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kathyandlarry
Reviews
Inside I'm Dancing (2004)
Trite, Hollywoodish Handicap Movie
Got invited by some friends and went not expecting much after seeing the trailer. Unfortunately, I was not surprised. Basic Hollywood movie about the handicapped and how they move on their own and face prejudice. About halfway through, I figured out the rest of the plot and emotional strings that were going to be pulled. I have a friend who has cerebral palsy, lives on his own, and speaks about like Michael does. Part of me would like his reaction except I know he doesn't like movies with bad language, alcohol, and sexual innuendo and neither does he live that way. Go if you must, but expect a Hollywood or movie-of-the-week telling of what the handicap life is...in short, nothing resembling real life.
Der Untergang (2004)
Very good but doesn't impact
Certainly well done as the actor playing Hitler really brought out his personality. For me the interest though was not in watching Hitler as the people around him struggle or accept the mess they are in. Maybe that is why the movie doesn't rise to great for me. The supporting case doesn't rise to a level that really makes one care about them or what is going to happen. This despite the makers attempting and I believe showing what it really was like in Berlin during those 10 days. I suppose knowing how it comes out in the end doesn't help any. Minor crit: I wish the movie had done a better job of identifying the names of the people around him. Himmler and Goering were identifiable but I didn't realize until the end who was playing Keitel and Jodl for example.
Alexander (2004)
Just An Average Epic
As I walked to my car after seeing this, I wondered why this movie failed to move me. After some reflection, I think it comes down to two major problems.
1) Except for Alexander, Olympia, and Philip the characters are not well defined. They simply do their thing for the others to react to and just don't stand out. For example, I found Troy did a much better job of presenting many well rounded characters.
2) If I am going to an epic, I don't want to spend three hours watching a mother-son fight out their relationship. The movie needs a strong external foe to Alexander to give me something better to connect with. If I were to make the movie, I would put much more emphasis on the Darius-Alexander fight and make Darius the antagonist of the movie. The other parts would have to fit around the fight.
Probably worth seeing but save your money and watch a matinée.
Troy (2004)
Above Average But Not Great
On the whole, I enjoyed the movie. It moves well and the characters are interesting. My friend and I had some good discussion afterwards about some of the ideas the movie raised.
It falls short of greatness and I think the main problem is Brad Pitt in the lead role. Despite being buffed up, he just doesn't cut it as a heroic warrior. He maybe suffering from the same thing that got Nicole Kidman in Cold Mountain - he looks too clean and shiny. The role should have gone to someone like Russell Crowe or Arnold in his prime.
The rest of the cast does a wonderful job. Peter O'Toole does a great job with Priam.