Sorry, this page is no longer updated.

I'm working on other projects for 2008 and won't be adding new reviews.

Mark

> > = great       > = good      > = bad

January 2007

> History of Violence (2005)  A lot of people hate this movie.  There is such a huge contrast between the quiet moments and violent moments that you can get disconnected - it is way over the top at times.  I found this movie very interesting and several scenes are riveting.  I loved the final scene of the family at the kitchen table.  A very adult, violent and good DVD.

> Blade: Trinity (2004)  I am totally embarrassed to say I liked this movie.  The plot is stupid, the dialogue is bad, the villain is unconvincing, and Snipes uses only one expression in every scene - a sneer.   But I thought is was kind of funny, some good action and Jessica Biel is likable.  So there you have it.

November 2006

> > Brokeback Mountain (2005)  Ang Lee is simply very good at directing human dramas.  And he has the ability to blend beautiful visual landscapes with the human drama.  This movie has it all - great acting, good screenplay, original ideas, amazing visuals, and real human emotion.  In particular, the secondary characters (family of the two main characters) - their words and emotions all ring true.  A very good movie deserving of all the awards.

> Wedding Crashers (2005)  Full of clichés, characters you don't care about, and not very funny.  The scene with Will Farrow is the highlight and is very funny.  The kind of movie you forget about very quickly.

> > Walk the Line (2005)  Very good movie.  Good acting, good script, and good direction.  Interesting to compare this movie to "Ray".  Both have similar challenges - how to capture a full and complex life in two hours and make it entertaining.   Walk the Line is the better film. 

September 2006

> Batman Begins (2005)  The first half of this movie was great.  Very creative, great looking, good
acting - way better than any earlier Batman movie.  But the second half becomes a traditional action movie with a long and cliché-filled  chase scene.   Probably still the best Batman movie, I was disappointed because I expected more from director - Christopher Nolan.  His earlier movies (Memento and Insomnia) were truly original.

> Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)  Continues to meet the high standards of previous Potter movies - very entertaining, good acting, and some surprises. 

> > The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)  Very quirky and original comedy.  I loved this movie and want to see it a second time. Bill Murray if very, very funny.  But it is a very weird movie and only recommended if you like Wes Anderson's (director) view of the world. 

July  2006

> > The New World (2005)  Great movie. A very rare film  that successfully puts you into a new and beautiful world (American Indians meet English settlers at Jamestown in 1607) and keeps you there for two hours. Major warning -- many people find this movie very boring because there are long scenes with no dialogue.  You have to be open to Malick's style of movie making.  The stars of his movies are the sounds, landscapes and music.  The actors are part of the landscape.  Colin Farrell does not have much to say but he is terrific.  The moment the native Americans first see the English ships -- this is riveting movie making.

> Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)  David Strathairn is great at Edward R. Morrow, but I found this "docudrama" to fall a little flat.   The inside politics of CBS TV in the 50's was interesting, but overall I did not find this movie entertaining or inspiring.  Sorry, I expected to like it more.

> Crash (2005)  Wow, this won best picture last year.  But I ejected the DVD after the first 45 minutes. I found the intense dialogue so over the top that I disconnected from the movie.  You can see the actors trying to act in this movie.   Each character delivers mini-speeches instead of talking to other characters around them.  I usually like intense dramas that tackle important issues, but this one just did not do it for me. 

December 2005

> War of the Worlds (2005)  This movie was OK, but you forget about this film very quickly.  I actually think the original (made in 1953) for its time, was a better movie.  It shows how good special effects cannot make up for a weak script.  There are many times in this movie when the people say and do things that don't make sense. 

> > The Office, BBC TV show (2001 - 2002)  I'm a big fan of the American version - The Office, starring Steve Carell.  This is the original, British version now on DVD.  This show is very, very funny.  But it is a very dry satire and frequently absurd comedy.  Not everyone gets it.  But if you liked Monty Python, you're going to like this TV show.   The British version is a bit darker than the current show on NBC.

> > Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)  If you look at the reviews on Netflix, it's amazing how everyone gives this movie one star or four stars.  You either find this movie to be dumb / absurd and not funny, or dumb / absurd and the funniest movie of all time.  I just watched it for the second time on HBO.  I think this movie is hysterical.

> Sexy Beast (2001)  Very odd and intense heist movie.  Ben Kingsley commands your attention in every scene because his character is so vile and so dangerous you expect sudden violence at any moment.  At times this movie is ridiculous and slow, but Kingsley's character holds you and won't let you eject the DVD.  Only recommended if you like unconventional and intense thrillers. 

November 2005

> > Downfall (2004)  One the best movies I have seen in the past 10 years.  This is a German-made film about the last days of Hitler.  It is riveting.  Bruno Ganz as Hitler is simply brilliant.  Give it a chance.  It's easy to follow the English subtitles.  Final note - the sound of this movie is incredible.

> Star Wars: Episode 3 (2005)  Wow, this was bad.  Bad acting and bad dialogue creates characters you care nothing about.  Many of the scenes have backgrounds with  thousands of moving objects that I found  distracting and annoying.  Not as bad as "Attack of the Clones", but close.  Lucas has completely lost his way directing the last three Star Wars movies.

September - October 2005

> The Upside of Anger (2005)  Joan Allen and Kevin Costner are very good in this movie.  But I can't recommend it.  The characters do and say things that don't seem real to me.  There are some great moments and I applaud the effort to make an original film about a family that is falling apart, but the director doesn't pull it off.  Sorry, I expected to like this film.

> > Napoleon Dynamite (2004)  Very original movie.  It starts very slowly, but if you give it time and are in the right mood, this is a great movie.  You laugh more the next day or during the second viewing. 

> Shaun of the Dead (2004)  British-made satire / comedy about zombies taking over the world. There are a few very funny moments in this movie.  But I found it a bit boring and repetitive.  I may not have been in the right mood.  You need to watch this movie with others that share an appreciation for offbeat humor.  Simon Pegg (Shaun) is a very talented comedic actor.

July - August  2005

> Man on Fire (2004)  Denzel is great.  It follows a Hollywood formula plot, but the look of this film is original and the action is riveting.  Not a great movie, but Denzel and director Scott make it a good DVD rental. 

> > The Notebook (2004)  An old-fashion, beautiful love story.  Great movie.  Simple as that. 

> Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)  These Harry Potter movies are consistently good.  Very entertaining. 

June  2005

> Ray  (2004)  The music is the highlight of this movie.  The story of Ray Charles life is very interesting and unique.   But as a movie, I was disappointed.  I think they tried to cram his full life story into two hours and the scenes move too quickly and the dialogue seems forced.   I felt disconnected.  Jamie Fox is good, but this is not a best actor performance.  My two cents. 

> > Sideways (2004)  This  movie starts very slowly but gets better and better as it goes on. There is one scene near the end when Paul Giamatti talks to his ex-wife and she shares some news about her life and Paul reacts to the news - this is one of the most  riveting moments of great acting I have seen in several years.  Virginia Madsen is also terrific. 

> Team America - World Police (2004)  I expected to love this movie from the South Park gang, but it is boring and terrible.  The opening scene in Paris is wildly creative, original and funny, but as the movie goes on it gets very tedious.   The songs are very funny, but overall this movie was more painful than funny.

April / May  2005

> Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind  (2004)  Warning - many people hate this movie.  It is bizarre. It's a challenging movie because the two romantic leads (Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet) become more likable and interesting as the movie goes on, but their world also gets more bizarre and you can disconnect from the movie. But the bizarre plot is a twist intended to make us think about the real meaning of a romantic relationship - how true love is very rare and there are painful and wonderful moments in all relationships. If you can cope with the painful moments,  you will be rewarded with the sustaining and cherished memories of the wonderful moments.   At the end I thought - very good movie, made me think, but not a movie I would recommend to everyone.

> > Beautiful Girls (1996)  Many people missed this movie.  It is terrific.  Reminded me of St. Elmo's Fire or The Big Chill.  Rent this DVD or watch it on HBO.

March  2005

> > Finding Neverland (2004),  This is a great movie - the kind of movie they don't make anymore.... but here it is.  Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet are terrific and the actors playing the three children are amazing. We know and care about each character.   Highly recommended

> The Incredibles  (2004)  It was OK, but not great.  A bit disappointing.  I think the writers made some bad choices in the second half regarding the villain - a strange twist on the mad scientist formula.  It didn't work for me.  The second half is just a sequence of action scenes that I found repetitive.   Finding Nemo was  a much better movie from this team.

> The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)  It's a good film that reaches for greatness.  A fun and interesting road trip, it suddenly gets serious in the last hour.  The acting and directing are very good, but  I forgot about this movie pretty quickly.  The is a Spanish language movie with English subtitles.   The scenes of the countryside of South America are quite amazing.

> > Metallica - Some Kind of Monster  (2004),  Wow, this is a great documentary.  This movie takes you inside a rock band that has lost its way.  This band has lost its edge - lost all creativity.  They are going through the motions of writing music that simply repeats past formulas.   They don't like or trust each other.  And why is this interesting ?   Because it gives us insight into what you need to be creative, what is required to maintain friendships and trust,  and in some ways -  what is important in life (and it's not making millions.....these guys have it all and they are bored).   Highly recommended (note, this is not a music video, there is little live music coverage, it's all behind the scenes stuff).

February  2005

> Hero  (2002),  A beautiful Chinese martial arts movie.  Not a great film, but the creativity and production of the fight scenes are amazing.   An excellent DVD rental.

> Spider-Man 2  (2004),  This was the exact same movie as the first Spider-Man, but without a good villain. I actually felt sorry for the bad guy.  There is also a scene near the end where Spider-Man tries to stop a train, that is way, way beyond his powers (I know it is a movie but there has to be some logic to it).  I don't get the rave reviews for this sequel.  It was barely OK.   

> Mean Girls  (2004),  Wow, I expected to like this movie based on the buzz from last year.  This movie is a wreck.  It starts out trying to be "smart" about exposing the reality of teenage clicks in high school.  But in the second half it turns dumb and uses all of the tricks of MTV to appeal to the younger audience.  Every character is one dimensional (nerd, dumb parent,  jock, etc.)  It also tries to be funny and fails at every turn.  At least that's my take.  The TV show "Freaks and Geeks" did this so much better.

January  2005

> Garden State  (2004),  Natalie Portman is great in this quirky romance.  It's an original movie and script by first time director Zach Braff.  Several of the scenes stick with you after the movie.   I listen to the soundtrack on CD.

> Faster  (2003),  This is a documentary about MotoGP racing - the best and fastest motorcycle racing in Europe.  Narrated by Ewan McGregor, it is highly recommended for motorcycle people but you may find it a bit long and repetitive if you are not into the sport.  Behind the scenes interviews with the racers is one of several highlights.  

> The Bourne Supremacy  (2004),  Very good movie.  I was blown away by the first movie and this is a great follow-up.  This one has more action and less romance with my favorite actress -  Franke Potente.  This is an excellent DVD rental.

December  2004

> Cold Mountain  (2003),  A series of disconnected scenes that alternate between very violent and very boring. There is some beautiful photography, but overall I found it very long and tedious.  Jude Law is good, but Nicole Kidman seems a bit lost in this character - you see her acting, trying to get into the role.

> Fahrenheit  9/11  (2004),  Michael Moore has put so much of his political agenda into this "documentary" that it becomes tedious and boring.  Many of the talking heads are complete unknowns that are only on camera because they share Moore's politics.  Bowling for Columbine was much more entertaining and thought provoking.  There are a couple of interesting video clips of live coverage in Iraq, but I found myself falling asleep during the second half. 

> Love Actually  (2003),  This is a funny British modern-day fairy tale with a surprisingly infectious spirit. The cast includes some of our best working actors  - Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant.  A very good DVD rental that puts a smile on your face.

October - November  2004

> Before Sunset  (2004),  I was a big fan of the earlier Before Sunrise, so this was a no-brainer.  I also find Julie Delpy very attractive and interesting so it was good to see her again.  Like the first, the entire movie is a conversation between two people.  The drama is in our interpretation of the conversation and where our  imagination can take us.   The two characters constantly jump back and forth between the romantic world and the practical world.  We are pulling for them to stay in the romantic world. It's a struggle we relate to.  Makes us think about choices in our past.  The director and actors (Ethan Hawk and Julie Delpy) are to be congratulated for making these original movies. 

> Mystic River  (2003),  This is a very good movie because of the performances and the directing. I found the plot somewhat predictable and I had a problem with the change that occurs in Sean Penn's character. Clint Eastwood can make great movies (Unforgiven).  Mystic River is a good movie with great performances by Penn, Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon.

September  2004

> Y Tu Mama Tambian  (2002),  A very popular foreign film (mexican) released in  2002.  The story is primarily a road trip between two teenager's and an older woman.   I wanted to like this movie but found it a bit of a mess.  The main characters are not likable and become boring.  The ending is contrived.   Sorry. 

> Kill Bill: Vol 2  (2004),  Sorry, I should like Tarantino's movies, but this was boring.  There is so much talking (Bill in this droning voice) in the last hour, I had a hard time keeping awake.   A couple of interesting fight scenes, but I just don't care about the main character.

June - August  2004

> Miracle  (2004),  Good sports movie about the US Olympic hockey team winning the gold medal.  Kurt Russell, one of our most underrated actors, delivers a terrific, understated performance.  This is a Disney version of the story and the movie lacked an edge you expect from a movie intended to give you a real, inside look at the team and how they prepared to beat the best team in the world.

> > Big Fish  (2003),  Ok, this is my kind of movie.  I was watching this on the train on my laptop and almost missed my stop because I was so absorbed in the story. Very original story and the sets and visuals are great.  I fall for any movie that supports the theory that near the end of our lives, a true measure of the success of our life is how many people we have helped in the past.  I think this movie will hold up over time and 50 years from now may be considered a classic.

May 2004

> > In America  (2002),  A beautifully directed and written family drama about an Irish family (with no money) moving to New York City in the 1980's. A unique movie, it is both realistic in a quirky way, and at moments has the joy of a fairy tale.  A very rare movie that delivers on an emotional level.

> 28 Days Later  (2002),  British low-budget science fiction movie about zombies taking over the country.  I'm not a fan of the many "zombies taking over the world" movies,  but this movie immediately pulls you in.  You care about (and are pulling for) the survival of the small band of main characters.  This movie is sometimes scary,  very original, and always entertaining.  Unlike "Kill Bill" (below), you think about this movie for days.

> Kill Bill: Vol 1  (2003),  Like other Tarantino movies, there are moments here that are riveting.  But overall, I was a bit disappointed.  You don't really care about any of the characters.   But it's kind of fun.

> The Last Samurai  (2003),  I enjoyed this movie.  The plot line is standard Hollywood formula.  But the acting, directing, and cinematography are all first rate. 

> > 21 Grams  (2003),  A great film, but not an "entertaining" movie.  This is a challenging movie that is intense, depressing,  original and emotional.  It features three of the best actors of our generation in Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, and Benicio Del Toro.  All at the top of their game, and the youngest - Naomi Watts has the strongest performance.  This movie makes you think about how you can't judge someone by one moment in their life, how our life can turn in a moment, and how we struggle to cope with and accept  the events of our past.  

April  2004

> Whale Rider  (2003),  This movie is original, sometimes slow, a family drama, sometimes funny, and worth the effort to view because of the performance of Keisha Castle-Hughes, the young star of this movie.   Rent this DVD and just study the performance of Keisha  -  a completely natural,  young actress.

> The Matrix: Revolutions  (2003),  The third matrix movie, I had low expectations based on the critics reviews and disappointing box office numbers.   But it was good.  The fist half is slow, but the second half kicks butt in traditional matrix style. I've always been a Trinity fan so the ending was emotional for me.  ;-)

March  2004

> > Open Range  (2003),  A great western, Costner makes many good choices in this film.  He subordinates his character to his partner played by Robert Duvall.  He lets us experience the beauty, sounds and weather of the western landscape.  And he saves the action for the end so we have the time to understand and begin to care about the characters. A fine film. 

> > Pieces of April  (2003),  Very good and original movie.  But you have to wait and give it time to bring you in.  A quirky movie about a dysfunctional family trying to reconnect on Thanksgiving day.  The ending is very moving. 

> Laurel Canyon  (2002),  This movie is somewhat of a wreck, but worth a look for the performance of Frances McDormand.  She is so good, she makes the other actors look stiff.  Watch how she holds a cigarette, talks to her son while drunk, gets both annoyed and turned-on by her boyfriend.  She creates a real character, a very real and flawed person.  You never see her acting. 

February  2004

> Lost in Translation  (2003),  The first time I watched this movie, I fell asleep during the second half.  It is slow.  I just watched the last hour, for a second time, and I see something in this movie.  There are moments of truth and real feeling that are rare in modern movies. You have to give it a chance.  I love the ending. 

> > Seabiscuit  (2003),  A really great movie.  In the tradition of the classic movies of old. 

January  2004

> > Bourne Identity  (2002),  Surprisingly good movie.  A traditional thriller that pulls you into the story by making you care about the main characters played by Matt Damon and Franke Potente (German actress best known for  Run Lolla Run).   I give the producers of this movie  credit for casting Potente (who I find very attractive by the way)  in the female lead.   Her performance and the European locations give this film an edge that distinguishes it from the formula Hollywood action movies.  Damon has the cool of a young Steve McQueen.

> My Big Fat Greek Wedding  (2002),  Deserving of all the positive word-of-mouth, this is one of the best love stories in recent history.  The script and the lead performance of Nia Vardalos are highlights of this fine film.

December  2003

> > Swingers  (1996),  Wow, is this a very funny and original movie.  Recommended by my nephew, Brian,  as a good, early Vince Vaughn movie.  The production is a bit amateurish, but look beyond that and you see excellent character development - the main characters are very loyal to each other and likable.  The dancing scene near the end is classic.  The fast paced dialogue requires a second viewing.  Thanks Brian for finding this movie. 

> Pirates of the Caribbean  (2003),  Entertaining movie but the long action scene in the second half seemed very repetitive.  Not as good as I expected.

> Terminator 3  (2003),  Having low expectations going into this movie, I thought it was good.  Not as dark as the earlier films and the action was well done. 

> Winged Migration  (2001),  Ok, this is French-made documentary about birds migrating across the globe.  Sounds boring, but if you are in the right mood, it is a fascinating film.  The visuals and sound are breathtaking.  Learned about it from some positive buzz on Netflix.  Give it a try.

November  2003

> Finding Nemo  (2003),  Really good movie. The animation is stunning and the Ellen DeGeneres character is very funny.  This movie lives up to the positive buzz.  

> A Perfect Plan  (1998),  A very good, serious drama.  Not an "entertaining" movie, but a well-acted play with beautiful photography.  Billy Bob Thornton creates a completely original and believable character.  Not a great movie, but a good DVD rental.

October  2003

> Dead Man Walking  (1995),  Very good movie that explores a very serious subject - the death penalty.  Sean Penn is great and Susan Sarandon actually makes you believe she is a nun.

> Monty Python - The Meaning of Life  (1983),  Catching-up on some older movies I always wanted to see.  This movie has a couple of very funny scenes, but overall is not up to the level of earlier Python movies like the Holy Grail. 

> The Green Mile  (1999),  Could not get into this movie.  Very long.  Sorry.

> A Mighty Wind  (2003),  Funny movie, but not great.    If you enjoy these subtle satires like Best in Show,  you will really enjoy this movie.

September  2003

> Chicago  (2002),  Very good movie.  High-energy from beginning to end.

> > Lord of the Rings - Two Towers  (2002),  Fabulous movie making.

> Bowling for Columbine  (2002),  Surprisingly entertaining.   Some riveting scenes.  Moore puts too much of himself into the movie (gets preachy in the second half), but what the heck, it's his movie. 

> The Insider  (1999),  Good movie but flawed. The script in the second half sets up the Pacino character to become this hero on a mission and this story line and his over the top acting miss the mark.  Russell Crowe is very good and the highlight is Christopher Plummer's killer performance as Mike Wallace. 

August  2003

> > The Horse Whisperer  (1998),  A great DVD rental.  I loved this movie.  Interesting to compare this work to Redford's much older movie as director  - Ordinary People. Both scripts are about coming to understand and accept how you survived a terrible incident, learning to understand how to get on with your life and what is important in life. 

> Prefontaine  (1997),  Drama about the great distance runner of the early 1970's, only recommended for people that remember "Pre".  Shot in a documentary style, this was an OK movie but not a strong recommendation.

> Office Space  (1999),  A few very funny scenes, but based on the positive word-of-mouth, I expected a better movie.

> > The Pianist  (2002),  Simply a great movie.  Interesting to compare this movie to Gangs of New York.   Both are epic, historical pieces that reach for greatness.  But The Pianist succeeds in every way that Gangs of New York fails.  One of the best movies I have seen in years.

> Pi, Faith in Chaos  (1998),  a "jarring black-and-white brain-bender" according to Netflix..... this is a terrible movie. Do not waste your time. Really bad.

July  2003

> Gangs of New York  (2002),  This "epic" movie by Scorsese is somewhat of a mess. There are many amazing scenes and Daniel Day-Lewis is brilliant, but the scenes are not connected and the ending reminded me of an ultra-violent version of the end of  West Side Story.   If you look at  Scorsese's great films like GoodFellas and Age of Innocence, he draws us into a new and fascinating world and maintains the drama from beginning to end.  In Gangs of New York he takes us into this bizarre world of our American history, but we get lost.  The DiCaprio character provides the narrative to guide us through this world, but he seems as confused as the audience.

> Jackass: The Movie  (2002),  A couple of the scenes were kind of funny, but the main characters - these are not likable or funny guys.  They are just guys willing to take risks of injury to get on camera.  I like offbeat humor, but there is not much clever about what these guys do.  I turned the DVD off after about 45 minutes. 

> > About Schmidt  (2002),  I think several years from now this movie will be respected as a classic.  There is a realism to the people that you do not see in modern movies - it  does not follow the typical formula.  I laughed and thought about this movie for days.

> Punch Drunk Love  (2002),  I expected to love this movie because it was made by Paul Thomas Anderson - the brilliant director of Magnolia.  But this movie sucks. Why or how the Emily Watson character falls for Adam Sandler is never explained in the movie. With no emotional connection to the main characters, you are left with a bunch of disconnected and bizarre scenes that are, at times, painful to watch. 

> Rushmore  (1998),  Very good move.  Original, fun, well acted and a joy to watch.

June  2003

> Spirited Away  (2002),  Animated adventure / fantasy by the legendary Japanese film maker - Miyazaki. Some of the most creative and dazzling scenes you will see on film. Many of the scenes are exhilarating, but at moments it is dark and creepy (of course, I was afraid of the wicked witch in the  Wizard of Oz until I was about 14 years old).  The Pixar crew managed the English translation.  This movie make a lot of current animated movies look pale in comparison.

> Erin Brokovich  (2000),  Soderbergh makes entertaining movies and Julia Roberts is good in this movie, but there are a couple of scenes where Julia needs to get serious and show honest  emotion, but instead you see Julia trying to act and you lose the connection to the character and the story. Julia is always likable, I just make this point because she won the academy award for for this movie and I just don't see it. But it is worth a look as a DVD rental.

> Girl, Interrupted  (1999),  This is a great DVD rental. Winona Ryder is so good, I was amazed. Winona has beautiful eyes and in this movie she uses them to show every emotion from fear to joy.  If you have the time, the directors commentary has many insights on the cast and the choices  made in the screenplay with the influence of many films including the Wizard of Oz.

> Adaptation  (2002),  Mixed feelings.  Nicolas Cage is great.  Chris Cooper is simply amazing.  The story at times is riveting.  But the screenwriter - Kaufman (always brilliant in a totally original way) crosses the line in the last hour between quirky originality and a train wreck.   The characters you begin to understand in the first hour, suddenly are engaged in a life and death struggle in the second hour that seems completely unbelievable.  I expected to love this movie because I am a big fan of the director's last movie, but I can't recommend it.  Sorry.

May 2003

> Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets  (2002),  Excellent movie. One of the few recent movies where the special effects actually add to the story (and don't distract).  You care about these characters.  Well done.

> The Family Man  (2000),  Good movie.  Better than I expected.

> In the Name of the Father  (1993),  One of those movies I always wanted to see and finally did on DVD. Big fan of Daniel Day-Lewis, and he is great in this movie. Not an easy story to bring to the screen and director Jim Sheridan pulls it off.

> Elizabeth  (1999),  Cate Blanchett is very good in this movie.  Not a great movie and at times, surprisingly violent, but a good DVD rental. 

> Unfaithful  (2002),  Mixed feelings on this movie.  Diane Lane is great, and the first half of the movie is a slow, but riveting adult (very adult) drama.  Then it starts to get very depressing and near the end you start thinking....wait a second, that doesn't make sense.... I don't think that character would have done that in that situation.  Richard Gere offers up some stiff acting  next  to Diane Lane who demonstrates the full range of emotions.  Can't really recommend it.

April  2003

> Far From Heaven  (2003),  Julianne Moore is fantastic in this movie. I really like this movie, but be careful, it is very different from contemporary movies.  It is a slow-moving melodrama that does not have a typical Hollywood ending. If you give it a chance, notice the role of color, use of leaves in every outdoor scene and compare life in the 50's to today (no answering machines, no video games, smoking at work, the dress at work, secretaries making coffee, and kids in cars with no seat belts)

> 12 Monkeys  (1995),  One of the best science fiction movies of the last decade.  One of those movies I never had a chance to see when released in '95 and really enjoyed the DVD. Very creative movie making.

March  2003

> The Big Lebowski  (1998),  Jeff Bridges is one of the greatest actors working today. But  I can see why this movie did not do well at the box office. While it has the same quirky creativity of all Coen brother's comedies, most of the scenes are Jeff Bridges and John Goodman swearing at each other using the same words over and over. At times this movie is brilliant, but overall, the repetition of the dialogue between the main characters becomes annoying.  Only recommended to fans of the Coen brothers.

> Femme Fatale  (2002),  This movie is train wreck. Director DePalma has completely lost his way.  Many of the key scenes are completely ridiculous, make no sense and are poorly directed.  There are two "hot" scenes involving Rebecca Romijn-Stamos - a very attractive woman.  DePalma directs these scenes in a way that makes them completely sterile -  absolutely no feeling or passion.  The plot twists are so poorly designed and executed it is a shame some people compare his style to Hitchcock. 

> > Magnolia  (1999),  Second time watching this movie.  I wanted to know if I would still like it the second time.  The answer - yes, this is a great movie.  But viewing it the second time, I understand why so many people hate this movie.  The first ten minutes contains scenes that turn people off and the blur of seemingly  disconnected  scenes that follow, they never recover, they never see the creativity or find the message.  

This movie says at any moment in time, there are simultaneous dramas being played out in any neighborhood - children coping with the expectations of their parents, older people facing their mortality, and adults looking for new relationships and trying to manage  the destruction of past relationships.  The overriding theme is everyone is looking for love and asking for forgiveness for past mistakes.  This is a brilliant movie.

> > Road to Perdition (2002),  A great film.  Director Mendes make so many great judgments with plot, use of sound, use of silence, the beautiful score and two of our greatest actors - Hanks and Newman.  Loved the ending and everything about this movie. Students of film must listen to Mendes in the directors commentary on the DVD. He gives several insights into the creative choices made in the move and pays homage to the cinematographer.

> > Blue Crush  (2002), This movie rocks.  I love this movie. The incredible surfing scenes, the music, likable characters, this movie is great.  The director uses some local, Hawaiian, non-actors and this gives the movie a kind of realism and grit, but the acting is a bit uneven.  Liked it so much I viewed the behind the scenes stuff on the DVD and this was very interesting.

> About A Boy  (2002),  Has its moments but overall a disappointment. The characters and story are not believable.  I like Hugh Grant but if keeps making movies like this, I may have to reconsider.  Hugh, wait for a good script on your next movie.

> The Royal Tenenbaurms  (2001),  Totally original and great comedy. Many people do not get this movie.  It is a very dry (sometimes black) comedy.  You laugh more the next day.  The scene where Gene Hackman teaches Ben Stiller's two boys how to live life by pulling childish pranks - this is a classic.

> Best in Show  (2000),  Very funny movie. 

February 2003

> Wonder Boys (2000),  Really surprised by this movie.  It is terrific. The script is intelligent. The cast is first rate. Several key themes are examined and keep you thinking after the movie. For example,  having success at a young age and as you get older, how do you top yourself or learn to accept the fact you may not.  A breakout performance for Tobey Maguire.  Michael Douglas in one of his best performances in years. Robert Downey Jr., as usual, creates a completely original character.

> Mulholland Drive (2001),  Only recommended for David Lynch fans. I liked this movie. Naiomi Watts is incredible in the movie.  This is a bizarre satire on Hollywood and you can't take it too seriously or try to figure it out.  Just enjoy the many riveting scenes.

> Panic Room (2002),  Well crafted drama. Surprisingly violent in second half.  But I liked it more than I anticipated.

> Ocean's 11 (2001), Entertaining movie.  Clever script and good acting by the all star cast.  Not a great film, but an enjoyable two hours of fun.

January 2003

> A Beautiful Mind (2001),  Really surprised by this movie - it is not very good.  I like Ron Howard but he does not know how to direct a drama and make the characters real.  You don't care about these characters because there is an element missing - the element of truth regarding how people interact and talk.  The acting is good and the script is interesting, but it never comes together and the surprises in the plot are a simple manipulation of  withholding information on the audience.  An average movie that does not live up to the awards and attention.

> Bridget Jones's Diary (2001),  I'm a big fan of Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant and heard good things about this movie.  But I didn't get into it. The script has minor flaws that make the Bridget character a bit unlikable so you don't care that much when life gets tough for her.  A few funny moments and Zellweger nails the London accent.

> Spider-man (2002),  Fun movie.  Tobey Maguire adds humanity to the character and makes this more than a special effects, action movie.  Well crafted by director Raimi.

> This Is Spinal Tap (1984), I always wanted to see this movie and finally did on DVD. There is a scene in this movie (the band trying to find its way from dressing room to the stage) that  is one of the funniest sequences ever put on film.  A great comedy. After watching the DVD, go back and watch it again with the voice over of the three band members commenting (years later) on the "documentary" and how they were treated unfairly by the director and their agent. Too funny.

> > Lonesome  Dove (1989), I've seen it several times on TV and consider it the best mini-series of all time. Robert Duvall creates an entirely original character and delivers one of the best performances ever recorded on film.  The single DVD version has a fuzzy picture.  Better to rent the two DVD set.  Over five hours long but worth the effort.

> The Way We Were (1973),  I've seen it  many times on TV, the DVD version is excellent with much better sound and the wide format was great.  Holds up well over time.

December 2002

> Felicity: Season One: Disc 6 (1998), a favorite TV show, wanted to see how it looked on DVD.  Good music, characters you care about, and good writing.

> Stolen Summer: (2002), fan of the HBO show that produced this movie. Has its moments, but the kid actors are not good. Only recommended if you watched the Project Greenlight TV show.

> Chocolat (2000), very good movie.

> > Being John Malkovich (1999), Viewed it for the second time on DVD. The fist time I watched this movie I was blown away by the originality of the script and the acting of Cusack and Diaz.  Still on my top 10 list for movies seen in recent year, I didn't enjoy it quite as much the second time, perhaps because during the first viewing you experience so many bizarre and surprising sequences. 

> Insomnia (2002), excellent movie, same director that did Momento, this guy knows how to build tension.  Best movie Pacino has done in a long time.

> Snow Falling on Cedars (1999), very slow movie, beautifully shot, I found it tough to care much about the characters.

> Run Lola Run (1998), great movie, very original and fun.

> The Usual Suspects (1995), Heard a lot about this movie and had high expectations, but was a little disappointed in  the end.

> Gosford Park (2001), I'm an Altman fan, the movie has its moments, but it was too slow and the "who done it?" part of the plot doesn't start until  the last 30 minutes.

> > Amelie (2001),  great movie.  Original, fresh and a total joy to watch.

November 2002

> Startup.com (2001), average documentary, the subjects of the film are two, young internet start-up guys that are totally dislikable.  They care nothing for their employees.

> Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002), only watched out of respect to the original Star Wars. A really bad movie.  The actor that plays the young Darth Vader is remarkably bad.  George Lucas has lost his way.

> Memento (2000), fabulous movie, original and riveting.

> The Rookie: (2002), starts slow but very good movie.

> > Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), great movie.

Signed - up for Netflix in November, 2002

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