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Reviews
Wish Upon a Star (1996)
A classic of the Disney Channel variety
Okay, so this movie deserves, oh, an 8 out of 10. But I once learned that you should put movies into the context of which they were made and for what they were going for. That said, I gave "Wish Upon a Star" a 10. It is truly a classic Disney-Channel sort of film. What helps the film the most is the two stars, Katherine Heigl and Danielle Harris. While the age swapping wasn't too difficult a stretch for these two beautiful women (Harris is actually older than Heigl in real life), what was great about their acting was how they fed off of each other. Contemporary audiences rarely get such a treat, for movies are continuously moving away from character interaction and towards how to gross out the audience the most or how to make their minds completely numb or whatever.
Yes, I know it's Disney Channel fare; but it's really good Disney Channel fare! Whenever it's on, I grab the opportunity to watch it. Whenever anybody's discussing Disney Channel movies (which, as a high school senior, I have to say happens more than I'd like to admit), I always pretend like I know what I'm talking about by saying that this movie is THE classic. Anybody who's seen it always agrees with me, as do many viewers on this site; so many 10s! How could I not award it a 10 myself?
I hope to see Danielle Harris in more starring roles like this (instead of the minor one she had in "Urban Legend") and to see Katherine Heigl just become more and more popular. Love this movie.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Meant to get people to watch "Open Your Eyes"
The film makers intentions for this movie must have been for people to see it and then see "Open Your Eyes," so the audience can see how it was supposed to be made. "Open Your Eyes" (Abre Los Ojos) is a far superior picture mainly because of the differences in focus. In "Vanilla Sky," scenes were drawn out way too much, and important scenes lost their impact to the hip music and style that populated the remake. The original is an odd, creepy film that never loses focus and keeps you thinking for days. However, "Vanilla Sky" tried to explain too much, tried to add emphasis on too much, and ultimately failed.
I love Cameron Crowe: Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, and Say Anything (in order from best to worst) are all terrific. Thus, I can only imagine that he made this film not in order to make a good movie but in order to get an audience for the far superior original (he's succeeding). I will say that overall I enjoyed "Vanilla Sky," but since I had seen "Abre Los Ojos" before, I was disappointed by the fact that it could have been better. (SPOILER?) By the last ten minutes, I just wanted it to end so that I could hear Paul McCartney sing.
Rush Hour 2 (2001)
If you liked the first, you'll like this one more; if not, well...
It seems like the makers of this film were playing towards what seemed to work earlier. In this way, the film plays a lot like American Pie 2: both took what was popular with the original and really stuffed it into the second. But "Rush Hour 2" does work well--unless you didn't like the first one. (I didn't like American Pie 2, although seeing it in the theater on opening day with people who DID like it was fun.) "Rush Hour 2" makes Chris Tucker's character louder, the plot even more non-existent (and yet somewhat confusing), and there's even a heavier dosage on the relationship between Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. If any of this rubbed you the wrong way in the original, my advice is to stay away.
However, I did enjoy the first one. And, as far as laughs and action go, I did enjoy this one more. Still, I'll give this one the same score I gave the first one (7). While comedy and action are naturally what counts in an action-comedy, I understand how the other half who didn't like the first one feels.
P.S.--Yes, there will be a "Rush Hour 3," but if it continues the same recipe, most will love it while I believe I'll get tired of it.
Mouse in Manhattan (1945)
Brings to mind "Rhapsody in Blue"
This is a beautiful cartoon. Instead of following the usual chases of Tom and Jerry, "Mouse in Manhattan" follows Jerry Mouse as he gets tired of the country and opts for big city life. The animation and music recalls the Fantasia 2000 feature of "Rhapsody in Blue" (especially when Jerry is dancing with the dolls). Both are absolutely stunning. I was smiling throughout the whole cartoon; my favorite "Tom and Jerry," just above "Heavenly Puss." A triumph.