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VinceWylde
Reviews
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Good Characters, Solid Story
Too many people get to far into sub plot, development, etc., and miss a fun movie with a good story. Mystery Alaska is just that, a fun movie with a good story. It's a plausible story, developed on real people with real personalities.
The Boys of Winter take on The New York Rangers in a game that will take place on a pond instead of a rink. It's all about speed and passing, which eliminates the prima-donna antics and technicalities that usually accompany pro-sports in general. The plot isn't too fantastic, and stays grounded in reality.
Characters of Note: Skank Martin - Local 30 something that "fornicates and plays hockey because they're the two most fun things in cold weather". He also runs his tongue a little reckless...
Tree - Big oaf with bigger heart. He's a bit simple minded, but he checks like a freight train.
Judge Burns - Tough guy with some inner demons he's fighting, but there's a heart in there somewhere if he can just find it underneath the ashes....
One complaint: What with the constant use of the phrase, "For God sakes?" It was a bit distracting.
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
Another Unsung Classic
The Legend of Bagger Vance is one of those films that didn't win much box office attention but definitely deserved more than it received. The film is brilliantly acted, and scored. The visual is brilliantly shot. Will Smith and Matt Damon have great on-screen chemistry. Every element a film needs to be a winner is here.
The story takes place during the depression and paints the picture of once great golfer, Rannulph Junuh, who goes off to war and when he returns, loses his swing, and along with it, himself. Bagger Vance is the mysterious man who shows up as a kind of life guide. To say much more could spoil the plot.
As a fan of America's Golden Era, I really enjoyed the movies underlying theme and nostalgic feel. Not only is it a well crafted story, but it's drafted on a canvas of magnificent sets with colorful people.
Anyone that enjoys a good story will enjoy this film.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
"Potter" Movies Only Get Better
Previous reviews of this film were heavy on criticism of certain themes being removed from the film. It is important to note that J.K. Rowling has a heavy say in what is put into the movie and what is removed. That being said, one can safely remove all disappointment as it was not a Hollywood decision.
Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint all turn out incredible performances and show enormous growth in their acting skills. The special effects dance across the screen, and colors dazzle you.
The relationships development in this film are one of the greatest attributes. Characters are clearly drawing lines in the sand and choosing sides as should be expected from implications in the previous movie. The overall plot really begins to heat up here and folks will not be disappointed.
Of the 5 films, I mark this one as my favorite. The action heats up and the plot thickens. A great film.
Beyond the Sea (2004)
Spacey Dazzles
With so many stories from the Golden Era untold by Hollywood, it's nice to see this one has been told, and with such pizazz. Kevin Spacey IS Bobby Darin. The music is amazing, the choreography is top notch, and the movie entertains from start to finish. The on Screen Chemistry between Spacey and Bosworth is incredible. This is a well-told story with great actors and great music. Obviously not a 10 star epic, but then great movies don't always have to be the greatest epics of all time. Spacey has gone on to sing a couple of duets with Dean Martin on the CD "Still Cool", no doubt a direct result of this incredible film.
The movie is filmed in the mood of a Broadway set, and it really adds to the experience. My only complaint - and it's a minor one - is that the film is a bit to open ended. Viewers will understand better upon watching the film. For purely historical reasons, it would have been nice to stick a bit more to facts, but then the movie was a festival of a man's life more than the story of it.
Next, could someone in Hollywood tell the individual stories of Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin? This movie to me proved it can be done, and done well.