Saturday, August 16, 2003

MOVIE - AMERICAN WEDDING - Review Rating $$$$$ 1/2 (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Jason Biggs (Jim Levenstein), Alyson Hannigan (Michelle Flaherty), Seann William Scott (Steve Stifler), Eugene Levy (Mr. Levenstein), Eddie Haye Thomas (Paul Finch), Thomas Ian Nicholas (Kevin Myers), January Jones (Cadence Flaherty) & Molly Cheek (Ms. Levenstein). DIRECTOR - Jesse Dylan (How High) There are some truly funny moments in the film but overall the humour level pales in comparison to the original which was fresh and funny throughout. Mr. Levestein (Levy) has become, by default, the funniest character in the series. American Wedding is a half-baked American Pie. Running time - 96 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 5:31:24 PM     | MOVIE - RUSSIAN ARK - Review Rating $$$$$ (OUT OF 10) STARRING- Sergey Dreiden (The Marquis), Maria Kuznetsova (Catherine the Great), Leonid Mozgovoy (The Spy), Mikhail Piotrovsky (Himself), David Giorgobiani (Orbeli), Boris Piotrovsky (Alexander Chaban), Lev Yeliseyev (Himself) & Oleg Khmelnitsky (Himself). DIRECTOR/C0-WRITER - Alexander Sokurov The Russian Ark's main claim to fame is that Sokurov decided to shoot the entire film, which takes place in 33 rooms of the Hermitage of St. Petersburg and involves over 2000 extras and four orchestras, in one take using high definition digital video. The coordination required to make this work is almost beyond comprehension and Sokurov deserves credit for pulling it off. There are limitations and tradeoffs to using this technique, however, that ultimately overwhelm the novelty of such an approach. At the risk of seeming unsophisticated I'll give Sokurov's acclaimed masterpiece a 5.7 for technical merit but only a 1.6 for artistic impression. Talk about your figure skating judging controversies. Running time - 96 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 5:21:02 PM     | MOVIE - GIGLI - Review Rating $$$ (OUT OF 10) STARRING -Ben Affleck (Larry Gigli), Jennifer Lopez (Ricki/Rachel), Justin Bartha (Brian), Christopher Walken (Det. Jacobellis), Lenny Venito (Louis), Lainie Kazan (Mrs. Gigli) & Al Pacino (Starkman). DIRECTOR - Martin Brest (Beverly Hills Cop, Scent of a Woman, Meet Joe Black, Midnight Run) Gigli makes you wonder how a story as bad as this one got the green light in the first place. The conversation must have went something like this: Bob (Producer): Hey Joe (studio executive), got a few ideas for upcoming films, including a romantic comedy called Gigli. Joe: Gigli...what's that a sexual position from the Karma Sutra? Bob: Ha Ha...It's the name of the main character...part of the joke...he's real sensitive about how people pronounce his name. Joe: Tell me more... Bob: Well, remember Rainman, where Tom Cruise has to care for his mentally challenged savant brother, Dustin Hoffman? Joe: Great movie but it's been done...next. Bob: Wait...I've got a twist... Joe: A twist?...okay...shoot. Bob: Instead of the Cruise and Hoffman characters being related the Hoffman character will be the son of a D.A. prosecuting a mob boss... Joe: I don't get it...how will that work? Bob: Well, this time the Cruise character will be a bungling mob henchman who kidnaps the Hoffman character to put pressure on the D.A. Joe: I thought this was supposed to be a comedy!! Bob: It is...don't you see...a mob henchman baby-sitting a mentally challenged prisoner...man...this has funny written all over it... Joe: Next... Bob: Wait...Affleck has signed on already... Joe: Affleck, hmmm...box office drawing power...you got my attention, go on. Bob: It gets even better, I already got Jennifer Lopez interested too. Joe: Wow...Lopez...can she act? Bob: Who cares...think of the prerelease publicity... Joe: Yeah, a marketing department dream...this will make me look good with the boss's. By the way, what's her character do? Bob: She'a a lesbian mob enforcer who helps Affleck kidnap the D.A.'s brother. Joe: A lesbian mob enforcer? Bob: See, I told you this had funny written all over it, didn't I? Joe: A lesbian mob enforcer? Bob: Well, actually bi-sexual...lots of sexual tension between her and Affleck...in the end they get it on... Joe: Ahh...a love interest with a twist...every blockbuster needs one...I like it...who else you got signed up? Bob: Pacino and Walken are on board for cameo's as the mob boss and a detective... Joe: Wow...those two plus Affleck and Lopez...I'll get a promotion...when can I read the script? Bob: I only got a rough draft...a few details to iron out...but with this cast we can't lose. Joe: Yeah, I know how to sell this to the boys upstairs already....green lighted...What else you got? This is what must have happened because if the script had actually been read prior to the green lighting of this movie it may never have been made. The only award Gigli has a chance of winning is Worst Film of 2003. Running time - 124 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 5:14:54 PM     | MOVIE - SEABISCUIT - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$$1/2 (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Tobey Maguire (Red Pollard), Jeff Bridges (Charles Howard), Chris Cooper (Tom Smith), William H. Macy (Tick Tock McGlaughlin), Elizabeth Banks (Marcela Howard) & Gary Stevens (George Woolf). DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER - Gary Ross (Pleasantville) A true story previously chronicled in the book Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. Seabiscuit is no ordinary "underdog beats the odds" story. Seabiscuit's rise from obscurity, and triumph against the odds, was just the medicine the American public needed as the nation emerged from the demoralizing shadow of the Great Depression. The brilliance of Seabiscuit the movie is that in an era of plenty, where the depth of despair created by the Great Depression is unfathomable for most, history is masterfully brought back to life. Another crucial factor, in the success of the film, is absolutely brilliant performances by the entire cast. Jeff Bridges's portrayal of Charles Howard is mesmerizing and worthy of very, very serious Oscar consideration. Seabiscuit is a story of redemption involving 3 men and a horse who help to heal each other and a nation. The message is as powerful now as it was then. Seabiscuit is one of my Top 10 Films of 2003. Running time - 140 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 5:08:08 PM     | MOVIE - WHALE RIDER - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$ 1/2 (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Keisha Castle-Hughes (Pai), Rawiri Paratene (Koro), Vicky Haughton (Nanny Flowers), Cliff Curtis (Porourangi), Grant Roa (Rawiri), Mana Taumaunu (Hemi) & Rachel House (Shilo). DIRECTOR/WRITER - Niki Caro (Memory & Desire) Based on the book by Witi Ihimaera. Awards - AGF People's Choice Award (2002 Toronto International Film Festival); World Cinema Audience Award (2003 Sundance Film Festival); Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature (tie) (2003 San Francisco International Film Festival); Best Film, Best Director (2003 Seattle International Film Festival) A wonderful tale, set in New Zealand, of a young female aboringinal seeking to save her tribe by breaking centuries of tradition and becoming its next chief. Full Review Later. Running time - 105 minutes Alternative Reviews: Roger Ebert's Review WHALE RIDER OFFICIAL WEB SITE 4:59:54 PM     | MOVIE - JOHNNY ENGLISH - Review Rating $$$$$ $ (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English), John Malkovich (Pascal Sauvage), Natalie Imbruglia (Lorna Campbell), Ben Miller (Bough), Douglas McFerran (Carlos Vendetta), Tim Pigott-Smith (Pegasus) & Kevin McNally (Prime Minister). DIRECTOR - Peter Howitt (AntiTrust & Sliding Doors) Mr. Bean does his impression of Inspector Clouseau. This spoof of the spy movies is not nearly as clever as the Austin Powers films but does have a few hilarious moments. Johnny English, despite its shortcomings, will make you laugh. Running time - 87 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 4:51:38 PM     | MOVIE - THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN - Review Rating $$$1/2 (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Sean Connery (Allan Quatermain), Naseeruddin Shah (Captain Nemo), Peta Wilson (Mina Harker), Tony Curran (Rodney Skinner), Stuart Townsend (Dorian Gray), Shane West (Tom Sawyer), Jason Flemyng (Jekyll and Hyde) & Richard Roxburgh (M). DIRECTOR - Stephen Norrington (Blade, The Last Minute, Death Machine) Based on the comic book mini-series by Alan Moore. I had very low expectations going into The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen based on the previews. Often, in such instances, the movie will turn out to be a pleasant surprise and exceed your low expectations. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, unfortunately, is so bad that it failed to meet, let alone exceed, my low expectations. Sean Connery, who does manage to instill some swagger into the Quatermaine character, is the only bright spot in this otherwise dismal production. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen...isn't. FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 4:50:21 PM     | MOVIE - PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$ (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Johnny Depp (Capt. Jack Sparrow), Geoffrey Rush (Capt. Barbossa), Jonathan Pryce (The Governor), Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Swann), Orlando Bloom (Will Turner), Jack Davenport (Norrington), Damian O'Hare (Lt. Gillette), Lee Arenberg (Pintel), Mackenzie Crook (Ragetti) & Giles New (Murtogg). DIRECTOR - Gore Verbinski (Mouse Hunt, The Mexican, The Ring) Loosely based on the Disney Company's Pirates of the Caribbean theme park rides/showcase. Part of the reason that Pirates of the Caribbean works is the quality of the script. The story is, of course, a fantasy. This relieves the screenwriters from from having to work too hard to get the audience to suspend disbelief. However, they don't abuse the freedom, and the legend they have created is as believable as any good fairy-tale is. The cast, led by Depp and Rush, give excellent performances that lend credibility to the tale as well. In many ways this is Depp's movie. His quirky charm comes through in spades and makes Captain Jack Sparrow a scene stealing instant hit. Pirates of the Caribbean is a slick, well-executed and entertaining paint by numbers summer flick. No more, no less. Running time - 134 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 4:47:56 PM     | MOVIE - TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES - Review Rating $$$$$ $$ (OUT OF 10 STARRING - Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator), Nick Stahl (John Connor), Claire Danes (Kate Brewster), Kristanna Loken (T-X) & David Andrews (Robert Brewster). DIRECTOR - Jonathan Mostow (Breakdown, U-571) T-3 is the Chicken Little of movie sequels. The sky isn't constantly falling but Sky-Net and the machines are constantly rising. If you were looking forward to seeing the rise of the machines, and the human rebellion against them, you'll be disappointed. If you have fond memories of T-2 and you don't mind paying $11.00 to see essentially the same movie, again, then I recommend T-3. Running time - 109 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 4:44:12 PM     | MOVIE - LEGALLY BLONDE 2: Red, White & Blonde - Review Rating $$$$$ $1/2 STARRING - Reese Witherspoon (Elle Woods), Sally Field (Rep. Rudd), Bob Newhart (Sidney Post), Luke Wilson (Emmett Richmond), Charles Dance (John Bosload) & Regina King (Grace). DIRECTOR - Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (Kissing Jessica Stein, Fanci's Persuasion) Elle returns, in the sequel to Legally Blonde, to take on Washington and get a National Animal Rights Bill passed by Congress. Legally Blonde 2 succeeds, to a certain degree, because it doesn't try to be something its not. Its not as fresh or funny as the original but retains an internal consistency that exploits all the built-in humorous potential of its characters. Running time - 95 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 4:42:37 PM     | MOVIE - 28 DAYS LATER - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$$ (OUT OF 10) STARRING - Cillian Murphy (Jim), Naomie Harris (Selena), Christopher Eccleston (Maj. West), Megan Burns (Hannah), Brendan Gleeson (Frank) & Noah Huntley (Mark). DIRECTOR - Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary) A new age virus decimates the population of England, turns most of the population into zombies and leaves those unaffected struggling to survive this nightmarish scenario. 28 Days Later is a metaphorical examination of the human condition. Man's Darwinian Ancestors, chimpanzees, have been purposely infected with "Rage" as opposed to some exotic jungle virus. Both the chimpanzees, and the audience, are exposed to a visual record of man's atrocities. Transmission of the disease by contact with the blood of an infected person (and the lab worker's warning that it's in the blood) is a metaphor for the Hobbian view that man is inherently evil. In other words, "Rage" is man's natural state when not constrained by societal norms, regardless of social class or status. No one, even those in positions of power, is immune. Take the sociology out of 28 Days Later and you are still left with a provocative, scary and entertaining story of survival. 28 Days Later reminds us that those who unleash the forces of evil will one day themselves be consumed by its fury. 28 Days Later is one of my TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2003. Running time - 108 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 4:38:42 PM     | MOVIE - THE HULK - Review Rating $$$$$ (OUT OF 10) - STARRING - Eric Bana (Bruce Banner/Hulk), Jennifer Connelly (Betty), Nick Nolte (Davd Banner), Sam Elliott (General Ross), Josh Lucas (Talbot) & Paul Kersey (young David Banner). DIRECTOR - Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Ride with the Devil, Sense and Sensibility) Based on the Marvel comic book series. The Hulk, unlike the other Marvel Comics to be made into movies (Spiderman, X-Men, & Daredevil), is totally devoid of nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more humour. The Hulk wants to be taken ever so seriously despite the fact there isn't enough spandex in the universe to allow Bruce Banner to remain clothed after each of his transformations.In seeking to be taken seriously the Hulk has raised the ante in the suspension of disbelief sweepstakes and miserably fails to cover the wager made. One bright spot in this film is that the special effects look better in the final movie than they did in the previews. The Hulk, with its lack of humour and inflated sense of self-importance, is an oppressive and lifeless two plus hour film. Even the mostly dialogue free final act, a chase across California, fails to ignite the viewer[base ']s imagination or increase their pulse. Running time - 138 minutes FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Comments by Halo Scan: 2:07:27 PM     | MOVIE - FINDING NEMO - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$1/2 (OUT OF 10) > VOICED BY - Albert Brooks (Marlin), Ellen DeGeneres (Dory), Alexander Gould (Nemo), Willem Dafoe (Gill), Geoffrey Rush (Pelican), Brad Garrett (Bloat) & Barry Humphries (Bruce). DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER - Andrew Stanton (co-director of A Bug's Life) An underwater adventure involving the search and rescue of the young fish Nemo by his father. Finding Nemo is another gem brought to the big screen by Pixar (Toy Story etc.) and Walt Disney. Technology and an excellent story make this a must see movie for children and adults alike. There are two notes of caution for parents. There are two scenes, the opening sequence and a shark chase scene, that may scare younger children (though I can't think of very many of the standard kid's stories that don't have similar scenes). As well, as noted in recent articles, the sound gets cranked up in several spots and this may be problematic for some younger audience members. There is a bonus Pixar short titled Knick Knack that precedes the movie. Its funny too but also serves to remind us how far CGI technology has come since the early days. FULL REVIEW & LINKS TO ALTERNATIVE REVIEWS Running time - 101 minutes Comments by Halo Scan: 2:01:14 PM     |

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