writerwoman1au Reviews

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

The Marvellous Movie

[9/10 · 16 December 2004]

It was wonderful. I'm sorry, skeptics, but it really was.

The costumes were really unique. I liked how they seemed to draw inspiration from several different time periods.

I really loved Liam Aiken and Emily Browning as Klaus and Violet Baudelaire- even though they didn't fit my mental images of the characters, they proved themselves over and over again throughout the course of the film. Emily Browning has a history of doing excellent films, and after seeing her in the comparatively small role of Ned Kelly's sister I had a lot of faith in her. I wasn't quite as sure about Liam Aiken because I hadn't seen any of his work, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Sunny Baudelaire (as played by Kara and Shelby Hoffman) was just done perfectly. Everybody in the cinema laughed at the subtitles. I seriously didn't think that it was possible for two-year-olds to be good at acting, but the Hoffman twins convinced me otherwise.

The musical score was brilliantly done and the sets were, in a word, epic. I felt *dizzy* whenever there were panoramic shots of Lake Lachrymose, for heaven's sakes! There were some scenes which were not in the books- such as the theme of sanctuary, the spyglasses, the lost letter from the Baudelaire parents. As a Lemony Snicket obsessive I expected to fume at these scenes, but they worked wonderfully.

Keep an eye out for the hilarious 'Littlest Elf' sequence at the beginning and the amazing animated credits (complete with a song from the film 'The Addams Family', possibly a nod to Barry Sonnenfield, who is credited as a producer).

I am giving this film a 9 out of 10 simply because I am a fan of the books and there were a couple of story details I felt could have been communicated better.

Excellent stuff! If there are any sequels, they can only improve.

The Addams Family (1991)

This film was my CHILDHOOD!

[29 October 2002]

I mean, good lord. This film really had something special going for it. When was the last time, if ever, that one could laugh so hysterically at a deathly-pale schoolgirl standing onstage in a pirate costume with fountains of fake blood spewing from open wounds in her body and soaking the audience as she shrieked, "Sweet oblivion, open your arms!" and collapsed onto the floor after a few seconds of hacking noises? THEN (and this is the clincher), as the gathered parents and friends sit in stunned silence, their clothes stained with scarlet liquid and ominous Shakespearean music drifting overhead, HER family leap to their feet and applaud, brimming with obvious pride.

Wednesday, as played by Christina Ricci, was what made this movie one of my fondest childhood memories. The cast all give stupendous performances but the idea of this Gothic-type kid who dressed in black and electrocuted her brother and carted a headless baby doll around with her was what suckered in this viewer at the tender age of seven. It's only now that I even understand some of the jokes. Also, I was fascinated by her 'eye thing'. This was the name I gave to the look she could adopt that could transform her from harmless raven-haired child to twisted maniac- only using her eyes. She'd sort of widen them and they'd glitter. I spent weeks at a time trying to do the eye thing and looking like a maniac on more than one level.

The set of the Addams estate was brilliant- dark and dusty, a total haunted house. One almost expected a flock of bats to swarm from a cupboard as soon as Grandmama opened it, shrouding the unperturbed crone as she reached in to grab some ghastly relic no doubt intended for the family lunch. Of course, I doubt they would have stooped to such an immature low.

Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston (sp?) were positively dynamite as debonair Gomez and his sultry wife Morticia. Jimmy Workman (that was the kid who played Pugsley, RIGHT? I'm experiencing a mental block!) is rather amusing, and Christopher Lloyd (check him out in 'The Real Blonde', everyone, 'cause he's funny in that too) makes an incredible Uncle Fester. Granny and Lurch aren't bloody bad either.

Brilliant! And before you say that times have changed and surely even I must have tired of the dark comedies, keep in mind that my favourite film is now 'The Virgin Suicides'...

The Real Blonde (1997)

A Comic Gem!

[5 October 2002]

I rented 'The Real Blonde' on video at the same time that I rented 'The Curse of the Jade Scorpion', because my favourite actress (Elizabeth Berkley) is in both and I wished to have a quiet afternoon in watching two of my favourite screen star's movies. 'The Real Blonde' was not only funny, it was well-scripted, well-acted and well... great!

The cast all did an absolutely fine job of bringing their characters to life, despite the fact that some didn't get a lot of screen time. Honestly, I had no idea that Bridgette Wilson could be so funny! I've only ever seen her on TV a few times, and she didn't really strike a huge chord with me there. But in 'The Real Blonde'... wow! Kathleen Turner, Daryl Hannah, Christopher Lloyd and my favourite, Elizabeth Berkley, are nothing short of hilarious as well. The satire was excellent and the ending was practically inspired. Great!

Does anyone happen to know the title of the song that was played in the Madonna video scene? That song was goofy. I liked it! :)

Eugenie Sandler P.I. (2000)

Fantastic Adventure And Suspense

[10 August 2002]

I have but one thing to say for Xaris Miller- she was an excellent actress in this series. She brought an authentically fresh and clever independence to the character of Eugenie. Although I've only seen about half the series, and not in the proper order, I can truthfully say that this ranks with all the great mystery series of the Nineties. It's brilliant!

The music, some fantastic techno stuff, punctures the suspense of the action scenes, for example in today's episode when Eugenie and her friend Warwick were on the run from two crooks. Unlike other scenes of the type, instead of clouding the action the music accentuates it, heightening the tension and providing something for us to enjoy along with the story.

The series is realistic and addictive. It's simple to understand but certainly not simplistic, endowing the viewers with twists and surprises at every turn. Eugenie is a real character, complex and full of life and is written well, having real chemistry with Warwick (also a favourite, but none can compare with the title character). I love this series!

Eastside (1999)

Not Bloody Bad

[9/10 · 4 August 2002]

Listen, people- I don't know what the deal is with all these bad reviews from newsgroups. The genre was new to me, so the characters didn't seem stereotypical from being recycled a thousand times. I LIKED the characters. OK, so the crime boss kinda reminded me of Fat Tony from 'The Simpsons'. Who GIVES?

Some complained that it wasn't slick enough. I LIKED the way it looked. It reminded me of 'Run Lola Run', another of my favourites. At least in the first few minutes, I stopped noticing after that.

And Mario Lopez was good in his role. I thought his scenes were COOL, whether he was at the batting cages or The Salsa Room or failing miserably at eating sushi or whatever. Maybe they could've elaborated on the main character's time in jail a bit more, but his acting wasn't bloody bad.

I'm not saying people shouldn't have the right to say what they thought about the movie or even that everybody should go see it. All I'm saying is that I genuinely enjoyed 'Eastside' because I felt it was a cool movie and I'm surprised that it wasn't better received.

Dark Angel (2000–2002)

Rates In My Top Five!

[10 May 2002]

Now, I'd just like to say something. Teenage girls aren't usually trusted by the general public as judges of what's really fun to watch. If a teenage girl says a film set at a high school was the best thing she ever saw, then heavens, it's obviously teeny-bopper trash. They may not be professional critics, but trust me when I say that any teenage girl who tells you that 'Dark Angel' is something really special is definitely not lying.

I watched it one day because I was bored and in a channel-surfing mood. I wasn't about to stoop to actually completing my homework. 'The Simpsons' was over for the night. Plus a friend of mine really liked the show, so I thought it couldn't be bad. I wasn't expecting anything revolutionary, but the opening sequence alone intrigued me into NOT switching to music videos.

I was instantly drawn into a likeable, exciting plot set in post-Pulse Seattle, where the main character, Max, won me over in record time. Not only is Max played by the very talented and very cool Jessica Alba, but you can quote her sometimes if you want to sound rather cool. I wasn't watching the pilot episode, which I'm now desperate to see, but even so I quickly figured out the characters and their relationships with each other, and settled down for some really good fun.

I've never been an expert at classing fight scenes, but others will tell you they're good, but not great. However, certain scenes such as those in the episodes 'Prodigy' and 'Flushed' (that I'm not going to say as they're spoilers, but trust me on the fact that they're fantastic) are really spectacular to witness. I didn't like 'Titanic' as a rule, maybe because I was a tomboyish little girl when I saw it and definitely couldn't abide anything in the least romantic, but James Cameron really has done a wonderful job with 'Dark Angel'.

This show has made it into my personal Top Five. Anyone searching for something great on a Monday night will have found it in the excellent 'Dark Angel'.

Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

An Incredible Film

[5 May 2002]

Now, I had only seen a glimpse of a trailer and about three pictures of the movie before I saw it. Even so, I had faith in the story. I believed it looked excellent and let me tell you, I wasn't wrong. It was a fantastic film, with characters that one could really root for in the forms of the three girls, Molly, Gracie and Daisy.

Superbly shot, the movie will provide endless discussion for anyone who sees it. In scenes such as the girls' kidnapping from their home in Jigalong, their courageous journey and one other scene I'm not going to mention in case I get kicked off, you will not be able to remain unemotional.

A classic. See it at the movies with a friend or two and try not to get TOO emotional, as you might miss one of the more excellent scenes and you'll be kicking yourself until it comes out on video.