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twalker
Reviews
Camp (2003)
excellent music, very poor acting...
Let me start with the "movie" aspects of this movie. They stink. The "actors" can't act. It is obvious that they cast this movie based on musical/performance talent and the acting was secondary. There are a few exceptions such as Anna Kendrick (Fritzi,) but for the most part the cast is clueless about acting. The film was also rather poorly directed IMHO -- there are many camera angles, etc that just don't make sense. The plot...well, there IS no plot. It's a bunch of teenagers who are different because of their talent who come together every summer to be around people who are like them and who will accept them. That's it. The storyline about Vlad and his three girlfriends is SO unbelievable it's just silly. Daniel Letterle (Vlad) is by far the worst actor of the bunch. So for the "movie" aspects of this movie, I give it a 3/10.
Now for the musical/performance aspects of this movie, the story is much different. These kids can sing, dance, and perform their you-know-whats off! The musical numbers are FANTASTIC. The singing voices of just about all of the kids who have solo singing parts are just amazing. The one that stands out to me is Sasha Allen (Dee.) The opening song of the movie is nothing short of extraordinary and her voice is the main reason (besides the fact that it is a very well written song of course.) Tiffany Taylor (Jenna) has a fantastic voice as well -- Sasha Allen's ist just more my style. Daniel Letterle has an excellent voice as well, as evidenced by his performance of "I Sing for You."
As others have said, this movie seems like an audition reel for the kids who are in it and lemme tell you it makes a darn good one -- as long as they are auditioning for a Broadway show and not a movie. The musical numbers are SO good, it it worth seeing this movie for that reason alone. The music gets a 10/10 in my book -- it just couldn't be any better.
Finally, if you rent the DVD, you must watch the "making of" special feature. It will really give you insight into Todd Graff's reasons for making the movie, his vision, and will show you what they were trying to accomplish with the film.
Overall I give it a 7/10 -- but ONLY because the music is so spectacular. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go buy the soundtrack :-)
Todd
Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
disappointing...worst RW movie ever
This was quite a disappointment. Reese Witherspoon was at her acting worst in this movie. She wasn't her usual bubbly, endearing self like in Legally Blonde. And this movie was full of every possible Southern stereotype known to man -- rednecks around every corner, mullet wearing beer bellied losers, pickup trucks and hound dogs, honky tonks, pregnant high school girls, pea shellin' mamas, the ole Southern plantation house, the small town carnival, and so on. And the ending was so completely unrealistic, it just made a bad movie that much worse.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
I guess I'm just not sophisticated enough to "get it"
This is one of those artsy, 'heady' movies. One of those if-you-don't-get-it-you-just-aren't-sophisticated-enough-in-your-film-viewing movies. Well, color me unsophisticated because this was a complete waste of 95 minutes of my life. This is in the same category as American Beauty, Vanilla Sky, etc. I was tempted to turn it off but I kept hope that something would happen to keep my interest. It didn't. I feel like going to Blockbuster and asking for a refund.
Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
funny if you are in the target demographic
This is a funny movie if you are familiar with the movies that it is attempting to lampoon. If you aren't, then you just won't get it and you'll think this is just a stupid movie (which it is, but it's funny/stupid if you know the other movies.) I'm sure it doesn't hurt that I graduated from high school in 1989, so I watched most of these movies as a teen to begin with. Molly Ringwald's cameo at the end was a nice touch as well. If you were a teen in the '80s, check this one out. If not, skip it -- you won't get it ;-)
I give it a 5/10.
Todd
Summer Catch (2001)
stupid, horrible, but it has Biel
I'm gonna make this short and sweet. Stupid, inane dialog, ridiculous stereotypical characters, predictable story, horrible acting. I would have given it a 1, but Jessica Biel is worth 2 points by herself so I gave it a 3. She is the only reason to watch this awful excuse for a movie.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
strange and disappointing
I rented this movie on DVD this evening and I was quite disappointed in it. I had heard rave reviews and I guess I expected more. Throughout the movie, I knew that everything would be explained at the end and I was eagerly anticipating the thrilling conclusion. Then when the explanation came, I was extremely let down. The film took a 180 degree turn for the worse when it came time to explain just what was going on. It seemed like the writers developed this great story and then couldn't figure out how to end it so they took the easy way out. This film could have been much better.
Mission to Mars (2000)
they should have stayed on Earth
Where do I begin? This film was so bad for so many reasons, I honestly don't know where to start. Thank God I saw it on Encore so it didn't cost me anything. I am shocked that such a fantastic group of actors made a movie this bad. Didn't they read the script first? For Christ's sake, the actors in this movie were in Forrest Gump, Boogie Nights, Gladiator, The Shawshank Redemption, and Stand By Me -- some of the best movies ever made. You would think that they would at least read the script before agreeing to doing this movie. Maybe the studio just threw so much money at them, it didn't matter -- I don't know. The musical score was probably the worst ever. None of the music matched what was going on on the screen. And the ENDING! There aren't enough words to describe how bad it was -- by far the cheesiest ending I have *EVER* seen.
This movie is a prime example of the fact that a big budget is no guarantee of even a DECENT movie.
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
this one crossed the line into plain sillyness
I enjoyed the first MI. While a bit hokey at times, it was still entertaining and had a good plot. MI:2 unfortunately didn't have the plot working in its favor and without a plot, the "hokeyness" and implausibility of every aspect of the movie was all that I could focus on. The stunts that Ethan Hunt performs are meant to make him look cool and almost superhuman. In actuality they just plain look stupid. From motorcycle stunts, to a Ducati Monster not being able to outrun a Toyota 4Runner, to the WAY too long fight scene at the end, the whole movie simply crosses the line into absurdity.
Todd
Bedazzled (2000)
good fun...Fraser is great
I enjoyed this movie much more than I expected to. From the previews, it looked to be another inane attempt at comedy but had I realized before that Harold Ramis directed it, I probably would have been much more eager to see it. I caught it on Cinemax and really enjoyed it.
Liz Hurley -- what can you say? She absolutely drips with sexiness and I can think of no other female in Hollywood who would have been better for this role. Brilliant casting.
Brendan Fraser -- you can tell that he is having a blast with each of these characters. As Ramis said during the mini-interview in the closing credits on Max, Fraser added his own style to every character and in each one, you can see his inherent goodness come through. I very much enjoyed watching him play each character and looked forward to seeing what he was going to do with the next.
In addition to being very funny, this movie contains a moral -- be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Or is the moral to be happy with what you have and make the most of your life? Or that life is what you make it? Hmm...I guess the real moral is whatever you get out of it. Finish it off with a great feel-good ending, and this movie is a winner.
7/10
Todd
Dirty Dancing (1987)
fantastic no matter how many times you see it
I just caught Dirty Dancing on Encore for about the 20th time (I have it on VHS as well) and this movie is still just as good as it was the first time I saw it. It has all the elements of a great film -- fantastic acting, a realistic and involving plot, and the DANCING! Wow. The last scene of this movie is one of the pinnacles of film achievement if you ask me. If it doesn't get you dancing and smiling then you aren't alive :-)
Todd
Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000)
OK, but a bit disappointing
I'm a car guy. That is the main reason I was interested in this movie. I expected to see a lot of hot cars and great chases and I was disappointed. The only real car chase is at the end with Memphis (Nicholas Cage) in the Shelby GT500 (which was of course a replica, and a pretty bad one at that.) It was a decent chase scene but was quite unrealistic in places, especially when he jumps over the cars on the bridge.
The acting was decent, although not the best work for any of the well known actors that were in the movie. Cage was decent but I think he was held back by the character. Jolie was a much less important character than the previews would have you believe and I wish she had more screen time. Ribisi was just so-so, which is very unusual for him but again, I think that the role was limiting for him.
Overall the movie was entertaining but nothing special. I gave it a 5/10.
Miss Congeniality (2000)
very funny and Sandra is great!
My wife and I went to see Miss Congeniality on a Friday night, which is when we normally go the movies. I had had a very stressful week at work and I wanted to see something that would make me laugh. MC was a great choice!
Sandra Bullock stars as a rough tomboy-ish FBI agent who goes under cover in a beauty pageant. She has to learn how to be a lady under the instruction of Michael Caine who was excellent in his role. Benjamin Bratt plays Bullock's fellow agent who is a cocky, overconfident ladies man. The chemistry between Bullock and Bratt is right on. As for the other characters, they are pretty forgettable. William Shatner doesn't fit his role at all in my opinion, and Candace Bergen just gets on my nerves in general.
Even though Bratt and Caine turn in great performances, Bullock absolutely steals the show. She has the perfect attitude for the part and the funniest parts are the little gestures, comments, and facial expressions that she uses. The movie also pokes fun at the beauty pageant scene VERY effectively and Bullock is the centerpiece of this aspect.
MC is a great movie to go see if you want a good laugh. I highly recommend it.
Todd Walker
American Beauty (1999)
don't believe the hype
Number 2 on the IMDB list of all time best movies? Academy Awards out the wazoo? Frankly I expected MUCH more out of this movie. It was good. But JUST good. Many parts were downright vulgar and offensive. I saw it with my wife so it wasn't a problem but I would strongly caution against seeing this movie in mixed company. The very first scene involves Lester (Kevin Spacey) masturbating in the shower.
I don't see what the big deal is about this movie. I have seen all of these actors do much better in other roles so it isn't the acting. The story is pretty good but it is not Oscar caliber in my opinion. This is simply a movie that attempts to be deep and intellectual and full of hidden meaning and symbolism. It misses the mark in my opinion. I give it a 5 out of 10.
The Green Mile (1999)
one of the best movies i have seen in a long time
When I entered the movie theater, I only knew that this movie starred Tom Hanks (one of my favorite actors) and that it was getting rave reviews. I had no idea what to expect. I think this is the best movie I have seen since Sling Blade. In many ways it is similar to Sling Blade, but The Green Mile is even more powerful and emotional. Through the entire movie, I was totally absorbed in what was going on. It was the shortest 3 hour movie I have ever seen.
I don't want to give away any of the plot, so I will make it brief. Steven King is a genius, pure and simple. This movie proves that. EVERYONE should see this movie and hear the message that it communicates. But when you go, your brain and your emotions need to be ready for what you are going to see. It will make you think and it will make you cry. It is an absolutely exceptional film. We need more like this....
Bowfinger (1999)
if you are in a mood to laugh...this is the one
I hope my comments here make sense...the headache that I have from laughing so hard may cloud my judgment. This is the best movie that Eddie Murphy has made since Beverly Hills Cop. He is absolutely hilarious in both roles. Steve Martin isn't his usual crazy self (as in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels or The Jerk) but he is funny in this film as well, although not nearly as funny as Murphy. The writing in this movie shows the comedy genius that Steve Martin possesses. It is an original idea for a plot and everything works very well together. A must see for Martin and Murphy fans...