dindrane Reviews

Star Slammer (1986)

pretend it's a spoof if you want to survive

[2/10 · 26 February 2004]

There is a leech-eating scene.... need I say more? At one point, during the requisite prison cafeteria food-fight scene, several of the actresses literally crack up and start giggling during their lines.

One of the actresses, a doctor, was actually not half bad (in comparison), and I felt very sad for her; the rest of the actresses didn't seem to take the script seriously at all, and who can blame them? They were probably coeds promised free beer if they showed up and read from cue cards.

This movie is so very bad that it's actually hysterically funny.

What Dreams May Come (1998)

Open your eyes

[8/10 · 30 October 1999]

A movie often maligned by jaded American audiences, What Dreams May Come deserves a second look. It doesn't forget that cinema is a *visual* medium, yet it also keeps up with the fact that they're supposed to be telling a story. The lack of character development has been decried by some, but the fact that all of the characters are *dead* should be understood, as should the fact that all of the main characters do, in fact, change and grow, becoming, paradoxically, more alive than they were in life. The movie succeeds in being touching and tragic without becoming overly maudlin. It is a prime example of how very individual life (and the afterlife) really is. Your individual idea of heaven or hell is not *supposed* to be identical to anyone else's, and the movie does not forget that. We, as audiences, shouldn't either.

A wonderful film that could do much to rejuvenate the tired Hollywood hit machine. Give it an honest chance with open eyes.

The 13th Warrior (1999)

read the original, then see the film

[7/10 · 30 October 1999]

An interesting modern take on Beowulf. It was distressing to me, however, how many people did not recognize the literary classic in either this movie or Crichton's novel. Don't forget to read the original Beowulf, compare that to the changes Crichton made in his novel, and *then* go see this film. It will enrich your appreciation of the movie, and it just might help you figure out what's going on behind the scenes and to understand the characters a bit better.

Certain scenes toward the end of the film make the whole worthwhile, and Bandaras does a great job without having to be the toughest man on the screen all the time.

Don Juan DeMarco (1994)

New way of seeing reality

[10/10 · 30 October 1999]

Reality is what we make it, and love is all that is Real. That's the well-taken message of this movie, perhaps a bit too philosophical for what we expect from a Hollywood blockbuster. Depp is brilliant in his role as the legendary Don Juan, making it clear that what the heart believes is all that is really worthy of being called "Truth." Watch this movie and find your own truth, no matter what society tells you to believe.

The Scent of Green Papaya (1993)

well-deserved victory at Cannes

[9/10 · 30 October 1999]

Wonderful characterization makes this film more than a romance or any other one category. This movie says more with silences than it does with words. Every detail is carefully planned from set design to wardrobing, but without seeming pretentious or affected. If you are new to Asian films, this isn't a bad one to start with.

Dreams (1990)

The definition of Cinematography

[10/10 · 30 October 1999]

See this movie. I'm begging you. It's the most visually stunning movie I've ever seen, but does not lose sight of the story (or stories, in this case). The effects do not overshadow the actors or the tales. Kurosawa once again proves that he is the Avatar of Film.

Waxwork (1988)

see it if you're a fan of horror

[30 October 1999]

A movie with a plot strong enough to survive the bad acting and horrid casting decisions. See it for the cinematography and the effects, as well as for the amusing and clever takes on the horror milieu. Don't be put off by the actors--they're only there to take you on the ride. Not excellent, but not bad, either.

Bell Book and Candle (1958)

Amusing, anti-feminist romp

[6/10 · 30 October 1999]

As a huge fan of both Novak and Stewart, I was amused by this light-hearted romantic comedy. Novak was brilliant in her role as the darkly attractive bohemian witch.

----Spoiler Alert----

However, take a look at the stunning anti-feminist angle of this movie... Witches lose their powers if they fall in love, leaving Novak's character at the end powerless, but *of course* she is glad to trade independence and her family connections for domestic bliss with Stewart. Watch how her wardrobe changes, moving from uninhibited (and comfortable) to standard 1950's Donna Reed fare at the end, complete with pantyhose and high-heels around the house. It's sad, really. Apparently, this movie believes that women should give up all their power and individual Self gladly in order to have love and a home of their own.

Still amusing, but don't take it to heart.