Change Your Image
charlie411
Reviews
Earthsea (2004)
On the subject of Earthsea
Okay, I saw the ads for this movie and I thought that it MIGHT be a cool film to watch. Mainly because of Shawn Ashmore. I really like him in X-Men. I really like him, period. I also love fantasy. That is my favorite genre in any format, be it written or captured on film. However, after watching this, I have to say (and I probably sound like a parrot) this movie was such a disappointment it was not even funny. No I have not read the books. In fact, I went to the library and got the books in preparation for the movie, but ended up watching the film first. Hope to start on the books soon if my schedule allows it. But back to the movie. The first thing that struck me, actually no, the second thing that struck me was the very, very, very bad cgi used in this film/series. I almost switched off my computer, at the stupid battle on the cliff. The first thing was the script! My goodness what awful dialogue. Almost everything spoken was bad. And they were all taking themselves so seriously. I was cringing at lines like, "And all of earthsea will be mine", "He does not understand me", "Look into my eyes" (gag). I am glad I did not read the books before this because now that last image in my mind, after I read the books will be the books themselves. Yes the imagery, the settings I mean, were nice when they were actual settings and not computer graphics. The acting was not too bad in maybe a couple of the characters. I also liked the best friend/sidekick, I liked...well, to be honest, I think that was probably the only character I liked, or at least could watch. Shawn's character was very unlikeable at first. He finally learnt his lesson by the end, the progress of which was not bad on its own. But his story was not well developed, or something. It missed a lot, and I could not help but feel a bit cheated. Kristin's character was pretty similar to that of Lana. She does have the ability to act fierce which works well, but why do her characters always have to be so, so...girly is the only word I can think of right now. Danny Glover's character was rarely seen and barely made an impact on me. As for the woman, Kossil, someone commented earlier on how obvious her character was and why no-one saw right thru her from the start and I have to agree. That Mother I don't recall her name was a bad judge of character. Anyway, I am off to read the books now. Hopefully that will be a good experience like everyone''s been saying.
Terry (2005)
saw it
I'd have to say it was a very well done movie. I do not know much about Terry Fox but I think Shawn did a good job of portraying what Terry must have been feeling during that time. I found out at the end of the movie that he died about 4 months after he completed that run. Possibly the hardship he endured getting thru the run sped his eventual decline. But yeah, good job Shawn. He is getting better and better at acting. I think people should see the movie, especially if you do not really know about Terry. By the way, if your are a crier, be warned, this movie will have you bawling. Keep a box of tissues nearby.:) As for the quality of the movie, I think they did a good job making it look and feel like you are back in the late '70s early '80s. All in all, I approve.
Angels in America (2003)
highly entertaining
I would give this movie a higher rating if not for the fact that I had to use a dictionary a lot of the time while watching it.Too many 'big words' and also I am not American or Canadian and don't know much about America during that period of time, so I did not quite get all the references to the politics of the time. It was very good though in terms of acting and imagery. I decided to watch it only because of a couple of the actors, and I had no idea what it was about. I did have a bit of problem with the whole homosexual theme running through it but I applaud the actors who actually did things like kissing, and stripping and such because that was just brave, in my honest opinion, to expose themselves on screen like that. The acting, wow, Emma Thompson, who I think is one fine actress that I don't see enough of, was VERY theatrical as the angel, and I actually loved it. Someone said it was campy, it was sort of funny and there were parts where I cringed, but I think she was still pretty fierce. Justin Kirk was just...I never knew of him before but now I will watch for him because he was so into his character, and funny at times, and i just felt for him. Plus, he was cute. Jeffrey was good, at times he seemed somewhat scary, but other times, loving, and his walk!!! Ben Shankman, was quite good, did not like his character but he was 'redeemed' as someone put it, by the end. Mary Louise Parker, I had a bit of trouble at first believing that she was influenced by drugs because she sounded so sane, and so...perceptive.But she was good. Meryl Streep's Ethel, I liked, she was wicked, and I almost swore she was going to start dancing in the hospital scene. Al Pacino's Roy was very evil, and very pitiful at the end. And last but not least, Patrick Wilson, who was one of the main reasons why I watched this thing, was just too good. His image fit the character, his acting was so very believable,and I identified with him a lot. What his character was going through, his background. I felt awful for him at the end of the show, because his was an unfinished story. Although the nudity (not that I really minded as he has a very nice body), was it entirely necessary? I don't think Meryl Streep's Hannah got enough of a story.