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Reviews
Ready or Not (1993)
Most nineties shows aren't that great, but Ready or Not is an exception.
I used to watch this every so often during it's original run... I only recently began tuning in regularly. In retrospect, there are some points of the show that are kind of cheesy and laughable. For example, when Amanda got her first bra- her FATHER knew! And they talked about it so casually: "So, you're going to get a bra tonight...". Most girls at that age (she was supposed to be 12 or so then, right?) are uncomfortable discussing that kind of thing with their fathers. I know I was! :P Same with Busy. When she got her period, her dad knew about it.
But, those, and several other points aside, it was a pretty informative and 'realistic' show. It dealt with issues and problems girls face as they grow up- such as peer pressure, hazing, homosexuality, divorce and the likes, but it wasn't preachy or sugar-coated. They were approached directly and tangibly... and, unlike many TV shows, sometimes the conflicts weren't resolved within the half hour. It also encouraged individuality- something that should be stressed more, especially in today's society.
And as someone already mentioned, these girls were actually around the age they were supposed to be playing! Unlike a lot of shows, where they're all 25 year olds playing teenagers.
If you ever get a chance to watch even one episode, do it. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
The Four Seasons (1981)
unrealistic, but a great film nonetheless.
I actually saw this movie by chance... A friend of mine saw the VHS on a shelf, tucked away in the back of Cinema 1. She pointed it out, and I bought it immediately.
The storyline itself isn't realistic; very rarely would this happen in real life (if ever), but it's touching, funny and brilliantly acted. Alda and Burnette have incredibly great chemistry on-screen. It's a laugh a minute with those two. The characters are so finely drawn with their own little quirks and personalities that it's easy to believe they're real.
The film also shows just how easy it is for something so seemingly trivial can threaten a friendship--- In this case, it was the addition of Ginny.
The seasons seem to perfectly follow the character's moods. During the spring and summer, the atmosphere is pleasant and carefree; nothing can go wrong, the sky is the limit. And as the weather turns colder, the moods follow suit, reaching the `coldest' point during the winter, where their true colours begin to show.
Oddly enough, though I bought the movie to see Alan Alda, Anne Callan (played by Sandy Dennis), turned out to be the highlight of the film for me. In contrast to the ditzy and annoying Ginny, Anne is incredibly witty, albeit a little off-beat and *out there*. She has some hilarious lines, and Dennis delivers them perfectly-"The hell with Nick. Tell him it's a goddamn boa constrictor!" And her wacky memory (for example, remembering the day she got her tooth filled)- Too funny.
Whether or not you're a fan of any of the actors or actresses in this movie, I highly recommend it. You'll fall in love with it.