ronbus Reviews

The Love Letter (1998 TV Movie)

Excellent Viewing

[10/10 · 3 December 2006]

I saw this movie, for the first time, on our TV here recently. I found the storyline very touching, and the Chemistry between the main characters extremely good.

The only one small thing I found was that neither the Writers nor the Film Makers could do simple mathematics when it came to how long M/s Elizabeth Whitcomb had been dead. We're told that its over 100 years. The "Love letter" found in the desk was dated 1863, when M/s Whitcomb claims to be 29 years old. On her tomb stone, M/s Whitcomb is said to have died aged 67: some 38 years after she wrote that initial letter. 38 + 63 = 101. Therefore, one has to assume that she actually died in 1901: just 97 years prior to the letter being found, rather than over 100 years as stated several times in the movie. Still, I suppose correct mathematics don't really matter in an item of fiction.

Despite the above comment, I very much enjoyed this movie, would love to see it again, would recommend it to anyone who likes a good love story, and yes, I WILL be buying the DVD.

GOOD, CLEAN ENTERTAINMENT through and through; for which reason, I gave it 10/10. A GREAT LITTLE MOVIE.

Walk the Line (2005)

Take away the Music...Take away Reese Witherspoon.....

[7/10 · 28 May 2006]

As a 60-something disabled man without transport, living 25 miles from the nearest cinema and a mile-and-a-half from the nearest bus stop, I bought "WALK THE LINE" on DVD because I wanted to see the movie. Wish I'd WALKED that Mile-and-a-Half to the bus stop: it would have taken me 30 minutes each way, but saved me the cost of a most disappointing DVD.

I have always been a fan of Johnny Cash's music, and am a fast growing fan of Reese Witherspoon. But even with those two attributes in favour of the film (the two reasons I wanted to see it), I think I can honestly count the number of times I shall run this DVD in the future on the fingers of one hand.

True to say that the film was very well acted by the two main characters: but if you take away the music, and take away Rees Witherspoon, there is nothing left in this film to either interest or admire. I found vast chunks of the film to be a total disappointment, and nothing to what I had been lead to expect.

I have given this movie 7/10 primarily because of the Oscar Winning Skills shown by Reese Witherspoon as both a superb actress, and a great singer. I found her singing voice to be "Out of This World" with its wonder and beauty, and her acting in the role of June Carter was fully deserving of the Oscar that came as a result of it. In fact, I feel it would have been an injustice if M/s Witherspoon had not received an Oscar for this role.

The Johnny Cash music was also very faithful portrayed; but not enough to hold my interest for very long.

The music, and Reese Witherspoon ARE this movie. Take THEM away and there's simply nothing left to get excited about.

Reese Witherspoon EARNED her Oscar here, and EARNED ALL of those 7 points out of 10 that I have given this movie.

Just Like Heaven (2005)

Wonderful. Reese Witherspoon deserved an Oscar for this.

[10/10 · 25 May 2006]

Earlier this year I was surfing the Net for photographs of Actresses I have liked over the years and noticed one of them pictured with a lady I had never heard of called Reese Witherspoon. Like any normal man, I like a pretty girl, so I followed up the Witherspoon name and came across a photo session that had taken place at the premier of the film "JUST LIKE HEAVEN" in which M/s Witherspoon plays the lead female role.

I so liked how M/s Witherspoon looked in that photo session that I immediately Pre-Ordered the DVD, without seeing the movie first, and I'm very glad I did.

M/s Witherspoon plays a typically ambitious, but overworked Doctor who is involved in a RTA on her way to her sister's house for a "Blind Date". Her own flat is sub-let to a widower who has given up his work as an hauticulturalist, as he is still grieving for his late wife.

The chemistry between the two main characters is fantastic. The acting is fantastic: and altogether, this film should have lead to a second Oscar Nomination for Reese Witherspoon.

Having loved the Reese Witherspoon photographs from her attendance at the premier of "Just Like Heaven", I went out and bought the 2 "Legelly Blond" DVDs, and "The Importance of being Earnest" on DVD: only "Earnest" had been seen prior to purchase. I have to say that I was disappointed in the "Legally Blod" films, I Lenard a bit more of what M/s Witherspoon was about in "The Importance of being Earnest", but I "Fell in Love" with Reese Witherspoon when I watched her in this film. It showed exactly what Reese Witherspoon is capable of; and I have become a staunch Fan of hers as a direct result of "Just Like Heaven".

I know that Reese Witherspoon picked up the "Best Actress in a Leading Role" Oscar for a later film than this, "Walk the Line", but I feel that she should have at least been so Nominated for this movie as well.

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

There, but for the superb acting of Miss Keira Knightly.....

[2/10 · 14 May 2006]

I had not seen this film prior to ordering my copy of the DVD over the Net. If I had, I would not have bothered buying the DVD.

This particular story is a favourite both of my wife and myself: with the BBC's 1995 version on both tape and DVD, and at least the Greer Garson black & white film version on tape in our possession. Against the BBC's 1995 version, this latest travesty doesn't stand up. I fully appreciate that I am comparing a feature film of 2 hours duration with a serialisation of almost 3 times that length; but the actual production of this latest version leaves so much to be desired. It is disjointed, devoid of some of the main features and speeches, the majority of the cast seemed to have no ides of the story or of what they were supposed to be doing with it, and quite frankly, I considered the film a total disappointment: giving it only 2 marks out of 10 - both of those for the simply superb acting of Miss Keira Knightley.

Miss Keira Knightley, who plays Elizabeth Bennett in the movie, was nominated for an Oscar for her role here. I can well understand why. Apart from Miss Knightley's superb acting, and that of Dame Judi Dench as Lady Catherine DeBourg, the film would, in my opinion, have been a total disaster. I doubt I shall bother running my DVD again before passing it to the same charity as Miss Knightley passed her Oscar Dress to.

To vote on all 3 versions now in our collection, using the name of the Elizabeth Bennett Actress to name the version, I give marks out of 10 as under:

For her part as Miss Elizabeth Benett: Greer Garson 10, Jennifer Ehle 10, Keira Knightley 10.

For the Production as a whole: Grear Garson Version 10, Jennifer Ehle Version 10, Keira Nightley Version 0 (plus the 2 I give it for Miss Knightley's work.).

R.P.Q.

The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996)

I always knew animals were man's best friends

[10/10 · 26 April 2006]

The Truth Aboout Cats and Dogs I found a touching film. This Radio Talk Show Vet (played by Janeane Garofalo) gives advice over the airwaves to the general public, whilst keeping herself very much to herself. She has the wrong persona about herself; and when a male listener falls for the voice he hears on the radio, she misleads him into thinking that she is someone she's not by asking a friend (played by Uma Thurman) to deputise for her on a date. This is a recipe for comedy, and a good deal of problems for our demure vet.

The film, which last something over 90 minutes places, in my mind, the wrong person as "Leading Lady" on the credits; not giving the top billing she deserves to Janeane Garofalo as the Radio Vet.

A touching Comedy Romance, with great work from Janeane Garofalo and Uma Thurman.

Well worth seeing if you haven't already; and well worth seeing over and over again if you have.

RPQ.

I Start Counting (1970)

Film well worth a watch if the chance arises

[10/10 · 18 April 2006]

I saw this film when it was on General release, and was somewhat taken-a-back by the acting ability of its very young leading Lady. Jenny Agutter was superb in the role of Wynne, a teenager who thought her step brother to be involved in some killings, and left nothing about her character's thoughts to the imagination. "I start Counting" was, of course, very different from M/s. Agutter's later work; and, to my mind, the character had more punch than many of her later portrayals. Perhaps, only her portrayal of the eldest daughter in "The Railway Children" carried the same amount of convincing charm as her portrayal of Wynne in "I start Counting". For me, Jenny Agutter "shines" in this movie: the storyline is right for her, and she was the right person to play Wynne. I could gladly watch this movie over and over again.