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Reviews
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Great animation, but boo to everything else
This movie just struck me as odd. I can't really pinpoint the audience Disney was looking for here. Because with Disney, one has come to expect a certain spark and liveliness (along with top-notch animation) that is able to capture the attention of even the most inattentive four year-old. Atlantis, however, was made with a more adult audience in mind. I honestly can't see a child of less than 10 REALLY enjoying this movie. If a parent bought this for their son or daughter, I can't see the kid wanting to watch it more than a few times. There just isn't much to rewatch except for the animation. And unfortunately, just because something LOOKS good doesn't mean it IS good.
The main character was a cliché and the usually boisterous Disney supporting cast was lackluster on this outing. Milo's little band of compadres are unfriendly and unwelcoming. Their quirks seem to be tacked-on in order to appeal to children, but I personally didn't see how they were all that charming or funny.
In addition, the storyline itself would be extremely dull if it didn't have such exquisite animation. The dialogue wasn't particularly clever, and there were several large gaps/holes in the plotline. Thus, I can't see the movie being all that appealing to anyone over 14.
I see Atlantis as like a "mature Disney" version of Final Fantasy. Could have been good, but wasn't.
Rushmore (1998)
Watch it again
When I first saw this movie, it was for Bill Murray. Here I was expecting something like Caddyshack or Groundhog Day, but was ultimately confused at the end. See, from Bill Murray, I had come to expect some sort of comic fluff that would make me laugh till I pee. You know, a typical Bill Murray movie. Rushmore is very different from other "Bill Murray movies". I wouldn't say I really laughed at Rushmore at all the first time I watched it. I wouldn't even say that I really even liked it then. "Bill Murray wasn't even that funny," I remember thinking. I watched it again about a year ago because a few of my friends were obsessed with it, so I decided to give it another go. The second time I watched it, I realized just how clever it is. Upon repeat viewings, the meaning of the movie becomes increasingly naked and real. Most people would argue that no one on earth acts like Max Fischer....and yet we do in so many ways, and it's so difficult to even detect. That's what lends the film this sort of surreal feeling, and gradually the little witticisms become more and more humorous. I think that once people get past the fact that this is an atypical Bill Murray film, they'll adjust to the tone and style of the movie and find it quite charming. I eagerly look forward to Wes Anderson's next filmic venture.
The Mexican (2001)
Interesting modern take on the western genre
I was pleasantly surprised by The Mexican. I didn't really have high opinions of Julia Roberts before the movie started, and to be honest I still don't. One of the major flaws with The Mexican was with THAT casting. Sure, she helped the box office figures a lot but she wasn't right for the role. Watching her argue in the film made me cringe; sorry, but to me Julia Roberts has developed an on-screen persona that embraces underdog victories, and the like. She's always innocent and naive in her movies causing us all to pity her, but here she is not. Seeing her in a not-so-perfect relationship which was wrecking her life wasn't....right, and I think the film could have benefited from different casting. Maybe it's good that she's straying from the uber-cutesy romantic-comedy popcorn movies.....but whatever. Still doesn't change my opinion. Also, the direction in this movie was a little hokey; not exactly stellar. Cinematography was decent. Oh, and it's also advertised as romantic comedy. It's not. More like an action/adventure/suspense (read: western) with a romantic subplot. Still, the storyline is pretty interesting and the script is tight. Pitt and Gandolfini had solid performances. All in all, worth renting.
Double Take (2001)
Decent comedy
I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this movie. The trailers that I'd remembered seeing were pretty funny, but I'd assumed that those were the best parts of Double Take. Anyway, I watched it nonetheless and didn't think it was half bad. There were several parts not included in the trailer that were laugh-out-loud funny. Some might be offended by the fact that Griffen's character is (in the filmic sense) a "coon." Although nowhere near as good a comedy as Blazing Saddles, it is comparable in certain aspects. Double Take could be considered racist, but like Blazing Saddles, it uses racial stereotypes to emphasize the stupidity of their existence. Here, instead of black vs. white, we see upper-class African-Americans ashamed of the Sambo stereotype, and thus not associating with other African-Americans with lower social status. I'm not sure if this message was intentional in Double Take, but it was there nonetheless. Orlando Jones had a pretty good performance and Griffen was a convincing character (some might say he was over-the-top, but again I'd say this was essential). One problem was that the movie quite suddenly switched gears from a comedy to a somewhat serious action/suspense flick. I felt the heavy emphasis upon the latter took away from its comic moral message and made the movie shallower. So, it had potential. They could have recruited a few more writers to add in funnier jokes. All in all, a 6 out of 10.
The Family Man (2000)
Pretty terrible
This corny movie is basically a pastiche of a bunch of superior films. Notably It's A Wonderful Life, Trading Places, Groundhog Day, A Christmas Carol, Scrooged, and even Back To The Future at times. I don't really have much respect for Nick Cage, especially after hearing rumors that he has issues with the Coen brothers after Raising Arizona. I saw this movie out of obligation (don't ask), and went into it with a mind as open as possible. This is one of those movies that is SO incredibly predictable that you are left feeling empty when it's over. The screenwriter had an easy job because this stupid movie wrote itself. Warning, possible spoiler up ahead. For example, after one particular milestone is achieved by Cage's character, you begin wondering when Cage's daughter will accept him. And lo and behold, that issue is resolved immediately. There is no suspense in this movie, save for the ending which is drawn out unbearably despite the fact that we ALL know what's going to happen. My friends and I came up with three possible conclusions to the movie fifteen minutes after it began. And guess what? One was correct, but all would have worked easily. Basically, a total waste of time. Go see the other six movies mentioned previously as they are all infinitely better. Family Man felt like a studio attempt to revive a few old classics into one mega-movie, but it fell short TREMENDOUSLY. Christmas movies tend to be corny and predictable, but at least those other movies were fresh ideas (at the time) and had good acting. And one more thing, was this supposed to be a comedy? Or a drama? Or a romantic comedy? Because frankly, it didn't fit into any of these categories. I'm assuming it's a comedy......but I didn't laugh once.
Live Nude Girls Unite! (2000)
An interesting, humorous, and "real" documentary
In this documentary, a group of strippers attempt to unionize against their employers at a peep-show theater in San Francisco. The friend that accompanied me to the screening disliked the fact that it was shot with a Super-8 type camera, but I didn't mind. The poor quality seemed appropriately intimate; like a home movie. This documentary displayed not only the plight of the girls to fight for basic employee benefits, but also the struggle of the narrator (Julia Query) in admitting to her mother that she delivers peep shows for money. The well-educated and extremely clever Julia is the daughter of a renowned New York doctor who has devoted a solid chunk of her life to aiding prostitutes. My major complaint with the movie was that it was very short. At 75 minutes, it was shorter than most animated features. Otherwise, it was an interesting and provocative look into the mentality of strippers and THEIR feelings about their occupation. It's something that people spend little time considering, and it was nice to see something un-cliché for once. Live Nude Girls Unite goes highly recommended.
Test Pilot (1938)
A waste of time
I expected a lot more from this movie considering its cast. With Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy, I thought there would at LEAST be good acting. The plot was interesting but poorly executed. Gable's character is a test pilot for the army, and tends to enjoy the "high life." Loy, his wife, is often left anxious over his safety and doubtful of their love. Tracy has probably the best performance of the trio as the friend and sometimes co-pilot of Gable. However, for the bulk of the movie, all Tracy has to do is be depressed. His character had the potential to be very interesting; there seemed to be a lot of internal conflict within him that was poorly projected upon the screen. Loy and Gable are often excessively over-dramatic. It becomes nauseating after a while, especially with such contrived and ridiculous dialogue. The only entertaining interaction between Gable and Loy was at the beginning, when they were slyly flirtatious and coy with each other.
Maybe this movie was considered good when it was released, but it certainly hasn't worn well with time.
The A-Team (1983)
I didn't know you could pack so much fun into one hour
Although I was only about 2 or 3 when the A-Team was in its prime, I well remember my siblings getting a kick out of it. I watch it on syndication now and I can see why it appealed so well. While the plots may seem a bit contrived and repetitive, that's pretty much what makes them so entertaining and fun. If you see Face driving his 'Vette, you immediately know there will be a woman hitch-hiker along the road that he'll pick up and smooth-talk. If you see an odd-looking and suspicious character interacting with one of the bad guys, you can be sure that it's Hannibal donning a clever costume. And of course there's the humor of B.A. and his fear of planes. One would think that after experience, he would figure out that he shouldn't drink or eat anything when the rest of the team is trying to get him on a plane. But he never learns, and predictably humorous stuff like that is what makes the show so great.
Everything about this show is entertaining. The characters are so well developed in their quirkiness. Hannibal is such an excellent leader; who can forget all those fancy get-ups he wears to get the A-Team out of a fix? And that cigar? And of course everyone remembers Mr. T's bad-ass character with all the gold chains and the like. Face has a character that's often done in movies and television (a slick-talking con-man who gets all the chicks), yet the character is still just as interesting as the rest. My personal favorite, Murdock, is crazy...or is he? Although a lot of the show is predictable, Murdock NEVER is. Well, maybe he's predictable in his unpredictability, but nonetheless you can count on Murdock to do/say something insane throughout the course of the episode. What a great concept to add to the show. A guy that went crazy in 'Nam from the pressures of war (but in a funny way). The interaction between B.A. and Murdock is classic. Crazy fool!
The A-Team is, simply put, a LOT of fun. If they ever make the movie, it had better be good because it has a lot to live up to!
The Apartment (1960)
Jack Lemmon at his best
I'd have to say that this is one of my favorite movies of all time. Jack Lemmon wonderfully played the part of C.C. Baxter. "American Beauty" director Sam Mendes credited Billy Wilder's "The Apartment" as a source of inspiration for the same sort of dark comedy he used in "American Beauty." While I wouldn't say the humor is the same in "The Apartment," it is definitely a cute film, and worth a look. It piqued my interest in Jack Lemmon's other more obscure films.