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Elrix
Reviews
War of the Worlds (2005)
A solid film
I had initial reservations about War of the Worlds but Spielberg does not disappoint, the man certainly knows his craft. Unlike the abysmal Independence Day, I truly felt the sweep and magnitude of the cataclysmic extermination of mankind.
I thought the Tripods were very adeptly rendered on screen unlike most computerized effects, which still have a fake plastic quality. But it's human drama not special effects that make this a great film. Spielberg is unafraid to show the dark side of humanity in crisis situations. History has shown us how easily the veneer of civility can be swept aside in tumultuous times. Other reviews have been critical of Dakota Fanning's performance, but they have obviously never seen children in the real world. I've had the delight of a similar performance not too long ago by a young lady in a restaurant, and they're weren't even any people being vaporized.
Another strength of this film is showing everything from the Ferrier's point of view. There are no cuts to some underground bunker where scientists are quickly cobbling together a secret weapon to take out the aliens. Scenes experienced by our protagonists such as the bodies lazily drifting down a sunlit river and the rags of clothing floating down through the trees are deft touches that are far more effective than various monuments being blown to smithereens.
I can't help but think that some people are incapable of enjoying a movie unless everything is spoon fed to them. Spielberg is wise enough to leave some things to the viewers' imagination. If you're incapable of making that leap, I think that's a flaw in you, not in the film.
The Island (2005)
Hollywood Schlock
Sorry, the overwhelmingly positive reviews for this film must be from corporate shills, I can't rationalize it any other way. With all the product endorsements in this flick, it wouldn't surprise me. If you honestly think this is a good movie, please wean yourself off cinematic Big Macs and try some real food, I think you'll like it.
There is nothing in this movie that hasn't already been explored in prior films and done so with more intelligence and less bombastic stupidity.
This movie is not without merit, I enjoyed the introduction but the latter half of the film was one incredulous event after another. I don't think the word "subtle" is anywhere to be found in Michael Bay's vocabulary.
The Lord of the Rings (1978)
The film has not aged well, certainly not a classic.
I recently had the opportunity to watch this movie again on cable, a film last seen as a young teenager. I enjoyed the movie as a child, but maturity and an appreciation for film has changed my perspective.
Bakshi's LoTR is disjointed at best. The scale of the books is daunting though and I do give this film credit for trying. Peter Jackson was certainly helped in his endeavor by Bakski's attempt, he could see first hand what worked and what failed miserably. Some of the grandest scenes in the books, like Gandalf's confrontation with the Balrog, are rendered so poorly by the animators that I can't help but laugh.
Many Tolkien fans have read the books over and over again, it exists as a film in their own heads. My only explanation for a mature Tolkien fan endorsing this film now is that all the gaps and missteps in the movie are being filled in with their own impressions from the book. Banal lines clumsily delivered are only resonating in a viewer because they are straight from the books and trigger a happy recollection.
The only saving grace of this film for me are the books and nostalgia, take those away and it falls apart.