Change Your Image
leafboy-2
Reviews
Spider-Man (2002)
Decades in one film
The writers of the film did an excellent job of taking decades of Spider-Man lore and putting it into a one-film package. The comic love interests of Gwen Stacey (who the Green Goblin killed in the comic book) and Mary Jane Watson are combined into one character. Updating the original tale from the '60s to the '00s is done seamlessly. Willem Dafoe takes the same energy he put into his Oscar-deserving role in Shadow of the Vampire and transforms the Green Goblin into the best comic-book-turned-movie villain ever.
But the most important feature, and what made Spider-Man stand above all other comic creation, is the portrayal of the superpowers as a curse; that Parker is, in the end, a tragic hero. Parker is real, unlike the playboy Bruce Wayne or the why-is-it-that-no ono-recognizes-me-with-glasses Clark Kent. We relate to his regrets, his unrequited love and his loyalties. And that's far more important than any special effect or action shot.
Brazil (1985)
Not just Orwell
Because of the visual style, it's easy to watch Brazil and say "Orwell, Orwell"-but the film owes at least as much, if not more, to Kafka's The Trial. The idea of an anonymous bureaucracy (in 1984, Big Brother is a tangible idea) is more pronounced in Kafka's work--and Brazil borrows heavily from that as well. All in all, an excellent film.
20 Dates (1998)
Lighten up, the film's not that bad.
I think the reason a lot of the hardcore film-types hatd this movie was because of the continued barbs against the French-which probably insulted every Godard-type out there. Lighten up guys, take a joke... Contrived or not, the movie went down pretty well and achieved some genuine laughs.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Not a horror movie
I wish people would stop calling this a horror movie... it's an overly-sentimental wishy-washy piece of Hollywood tripe that is way too slow-paced. if you consider this a "horror" film, why doesn't "Ghost" get a horror classification,
Megáll az idö (1982)
Excellent study of Goulash Communism
A worthy look at Hungary, just after the '56 revolution. The Communists allowed the Magyars to enjoy many western luxuries to ensure they wouldn't revolt again. It caused a national personality crisis
Heaven's Prisoners (1996)
Awful, awful, awful
Not only is the plotline hackneyed; Alec Baldwin gives one of the most concrete acting performances ever seen. His "I'm an alcoholic" confessional that begins the movie is so bad, it's funny.