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rodney_knight
Reviews
Forgotten Silver (1995)
Absolutely, positively and completely believable imposter
I channel-flicked onto Forgotten Silver just as it started at about 11:00 one weeknight a long time ago. Although totally exhausted from a day at the salt mines, I still couldn't turn off the TV. The story was compelling and convincing with enough irrelevant detail to give it the ring of truth. I was fascinated as fact after fact fell into place with the unmistakable rightness of truth.
It was only the next day, after bemusedly watching a workmate fold over laughing when I related the latest proof that a kiwi had beaten the Wright brothers to it and demanding explanation, that I discovered the whole thing was a complete fabrication. One of the few times since leaving kindergarten I have been completely taken for a ride and the only time I remember enjoying the trip.
If you appreciate a prank on the grand scale then you have to see Forgotten Silver or, better yet, see it with an unsuspecting friend.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
* * * THREE GOLDEN RULES * * *
ONE: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
TWO: Always do more than you have to and less than you're allowed to.
THREE: If you MISS one movie this year, make it Vanilla Sky.
I only saw this because my wife used to like Tom (until she saw this movie) and because she didn't want to see Lord of the Rings a third time, yet. We walked in halfway through the last trailer before it started. That back end of a nameless tralier was better than the movie we went to see.
DON'T DO IT TO YOURSELF!!!!!
And if you ignore this warning and decide to go anyway to satisfy your friend & soulmate - get the best value for your money and quietly go to sleep.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Unimaginably, the film completely does justice to the book.
I'm a pragmatic realist, as well as a LOTR fanatic of 22 years who re-reads the books every six months, so it was too much to expect that their essence could be captured in three hours. My most optimistic wish was that those who haven't ever enjoyed Tolkien before would all catch a glimpse of the depth of imagination, creativity and sheer wonder he injected into this tale.
In fact, I was simply overcome by the movie, despite already knowing the plot intimately and therefore exactly where it would take me next. Even if the story didn't capture my interest, the variety of scenes, visual imagery and incarnate creativity had sufficient impact to exhilirate all but the most sceptical critic.
I went back the very next day and enjoyed it more than the first time, because I no longer made comparisons back to the books. This film stands in its own right, but is also loyal to its origins. I don't know how they managed it.
I'm actually grateful they made the movie.