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dougemmett
Reviews
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
cinematography ruined this exciting film
It must have been extremely disappointing for the crew and actors, after dedicating days to make a great film, to see their talents wasted by unintelligible camera work. Cinematography is supposed to be seamless and help tell the story, not detract from the experience, leaving viewers disoriented- car chases and fight scenes left the audience wishing they'd brought along some Dramamine. The acting, screen writing, and cohesiveness of this narrative almost rivaled the first film, only to be lost in a sea of out-of-focus, poorly framed shots. The editing couldn't salvage the wasted emulsion. Whether cinematographer Oliver Wood purposely tried to be (overly) stylistic, or just got careless, the film was hindered by the nauseating footage. It's a shame to see a well-written, well-acted film go to waste because the cinematography lost focus, literally.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
escape reality for 2 hours
Who wouldn't want to be Ferris, at least for one day? And especially if it could be the day he takes off from school, with friends Cameron and Sloane, journeying into downtown Chicago impersonating the rich and famous while capturing the hearts of an entire city? Ferris represents everything all high school boys want to be: funny, good-looking, quick, charming, conniving yet smart, and popular. Having a girlfriend as hot as Sloan Peterson doesn't hurt either. And driving a Ferrari helps. What really won me over about his character was Ferris' ability to talk his way through conflicts and problems. Perhaps it is his strategic way of thinking I envy. When faced with similar confrontations (i.e. the restaurant scene with the `snooty' host), I'd probably crack and then wet my pants. Ferris was able to, though non-violently and painlessly, deceive people, achieve his goal, and make himself look like the good guy all while doing so. It's this ability I find so intriguing and sexy. In a way, yes, this movie told kids it's okay to lie and do the wrong thing. But it also taught kids not to give up in the face of opposition. But who really cares what the underlying message is? Movies are made to help one escape miserable reality for 2 hours. In those two hours I imagined myself as Ferris Bueller, conquering the world, singing in a parade, being ogled by beautiful dancers, and tooling around in a Ferrari. This life is a dream come true- as long as you ignore the final scene, which I suppose the director/writer John Hughes included to help movie-goers prepare for re-entry back into their pathetic and dreary lives.
Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of Africa (2002)
Kilimanjaro is an exciting Imax with a hint of reality TV...
Kilimanjaro, the newest David Breashears (Everest) Imax film, documents the journey of 7 individuals, from various backgrounds and ages, as they challenge themselves in hopes of summiting the largest free-standing mountain in the world. The Imax is a little like National Geographic meets Survivor. At first you're awed by the natural beauty of Kilimanjaro and then, slowly, the film weaves in the story of the adventurous group and their expedition, lending a more human aspect to the documentary. The film is beautifully photographed and scored and the editing is top-notch. As the stories unfold, a type of picture-in-picture is used to show the climber speaking (in the foreground) as he or she is hiking in the background, utilizing the giant dome of the Imax theatre. This is an interesting and creative feature that lends a hand to the narration of Kilimanjaro. Overall, this film is very inspiring to the average Joe, delivering the message that although the climb to Kilimanjaro's summit is no picnic, it is however, possible (50% success rate). Kilimanjaro is a great addition to Breashears' already impressive library. -Doug Emmett