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Ms. Lennon
Reviews
The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)
The least out of control movie I have seen
When I rented this movie, I expected some wild gross-out, something that John Waters may have found humorous back in the day.
This movie is probably the least shocking, least out of control I have seen. Does somebody find this shocking? Or funny? This is the type of thing people found funny in the 30's. Asians with Donald Duck accents, hitting two characters in the head with a microphone for an entire skit, a guy scratching his butt? I imagine some unpopular uncle laughing out loud at this while elbow nudging unimpressed family members.
This unfortunate expense of 83 minutes brings slapstick to a new and shamefully unfunny low.
Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
That red white and blue
Movies like this are interesting as they truly bolster the mind-set most Americans have concerning their military and global presence. The writers immediately thrust the viewer into their belief (which I guess they think everyone *naturally* believes, of course, who would think otherwise except those commie b***ards...) that NATO is an all-reigning hero just trying to establish a little peace while those immoral, honorless, thick-accented Bulkaners are wrecking the whole thing. What does reign in this movie is the typical "yankee" mind-set of being a world cop that maintains all good in the world. What I don't understand is how the NATO general that's higher ranking than Gene Hackman gets to be a bad guy. Supposing the Serbian situation was really as depicted in the movie, he's the only intelligent one out of the group...Somehow him trying to stop Hackman from sending in troops to save one piddly soldier because it could shatter the entire peace process is a bad thing. If Hackman's character had anymore brains then a ton of lead (which he apparently doesn't) he would realize that one soldier isn't worth the peace of a entire country. Who really cares, uh? Too bad for Wilson's character, he shouldn't have been flying in a demilitarized zone anyway, he can walk to a refugee camp or Red cross station like everyone else...Though watching Wilson's character running from a dark, unshaven Serbian bad guy was enough entertainment to keep my brain running in neutral, I found the bullet-dodging talents of Wilson quite amusing. In the first dodging sequence it was engaging, in the second less, by the third it was standard and after that the only thing to keep you awake was your own eye-movement (Yes, there was more than three bullet/mine/missile sequences..far more). The film got so utterly and disgustingly red white and blue at the end I almost vomited. One of the only pro's of the movie was that the main character wasn't some buff, rippling heart throb but rather a crooked nosed, casual everyday guy. Relating back to NATO, a scarily ironic point my husband bought up is that that destroyed town in the mine sequence was more likely victim to NATO's bombs than anything else.
Anyway, its a good movie if you like watching the Hollywood film industry play with people's perceptions of the American government and military as world cops and righteous heroes. Otherwise, if you're like me, read a couple books on Yugoslavian history and current events instead so you can get a full, balanced and real scoop on Serbian happenings.
Chunhyangdyun (2000)
Variety is the spice of life 8/10
This is a wonderful and beautifully done film.
Critics of this film, at least on this website, exaggerate any negative aspects of this picture.
A little patience and willingness to accept that which does not involve Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone are a must for this film. Persons too narrow minded to appreciate a non-western culture will not be able to enjoy it.
However, if you have patience and are wanting to watch a movie that is actually worth watching, Chunhyang is a must. The picture is beautiful, and the narration is a wonderful way of including ancient Korean poetry into the picture without spoiling it. Soemtimes there are so many subtitles that it distracts from the films, but dubbing would completely ruin it, so that is the biggest negative.
The direction is good, acting good, which is to say that you don't think about the quality of acting as you watch it, which is good. Costumes, lighting, and all technical aspects are good.
The plot is very folk tale, but for those who do not know it, it is far, far, far better than what Hollywood puts out these days. By far the worst part of the experience was watching the previews.
I hope you'll take the time to go see this film and see a beautiful movie with great landscape shots. A cultural treat for those not wanting to see Not Another Teen Movie.
À ma soeur! (2001)
Beautiful, truthful and shocking
Please take time to see this movie. This movie is a beautiful portrait of human nature. Yes HUMAN nature, not female nature, not male nature, human nature. People like to dub this a man hating movie, but when you see it for yourself you'll see it's nothing of the like. The characters, both male and female, are far from virtuous, the mother is cold, relentless and hateful, the father smug and selfish, Fernando's mother does 'his dirty work' and is herself artificial etc. etc...All aspects of human action and reaction is taken into account and exposed. The perhaps shocking yet truthful part of this movie is Anias's cold hard logic which in the end proves correct. The reason most people didn't understand this movie is either because they didn't take the time to analyze it (it is permeated with symbolism, especially direct contrast), it hit a chord with them, or they are in denial about themselves. It may be unsettling, it may have gotten bad reviews, but sometimes the truth hurts.
It's Alive (1974)
What the heck...
What in the heck was the producer/director and all other film crew thinking when they made this movie? It's Alive was the biggest piece of tosh I have ever been unfortunate enough to watch. The only parts that were remotely frightening we're when the baby showed it's face (even then, cheap 70's props were really crappy and cheezy), WHEN it showed it's face. All the parts in between weren't able to grab my attention, and I mostly fast forwarded through all of them.
*SPOILERS MIGHT BE AHEAD*
Can someone explain to me why the doctors and parents are so non-chalant after the baby kills 7 or 8 surgeons and then hides on the roof? Is this common place? Is there always man-killing, roof-climbing, fanged babies running about? And why is it so hard for 40 police men to shoot a small and slow target? JEEZ. Rent the movie for yourself, if you want a movie that will put you to sleep or make you die of boredom (which ever comes first).