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scottishrose
Reviews
Evan Almighty (2007)
Not bad, but a little bit preachy
Overall, I quite liked this movie. Steve Carell was very funny, the dialogue was realistic and humorous, John Goodman was quite convincing as a villain, and the effects were *awesome*.
There's just one problem I had with it. It was really quite preachy.
Now, I'm not what you'd call religious. I like the idea of worshipping a higher power, but the whole organized-religion thing just turns me off. Which is why this movie really bothered me; it seems that at every turn, they were shoving the Bible in my face. The whole ending message was also really lame, and ridiculously sappy. The dove with the olive branch, I ASK YOU. And Steve Carell's line: "He chose all of us." (the word He referring to God.) Ugh.
Ultimately, it was a funny, light-hearted movie that was spoiled by the amount of religious propaganda they shoved in there. I liked it, but I don't recommend it for non-Christians. It will only anger you.
Queen on Fire: Live at the Bowl (2004)
Incredible performance
I own this on DVD. It is one of the greatest things ever. Whenever I'm alone in the house, I'll turn off all the lights and crank up the sound. It is an amazing experience, made all the more powerful when you realize how ALIVE Freddie was back then. This was truly a divine performance (and yes, Love of My Life still makes me cry every time).
The part that truly breaks my heart, though, is this: in the interview with Freddie Mercury, the interviewer asks "Do you think Queen will still be around in ten years?" Bear in mind that this was in 1982. Freddie seems so hopeful, so easygoing. He has no idea that in ten years the songbird will be silenced. It hurts me to see that. Oh, how I love him.
For any die-hard Queen fans out there, this is a must-see.
Dear Frankie (2004)
One of the best movies I've seen in my LIFE.
This film is PHENOMENAL. The setting alone hooks me (I'm a Scot by blood) and the story made me fall head over heels in love with it. The acting in this is incredible and utterly believable.
I love how Gerry Butler plays the Stranger. When we first meet him, you can feel the revulsion he has for what she's doing and has been doing for years. You hear it in every word he says - his lines drip with disdain. You can see his early awkwardness with this strange boy who's supposed to be his son, and in his eyes you can see love for the boy develop. Most of all, I love the shock and horror on his face (and in those eyes) when he discovers that Frankie's father was the reason Frankie is now deaf, and I love the kiss. Oh, the kiss. I can only hope that someday I am kissed like that.
I also like how they don't tell us HOW Frankie became deaf. They tell us it was his father's doing, but they don't say how. They kept it ambiguous, and that seemed like a nice touch to me.
In addition, the only line Frankie has in this movie is what always, ALWAYS, makes me cry. The way he struggles to get it out, the look in his eyes as he says it... it's amazing that the young actor who plays him could do that so convincingly.
All in all, it is one of the greatest works of cinema I've seen in... well, EVER. See it. Trust me on this.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Unbelievable
This is my single favourite movie in the entire world. I'm serious. Ever since I got it on DVD just a week ago, I've watched it every single day. I'm close to memorizing all the dialogue and I know every shot. As I write this, it's paused on the television in my room.
The reason I love this movie so much is mostly the character work. The cursed Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) instills such fear in me, and at the same time, draws a burning sense of pure pity for his plight. Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), while a fine lady in all respects, is feisty and vivacious as well. Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) is a good friend and a fine man, modest and brave.
However, the character of Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is by far the most excellently played character I've ever seen. You can see deeply into his personality, simply by the motions Mr Depp goes through. It is clear that Jack, while a pirate, is indeed a good man. He is honourable and stands by his word at all times. His main goal in life is simply freedom; all of his crimes were to further that goal. He also dislikes taking away the dignity of his adversaries. He would never commit mutiny or murder for that reason.
The one thing I even remotely disliked was Orlando Bloom's wooden acting. He seemed to be only able to deliver his lines in one tone, one personage. It was fine for the first half-hour or so, but after that I was mostly just waiting for his parts to be over and so we could get back to Jack Sparrow's screen time.
The score for this movie is absolutely STUNNING. It's filled with powerful strings and strong brass, and it has been soaring through my head ever since the first time I saw this movie.
All in all, this is a masterpiece. By all means, I encourage you to see and purchase this amazing film. You will not regret it, I guarantee you of that.
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968)
Not the best, but not the worst either.
After seeing this film, I find that I can both praise it as the best in existence, or toss it down and trample upon it. As it stands, I neither love it devotedly, nor do I despise it.
There are a few items on which I must comment, and I pray you give me leave to do so. First and foremost, the acting. Ian Holm radiated sheer Puckishness in his role as Robin Goodfellow. As a young man, he was more reckless and boyish than I've ever seen him. (Although that thing with the tongue was a little weird... but still. He was great.) Judi Dench, also, was magnificent as Titania. Although I would've preferred her to be... um... wearing more clothing... or at least SOME clothing. But regardless, she was wonderful. Paul Rogers was pure Bottom from top to... well. Yes. Some of the acting, however, I found to be purely horrid. Diana Rigg (Helena) and Helen Mirren (Hermia) in particular. They rarely put emotion into their voices, and merely spoke in monotone. When they did insert emotion, it was overblown. And besides, they seemed to have only one emotion TO insert - that of "on the verge of tears, oh-what-shall-I-do, poor-little-rich-girl" acting. Ludicrous and not befitting of the character at all.
Another thing I must mention is the lighting. You could SEE the lights through the trees. Not very professional - I must admit that for the first twenty minutes I was sure that it was an independent film. The camera angles were also rather ridiculous, and the constant shaky-camera effect gave me a headache and made me not wish to look at the screen.
Another thing (though perhaps this is just me being difficult), but did the fairies really have to be green? Really? I found it rather strange, difficult to distinguish the actors from the greenery, and I believe that Ian Richardson may have been allergic to the makeup. Or even if he wasn't, SOMETHING was making his eyes turn red, and whatever it was gave me the creeps.
All in all, however, it wasn't too bad. I laughed my head off several times. The donkey was well done (I liked the use of prosthetics), and the children playing the fairies seemed to know their roles wonderfully, and they played very well. I wouldn't recommend it to non-Shakespeare fans, but if you like Shakespeare, I think you'll like this.
The Truman Show (1998)
Amazing... simply amazing...
That's all I can say after watching this movie. I just finished it not five minutes ago, and... the things I am feeling are beyond description. By the end, I was sitting enraptured on my couch, staring unblinkingly at the events happening on my screen. I began to feel so insignificant, so small, like my life was equivalent to that of a housefly. It felt... so strange.
This was definitely, DEFINITELY a 10/10 film. Pure wonder on all counts. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder why I'm writing this review, as it seems unlikely that I'll meet the ten-line minimum. There is simply nothing I can say, except for amazing. Amazing. Amazing.
I can't even begin to imagine the moment of reality. The moment when you realise that your entire life has been scripted, has been surrounding you. The moment when you realise that your life is nothing but a thing of entertainment. There is no originality. Everything is planned... It must feel so unbelievable, unthinkable, incredible, inconceivable. These are only a few of the adjectives there are to describe that mind-boggling feeling.
If you haven't seen this film, I absolutely and completely urge you to do so. Your life as you know it will change forever.
The Land Before Time (1988)
Made me cry. See it.
This was the most amazing animated film I've ever seen. BAR NONE. Strangely, although it was meant to be a kid's movie, it didn't feel like it. For example, Littlefoot's mother says that none of the dinosaurs talk to each other because they're different. For some reason, that makes me think of racism, and how this may have been the first kid's movie to really deal with that sort of thing up-front and personal. The dinosaur society is really and truly racist, until a group of five kids become friends and bring their families together.
In addition to the underlying themes, it didn't seem like much of a kid's movie because even now, as a teenage girl, I was and still am terrified by the fight scenes with Sharptooth and the other dinosaurs. And there was some really delicious humour put in there that still makes me laugh. I first saw this eleven years ago, when I was three, and I still laugh, cry, and gasp with fear in all the same places. It's really a shame that they created all those sequels, though. The first one had such a sense of closure, and then they had to ruin it with ten sequels, each one getting progressively more horrible. Still, though: I sincerely recommend this to anyone who loves a good story.
Greedy Humpty Dumpty (1936)
Eek.
I saw this cartoon accidentally on television one night when I couldn't get to sleep. It didn't help in the slightest. I found myself staring up at the ceiling, trying to forget that face. I could quite happily never see this cartoon again, simply because of that face.
Now, don't get me wrong - I love fairy tales and nursery rhymes as much as anyone. But this twisted and terrifying rendition simply is disturbing. It is mainly the cruel laughter, and the exaggerated features that terrify me, and I still have nightmares because of it. Please, I urge you not to allow your children to see this. It is far, FAR too scary. Please, I pray you, keep it away.
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Masterful, wonderful, and many more -fuls.
This was the single most amazing film I have seen since I was a little kid going to see The Lion King. It is not only the all-star cast, the incredible singing, the stupendous effects, or the engaging storyline that makes me love this film. It is that Joel Schumacher has managed to weave them all into one glorious production that threatens to consume all else.
One thing I loved about this film is that it totally swept me into the story and made me care deeply about the characters. The Phantom's tortured life as a deformed creature of darkness, Christine's sorrow at the loss of her father and her fear of the Phantom, Raoul's unconditional love of Christine and his desire to protect her... all of it bound together an incredible tale of love, suspense, and music. I cry every time I see this, no matter what. I weep for the plight of the Phantom, and the sorrow of Christine.
But don't think that this is all about fear and misery. Oh, no, there is quite a lot of humour. André and Firmin, the new owners of the Opera Populaire, work wonders as the welcome comic relief of this film.
Please, I beg of you, *see this movie*. Even if you don't like opera or musicals or music in general, see it anyways. I guarantee, it will be a favourite throughout your life.
The 10th Kingdom (2000)
Enchanting and engaging
I saw this mini on DVD. After the first half-hour, I was hooked. The characters are so engaging, you cannot help but laugh and cry along with them. The ending is fabulous and unexpected (won't say anything more, though). I found myself so caught up in the story that I could barely breathe - and neither could the person I was watching it with, because I had her by the neck and was begging her to tell me how it ended! The only thing I didn't like is how so many people had to die! But I suppose that's fairy tales for you - the evil queen dancing to death and whatnot. This is a superb mini-series, and I urge all of you to get it and watch it obsessively. I know I will.