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justicegirl
Reviews
Quantum Leap (1989)
Sam Beckett made Science sexy
OK, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for science and scientists. Nothing interests me more on TV and in movies than a smart and sexy character.
That's why I loved Quantum Leap so much. Sure, the stories were intriguing and complex. You never knew what time period Sam would be leaping into each week. Of course the chemistry between Scott Bakula, who played Sam, and Dean Stockwell, who played his best friend Al, made for some great TV. And both actors are talented enough to pull of comedy and drama.
But the fact that Sam had several PHDs, and was talented enough to live the life of someone else as seamlessly as possible, that was very cool.
Give me a Sam Beckett over a John McClain any day.
Good Eats (1999)
He makes you like the foods that scared you
I was never a coffee fan, and then I stumbled upon the coffee episode of "Good Eats," the first episode I'd ever watched. The fast-paced format drew me in, but I stayed for all the nifty scientific and culinary facts I was learning.
After the episode "True Brew," I gave coffee another chance, and became a Good Eats fan for life. I love how, well, anal he is about good food and good cooking, and although I don't agree or follow everything he says, I did incorporate a lot of what he's said into my cooking. And I do have a stand mixer with flames painted on the side...
After five years or so of being a fan, I've tried several of the recipes from the show, and all of them come out great. Though I get better results by watching the show *and* following the written recipe.
Now that he's done an Okra episode, I've got to re-evaluate my fear of Okra, which goes way back to when they served fried, breaded okra in my North Texas cafeteria.
Darn that Alton Brown and his ability to get me to try new things!
Ratatouille (2007)
Brad Bird is my master now
I had heard nothing but good reviews going into Ratatouille, written and directed by Brad Bird. Much like going to a fine restaurant, I was expecting to be impressed. Even though my expectations were high, I was totally blown away by what was served up on the silver screen.
Although it's an animated movie, this is NOT a movie made for or directed at kids, although there's enough slapstick and action that kids will enjoy this. It is an extremely well-made movie, with amazing sets, characters, and story, that can stack up against any live-action movie out there.
The attention to detail is amazing. From the peeling paint on the shutters of a French cottage, to the cityscape of Paris, to the innards of a French kitchen, the world feels real. And, many of the scenes, which are shot from a rat's-eye point of view, are both frenetic and fascinating to watch.
This movie was perfectly cast. Peter O'Toole as a pompous food critic is especially delightful to watch, although it took me until the end of the movie to figure out who was voicing that character. And Linguini, one of the main protagonists, is as tall and thin as his noodle's namesake, a picture of teenage awkwardness.
The story is a classic coming-of-age story. Well, sort of. Here, a young adult must find his place in the world, and leave the nest--literally. The main twist, of course, is he's a rat, but there are other surprises in this story which keep the story as fresh as a just-picked sprig of Rosemary.
Brad Bird, I salute you for continuing to elevate the genre of animation to an art form that's on par with any movie out there. At the heart of your story is the idea that dreams, even the ones that seem impossible, can come true. Here's to my dream that Ratatouille wins an Oscar--not for Best Animated Feature, but for Best Picture.
Serenity (2005)
Serenity Afterglow
**Spoiler-free review**
I saw Serenity last night at an advance screening. I woke up this morning still smiling.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should say that I've been a fan of the TV show Firefly, that the movie was based on. Even so, I think that people seeing it for the first time and people who are already familiar with the back story will both enjoy the heck out of this movie.
The dialogue and the acting are the two strongest elements of the movie. Although you may only recognize a couple of names of the actors, like Alan Tudyk and Gina Torres, you can be sure you'll be seeing their profiles rise soon. Especially Nathan Fillion, who plays Captain Malcolm Reynolds. He's got dramatic and comedic acting chops, and both are given a chance to shine in this movie.
It helps that the movie was written and directed by Joss Whedon, the king of the one-liners. They aren't just throwaway lines thoughthey always contribute to character and plot development. The plot is pretty straightforward, and doesn't assume you know anything from the TV show. Though if you've seen the TV show, some of what happens, both good and bad, will carry some extra meaning.
Most of the effects are also quite good. Although I felt that a couple of the action sequences felt a little staged, overall, the fight scenes and digital effects were well-rendered. This is not a sanitized Star Trek experience, and the effects and camera work reflect this. The ship that the characters live on, and where much of the movie takes place, has a run-down, gritty feel, by design, almost like a submarine.
In short: Serenity was awesome. I laughed a lot, I cried a little, and I'm definitely going to see it again. I hope you give it a chance. Sit back in your comfy theater chair, snack on your popcorn, and enjoy the ride.
The Nude Bomb (1980)
Not so good
Being a fan of the "Get Smart" TV show since I was a teen, I actively sought out this movie at the rental store. I was, needless to say, disappointed.
The plot revolves around a destructive weapon that would destroy all clothing, hence the title of the movie "The Nude Bomb." Now, I'm OK with an absurd plot, because it's supposed to be parody. The "Get Smart" TV series did a great job of poking fun at the James Bond mystique, long before Austin Powers.
There are several strikes against this movie. First, and most importantly, Barbara Feldon, the actress who played Agent 99 in the TV series is nowhere to be found. A huge part of the appeal of "Get Smart" was the chemistry between 86 and 99. None here.
Second, the movie came out ten full years after the TV show ended. What may have been funny in 1970 was not so much in 1980.
I expect more from Mel Brooks. Especially since this came out in the same year as "History of the World, Part 1," another Mel Brooks film For a better Maxwell Smart/Mel Brooks fix, go to the old series, see "History of the World Part I" or check out Inspector Gadget.