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Reviews
The Sixth Sense (1999)
This was fantastic!
I am generally not a fan of horror/thriller movies; it was only after several recommendations from others that I saw this...and I can definitely say that this is one of the most ingenious films out there. The ending completely took me by surprise. Plus, although there were scenes throughout the movie that seemed creepy, once I understood the reasoning behind the boy's "sense" I was able to reflect back on those scenes as thought-provoking instead of scary. The performances of all of the cast were marvelous, especially by Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment.
I highly recommend this film to anyone; even if you do not like thrillers, I believe you would enjoy this --- I can testify to that.
Needless to say, along with MANY others I have rated this movie 10/10.
Mystic Pizza (1988)
Nice Romantic Comedy
I first saw this movie when I was 17 and enjoyed it; more than 10 years later I still do. It does have some predictability to it, particularly in the relationship between Kat and the Yale alumnus. However, there are also some priceless scenes --- one of my favorites is how Jojo's parents react when they catch her and Bill in a "compromising" pose in the dining room. I thought the acting was well done, especially from Julia Roberts and Conchatta Ferrell.
Never Been Kissed (1999)
You've GOT to be kidding!
OK, I have seen "fluff" before, but this REALLY takes the cake. The story depicts a 25-year-old news reporter who must relive the horrors of her teen years as she is required to go undercover as a high school teen. So, once again she must go through the insecurities of trying too hard to fit in. Excuse me??? What 25-year-old is going to stress over whether she fits in with a crowd at least eight years younger than she? To top it off, her brother, also an adult, decides to do the same. While trying not to offer any spoilers, I will say that the storyline and ending is way too predictable. My only reason for seeing this is because I am a fan of Drew Barrymore, but I feel it was a waste of both her talent and that of Leelee Sobieski to stick them in such a story. I would suggest seeing this only if you are fans of any of the actors in this movie; otherwise, it is not worth your time.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
A Comedy Classic!
I have loved this since I first saw it in 1987. A hilarious story of a high school senior who goes through drastic measures just to have one relaxing day off. It is one of those types of slapstick comedies in which the scenes are so incredibly stupid, you cannot help but laugh at them. Excellent performances by all of the cast, especially Jeffrey Jones who portrays Rooney, the "evil" dean who has spent four years trying to destroy Ferris (and who really needs to get a LIFE!!!). All in all, a true comedy gem which should be considered a classic for years to come.
She's All That (1999)
It's OK --- seen better, seen worse
OK, so it's predictable and typical, but anyone who has seen any advertisements for this probably could have expected that. Although most of the characters were annoying, I did enjoy the performances by both Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook.
My other comment on the movie is, although people are correct in that aside from the glasses Laney didn't really look like a geek, I think most people can agree that the people who are negatively singled out at school aren't necessarily the "geeky" looking ones. Laney reminds me a lot of a friend of mine I had growing up. She wasn't ugly, but couldn't relate well to other kids. She eventually changed enough to where she was liked by others, but her overall personality and interests never changed --- which was sort of the same with Laney; even though she took off the glasses and started wearing make-up, she still basically wore the same clothing and had the same personality and interests.
Overall, it wasn't TOO bad of a movie.
Stand by Me (1986)
THE best!!!
Of all that I have seen, I believe this movie is by far my most favorite, and has been since I first saw it in 1987. It is a wonderful portrayal of four pre-teen boys who spend the last weekend of summer on an adventure before facing the difficult changes of junior high.
By now most everyone has seen this movie so I won't go into detail about the storyline, but I will comment on a couple of my favorite scenes, which hopefully should not serve as spoilers for anyone who might not have seen this yet. One of those that I really like is where Chris (River Phoenix) shares with Gordie (Wil Wheaton) how hard it is to be judged and ridiculed because of the family he comes from. Then later on Gordie in turn shares with Chris how hard it has been still living under the shadow of his popular older brother, who had been killed several months beforehand, and whom Gordie felt his parents loved more. Both scenes displayed compassion and total acceptance of best friends, as well as the insecurities each of them face even at that age.
This was a wonderful movie with a mixture of humor and sensitivity, without being downbeat at all. Wonderful performances by all of the cast, especially Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix. My only complaints about this movie are the profanity, which I understand was not quite as prominent in that era; and the fact that I wish it could have been longer. However, as I stated before it is my definite all-time favorite movie.
More than anything else, I believe that this movie is a reminder that no matter how far friends may drift apart as they get older, the memories they had shared will always remain in a person's heart.
Now and Then (1995)
Kept my interest, but all too similar
I did enjoy this movie, although like others I found too many similarities to "Stand By Me." Hopefully, that wasn't the sole intent of the producers. I did like the performances from the cast. If you do like "Stand By Me" I would recommend this movie as well.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Wonderfully Touching Movie
This is definitely one of the better films I have seen. As indicated in the other comments, the story depicts a young man, Gilbert Grape, who believes he is destined to stay in a small "nothing" town and help provide for his family, which includes an obese mother who has been unable to care for her family for years. Although this would make someone seem like a saint, he has his downfalls as well --- such as some of the jokes he cracks about his mother and the lack of attention he sometimes pays to his brother --- which is what makes his character realistic. As the movie progresses with him getting to know Becky, and situations that cause his mother to reflect on her insecurities about herself, I see a lot more depth in each of the characters. And even though Becky's personality was somewhat annoying to me, she had her good points throughout the story as well.
Excellent performances from all of the cast; one of my favorite movies of all time!
Varsity Blues (1999)
Better Than I'd Expected
When I had originally seen the previews for this movie, I had figured it would be a funny movie without much depth to it. After seeing it, however, I have considered this movie to be one of my favorites.
As most people well know, the movie displays the pressure of fame and achievement in a small football-oriented town. The coach is feared and respected by most of the community, including the town sheriff, and insists that everything is done his way alone. If the kids do everything he says, he pats them on the back and tells them how wonderful they are. If anyone does anything differently from what he says, he publicly badmouths and threatens them. Throughout the movie we see the teens begin to see the coach for whom he really is. And some of the characters who initially don't seem to have much depth --- such as Darcy and Tweeder, in my opinion --- have their serious moments to where one might have more respect for them. Throughout the storyline they learn that they don't necessarily have to follow a single set of rules in order to become successful.
However, I do have some criticisms as well. I felt that a lot of the nudity displayed wasn't necessary. Plus, the issue of whether Darcy had actually left Lance or whatever she had decided to do was unresolved. Also, I felt it was a major character flaw that Jules was so set against fame and football throughout most of the movie and then suddenly told Mox to "step up and play the hero." And finally, since Mox's father knew how much of a jerk the coach was, why was he as obsessed with football and winning as the rest of the town was?
Having grown up in a highly populated community, I can't judge whether the town displayed in the movie is realistic compared to actual small football towns. However, a friend of mine in a small Texas town has told me that it is similar to her town...so I'll have to take her word for that. In any case, what I like best about this movie is how the teens work together and give it their all in order to shine for at least that period of time. Although for obvious reasons I didn't play football in high school, I can remember that same concept in other extracurricular activities I was involved in. I especially like Mox's statement, "We have the rest of our lives to be mediocre, but we have the opportunity to play like gods for the next half of football." Having been out of high school for several years now, I can still think back to the people who stood out in my high school. Of course, I remember those who were popular, but I also remember those who weren't necessarily part of the "in crowd" but still made a difference somehow.
I would definitely recommend this movie; although the language and nudity might be somewhat offensive, there is a lot more to it than that.
Cookie's Fortune (1999)
Excellent!!!!
What can I say? This movie is one of the best I've ever seen. A very humorous storyline about quirky members of a small town. The characters were hilarious, and story had a lot of interesting twists to it. Terrific performances by all of the cast members. Needless to say, I would definitely recommend this to anyone!
The Bumblebee Flies Anyway (1999)
Perhaps unrealistic, but a good show
When I first came across this movie at the video store, I had previously heard nothing about it; however, the storyline interested me, and I was also familiar with both Elijah Wood and Rachael Leigh Cook.
As indicated in others' comments, the storyline depicts Barney Snow [Elijah Wood], a young man who is the only "non-terminal" patient in an experimental hospital for terminally-ill youngsters. He is initially advised by the doctor [Janeane Garofalo] to remain "detached" as he encounters the other patients. However, before long he develops friendships with several of them --- Allie, a young kid who stutters and has some sort of brain disease; Billy, a wisecracking but honest kid (he appears to me that he is in his teens) with a kidney disorder; and Alberto a.k.a "Mazzo", who appears to be around Barney's age, acts somewhat hostile and has bone cancer. Barney especially develops a close bond with Mazzo's fraternal twin sister Cassie [Rachael Leigh Cook], to whom he regularly reports Mazzo's condition as Mazzo won't see her when she visits.
The title comes from the notion that a bumblebee is able to fly even though scientifically its wings are too small, and this is the basis of the experiment being done on Barney.
Although I found the movie somewhat slow-moving, and the storyline sometimes unrealistic as he learns the truth of why he is there, I still enjoyed it. I like sensitive storylines, and even though I generally prefer they be a little less serious than what this was, this movie still ranks as one of my favorites. It was also the first time I had seen Elijah Wood in a role other than in a "cute little kiddie" or "teeny-bopper" movie, and I thought he did an excellent job. He and Rachael Leigh Cook seemed to work well together.
I wouldn't recommend this to everyone --- if you prefer something more upbeat, you probably would not like this movie. However, I would advise anyone who thinks this seems even remotely interesting to give it a chance.