vspa87 Reviews

Scooby-Doo (2002)

A Faithful Interpretation

[17 June 2002]

Scooby-Doo is a faithful interpretation of the cartoon series. It does a good job of bringing the characters to life. The cartoon series was my favorite as a kid, and fans of the cartoon show are the target audience for this movie. If you have never seen the TV show or did not like it, then this is probably not the movie for you. The movie reminded me of aspects of the show that I had forgotten about, and they hit all the same notes that the TV show used to hit. If you hated the show then you might say the same cliches, but knowing they were coming was always part of the fun. And that feeling carries over to the movie.

The opening sequence is an action scene that wraps up a "mystery" that the team solves. They have a bit of a conflict and go their separate ways until they are called together to a mysterious island fun park run by a character played by Rowan Atkinson, the guy from Mr. Bean. It seems that strange things are happening on spooky island and he wants the team to investigate.

The storyline was actually pretty good. I know a lot of people are going to think I'm nuts nut but at least this film had two actual conflicts that the characters were trying to resolve. One pertains to the "mystery" and one pertains to interpersonal conflicts between the team. For me the latter was the more interesting because it invoked the nostalgic attachment that I have to the characters. A lot of 'serious' films do not have clearly drawn plots, so Scooby gets credit there. Having said this however, this is a comedy without a lot of big laughs. It is more about nostalgic smiles. So much of the original TV series is preposterous, and this film does a great job of bringing that to the big screen.

Some of the action scenes are the least inspiring because things become a little bit jumbled. Something is off in some of these scenes, most notably the opening action sequence. Maybe it's the direction, maybe the editing, but it just doesn't work. Later action scenes work better but this still not the film's strong point. There is a sequence in the middle of the film that takes place in a haunted house of sorts that is a very effective action sequence because there are relatively few characters involved, minimizing the confusion. The sequence at the end works less well.

Most interesting is the interplay between the characters. Prinze as Fred and Gellar as Daphne do a fine job. They do what they can with the parts, which are the least interesting of the mystery squad. The real revelations in casting are Linda Cardellini as Velma and Matthew Lillard as Shaggy. These are the kind of performances that send you back to IMDB to figure out what else these actors have been in. Their characters are the meatier roles among the four and they both excel at bringing them to life. It's a goofy story but there is real acting going on here and these performers deserve some credit. In fact since Scooby was digitally added, you really have to give Lillard some credit. You never felt that he was talking to a sock puppet. And Cardellini manages to convey a lot of emotion and thought with her facial expressions, despite wearing heavy "Velma" glasses throughout the film.

The art direction is very good - the look of the film is interesting without distracting from the actions of the characters. Some of the CGI, like in so many films these days, is a bit fuzzy. Scooby himself is serviceable but not a masterwork from a CGI perspective. From the perspective of how the role is written and performed, Scooby is great.

Overall not a movie for those who were never fans of the TV show, but great fun for kids and for those of us who liked the TV show.

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Hilarious... a classic

[28 January 2002]

I just picked this up on DVD from the library and it's every bit as funny as I remembered. The creators of this film understood a great deal about the history of rock music and expertly weave this knowledge into the film.

Many times the actors' accents in other "serious" films tend to come and go... in Spinal Tap I never once heard one of the leads break accent. Perhaps the funniest thing about the film is the songs themselves, with their ridiculous lyrics that are still within a stone's throw of what actual heavy metal bands used to sing (and somewhere are still singing.)

The film is a little short at around 80 minutes, but compared to the cinema bloat that is currently en vogue, maybe that's not so bad. There are a number of enjoyable cameos that I won't spoil by naming them.

Hercules (1997)

Another Solid Disney Offering

[9 October 1999]

Just saw Hercules on video and found it to be quality entertainment. The Disney take on Greek mythology was creative, with James Woods as Hades a definite highlight. An example of a creative touch: Hades' hair is always operating at a slow burn, but when he gets mad, the flame turns from blue to orange. Hercules as the protagonist is likeable and earnest, so that you really want him to win. Of course in the Greek myth Hercules was the child of Zeus and a mortal. Since Disney won't tolerate adultery among its animated deities, of course Hera is presented as his mother here. A minor detail, I figure if you want the real Greek myth then read the original. Meg as the love interest is a contrast to the usual lily white Disney heroine, a little hard edged but still likeable enough in the end. Danny Devito voices Phil, the trainer to the hero (shades of Rocky), and is very effective and amusingly animated. Several of the action sequences are outstanding, including one where the hero battles a multiheaded beast. I was quite dazzled by this sequence. Also loved the metaphor of the Fates cutting the string of life to send another soul to the underworld (was that from Greek mythology or a Disney touch?)

I cannot help but reflect upon how animated features have changed over the years. Characters are voiced by recognizable stars, which becomes a bit distracting. They have quick cuts like an MTV video, cultural references that will mean nothing in twenty years. The timelessness just isn't there anymore, but I nonetheless enjoyed this film a great deal. Disney still has the magic, and no one else can touch them in this area. Compared to the average film showing at your local movie house, even an average Disney offering is a clear winner.

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

An excellent film in all aspects.

[29 December 1998]

I had high hopes for this film from the first time I saw the trailer. I am happy to say that the film lives up to the previews. Although it is an art house flick of sorts, it manages to be profound and accessible at the same time. So many art house films manage to be merely pretentious, as if aimed at those that want to believe that they are having an intellectual experience rather than those who are really open to one. This film shows that you can make a film of substance that is at the same time very entertaining.

One thing that stood out was the way they showed enough of the performance of Romeo and Juliet so that you could understand what the play is about, without making it a film of the play per se. There are many parallels between the fictional play and the events of the film, and this goes to underscore the relevance of great literature to the human condition. The actual performance of the play was acted so well that there were times when a character in the play was in a fight and I said to myself "they're really fighting, that guy really got stabbed!" So often a play within a movie is acted in a very staged manner, so this was a welcome surprise. And for anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare, it is easy to find little tidbits to reflect upon - such as the fact that Shakespeare himself was fond of the "play within a play" theme that we see in this film.

The performances are excellent throughout, including minor characters. In the midst of tragedy there is genuine comic relief, just as in Shakespeare. The historical details that surround the conjectural main plot are accurate down to the names of the actual people with whom Shakespeare crossed paths. In the end "Shakespeare in Love" causes us to feel as well as think, to think as well as to be entertained.