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GrnNinja
Reviews
Mission to Mars (2000)
No Excuses.
Many reviews of this movie have already captured the excruciating pain that watching this movie can cause a viewer. Many voices have shouted their angst over the poor writing, slow pace, and virtual onslaught of apathy to which the film has subjected them. Since many steps have previously brought a reader down that path, I will not go into great detail over why every minute of watching this movie is like having another inch of duct tape ripped from the skin.
However, it still needs mentioning that the director and actors have but the saving grace of pleading "no contest" to the charge of adding immensely to the travesty.
It is possible that Tim Robbins noted that no good science fiction movie should be without a robot and decided that he would make up for it by draining every semblance of a real emotion out of his performance. Either that or he was dead. However, if that was the case, it is just too bad that they couldn't finish filming before the rigor mortis set in.
Gary Senise, on the other hand, created one emotion for his character. According to Mr. Senise, it seems by the constant sneer on his face, Astronaut Jim McConnell thinks that everything smells really, really bad. In illustration, try plugging your ears during the movie (not a bad idea either way) and imagining these lines instead: "Darn. I'm not going to space, that really stinks." Or, "Boy, this planet must be covered with some kind of red fertilizer. It really stinks." And, lastly, "I wish they hadn't made me work with this dead guy. He really stinks!"
Very little needs to be said about Kim Delaney's character. She only came up to space for a little nookie. And once her husband is gone, what reason does she have to stay?
The point here, is that it would seem the white flag was hoisted long before the cameras began rolling. Although the script was at least a diaper-full, one might expect such usually high-caliber actors to at least try.
As for DePalma? After each call of "Cut!!", it would stand to reason that he might have the creative vision to ask if someone on set might mind acting for the next scene. Otherwise, why not let the actors improv? It might make a good comedy.
At least I got a laugh out of it. Oops!! My wrist computer says I've reach "THE POINT OF NO RETURN!!!"
Glory Daze (1995)
I remember...
Dear lord, They had the cameras on me the whole time I was in college! Great movie. This is definitely one of the best encapsulations of a guy's life as he flounders through the years in search of becoming edjamacated.
What Dreams May Come (1998)
Yeats and Shelly would be proud.
A wonderful film for those that enjoy the romantics -- this viewer included. As always, the realists took the film as a slap in the face. It seems to be impossible for those that enjoy cynicism and brutality so much in film can never see the place for something to wander the more poetic paths. If you can classify yourself as one of these people: don't see it. Otherwise, if you choose to see it, you'll probably enjoy hating it and join the ranks of people who simply need something to publicly whine about. No, the movie is not for everyone, but I will say that it was for me.
Robin Williams gives an (as always) triumphant performance that captures purely the essence of the film. Of course, critics cannot stand to see that his talents can be so broad as to pull off the serious roles. One would think that they would grow tired of whining over his steps out of their type-casting him in only light comedies. A giant hoorah for his talent.
One last comment on the film: it is the greatest act of romantic arts since Jonathan Livington Seagull.
The Jackal (1997)
Just Silly
There really isn't much to be said of the film but that it tries and fails. It ultimately turns out to be a substandard cliche of an action movie.
(They featured Bruce Willis kissing a guy!!! How could they?)