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Die Geschichte vom weinenden Kamel (2003)
Nice documentary of a different way of life.
This is definitely not a Hollywood film. It documents a way of life far from our western culture. After watching the film several times, I find its relaxing pace and story line quite enjoyable, and began to feel as though I know as friends the family within it.
No car chases, gratuitous sex, or explosions. Some nudity.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
If you buy the premise, the story is mildly amusing.
I love romantic comedies. I held high hopes for this one. But the setup is such a stretch that it's difficult to suspend disbelief. The IDEA sounds clever, but the writing does not deliver. At times I thought I was watching a Doris Day / Rock Hudson movie,or an episode of I LOVE LUCY. In the end, either would have been a better choice.
Two Weeks Notice (2002)
A beautiful little romantic comedy
TWO WEEKS' NOTICE <8> Romantic Comedy Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant Dir: Marc Lawrence
An activist lawyer is hired by her arch-enemy, the corporate tycoon.
A beautiful little romantic comedy put together in a tastefully
understated and believeable way. You know they are going to get
together, but it's great fun watching it happen.
Chicago (2002)
Simply incredible!
CHICAGO <10> Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones. Dir: Rob Marshall
What would you get if MOULIN ROUGE mated with CABARET?
CHICAGO has to take the award for most innovative film
adaptation of a play. The segues from live action to stage
performance are seamless and utterly breathtaking. The
cinematography is superb. I never saw CHICAGO on stage, but it
couldn't have been better than this.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Brilliant re-creation of the '60s
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN <10> Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Martin Sheen Dir: Steven Spielberg
Based on a true story, the FBI is on the trail of a young check
forger. The film is takes place in the 1960s, and is brilliantly done
in the film style of era. The opening credits are animated, and set
the tone for the movie. While leisurely in its pacing, CATCH ME is
by no means slow. I saw this with a full house, and there was
much outright, prolonged laughter!
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Not a 'big' film, it is still loaded with fun and ethnic humor.
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING ***_ Romantic Comedy Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine
Much to the dismay of her family, a Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek. The movie chronicles the clash of cultures as the families come together. Not a 'big' film, it is still loaded with fun and ethnic humor. No car chases or explosions. Definitely worth seeing.
White Oleander (2002)
A melodrama about how to mess up a young girl's life.
This film is basically a downer. Maybe it's just too true-to-life for
me, as I always prefer films which make me laugh or feel happy in
the end. But if you're into serious dramas, you should love this film.
It is well directed and acted.
While production values overall are quite good, the entire film was
shot with a HANDHELD camera. Not Steadicam, just bare, naked
handheld! ! Like home movies. Early in the picture, there's a scene
with mother and daughter on the roof. The camerawork is so jiggly
in that scene I couldn't concentrate on the plot, as I feared the
cameraman was about to fall over the edge of the roof. Having
seen the rest of the film, it might have made a better film if he had.
There are no car chases or explosions, and that's a definite plus.
4 out of 10.
Juwanna Mann (2002)
Tastefully done, and better than expected.
It's not SOME LIKE IT HOT, but it's not bad either. It does require a certain suspension of disbelief, but it demonstrates good morality in the end. Guess I'm in the minority who believes it's worth seeing once.
The Bourne Identity (2002)
Reminiscent of European secret agent films of the 1960s, but better done.
BOURNE IDENTITY ***_ Action/Adventure Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Clive Owen
Jason Bourne can't remember anything prior to two weeks ago, when he was pulled out of the sea by a fishing trawler. But the CIA remembers him -- and wants him dead (Why is it always the CIA?). BOURNE is reminiscent of European secret agent films of the 1960s, except this is better done. Matt Damon does a fine job in the lead role. Good performances all around. Fistfights, gunfire, and a long car chase.
Windtalkers (2002)
Endless close combat, machine-gun fire, and explosions.
WINDTALKERS *+__ War/Action Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Peter Stormare
During WWII, a group of Navajo Indians enlist in the Marines to form a spoken code based on the Navajo language. Based on a true story. Unfortunately the details and story surrounding the Code Talkers is not nearly as well developed as one would have hoped. We see endless close combat, machine-gun fire, and explosions. Nicolas Cage and Adam Beach accomplish multiple John Wayne style acts of heroism. These were Marines on the very front lines, after all. Still, the filmmakers didn't need to include every explosion of every battle in this one film. If you've seen WE WERE SOLDIERS or the first reel of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, you have an idea of the intensity we are talking about here. This genre of film, which seems to be popular right now, shows the violence and gore of war in way more detail than I require.
Insomnia (2002)
An intense psychological drama.
INSOMNIA **+_ Crime/Thriller Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank
In rural Alaska, a police detective attempts to catch a murder suspect, but mistakenly shoots his own partner. The detective constructs an ever more complex web of lies to hide it. Then the bad guy tries his hand at blackmail. The title derives from the detective's inability to sleep with the combination of Alaska's midnight sun and his guilt over killing his partner. An intense psychological drama.
Enough (2002)
If you like action and suspense, this should do it for you.
ENOUGH **__ Drama/Thriller Jennifer Lopez, Bill Campbell, Tessa Allen
A woman finds herself in an abusive marriage and tries to escape.
But her husband won't let her leave, and seems always to be one step ahead of her. Finally she figures out what she has to do. In some ways, this reminds me of a Rocky movie. The plot is a bit hard to swallow, but if you like action and suspense, this should do it for you.
About a Boy (2002)
The story is slow, but heart-warming.
ABOUT A BOY **__ Drama/Comedy Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz
A well-to-do but immature man seems to have no purpose in life until a 12-year-old boy attaches himself to the man. The pair develops an unusual father-son relationship to the betterment of both. The story is slow, but heart-warming. No car chases. No explosions.
Bad Company (2002)
Bad Movie. Give it a miss!
BAD COMPANY +___ Action Anthony Hopkins, Chris Rock, Gabriel Macht
The CIA attempts to purchase a Nuclear bomb to prevent it being detonated on US soil (see the subtle difference?). The main plot point is Chris Rock pretending to be his own twin brother. There is virtually no story line, but lots of machine-gun fire and explosions.
Hard to believe Anthony Hopkins or Chris Rock would have become involved in a turkey like this. Give it a miss.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
A warm-hearted film which leaves you with a smile on your face.
DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD ***_ Comedy/Drama Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn, James Garner
After a major falling-out by mother and daughter, the mother's close friends try to help bring them back together. Many flashbacks give insights into the main characters. Since all the main characters are female, this classifies as a 'chick flick.' Out of an audience of about 100, I saw only one other man. And the ladies loved YA-YA -- laughing hysterically at some points. Apparently it touches a universal mother-daughter chord. One car chase. No explosions. This is a warm-hearted film which leaves you with a good feeling and a smile on your face.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Not a 'big' film, it is still loaded with fun and ethnic humor.
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING ***_ Romantic Comedy Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine
Much to the dismay of her family, a Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek. The movie chronicles the clash of cultures as the families come together. Not a 'big' film, it is still loaded with fun and ethnic humor. No car chases or explosions. Definitely worth seeing.
The Sum of All Fears (2002)
Excellent adventure/drama from the book by Tom Clancy.
SUM OF ALL FEARS ***+ Drama/Action Novel by Tom Clancy Ben Afflek, Morgan Freeman James Cromwell
The CIA attempts to locate a Nuclear bomb before it can be detonated on US soil. The film is extremely well put together. I especially like the degree of background detail and insight into human behavior it contains. While there are some plot flaws, overall the film is believeable, very exciting, and intense. Highly recommended.
The Sum of All Fears (2002)
Excellent adventure/drama from the book by Tom Clancy.
SUM OF ALL FEARS ***+ Drama/Action Novel by Tom Clancy Ben Afflek, Morgan Freeman James Cromwell
The CIA attempts to locate a Nuclear bomb before it can be detonated on US soil. The film is extremely well put together. I especially like the degree of background detail and insight into human behavior it contains. While there are some plot flaws, overall the film is believeable, very exciting, and intense. Highly recommended.