mk723 Reviews

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

Informative. Worth Seeing

[8/10 · 19 June 2006]

People keep asking me how I think this movie compares to Fahrenheit 9/11...but they can't be compared. Unlike many documentaries that rely on your usual narrative tools, flashy graphics, hip music, etc. to keep the audience interested, this film is just a straightforward documentation of Gore speaking about global warming. There are of course a few diatribes and personal anecdotes which add another layer to him as a character but the focus of this film is to provide scientific information on a controversial subject which is exactly what it does. I think Gore comes off as being very sincere and well-versed and I definitely learned a lot from this film, even if it was not the most thrilling film in the world...I rank it as high as I do because I do believe this is an issue that people need to talk about more openly and I do believe people should see this film, regardless of their preconceived ideas concerning global warming.

Nana (II) (2005)

Definitely Enjoyable...

[7/10 · 29 April 2006]

So after hearing about the Nana mangas for a while, I finally broke down and started reading them and became immediately obsessed. Therefore, within a week of reading the mangas, I had to watch the movie.

As far as adaptation screenplays go, I thought this movie was very solid. They chose their material well, and cut out appropriately. But of course, it is difficult to be 100% satisfied with a film when you're so in love with the source material. I was disappointed with the actual story arch of the film because I felt like it barely tapped into the intensity of the Nana's relationship because they failed to really, really show the progression of the friendship, in my opinion.

I was also slightly disappointed by the music, not because the music was bad, but because it wasn't what I was expecting. Perhaps because I am an American with very little exposure to Japanese music, I was expecting Trapnest to be a lot less pop (well, I thought they might be pop in the way that Evanescence is pop) and I definitely expected Blast to be more traditional Sex Pistol, Clash, etc. style punk rock.

But regardless, I enjoyed the movie very much and would indeed recommend it to fans of the manga.

Blood Ties (1991 TV Movie)

Surprisingly Intriguing

[1 May 2004]

*Partial SPOILER alert*

I randomly picked up this video when scanning the video store for vampire movies to watch for a paper and I expected it to be complete and utter tripe, but I was pleasantly surprised. It has a great deal of shortcomings, mainly because of the fact that it was a television movie and therefore had limited resources. But the concepts and ideas posed in this film were quite different and interesting. The issue of racism and xenophobia was a little less subtle than I would have liked but definitely provided another interesting twist in this story in which the vampires aren't the "undead," but just a large family from the country of Carpathia with slightly, different tendencies and cravings.

My friend and I decided that we wished they had played up the moral ambiguity of the two opposing groups, the Carpathians and SCAV members, a bit more. While the story allows us to sympathize with the Carpathians, we can't forget that they basically aren't law abiding citizens. However, the vampire hunters, or SCAV, don't display any sort of redeeming qualities. All-in-all, this was a great film considering what other sorts of horror or sci-fi made-for-tv-films are out there and I think it's definitely worth viewing.

The Adventures of the American Rabbit (1986)

Great Saturday Morning Patriotism

[8/10 · 19 April 2003]

This was definitely one of my favorite Saturday morning cartoon movies when I was a child. The characters were extremely fun, the storyline was relatively complex, and the tone was not that of most condescending animated movies that caused me, even as a very young child, to feel as if the movies were talking down to me.

I haven't seen the movie in quite a few years, but I do remember watching it in late middle school or early high school and noting some of the political ideas that it seemed to be expressing. (By this time, I had realized how the media had affected my mind and opinion about political issues. For example, my once inexplicable cautious attitude towards Eastern Europeans [which have since been eradicated] could probably be trace to such propaganda films as Rocky IV.)

However, I do think this film is pretty harmless and actually delivers some good lessons that a child of any age needs to learn. It's definitely still on my favorites list.

Models Inc. (1994–1995)

A great soap

[14 April 2003]

I'm not, nor have I ever been a big soap opera fan. Like all other pre-teen girls, I succumbed to the wiles of 90201, but Models, Inc. was probably my all time favorite soap. The acting was pretty atrocious (though not all of the actors were bad) but the plot lines were extremely interesting, the characters very motivated, and the writing quite enticing, if not a tad cheesy. I never forgave television in general for canceling this show, especially when it ended in a cliff hanger. I waited, and waited for the next season, so that I could find out what happened, but alas! My waiting was in vain. Quite a disappointment.

Herman's Head (1991–1994)

Cute memories

[14 April 2003]

I was too young when I watched this show to really give a true critical assessment of it, but it definitely entertained me. Most of the jokes went over my little head, but the ones I did get were quite funny to me. I remember being especially disgusted by the character that represented Herman's lust and a bit annoyed by the feminine character in his brain. It was a clever idea, and I wish that it had a longer run.

Noozles (1984)

Great show!

[10 March 2003]

As a child, this was one of my favorite shows. I liked it because it was different from all of the other shows that were available for kids my age. It had all of the typical lessons about friendship, and family, and honesty, but accomplished them in a much more clever way. The show was about a little girl whose friends were two talking koalas (Pinky and Blinky)from a parallel universe, called Koala-Oala Land, or something to that affect. The most prominent images in my mind of the place were the giant bubbles, one of which encapsulated the girl's long lost father. Of course, she couldn't tell her mother or grandmother about these things. I don't know if there was ever a real series ending...I've thought about this show for years, and still yearn to know what ultimately happens. Shows don't get any better than that.

Rigoletto (1993 Video)

Childhood favorite

[16 March 2002]

I watched this video, as well as the Buttercream Gang, over and over again when I was younger. It provided, among other things, a since of hope and revived that belief in magic that I had lost by the time I saw this great film. I admit that it's a bit cheesy, melodramatic, and definitely predictable...but I think that if this movie was written any other way, it wouldn't have touched my heart the way that it did. I recently watched it for the first time in years, and yet was still driven to tears by the sheer beauty of it.

The Fringe Dwellers (1986)

Nice Movie

[6 November 2001]

I thought that this was an all-in-all nice movie about a young Aborigine (pardon my spelling) girl who aspires to be more than what Australian society has already declared she will be. It's not an easy road, though. It's a thought provoking view at racism respect. This story could have easily taken place in the Civil Rights era USA or Apartheid South Africa or anywhere that major racial lines have existed. The acting is rather impressive, and I'm disappointed that I haven't seen the title character in more films.

Center Stage (2000)

Best escape fiction ever...

[7/10 · 27 September 2001]

I'm usually not into shallow, predictable, and contrived movies like this one, but for some reason, I am absolutely in love with this movie. It's one of those films that just makes you happy. The only two people that I recognize in the film are Peter Gallagher and the girl who plays Marleen (she was in Drive me Crazy, another one of my guilty pleasure flix). However, everyone does a very respectable job. I was very impressed to learn that the guy who plays Cooper Nielson (a character who is supposed to be one of the best ballet dancers in the ballet world) is in fact considered to be one of the best ballet dancers. I think real dancers are a great ingredient for a movie about dance. I recommend this one to any young chick. I've watched it at least once a week for the past 2 months, and I still can't get tired of it.

Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997)

Waste of time

[2/10 · 26 February 2001]

I was completely disgusted by this movie. It is just another example of how they butchered what used to be a great tv show. I loved the first movie, but this one is so horrible, you couldn't pay me to sit through it. The story line was dreadfully cheesy, the acting was worse than usual, and the "special effects" were definitely something to be laughed at. Take my advice, and don't waste your time.

Hayley Wagner, Star (1999 TV Movie)

Cute...

[8/10 · 4 December 2000]

Alright, alright...It's not an award winner, but it's dreadfully cute. Although the acting and script weren't what they could've\should've been, the movie just exuberates so much positive energy, that you get sucked into it. The characters are just so much fun, that you find it hard to hate the bad guy...you just want to laugh at them. Richards brings such vitality to the movie...just watching her work makes you smile. I recommend this movie to anyone bored out of their mind one late night. It's a bit of a young chick flick, but it's fun.

Six-String Samurai (1998)

Very, very colorful

[9/10 · 28 November 2000]

I've seen a lot of movies...but this is one of the best ones that I've seen in a while. Ok, it's rather odd, and not going to win any Grammys, but this movie is so original, so imaginative...You are taken to a futuristic world that is depicted as none other that I've seen. It's a bit sad looking, but the dreariness is almost forgotten by the colorfulness of the many interesting characters. The main character, Buddy, is the embodiment of true rock and roll heroism. You shouldn't take this movie seriously, but it is just so much fun...It just sort of makes you smile.

Troll 2 (1990)

A bored night

[4/10 · 26 September 2000]

Ok, u're sick, and stuck at home over the weekend. What's the best thing to do? Watch this movie! It is hilarious! The acting is by far the worst I've ever seen...The story itself is just dumb...and all the little things that are supposed to be serious, just make you want to roll on the floor laughing. (Do u find corn-on-the-cob erotic??) It's definitely worth the renting money.

North (1994)

Fun movie...

[8/10 · 21 August 2000]

Ok, so it wasn't nominated for any Oscars, but it was a really fun movie~ Not all of the acting was that great, but as always, Elijah Wood and Bruce Willis did wonders with their roles. If you don't watch it for any other reason, imagine Bruce Willis in a bunny suit ;-)

Guys Next-Door (1990– )

One of my favs

[28 June 2000]

I barely remember this show, considering that I was around 6 or 7 when it was on, but I do remember that it was one of my favorites. I've dubbed "The Guys" as the Monkees of the '90s. They were attractive, and the music wasn't actually that bad. I miss them ~!~

Models Inc. (1994–1995)

A good show

[28 June 2000]

This was actually a pretty good show ~! Granted, the acting wasn't so great, and some of the plot had been done before, but I was extremely upset when I discovered that it was cancelled after one season, because I wanted to know what happened at the wedding which was the last episode ever. Anyway, it was very entertaining.

Ripe (1996)

A true jewel...

[9/10 · 24 May 2000]

This is one of the first films to really move me in a long time. The subjects touched on in the film, including the sexuality and sibling relationships are very true to life. A non-teen might not be able to quite relate to the story that well, but the story is universal (in a slightly extreme way). This film reached deep into the heart of two very real teenage girls, and told a very real story. I believe that it deserves some kudos.

The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)

A movie worth watching.

[9/10 · 5 April 2000]

I must admit that this is not the best written movie ever, but in the tradition of great movies such as Footloose and the Breakfast Club, it makes you want to go out and change the world. Although the movie begins a bit quickly, the plot is pretty easy to follow, and it basically sucks you in. Once you start watching, it's hard to stop. It's a bit of a fantasy as opposed to realistic fiction, but it's a fun, worthwhile film.