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Reviews
Genius (2017)
Tock-tick Tock-tick-tock
Why did they think it was necessary to used the tired old flash-back, flash-forward, flash-back, flash-forward? Is this an inside joke about time being unconstant and tied to the speed of light? Einstein's life story would be interesting enough without using modern cinema clichés. Oh, and did I mention shaky-cam? Maybe that's time-quakes?
M-G-M Jubilee Overture (1954)
Good music, bad talk
This is basically an early Cinemascope music film, with the MGM studio orchestra performing well-known numbers from several of their films as a 30th anniversary tribute. Missing was the most obvious, "Tara's Theme" from "Gone With The Wind", perhaps because GWTW was not originally an MGM production.
For some unknown reason, they decided to use a voice-over narration to tell us what each number was as it started, in an otherwise seamless concert. Audiences in the 1950s surely knew what these selections were, and even if they didn't, a superimposed title would have been a preferred way to handle it. What were they thinking?
Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
Good stories, bad CGI
I know the 3-D/CGI worshippers will dislike my heresy, but if ever there was a place NOT to use CGI, this is it. Most of these characters have been around for almost 75 years in their hand-drawn form, and that's what made them special. There was no need to re-make our favorites into what looks like plastic McDonald's toys, and these should be stuffed back into the bag (Santa's?). I'm glad I finally found a place to rent a copy rather than buying one, and it's obvious that the rental houses agree with my assessment, as I had to check on Netflix, two Blockbusters, and one Hollywood video before I could find a lone copy at a third Blockbuster. Please Disney, don't fix what ain't broke.
Supernova (2000)
Good movie in spite of cheap tricks
"Supernova" was a good sci-fi movie, although it had the inevitable plot holes. The special effects, as usual in recent sci-fi, were better than the plot, but it used herky-jerky camera work to substitute for real action. I'm beginning to think that hand-held cameras were invented by the devil, since they are used to try to deceive us so often. In the case of "Supernova", the entire movie appears to have been photographed with the cameras being dangled on the end of bungee cords.
Fantasia 2000 (1999)
Disney scores another first; a BIG picture in more ways than one
I suppose the sincerest form of recommendation I can give "Fantasia 2000" is that, about half-way through it, I decided I would have to see it again, even though it means a 100-mile round trip. The music was excellent, as was expected, but the animation was its equal. The only time I felt otherwise was in the "Pines of Rome" sequence when it seemed like the animators were biding their time at one point until they could think of something new to show. The between-sequence hosts could probably be scrapped, however, the occasional attempts at humor falling somewhat flat. (slight spoiler) The one exception here was after 1940's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", which retained Mickey Mouse congratulating Leopold Stokowski as before, then crossing the stage from silhouette into full light and talking with James Levine of the Chicago Symphony, which performed the modern numbers. A neat touch. Although the 1940 segment did show some grain on the giant Imax screen, it wasn't objectionable. And how did they get that segment's 1940 sound to equal the modern digital sound? The signal processing must have been astronomical. Oh well, time to stop typing and go buy the CD soundtrack....
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
If you were really scared by this film, don't read the next word: "BOO!"
Ninety minutes of boredom, ending with a dull thud. If you were really scared by this film, don't read the next word: "BOO!" One good thing about it was that I could go to the candy counter at any time and not miss anything. The only really scary thing about it is how many people think it was good.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
For episode two, try 100% special effects.
Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace had the greatest special effects ever put on film. Unfortunately, it also had the most wooden acting. The actors were probably afraid of having to satisfy 20 years of pent-up expectations, and showed almost no emotion at all. Also, we all know that Anakin, Amidalla, and Obi MUST survive to appear in the "future" movies we've already seen, so there's no suspense when they're in trouble. Much as he irritated me, Jar Jar showed more emotion than any of the human actors. Oh well, for episode two, try 100% special effects.