Change Your Image
sarge_5150
Reviews
Guess Who (2005)
Surprisingly misogynistic
I watched this movie expecting a light-hearted comedy. I enjoyed the additional complexity added to the characters played by Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher. Both actors did an excellent job in their roles, playing the characters realistically rather than over-the-top. Mac and Kutcher are definitely the highlight of this film.
This film addresses the issue of race, particularly the interaction between whites and blacks in the U.S. Such is an inflammatory topic and the filmmakers deserve credit for tackling the topic without partisanship. It is played for comedic effect at times but ultimately is treated with respect.
But I was disappointed that the female characters in the film were written as manipulative and deceptive. Whereas the arc involving Bernie Mac shows a man struggling to come to grips with the conflict between his love for his daughter and his feelings on race, the female characters are shown as conniving and inauthentic. This surprisingly misogynistic message clashes with the tone of the film.
The Incredibles (2004)
Very well done departure
This is a different film from previous Pixar/Disney collaborations. As with previous films, the graphics are outstanding. Much like Finding Nemo the graphics are so well done that you are not consciously aware of their provenance. Even though the cast is exclusively humans, the images are engaging without taking you out of the film. The soundtrack does an excellent job of conveying the tone of the scene. Both the images and sounds pay homage to other genres and films without name-dropping.
Where the previous Pixar/Disney collaborations emphasize the youthful fun over the adult conflict, this film moves the conflict to center stage. This is a film about a man struggling to balance his metier and his obligations and a woman trying to hold her family together. The setting of this conflict amidst superheros ultimately makes this film so enjoyable. But, unlike Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., and Toy Story, this film feels like a drama. (In that regard it reminds me of Bird's The Iron Giant.)
In other words, rather than a kid's film that adults can enjoy, this is an adult's film that kids can enjoy.
Basic (2003)
A Wee Bit Slow
This was a good thriller that didn't tip its hand too early. Fairly realistic as far as these things go.
The dialogue was well done but the pacing was too slow. As the plot progressed, I kept wondering where it was going. There was a murder to be solved but it kept meandering around it. I can see how there was a lot of material to get through, but I think the plot would have been better if it has moved faster.
Both Jackson and Travolta did well with their roles. Oddly, Nielsen had a Southern accent for some lines and not for others; it was very confusing.
E-Dreams (2001)
Exemplary
As a veteran of several dot-com companies, watching this film was like watching home movies. Other vets of that era and I watched this film with sick fascination, seeing events and situations that we ourselves had endured. This film perfectly captures the thoughtlessness, greed, and insanity of those years. Unlike the other reviewer, I thought the ending perfectly captured the era: even when it was obvious that it was over, the jokers that led us down the garden path in the first place refused to acknowledge it. This film serves well as a documentary of one of the most spectacular dot-bombs but it serves even better as proof to those that lived through it that they are not alone.
Bionicle: Mask of Light (2003)
You can watch it dozens of times...and I have
At the behest of my kids, I have watched this film over and over, probably at least 100 times. It is one of the few of their favorites that has not gotten irritating after dozens of viewings. The story arc includes classic struggles and familiar archetypes, the animation is great, and the dialog is engaging.
Stolen Summer (2002)
Not an after-school special
This is a good outing for a first-time director. I saw the HBO series first and was quite surprised at how well this film turned out. The script is good; the subject matter is powerful. The actors turned out great performances. Quinn and Pollack both did outstanding jobs. I think a huge amount of credit needs to go to the crew on this film, but I think Pete Jones did a great job.