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lindsey-8
Reviews
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Plot holes and one poor acting job still left my opinion of The Sixth Sense a high one.
May contain mild spoilers.
I didn't get a chance to see this movie when it was out in theaters, so it was a combination of rave reviews from my friends and the bundle of Oscar nominations that led me to Blockbuster on the day of the video release of The Sixth Sense. It was okay, but definitely not what I expected. The trailers portrayed this film as if the majority of it consisted of Cole Sear being frightened and cajoled by ghosts (one example is the scene between Cole and the poisoned girl in her bedroom. Commercials seemed to imply she was chasing him). This was not so. Instead, he didn't reveal his "secret" to his psychiatrist until the movie was halfway over. Even though "I see dead people" was the most overplayed line in the commercials, the movie left me under the impression that the audience wasn't supposed to know. As for the twist, any sharp and clever person can figure it out prior to its revelation. I am not one of these people, so it was surprising for me.
I guess I just expected this movie to be more terrifying than it really was. I thought the twist would be of the frightening, makes-you-jump variety.
Also, there were some forgivable but annoying holes in the plot, as other people have mentioned. The one unforgivable element was Bruce Willis. He was expressionless, and this dragged the movie down (like the scene where Cole's "secret" was revealed, ugh!). Haley Joel Osment's performance, however, was incredible. He deserved the Oscar. He'll probably get one later, the same way Whoopi Goldberg was passed over for The Color Purple but got one for Ghost, instead.
All in all, a worthwhile movie to see. The scenery is great, and the storyline is interesting if you let your imagination fill the gaps.
Later Today (1999)
UGH!
This is not a serious news show in the least. How NBC got away with associating "Later Today" with "The Today Show", I'll never know. "Later Today" consists of three women sitting behind a countertop in a kitchen-like setting. There are no news reports. Instead, the show consists of guests who come on and advise their audience to decorate their homes in ways that will attract men. Or guests who show the audience the right way to put on makeup. Clearly, this show is designed for homemakers. Now, I have nothing against homemakers, but "The Today Show" is designed for everybody. It's just plain wrong to portray "Later Today" as the same show later in the morning. "Later Today" is a women's show hidden behind a name with a very different connotation. And, I find the material downright insulting (note the "I". I'm well aware that many people don't share my opinion). I wouldn't care if it weren't for the fact that NBC pulled an act of deceit. I hope "Later Today" is soon put out of its misery. Or, at least change the title!