Donsgal Reviews

The Village (2004)

Not at all what you expect!

[16 August 2004]

Before going to the show I checked out the comments here on IMDB.com and thought I knew what I was in for. I was wrong.

First off, I won't rehash the plot line here - you can read all about it elsewhere. What I would like to say is that this is a phenominal movie and you really should go see it.

The acting is very good (newbie, Howard has a BIG, BIG future ahead of her), John Hurt is great and Joaquin Phoenix is sexy as ever....

But aside from the good acting (yes the language is somewhat stilted - it's supposed to be 1897 for Pete's sake), the plot and story line are TRULY UNIQUE in an era where movies fall into predictablility!

Although my brilliant husband figured out what was going on pretty early in the flick, neither of us had a clue about the surprise ending! (Although it did explain John Hurt's "slightly Yiddish" accent on the way out to the "forbidden shed"). (Was I the ONLY person in the world who heard it? - OY!).

What I particularly enjoyed was the metaphorical aspect of the movie - yes, yes, call it a moral if you want. Nevertheless, I like a movie that actually promotes THOUGHT and INTROSPECTION (as apposed to movies by Spielberg who have to TELL YOU WHAT TO THINK EVERY SECOND). This one allowed me to draw my own conclusions. And what powerful conclusions they are. Parallels about what is truth. How much truth to hide for your own good or the good of the "many".

My only question is this.....With only a hand full of "original elders" (eight or ten - somewhere around there), where in the heck did all these people come from? There had to be at least 75 people at those tables! Were ALL THE WOMEN PREGNANT for the past 25 years or what?

Anyway, for the thinking movie goer - a great, great movie.

Hidalgo (2004)

Feel good movie - start to finish ~!

[10/10 · 10 March 2004]

Hidalgo is one of those movies that comes along once in a blue moon. This is a movie NOT to be missed.

Viggo Mortensen's portrayal of a gentle, laid-back cowboy hearkens back to the golden age of cinema and would make the likes of Gary Cooper proud! His subtle blend of virtue such as honor, honest and pride - without being the least bit preachy, make watching his performance an utter joy.

All of the actors are brilliant in their roles, especially the one in the title role! Hidalgo is clever and entertaining without being unbelievable as many animal movies are these days. You won't find him standing on his hind legs and doing the hokey-pokey, but his talents are very evident and he becomes a hero that we all love before the end of the movie.

One of the best parts of this movie is the fact that it is a movie by grownups for grownups, although it carries enough action and suspense that kids will probably like it to. Absent, however is the sickeningly sweet "kids scenes" that we simply cannot get away from in movies today. No charming close ups of dimple-faced waifs. No little wise-mouthed child prodigies - nothing but good old fashioned grown-up fun! How refreshing.

You will be happy to know that the ending isn't as predictable as it could have been. Although falling into the "happy" category (of course), there are poignant moments and you might shed a tear.

One other aspect of this film which I found intriguing is the issue of examining and accepting who we are. It was very well done and meaningful.

Overall this film is easily a 10+. Please see it

Bruce Almighty (2003)

Predictable and preachy, but yet, quite funny!

[8 June 2003]

Far be it from me to impose myself on the Jim Carrey love fest happening in the reviews here. Nevertheless, I do have a bit of a gripe with the movie - although over-all I really liked it and would recommend it highly to anyone.

Carrey, as usual in rare comedic form complete with the grandiose gestures and facial expressions that have made him famous. Sometimes they are just too much, but since it is what we have come to expect from him, we don't seem to mind. Funny - yes the show is marvelously funny. There are moments that I laughed so hard that tears ran down my cheeks - even though other members of the audience didn't seem to get it.

There are times when the pacing is a little slow and uneven - especially at the beginning when they are "setting up" the story. But as the show progresses it smooths out considerably.

There are moments too, when the show is terribly sappy, which I could have done without. To his credit, Carrey manages to get through the saccarin with credibility and does a greatjob.(Although not as great as he did in Truman). As far as predictability is concerned - this flick is as predictable as they come and nothing that is said or done surprises for a second. If sappy, happily ever after is your cup of tea, then this is the movie for you.

Morgan Freeman. Brilliant as always. The man can do no wrong.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

E.T. it ain't

[8 July 2001]

I don't know what all the raving is about but for my money this was a totally lame movie. If you can get past the insipid story line the first hour or so isn't half bad. (Aside from the fact that the concept of consequences for ones actions is nowhere to be found). Then the movie somehow degenerates into a mish-mash combination of "Total Recall" "Water World" and "The Wizard of Oz". Halfway through you cease to care even remotely and just wish the damn thing was over. The obsessive theme of David's "love" is at best perverse and reminds me more of a junior stalker than a loving "son". We could have done without more than 1/3 of the movies since it lends nothing to the story line and simply served to take up time. The story line is so full of inconsistencies and holes that at times it seems more like a comedy than a serious film. I half expect to see Eric Idle popping out of the wood work. After several nonsensical convolutions in plot and story line we end up with an even more insipid ending, replete with the "son" drifting off to sleep with his mummy in bed. The irony of it all is that David, didn't need to become a "real boy" he had already become a Golden Retreiver. (oh please love me, please, please, please love me..) ad infinitum, ad nauseum. Steven, you CAN do better than this!

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Only So-So

[30 December 2000]

I had high hopes for this movie, having seen all the hype surrounding it. Sadly, I was a little disappointed.

As many of you have already commented...the story plodded along for so long, I kept waiting and waiting for a little excitement. As for the "surprise" ending...I saw it coming a mile away. In fact, as soon as the screen said "next fall" my SO asked me... "so he lived right?" As soon as he asked that, well... enough to say that nothing was a surprise after that.

Just like everybody else, I think the kid did a great job. Kudos to him. Bruce Willis' part was a bit of a throw away.

I would have really loved to see Ridley Scott do this film. He would have really put a lot more punch into it. There was a lot of potential there that was wasted.

Also, I have to say, this is not a FEEL GOOD movie at all. I was soooooooo depressed after seeing it. I had to put on "Deep Blue Sea" just for a few laughs. Glad I only paid 99 cents to rent it.

Donsgal

Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Bad, Really really Bad.

[30 December 2000]

This movie was so awful, it's hard to know where to begin. First of all the computer graphics were the worst. I am convinced the producer had the local junior high computer class do the graphics. No way were they even the least bit convincing.

The acting was boring and I never believed for a minute that anything on screen was really happening. The story line was even worse.

To get the most out of this movie one should watch it with a sense of humor and get a good laugh out of it. Honestly, I haven't seen this bad a movie in years.

Donsgal

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

No Kidding, It was Great! Wassup with you guys????

[27 November 2000]

Well, I finally broke down and went to see it. I was hesitant after reading all the pans here. Egad! It was a great movie! You can't compare it to the "original" any more than you can compare "Scrooge" to the eternal Dickens classic. It has a life of its own. Jim Carrey was amazing. How he can deliver so many feelings and emotions behind 10 pounds of latex is fantastic. Some of his scenes (obviously impromptu) were so funny I nearly wet myself. The sets were great and not nearly as over-blown as I had expected. As for the "prequel" portion, well, it was only so-so. The best part of the whole show is when they sing the "Ah hoo torres" song at the end which has ALWAYS been my most favorite Christmas song ever.

I recommend the movie highly to kids and adults. As for the negative comments on imdb.com I gotta say..."get over it, ya big bunch of grinches!!!!!"

Blade (1998)

Fun for All

[4 August 1999]

This is a great action movie provided you don't think about it too much! Yes, all of the holes in this movie are not in peoples necks! For instance... Isn't it amazing that the genetic mutation for vampirism has been around for THOUSANDS of years and yet, a two-bit lab worker (oh, excuse me hematologist), with no chemicals or supplies and virtually no equipment (except a microscope) creates a vaccine that cures it in about 3 hours! My god, give that girl the nobel prize for medicine!

Wesley is the ultimate action hero. Smooth, stoic without being cold, and terrific in the action sequences. This is a movie to just sit back and enjoy and not think about.

Thinner (1996)

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, The Skinny

[4 August 1999]

This is a great horror movie, but if you are expecting the something of the "slasher" gendre you will be disappointed as were many who have commented here. This is not an "in your face movie" even though it appears to be. The horror that we see has nothing to do with external circumstances but rather the horror that those circumstances bring out of the deep dark recesses of our psyches!. The lead character begins as a fat, dopey buffoon, and as the movie progresses turns into a horrific monster whose appearance reflects not so much the drastic weight loss that he experiences but rather the dark spectre of guilt that has corrupted his very soul. This is a masterpiece that MOST people will dismiss without bothering to take a deeper look at.

Not to be missed is Michael Constantine's performance of the elder Lemke, the centegenarian patriarch of the gypsy clan. His slightly over-the-top, yet believable performance literally steals the show.

The only complaint I had was the ending. Considering the many other King works I have read and subsequently watched at the theatre it seems that he has trouble ending a story. Otherwise, I recommend it.