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Reviews
Independence Day (1996)
not bad
Since I don't like the Fresh Prince of Belair, I never went to see this movie when it was in the theaters. Leopards never change their spots and no matter how hard he tries Will Smith, like Richard Thomas will forever be identified as 'John-Boy' (from 'The Waltons), Larry Hagman will always be known as 'J.R', (from 'Dallas'), Elizabeth Montgomery could never escape the appellation of Samantha (from 'Bewitched'), will never be anything more in life than the Fresh Prince Prince of Belair. He is after all a goof-ball ham. He destroyed Robert Conrad's prideful series reputation of the original 'Wild Wild West' with his purely irreverent mockery of the 'Wild Wild West (1999)'. Robert Conrad personally accepted the Razzie Awards for that despicable turkey of a movie to express his disgust about what was done to his source material by the Prince. Sources seem to differ who has top billing for 'Independance Day', the Prince or Bill Pullman. Even the TV Guides on cable indicate the Prince has top billing so I didn't want to watch the movie. I did finally watch this movie on cable with great apprehension and preparing to barf at another performance by the Prince, but I was not disappointed. The Prince was heavily surrounded with such real talent during the movie that his presence in the movie didn't have a deleterious affect. United States Marine Officers do not swagger down the flight line. They do not whine and have tantrum. The Prince's impersonation of a Marine office was no less shameful and irreverent as his movie the 'Wild Wild West (1999)'.
Sin City (2005)
Incoherent collage of stories
I don't know what the film critics are so gaga about this movie. I've looked over almost every single one of the advanced reviews from so many and am at loss at their delusions over this movie. Too many directors can ruin a film. The viewer is left wondering the purpose of the first murder by the assassin. The second murder by the assassin is easy to figure. If this film was edited by a real editor, instead of Rodriguez, it would make a whole lot more sense. Characters who were dead just a moment ago are now alive.
Any one over 50 will see this as some sort of 21st Century 1940's film noir done in semi-color format to look like a comic book. Rodriguez, who probably has never even a seen a 1940's black and white film such as the classic "Laura", "The Ghost and Mrs Muir", or "The Mark of Zorro", has created a collage of story plots incoherently pasted together.
Any man who prefers women over guys will love many parts of this movie. Gail and many of her hooker friends, as well as Lucille, have the sweetest bods and look great almost naked through out the entire movie.
I give this film six out ten stars at best.
Darklight (2004)
What a pity...
Sweet Shiri is all grown up now and still quite lovely, but she must have been desperate for money to do this film. It's clearly low-budget. There's something wrong with the audio. It's like everyone is speaking through some sound filter. Their voices just don't sound right. This movie is so bad only a heterosexual male fan of Shiri would want to see this film. Richard Bergi, John De Lancie, Richard Gnolfo, and David Hewlett do their best to support this lousy production, but still seeing and watching Shiri is the only incentive to continue to the end of the film. I have no idea why this movie is Rater R. The Cable Guide referred to this as a Comedy, Romance and Horror flick. It wasn't funny or scary to watch.
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Almost supreme
Possible spoilers...
From the first movie it almost seemed that Bourne was some sort of high class android. What man has so much knowledge, skills, speaks all spoken languages and is a Master at Martial Arts? What was that thing found in his head by the ship's medic? Who ever heard of two bullets only stopping at skin deep? Who ever heard of anyone floating around in the sea for days without being eaten by sharks? Who ever heard of anyone floating in the sea for days without dying from exposure and the freezing cold water? Why did Bourne just suddenly wake up after the bullets were removed from his back? None of these questions are answered in Bourne II.
There were no opening credits for Bourne II. It just sort of picked up where the first one finished. When did he go to and what was he doing in India? When at first I didn't see the girl, I thought she was already killed by the CIA. The covers on the bed started moving and a girl appeared. It wasn't clear what would trigger Bourne to seek reprisal on the CIA until a gun shot caused the fatal accident. This is the only thing that made the movie somewhat predictable. We already know from the first movie the he's a remorseful assassin who has regained his humanity. This is not the first time an assassin has realized his conscience. James Coburn, in "Hard Contract" (1969), plays the part of John Cunningham an assassin hired to terminate a retired reclused assassin. Cunningham develops doubts about his work from his relationship with a prostitute. The retired assassin tells Cunningham that he would never kill again for any reason even to save his own life. This really disturbs Cunningham and makes him reconsiders his line of work. Bourne soon remembers his past. In Supremacy Bourne does something commendable in the second to the last scene of the movie. He restores a daughter's faith and feelings for her parents.
This movie was action packed, well done and has a sense of morality. These days morality in a movie is a lost and foreign concept. I give it 8 out 10 stars.
Charlie's Angels (2000)
It's a chick-flick.
It's fun, funny, sometimes silly and too mildly sexy. It has no female nudity. The three boyfriends are portrayed as either milquetoasts or appear as drooling infantile boys. All of this adds up to a chick flick. Murray acts like an idiot throughout most of the film. Only Lucy could ever play such a convincing dominatrix. Watching her is almost the only reason for seeing this film. It has only one really cool scene...in the alley...after that just enjoy the ride as the roller coaster casually slows to a stop.