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The Polar Express (2004)
Best in 3D IMAX -- especially with subwoofers!
I went to see this film at a digital 3D IMAX theater with vibrating woofers under the auditorium -- the seats actually shook when deep bass sounds (like the train) went by! I can see other reviewer's complaints that this film is not for young kids and as a result, perhaps this movie should have received a PG rating.
Get over the animatronic issue. This is new technology. It'll get better. By the way, though, for 2004 and this film, it's pretty darn good.
Whether this becomes a Chirstmas classic or not, I can't say. Whether it's worthy of praise or condemnation in a regular theater I can't say. But in a digital 3D-IMAX theater, this movie is well worth the experience.
Dogville (2003)
Sheer dogma
By dogmatic, I mean the second definition described in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: "Characterized by an authoritative, arrogant assertion of unproved or unprovable principles."
von Trier, might take no offense, asserting that this is his opinion, but given that Mr. von Trier has never set foot in the United States and yet so overt in his condemnation of it, I see no other characterization more appropriate to this film and its maker.
David Edelstein's review on Slate.com perhaps summarizes my own feelings more that any other review. I particularly like the last penultimate paragraph of his work:
"Von Trier really gives us Yanks the big middle finger in the credit sequence, which presents photos of real American poverty, hopelessness, and desperation while David Bowie warbles the acidic "Young Americans." That was when I gave the movie the finger right back; I wanted to throw things at the screen. I'm sure Lars von Trier would regard me the way Col. Jessup regards the lieutenant in A Few Good Men-I can't handle the truth. But it's more like I can't handle selective half-truths by a preening, misanthropic bully who wouldn't recognize an act of decency if it bit him on the ass."
Admittedly, the film-making style of this film was fantastic, and I applaud Von Trier for it. I also give him credit for having the willingness to put forth such a film despite any potential outcry or backlash that might occur. However, my praise of Dogville -- and of von Trier -- stops there. The movie was overly long and would have been better presented were it 15-20 minutes shorter.
Leaving us wondering if this was a statement about America, western values, or humanity in general would have invoke thoughtful discussion across the world, but VonTrier makes it quite clear in the end credits where his hositility is directed.
That by itself does not bother me, but what does is the suggestion -- perhaps overtly -- in the film that the world would be a better place without Dogville (aka America). Such direct hostility is nothing more than ignorant, bigoted, and counterproductive to human growth. The only real statement VonTrier makes with Dogville is that VonTrier himself is a dogmatist.
Open Range (2003)
The second best modern western
Although my preference remains with Unforgiven (how can you dispute a film that won Best Picture?), Open Range is a well-done and masterful western. I was a little skeptical given Kevin Costner's involvement as its so rare for Costner to produce anything worthwhile lately.
But I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the film. In many ways, it was Robert Duvall that assisted greatly in my enjoyment.
I thought the film tried to hard to make the ranch boss the bad guy and thus the film clearly had the "white hats" and the "black hats" (a missing feature in Unforgiven that makes it simply the best of the western genre), but overlooking that, the film was true to the manner of gunfights (no street showdowns). I was particularly impressed with the filmmakers decision to portray how loud pistols really were.
I gave Unforgiven a 10 out of 10, and would have given Open Range a 9 out of 10 if it weren't for the contrived and underdeveloped bad guys. Thus, an 8 out of 10, still a good score!
The Man from Elysian Fields (2001)
Why can't Americans accept anything but "Happily Ever After"?
I've used that one-line summary before, and it is quite appropriate for this movie as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this independent film -- until about 90 seconds from the end.
IMHO, movie endings must fit the movie. When they are contrived simply to satisfy audiences, they destroy the flow of the film, cause the scene to feel "forced", and in general, ruin what would otherwise be a great movie.
Some stories deserve less-than-happy endings. Some stories need to end on a down note -- perhaps a tragic end, perhaps a melancholic one -- not every film needs or should have a happy ending. I can think of countless numbers of films that have been tainted by Hollywood's demand for happy endings. Did anyone else who saw Back to the Future III think that the way it ended failed to exhibit continuity with the rest of the film -- and think that it would have been better not to have Doc return in that friggin' space train?
Think "Last American Virgin". Cheezy film, perhaps, but a non-happy ending that fit perfectly.
***WARNING: SPOILERS***
The Man from Elysian Fields has the same problem. An excellent film overall, it is tainted by the return of Garcia's wife at the end. Come on ladies, who among you would actually return to that marriage after those circumstances?? Only one word fits that ending: contrived.
(The reading of the novel at the end was a little cheezy too ... who wrote those lines?? Yikes, somebody should of hired an actual novelist!)
***END SPOILERS***
I don't want to take away from the solid writing, original storyline, and siginficant performances by the actors. This was a good film. I'm just disgruntled that in the end "it all works out" when clearly, it shouldn't have.
8 out of 10 reduced to 6 out of 10 'cause of the ending.
The Sum of All Fears (2002)
Resemblance to 9/11 too much for me
**WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS***
Its not that this movie is bad -- it isn't. It's just that the nature of certain events within too closely remember our nation's most horrible day -- a day we must never forget, but never relive.
Although the situation is clearly different from that of the actual events of September 2001, the destruction of part of the city of Baltimore and the significant loss of American lives as a result to me served only as a reminder of the tragedies in NY and DC. It's quite a shame that because of those events, I cannot recommend this film -- and firmly believe that it has no place being released. Perhaps the memory of those events are just too close -- not enough time has passed.
A well acted movie, and certain a solid thriller. This film is original in many aspects and would have been a fresh and intriguing film if not for the coincidental similarities to 9/11.
Without 9/11, I'd give this film an 8/10. With 9/11, 4 of 10.
Thirteen Days (2000)
Excellent film about difficult times
Thirteen Days may be the most tense docudrama I've seen ... a serious look at the hardest two weeks in American history.
Bruce Greenwood is excellent as President John F. Kennedy, and I think Steven Culp might be Bobby Kennedy reincarnated. Their appearance and accents are so genuine, you'd think you're actually watching the President and his brother.
Don't worry though. Kevin Costner's "I've got to be the most important character on the screen" attitude and absolutely-horrid Boston accent keep you firmly in reality.
Rating: A- (8)
Sweet November (2001)
Why can't Americans accept anything but "Happily Ever After"?
Based on the number of comments that complain about the ending, I'm convinced my point is proven -- Americans want nothing more from a film than raw entertainment with happy endings -- breaks from reality though they may be.
Hey, it's ok for a move to be nothing more tha mindless entertainment, and it's ok to want to watch a movie that leaves you happy at the end. But not all films are meant to be that way -- and not all should.
When I was a kid I thought the best ending to a movie I ever saw was from 1982's "Last American Virgin" where believe it or not, the guy DIDN'T get the girl. Ya know what folks? It happens in life sometimes.
**SPOILER AHEAD** The ending of this movie worked perfectly for me -- a bittersweet end to a tear jerker of a film. Gripe about Keanu's acting if you want or the plot in general, but if you're rating this movie poorly simply 'cause the ending wasn't a happy one, then you're handing out less credit than you should be. I mean, what are you people looking for? I know, you wanted them to find some miracle cure so that Charlize and Keanu could live "happily ever after", right? Now THAT would have been a poor ending.
Sad stories can work beautifully. This isn't the top notch sad story movie of all time, but given the movie's nature, this one works.
The Watcher (2000)
The weak ending destroys an otherwise intriguing film
This movie was not a suspense film about who the killer was -- we knew who we was from the very beginning -- but rather a suspense film about how it would end -- it's climax. Unfortunately, in an otherwise interesting and intriguing film, the climax was the weakest part. I was able to forgive some of the minor plot holes (why was Campbell in Chicago in the first place; did the "mistake" happen in Chicago or L.A., etc.) and some of the more non-believable scenes (Keanu survives the gas station, successfully escapes from the abandoned building), but after all the build up, the final scene was, well, weak. Couple that with the minor complaints already mentioned and I give this movie a 6 out of 10 -- worth seeing once, and only once.