Mike-309 Reviews

Troy (2004)

Realistic View of the Trojan War

[28 May 2004]

There are no gods or other types of mythological characters. It seems that director Wolfgang Petersen wanted this film to have a more "realistic" point of view. Also, the unexpected plot twists are very acceptable. If you already know the story, then you'll find Troy quite amusing.

It also focuses on the relation between Briseis and Achilles, which many filmmakers weren't interested with. It's a good and refreshing plot.

Probably Brad Pitt's performance isn't Oscar worthy, neither Diana Kruger's and Orlando Bloom's. But the surrounding events and monumental battles make it a very entertaining film. I also liked Odysseus' (Sean Bean) involvement in the war.

It's a movie I'll watch more than once, and probably own the DVD.

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Jonathan Swift could have been proud

[15 June 2003]

Hayao Miyazaki is without a doubt, the best story teller of Japan. His version of the Laputa Island episode in "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift, transports us into this magical and technologically innovative world. All the characters fit into their roles. The English version, is masterfully personified by Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, and Mark Hamill among others.

Great entertainment, mystery, drama and adventure are the trademarks of this masterpiece of anime by Miyazaki. Worth to be watched by the whole family.

Shazam! (1974–1977)

Captain Marvel triggered the production of Superman: The Movie

[8 March 2003]

Back in the mid-70's, Captain Marvel became the sensation of superheroes on TV. It had mysticism, morale and emotion; even though, Captain Marvel never fought against a foe that could match his abilities. And the special effects were cheap, considering the time it was made.

The storyline was much more interesting. Billy Batson was privileged by receiving the combined powers of the Six Wise Immortals: Solomon, Hercules, Agamenon, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury. Each one gave him respectively: wisdom, strength, courage, stamina, invulnerability, and speed. He only had to invoke the acrostic of their names: SHAZAM!, and he transformed himself into the Mightiest Mortal of Earth (with Superman-like powers, without the inconvenience of kryptonite).

Alongside him, was Mentor (who probably was a former receiver of the powers). Both of them traveled through the country, helping the ones in need.

The most interesting part came when Captain Marvel and Isis (a "sister" TV show) made cameos in their respective TV shows. It was nice to see both characters working together, and helping each other when the situation was getting out of hand.

Camp Nowhere (1994)

Good to see the beginning of today's stars

[2 March 2003]

A very ingenious and enjoyable comedy for all the family. Most of the Y-geners can delight watching their stars at the beginning of their acting careers: Jonathan Jackson ("General Hospital"), Andrew Keegan (10 Things I Hate About You), Marnette Patterson ("Movie Stars"), Jessica Alba ("Dark Angel"), and Allison Mack ("Smallville").

It's also good for the X-geners to see Christopher Lloyd and Thomas F. Wilson together again (they previously appeared on the Back to the Future trilogy, as Dr. Emmett L. Brown and Biff Tannen, respectively).

It's a load out of fun! Highly recommendable.

A Walk to Remember (2002)

A Performance to Remember

[2 July 2002]

There's no doubt that Mandy Moore (blondie turned brunette) really put heart and soul on her performance in this movie. With this, she has surpassed her "competition" (Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and Christina Aguilera) by way too long. Now I know why she won her MTV Movie Award as Best Breakthrough Performance. She has started her acting career with the right foot.

Shane West seemed to have helped her a lot. There was plenty of compatibility between them. His performance was also good (probably because of his previous appearance on the melodramatic TV show "Once and Again").

And finally, the story itself was very good. Sad and touching, though.

The songs performed by Mandy Moore herself, help people to catch the mood of the movie. One thing I can assure you: every time you hear a song from her, this movie will pop into your mind from now on.

One last advice, if you have a weepy heart: have at hand of box of tissues, or a napkin (the same thing if your significant other is right next to you).

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

Improving, but still with plot holes.

[18 June 2002]

I was thrilled to be one of the first ones to see the movie in Latin America, and I was really satisfied when I left the theater.

Hayden Christensen surpassed my expectations. He portrayed a very good Anakin. He could switch from good to evil instantly. Probably he did over acting in some scenes, but his work was overall satisfactory.

I'm sorry that I can't say the same of Natalie Portman. She clearly gave signs that she didn't wanted to act good in this movie. It was like if someone behind cameras was holding a cardboard with her dialogue written in it. It's a pity, because she has talent. She demonstrated it in her early films; The Professional (1994), Beautiful Girls (1996) and Anywhere But Here (1999). No wonder the media asked her constantly if she had liked to work with Christensen in this movie. That didn't ruined the movie for me, though.

Ewan McGregor made a better role this time than in The Phantom Menace. His investigative work was captivating. Still, his character demonstrated weakness in many of the scenes on which he appeared.

Christopher Lee is a good villain, but people want to see a Darth Vader, that hasn't appeared yet in this prequels. Ian McDiarmid made a much smaller appearance, and in his short interventions he made some really clue moves.

Finally, George Lucas could cover some of the plot holes he started in Episode I, and he made new ones. Let's just hope that he'll close the circle by the end of Episode III.

Rating: 8/10.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

This story began 2000 years ago

[17 March 2002]

Touching. I really don't know how to call it: a futuristic fairy tale, or a futuristic fable. It's just filled with allegories. In a few words, a great adaptation. Not even Collodi dreamed that his tale was going to be transformed into this.

I guess that the movie triggers these two questions: How far can human technology advance? Which will be the limit between artificial intelligence and real feelings?

It's a pity that Mr. Kubrick never really had the opportunity to make this movie according to his own perceptions. But Mr. Spielberg did a good job, though.

Advice: Listen to Gigolo Joe's prophetic words.

And this is my last question: Did Teddy had real feelings for David, or it was programmed to act in such way?

This, I leave it to you.

Soul Survivors (2001)

Nice start, empty ending

[12 March 2002]

Yes, the movie totally absorbs, making you wonder what's really happening. Definitely, a very surrealistic movie.

As the plot continues, the emotion begins to fade. Up to the end, there are mainly fast flashes of different scenes, where you don't know the difference between the real world and the "world of the dead".

Also, I don't know what significance, or importance to the plot, does the kissing scene between Raven and Annabel has. Probably, it was included to give it a more "erotic" taste.

Gives the impression that Eliza Dushku always want to surpass Sarah Michelle Gellar in everything!

Looks like we'll have to wait for a sequel (or at least, that's the intention of the producers).

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The film will never match the book, but...

[22 December 2001]

...it was a very well produced movie.

It's been 10 years since I read the trilogy, and after watching the movie, lots of memories came to my mind. Of course, some things were changed from the original plot outline in the books, but I think that the film has become a great breakthrough in the history of the 7th art.

I like mostly the part where we feel the presence of evil on the ring. It's creepy how the ring emanates such a malign power, and the characters feel helpless against such a menace.

The image of Sauron's eye, his spirit, the Ringwraiths, and the land of Mordor are perfectly portrayed on the movie. It almost looks like the situations shown on the books. I think that's the most important thing about the realization of the film: everything turns around the One Ring, the One to Rule them All. Forget about the Fellowship, Gollum, Bilbo, the Orks, and all that spins around it. The movie focuses mainly on the ring, the origin of all the trouble.

Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

Nostalgic remake of the TV cartoon show, fitted for our times

[22 August 2001]

The TV cartoon show of 1970 was silly; so is this movie. But the ones who like to remember those happier days will be satisfied with the film.

In order of best resemblance with the original characters: 1) Tara Reid as Melody. 2) Rachael Leigh Cook as Josie. 3) Rosario Dawson as Valerie. 4) Gabriel Mann as Alan. 5) Paulo Costanzo as Alexander. 6) Missi Pyle as Alexandra.

Why? Well, the original Melody always came up with stupid comments, ideas, or thoughts; so did Tara Reid, giving Melody the right pitch of voice for every intervention she made.

Josie...no one knows why she was really the leader of the group, probably because she was the vocalist of the band. You noticed that Josie was present due to the fact that Alexandra was jealous of her. And that's how Rachael Leigh Cook personified her. She's really that outstanding.

Valerie: she was the brainy of the gang. Always planning how to catch the bad guys. But this time, Rosario Dawson couldn't impose her character, which really was an important piece of the machinery. It's a pity, because the original Valerie was charming.

Alan. He was the stud, the leading man. Gabriel Mann also couldn't give him enough weight on the movie (or maybe because the writers didn't wanted to). His physical appearance didn't helped him very much either to fill in the space of the original Alan.

Alexander was always the coward, whining guy; not the "Mr. Wise Guy". Paulo Costanzo portrayed him as a lazy, good-for-nothing manager. The original Alexander, had, at least, more personality.

Alexandra and The Pussycats. That's how the show should have been called originally. She gave life to the TV cartoon show. It was so funny to see her fighting for Alan over Josie. But, on the other hand, on the movie, she was a zero to the left. Maybe the writers should have put more emphasis in such an important character.

The movie was funny, though. I liked more the part where the guys of Dujour appeared, making a bunch of fools of the Backstreet Boys, N Sync, and all those teeny bopper bands.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

A dedication to the handicapped

[8/10 · 23 February 2001]

Truly, Edward Scissorhands is one of Tim Burton's masterpieces. He mixes mystery, fear, magic, legend, incomprehension and love. Mainly, the relation between Kim Boggs (Ryder) and Edward Scissorhands (Depp) goes far beyond any imagination could have thought before (no wonder why they dated after the making of the movie). In a few words, a contemporary fairy tale of how a man-made robot could have become the model of human perfection, until a tragic event crumbles everything down, and how the love of a girl gives him the inspiration to carry on with his life to bring beauty and happiness to the people on the town. Every time I see this movie, it makes me think that life is short and that you must have to get the most out of it...never lose time.

Loser (2000)

On the tradition of The Last American Virgin (1982)

[17 February 2001]

Loser (2000) definitely transported me back to The Last American Virgin (1982). The main characters of each one: Gary on Virgin, and Paul on Loser have basically the same problems...bad company and a girl they really love and could die for. The music is also basic for giving the mood for both movies. Virgin had catchy tunes like "Whip It" by Devo, "Keep On Lovin' You" by REO Speedwagon, "Open Arms" by Journey, "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" by The Police, "That's The Way I Like It" by KC and The Sunshine Band; while Loser contains tunes like "Right Now" by SR-71, "What's My Age Again" by Blink 182, "Blue" by Eiffel 65, "Bad Touch" by The Bloodhound Gang, "Pretty Fly For A White Guy" by Offspring, "Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus, two tunes by Everclear, and many other memorable ones; including, oh surprise! "Get Down Tonight" also by KC and The Sunshine Band. In a few words, the movies were set for the moment they were passing through.

MAIN SIMILARITIES: Spoiler Alert 1. In both movies we see that the love interests of the main characters are in distress. 2. In Virgin, Gary has to save Karen from having an unwanted pregnancy. He has to sell all his expensive sound equipment to pay for the abortion. In Loser, Paul rescues Dora from dying of an overdose, claims to be her boyfriend and takes her to his place. Also she prevents her from continuing the use of fertility drugs, because of the risk of contracting cancer. 3. In Virgin, Karen returns to the arms of Rick (after their disastrous affair), not giving importance to the help that Gary gave her, and how much he cared about her. In Loser, Dora returns with the Professor Edward Alcott, even though she treated her like trash, and forgetting how much fun she had with Paul. The endings of course are different, but both movies give you a very entertaining time. Great deja vu!

Cruel Intentions 2 (2000 Video)

More skin and erotism than the first one

[24 January 2001]

Definitely, the actors that portray the main characters lack the talent of the actors that appeared on the 1999 movie of the same title. You can't compare Amy Adams with the experience of Sarah Michelle Gellar; or the looks of Robin Dunne against Ryan Phillippe. Sarah Thompson and Keri Lynn Pratt, though, add a very fresh look to the movie, making them the breakthrough elements of the film.

About the story itself, I might say that there are plenty of deja-vu's from the first movie, even though this one presents some interesting twists that transforms it into a big surprising movie. As I mentioned before, since the actors lack the talent of the ones from the original movie, this story includes more raw flesh and erotic situations to make it a more interesting film.

In a few words, you will like this movie if you loved all the previous teen-flicks that have been projected on the last 3 years, and specially the Cruel Intentions of 1999.