OK, it's not Oscar material but this film as Stephen Sommers has said is a homage to 30's Horror films. It's supposed to be fun and campy. Did it hit the mark? I would say yes. Thanks to a lot of campy acting most of it from Richard Roxburgh as Dracula and a hilarious "friar," Carl played by David Wenham you could either cringe at former or laugh at the latter. Still these two guys steal the film from both Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. Also a standout in my opinion is Elena Anaya's screechy vampire bride Aleera who just can't seem to shut up! Apart from that this movie is fast paced and a bit nerve wracking. The downside is too much CGI effects. It's like the special effects is the star of the movie. Everyone else may be except Roxburgh and Wenham are perhaps along for the fast paced ride.
Reviews
16 Reviews
Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure
(2005 TV Movie)
A Guilty Pleasure Indeed!
26 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Despite the objection of Dynasty's three main stars this TV movie was actually quite fun. OK so it had it's inaccuracies all but it was all for laughs! The center of the plot is ABC's desire to beat Dallas. Aaron Spelling played by Nicholas Hammond asks to Esther and Richard Shapiro to come up with a drama and presto they bring us Dynasty. Here we relive the era of excess and shoulder pads of the 80's (ah the 80's) as we chortle at the behind the scenes shenanigans. Pamela Reed steals Alige Krige's thunder as the ever optimistic Esther Shapiro. How she ever pulled it off without cracking up I will never know. Ritchie Singer was the perfect foil for Reed as the harassed husband and show writer Richard Shapiro. Krige's Joan Collins/Alexis is sexy and she really nailed her accent and mannerisms. Bartholomew John also did well as John Forsythe/Blake. My favorite line from him was "not the hair!" in fact he had a lot of great lines. Melora Hardin looked overly perky as Linda Evans/Krystle but managed to show vulnerability when confronted by the sight of a tabloid magazine as "the World's Loneliest Woman." The biggest scene stealer's however were "the TV audience," from the regular working class family in the US to the sushi eating Japanese executive and of course the drag queens. The provide buffer for comic relief as time went on. It wasn't all laughs though especially when Esther receives news about the late Rock Hudson's illness and the call of the show's cancellation came through were probably the best and dramatic moments. So was this TV movie really bad? Maybe a little. Hammy? Not really since Dynasty itself was a guilty pleasure even more so then this TV movie.
Iron Chef America: The Series
(2004–2018)
Biased Judging, Ego Contest.
14 August 2007
The real stars in this version is the food. I never cared much for Bobby Flay or Mario Batali. What is annoying is the mainstays seem to win most of the time! Are there other chefs who can participate other then Flay, Batali and Cat Cora? Are some of the judges for real?? I mean the challengers are top class chefs and they get beaten by Food Network celebrities?? Pathetic! It's a gross example of this thing called BIAS. However I do get a kick of finding out what the secret ingredients are and how and what will be the results. That is why I watch the show. It's the challenge of creating dishes the everyday people dream of eating in only one hour. As for the supporting characters are they OK but Mark Dacascos sometimes look like he's buttering up to the Iron Chefs with comments like "Iron Chef it is an honor seeing you work." This show could be better if other chefs not affiliated with the Food Network are given the chance of wearing the mantle of Iron Chef from time to time and the judges be more fair otherwise Iron Chef: America is nothing more than an ego contest of Food Network mainstays against everyone on the outside. What a pity it will stay that way.
Dave Allen at Large
(1971–1979)
A guilty pleasure at best
22 July 2007
My father an ex-Seminarian discovered this show on PBS and it became a Saturday night staple. Despite the jokes especially about religion (mostly that), alcohol, politics and don't forget the occasional dirty leprechaun jokes it didn't make me or any of my siblings guilty. Oh no! We enjoyed the skits even if they seem blasphemous or a little R rated. We never failed to miss an episode. Dave Allen taught us not to take the gags and the taboo subject of religion, politics, etc too seriously. The fact he can just sit on stage and tell a story with whiskey on hand is like being in a big pub is pure magic and of course the impersonations that left the audience in stitches. I was sad when PBS pulled the show from it's air waves. It was a real shame. He will be missed and who can forget his sign off. "Goodnight, bless you and may your God go with you." We miss you Dave!
Marie Antoinette
(2006)
Pretty sets. Not much else.
19 July 2007
I had high hopes for this one since I love reading biographies. Granted that not everything is accurate nor can be fit into a movie we can only make do with what is presented in this case an overlong rock and roll video that has pretty sets and costumes. Marie Antionette came off a little slow and boring though life in the French Court and it's protocols were very amusing to quote MA in the dressing scene "This is ridiculous." Sofia Coppola could've have focused a little more on MA's loneliness in a lousy marriage and the court intrigues and a little less on the extravagant shopping sprees. What is surprising is the infamous Necklace Affair wasn't even included since most modern historians agree MA was innocent from that scandal. Acting wise Kirsten Dunst pulled off a difficult job of playing a childlike queen upfront but a woman who suffered humiliation behind the scenes however it is Rose Byrne who stole the show (along with the sets, costumes and the yummy cakes) as the Duchesse de Polignac a role she plays with believable aplomb. Asia Argento looked a little old for Madame Du Barry and Mary Nighy is nice as the Princesse Lamballe, another unfortunate victim of the Revolution. Jason Shwartzman plays a rather stiff Louis XVI while Jamie Dorman is hot as Count Axel Fersen. Everyone else like Judy Davis, Shirley Henderson and Molly Shannon had nothing to do but gossip and look silly. Marianne Faithful floored me with her regal Maria Therese. In the end the movie was a little shallow and the rock and roll soundtrack seemed out of place. It was like watching a 80's music video.
Pride & Prejudice
(2005)
This version is not all that bad!
20 June 2007
I have to admit I never saw the BBC series so I don't know why the critics are harsh. I liked the film. OK so it doesn't have Colin Firth and that Matthew MacFadyen looked "nerdy," to the eyes of the fans of the BBC version but I loved the interaction between him and Keira Knightly. His Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth has attraction written allover. Both Knightly and MacFadyen are great. Her Elizabeth embodied the spirit of an independent mind who brought out Mr. Darcy from his dour prudishness to a passionate though still reserved but attractive man. Another couple who had great chemistry is Donald Sutherland as the patient and harassed Mr.Bennet and Brenda Blethyn as eternal nagging wife Mrs. Bennet. Despite appearances these two showed their characters love each and tolerate whatever imperfections they may have. Rosamund Pike is ethereal as Jane while Jenna Malone nailed the irresponsibly spoiled Lydia while Tom Hollander is perfect as the pompous Mr. Collins. I wasn't too keen with Simon Woods as Mr Bingley. He really looked like the nerd here but one can feel the earnestness he brings to his character's apology when Bigley confesses to Jane of his love for her. Dame Judi Dench's bit role as the imperious Lady de Bourgh reminds me too much of her Queen Elizabeth I turn in Shakespeare in Love. One can't help but feel she is in danger of being typecast. This movie may split Austen fans but it is worth watching even for curiosity's sake.
Scariest Places on Earth
(2000– )
Totally engrossing.
26 November 2006
Wow I miss this show. I remember talking to my brother about this one over coffee. I do admit you can't help but be amused watching it from the comfort of a sofa but when you are in one of the scariest places on earth well that's another story. What I liked about this show is also gives a history of the place and the interviews of locals and owners. The highlight in most episodes is when a family is given the challenge of an overnight stay at a reputed haunted place like Chillingham Castle or a disused sanatorium in one of the islands of Venice and the reactions of the participants looked very real. One night may be more than enough to cure a skeptic. It is fitting Linda Blair be the host and Zelda Rubinstein be the narrator one must not forget it's other commentator host Allan Robson. This British DJ puts a chilly twist to his warnings when a family camps in for the night. He makes it clear that this is no picnic. Whether you believe it or not Scariest Places on Earth is entertaining.
Ranma ½
(1989–1990)
Hilarious!
5 May 2006
I love this anime! I was laughing my head off with all of the jokes and the violence (mostly from Akane Ranma's reluctant but short tempered "fiancee")is so slapstick however Ranma does deserve it but he does try his best to make amends...clumsily. The main character Ranma goes to China to train only to fall into the cursed Jusenkkyo Spring and turns into a girl when splashed by cold water. From then on it's pure chaos one after another. Among the stand outs are the deranged brother and sister duo of Kuno and Kodachi, the sexy Shampoo, the pervert Happosai all causing trouble for our hero/heroine. However it is Ranma's selfish father Genma who winds up being the culprit for the mess most of the time. If anyone want an anime that's funny, this is the one. It's cuter and better with the Japanese dub.
Star Trek: Voyager
(1995–2001)
Better than it actually is.
27 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I have to admit I am not a Star Trek fan and didn't really bother to watch the original, the Next Generation or even DS9. So what made me like this franchise? Simple its different from the others. The primary mission of Voyager was to quell the Maquis Rebellion in an area called the Badlands only to be dragged into the unknown 4th Quadrant. With half of the crew killed Captain Janeway and Maquis leader Chakotay agree to work together to find their way home. It was a rocky partnership from the start but soon there was cooperation and respect from all quarters. It was not only humans who joined the voyage but other aliens, Neelix a Talaxian and his then girlfriend Kes an Ocampan. The most interesting character of all was The Doctor brilliantly played by Robert Picardo. Initially peevish this Hologram soon grew into an endearing presence first as a mentor to Kes and later Seven of Nine. Though the show didn't ignite my interest but as soon as I watched it more I was hooked. My favorite episode is when Janeway had to play Queen Arachnia in an out of control Holodeck program. That was a hoot! Kate Mulgrew is a firm but understanding leader in Janeway while her second Commander Chakotay played by Robert Beltran has the hard task of balancing his convictions at the same time playing by the rules. Other stand outs were Ethan Philips as the amiable Neelix and of course who can forget Seven of Nine whose romance with Chakotay caught some fans off guard on the last season of the show. Star Trek: Voyager may have had a slow start but if the viewer sticks around it is actually enjoyable to watch.
Dante's Peak
(1997)
Better then that other Volcano flick.
29 January 2006
Living in a geologically active area it's easy to see why Hollywood decided to make disaster flicks. Instead of earthquakes we get volcanoes. If any volcanologist would watch both Dante's Peak and Volcano starring Tommy Lee Jones, they would preferred the former than the latter. I also liked the fact that they did bother to explain a little bit about the science of volcanology in a manner that could be simple. I also approve of the location since the Cascade region does have a fair share of volcanoes. Pierce Brosnan is credible as Harry Dalton and Linda Hamilton is attractive as mayor Rachel Dando are ably supported by a good cast especially Charles Hallahan as Harry's boss Dr. Paul Dreyfuss and Elizabeth Hoffman as Ruth. The chaos during the eruption scenes was maybe a little too far fetched but that's Hollywood for you. Oh and yes it is possible to outrun a pyroclastic cloud though it depends on the distance and vicinity. It happened to a group of reporters during the Mt Pinatubo eruption it can happen in Dante's Peak.
A Christmas Carol: The Musical
(2004 TV Movie)
Likable version
26 December 2005
I read some of the comments regarding this version of A Christmas Carol and someone wrote about the bad "English accents." I found it ironic because four members of the ensemble are British musicals stars in their own right. They are Linzi Hateley, Claire Moore, Ruthie Henshall and Dave Willets. While Kelsy Grammar is great as a performer I wasn't sure about his take on Scrooge. His moodiness was like that of Frasier Crane. He was upstaged by all of the Christmas ghosts particularly Jesse L Martin. Jane Krakowski sexiness as the Ghost of Christmas past seems a little out of place. On the whole it is a good production and well sung. I did like this version and wouldn't mind watching it again even if the non English actor's have bad "English accents."
The Amazing Race
(2001– )
TAR 8. A pretty lame season.
20 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I have been a fan of the Amazing Race and have faithfully watched every season. While it is supposed to be a "race around the world," I heard this version was to be an "educational" trip mostly in the US since it is a Family Edition. As it turned out only two teams with young children were in the race so the whole education thing was just a waste of time. In fact two racers sounded rather disappointed by the whole thing even if there was a million dollars at stake. The only thing thing viewers learned is there are some Americans (the home schooled Weaver's) have no clue where Pennsylvania is or that Lake Pontrachain is "one of the Great Lakes." How educational.
Hollywood Homicide
(2003)
Over Hyped.
1 November 2005
What was Harrison ford thinking when he signed to this? Despite all the hype I felt myself short changed in the end.Though it is admittedly light hearted fun the movie went no where fast. The movie fell flat. I had high hopes while looking at the previews. I guess like books don't judge a preview on star power. There was no chemistry between Ford and Lena Olin. No chemistry either with Josh Hartnet as Ford's partner in the police force. The cameos of Smokey Robinson and Robert Wagner was a waste of time. It was an embarrassing mess that should not have been done in the first place. The plot was silly and the acting average. All in all it was a pretty lame movie.
Forever Knight
(1992–1996)
I liked it though I wasn't too crazy with the last two seasons.
30 October 2005
I caught this show by accident when I was just channel surfing when I lived in the US. I thought I saw the familiar face of Geraint Wyn Davies who played Klaus Von Helsing in Dracula the Series. I was blown over when I found out what this show was all about. How ironic! After watching a couple of episodes I was hooked. The first season will always be my favorite. I wasn't at all too crazy with season two. I didn't really bother with the last season after John Kapelos left. Nick and Schanke were great partners and occasionally bounced off each other. What I liked about this show is that the hero unafraid to be vulnerable and admitting the wrong choice he made. In many ways Nick through his admission is really human at heart. Then of course there was Lacroix trying to bring his rebel child to heel with his cruel taunts. Nigel Bennet plays the villain maker to the hilt and the results is absolutely devilish. Catherine Disher is good as the supportive Natalie Lambert and Deborah Duchene is great as Janette, the vampire mistress of the The Raven Club, torn between her master Lacriox and her ex-lover. It was a shame that CBS passed this show up in it's peak. The momentum was thrown off a bit when it went to another network. Still this is one of my favorite TV shows and one I will always remember even though I felt the last two seasons were a bit of a let down.
CSI: Miami
(2002–2012)
I liked Tim Speedle!
3 August 2005
Warning: Spoilers
We just got the 2004 season on AXN. I was SO upset when Tim Speedle was killed off. I liked him! When I heard there was going to be a spin off CSI. I was thrilled it was going to be in Miami. It's a sharp contrast from Vegas and the cast was going to be different. David Caruso's Horatio is not Grissom (obviously) but he's certainly not really anti-social as his Vegas counterpart. One shining light for me is Emily Proctor. She stood out as Callie. I'm still trying to figure out what Sofia Milos is doing there. Rory Cochrane was great as Tim Speedle. I really was shocked when they killed his character off. I don't know yet who this Ryan Wolfe is but I guess I'll find out sooner. Is CSI:Miami up to par with the original CSI? Admittedly it is a carbon copy but I kinda like it better than CSI: NY.
The Phantom of the Opera
(2004)
It was an OK version.
31 July 2005
I have to admit it was hard for me to sit and watch this film since I had seen the musical a couple of times before. While the stage performance does give way for some surprises (i.e different from various actor's and actress playing the roles of The Phanton, Christine et all) the movie version is a different matter altogether and I had to accept that. Gerald Butler is more angst ridden but gave a fine performance as the Phantom. Minnie Driver's over the top rendition of Carlotta was funny but the ear-splitting singing gave me a head-ache. Emmy Rossum captured the frail beauty of Christine and has a pretty voice. My problem with her is how she delivered her lines. She just mumbled through them and lacked a degree of warmth or emotion especially in the confrontational scene where she is forced to chose between the Phantom and Raoul. In other words she lacked soul. The others, Raoul, Firmin and Madame Giry were a little forgettable. The sets and the costume were great and the in between fillers were a nice touch. The ending was an unexpected surprise.
Was the film version better then the stage version. So-so but it does give people who haven't seen the musical an idea what it was all about. Personally, I prefer the stage version. I guess I expected more from the acting. Sorry!
Was the film version better then the stage version. So-so but it does give people who haven't seen the musical an idea what it was all about. Personally, I prefer the stage version. I guess I expected more from the acting. Sorry!
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