JessicaBrandy Reviews

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Being John Malkovich didnt do it, Adaptation didnt do it...But this did

[10/10 · 7 April 2004]

Okay, so its been hard for me to understand where the genius is. What was the thing that I missed in Being John Malkovich?? Why didnt I like Adaptation?? I'm supposed to be apart of the smart movie-goers...

Okay, so Eternal Sunshine looks a little goofy and cute so I was kinda looking forward to it, but I was also hoping that the map would be a little clearer on this movie trip. I guess having slightly low expectations for a Charlie Kaufman flick gave me a good starting point. Now, Quinton and Nolan have shown me that they have a way with doing things out of order that I respect, and the slight out of order taste that unravels in the end of this film was done so well. There are so many parts and things, the little things, that I just really really like about this movie. The whole time that Joel is trying to stop this pretty much unstoppable procedure was just so interesting. You have Clem there, pretty much trying to help and the whole time I'm thinking, how freaking cute...here Joel is just thinking of how Clem would be.

Joel: Im sorry I'm erasing you, but you did it first

Clementine:I know, I know...but you know how impulsive I am

Then the part where they are back in an old memory and Clementine goes on and on about the outfit Joels memory has her in...its just so cute to see how Joel just knows her...This only adds to the part where she finally sees a piece of jewerly he had bought for her and she says, Funny, no boyfriend I've ever had really knew my taste...They did love each other...it just makes me wonder what Clementine was going through when Joel was being erased.

So hurray for me, I like this Charlie Kaufman movie.

Phone Booth (2002)

Good evening...do do do do do do do

[10/10 · 10 July 2003]

Phone booth was one of those movies where I really felt that all is not totally lost when it comes to new movie making. Now I realize that this is no original idea, Hitchcock wanted to make a movie like this in the past but funny enough, was unable to come up with a reason to have the main character have to stay in a phone booth. Well, even though the reason used in this movie isn't one to gasp at, I still found myself enjoying the suspense, drama and thrill. A jerky agent has finally met his match when a man with a I-have-to-punish-people attitude, not unlike Mr. Nameless from Se7en, targets him while making his daily call to a promising mistress in a phone booth.

I liked Phone Booth a lot. It was super suspenseful, and if your one for 2nd chances then you will surely find yourself rooting for Stu (Colin Farrell). Forest Whitaker played an awesome Captain that tried his best to understand the situation and not just jump to conclusions even with adversity.

Colin Farrell has been someone I've been keeping a look out for ever since Tigerland, and he's done nothing but please the mind and eye (even in my guilty little pleasure DareDevil). The only thing that I will ask…no, not ask, beg of Hollywood…PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT MAKE A SEQUAL. The end is fine, we do not need to see what will happen to our characters. Just leave it as it is. With that said, I bid you all adu.

Modern Times (1936)

What an amazing piece of art

[9 July 2003]

Charlie Chaplin. My goodness.

Being a 23 yr old now-a-days is sometimes hard when it comes to expecting to see a good movie. I am a snob of sorts when it comes to movies, refuse to see beyond the first American Pie movies (and the first would have been the same if I would have known) and the Farrelly brothers make me ill, and there's really no way to change my mind when I see movies like Charade, and Pressure Point. Looking back on movies put out in the past and trying to compare them to movies now is like trying to compare a steak dinner to a BigMac. Sure we're all CG-ed up, and I enjoy my share of new movies, but last night I decided to watch Modern Times. Now, black and white? Silent? I was not all about it at all. I like old movies and what not, but Im not about to jump into Metropolis or anything, but I have to say that I laughed about 150% more then I thought I would. It had some great footage of the funny man of the early 1900's and the situations were just Laugh Out Loud.

Even though I'm not a Chaplin follower I did get a wow feeling when he started singing in the restaurant, knowing that this is the first time Charlie Chaplin has spoken in a movie. On of my favorite scenes in this movie is when the Tramp tries to work as a night watchmen in a department store. He takes his homeless girlfriend in to have some food, fun and a comfortable place to sleep. Part of the fun is when they try out the roller-skates and its all funny from there. I truly enjoyed watching this little film and I will definitely be seeing more Chaplin movies. To think, I thought this was going to be one of those films where everything was spoiled because of the thievery that goes on today. Glad to see that this gem was virtually left untouched.

Confidence (2003)

What is it about a good con movie?

[29 April 2003]

I have to say that this was a really good movie. Also there was something else I wanted to say...cgeorgie's comment from Berkeley, CA gave me a good chuckle, especially when I looked up and found out that s/he liked that quirky movie "The Hot Chick" (??? I don't get it either, I would think that computers were too confusing for people like that too).

Now, Im not going to give this movie more praise then it deserves. Im not a big Edward Burns fan, although "15 Minutes" was very good (but we all know who made THAT movie). He did do a good job of portraying a good liar, con-man and L-uuuu-ver. I do have to say that Rachel Weisz was not tooooo convincing. It seems as though her accent is a bit to hard to cover up and I found it seeping through a couple of times. Too, her character seemed to be a poorly portrayed confident woman, almost seemed as though the character was only acting, but maybe that was what Foley was looking for. Some of the other characters seemed silly. Paul Giamatti as Gordo was a bit characature-y and so was Dustin Hoffman, Andy Garcia and Luis Guzman (although I love them all!). All in all the wacky characters and the always turning plot was well worth the $7.50 and 2 hours.

Phone Booth (2002)

Short, Sweet and way good!

[10/10 · 21 April 2003]

Sure my grammar isn't the greatest, but this movie sure was. I have to say that I have, like I always do, read up on some of the comments on Rottentomatoes and I was really surprised that the fresh rating wasn't higher. I tried my very best to avoid all the trailers and radio spots just cause I knew this movie was short and I didn't want to get too much just from that. And, when I finally got the chance to actually see this movie (yesterday) was was blown away. I thought it was amazing. I thought Colin Farrell was phenomenal (I really give propers for folks who have thick accents that take on different ones for their roles: Rene Zellweger in Bridget Jones, Nicole Kidman in a handful of movies, and Colin over and over).

So there isn't much to add to the trailer though. A guy picks up the phone in a booth in Manhattan and it turns out to be a twisted killer who is picking people who are jerks and tries to make them better. Nothing like using a little bit of scare tactics to get your point across. I tell you I would love to see how the whole thing changes Stew. Can he change? Who knows. I know that I'm never gonna pick up a ringing phone.

In its simplicity, Phone Booth really has a lot going on. Its got one setting, a handful of characters, and lots of action and drama for an 81 minute long movie. I say, Thumbs up!

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

From credits to credits, a very interesting flick

[25 December 2002]

I'm not big on Leo, but he has been a bit busy the past year or so. I heard of Catch Me if You Can a while back and did a quick look up of the main character and was pretty interested. I like guys like Ricky Jay (and was very interested in seeing his Broadway Show on being a con-artist) and what not so this was something I was really looking forward to. And I was not disappointed at all.

Leo was great as Frank Jr, and I always welcome any Christopher Walken character. Tom Hanks did fine as Carl Hanratty, but the real character was Frank. It had a biiiit of a slow start, but from the first moment we saw him taking control in school and con-ing his fellow students, it was pretty cool and not so unbelievable. His character really took advantage of those situations where you say to yourself, how does anyone know that I am really supposed to be here. I really have to comment about the opening credits because they were just sooo neat. The wacky situations that Frank seemed to sneak out of and into were just too ballsy (even makes you a bit jealous). If there were any real problems that I had with this film it was the almost silly and sped along France scene, but other then that I was pretty impressed.

24 Hour Party People (2002)

What an awesome movie!

[8 September 2002]

My favorite club, Respectable Street Cafe, has been playing the coolest music ever, and I've been going there forever (well, forever in my eyes...from age 17-23 and still counting). I go there and dance on a virtually empty floor with my eyes closed. Its the one place that I can truly become the music-New Order, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Lords of Acid, The Smiths on and on and on. So hearing about this movie tickled my interest.

It was a little of what I expected and more. I thought the credits were something worth mentioning (freaking amazing) not to mention using it throughout the movie to introduce bands, locations, times and facts. I love when people break the 4th wall, and what a cool way to have Steve Coogan do it. How freaking cool to show us all the real guys, and not to mention when Tony Wilson skims over his 2nd wife and kids with her to explain to us that "I'm a minor player in my own life story." This movie is raw with its use of 70's style film (which I think was DV shaded to look old-AWESOME!) and its subject of "punk" music. It, just like "The Kid Stays in the Picture," is just a tickle though. One of those movies that makes you say, wow, that was good, but now I've got to get the book. Good times, good times.

The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)

Do you love "Behind the Music" and "True Hollywood Story" too? Then you'll like this...

[4 September 2002]

...mostly cause the narrator uses the "F" and "S" words (wow, I feel silly saying that, like I'm 12 or something). Imagine hearing Jim Forbes (narrator from BtM) say that on VH1.

This was my first trip to the theater to see a documentary. I was thinking, should I just wait til it comes out on video and watch it like any other Biography episode? But I'm glad I made the trip. First of all, they took this guy who's had a pretty up and down life. We have all heard about Robert Evans' failed marriage to Ali MacGraw and the crazy-ness that came from that but there were so many other interesting things that happened. I have to say, I have always thought of Francis Ford Coppola is a jackass who thinks he can just pawn away his bad movies by saying "I needed the money", but seeing this movie has made me see that he's even more of a turkey then I thought. It's pretty cool to see someone stickin it to him when the rest of the world thinks he's this amazing guy. Its pretty funny to see too, that his greatest film, "The Godfather" was finished in his eyes, but Evans forced him to add more to it. I almost wish that he left it alone just so that we could see the way he wanted to 'f-word' it up. Then we would all see what a loser he is (hehe). And how cool that Robert Evans actually narrates it himself. And need I mention the crazy-cool way they showed the pictures? Amazing to say the least! Not something that should be missed on the big screen. I'm definitely glad that I got a chance to see it in the theater instead of waiting for the video. I tell you though, it makes you want to read the book, so if you yearn for more details, but hate to read, maaaaaybe this tickle of a movie isn't for you. Robert Evans, the coolest guy I don't know.

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

Oh man, will this ever end?

[4 September 2002]

That is what I thought when I heard that another Austin Powers movie was coming. That is what I think when ever a sequel comes out (Did you know that there is yet another 'Brady Bunch' movie coming soon?? And lets not forget another 'DUMB AND DUMBER' movie too, WITH THE ANNOYING DELL KID TO BOOT!!). Lets just say that I'm not a big fan of, "Hey, it made us lots of money, let's juice out the stupid public some more with a bad sequel". Buuuuut, I (reluctantly) went to see the latest version of James Bond gone stupid, and I have to say that I secretly laughed...a lot. I know, I sound like a snob, but ya know what, I don't care. I hate "sampling" in songs (come on, 'Jack and Diane' used by Jessica Simpson...you're killing me!) and I hate when old TV shows are made into movies, no originality left in Hollywood. But they did a good job with 'Goldmember'. It was totally gross sometimes (just thinking about some of the gross stuff makes me nauseous) and the jokes were the same (yes, some more of wacky names like Fook Mi and her twin sister Fook Yu (why do they have different last names if they are sisters, hehe)) and another song by Dr Evil that is almost too embarrassing to watch. But all in all, it was pretty entertaining.

Hey listen, its not like I'm NO fun, I have my share of retard movies that I like a lot (this is on that list) but sometimes its frustrating being a movie goer, especially when neighbors ask if they can borrow my "Rush-Hour 2" DVD...I don't have "Rush-Hour 2" you wacko, but I will lend you some intelligence and my crock pot.

One Hour Photo (2002)

Like a can of peanut brittle- not yummy candy, but surprising pop out springy things.

[4 September 2002]

I've got to be the funniest person ever with movies. I totally judge them way to fast for my own good, and time and time again I am surprised by how wrong I was. This only happens with about 20 rented and theater movies a month, you'd figure I'd learn. Maybe its cool, everyone knows that when you expect less from a movie the better it is the better it seems. Anyway...

We've all heard that "One Hour Photo" is a great film and once again I wasn't all about seeing it. I was thinking that the best part of the film may be the cool flavored popcorn that my favorite movie theater has, but was I wrong.

Okay, so you have this kinda creepy photo guy who's all anal about his pic's looking perfect for "his customers". He seems to just care about everyone and their pictures, but actually, he REALLY cares about one family in particular. As the movie goes on we find that he's that typical creep-o who seems to have never had a happy life of his own, so he likes to imagine himself in the pictures he develops.

The movie is great, I think, because of what it does to you. I'm very big on not mistaking a movie for good just because it makes you feel something, but I have to give this one credit because of the roller-coaster it puts you on. Not in an action way, but in an emotional, suspenseful way. I found myself thinking this movie was predictable and not suspenseful, but every time I thought I knew what to expect, the exact opposite would happen. I wish that I could write a couple of examples but writing in *SPOILER* and typing away just isn't my style (I play it cool, you know, like when you're a Jet you're a Jet). The play with colors and lack there of was very cool too, I love when directors know what they are doing with color, like Soderbergh and Scorsese (not to put Romanek on such a pedestal, but he did a great job). The couple seems to be a bit 'shaggy' in my opinion and Gary Cole gave a performance that makes you wonder how he crawled out of the 'TV and straight-to-video' click with Mike Pare and Judith Light. These things did nothing to hurt the movie though, so they are barley worth the mention. Robin Williams is fantastic and even though there are some scenes that make you think 'what's the odds' it does a good job to say, maybe small, but there is a chance with this wacko. Okay, okay...I'm done, go see and enjoy the movie!

Blood Work (2002)

Raise your hand if you cannot stand trailers that give too much away!

[25 August 2002]

This movie would have been soooo much better for me had I not let myself watch the trailer (not unusual for me mind you). This movie relies on the audience not knowing about 2 major things, and because of the trailer I was able to guess both, 1st in the first 1/2 hour, and 2nd about 1/2 way through.

Clint Eastwood plays a man who was the "good" of a killers "good and evil" game. When Eastwood suffers a heart attack and becomes in need of a heart transplant, well, the fun ends. Don't worry though, that's enough from me. Go see the movie if you didn't see the trailer, or if you plain old forget it (funny, my remember-everything boyfriend forgot the trailer until I expressed my disgust for it, and then he totally remembered and felt sorry for me...ahhhh, how I wish I had the ability to forget what I don't want to remember instead of everything else).

Pressure Point (1962)

What a movie.

[13 June 2002]

Bobby Darin has earned my utmost respect.

I've heard "Mack the Knife" and other snappy songs by him, but I only recently realized that he was an actor as well. I'll admit that this was not a rented movie or something I sought out, just one that I caught from the classic channel, but it was from beginning to end, no commercials or cuts and I cannot express how much admiration I have for Bobby Darin. He came from a weird life (a life only Jack Nicholson could relate to) and add to that a disease that shortened it, but Bobby Darin made his time around one to be remembered. This man's performance in 'Pressure Point' stunned me.

Darin plays a man who's childhood was not one to be envious of. This man's life became even less envious, because the story takes place inside a prison where he is a convict. Sidney Poitier plays the prisons psychiatrist and Darin is sent to him because he cannot sleep due to anxiety. Poitier's character has a hard time with Darin's due to the fact that he is extremely racist (a Nazi even) and is continually treating Poitier as though he understands how he feels is wrong but doesn't care (that is the attitude that I got from it). That he knows everything he feels is based on a lie but he simply does not care...it allows him to be violent and hateful and that is why he does what he does. It's pretty scary and even though sometime you think, "goodness, I hate that sometimes what Darin's character is saying makes a little sense, what in the world is Poitier going to say to that?", that's when the doctor sets him straight.

I am a pretty emotional person and this movie really knows how to pull at them, even for an older movie, it has its 'I can't believe he said that' moments, but it was very impressive for Bobby and Sidney to do a movie with such a point, when others at the time were doing such cheesy things.

Metropolitan (1989)

Metropolitan? I'm for it!

[4 June 2002]

What a very different way to look at people...or, what a different group of characters to focus a movie on would be putting it better. Stillman took the snobby 'debutants' of upper Manhattan and made a movie about what they talk about. I personally found 2 kinds of humor in this movie...I laughed with the characters, and laughed at them. Can a group be this funny and be serious? It was very intelligent the way this movie had me listening, listening, laughing...quick cut to another scene and start over again. I have to admit that the acting was something of a humor in itself, as was the frayed ending, but all in all a very enjoyable movie.

I wish I could say more about it, but for some reason watching this, 'Barcelona', and 'Last Days of Disco' has left me a little wordless...I wouldn't be surprised to find that every word in the Webster's Dictionary was used between the three. But kudos to Stillman for doing it right.

Unfaithful (2002)

I like my veggies like my movies: Steamed!

[20 May 2002]

You know that feeling you get when you're cheating on your spouse? You know, how wrong it is, but how you can't stop? I wouldn't know either, but if I were to guess how it feels to be in that situation, it would be the exact performance that Diane Lane gives in 'Unfaithful'.

'Unfaithful', although a very forgettable film (kind of a Richard Gere curse I think), gives us some great performances, some steamy scenes, and some disappointments. Constance Sumner is a very beautiful and bored housewife. She has a successful husband Edward (Richard Gere) and a young son (Erik Sullivan, from 'Malcolm in the Middle'). Her life is full of auctions, charity work, and school plays and even though she never states it, I've come to the conclusion that should something spark-y come into her life, she would welcome it. Enter Paul Martel (Olivier Martinez). One blistery day the two happen to bump into each other, literally. Should she stay or should she go? She should go. Will she stay or will she go? Stay, of course. And it's all bittersweet from there. From then on she constantly finds herself pushing away her husband for trips to the city to find her sweet Paul just one more time, just one more time, just one more time, until it she finds that it really is just one more time. Unfortunately, unknowing to her, Edward has been on to her the whole time. And he finally grows the, ahem, nerve to go and see this guy. As we all know, nothing good can come of this.

'Unfaithful' is a good guilty movie, until about ¾ of the way through. I cannot help but put Diane Lane on a acting pedestal for her performance. She is so believable and so beautiful, I almost feel for her husband. Olivier Martinez does a great job making his character come off of the romance novel cover and onto the screen. Unfortunately, the as the plot thickens, my interest thins. Richard Gere is typical Richard Gere and the story is something to forget. But all in all, this girl's love of the steamy screen (and don't think we all don't love um fellas, I'm just one of the few who will admit it) will make this movie one to watch again. Only thing is, I'll end up stopping the tape after the first hour and a half.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

George, swallow your pride and get someone with talent already!

[20 May 2002]

These movies (this statement can only be said with eyes closed, hand on my shaking forehead). I cannot express how much I would respect George Lucas if he were to just stand up out of the directors seat, hand the pen and paper to someone a little more capable, and say, `Here you go, please, make me proud.' It almost makes me wish someone would slap him on the back of the head and tell him to ask for directions already, cause Georgy boy is as lost as you can get. These movies have such potential, they have so much to offer us. Can't we just get the movie so promised to us? It's almost as if Mr. Lucas is thinking, well, there is no way that this movie will not make a zillion dollars so I can go ahead and write what I want and that way I get to do it all myself.

‘Episode II-Attack of the Clones' takes place 10 years after the last POS we all waited on line to see 3 years ago, ‘The Phantom Menace'. Queen Padme' Amidala (Natalie Portman) is now a senator (and still single??), Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen, ‘Life as a House') is now a grown up (in appearance only mind you, I don't know who whines more, him or my 3 ½ year old!) hotty with an ego only Padme' can love. The movie starts off with Senator Amidala's life being threatened. That is how Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and his young apprentice Skywalker make their way back into Padme's life and heart. Also going on, the Republic is slowly falling apart and its up to the Jedi to help stop it. Only thing is the Jedi cannot do much to help because there aren't enough of them. Keep in mind that these are only a few of the things going on in this mess of a movie. It was mind boggling. I consider myself an intelligent person and I don't think following movies is a difficult task, but with all the different references to people we haven't met responsible for this or that catastrophe, its hard to keep up with who is good and who is bad. And the CG in this movie is very good, yes, but also too much. I don't want only eye candy George, I want a good-guy bad-guy story that will keep me interested. Don't we all? Aren't you all sick of saying, `well, it was better then Phantom'. It's supposed to be a great movie, not an acceptable movie.

These actors have so much potential. Natalie Portman is a good actress, all she needs is a little direction. You know, that thing the Director is supposed to do. And Hayden Christensen does an okay job, if he's supposed to be so whiney and overstuffed. Poor Ewan McGregor tries so hard to give his character life, but how can he with such HORRIBLE dialog. For instance, in one scene C3PO is having his head dragged along by R2D2 and Lucas actually has him say `This is such a drag'. COME ON! Are we all 12? Is this supposed to entertain us? George, move aside and let someone else make a good movie. You can still put your fancy schmancy logo in front of it, but why don't you give something for the intelligent folks to enjoy too, other then stealing our money for yet a 3rd time. The only thing 'Phantom Menace' and 'Attack of the Clones' seems to be good at is giving 'A New Hope' that the next one will be better. But I'm alreay starting to lose that.

Spider-Man (2002)

Words cannot express...

[10/10 · 6 May 2002]

...the wonder that is this movie. If I say that I enjoyed this movie, then I would be a liar. If I said that this movie was awesome, then I am not doing this movie the justice that it deserves. See Spiderman, and see it in the theaters. If you do not, then you will regret it for the rest of your life. And if you're one of those wacko's that has a really big TV and surround sound and try to convince yourself that it will be just as good, or even better then seeing it in the theaters, then you are wrong, retarded, and should be committed. The only way that you will convince me that you will get the full effect is if you own your own projector, 100 ft screen, and stadium seating. All I have to say is thank goodness this movie waited...thank goodness there were conflicting parties who claimed ownership...because of this, the movie was delayed and then made at a time where CG is at its peak and there are no cheesy strings or obvious scenes where the wall is actually the ground (i.e.. Batman and Robin walking up the buildings...blah).

Yeah, I liked this movie.

Panic Room (2002)

Comment #2 (sooo good, I needed to get this in too!)

[22 April 2002]

The opening credits to this movie are UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING. I am a total font girl, always trying to find cool fonts (I've even attempted to make some) and these just take the cake. They look Times New Roman, but the way that they are placed is just genius!

(I'm just embarrassed that I forgot them in my previous comment for this movie!)

Panic Room (2002)

Maybe not "Wait Until Dark" but definitely an amazing movie

[22 April 2002]

How funny. On the way home from seeing the movie my boyfriend says to me, "Do you remember 'Wait Until Dark' with Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin?" and I was nodding in total agreement. Yes, this movie totally reminded me of 'Wait Until Dark' and scrolling down I see a comment putting this movie down because of the connection (and now I'm convinced that there is a total connection). But is that a bad thing?? Movies are unbelievably unoriginal now-a-days but at least 'The Panic Room' takes the idea that the Hepburn movie had and used it well. Goodness, with Austin Powers 3, Charlie's Angles 2 (double unoriginal!), yet another Jason movie (just shoot me!), and a remake of 'The Warriors' coming soon, you would figure that at least they took an idea and made it really good, instead of ripping off one exact idea after another.

I am shocked by the number of people that did not like this film. It was just such a good movie in my opinion. I'm always impressed with the cinematography of a film, and you can tell that the same director directed 'Fight Club'. Now, there are a lot of REALLY good shots in this film but that certainly didn't make it what it is. The story was just too cool. Now, don't think that everything about this movie is an A+. I thought Jared Leto was just over done a little, and the ending was a bit sloppy-ish. There was this here and there that will have you saying, "no no, you should have had her do this, or that" but its still okay...Hey we all want the girl to not go into the dark basement when the light is blown out and the suspense music is playing, but she does doesn't she?

But there were just so many great scenes: **SPOILERS** When Jodie Foster had to run out for her cell phone and no music played, how unbelievably amazing! The continues shot of the house when the guys start breaking in. The scene where she comes out of the room for her daughters insulin and the ruffle that happens and the scenes after where she is just insane with determination to get her daughter well.

I don't know...yes its a bit of a rip off from another movie, but you know what, its a good movie with a good idea, take it and make something with it. And, yes, it has its silly parts but all in all a must see and you must see it in the theaters. Its like a really good first date. When you think about the date over all, it was great, but I'm sure that not everything that came out of his mouth was perfect (especially the part where he still lives with his parents, yuck!)

Frailty (2001)

Not what I expected, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't a great movie

[16 April 2002]

Okay, so my sister comes home and says to me, "Hey, I got a couple of tickets to a pre-showing of 'Frailty'...Hmm, have I seen anything about that movie, tailors or read anything on it. "You know, that movie they say is as disturbing as 'The Shinning'." THE SHINNING??!! Now, I'm no chicken when it comes to scary movies but like 'The Exorcist' scares my father to this day, so does 'The Shinning' to me. You know, you're young, its dark, and you watch a scary movie and it freaks you all out beyond anything you have ever experienced before. So I think I'll skip the whole 'Frailty' thing. But, as soon as she gets home the first thing out of her mouth..."It stunk!" Hmm, okay I'll go and see it.

I hate going into movies expecting one thing that is so different that it ruins the whole movie experience as I'm sure is a lot of movie goers feel. Frailty was a great film. Greatly told, greatly directed, greatly acted. And unlike the two other movie goers I dragged along (either side of me for support in case my sister was wrong) I didn't see a lot of stuff coming. But with any other movie the whole let down of getting something totally different from what you expect would be enough to not like it, but this story was so good that it survived that. Kudos to Bill Paxton on his directing debut. Commenters beware, no need to give so much away with comments, lets let people go in not knowing what the movie has in store.

Mulholland Drive (2001)

Hummm, what do I think?

[11 April 2002]

Okay. This is a David Lynch film, so I rent it thinking I am going to simply hate it, thinking to myself, "Just watch it like your watching a moving painting". But, with such low expectations, how disappointed can I be, even if it is as bad as I am expecting it will be worth the art, right? Right. I didn't hate this movie with a passion like I did 'Blue Velvet' (but I went into that POS thinking it was some great film because of all I've heard about it, blah). Now, I'm going to try to explain what I liked.

Okay, to start, the acting seems to be directed bad. The actors seem to be good actors that are being told to over-act, or under-act, or just act bad, giving it a sort of creepy effect. Maybe I'm giving the acting and directing too much credit, maybe Lynchy-boy just can't tell who is a good actor and who is a bad one. And, things happen that I've decided to just accept. Instead of saying "what was the point to that scene???!!!" I just said, "well, that was an interesting short film in the middle of this one, now lets get back to the main characters". This kept my sanity during this film. There are lots of small characters with short blonde hair, well, what a cool way to morph one of the main characters a few times. It's too funny to me. If I would have seen this movie without these feelings of ignoring this and that, and thinking to myself, don't worry about how that happened, I would have watched it with an uncomfortable raised eyebrow and mouth agape look on my face. So instead I think to myself, how did it happen? It just did, just see how it all connects, which sometimes it doesn't even do that, but luckily I did see some connections a couple of times. When the characters flipped, they flipped totally.

This is one movie that I would like to hear what people thought about this part or that part or this connection or that flip. So all in all, it was still a total Lynch-serial-wacky-what.in.the.hell movie but when you expect that, its not a total waste of time. By the way, I am now forbidden to pick anymore movies to rent for a month. My boyfriend hated it.

Quiet Cool (1986)

I am floored!

[15 March 2002]

I do not understand the previous comments. What is everyone smoking??!! This movie was horrible, and I will mention a couple of things that made this movie the traffic accident it is.

The score on this thing is atrocious! There was bad music when they should have kept quiet, and there was no music where even the bad music would have been welcomed.

And that bar scene??!! Do I even have to comment??!!

I give this a thumbs down and I'll even throw in a vomit bag. Watch at your own risk aaaaand be sure to remember, this was the 80's.

The Time Machine (2002)

Reviews Suprised me before hand, but unfortunatly I have to agree

[11 March 2002]

When I saw the poster for this movie back in Aug 2001, I was all excited. I couldn't wait to see this movie. So, day of the big opening I read reviews on it. And I was so surprised about what I read, but, after seeing it, there a some comments that I agree with. Someone said that it was rushed, you couldn't even take a few min.s and enjoy the future, and that's a fact. Guy's Character seems fake. He is more brain then brawn, but charges forth into the lion's den instead of coming up with a plan. And there were parts (more then a couple) that were not explained.In my opinion Time Machine is one of those stories where you have to explain everything, you need to leave no open knots because this is the future is what Wells thinks it is. It's supposed to be shown to us, not left up to our imagination. And I just felt that there were points that were too rushed.

Maybe seeing this movie as a screenplay is different from seeing the whole picture. Maybe there was a lot of editing done that should not have been. Maybe the David Duncan (wrote screen play) freaks out whenever he even hears about this movie, and how they changed it and ruined it. One more comment I agree with along the same lines, the biggest pity about this movie is the potential ruined.

So, all in all, not a GREAT movie, why is that bad even though it was an okay movie?? Because we were all expecting a great movie, and it didn't live up to that expectation. Good example why reading reviews before hand may be a good thing, it lowered my expectation before seeing it. Maybe that is why I don't dislike this movie more.

Hart's War (2002)

Good movie, good acting

[25 February 2002]

As I was scrolling down I noticed the comment that said, "Entertaining movie, but easily forgettable" and I'm afraid that I agree. I enjoyed it, and I thought it was well done, but let's just say that I wanted to hurry up and write down my comments on it while its fresh in my mind (I just saw it last night) and I'm going to assume that it wont be a long read.

This was my first time seeing Collin Farrell but I have heard of him because I know he is going to be playing Bullseye in the upcoming DareDevil movie and when I saw him I was floored. This guy looks like a PERFECT Bullseye. A bit young looking, but I'm sure that he will be great. And Bruce Willis was good, but the role given was not one that he could take much further then he did.

The story was interesting, a war movie, shortly before the end of WW2, but instead of being on the battle field it takes place at a POW camp . This camp was for soldiers who were captured. So all in all it was a good movie, but this DVD will not be entering my collection when it becomes available.

Gosford Park (2001)

I can be my own worst enemy sometimes, but not with 'Gosford Park'

[22 February 2002]

I cannot relate with practically the rest of the world who loved 'The Others' because I guessed the ending while watching it. It has always been a game my father and I would play while watching a movie, who can guess what is going to happen first. Thanks Dad :op ! Well, I'm pleased to announce that 'Gosford Park' wouldn't let me guess it. And for that I loved it (don't get me too wrong, I can't guess every movie, despite being almost perfect :). Throw in the fact that I like period pieces and a who-done-it and this movie gets an A+ grade. It's good to see Clive Owen doing something other then driving a BMW (although those were Very cool) and can you deny Maggie Smith's amazing performance. Didn't you just love to hate the countess? And I can only recall Kelly Macdonald from ‘Trainspotting', hard to believe I recall anything from ‘Trainspotting', due to watching it with my head in a toilet the whole time, now there's a movie that was hard to swallow.

When I read the nominees for Best Picture I gave ‘Gosford Park' a pleased nod. I have regrettably only seen 2 of the 5 nominees and I own the ‘Moulin Rouge' DVD so I have no opinion on who should win this year. But here's to good luck Gosford.

Vanilla Sky (2001)

"..It wanted to be weird, but was scared of being too weird"

[22 February 2002]

That is a quote from a comment I read in my local paper reviews right after I saw this movie (I enjoy reading reviews and comments after I see the movie, to see if I agree) and that described the movie perfectly, to me. But, the reviewer was saying it as if it were a bad thing. I thought it was a good thing. I hated 'A Clockwork Orange' and 'Blue Velvet', so I consider myself a person that isn't big with surreal-type movies, but that is why I liked 'Vanilla Sky'. Because it was weird but not too weird. And the end was great, and believe me, I'm first to say if something has a cop-out ending, like most of Stephen King movies and aaaaaaalmost 'Fight Club' (Fight Club made up for it by being a great movie). It was weird but, say it with me, not too weird. And Penelope Cruz makes me want to be best friends with her, why, because the part she played was "the perfect woman", and she did it wonderfully. Don't get me wrong, I would still debate buying the DVD if the extra features include only letterbox and Digital sound, but I like being able to say that I finally like a weird movie. Hooray!