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Reviews
The Green Mile (1999)
Amazing film, not over rated!
The Green Mile is possibly the best film I've ever seen. It's definitely one of my favourites. After reading some of the cynical and ignorant comments made by others I felt I had to defend the film.
The acting is brilliant all round. Some of the performances are under rated but that's what's needed in a film like this. Michael Clark Duncan is especially good in a surprise performance. The direction is competent and engaging. The dialogue is believable and the characters certainly aren't 1-dimensional despite what others think. This is an all round amazing film. I never give films 10/10 but this film almost made it. It was moving, funny, frightening, shocking, thought provoking, involving... the list goes on.
*spoilers*
Now that I've praised the film, I'm going to defend it. How anyone can say this is a sentimental, shallow, ostensibly moral film is beyond me. Only a cynic could say such a thing. Is there something wrong with good nature! Is it unbelievable that there are still some nice people in the world. Not all prison guards are nasty and brutal. Not every prisoner on death row is "evil". Not every white person in Louisiana was a racist in the '30's. These are narrow minded ideas. John Coffey is not used to represent a black man whose only role is to help white people despite having supernatural powers so he can help himself. The fact that he is symbolic of Jesus shows that he is a meant to be a great character despite his simplicity and misfortunes. The guards hold him in high regard. How can anyone consider this to be a racist film.
Some comments are a little unfair, but understandable. The film is long and is slow to begin with but the story and characters have to be introduced and developed. The beginning and end are good as the beginning shows how memorable the events in the film are to Edgecomb(e.g the dream and the reaction to the film) and the end shows us how things don't always work out for the best (e.g Coffey's execution and Edgecomb's speech) and a blessing might turn out to be a curse (or vice-versa) so things aren't always what they seem (e.g Edgecomb's speech). There are too many films with happy endings. Although I've already argued that some people are cynical (see above) I would have to say that I'm fed up with every single film having a happy ending - no matter what. As sad it sounds, bad things do happen to good people and the reason for the sad ending is to show why capital punishment should be stopped and to demonstrate that Edgecomb is being punished for letting Coffey die.
I have to say, the only problem I have with the film is the religious undertones. Being anti-religion I would've preferred them to have been left out, but the film isn't promoting religion (the guards are religious but this is '30's Louisiana, of course they're Christians, and it's never confirmed that Coffey is a "miracle of god"). Everything religious is a reflection on the characters beliefs and not necessarily that of King's or Darabont's (or anyone else's) and is not in your face.
I think I've said all I needed to.
Overall: 9/10 almost 10/10
Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990)
One of Troma's best if not THE best.
It's been a while since I've seen this film but I still remember that it is a good laugh. Really silly with poor acting but that's what Troma is all about. Like all Troma films it's the bad acting and stupid ott stories that make them so good. Okay some of them are just plain bad, but this definitely isn't one. The Kabuki costume looks amazing and I love the way Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD looks. The cartoon style humour is wonderfully done and this film really appeals to my sense of humour. It's even got a kick ass title song to go with it.
I was over the moon when I found out there might be a sequel coming out soon. I know sequels are rarely as good as or better than the the first film and often much worse but I really hope I get to see this sequel. It's just a shame Troma films are never shown in cinemas over here. Long live Troma.
A 7/10 for this film. Tempted to give it 8. Maybe I'll change my rating later on if I see the film again.
Planet of the Apes (2001)
I'm not sure what to think.
I haven't seen any of the original Planet of the Apes films so I can not compare the remake to any of them. However, I do know how the original Planet of the Apes film ends and I would say that it seems a much easier ending to understand. Don't worry, I won't give any spoilers for either film.
The acting was very good, especially Tim Roth as Thade and Bonham Carter as Ari. I don't understand why others have complained about the poor acting. The special effects are also unbelievably brilliant in every department and a lot of effort was put into the little things like the behaviour and mannerisms of the apes.
However, there are plotholes and the ending is very confusing. This doesn't mean it doesn't make sense as so many people have claimed. No offence to anyone but you should really make sure you understand the ending and it's relationship to the rest of the film before you judge it. I myself don't understand the ending 100% and am therefore making an effort to find out what it means.
Some of the plotholes pointed out by others are minor and don't really make the film any less enjoyable. Then again, I don't fully understand what happens in the film so maybe the plotholes are significant. Anyone who claims to understand the end can feel free to explain it to me.
Possibly the poorest area of the film was the action scenes. They just weren't exciting enough.
All in all, although I didn't fully understand the ending, the film is entertaining and definitely worth seeing. I might change my mind if I ever see the film on video, seeing how the special effects and sound effects were breath taking, but I'm sure I won't ever consider this to be a dismal pointless movie. There's just too many clever ideas for that too happen and I can't stop thinking about the film now.
My provisional rating: 7.5/10.