I hadn't seen anything about this film except a few blurbs in magazines, so I went with zero expectations. "Napoleon Dynamite" (SOMEONE knows his Elvis Costello...) is absolutely fantastic. It's a sweet film in the same realm as "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Office Space,"and "Fargo," but there is no morality play. It just IS...like the rest of the characters in the film. The absence of any well-known actors made the place believable. What blew me away were the subtle details of the film: the Trapper Keeper, the ancient VCR, the dated-style portraits in the living room; the clothing styles of the people. This is a place where time does not pass at a normal rate. Although the town is in a modern setting, it seems like it hasn't quite gotten past 1990. This makes the online purchase of the 1982 time machine quite funny, considering they're perpetually there already. It's not your typical geek movie, nor is it a teen romp, nor is it anything poignant. It's simply bizarre...bizarre and hilarious and strangely comfortable. As far as I'm concerned, Pedro's wig stole the movie. Go see it if you're not expecting another "Dude, Where's My Car?" I loved this film. I will get it when it's on DVD.
Reviews
6 Reviews
The Village
(2004)
excellent
11 August 2004
Shyamalan weaves his cinematic magic once again in this beautifully-filmed movie about a 19th-century community with a terrible burden to bear. The villagers are terrified of the creatures in the woods...and with good reason. They have showed up recently...leaving mutilated animal corpses in their path; marking the doors of the village with blood; terrorising the villagers due to the periodic visiting of the forbidden forest.
The village must be self-sufficient enough to sustain itself, for no one is allowed to leave it or enter it. What are the creatures? Why are they so angered by the villagers' trespassing?
These are the basis for Shymalan's beautiful and terrifying tale. This film, however, is not a horror movie. It is a very interesting psychological journey into human nature; rather like "Lord of the Flies," in fact. No matter how innocent we seem to be, we can never escape the Deadly Sins: tragedy must fall upon us at some point. It makes us more well-rounded and three-dimensional. It has elements of everything from Wuthering Heights to Greek tragedies to Hitchcock, and, aside from the abrupt denouement, is nearly perfect in its storytelling.
Bryce Dallas Howard is stunning as Ivy and has made an incredible acting debut in "The Village." Adrien Brody, as the village idiot, is flawlessly brilliant. Joaquin Phoenix is marvellous and heartbreaking. The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking...and frightening.
Shymalan's inevitable cameo is also quite clever.
I thoroughly enjoyed this little movie. Do not go in there expecting to be thrilled...expect to gain insight into human nature and war. It might be lost on too many people, sadly...
The village must be self-sufficient enough to sustain itself, for no one is allowed to leave it or enter it. What are the creatures? Why are they so angered by the villagers' trespassing?
These are the basis for Shymalan's beautiful and terrifying tale. This film, however, is not a horror movie. It is a very interesting psychological journey into human nature; rather like "Lord of the Flies," in fact. No matter how innocent we seem to be, we can never escape the Deadly Sins: tragedy must fall upon us at some point. It makes us more well-rounded and three-dimensional. It has elements of everything from Wuthering Heights to Greek tragedies to Hitchcock, and, aside from the abrupt denouement, is nearly perfect in its storytelling.
Bryce Dallas Howard is stunning as Ivy and has made an incredible acting debut in "The Village." Adrien Brody, as the village idiot, is flawlessly brilliant. Joaquin Phoenix is marvellous and heartbreaking. The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking...and frightening.
Shymalan's inevitable cameo is also quite clever.
I thoroughly enjoyed this little movie. Do not go in there expecting to be thrilled...expect to gain insight into human nature and war. It might be lost on too many people, sadly...
Down to Earth
(1984–1987)
cute
10 November 2003
I barely remember this show, given that I moved in 1986 from a place that didn't have cable, and subsequently missed half the show's run. I also was only about 8 years old at the time. I haven't much else to add to the previous person's summary, except that she WASN'T the only person who saw it, that the premise
was very clever and original, and despite having the world's worst actor (the late Dick Sargeant), I remember the show being awfully charming and, oddly
enough, the credits being especially interesting. I also remember asking my
mom what "23 skidoo" meant. I credit the show for sparking my personal interest in 1920s history. So if you were a writer for this sitcom, bravo for hitting at least one kid on the head! Let's hope more interesting premises as such come forth in TV in the future! Vive le flapper! (Question: did she actually get her wings? And did a bell ring?)
was very clever and original, and despite having the world's worst actor (the late Dick Sargeant), I remember the show being awfully charming and, oddly
enough, the credits being especially interesting. I also remember asking my
mom what "23 skidoo" meant. I credit the show for sparking my personal interest in 1920s history. So if you were a writer for this sitcom, bravo for hitting at least one kid on the head! Let's hope more interesting premises as such come forth in TV in the future! Vive le flapper! (Question: did she actually get her wings? And did a bell ring?)
excellent
23 July 2003
This adaptation of Dorothy L Sayers' novel is excellently adapted for television. I watched this in junior high school and credit its production for tweaking my interest in reading Sayers' novels themselves. The acting is phenomenal. Lord Peter is played by the sublime Edward Petherbridge, who absolutely epitomises the character. Harriet Walter, although not posessing the adequate deep voice for Harriet Vane, nonetheless shines as the character and is absolutely believeable. The beautiful Cornish coast is a gorgeous backdrop. The story is fairly true to the original book; with some exceptions...but it is so well-directed that one barely notices. Fantastic production. Two thumbs up.
Diary of a Lost Girl
(1929)
excellent film
23 July 2003
I saw Pandora's Box several years ago. At the time, Diary of a Lost Girl was unavailable for viewing. I discovered it had been re- released on DVD, completely restored. It is far superior to Pandora's Box, in my opinion. Louise Brooks plays Thyamin, a young innocent who is raped by her lothario father's chemist assistant. Her pregnancy results in her banishment from the house, and she is placed in a reform school. Her escape from the institution leads her to a brothel, where she spends her life until her father's death...when her life changes. Unlike Pandora's Box, which is about an unredeemable nymphomaniac, Diary of A Lost Girl is a story about loss, redemption, forgiveness, sacrifice, and hope. It has a much richer plotline, sublime cinematography, and Louise Brooks shone like a star. This film itself is a rediscovered treasure. Highly, highly recommended.
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