be the people they wanted to be. The story takes place in a small mining town in West Virginia where only a select few of the youth accomplish their goal of leaving the town's borders to follow their dreams. You will follow four of the town's youth as they learn about rockets, science, and life. The film does lack some depth in the area of seeking emotional ties with the audience, but that doesn't really hurt the film, it just doesn't enhance the quality of it. Bottom line...if you like films like "Rudy", "Field of Dreams", "Lean on Me", and "Stand By Me" then you should see this one.

First of all....I didn't like it. However I would recommend seeing it because it was strange, weird, scary, gross, and freaky film. So why the negative review?...well let me tell ya'. Prior to the movie, I went to an All-U-Can-Eat spaghetti dinner and then at the theater I ordered their largest size popcorn and soda. So if you add three heaping plates of red spaghetti, garlic bread, red punch, popcorn, and soda to a movie that has a tag line "You are who you eat!", then you are looking for trouble (or will at least receive a negative review from me.) This film about cannabism has been described as a cross between "Dances with Wolves" and "Alive", well it is and much more. It adds a touch of Dahmer and Gein, mixes it with some gross mass-killing scenes and now you have a movie that should not be seen prior to or after any meal (which pretty much means never.) The film takes place in the 1800s with a northeast wilderness setting. A group of soldiers at a fort in the middle of nowhere, stumble across an old myth that says if you drink the blood or eat the flesh of another human, you will gain their spirit and strength. Well, either Arnold or Sylvester have heard about this too or maybe they used more modern techniques of developing their strength...like tae bo. I am not ashamed to say that throughout the film I closed my eyes and imagined happier "Dances with Wolves" times rather than watch what was appearing on screen. In addition, the music score was eerie, the humor morbid and dark, and the actors kinda freaky. I recommend this film only as a video rental, howevr, you should serve it up with hot chicken wings and some type of red-colored drink, turn off all the lights, and every so often ask "did you hear something?". Bottom line...to truly enjoy or at least make it though this film, don't do an "All-U-Can-Eat" meal prior.

First of all...I loved this film. Okay, I know everyone is saying, "can you say Sleepless in Seattle"...well yes I can. Can you say, Spencer Tracy and Kate Hepburn? If the movie duo of the 60s can make numerous successful films playing similar roles, then so can Hanks and Ryan. Quite simply, this film was just great. I enjoyed every moment of it. I think Hanks played a great character who never lost his sarcastic wit, but gained a bit of charm. Meg Ryan was...well, Meg Ryan. This film is for everyone. Whether you see it in the theater or at home, just see it. Bottom line...while I felt like I was watching an AOL commercial at times, I was still able to receive the message quite clearly.

First of all....I loved it. Jim Carrey is the spitting image of Andy Kaufman. Now with regards to wanting to see the movie this can be good, but it can also be a negative for the film. For there are some people who disliked Andy Kaufman so much that they could never bring themselves to watch a movie about him, let alone one that has an actor who truly brings him back to life. On the other hand, watching a film in which an actor such as Jim Carrey portrays a man as complicated as Kaufman so perfectly is worth seeing just for the great acting. Andy Kaufman is a comedian who did so many things to the audience that made him both endearing and hated. He was so enjoyable to watch on "Taxi" and yet so offensive to watch on TV talk shows when he became a woman's worst enemy. This film is the brainchild of Danny Devito, who not only worked alongside Andy Kaufman on "Taxi" but also stars in this film. I give two recommendations: 1) if you liked Andy Kaufman (even the slightest) you should see this film for Jim Carrey is excellent; and 2) if you disliked Andy Kaufman, you should see this film because it will open your eyes to the complexity yet simplicity of the man. "Man on the Moon" brings some deeper understanding and appreciation for Kaufman as an actor/artist/comedian. It seems that this season has brought forth a great deal of true stories to the big screen and I think that's cool. Anytime we can gain a greater appreciation of someone or something through movies, I am all for it, for it also brings back some great memories, rewrites an injustice, or it may just entertain us. Bottom line...while Andy Kaufman is someone who died at an early age and may have been completely forgotten in a few more years, this film will keep the inevitable from happening for at least a bit longer.