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madwitch61
Reviews
Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006)
A Guilty Pleasure of Mine
This is a guilty pleasure of mine. It's not Enter the Dragon or Crouching Tiger, or even Clueless (In terms of High School Comedies)
Pluses: the Choreography is impressive. Shin Komida and Brenda Song have great chemistry and comedic timing. Brenda Song's perky cute style makes an otherwise annoyingly-written character likable, and she does most of her own stunts! Some of the jokes are giggle-worthy and the effects are good for a TV production. Power Ranger Fans will enjoy seeing the Blue Wind Ranger from Ninja Storm in a back-up role. The movie doesn't take itself that seriously, and you shouldn't either. The movie's "Don't forget your roots" message is effectively delivered.
Negatives: The movie does get hammy at times during the "serious" moments. The Chinese culture is boiled down, and some of the characters' motivation is very shallow. Strike that, a lot of the motivation is shallow, because the Disney Channel seriously underestimates the intelligence of its target audience.
This movie is for you if: You enjoy Disney Channel Original Movies for what they are. Parents who love Wired-Fu and Hong Kong action flicks and want to share that love with their younger kids, if they don't have the reading speed to enjoy subtitles. You ever wanted to suddenly discover you had mystical martial arts powers and beat up your high school tormentors This movie isn't for you if: You look at every movie as if you were the Academy Awards Panel. Just take it at face value, and have fun!
George and the Dragon (2004)
Refreshingly different and funny
A "What really happened" retelling of the tale of St. George and the dragon. It begins when the dutiful princess Lunna (the perky Piper Perabo), who agreed to marry a man she hates for the good of her father's kingdom, is abducted by a dragon. No one realizes that she wasn't abducted to be devoured, but to help care for the dragon's egg while she recovers from an injury!
George(James Purefoy) returns from the crusades and agrees to rescue the princess in return for land. Accompanying him is Lunna's self-absorbed betrothed (Patrick Swayze) and a small boy who grew up on tales of noble knights and Dragon Slayers. George thinks to find Princess Lunna gentle and despairing, but instead she's sick of playing gentle princess and ready to defend her charge by any means necessary.
This movie is refreshing in it's ability to poke fun at itself and the swashbuckling tales in general. Watch for the "secret origins" of the fork, skateboarding, and England's patron saint. Don't watch if you can't stomach a single anachronism.
Love Actually (2003)
Funny most of the time, but I didn't appreciate the America abuse
There were many moments in the film where I was laughing my head off-- mainly Emma Thompson's, but 2 stories gave me a sour feeling that completely ruined the entire film for me: the "President" and the "3 Hot Wisconsin Babes."
Let's start with the President segment. OK; there are American presidents who have had affairs; to be honest more than you can shake a stick at. But if you're making a statement about current foreign policy (coughBUSHcough), don't make the current president out to be what he's not. Bush is many things, but a lecher isn't one of them. (Billy Bob Thornton, however, was a good choice.)
The Presidential bit would not have ruined the entire film. I could have gotten over it. It was "Wisconsin" that made me HATE this film. With the rather sweet, but sex-obsessed dweeb who was going to the States to get laid, I was all geared up for him to be sorely disappointed in his hope that a horde of American women would jump him for being English. I hoped he would find love AFTER he realized this. I laughed my head off at "A Magical Place Called 'Wisconsin.' " But instead, his hopes and dreams are fulfilled by not two, not three, but FOUR women he meets the first night there. This ENRAGED me. I understand that there is a stereotype in Europe that American women are very promiscuous, but that... that was RIDICULOUS!!! Completely and totally ridiculous! I am offended on behalf of all American women. I am especially offended on behalf of the women of Wisconsin. They did NOT deserve that kind of insult.
Yes, there were more realistic American characters. But those two stereotypes completely ruined the film. A movie that would have gotten 8 of 10 is getting a 4. It would have gotten 1 if not for Emma Thompson.
Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
If you have ever been to Minnesota, this is hilarious...
Speaking as a person who has been all over the Midwest, if you have ever been to Minnesota, or Iowa, the Dakotas, or rural Illinois, this is hilarious. While the characters are exaggerated, they are honest charactures of people who exist, particularly Midwestern high-school girls and their viciously competitive mothers. If you have ever gotten tired of the competitive high school ladder and just wanted to shoot your way to the top, this is your movie. If you seem to be trapped in a circular rut in your life, this is your movie. If you ever think you are going to turn out just like your mother, this is your movie. If you're male and have no idea of the particulars of American High School politics, this isn't for you.