adekwoz Reviews

Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

Not as Good as the Original

[7/10 · 16 April 2005]

This remake of the 1960's Flight of the Phoenix is very unsatisfying. The character development is not as rich as the the James Stewart version. Dennis Quaid simply did not portray the depth of emotion that James Stewart did in the original. Giovani Ribli was good as the model plane designer but again he didn't get enough scenes and Harvey Kruger's portrayal had a lot more edge. Also missing was the Richard Attenborough character who keeps the Phoenix project going. His role was combined in the characters of several of the cast in the remake.

Now, I am not saying this is a bad film. I view it as a companion piece to the original. The special effects were awesome. Being trapped in the Gobi or Sahara (as in the original) was more meaningful to me when I saw the vast desolation of the desert in this remake. See the original Phoenix for its wonderful character study and see the remake for it's special effects and you have one fabulous picture. The original Phoenix stands on its own. My recommendation is see the original and then view the remake.

Ladder 49 (2004)

I've seen this movie before

[3/10 · 24 March 2005]

Ladder 49 reminds me of the TV shows EMERGENCY! and Adam-12. It's also a remake of BACKDRAFT without the sinister fire chief and the set-up fires. While we all appreciate the heroism of firemen---this movie had nothing new to offer. But perhaps we all need to be reminded from time to time the dangers these men and women face in protecting us. But the scared, long-suffering wife, the station high-jinx, the story of the brave, idealistic rookie from his first fire all the way through to his death---well, it's old hat. Maybe I'm jaded but this movie was just a little too PG for me. Even the fireman whose face was burned by steam did not look hurt all that badly. I was bored but my 12 year old LOVED it!

Lost in Translation (2003)

I loved this movie!

[9/10 · 5 December 2004]

The last scene with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannssen was one of the most touching and romantic scenes I've seen in a movie in YEARS. I'd like to think that he whispered to her that she changed his life and gave him a renewal in spirit and the courage to go on. I think he told her that she would find her place in life soon and encouraged her to follow her heart. I'd like to think that they never saw or spoke to each other again but the memory of each other during that brief time in Tokyo is an anchor and touchstone that will get them thru the rough times that always come in life.

They would hold each other close in their hearts forever. I'm a sucker for romance!

We Were Soldiers (2002)

Pretty standard war movie fare

[4/10 · 26 December 2002]

War is hell but noble in this formula movie. Take out the special effects and you have a 1950's WWII John Wayne film starring Mel Gibson. Every standard cliche is used. Every tired story-line is once again pushed through the grinder--- from the suffering wives left at home to terrified wounded soldier in the midst of battle. This is not to disparage the real horrors of war but this is a movie that has been done over and over. But maybe we need to keep seeing these sorts of films to remind us civilians of the sacrifices that have been made by our military men and women. On a lighter note: Am I crazy or did Madeleine Stowe's lips bother anyone else besides me? Her lips looked beestung or the doctor got carried away with the collegen injections!

Silkwood (1983)

Realistic depiction of working class people.

[8/10 · 4 December 2002]

Meryl Streep as usual does a good job of characterization. She is a different person in each film she does. She was a Ellen Brokovich type. Too smart for the job she was in. The ending was pretty weak, tho'. Also as a non-smoker, all the constant smoking made me sick. But again, that was pretty realistic.