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Reviews
Incredible Manitoba Animation (1989)
Hilarious! Beautiful! Simply Amazing.
This collections of animated shorts is fabulous. The pieces range from the gorgeously surreal (Carried Away) to the but-gustingly hilarious (The Big Snit). If you can in any way get your hands on a copy of this rare movie, watch it!!! My personal favorite short is called Getting Started. If you have ever played the piano (or any musical instrument, for that matter), you cannot fail to find this cartoon to be one of the funniest things you have ever seen.
I've never found so many worthwhile English-speaking cartoons in one collection. The range in style and genre is equally amazing. Most of them are humorous, but each has a unique sense of humor.
Honestly, the worst thing I can say about this collection is that a few of the shorts are good, but not amazing.
Night of the Day of the Dawn of the Son of the Bride of the Return of the Terror (1991)
A horribly awful, wonderful classic re-visioning
This movie is difficult to describe. It is best seen late at night (Very late) with a few drinks and many friends.
It's a hilarious piece of movie ephemera. Be warned that there are multiple random 'interlude' scenes sliced into the movie, all of which are strange, only a few of which are funny. They add to the weird charm of the film, however.
If you are easily offended or if you worship at the altar of the Night of the Living Dead as a masterpiece of film-making, it may not be the film for you.
However, it's truly one of the silliest, most irreverent things I've ever seen.
Basically, if you have the opportunity, you should watch this!
"Tuna sandwich?"
The Passion of Darkly Noon (1995)
Good Actors - Terrible Movie
Brendan Fraser is incredible adept at choosing horrible movies to
star in, and this one is no exception. From beginning to end, the
characters live in a totally unbelievable world. This is one of those
movies that is meant to be completely serious, but causes only
hoots of laughter from movie-goers. This was hands-down one of
the 5 worst movies I have ever seen.
Brendan Fraser and Ashley Judd do what they can with the terrible
roles they were given, but I will never understand how they were
coerced into making such a film.
The Singing Detective (2003)
movie is quirky, interesting, and worth a peek
I agree with a previous comment that a more stylized approach to the film could have been extremely rewarding. But I've heard that this movie went from being planned as a $70million blockbuster to a small independent film. The cast was put together based on their love for Potter's work as a screenwriter. So I'm willing to cut the director a bit of slack on that score.
Adrien Brody was seriously miscast as an idiotic comedic type. I have not even seen The Pianist, so I don't think it's a bias on my part, but I could not believ him in such a silly role (it's a very samll one, though, and does not really affect the movie).
The movie was interesting...not stellar, but worth a gander in my opinion. Downey, Jr. is wonderful, as is Robin Wright Penn as his wife. It's an odd piece of film. I recommend checking it out.
Naqoyqatsi (2002)
Great music - not a great film
This film shows Philip Glass at his absolute best. The usually strictly minimalist, electronics-heavy Glass breaks free in the music for Naqoyqatsi. His lyricism is surprising, and Yo-Yo Ma's performance during the score is breathtaking.
The film itself leaves something to be desired. Reggio's first 2 films left the viewer with definitive feelings about what the director was trying to say. Naqoyqatsi failed somewhat in that effort. Many of the images were so abstract as to seem meaningless, and several others were tremendously confusing. After showing many bleak images throughout the film of humans and society, an adorable baby suddenly takes the screen...what does that mean?
My advice is to buy the soundtrack for this film at once, but don't pick it of the shelf at your local indie video store.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love it!!
This film is stupendous! There's absolutely no mistaking the director's style, if you're familiar with his other work. This time, he uses the glitz and glamour of the Musical, and I think it works better than his Romeo & Juliet. I enjoyed that film, but Moulin Rouge is leaps and bounds better.
Everything seems fresh and innovative, and as Ewan Macgregor's character says: "if you're open, I think you might enjoy it."
so go in with no expectations: this is NOT your typical musical, it is Not your typical movie, it is simply divine!!
Cruel Intentions (1999)
interesting, I think it's worth a gander
This movie gets some bad hype because of its young and not-so-acclaimed cast. I don't think they do such a terrible job, myself. If anything is to blame, it's the script. Some of the dialogue is ridiculous. But the film certainly has its moments.
All in all, I thought it was worth watching. I've seen it 4 or 5 times, and I will admit that the last 3 or 4 were primarily because of a certain young man who stars in the film. I must say, Mr. Phillippe has never looked better! But really, while not quite up to the standard of Dangerous Liasons, this movie is enjoyable when watched for what it is: entertainment.
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Disney at its best!
This film is fantastic! The animation, especially the background designs, was completely modern for its time, and really a bold choice for the normally conservative Disney. The take on the fairy tale is also interesting. The young characters are shown as independent people, who ardently refuse to submit to an arranged marriage. I also think this is the first Disney film where the 'prince' character has...well...character! Prince Eric is not the flat, undeveloped stereotypes that are found in Snow White, Cinderella, or even to a lesser degree in more modern films like The Little Mermaid. He has a mind of his own and figures prominently in the plot.
The evil sorceress in the film is fantastic as well. Basically, I adore this movie! Go out and buy it today!!
The Passion of Darkly Noon (1995)
Good Actors - Terrible Movie
Brendan Fraser is incredible adept at choosing horrible movies to
star in, and this one is no exception. From beginning to end, the
characters live in a totally unbelievable world. This is one of those
movies that is meant to be completely serious, but causes only
hoots of laughter from movie-goers. This was hands-down one of
the 5 worst movies I have ever seen.
Brendan Fraser and Ashley Judd do what they can with the terrible
roles they were given, but I will never understand how they were
coerced into making such a film.