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Sharee65
Reviews
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Could have been better, but still very good
Okey, now TPM may not be the best of the Star Wars series, but still offers rare treats to both old and new fans. The DVD is especially good, with its extras, and nice to watch on a quiet, rainy Sunday.
The story goes like this:
The greedy Trade Federation has decided to show off their trading skills and invade a lush planet Naboo and harrass the inhabitants, and the snooty Queen Amidala. Two Jedi - Qui Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi - are hired to settle it with the Federation. But the negotiations fail due to their indentity being revealed much too soon by a nosey droid and all hell breaks loose on the spaceships. But our brave heros escape after battling droids and sneak aboard a ship that flies to Naboo where they reunite, thanks to the help of a clumsy Gungan called Jar Jar Binks.
I could go on and on, but you all know the story plot by now. I think the movie was perfect but one small problem... they should have really improved the script, and get the charactors to put more emotion in their voices and body language. I know Queen Amidala is supposed to be a cold person who responds softly, but even that she could have put more effort into it, so the future mother of Luke and Leia Skywalker wouldn't be so dislikable. But the costumes are great, I can tell you that!
The DVD, as I mentioned before, is great and RECOMMENDED for any true Star Wars fan... this is my 2nd favourite Star Wars movie (next to "Return of the Jedi")
6/10 *four points lost due to wooden acting
Bye
Boobs in Arms (1940)
"Hey! What's the idea goin' swimmin'? We've got work to do!"
One of my favourite Stooges shorts ever. Not only did the comedy and the brief "romance" made this short enjoyable, but also the usage of suspension and black comedy used in the war sequences.
It began with the Three Stooges selling cards. Curly tries to present a card to two very uppity people, which he refers to them as a "Snob!" and a "Snobess!". They then knock into some really touchy guy and knock him off once again - this time, into a hole on the ground.
Later they try to sell cards at an apartment and meet a young, married but depressed and desperate lady, who fears that her husband doesn't show any signs affection to her.
Woman: "My husband doesn't love me anymore!"
The guys make up a plan that they pretend to be her lovers, so her husband may get jealous and develop a greater need of his wife.
Curly: "Make way for the original Romeo! N'yuk-n'yuk!"
Her husband - who turns out to be the same guy they threw down the hole - walks through and spots the guys "romancing" the lady in a hope to make him jealous.
Husband: "What's goin' on in here?" Curly (not reconizing the man at first sight): "Scram, buddy! You're interferin' romance!" Moe (ditto): "Go."
Later on, after a chase, the Three Stooges enlist in the war and think all is well. Until they relize that their commander is the exact man who - oh, you'll just have to find out yourself!
After a hilarious attempt to "march like soilders", the Three Stooges get a really serious warning.
Commander: "Now listen - one more break out of you guys and I'll kill you - all three of you! Now I'm going to teach you to act like solders whenether you like it or not."
Later on, the Commander is captured. The Three Stooges are given laughing gas to win over the enemies. Instead they turn the bomb in on themselves and end up laughing till the very end of the short!
Very funny... also a piece of history too, considering the fact that this particular short was made during a very difficult time when the Troops were fighting, suffering, dying and it was surely hard to laugh during these times. I think this is a short "for the troops" - really dedicated to the troops. :)
Ciao, from Sharee!
Cape Fear (1962)
At least it isn't gory...
Most of today's suspenseful movies, sadly, depend popularity and money on blood-soaked raging psychopaths swinging chainsaws and rocking beds. This movie, "Cape Fear", was made during the 60s -- the final decade of Classic Movies, which began right back into the early 1900s.
Now what we have here is a lawyer named Sam Bowdon (GREGORY PECK) stalked by a ex-convict named Max Cady (ROBERT MITCHUM). Although we -- the audience -- know that this man is up to no-good as he stalks Bowdon's family, Cady is pinned on Bowdon's teenaged daughter, Nancy (LORI MARTIN), much to the dismay of Bowdon and wife Peggy (POLLY BERGAN)... ... actually, this movie is more about how Bowdon tries to prove Cady's guilt. Something a lawyer wouldn't mind watching... don't expect high-level scenes of action and suspense. However, this is a movie which tests your mind.
For example, we see a bare-chested Cady surround a bed with his girlfriend Diane Taylor (BARRIE CHASE) before finally attacking then raping her (which we don't see). We don't know exactly what Cady did to her, but whatever it was, it left her bruised, disgusted with life, and above all -- broken.
Bowdon doesn't want this to happen to his family, or to himself for that matter. So his worries get tense and he even has a fight or two with his family.
At least it isn't gory...
5/10 -- not bad. Highly recommended for those who want to learn more about the Law (like me. :))
Saimin (1999)
A frightening, night-marish horror flick involving the supernatural!
When I saw this movie, which was only last night, I was bored with it. However, it wasn't until Yuka, the possessed young girl, came on screen when I suddenly got a little weary.
Then, there follows a rather horrific line of suicides, each one more gory than the previous one.
Saga, a young Japanese man, and an old detective, lonely since his wife divorced him a few years before, turn out to investigate the strange case, and holds young Yuka as a suspect.
A very bad mistake.
From there, it's just nearly two hours of hair-rising, suspenseful fear. Sometimes Yuka's behavior would change; for example, if she was feeling lost and was dangerously depressed (this poor girl was "abused all her life and never loved", one character remarked), she would suddenly stand straight, eyes wide open, and say: "I... am... a... friendly... alien... I... have... no... intention... of.. hurting... you".
To tell the truth, this scene was supposed to be tense and suspenseful. But it got a laugh from me, since I am indeed a young teenager and was more into black comedy than horror, but later it scared me.
Yuka says (or I think it was someone else) that she is "chased" by THE GREEN MONKEY (some sort of alien, I do not know. Or maybe a ghost. This is never explained at all in the movie, not even at the end).
Is this all just an act? Or is there really supernatural events happening? Who knows? What really happens is never fully explained at all in this movie, only about 10% of it is explained, equally matched with the disturbing climax.
In spite of its unpopularity and lack of profanity (actually, this movie contain no swear words -- not even the "f" word or "s" word or even Damn! That is just so cool!), I give this movie a 10/10. Bravo, well done!