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Howardenderman7
Movie Critic
Love Jesus
Methodist Missionary
Reviews
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Good film - the story was excellent
The film's message of equality between race and gender isn't shoved down your throat and doesn't come off as overt political correctness. Likewise Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's (try saying that name three times) Lady Marian is a woman in medieval England who has a sense of self and is not subservient to anyone; not historically accurate but progressive. Plus I do love a girl in armour.
However, it's Alan Rickman who steals the show as the twitchy, scenery-chewing madman that is the Sherriff of Nottingham. His performance is full of little things which feel like they were improvised and his many outbursts are music to my ears. Is it just me or do classically trained actors often make the most memorable villains? Sean Connery's appearance, on the other hand, is one of the better uses of a celebrity cameo in a film. Just like how the characters are surprised to see Richard the Lionheart we as the audience are surprised to see Sean Connery; plus he's perfect in these kinds of roles.
How can that score by Michael Kamen not evoke the adventurer in you? The music is so good that it appears Disney has been using it on their own logo. Likewise, I guess I'm also the only person in the world who isn't sick to death of Bryan Adams' (Everything I Do) I Do It For You; I still jam to it now and then. Ah the days when the pop song tie-in was as big, if not bigger than the movie itself.
Prince of Thieves is good old fashioned swashbuckling action. The action on display has a sense of weight and physicality with the impressive large-scale action sequences with even the out there moment with Robin and Azeem being fired over a wall with a catapult still feeling believable, and not a computer generated effect in sight; all practical glory.
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)
It's better than the others.
It's better than the others.....Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation starts a new story, Ethan Hunt wants to prove the existence of the syndicate, a criminal organization with ties across the entire world. The Impossible Missions Force has been absorbed by the Central Intelligence Agency, and Ethan Hunt is cut off from outside help. Ethan Hunt recruits his team and they set off to find bring the syndicate to justice.
The action in this movie is great to watch. Like the previous movie Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation is a well shot, and well edited movie. The action set pieces in this movie are fun to watch. There is not as much grandeur to the action set pieces this time around. The movie uses historical locations as a backdrop to action scenes which is a cool touch. As said before, the movie is beautiful. This may be the prettiest Mission: Impossible movie. The opera scene offered blazing visuals to see. Robert Elswit, the cinematographer, should be commended for his fine work.
The plot in this movie is not pearly as engaging as Ghost Protocol. The stakes in this movie are not nearly as high and the plot felt like establishing more of a world rather than creating a fun stand-alone adventure. The main component of this is the setup of MI-6 and Ilsa Faust. Ilsa Faust is a fun character, to watch. She made up a large portion of this movie. Likewise, the plot with MI6 and the Syndicate served to build up the Mission: Impossible's world instead of building its own story. I was personally fine with this as the action was still engaging.
The Genius Club (2006)
This is a film that I could watch almost any time.
OK: so what makes a film a "9"? For me, every scene has to work. Would I take out any scenes? If so, then the flick isn't a 9. Also, does each scene move the story forward? If this is seamlessly done, then all the better. "Genius Club" not only does this; but it does so easily, and unobtrusivesly, with the sense that the lead actors (seven of them) are the vehicle for an ongoing, and interesting, story ... and what a story it is! Just as with the film Apollo 13, the fact that the thrillermakes the story-telling more than a good tale. It tells us something worth remembering.
Did I mention that this is a rippingly good story? Did I mention that all of the actors are compellingly good ... including the psycho Tom Sizemore? Did I mention that this movie transcends facile categorization (Western, Adventure, Drama, etc.?) This is just a very good, under-appreciated movie.
The bonus material on the DVD is worthy of inclusion in a course on Western Civilization (a course that I've taught several times)? See this for yourself. I doubt that you'll be disappointed. In fact, I think that you'll recognize this as equal to such under-appreciated films such as "King of Hearts" and "Kasper Hauser" ... films that you'll be proud to own and to show to your friends.
Live Fast, Die Young (2008)
Glorious Film making,
Live Fast Die Young is a deeply moving film that will touch the heart and mind of anyone who opens themselves to it's messages about life.
This film was very captivating and moving. It does excellent job of showing the universal issue of generational differences and the love that exist between the Hollywood elite and the rest of us. All of the performances in this film were excellent.
I know this sounds silly, but this film made me not only appreciate being an American even more, but it also made me feel better as a Believer.
10 out of 10 stars.