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garyd-1
Reviews
Earthstorm (2006)
It's Entertainment, not Science Class
There seems to be a group of viewers who find fault with every movie Sci-Fi channel airs. The nit picking is extreme. The purpose of a movie like this to to give some of an opportunity to side out of real life and enjoy a distraction.
It's not just these films, John Wayne's revolver held more than 6 shots. They obviously had to stop the camera so he could reload. Who cares? That's Entertainment! I'm a bit older than some of the commentators, but when I was a kid, I was taught if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. I don't believe in vampires, werewolves, mummy's and all that nonsense, but they keep making them and selling tickets.
If Sci-Fi couldn't attract a sponsor for the on air time, the movie wouldn't be shown. They seem to fund all of these 'awful' movies, so someone must like them. When I want to know facts, I can watch National Geographic Channel, History Channel or the Military Channel.
NetForce (1999)
A movie for Clancy fans.
One use comments, "I haven't read any of Tom Clancy's books and it is unlikely I will do so. Real life is more interesting!" No wonder he generally panned this made for TV movie.
To really be able to appreciate movies based on Clancy's books, one has to: 1) be a Clancy fan; and 2) have read the book before seeing the film. I am a Clancy fan, first and a movie goer, second. So often, the movie fails to live up to the book. That is the case with this movie and was the case with another movie, "Flight of the Intruder," based on Stephen Coonts book of the same name.
As it happens, this film could be a page from real life, albeit, a few years in the future. As a "techie" who spends 10-12 hours per day at a computer, I can identify with the characters in the book series and the film. As an American post 9/11/2001, I can also identify with what is going on in the United States regarding the Internet and security.
NetForce will, I believe, become a reality before the end of the decade. An organization already exists that foreshadows it's existence. As of this writing, August 11, 2002, the proposed cabinet department of Homeland Security will probably include a department like NetForce.
Technically, most of the equipment envisioned by Clancy in NetForce is available or on the near horizon. Moreover, the plot is not unfeasible in the near future, given someone with enough money, technical skill and ambition. Everyday, we see activity on the Internet demonstrating the ability of some people to hack major computer systems. I've always wondered, "What would happen if all of the best hackers in the world got together and had the resources to make a combined attack on the Internet?" At least Clancy has explored the idea with NetForce.
In my humble opinion, we sometimes expect too much from movies. This is never more true that when a film looks at the near future. Frequently, by the time the film has been rerun a couple of times, we have reached the time frame of the film. In this instance, when we reach the time frame, 2005, most of the technology will be available, pretty much in the form described in the book and film. And, given the American mind set in 2002, an agency like NetForce could easily exist.
As for the made for TV movie, I watch movies to be entertained, not educated. I expect producers and directors to take license with reality, especially with movies set in the future. While the film departs slightly from the book, this was a throughly entertaining film. I'd give it 7/10 stars.
Insomnia (2002)
If you have insomnia, see Insomnia!
My wife and I saw the movie opening weekend. We agreed that "Insomnia" is not the best work of either Pacino nor Williams. We found the plot to be transparent, and some plot elements, e.g., Pacino's reaction to and subsequent behavior to the shooting in the fog, to be unreasonable. To us, the story dragged and we were both muttering, "Hurry Up!"
One can easily name a dozen films featuring Pacino that are worth owning, and several featuring Williams that are treasured library pieces. Unfortunately, "Insomnia" won't be joining them in our library.
Perhaps, the fault is ours, rather than that of the film. How can anyone compare Mr. Williams performance in "Good Will Hunting" or "Dead Poets Society," just to name two, with this film? Were our expectations too high?
We don't really blame the actors as much as the material they were working with. Had we not seen the trailer dozens of times, we might have had different expectations, and consequently, given the film a sightly higher rating of 7/10. As it stands, we agree that it only merits a 5/10.