chickskickass Reviews

The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

Way interesting...

[11 December 2004]

Funny that as I study for my Media Law and Policy final, this movie comes on HBO. Now to go from the ironic to the sublime.

To a big first amendment supporter such as myself, this film acts as both an affirmation of my support and as an amusing take on how laws and the Supreme Court works. Others may find this not nearly so amusing, especially if they feel that their group is attacked, but then I find these people to be over sensitive.

Woody Harrelson's reputation seems to seep into this character, as if they were made for each other. Larry Flynt's cameo was funny. While both might have gone slightly overboard, there was Edward Norton to calm us down. And Courtney Love was a breath of comedy-in-tragedy whenever the story got too serious. Some people may put this film down for its lack of reproach towards Flynt's lifestyle, but what are films if not canvases for artistic license?

The movie is unapologetically pro-Flynt, but I don't believe that Jerry Falwell is put in a light that he doesn't put himself in already.

I must give this film a 7 out of ten.

The Whole Ten Yards (2004)

Budget? There was a budget?

[4 June 2004]

I just got back from seeing this movie, and I;m still not sure how I feel about it. There were some parts that were pretty funny, but the few good gags didn't make this movie work. The rapport with the characters wasn't there like it was in the first movie, and you didn't really care for the characters. Even the emotional wringer that Amanda Peet's character went through fell flat, despite my everlasting love for Peet.

And what the heck was up with the boom mikes? In nearly every other scene, the mike would sneak into the shot! In one scene, there was a mike right next to Bruce Willis' head that stayed there, pretending to be a part of a palm tree or something, despite being fuzzy and gray. For a movie with such big names, you'd think there'd be somebody behind the camera making sure there weren't mess ups like this. I guess they had to cough up so much money for all of the actors to come back that that they couldn't afford a director that paid attention or a television screen during shooting that displayed what the camera was shooting so the director could pay attention. Or a good editor to notice there's a freaking mike in that shot, don't use it. The list goes on and on, and the sloppiness makes it hard to enjoy this movie as a polished product that's eager to entertain you.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

The Ultimate

[9/10 · 17 May 2004]

This is such an awesome movie. I remember watching it as a girl, and when I found it in a clearance bin a few months ago, I jumped on it. I watched it then, and now, having watched it again... Mary Stuart Masterson is AMAZING. Tears fall unwittingly down my cheeks during her performance. I was also enchanted by Mary-Louise Parker, and I always always LOVE Kathy Bates. Jessica Tandy is also her usual fit self, and Cecily Tyson was great ("Shoo! I ain't scared of you!") and I could go on for ages about all of them.

I will admit that this is the Ultimate Chick Flick. That title, however, does not detract from its overall quality. The men are more than just caricatures, and the nostalgia and love of the book made its way into the movie. I have to commend Avnet for his efforts.

And now that I am out of intelligent things to say, THIS MOVIE ROCKS MY SOCKS! It's re-watchability and great everything make this the movie (along with Love and Basketball and my Buffy DVDs) that I take with me to college and suggest we watch at every opportunity.

Gia (1998 TV Movie)

Heart-string puller

[28 January 2004]

Though I've been hearing a lot about how wonderful Angelina was in this movie (and she most definitely was), where are the wonderful comments about Liz Mitchell? I practically fell in love with her... she was so perfect in the scene where Gia visits her for the last time, and she's full of hope and sunshine and I seriously cried. All of their scenes together were wonderfully made and efficient and heart-aching. Wow for their chemistry and doesn't Elizabeth Mitchell still look absolutely stunning? Yay Santa Clause 2! Yep, I spent my entire comment talking about the wonderful-ness of the actresses, and pretty much nothing about the movie. So there.

Courage Under Fire (1996)

Moving

[18 January 2004]

I've read other comments about this movie, and I can't quite understand how they could have been made. All the actors were in fine shape, most notably Denzel, who had me in honest tears after his confession to the parents, Matt, whose incredible change from full-fleshed soldier to emanciated addict is a testament to his professionalism, and Meg, who, despite other people's ragging on her cutesy looks and reputation for girl-next-door-ness, I felt played her role very well. And she wasn't pretty the whole time.

The story didn't drag, even for an ADHD college student like myself. And how everything came together in the end was done well. Maybe I liked it because it appealed to the feminist thinker in me, with less attention paid to glory and action--though the multiple action scenes I thought were done very nicely--and more attention to the "consequences", as Matt Damon's character put it.

Anyway, I give this sucker a good 8 out of ten. I had myself a nice cry by the end of it, and thoroughly enjoyed my viewing experience.

Captain Simian & The Space Monkeys (1996–1997)

When is it on?

[14 December 2003]

I remember watching this show every Sunday with my father back in the day. We both enjoyed it, me cuz it was a cartoon that was funny to my fledgling satirical sense and him because, well, whatever reason. But it was OUR show! Now I can't catch it, and I'm pretty sure that it's now erased from public view. But it was such a good show! It always seems as if the really good shows are the ones that go under or are underappreciated (coughBuffytheVampireSlayercough) but I guess sometimes it doesn't work out. Pooh.

Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)

Let go of reality!

[4 August 2003]

Some folks may find this show "bizaar", but I found this a deeply moving, thought-provoking, and at times absurdly hilarious show worthy of a watch by anyone who desires something a little bit more cerebral and twisted.

Set in a school covered in a rose motif, Utena is the tomboy protagonist, beloved by all, who finds herself suddenly enmeshed in the secretive dealings of the student council, and finds herself suddenly "engaged", to a girl, no less! And there's an upside-down floating castle, swords that pop out of chests--Freud would have a field day with this show--and surfing elephants. And explosive curry! So, um, suspend your disbelief for this show, because it truly is worth it.

The characterization of this show is what really sells it. You have kids playing at adulthood, and if you see Utena as a coming of age show, you can see between the lines of how all the characters are not trying to achieve a "revolution of the world" in that they're gonna start a civil war, but that they are actually just trying to reach adulthood, pressing beyond the threshold to the other side, which all but the heroine are unable to do.

Sound cerebral? It is. And it's very enjoyable, tugging at your heartstrings and then making you unexpectedly laugh at something that, when you think about it or try to explain to someone else, makes no sense. The music is overall wonderful, especially the background music--The Sunlit Garden is perhaps one of the best instrumental pieces I have ever heard on a Tv show, and is worth a DL any day--and the voice acting is done well, even on the English dub, which I generally think are foul, cursed things, but Software Sculptors, the American distributor, did an okay job.

This is a worthy series. Watch it! It's coming out on DVD! Rewatch it! You'll find something new every time, and it'll still be enjoyable even on third and fourth watches.

Oh, and though the box might say it's rated PG or PG-13, and that it's from the director of Sailor Moon, don't think that this is for kids. Though the first 13 episodes are all right, beyond that the show gets a little too hard to understand--though when you're a kid all that stuff makes sense--and also has some undertones that some of the more conservative might not like their children getting hints of(i.E. homosexuality and incest). In my opinion, if they're old enough to even understand what's going on--because these undertones are indeed only subtly hinted at--then they're old enough to deal with it.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

Reeled In

[13 March 2003]

Definitely this show is the best show I have ever watched on television. When I first heard about it, I took it at face value ("er... that's a silly name...") and since it was popular I automatically shunned it. I was going through a phase.

Then, last year, a friend of mine had me watch the musical episode, and from then on I was hooked. That episode dealt with so many issues and I had to find out about each and every one. Now a confirmed Buffy fanatic, I of course am stressing over the impending end of this great show. It has made me a fan of every single actor/actress on that show, and really upped my expectations of what I'd like to see on TV. Which, of course, means I'm going to be disappointed a lot more often than happy. I'm extremely grateful to all those who had a part in this absolutely amazing show. Dude, what will I watch now?

Taboo (2002)

Best when taken "lush"

[8 March 2003]

I rented this movie with the knowledge that it would probably suck and only a die-hard Amber Benson fan should bother. Being a maniacal fan of the gal, I forked over the four bucks and resigned myself to the fact that I would probably end up watching it, disliking it, and using the scene selection menu to review all the important Amber scenes.

And well, yeah, that's what I did. The plot was really contrived and January Jones, who had a pretty big role, was pretty wooden for someone who was seeing dead bodies lying around the house. Amber was kinda funny and plays a "paranoid lush" well. I was surprised by Lori Heuring; I thought she was pretty funny. Everything from the "sex leading to the big plot twist" part of the movie to the end sucked. Maybe seeing a good movie last night--it was "Joy Luck Club", and after crying on seven different occasions, I wanted to disown myself--I must have gotten spoiled. Whatever.

Good parts of the movie: "We broke up... because my penis is too big." Thunk. ~~ Amber Benson in a nightie and a spiked collar does the soul good. ~~ "All talk and no Benjamin." ~~ "Naked twister." ~~ "Woof!"

I won't go into all the bad parts.

However, if thou art a fan of the Benson, watch it, cuz you actually get to see her on the screen for longer than ten minutes. Then get angry at those casting directors who aren't hiring her and flick droplets of margueritas on them. Grrr.