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Reviews
Babettes gæstebud (1987)
Never has food and humanity been so perfectly filmed
Hollywood filmmakers and all those who think either terminator movies or anything by Spielberg is the acme of cinematic art should watch this movie. Stunningly acted, beautifully filmed, a dry, thoughtful script and at under two hours a sublime way to think about the physical, spiritual and emotional human state without ever being subject to pious or pretentious directorial manipulation. The DVD 15 years is just as enjoyable as the original cinema release.Give yourself a treat and enjoy.
Your Friends and Neighbors (1998)
Just 'Friends'with an explicit script and even less plot
Like TV's 'Friends'this does intially hold the attention. however soon charcters which intially are interesting become boring and irritating and this renains true even when the only subject of conversation is explicitly sexual. Ultimately I didn't believe in or care about the characters and when , not surprisingly the film just ended it was quite a relief. Satellite viewing only when's there's no decent football on!
High Heels and Low Lifes (2001)
Absurd plot - but who cares, great fun.
Enlightened by the sumptuous Minnie Driver this feel good British movie succeeds in one of cinema's prime functions - to entertain - and it does this consistently for its 85 minutes. Of course it isn't real and you can see much of what's coming in the plot, but this really has much more to offer than most equivalent American light comedies dominating the screen. DVD, Video or satellite essential viewing.
Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
Oh please someone tell him he's not funny
This film is by far the worst I've seen for some time. Tom Green is not funny. He's an adolescent misogynist who pretends he's 'challenging conformity' when in fact he's reinforcing all the reactionary stereotypes which he presumably disapproves of .. or does he. Avoid at all costs, this film is never funny and worthless in almost every respect.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Unoriginal, illogical, unintelligible and far far too long
I do have an aversion to utter schmuck, sentimentality and pretentious protection of the american myth that charagterises Spielberg films. However, most of them do look really good, have reasonable acting and plots which whilst usually drawn out ad nauseum do make sense. However, AI barely has these redeeming characteristics and watching on DVD I was soon worrying about a slight sound defect on my TV so uninvolving was the film. Ok Teddy was cute (and would have been better in Toy Story) but please I cared little for the rest of the characters, whether meccas or origs. This story could have been a gritty exploration of the future (a glossy version of Blade Runner)but Spielberg bailed out to commercialism and emotional manipulation which surely by passed every conceivable (discerning) audience. 3 out of 10 and it only gets that because of Teddy!
Just Visiting (2001)
Better than expected - but a bit of a mess really.
I had very low expectations of this movie - time travel is an overworked theme and I did wonder about Reno (who I will forever associate with Leon) leading in a comedy film. However, there are a few good moments although a little more imagination (and a bigger budget)would have improved things.The plot also goes nowhere for such along time that the reliance on standard 'situation'comedy dries up quickly. Video or DVD for a cold rainy night when you've nothig better to do and you have a mixed age audience viewing.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
A bit long but if you like computer generated action this is the movie for you
I felt this was superior to TFOR - if only because it was slightly less derivative of other movies. No I'm afraid that these films are not that original - but modern technology enables them to be so well made they are genuinely spectacular. Characterisation of the human actors is a little poor and with the alarming theme of people being killed and then returning to life - you don't really care if they might be the one who doesn't last the movie! However, my 14 year old son, as with the first film, thought it was fantastic so that merits it an 8 out of 10 especially at three hours. I warn you however, that my wife - a literary fan - fell to sleep occasionally so not all your companions will necessarily be satisfied with the evening out.
Proof of Life (2000)
Stunning pictures - shame about the plot
Yes, Ecuador is beautiful and so of course is Meg Ryan - but that can hardly justify spending over two hours on this unfathomable, poorly directed 'blockbuster'. I just never believed the situation, characters or relationships. Ryan and Crowe try hard but are overwhelmed by the incredulous situation and the disturbing portrayal of the locals as either stupid or just plain evil.Should and could have been better. 5 out of 10.
Along Came a Spider (2001)
The spider came along but really not that surprising
Morgan Freeman is, as ever, terrific in this movie which must have looked good as a written script. However, I don't think it quite hangs together as a plot - probably because some crucial scenes probably got lost on the cutting room floor. Never the less, entertaining hollywood fare which boasts some decent action sequences. See it on satellite or DVD.