Reviews
In Dreams (1999)
Wake Up! You're Just Having a Bad Dream
Possibly the most disturbing picture I've seen since "Seven". Also, the most aptly named film ever, for as a powerful dream or nightmare tends to appear fragmented and senseless after one wakes, "In Dreams" provides a gut-wrenching story with hellish imagery that falls apart once the lights come up and logic is applied.
Annette Bening does a fine job as a woman being driven slowly insane (although whether this is due to the dreams of a psychotic killer or her own hellish reality, which involves the murder of her daughter and being comitted to one of the worst mental hospitals depicted on film since "The Snake Pit"), And Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly creepy as psycho serial killer Vivian, but the story doesn't stand up to further examination.
Examples: Does Vivian also have the capability of mind control that extends to pets, or is the family dog just the most intelligent mutt since Rin Tin Tin? And how does this mental power also extend to computers and portable radios? Since Vivian's psychosis seems to stem from his abusive mother, what is the significance of of the oft-quoted verse, "My Daddy is A Dollar..."? The whole relationship between Vivian and his mother is also not very well presented, being told in quick, disjointed flashbacks. Why, for instance, did she leave her son to die when their hometown was flooded to make room for a resevoir? Yes, I know the easy answer is "because she was crazier than an outhouse rat" but I would have liked something with a little more substance.
The high point of this film is its ability to instill a true sense of dread and uneasiness in the viewer. There is not one minute of relief from the disturbing imagery, right up to the somewhat disappointing "twist" ending, which seems to be inspired by countless stories in the old EC Comics.
"In Dreams" packs a pretty good punch for a serious horror film. Just don't analyse it too much on your way home from the theater.
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
The Odd Number Curse has been Lifted
"Insurrection" is not only the best of the usually sub-par odd-numbered Trek sequels, it is arguably the best of the films featuring the Next Generation cast.
It features a solid story which is reminiscent of the best classic Trek episodes, raising questions about moral decisions and the consequences of sacrificing a small group for the greater good of society.
The regular cast delivers solid performances, with Patrick Stewart finally being allowed to display a wider range than the brooding, vengeful characterization he was stuck with in "Generations" and "First Contact".
F. Murray Abrahan chews the scenery delightfully in an over the top performance as the chief villain.
In all, one of the best of the Star Trek films. If the franchise can continue this trend, I look forward to further voyages of the Enterprise.
Godzilla (1998)
Below my lowest expectations
First, I should explain that I'm not really expecting much from a film that is basically an Americanized CGI update of a man in a rubber reptile suit stomping on toy buildings and tanks. But based on what Mssrs. Devlin and Emmerich have delivered, I'll take repeat viewings of the old Japanese movies any day. Even the bad ones, like "Godzilla on Monster Island ".
Let's just take this point by point:
1) Characters with no personality
2) A monster with even less personality
3) Can somebody explain to me what was supposed to be so funny about the Ebert and Siskel characters?
4) Ending stolen directly from DeLaurentis' "King Kong" - note to Dean and Roland - if you're going to borrow, at least borrow from a GOOD flick!
Final assessment: If there is a plan for a sequel, let's just give it to Schumacher. Based on how he tanked the Batman sequels, he would be a natural for the benchmark set by this garbage.