Change Your Image
Retro-11
Reviews
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Mr. Shakespeare would be proud
I love how Hollywood is sneaking Mr. Shakespeare onto the screens these days! I watched this film and expected a high school, teenybopper dating crisis story, and thankfully, I was SO very wrong. This film has much more to offer than that; the cast is very true to the characters' personalities, and they work so hard that it comes across as natural. Oleynik (as the much-adored Bianca) is wonderful; it's refreshing to see her as another character besides Alex Mack (Nickelodeon fans know who that is). I loved all the characters, especially the slimy Joey, whose mind is on his chiseled profile and on his, ahem, fly. Watch the film even if you think it's a high schooler movie; you'll be pleasantly surprised at the depth and humor these young actors give to these 400+ year-old characters!
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)
Makes me glad to be far away from my high school
I love Romy and Michele because they are everything my former best friend and I were in high school. We never belonged with the beautiful people, and we didn't fit in anywhere else either. Had things turned out differently, we'd probably be just like Romy and Michele, living together in some apartment. I really identified with this movie, and despite the fact that it's pretty cheesy, it's still a great film. The music is awesome (I grew up on the entire soundtrack) and really helps complete the 80s feel of the plot. If there's anything valuable I can say about the movie, it's this: I sure as hell won't be going to my 10 year reunion!
Kiss Them for Me (1957)
A weak story with even weaker acting
As an avid fan of Cary Grant, I expected to watch this movie and howl with laughter, as AMC billed it as a comedy. I have never been more disappointed with a film! Cary's usual charm and effortless comedy are AWOL from this entire movie; he comes across as strained, bored, and just not himself. Mississip's character ranks among one of the worst stereotypes I have ever witnessed - his accent is terribly exaggerated (and incorrect, according to which part of Mississippi he claims to hail from), and whenever he does deliver a line, it's several decibels higher than any other cast member. Mississip tried to make himself stand out in the film as a lovable, country-bumpkin goofball, but in the end, he manages only to detract from the already weak plot. Mansfield looks more like an obscene blow-up doll than a Hollywood sex kitten, and while she was never known in Hollywood for her acting ability, this film screams that she never had that ability to begin with. Ray Walston's character was sugary and ultimately contrived. For four men on shore leave, it was the tamest leave I've ever seen. I watched this nightmare until its very end, and while I won't spoil that for anyone, I will tell you that it's the most absurd you'll ever see. The film tries to spark patriotism and a sense of debt to the fighting men, but the film misses that point totally because of its weak plot line and weak cast. Sorry, Cary!
The Haunting (1999)
I agree with Jeff in L.A.
Good story, spectacular effects, FLAT ENDING. Jeff in L.A. was exactly right in saying that this film could've been scarier. There are plenty of moments that make you jump (and a few that made me scream), but the way the movie ends just leaves you feeling like you worked up all that adrenaline for nothing. I think DeBont should've not concerned himself with the MPAA rating and just gone for the full-on scare. The music is chilling, and if you get the chance, watch this on a home theater system because the sounds are amazing! The cast did a wonderful job of being terrified, and they passed their fear right on to me. There are a few places in the story that make you sit up and say, "HEY! Where did that come from?" Some details that one character manages to come up with are completely unexplained; I cry "FOUL" on a character that is suddenly imparted with knowledge that the audience has no idea of where it came from. Still, it's a good movie that's supremely creepy and chilling at times, and it's worth seeing at least once.
Final Justice (1984)
Ack! Gag!
I can count (on one hand) the number of good movies starring Joe Don Baker. This is not one of them.
Interminable chase scenes, dim-witted dialogue, and terrible lapses in continuity made this movie a prime choice for getting the send-up on MST3K.
And that is the only way I was able to watch this...
The Leech Woman (1960)
Why I sat all the way through the movie
Talk about an interesting plot just dashed all to hell by non-acting! It's got a good story, but the acting (or lack thereof) just makes this whole picture seem incredibly campy. I did enjoy the way the 151-proof Mrs. Talbot exacted revenge on her uptight doctor husband. I agree with the previous reviewer in that this movie did have a lot to say regarding the heavy value placed on female looks at this time in history. The character Malla summed it up better than anyone I've ever heard before (and I am paraphrasing): "When a man grows old, the silver in his hair brings him prestige and honor, and there is a joy to growing old. For a woman, there is nothing." Great plot; I just wish they could've put together a better cast...
Heathers (1988)
One of my all-time favorite flicks
When I first saw this movie (when it was new), I admit that I was only watching it for Christian Slater. But, a lot of time has passed since then, and now when I watch it, I see so much more.
I never fit in with the crowd and was always being ridiculed for my intelligence and love of books. I felt close to Winona's character, and I still do. EXCELLENT MOVIE -- shows high schoolers as they are, an often UGLY sight...