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Reviews
3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)
Bad sideburns, bad movie
OK, to be fair I did actually turn this film off after 15 minutes. That was enough. I rented it as I like Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner, imagine my surprise when these 'straight to video' names appear as I sit down. Ice T, David Arquette. Christian Slater? I thought he was in jail? Anyways, after 15 minutes of laughable dialogue (ok in a comedy, stupid in a violent heist movie) I switched it off. On the plus side, Courtney 'I must appear in all of my lame husbands movies' Cox-Arquette has sex within the first 10 minutes. And that really is it. If anyone can find a redeeming quality about this movie after I switched it off, please enlighten me!
Signs (2002)
Best of the trilogy
OK, so they aren't a trilogy, but they are released as a 3 disc DVD set in the UK!
After his ghost story, and his superhero story, this is his take on an aliens story.
In short, I enjoyed it and would recommend it. The build up of tension was superb, no film has made me jump this much since 'Ring' (the original, not the remake) and the pay off was satisfactory.
Double thumbs up from me
Sledge Hammer! (1986)
Worth a re-release on DVD
This show was buried in the post pub midnight slot, but me and my friends always liked it. With all the channels on SKY, why has no one been showing this again?
It's deemed as a cult show, which is pretty spot on as it was no classic but funny for what it was.
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
This should be compulsory viewing at schools and colleges
I viewed this as a fan of Michael Moore and was expecting a big laugh-fest. What I saw was a deeply moving and emotional viewpoint on gun culture that shocked me.
This really is essential viewing and I can't see why it bombed in America yet did really well in Europe - it's the American audience that Michael Moore is trying to get through to.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Better than the original - a first for Hollywood
Saw the original, hated it. Like Cameron Crowe, thought I'd see what he did with it. Very stylish, fair too much music piped in every 5 minutes (bet they shifted a few copies of the soundtrack) but it was visually appealing. And Tom Cruise was funny, though whether or not that was deliberate is a discussion point for another website.
See it, forget about it. Cameron says on the DVD that he is still talking about this film as it was so memorable. Er, no it isn't. I am still taking about 'Memento' but I'll have forgotten about 'Vanilla Sky' by next week.
Kiss of the Dragon (2001)
Stupid, stupid, stupid
I had high hopes for this film. I like Jet Li, love Bridget Fonda, and it was produced by Luc Beeson. Sounds like a sure fire hit, right? Wrong!
The film is so over the top that it becomes unbelievable very quickly. The French bad guy, Richard, kills innocent civilians several times yet carries on as if nothing has happened. Bridget Fonda is more of a hinderance than a help to Jet Li, and her character is very degrading towards women. The background of Bert Kwouk's character is never explained, and neither is Jet Li's acupuncture skills which save his life more than once. And what was with the dead rabbit at the start of the film?
Avoid, avoid, avoid. There are much better examples of Li's and Fonda's work available from their impressive back catalogue. I think that this one will be forgotten by all concerned.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Big, dumb, and not much fun
Dinosaurs.....explosions....Jeff Goldblum doing his mad scientist act, again....Julianne Moore proving that she really should avoid sequels....hardly any cool death scenes.....need I say more?
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Visually stunning, virtually unwatchable
I saw this movie after seeing it's high rating. I had expected it to be a difficault movie to watch, but some of the scenes are still in my head several weeks after watching it. Is that a good thing? I'm not so sure. I know that cinema should be challenging sometimes, but to the point of audience revulsion?
If you have a strong stomach, and all the movies that are supposed to be shocking have proved to be an easy nights viewing, give this a go.
Otherwise, stick to Seven and Fight Club as they are just as stunning to watch but won't make you feel quesy for hours afterward !!!
Wild Wild West (1999)
Worst baddie of all time
OK, the film wasn't that bad. It had humour, it had action, it had Salma's bare bum. What more could you ask for? Well, a decent baddie would have been nice for a start. Our own Ken Brannagh was hopelessly miscast - possibly the worst casting that I have ever seen.
The kids should like it, but I can't recommend this for adults.
Perdita Durango (1997)
Worth a watch
I missed this film when it came out on video so I was pleasantly surprised to see it nestled away at 2:15AM on Channel 4 recently. Why the late time? It isn't as violent or as nasty as other 'cult' films. Now, why do I refer to it as a 'cult' film? Well, after punching the young man on the face one of the characters puts on a Herb Alpert song and they start to bob their heads like Waynes World !!! Bizarre, to say the least. Apart from that, I would recommend that you check this film out as it is interesting to say the least, and it has Alex Cox and the guy from the Sopranos. What more could you want?
What Women Want (2000)
A new wave in blandness
This could have been very rude, and very funny. As it was, they 'Disneyfied' the whole film and made it very tame and therefore unfunny. All the jokes were in the trailer. Not just the funniest jokes, all of them. I went to see it with my girlfriend, thinking she would enjoy it, but she hated it as well.
A wasted oppurtunity to make a funny film. Watch 'American Pie' if you want adult humour, this was aimed at your Grandparents.