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Movie Reviews
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On this page I'll write reviews of the movies I see.
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Movie Reviews
Two wisecracking, battle-hardened veterans (Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell) team up with a pair of
street-smart rookies (Michelle Rodriguez and LL Cool J) to form the most freewheeling - but effective - S.W.A.T. team ever.
Their first assignment: transport an international drug kingpin into federal custody - after he's offered $100 million to
anyone who will free him!
a good movie reveiw comming soon
American Pie
This is an awesome movie about a group of kids in high school. I guarantee you'll laugh a lot, especially
at the scene with the apple pie.
-Posted 3/1/04
Daredevil
submitted by Darkdragon
Ok, this film i can honestly say is one of my favourites, not only because Ben Affleck
is a complete spunk and Jennifer is a very very exceptional actress but the plot was amazing, and acted out perfectly. The
movie starts off with a 12 yr old boy (he looks like the kid from the sopranos) who gets picked on by the bullies at his school,
they tease him about his dad being a boxer "out of the game" he goes home to his dad, who by the amount of beer bottles is
a bad alcoholic, but to my surprise, he is a very good dad, telling his son, Matt, that he should never do what his father
did, but to study hard and become something good, like a lawyer, or a doctor.
The next scene, Matt runs to the docks where his father works carrying a report card and
he sees his dad bashing someone up. He runs away and the report card drops, all A's, just as his father wanted, as he running
back, a truck with chemicals in it crashes into him, it is squirted into his eyes, he goes blind.
Thats all i'm saying but the rest of the movie is when he is older, he is a lawyer, fighting
crime by day and killing it by night.
He meets a beautiful woman, Electra, he knows this because after he went blind the rest
of his senses grew to be superhuman. it turns out Electra is also a warrior by night. the story continues and i will not say
anymore.
posted 3/1/04
Gladiator
by Corky Alexander
GLADIATOR is an action-filled, high-tech production that unquestionably cost a
whole lot of money to make. As they say, every penny is "up there" on the screen and the overall effect is grandeur and splendor
of the glorious days of Rome seldom seen since the days of Cecil B. de Mille. Even though the news has been leaked that most
of the throngs and hordes of extras in battle and in the stands as spectators at the Coliseum were devised via the computer
skills of visual effects supervisor John Nelson and his merry crew of hi-tech myth makers.
A magnificent cast of actors contributes to the overall impact of this most popular motion
picture, but the entire flow of the high-speed pace of the film evolves around one man: Russell Crowe as Maximus, Roman
general reduced to penury and slavery, only to rise again as a gladiator in the to-the-death battles.
Not since Mel Gibson megged hundreds of "live" extras in his gory, realistic battle scenes
in "Braveheart" has such grisly, tooth-and-nail fighting and gouging and slashing combat been committed to celluloid
as has done Director Ridley Scott, a master of mood, hitherto not necessarily known for his mass action sequences.
The epic sweep of hordes of soldiers on foot and on horseback sweep from the hills and forests onto the plains where they
clash head-on with opposing fighters. All under the leadership and strategy of mastermind General Maximus. But he is not a
paper tiger of a leader; he's right in the midst of all the bloodshed and screaming, slashing with his great sword and leading
my example, as have done great generals through the ages.
Having demolished the Germanic foes, Maximus lets himself hope he can return to his idyllic
home and farm to his lovely wife and young son. He reckons without the wishes of his emperor Marcus Aurelius (the gnarled
Richard Harris) After witnessing the magnificent exploits of Maximus and his bold troops, Marcus Aurelius confides
to Maximus that he is dying and wants the general to replace him as leader of all Rome and to return the government and empire
to the rule of the people, away from the politicians and plotters in the Senate.
This decision marks a leapfrog over the surly head of Marcus's son Commodus (Joaquin
Phoenix) who is next in the empirical line. Self-centered, vain and cursed with a scheming, dishonorable spirit, Commodus
(I thought he was so named because his face was always flushed) suffocates his father and names himself Emperor. Placing Maximus
under arrest, he sends his soldiers to the general's farm home where his wife and son are slaughtered.
Maximus finds himself sold into slavery from which he fights his way in the ranks of
the gladiators, battling their way up from the minor leagues to fight in the Coliseum. under the management of the keeper
of the battlers, Proximo (a scenery-chewing Oliver Reed). Becoming known as The Spaniard, Maximus is one tough gladiator
in the ring, showing no mercy, but somehow forging friendships with fellow gladiators, bonds that are to the death. Chief
ally of the deposed general is Juba (Djimon Hounsou), a Nubian slave with a great heart.
Always looming in the background is Commodus's beauteous sister Lucilla (Connie Nielsen),
the object of her brother's incestuous lust. Rounding out the cast is leading senator Gracchus (Derek Jacobi) who seeks
reform from the oppressive rule of Commodus. A series of climatic bouts in the ring highlight the movie's climax with realism
to a degree that you want to turn your head. Can you believe a showdown between the dastardly Commodus and the heroic Maximus?
Just wait, my friends, for the thrilling battles.
A word about Joaquin Phoenix: River's younger brother has turned out to be a true motion
picture talent. I first took note of him when he played the teen object of Nicole Kidman's affections in "To Die For,"
the true-life story of a dissatisfied housewife using her sexy wiles to coerce the boy to kill her husband. Phoenix was so
true-to-life that you'd think he was a true deadhead teenaged punk, plucked off the streets to perform in a movie. In "Gladiator,"
his perfidy, cruelty and underhanded schemes will make you hate him until you realize that this is simply a hell of a performance.
This flick is a change of pace for Ridley Scott whose moody atmospheric films such as
"Blade Runner" and "Alien" set a pinnacle for others to follow. His work with action and battle scenes is a
new dimension.
Highly recommended for suspense and fine acting. Russell Crowe is the man of the movie
future, it seems, and the amiable Australian (or Kiwi, maybe) looks able to wear the laurel leaves with aplomb. |
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by darkdragon
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Photo © 2001 Warner Bros. |
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(Editor's Note: The following review is done a little differently from normal,
more traditional reviews. Because Mr. Buell felt so strongly about the books, he wanted to write a review straight from
the heart)
It's hard not to know who Harry Potter is. You'd have
to be a true muggle (a non-magical folk who can be quite dull) not to know a single thing about this Boy Who Lived.
And with every page of his story, millions of people's hearts have been touched so deeply in ways that could only be with
means of true magic...some unspeakable truth that we all have within each other.
I was first 'touched' by the phenomenon back in September
of 2000. It was my first year of college, far away from home. I felt alone and vulnerable to this new world of
adulthood. And then one funny day while I was in D.C., I decided to see what the whole fuss was about, and I picked
up the first book. I spent the entire day in D.C. reading Harry Potter, only putting it down when I went to see
the re-release of The Exorcist.
What immediately followed was an obsession that just wouldn't
end. I devoured the books, thought of nothing but Harry all the way until Christmas. I spent a fair share of my
money buying the merchandise at the Warner Bros. store, thank you very much. After all, the commercial did say that
every fan is not complete without a Hogwarts sweatshirt. So I bought five.
Aside from my own personal fixation on the books, something
even better happened. I became a better person, and I connected with kids all around me. I would see kids wearing
"Quidditch" shirts or other logo's that only Harry fans would recognize. I would spend hours just talking to complete
strangers about the books. I would hear their stories about how Harry, as if he was a real boy, changed their lives.
Indeed, we all speak as if Harry is a real person...it's hard to explain. Fans know what I'm talking about, however.
So...I had to wait for a year and a month for the movie to
come out. Even before I became a fan, I knew there was a movie adaptation coming. After all, I work for a freaking
entertainment website. The wait was unbearable, and I think it's fair to say it was for other fans as well. I
remember clearly the day the teaser poster was released, I remember when the first trailer premiered via satellite on March
1st, I remember the premiere of the second trailer and then seeing the slew of toys and magazine covers popping up, and then
finally, I remember that great day when I received my premiere tickets in the mail: The magical Warner Bros. logo on
the back giving the allusive feel that something great was on the other side. I felt as if this ticket was my own acceptance
to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And in a way, it was.
I had to wait another two weeks until the day arrived.
And it did, despite nightmares that I would die in a horrible car crash or lose the tickets. The screen opened up, the
lights darkened and that memorable Warner Bros. logo opened up with the brilliant score of John Williams. The first
shot: Privet Drive, and then... Dumbledore. Yes, Dumbledore was on the screen. I could feel the tears swelling
in my eyes. I couldn't explain why I was so emotional. I felt like saying to him, "Hello again, old friend."
For me, all the characters, no matter how little they play in the Harry universe, are old friends to me.
The movie is a whopping 2 and a half hours long. However,
for any Potter fan, the time is not nearly long enough. You're at Privet Drive and the next you're watching one of the
best special effects sequences ever: The Quidditch (a wizard sport played on a broom) match. Yes, I've
read all of the reviews on the net, all filled with comparisons to the Pod Race sequence. Here's my "professional" opinion:
The Pod Race scene had no real drive to it. We really didn't care if Anakin won. Quidditch, on the other hand,
well, we just had to see Gryffindor kick Slytherin's butt. And kick it they did. Quidditch was fast paced,
with all sorts of angles to give us a sense of speed and excitement. One moment we're seeing the Chaser's pass the Quaffle
to others at great speed, and the next, Oliver Wood is knocked out in to the sand pits. Magical. There's just
no other word for it.
For the die-hard fan (and there are millions of them)
the movie will feel rushed. Yes, its 2 and a half hours, but for any fan who has been waiting over a year to see Harry,
it doesn't feel long enough.
The cast could not have been more perfectly assembled.
Rupert Grint was "bloody brilliant," Emma Watson shined as the almost-goody-goody Hermione, and Daniel Radcliffe, well,
he is Harry Potter. The boy we have been awaiting so very long to see. Dame Maggie Smith and Richard Harris
are enjoyable and Alan Rickman seems to know his part as Snape frightfully a little too well. Robbie Coltrane
could not have played Hagrid better. The 'new' scene at the end had me completely touched. It's amazing how Coltrane
could be a scary giant one minute, and a sensitive great lump the next. I thank the cast all kindly for bringing these
characters to life, characters that have meant so much to myself, and millions of others.
I admit, yes, the movie was a bit condensed. Scenes
with Norbert were chopped heavily and at times it becomes disappointing. Dumbledore's anticipated talk with Harry at
the end lasted only a brief moment leaving out a great bit of detail, and even some scenes with the Dursley's were taken out.
The bottom line, the formula still works. The magic is still intact. Fans will just have to realize that even
a two-and-a-half movie isn't long enough for Harry.
The sets were magnificent in themselves. I spent a lot
of my time looking in the background at the moving pictures, at the Tom Riddle award in the trophy room, and the recognizable
secondary characters. JK Rowling's plethora of knowledge and hands-on involvement in the film only made the movie more
special. Columbus and crew handled the film in such a way, that we were literally involved in the film as much as any
other extra cast member. When the distant sight of Hogwarts comes in to view, our eyes widen in excitement, likewise
Harry, Hermione and Ron. Because Harry does not understand the magical world, we fit right in with him, and feel just
as uneasy. When he first takes a look at the moving pictures, we're just as entertained as he is.
The other bottom line is that the characters work. We
believe Radcliffe is Harry, and we know what this special boy is feeling as he sits next to the window in his dormitory looking
outward. We know what Hermione is thinking when she looks deeply in to the heroic Harry's eyes to tell him "good luck"
as he dashes off to fight off the Sorcerer Stone's intruder.
I couldn't get enough of the movie. But soon the movie
was coming to a close, and even Harry knew it. It was time to leave Hogwarts for both Harry and ourselves, and like
Harry, we didn't want to go.
But alas, Harry had his trunk packed and as he made his way
down to the train station, we see Hagrid stare at us, and Harry. As Hagrid gives Harry a photo album of his dead parents,
he reassures us that time will soon enough pass and we will return to that magical place called Hogwarts. And with one
final touching hug between Harry and Hagrid, the story ends...for now. We see one final clip of Hogwarts in the distance,
with the train taking Harry back to the muggle world. The feeling lingers for a moment or two, and then, John William's
brilliant score reaches its peak, prompting the screen to fade to black.
The audience burst in to cheers. I myself, hollered
with everyone else. We all shared one general interest at that moment. And so I walked out of the theatre with
everyone else, and stared up at the sun, and the hundreds of vehicles and shops. I had returned to the muggle world.
Dumbledore told Harry in the hospital scene that Harry was
special, special not just because he had survived an attack from Voldemort, but because he was made with love. His mother's
love was so great, that Voldemort could not touch nor understand something made out of something so simple. I think
the same thing was a result of the novels. Only something so special could have been made by pure love from the creator.
And only something so special could be felt and loved by millions of fans worldwide. Chris Columbus felt this love also, because
the movie has a craft to it that reveals just how un-Hollywood it really is.
Harry has changed our lives in ways we'll probably never know.
Chris Columbus once said that the whole experience had changed his as well. All I can say is thank you to all of the
cast and crew who put together this magnificent film. Without a doubt, the book is better, but anyone who thinks
the movie was meant to surpass the book have a pair of blind eyes. This film was only meant to honor the achievements
of the book, to act as a bridge between history and imagination.
Now they're filming Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
A whole year until we return to Hogwarts. November 2002 cannot come soon enough.
GRADE: A (9.3 OUT
OF 10) |
Harry Potter has a new bag of tricks in spellbinding 'Chamber of Secrets'
By darkdragon
Even though much of the original novelty has worn off, the second Harry Potter movie, "Harry Potter
and the Chamber of Secrets," emerges as a relatively strong sequel: one that's actually faster-paced and more chock-full of
adventure than the original.
| MOVIE REVIEW |
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HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
DIRECTOR: Chris Columbus
CAST:
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
RUNNING
TIME: 161 minutes
RATING: PG for scary
moments, some creature violence and mild language
WHERE:
Auburn Cinema 17, Bella Bottega, Crossroads, East Valley, Factoria, Galleria, Gateway 8, Grand Cinemas, Issaquah 9, Kirkland
Parkplace, Longston, Majestic Bay, Metro, Monroe 12, Mountlake 9, Oak Tree, Parkway Plaza, Woodinville
GRADE:
B+
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It hardly stands alone. Its script takes a big risk and makes no effort to re-establish its characters
or premise. So if you don't know quidditch from Diagon Alley, what a "muggle" is, or the mechanics of catching the Hogwarts
Express, you could be hopelessly lost.
But since the last episode appeared only a year ago, and the fan base of the franchise is so large
and dedicated, the filmmakers have perhaps rightly figured they could dispense with the usual tedious re-education and just
leap right into the action.
Even more than last time, it's apparent here that, unlike the "Lord of the Rings" or "Star Wars" cycles,
not much is going on beneath the surface of the Harry Potter stories. They're incorrigibly juvenile, and not the product of
any original or well-thought-out mythology.
Yet that surface is so glossy and attractive that we don't immediately notice its lack of depth. In
terms of acting, production values and special effects, this new journey to Harry's world represents state-of-the-art moviemaking
at its most sumptuous.
Based on the second of the J.K. Rowling novels, the story follows the boy wizard through his second
year at Hogwarts as the school is terrorized by a mysterious malevolent force that's out to paralyze students of less than
pure wizard blood.
It turns out that this force emanates from a hidden "chamber of secrets" somewhere beneath the school.
Harry's heritage and certain events of 50 years ago implicate him in the plot, and it's up to him and his two pals to solve
the mystery and save the school.
As this leads the trio into one lavish action sequence after another, the film often gets bogged down,
and finally wears out its welcome. Some of its plotting seems unnecessarily complex, and, at 19 minutes shy of three hours,
it's too long (nine minutes longer than part one).
The script, by Steve Kloves, also suffers from the disease critic Gene Siskel used to call "sequel-itis"
-- a certain feeling of being hastily contrived to cash in on a huge audience demand with a story that takes us through similar
paces to a similar climax.
Some of the performances also suffer from the passage of time: the late Richard Harris looks like the
dying man he was during filming; and Emma Watson has lost some of the confident youthful bloom that allowed her to virtually
steal the first movie. (Puberty will do that to you.)
At the same time, Daniel Radcliffe is much more assured as Harry, the camaraderie between the three
kid stars is stronger than before, and there's a handful of engaging new characters, including Jason Isaacs as Draco Malfoy's
odious father and Kenneth Branagh as the school's flamboyantly fatuous Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Cinematographer Roger Pratt (replacing the original's John Seale), art director Stuart Craig, costume
designer Lindy Hemming and composer John Williams have all contributed Oscar-worthy production values that dazzle the senses
and combine to create a darker, creepier atmosphere.
And the new special-effects creations -- a flying car, a phoenix, a humanoid tree and plants, a gigantic
snake monster, an army of spiders, a squadron of flying pixies and one particularly endearing elf called Dobby -- are all
marvelously conceived and executed, and fill the screen with an exhilarating air of magic and fantasy.
Best of all, the second Potter movie reunites its adult cast: Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane,
John Cleese, Alan Rickman, Julie Walters and others -- a veritable Who's Who of British actors that single-handedly elevates
the proceedings out of the kid's movie genre into something special.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT HARRY
The "Coke-head" controversy lives. Fans who complained about soft-drink product placement in
the first Harry movie are floating an e-petition to protest Coca-Cola's onscreen presence in "Chamber of Secrets." The petition,
at www.saveharry.com, fumes that the deal making "sounds more like the 'Chamber of Commerce' than the "Chamber of Secrets!'"
The impresario of a 3-year-old Web site on "Harry Potter Facts and Fun" has folded his tent
in disgust. "Wow, has the Harry Potter world changed," says the anonymous signoff at www.hpfactsandfun.com. Merchandising and film are overwhelming the greatness of the books, he writes, and J.K. Rowling is taking
too long to cough up the next title. "While I want the fifth book to be a quality book, I'm quite tired of waiting. ... All
things must eventually come to an end."
How scary is "Chamber of Secrets"? Director Chris Columbus has warned parents of the 7-and-under
crowd to beware, and Warner Bros. reportedly worried the film would get a PG-13 rating. (It ended up at PG.) That would have
been really scary for toy makers, who owe last year's half-billion-dollar Potter sales to the 7-11 crowd, reports Time magazine.
The U.K. ratings board, meanwhile, ordered this warning: "Contains mild language and horror, and fantasy spiders."
Everyone's a critic. With Trekkie-like intensity, some online critics have painstakingly dissected
each scene of the first film for goofs and internal inconsistencies. Example: "When the three children get past Fluffy because
the harp is playing, as Fluffy wakes he dribbles on Ron's shoulder. However, when they fall down into the Devil's Snare, his
shirt is completely dry." For more than you want to know, see www.movie-mistakes.com.
Everyone's still a critic. Weeks before "Chamber of Secrets" was even released, "Gypsy's Angry
Nitpicks" appeared at www.harrypotterrealm.com. The site invites readers to view a picture gallery and film trailer before reading rants about how Dobby
is "disgusting looking," "Daniel Radcliffe is moving into adolescence too quickly," and Tom Felton's hair is only slightly
improved since the first movie when, "Egad, I nearly puked." Shee, guy, what do you do for fun?
Does size matter? The Harry Potter "Unofficial Fan Club" invites viewers to weigh the relative
merits of wide-screen vs. full-screen DVDs. The site at http://plum.cream.org/HP/dvd.htm, shows 20 film scenes with outlines indicating what you gain and lose with each format. You be the judge.
The late Richard Harris is irreplaceable, but so is Professor Dumbledore. Who will fill the role in
upcoming films? The rumored front-runner is Harris' body double, Harry Robinson. He's the same age, 72, and can mimic Harris'
voice, according to a widely reported story picked up from England's Sunday Mirror. No official word, however.
The Last Samurai
Captain Nathan Algren (TOM CRUISE) is a man adrift. The battles he once fought now seem distant and futile.
Once he risked his life for honor and country, but, in the years since the Civil War, the world has changed. Pragmatism
has replaced courage, self-interest has taken the place of sacrifice and honor is nowhere to be found - especially out West
where his role in the Indian Campaigns ended in disillusionment and sorrow.
Somewhere on the unforgiving plains near the banks of the Washita River, Algren lost his soul.
A universe away, another soldier sees his way of life about to disintegrate. He is Katsumoto (KEN WATANABE), the
last leader of an ancient line of warriors, the venerated Samurai, who dedicated their lives to serving emperor and country.
Just as the modern way encroached upon the American West, cornering and condemning the Native American, it also engulfed traditional
Japan. The telegraph lines and railroads that brought progress now threaten those values and codes by which the Samurai
have lived and died for centuries.
But Katsumoto will not go without a fight.
The paths of these two warriors converge when the young Emperor of Japan, wooed by American interests who covet the growing
Japanese market, hires Algren to train Japan's first modern, conscript army. But as the Emperor's advisors attempt to
eradicate the Samurai in preparation for a more Westernized and trade-friendly government, Algren finds himself unexpectedly
impressed and influenced by his encounters with the Samurai. Their powerful convictions remind him of the man he once
was.
Thrust now into harsh and unfamiliar territory, with his life and perhaps more important, his soul, in the balance, the
troubled American soldier finds himself at the center of a violent and epic struggle between two eras and two worlds, with
only his sense of honor to guide him.
The film is about John Hammond, a billionaire (played by ) that creates a prehistoric paradice with living dinosaurs on an island outside Costa Rica. To calm down worrying investors
he invites two paleontologists: Alan Grant and Ellie Satler (played by and Laura Dern ), dr.Malkom (Jeff Goldblum) and his two grandchildren. Their job is to sign a testimony that the island is perfectly safe and that it is nothing to
worry about. The visitors were amazed by the prehistoric park, and everything seemed perfect, but...all was not so well. Dennis
Nedry,(one of Hammonds employees ), has been payed by another company for that he would steal all the dinosaur-emryos off
the island. To do that he would have to turn off the electrical fences to get out of the island, and that's when... the hunt
begins..
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Lord Of The Rings: Trilogy review
<>MOVIE REVIEW
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
of the Ring (2001)
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen,
Liv Tyler, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin
Director: Peter Jackson
Rating:
PG-13
Studio:
New Line Cinema
Review Posted: 12.23.01
Spoilers: Yes
Rating: 4/4
By Angelo.
Based on the popular
novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, one of the more anticipated films of the year (if not the most) finally makes it to the big screen,
and even with all the hype surrounding it, The Lord of the Rings is nothing short of amazing. It is a grand movie of epic
proportions that will no doubtingly join the likes of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars in the non-independent film Pantheon.
Set in the mythical
land of Middle Earth, in an era of goblins and wizards, the evil Lord Sauron and his dark forces once again threaten to rule
all. The fate of the world relies on who possesses the one ring, which holds unspeakable power and might. It was Lord Sauron
who created the ring out of the fiery depths of Doom Mountain years and years ago, but it was during a history-altering battle
where Lord Sauron was killed that the ring changed hands. Because the ring is evil by nature, greed and hatred overcomes the
new bearers. Wars were waged to get the ring, and consequently, the ring was lost. The threat of Sauron seemed to have been
extinguishedthat is until the day the ring was found.
The ring beckons
the spirit of Lord Sauron, and the alliance opposing Sauron realizes that the only way to defeat him and his forces is to
destroy it. The ring is entrusted to a hobbit, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), and along with a group comprising of elves, dwarves,
hobbits, humans and a wizard, a fellowship of nine is created. They have the daunting task of taking the ring back to Doom
Mountain, for it is only there that the ring can be destroyed once and for all. From the dark underworlds through the rugged
snowcapped mountains, the Fellowship of the Ring will battle evil and prevent Sauron from taking over Middle Earth.
The Fellowship
of the Ring is indeed the true embodiment of what a Hollywood movie is set out to be. It takes you to another time and place,
with state of the art visuals and effects, an engrossing story, awe inspiring adventure and a genuine sense of gravity. We
have gotten a lot of these qualities from other recent blockbusters, but it is the last one that really won me over. A lot
of times movies will have this end of the world theme to it, but it doesnt quite capture the essence of the situations severity.
The action is limited to only a handful of players, and the rest of the world doesnt even seem to be aware that anything is
wrong, as seen in Armageddon or Tomb Raider. This is what elevates The Fellowship of the Ring from the rest. The film captures the significance of what is happening
and almost reaches the same epic levels as those of Roman mythology or the Biblical tales of The Ten Plagues, The Great Flood
and such. The Fellowship of the Ring is a work of fiction that seems authentically real.
Just like Star
Wars, The Fellowship of the Ring is the first installment of a forthcoming trilogy, which means it will be the slowest of
the three. Characters will need to be introduced, situations to be situated and at almost three hours, it takes its time to
do all these. The first half presents all the background information we need, and the adventure doesnt actually begin until
the second half. Some will find the movie slow, especially children. I had this one kid about seven years old sitting next
to me who kept fidgeting through most of the film. However, it is very crucial to have a careful introduction to the story,
and rushing it would have been a mistake. This is the Harry Potter for the older crowd.
The Fellowship
of the Ring is far from being perfect, however. There were scenes that irked me for being a bit excessive or melodramatic.
Take for example the scenes with Cate Blanchett, who plays the elfin Galadriel. The soft light used on her is just overly
done, and Blanchett is reduced to a mere white blur on the screen. Or the unnecessary melodramatics of a near-drowning towards
the end of the film. The movie could have done away with these, but they are very minor quibbles when one looks at the overall
picture.
The sense of adventure
that we get from watching the movie can hardly be surpassed by any other. I admit that I am not the biggest fan when it comes
to the realm of goblins and ogres (except maybe for an occasional game of Magic the Gathering), but one does not need to be
into Dungeons and Dragons to get into the movie at all. The Fellowship of the Ring does not disappoint when it comes to action
and emotion.
In a year fraught with misses, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
of the Ring hits the mark. No need for reverse story telling. No need for a bizarre nightmare through the streets of Los Angeles.
No need for a cutesy green ogre. With a solid cast and an engrossing adventure, this is definitely the best movie of the year.
It has been a long while since I have picked a Hollywood movie to be the best of the year, but Fellowship of the Ring deserves
it.
posted 3/1/04
The Two Towers
 The first time I saw this, I was quite overwhelmed. The fight scenes I felt were quite violent
and 'in-your-face' , gollum was frighteningly real and there were some harrowing scenes during the battle. However, after
I saw it a second time and was able to concentrate on the details better, I found a fabulous film and a worthy sequel to the
Fellowship of the Ring. There is some stunning camera work, good acting, and mind-blowing effects.
The Fellowship having introduced us to the story and characters, the Two Towers jumps us straight
into it with Gandalf battling the Balrog in Moria. The story continues where it left off, with Frodo and Sam on the way to
Mordor; Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pursuing the Uruk-Hai who have taken Merry and Pippin captive; Saruman building his army.
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli travel to Rohan, and the city of Edoras, built on a hilltop. There we
meet Theoden the King, his nephew Eomer and  niece Eowyn. As Saruman unleashes his army of 10,000 Uruk Hai to conquer Rohan, Theoden is forced to
take desperate measures to defend his people, which leads to a huge and incredible battle at the Fortress of Helms Deep.
Merry and Pippin, having narrowly escaped from the Uruk Hai, find a friend in the huge tree-like
creature, Treebeard the Ent, who they try and convince to help their friends fight the battle against Saruman.
Frodo and Sam are confronted by Gollum, who after trying to take the Ring, promises to lead them
to the Black Gate of Mordor. Gollum has a split personality and on the one hand, he is Smeagol, former hobbit who serves his
master Frodo. But on the other hand he is Gollum, and evil creature who is desperate to have the Ring, his Precious. Let me
just add here that Gollum is incredibly done, and although he is a CGI character, a real actor acted him and had Gollum superimposed
over him. Don't worry its NOT another JarJar.
I still think I liked the Fellowship better, because I prefer a film that fleshes out more on the
characters, has some deep and meaningful stuff and good quotes. This film was much more physical, the story pacing fast and
not stopping to delve into our new characters. Peter Jackson also made some drastic changes to this film unlike the first
one, with an added sequence of Frodo and Sam going with Faramir to Osgiliath. There was another huge sequence which has been
moved to the third film, which I had been looking forward to seeing in this one. The humour was appreciated though I felt
it was a bit too much. I found Gollums description of Sam (stupid fat hobbit!) much funnier than any of Gimli's wisecracks.
However, I loved this film, not only coz I love the books and the story, but because it is an incredible
cinematic experience. The scenery is lush and expansive, the sheer scale of both the fortress and the mass of Uruk Hai are
breath-taking. And like the Fellowship, the incredible attention to detail makes this unlike any other film and more like
a place that really did exist.
posted 3/1/04
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"In addition to these huge battles, you have these intimate stories, the emotional story, and that's
where most of the power of The Return of the King really lies." --Director/co- writer/producer Peter Jackson
Sauron's forces have laid siege to Minas Tirith, the capital
of Gondor, in their efforts to eliminate the race of men.
The once-great kingdom, watched over by a fading steward, has never been in more desperate need of its king.
But can Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen)
answer the call of his heritage and become what he was born to be? In no small measure, the fate of Middle-earth rests on
his broad shoulders.
New
Line Cinema presents The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the final chapter in director Peter Jackson's critically
acclaimed, Academy Award-winning trilogy.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King opens in theaters December 17, 2003, and follows to an astounding
conclusion the epic journey of men, hobbits, elves, dwarves and the rest of Middle-earth's creatures and cultures as they
wage the ultimate fight for good against evil.
With the final battle joined and the legions of darkness gathering,
Gandalf (Ian McKellen) urgently tries to rally Gondor's broken army to action. He is aided by Rohan's King Theoden (Bernard
Hill), who unites his warriors for history's biggest test.
Yet even with their courage and passionate loyalty, the forces of men--with Eowyn (Miranda Otto) and Merry (Dominic
Monaghan) hidden among them--are no match for the enemies swarming against Gondor.
Still, in the face of great losses, they charge forward into the battle of their lifetimes, tied together by their
singular goal to keep Sauron distracted and give the Ring Bearer a chance to complete his quest.
Their hopes rest with Frodo (Elijah Wood), a tiny but determined hobbit making a perilous trip across treacherous
enemy lands to cast the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom.
The closer Frodo gets to his final destination, the heavier his
burden becomes and the more he must rely on Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin). Gollum-and the Ring itself-will test Frodo's allegiances
and, ultimately, his humanity.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King concludes the epic story of these characters, their relationships
and rivalries, and reveals how through courage, commitment and determination even the least of us can change the world.
The Lord of the Rings: The
Return of the King is produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh and Jackson. The screenplay is by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
and Jackson based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien.
It stars (in alphabetical order) Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Bernard Hill,
Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Noble, Miranda Otto, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis,
Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham, and Elijah Wood.
UK casting is by John Hubbard and Amy MacLean with U.S. casting by Victoria Burrows. The costume designers are
Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor. Special make-up, creature, miniature and digital effects are by Weta Ltd., NZ. Jim Rygiel
is the visual effects supervisor.
Music is by Howard Shore. Jamie Selkirk is the film editor. Grant Major is the production designer. Andrew Lesnie,
A.C.S. is the director of photography. The film is co-produced by Rick Porras and Jamie Selkirk. Robert Shaye and Michael
Lynne are the executive producers, along with Mark Ordesky. |
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The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Synopsis: A
depiction of the last twelve hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, on the day of his crucifixion in Jerusalem. The story
opens in the Garden of Olives where Jesus has gone to pray after the Last Supper. Betrayed by Judas Iscariot, the controversial
Jesus--who has performed 'miracles' and has publicly announced that he is 'the Son of God'--is arrested and taken back within
the city walls of Jerusalem. There, the leaders of the Pharisees confront him with accusations of blasphemy; subsequently,
his trial results with the leaders condemning him to his death. Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor
of Palestine, for his sentencing. Pilate listens to the accusations leveled at Jesus by the Pharisees. Realizing that his
own decision will cause him to become embroiled in a political conflict, Pilate defers to King Herod in deciding the matter
of how to persecute Jesus. However, Herod returns Jesus to Pilate who, in turn, gives the crowd a choice between which prisoner
they would rather to see set free--Jesus, or Barrabas. The crowd chooses to have Barrabas set free. Thus, Jesus is handed
over to the Roman soldiers and is brutally flagellated. Bloody and unrecognizable, he is brought back before Pilate who, once
again, presents him to the thirsty crowd--assuming they will see that Jesus has been punished enough. The crowd, however,
is not satisfied. Thus, Pilate washes his hands of the entire dilemma, ordering his men to do as the crowd wishes. Whipped
and weakened, Jesus is presented with the cross and is ordered to carry it through the streets of Jerusalem, all the way up
to Golgotha. There, more corporal cruelty takes place as Jesus is nailed to the cross--suffering, he hangs there, left to
die. Initially, in his dazed suffering, Jesus is alarmed that he has been abandoned by God his father. Eventually, he overcomes
his fear and with his last breaths, tells Mary, his Mother, "It is accomplished." He then beseeches God, "Into Thy hands I
commend my spirit." At the moment of his death, nature itself over-turns.
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Movie details continue below
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Statistics
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Genre(s):
Biopic
Drama
Religion |
| Rating: MPAA R: for sequences of graphic violence. |
Runtime: 126 mins.
|
Distributor(s):
Icon Productions
Eagle Pictures
Aurum Productions
Equinoxe
Films
20th Century Fox Distribution
Newmarket Films |
Theatrical Release:
02/25/2004 |
| Video Release: Not available | |
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Locations
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Italy
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Box Office Analysis, Mar. 7: "The Passion" Grows |
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News, Mar. 1: "Gigli" Gets Razzed, Costner Defends Gibson, Masked Jackson Alarms Wal-Mart Staff, More... |
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Box Office Analysis, Feb. 29: "The Passion" Embraced |
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News, Feb. 27: Rosie O'Donnell Gets Hitched, Gibson Feels Unfairly Judged on "Passion," Howard Stern Vents
to Fans, More |
| More ... |
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3.0%
