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Reviews
The Stepford Wives (2004)
Mercifully Short
Spoilers herein.
I understand from other comments that there are two versions of this remake.
In the one that I did not see, the ending apparently discloses that the wives are robots and not merely lobotomized/microchip modified. Apparently that ending did not play well with test audiences and the result was the microchip ending. Failing to edit out the sparks emitting from Faith Hill's ears and the ATM scene suggests an abandonment of any intention to make a meaningful film. This must have been pushed out the door with the primary goal of recouping costs. As the credits rolled, I expected to see that this was a film by Alan Smithee. The basic concept was to remake a Sci-Fi / Thriller / Mystery film in a different genre (Comedy / Drama / Thriller). This film is interesting from the perspective of film industry analysis of the desperate efforts Hollywood takes when an expensive project fails to meet high expectations. Perhaps the DVD will make some sense out of this mess.
The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
So bad it could be a cult classic
This should be in the top 100 worst movies of all time. Like many cult classics it improves with age as its unintentional hilarity increases with time. I saw Shape of Things to Come on opening night without the benefit of any advance reviews. At the time I felt that my hard earned part-time summer job savings had never been so wasted. However, now I split a gut in Plan 9 fashion with the added benefit of fast forward. Only if bad SciFi amuses you should you give this a try. The special effects are stunningly bad at times. Palance and Lynley mail in their performances (and for Lynley, think worse than Poseidon Adventure - yikes!). I don't know if this was ever on Mystery Science Theater 3000; but that would be the perfect venue for viewing this space junk.