willow_chick88 Reviews

Enchanted (2007)

Great fun

[8/10 · 18 December 2007]

As someone who was a young girl during the heyday of "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Aladdin", I have a soft spot for the type of movie that the beginning of "Enchanted" looks like. As someone who grew from a young girl to an adult watching the likes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (the TV show, not the movie) and reading "Wicked", I also have a soft spot for movies, books, whatever that are willing to change the formula. So it's only natural that I really enjoyed "Enchanted".

The story is a smart one that plays on fairy tale archetypes, showing how dusty some of them are, like the whole meeting and marrying in what seems like a day to live happily ever. It also shows how life might be a little better if we took some lessons from the fairy tales when it comes to love, at least in our declarations of it.

Some have been unhappy with the story that Narissa (Susan Sarandon) has, but there's only so much film that can be made and since this is a movie for children, there has to be something that's black and white.

The performance that sticks out the most is Amy Adams. Every note is pitch perfect. She never plays Giselle with a knowing wink to the audience. She IS a princess come to life, until she's been in the world enough to move into that 3rd dimension character-wise.

Overall, an enjoyable movie for everyone, well except for young boys who don't like princess-y stuff.

American Dragon: Jake Long (2005–2007)

Disney needs help

[13 August 2005]

All that I can say about this show is that the programming execs really need to look at what they are putting out. The concept of a teen aged boy getting/discovering mystical powers had already been done, and far better, by "Danny Phantom." The characters come off overly caricatured, especially Grandpa and Trixie. What were they thinking when they gave Trixie that voice??? The only positive thing about this show is the Huntsman who offers a little mystery to the proceedings. Still he's not enough for me to watch and he obviously wasn't enough for Disney fans either. Maybe fans of Disney shows should write and tell them that they want shows like what Disney had in 2000 or 2001, when quality seemed to be more important than quantity.

Barry Lyndon (1975)

Interesting

[10/10 · 13 April 2004]

I saw this movie for the first time when I was 12. I found it drab, dull, boring, pointless, and any number of adjectives meaning boring. The only things that stuck in my head was the use of Handel's "Sarabande" and that I felt that Bullingdon was poorly treated. Recently I saw the movie again. What a difference nine years makes! The story was much more comprehensible and felt rather like "Tom Jones" without the convoluted ending. I particularly enjoyed the setting of late 18th- early 19th century Ireland. The story reads like an 18th century novel, in fact besides Thackeray's 19th century novel there are dozens of novels that follow the rises and falls of the scapegrace lads. There was only one disappointment with watching it again and that was finding that Bullingdon was really a pain in the butt. Chalk my feelings of sympathy up to some weird thing for Leon Vitale.

There is one thing that this movie excels in and that is music. The way that Handel's "Sarabande" weaves its way in and out of the last 30 minutes of the film is truly beautiful. It can create tension or simply convey a stately grace. There is also the constant use of Schubert's Piano Trio, if I am not mistaken, which lends a feeling of continental refinement. Kubrick may have had some trouble connecting the audience with his films, but his matching music with what is on screen is unparalleled in my mind.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Ugh

[7/10 · 13 April 2004]

I have tried desperately to like this movie. I have been told over and over again by my parents how ground-breaking the special effects were and how mind-blowing the whole movie was. I can see how the effects were amazing, given that they don't look cheap and shoddy even today. Still, a movie ,where the first words don't happen until roughly 25 minutes into the movie, is making a huge mistake. The plot is incomprehensible. I turned around and asked my dad what had happened when the movie finished. There is only one thing that comes even close to saving this movie and that is the perfect marriage that is "Also Sprach Zarathustra" and the discovery of bone as a weapon. Still, nothing can save the movie not the music and not HAL.

Center Stage (2000)

Incredible Dancing....the rest un-incredible

[12 April 2003]

Ballet movies are incredibly rare. Some are good movies even without the dancing and some are bad with great dancing. This movie happens to be an ok movie with incredible dancing. The characters are really caricatures with exaggerated behaviors that come off feeling very afternoon teen special-ish. The plot is incredibly predictable. You can tell what's going to happen to Jody after the first 15 minutes. However, this movie is lucky enough to have no less than three ABT members in its cast. Ethan Steifel is of course arguably the greatest male dancer in the world right now and while I was watching him I was struck with how similar he is to Baryshnikov. His every move looks effortless and gravity-defying. Sascha Radetsky shows that if he was with any other company that he'd be a principal dancer. Julie Kent should prove to be a mixture of Leslie Browne and Gelsey Kirkland and be an inspiration to another generation of girls. Amanda Schull shows a great deal of promise which really shows in the last number. Zoe Saldana is very good and is perhaps the most complex character. She carries off this acting job adequately. Susan May Pratt is of course the only non-dancer who is also lacking in any dance experience. It's actually kind of ironic that her character has to be the most technically accomplished of the students. However, she looks as natural in the environment as do her fellow dancer co-stars. The final dance sequences are amazing. One includes Rachmaninov's "2nd Piano Concerto" and is a beautiful piece. The other ballet is one that illustrates where ballet is heading. Full of flashy colors, flashy costumes, and effects, the sequence also includes some fabulous dancing. As long as you watch it for the dancing, this movie will please you. If you watch it as a movie than you'll be disappointed.

Farscape (1999–2003)

A Plea

[23 February 2003]

This is one of about five shows that I try and make sure that I watch every week. While the reality craze continues on, this show offers more twists and turns in a single episode than "Survivor" has in an entire season. The acting is top notch and I sincerely hope that if the show does end in the next month or so that all the actors find roles and acting jobs worthy of their skill. The writing is incredible with pop culture references thrown in and an overall sense of whimsy in even the darkest hour. I've often wanted to write a review, but have held back feeling that I wouldn't be able to fully encompass the genius of this show, but with the cancellation I want to get people interested. Most people I know fell for the show the same way that my family did, we watched an episode and thought that it was kind of dumb, but by the third episode we were hooked. The characters are fully drawn so that even Rygiel can be loved, despite his tendency to be the one who causes all of the problems. The story is labyrinthine, but is understandable with patience and is well worth it because soon enough you come to care for the characters as if you knew them. The look of the show is incredible and I would argue looks better than Star Trek, much more real and modern. It deserves more than the cult status given it because it's Sci-Fi because it's more than Sci-Fi. It's about one man's desire to get home something that we've been grappling with since Homer's "Odyssey." Watch this show and you'll learn that there is a real human truth to it, despite it's rather alien appearance.

Elizabeth (1998)

Interesting

[9/10 · 5 September 2002]

Elizabeth is not a factual movie. For example, the Spanish ambassador at the time was De Feria and not De Quadra. However, I think that the movie is an accurate portrayal of the character of Elizabeth. She was a strong woman, but as likely to make mistakes because of her youth and relative inexperience with statecraft. The movie captures this perfectly and her character is brought brilliantly to light by Cate Blanchett, who was robbed of the 1998 Oscar. Geoffrey Rush and Richard Attneborough bring a seasoned hand to the production and Joseph Fiennes and James Frain offer new talents in the English acting world. I also enjoyed the use of music especially the anachronistic use of Elgar and Mozart, mainly because I think that the pieces are a perfect fit. This isn't a movie for everyone, but if you love history, intrigue, romance, or just good movie this is an excellent choice.

Amadeus (1984)

Glorious!

[10/10 · 5 September 2002]

Amadeus is my favorite movie of all time. I spent much time deliberating this after my dad declared that "The Fellowship of the Ring" was his favorite movie of all time. I love this movie because I love music more than anything, except for books. The music in this film is the most magnificent ever written and if "The Marriage of Figaro" doesn't make you cry than another piece surely will. The acting is simply phenomenal. Tom Hulce is amazing as Mozart and every other performance he does is shaped by this one. I even love the laugh. Still, the best performance is F. Murray Abraham's with his ability to go from madness to utter lucidity in one line. The costumes are amazing and some day if I can I want to design my house like the apartment of the Mozarts. A perfect story, even with the historical inaccuracies, and my pick for the best movie ever made!

Hamtaro (2000–2006)

Chicka Chicka, Remember I'm a Ham!!!!

[3 July 2002]

The fact that I watched this show in the first place is enough to show how anime deprived I am. After months and months of only DBZ on Toonami, the Cartoon Network got this show. The concept is easy to understand hamsters who meet during the day while their owners are wherever. The concept also shows that this is not a show that will likely attract "Cowboy Be Bop" fans. However despite my original misgivings, I find the show to be absolutely charming. It's more like American cartoons than most anime and doesn't have the rough fighting that is the hallmark of most anime series at least those that make it dubdom in the US. The show will be well liked by little kids though I forsee that hamsters will be one popular Christmas present this year for Hamtaro viewers. I also like that several of the best voice actors found in anime are voicing this show such as Brad Swaile and Ted Cole. Anyone under the age of 8 should love this show and anime fans should enjoy seeing a different style of anime,

From Hell (2001)

Where exactly would you catalogue this?

[19 May 2002]

I've always had an interest in Jack the Ripper, mostly because the fact that he was never caught could allow my imagination to make all sorts of assumptions. So, I looked forward to seeing this movie. I wasn't very much disappointed. It offered a truly horrible theory on not only who Jack the Ripper was, but why he was murdering the "unfortunates." The historical inconsistencies don't hurt the movie much. If you want the historical truth than go and watch a documentary on Jack the Ripper. The acting is spotty in the cases of Heather Graham and Johnny Depp as are their accents. The rest of the cast is better. I did find Jason Flemyng's character quite a contrast to the others that I've seen him play and if anyone who has watched "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" will find Mark Dexter's character quite a change. However, the look and feel of the film is superb! The dark and shadowy corners make one feel that Jack the Ripper could be anywhere. I also liked the look because it portrayed a side of Victorian life that is often overlooked! All in all a good film if you want a creepy night of fun.

Totally Spies! (2001–2014)

The perfect show for those waiting for Toonami to get more GOOD anime!!!

[15 May 2002]

"Totally Spies" doesn't have a unique premise. Girls in skintight or scantily clad trying to save the world? I've seen it before on "Sailor Moon" and other shows, but considering that none of those shows has any air time anymore I enjoy the shows. The gadgets are really cool(half the time I want them). The criminals are devious enough. The characters are shallow , but fun. All in all the show is a prime show to watch if you're a fan of spy stuff, gadgets, or if you're just waiting for those people at the Toonami office to realize that that Batman show is NOT anime and that not everyone enjoys DBZ! 4 out of 5 for a cartoon. 2 out of 5 compared with the rest of television!

Even Stevens (2000–2003)

Top Notch

[15 May 2002]

Let's face it the Disney Channel has never been a place for high quality TV that enlightens as well as entertains, the exception being "Avonlea". Still, the show "Even Stevens" is one of the best shows on the network. The family dynamics really make the show work. Whether, it's the antagonistic relationship of Ren and Louis or the nurturing one between Eileen and Ren. However, when the show shifts to the school things become a lot less realistic and harder to swallow. No principal would play favorites with his/her students! No cafeteria serves food that completely gross, and I'm only 19 so I do remember what cafeteria food looks like. Still, the home life makes the school life easier to take. The actors are wonderful and I wouldn't be surprised to see Shia LaBoeuf in the movies, actual movies not the Disney Channel ones, and becoming very famous.

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)

Expected not to like it

[29 April 2002]

I'm far to young to have seen the original show when it originally aired and as a kid who grew up watching ET and other special effect extravaganzas it's hard to take the bad sets and bad lighting, but I've always appreciated the concept. I never had a chance to watch TNG because again I was just a bit too young to get into it and DS9 never interested me and by the time that I tried to watch it, it had become to confusing. So Voyager became my intro to Star Trek and I have to admit I liked it a lot, though I have always thought that Tuvok lacked any of the "charm" that Spock, what I've seen of him, ever showed. So I was hesitant to watch "Enterprise" afraid that it was going to continue the downward drift that a lot of people believe has happened to the franchise. However, I enjoy the show a lot, even though improvements can of course be made. The storylines are interesting and do show a sense of wonder at what is found and some people find this irritating, but wouldn't you be astounded by some of the species that they've met? The characters are all rather sparse at the moment, but are building with each episode, the best character building episode being "Shuttlepod One." The lack of mixture of species on the ship is odd given the number of species that were found on DS9 and Voyager, but it provides an interesting change. The only thing that I don't like is the lack of Porthos screen time. What's the point of including a dog if you're never going to show it?

The Wonderful World of Disney: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister (2002) Season 44, Episode 8

A mish-mash

[26 April 2002]

I have to judge this movie as both a book adaptation and as a tv-movie. As a book adaptation, I give this movie a 5 or maybe even less. Several things that were changed from the book bothered me. One major one was the use of magic in the film, when the gypsy "magics" the shoes for Clara. The lack of magic was in the book for a reason. Gregory Maguire wanted his meditation on beauty and ugliness to take center stage in the story. Another major change was how Iris and Casper meet. If you've read the book then maybe you can understand why. I feel that their introduction in the movie makes Iris too self-conscious thus making her aware of herself whereas in the book she is taken by surprise and Casper catches a glimpse of the "real" Iris. Other changes bothered me as well such as the narrator of the whole story, where Clara's mother was, the attitudes of Clara and Margarethe. I also wish that the Margarethe's rumor about Casper had stayed in the film. However, the movie, when one forgets Maguire's magnificent work, succeeds. The costuming and the acting of Stockard Channing and Emma Poole make this movie a treat to watch. If you are disappointed by the way that some of the characters look such as I was with Casper(Matthew Goode was fine in the movie, but I envisioned something completely different), be glad that they didn't cast someone who wasn't even close to ugly, as Iris. A disappointment to Maguire's fans, but a treat to all others, I hope that if this book is ever made into a movie that Maguire himself adapts his book. I'm just glad that they didn't do "Wicked." I shudder at the thought.

Invader ZIM (2001–2006)

Quirky

[24 September 2001]

I LOVE this show. I'll admit that I'm a huge fan of cartoons and you'd be more likely to see me watching one than a soap during the day.

I love this show for so many reasons. I love that it can be watched by anyone, a kid or a college student and still be funny. I love the style(I'm new to Jhonen Vasquez's work) it's kind of like if Tim Burton made a cartoon. I especially love the characters, Zim who can't realize that he's being sent to Earth to keep him away from the invasion, Gaz and her loves, Dib and his obsession with exposing Zim, and of course the lovable Gir. It's a cartoon that I'd recommend to anyone, but sadly the fact that it's on Nick will keep them away.

Felicity (1998–2002)

Went from Soapy fun to just plain soapy!

[21 August 2001]

I was an avid fan of this show its first season. I suppose it had something to do with the fact that I was a senior and was on my way to college myself. Anyway, I knew that it was soapy and the whole premise was decidedly laughable, but some parts rang true like how even when we have someone who really likes us we have to go for the unattainable. Still, the show went downhill the second season by not only moving to Sundays, but by having uber-soapy scripts. The third season had momentum, but that was ruined by the return of the ill-conceived "Jack and Jill" and ended with a kind of thud. Undoubtedly, this show will return for many more seasons and will get worse and worse, but it was good guilty pleasure fun while it lasted.

Dawson's Creek (1998–2003)

In one word.....CRAP!!!

[21 August 2001]

This show was hailed as a great show when it first came out. I watched the first episode and wondered what the hell the person who said that had been watching. This show is so incredibly unbelievable and totally contrived. Teachers having affairs with students, best friends becoming more than that and then returning to that state, each episode dealing with an issue with an extraordinarily heavy hand. This show has none of the humor of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", none of the earnestness of "That 70's Show" and none of the realness of "Gilmore Girls." I'd personally use this show as a cure for insomnia.

The Thin Red Line (1998)

Are we really the winners?

[17 August 2001]

I recently read a professional review of this movie, where the person wondered why all war movies have the message of "War is hell, but we still won." After watching this movie again last night, I started to really wonder if we had won at all. I know that many people call this movie "pretentious", "boring", and "left me squirming." I wonder if they saw the same thing that I did. Sure Saving Private Ryan came out the same year and sure it was about WWII, and sure it had those 25 minutes, but somehow this movie conveys the absolute horrors of war far better than Saving Private Ryan did. I've noticed that some people have mentioned that they think that most of the people speak far to eloquently for rural men. Yet, the men only spoke poetry mostly in the voiceovers and the most of the characters who spoke like it were educated men like Bell and Staros. Also, if you look carefully at the nature images a lot of them mirror what is going on in the film. Everyone who has said that they hated it should really watch it again, don't expect a lot of physical action, this movie is about the mental states of everyone in the film. If you hate it still, I think that there must be something wrong, somewhere. I wouldn't all this the best movie ever made, but it certainly deserved it's Oscar nomination and certainly deserved its critical praise. I also recommend the soundtrack, but be forewarned that some images from the movie

may come while listening to it, which is one of the reasons that I think that both soundtrack and movie were great.