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CBS Schoolbreak Special: Please, God, I'm Only 17 (1992)
I remember this!
This was an after-school special that I saw ten years ago and it still sticks with me to this day. I was only 11 when I saw it, but I think that it was what kept me alive throughout both junior high and high school. It's about this kid whose best friend dies in a car accident. Both the boys are your typical teenaged guys: horny, reckless, and immature. Trust me, things have not changed much in the last ten years.
Anyways, after the best friend dies, the friend left behind suddenly has this epiphany that life is nothing to play with and that it's precious and should be lived to the fullest. The whole point is that this movie is supposed to be preachy. Now, most teenagers would have done one of two things: A) They would have taken their friend's death as a sign to continue doing stupid crap b/c you never know when you might bite the big one OR B) Would have sank into a deep depression and eventually drank themselves to an early, but not surprising death.
This movie had every opportunity to be corny, but it wasn't to me at the time. If you show it to an 11-year-old these days, they might laugh straight in your face. However, it opened my eyes to immortality, or the lack thereof and how even a 17-year-old could die with no warning. OK, enough of the Lifetime BS! When's Final Destination 2 coming out?!
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." -- James Dean
The Pact (2002)
Not quite the tear-jerker I expected, but was tolerable.
This film was actually pretty good. I half expected to bawl my eyes out (like I sometimes do at Lifetime movies) but I didn't. It was pretty sad, but I came from the film with more questions than feelings.
The movie is about two families that have known each other for practically forever. The son, Chris (played by the ultra-cute and talented Eric Lively) of one family and the daughter, Emily of the other grow up together and eventually fall in love. For whatever strange reason (I shall not say b/c I do not wish to spoil the movie for anyone) they make a suicide pact. She kills herself, but he lives. The movie then follows his subsequent trial for murder (ooh, the plot thickens) and how these events shake up the relationships of both families.
The movie luckily isn't some preachy afterschool special about teenage suicide. You can feel the pain Chris goes through and the love he had for Emily. The strain between the families is evident. More so between the two mothers (played by Megan Mullally and Juliet Stevenson) as their friendship deteriorates throughout the film. However, I wish they had not made Chris such a creepy character. His motives aren't clear in the beginning and it feels like that in the last 45 minutes of the movie they are trying too hard to rush the sensitivity of his character. They make Megan Mullally out to be the vindictive mother wanting someone, anyone to pay for her daughter's death. And lastly, it is not understood why Emily was so depressed to begin with. Perhaps we are not meant to understand, but it got a bit tedious and confusing after a while. All in all, this was a pretty good movie for Lifetime. 7 stars out of 10. I'm definitely going to have to read the book now.
Crossroads (2002)
You have got to be kidding me!
I will admit, I was touched by this movie. I assumed that it would just be a piece of crap, but it wasn't. The overall theme of how true friendship lasts forever made me think of my best friend Toya and how we've been best friends since we were eight (we're 21 now.) Some of the scenes drew a tear to my eye. That was mostly from the acting of Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning (who really deserved more screen time and shouldn't have been stuck in Britney's shadow). I'm sorry to say that I still feel that Britney Spears can't act.
It was so obvious that the point of this film was a mere extension Britney's "pop star fame". Britney-endorsed products (such as Pepsi and Herbal Essences) were flaunted about shamelessly. And let's not forget that most of the songs in the movie belong to Britney or other pop star acts (*cough* Nsync *cough*). This movie is self-advertisement at its worst. Also, Britney's portrayal of a "virginal girl desperately trying to grow into a woman" was pathetic. It's the same song and dance she's been trying to give us for the past 3 years and frankly, I'm tired of it. This movie was almost as scary as Mariah Carey's sad attempt at acting. I totally expected this to be a well-oiled "Britney machine" and it was. She claims the movie was supposed to be an ensemble piece, but for some strange and mysterious reason, Britney's character Lucy seems to be the center of attention.
I'm sorry, but of all the pop stars breaking into acting lately (Britney, the aforementioned Mariah, Lance Bass, etc.), Mandy Moore seems to be the only one with any staying power. That girl acted her butt off in A Walk to Remember and can do so much better than Britney. If Britney plans on making anymore movies, I sure hope she has the cash to produce them, because it would be tantamount to disaster for a studio to back anymore of her films.
Orange County (2002)
Thank God there was no orange humping!!
This movie could be pigeon-holed as just another typical teen hijinks movie. However, it's actually funny, but with no one humping any oranges (thankfully).
The movie takes place in Orange County, CA (hence the title) and is centered around over-achiever Shaun played by Colin "Mr. Too Cute and Youthful-looking For His Own Good" Hanks who after going through an emotional experience decides to go to college and become a writer. After applying to the Ivy-league Stanford University, Shaun is rejected. He later learns that his bone-head guidance counselor sent the wrong transcripts under his name to Stanford. Shaun now must find a way to convince the university to accept him with the help of his dead-beat brother Lance played by Jack Black and girlfriend Ashley played by Schulyer Fisk. Okay, enough summary.
This movie has its differences from the rest of the "teen genre" in the sense that the main character actually gives a damn about his life beyond the latest keg party. Shaun's girlfriend Ashley isn't just some dumb chick with no personality or life. However, Ashley's character motivations aren't clear and plus, they could've gotten somebody better-looking to play her. Jack Black's character Lance walks around in his underwear for the majority of the movie. Even though Colin Hanks plays the main protaganist, Jack Black manages to steal the spotlight with his over-the-top comedy. At seeing that it's not just Shaun's brother that is eccentric, but his whole family is a bunch of loons, you begin to understand his desperation for wanting to get into college and get away from them so badly. It's interesting and hilarious to observe the comedy that ensues.
The script isn't weighed down with any super gross-out jokes that are so famous in teen movies these days. This might make it hard to convince teens to see this film. Most teens might see the film's lack of gross-out jokes as un-funny. The whole idyllic Orange County lifestyle seems a bit corny in this film. Some of the high schoolers look and act too stereotypically. The upside is there isn't too much story wasted on attempting to make Shaun look like any less of a geek than he already is. All in all, this movie was a decent start for Colin Hanks' breakthrough role as a starring actor. Tom would be proud.
Scary Movie 2 (2001)
The Wayans brothers have done it again!
Scary Movie 2 was by far just as funny as the first. Most sequels never live up to their predecessors. However, a parody such as this one exceeded all expectations I had. It definitely kept me laughing. This film not only poked fun at horror flicks (new and old) but also other comedy and action flicks from the recent years-much like the first did. The kids this time (minus Shannon Elizabeth, Lochlyn Munro, and Jon Abrahams characters) gather with some new friends and are tricked by their professor into spending the night in a haunted house (sounds like The Haunting, right?). This scenario in itself is destined to be humorous. Don't try to look for meaning in the opening Exorcist parody scene. There isn't any. It's just there mainly there for added comedy. If you are looking for a good, rolling on the floor laugh, Scary Movie 2 is the summer movie to see.
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Much better romance storyline than Titanic
This movie was the bomb!! The romance plot was much better than Titanic. Love triangles always make for better storylines. The cinematography was amazing!! The entire movie looked so realistic. If you're into action/war films, the attack on Pearl Harbor scenes will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. The movie also tugs at your heart. Not just with the romance story between Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, and Josh Hartnett's characters, but also with the feeling that all those innocent men lost their lives that day. You will find yourself welling up with tears over that more than with the love storyline. As history goes, we all know what really happened. However, the biggest surprise comes with how the love triangle story plays out. You will be shocked at the ending (some might not be, but I was.) I gave this movie a 10+ and I fully recommend you go see this film while it's still in the theaters. It's one of those films you have to see in a theater. It's a bit long to sit through, but you will be so glued to the movie that you won't even notice how long it is.