Like comic book characters, translating a game into a live-action movie is a tricky venture. On the one hand, you want to satisfy the fans of the game. On the other hand, film is an entirely different medium with different requirements. (Mario Brothers, for example simply jump around to cheesy music and avoid enemies and obstacles -- the film needed to put some personality where it previously didn't exist.)
I've never played Tomb Raider, though I understand it's an engrossing game. However, based on what little I know of the character Lara Croft, I think Tomb Raider the movie definitely meets the requirements.
Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted and Hackers) plays our heroine and fills the costume nicely. The story involves an ancient artifact that will give its possessor control of time. This artifact has been split into two pieces and hidden on opposite sides of the world, with a third element -- a timepiece -- being the key to unlocking their locations.
Indiana Jones, eat yer heart out. We have some fun bungee jumping shootouts going on at the beginning, as well as some stony characters going after Lara in places... It's an adrenaline rush, to be sure, and a story that holds interest without being too twisty.
I liked this movie, from start to finish. I liked Angelina Jolie very much. She was an excellent choice to play this character. I also liked the touch of Angelina's real-life father (Jon Voight) playing Lara's father. I liked the action, of course, and also the puzzle-elements of the film. I loved that a woman could kick butt (I always like this -- it's nice that H'wood is putting out movies about female action heroes these days, instead of keeping women on the sidelines as the "damsels in distress") and does so with impunity. That she is also quite pretty is merely an added bonus.
Downsides: The obvious realism factor. That some aspects of the movie focused more on Lara's sensuality than her character. (The shower scene was unnecessary, I thought, and reminded me eerily of the "dance" scene in Barb Wire -- another of those awful comic-to-film adaptations.) This, fortunately, was only a small part of the film.
All in all, I think this is a good movie for action fans.
This movie is rated PG-13 for action-oriented violence and some sexuality / near-nudity.
SCORE: 8.5 -- A fun movie that thrills, chills, delights, and makes one take notice and say WOW! Great action, great story, and although a little heavy on the "babe" factor, a strong female character who seriously rocks. Recommended.
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Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney), Bo (Annie Potts), and the rest of the cast of 1995's Toy Story return to show us just how special toys can be. In a comedy of errors, Woody ends up -- completely by accident -- in a garage sale being held by Andy's Mom. She refuses to sell him, of course, but a toy collector steals him. Buzz and the rest of the toys witness this horrendous crime and set out to rescue him.
In the lair of the Evil Collector (voiced by Jurassic Park's Wayne Knight), Woody discovers his origins, and that he's a valued collector's item -- and that he will complete the collection of "Woody's Roundup" dolls, enabling the Collector to ship Woody, Jessie (Joan Cusack), Prospector Pete (Kelsey Grammar), and Bullseye, Woody's trusty steed, to a toy museum in Japan! He also learns that if he goes back to Andy, these other toys will have to go back into storage -- something Jessie doesn't want, and will try to prevent, seemingly at any cost.
Toy Story 2 has everything you could want in a sequel. On the one side, you have the familiarity of the characters and situation (it's another rescue attempt, after all)... yet it breaks new ground with new characters (Mrs Potato Head, for one, plus the "Woody's Roundup" gang) and twists. And it also raises a question: What brings a toy more joy -- The love of their owner, being played with and worn out, and eventually even broken... or sitting in a plastic or glass container, being seen and "oooh"ed and "ahhh"ed at -- but never touched?
I was incredibly impressed by this movie. Pixar seemes to have further developed its software to make the toys even more real than in the first film, and bringing at least one character from another Pixar-animated film (the chess-player from the Oscar-winning short seen on the Bug's Life video is featured as a restoration artist). The first Pixar short from 1986 is also screened before Toy Story 2. Incredible stuff!
Did I mention laughs? There are plenty of them! Mrs Potato Head packs the Mr's "angry eyes" for him when he leaves for the rescue mission. A new and improved Buzz Lightyear figure annoys the Buzz WE know and love. And let's not forget Tour Guide Barbie! (I'm sorry, but I wanted to slap her silly -- and this was just a MOVIE!!) And some of the movie references in this film will leave you rolling in the aisles -- especially the Star Wars references!
Those who want action in their animated movies need look no further than the appearance of Buzz Lightyear's nemesis -- Emperor Zurg -- seen for the first time. And the race against time that makes these movies so exciting is here again.
I urge everyone to go see this movie that's already breaking box-office records. It's just as good as the first Toy Story -- and in some ways, even better.
This movie is rated G. Suitable for all audiences.
SCORE: 9.5 A movie that will mesmerize kids with its cute characters and animated action, but will also entertain adults with its witty humor -- and all ages in between, too! Highly, highly recommended!
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There is only one company whose animated films I make a point of seeing. As much as I enjoyed Quest for Camelot, The Land Before Time, Ferngully, and a few others I can't think of at the moment, only Disney has the magic that keeps me coming back for more. Last year's Mulan made me a bit nervous (wasn't sure I'd like it), but I quickly came around.
This year gives us an animated adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs's classic -- and arguably most famous -- creation, the man raised by gorillas, Tarzan. To be completely honest, I have never had any great interest in Tarzan. I've never even watched one of the incredibly cheesy movies from the early days of film. (But I know they're cheesy, because my friend -- a big Tarzan fan -- has told me on many occasions.) You can, therefore, imagine that the sole draw for me was that it's a Disney animated movie.
Opening with a family of three abandoning a blazing ship, Tarzan chronicles the life of a man, orphaned by a vicious tiger and found as a baby by a female gorilla (Kala, voiced by the ever-talented Glenn Close). Kala and Kerchak (Lance Henrikson) lost their own child to this same tiger, so Kala adopts the boy, against Kerchak's better judgement. She names the baby Tarzan.
As a boy, Tarzan (at this point voiced by Home Alone 3's Alex D Linz) gets into all kinds of trouble with his friend Terk (Rosie O'Donnell) and new friend Tantor (Jurassic Park's Wayne Knight). He struggles with his identity as a "hairless ape" and continuously wonders why Kerchak doesn't like him. (Kerchak is the leader of the group of simians.)
As a man, Tarzan's (Ghost's Tony Goldwyn) life becomes even more complicated when he finds out that there are other "hairless apes" in the world. He rescues Jane (Minnie Driver) from some attacking baboons. Jane is in Africa with her father to find and study a family of gorillas. Their "naturist" / "protector" Clayton has other things on his own agenda. Against Kerchak's orders, Tarzan continually visits Jane and her party, learns a bit of their language and culture, falls in love with Jane, and causes all kinds of problems when he agrees to take Jane and her father to their lair.
Really, this is in incredible movie! The computer animation as Tarzan swings, "skates", and "surfs" through the trees is nothing less than amazing. Voice characterizations are perfect (as is the music by Phil Collins). Full of amazing action and sentimental moments, expressions of wonder and awe as Tarzan sees Jane for the first time, the animators deserve hefty pats on their collective backs.
One thing that sets this film apart from other Disney fare is the music. Instead of the characters breaking out into song every five minutes, Phil Collins does the vast majority of the vocal work. In one scene, Kala sings Tarzan to sleep -- and Close has a NICE voice, I tell you -- and as the camera pans away, Phil takes over. Rosie O'Donnell also gets to take a swing with "song" as Terk and some of the others find the camp of Jane and Pop, and play with their neat "instruments", making a song of sorts with them. I loved that!
I loved this movie so much, in fact, that my one and only problem with this movie was its MPAA rating -- G. Being a single guy, I myself don't care one way or the other what "kind" of content I see. I have no child to protect from frightening imagery. I also grant, that I didn't hear the screams of terror that I did during my viewing of The Lion King several years ago. However, I did rather find that some of the scenes didn't seem appopriate for young children -- like Kala's discovery of Tarzan's parents. While it was much shielded, it might raise questions in a young one's mind that their parents might not be ready to answer yet. Similarly, there was a shadow/silhouette hanging that might raise a similar issue. The tiger which plagues the gorilla family through the first half of the movie might also frighten some kids. "G" is not what I'd call this -- though I also think "PG" might be too strong. I wonder if there might be an in-between rating that can be created ("G7", like the Y7 of TV ratings, maybe?) to shut up people like me.
Regardless of my opinion of the MPAA's choice at rating, this is a movie that any fan of Disney (provided they understand the concept of death) will enjoy and treasure. This one goes into my video collection when the time comes.
This movie is rated G, though you heard my reservations on that. Slight caution is encouraged.
SCORE: 9 Once again, Disney strikes gold -- at least in the heart of this reviewer. Maintaining its standard of high quality animation, plot, and voice talent, I mark this as being a must-see for Disney fans everywhere. Highly, highly recommended! Return to top
Believe the hype.
But you're not that lucky. I'm a long-winded reviewer, as you know by now, so my review of a long movie must be equally long.
Okay, what is there to say that hasn't already? Not much, really, but here goes: Titanic is a love story above all else. Jack Dawson, who has won his ticket through a poker game falls hopelessly in love with Rose DeWitt Buchater (the couple is played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, respectively). The first half of the movie explores their love for each other, and how she's trapped to snooty money-loving Cal Hockley (Billy Zane). During the course of Titanic's fateful trip (no three hour tour here!), the ship hits an iceburg that punctures the hull, causing the ship to begin sinking. The remainder of the movie is the sinking ship and how Rose, Jack, Cal, and others we've met along the way fare against the disaster.
That was a pretty sterile description, wasn't it? It doesn't matter. You've seen the movie already anyway... (I know this because it took me until June to see it -- and I missed the boat, lemme tell you!)
There is a reason that Titanic is the #1 grossing movie of all time, and it's not because the viewing public is stupid (Godzilla's quick demise is proof of our intelligence). It's that we know a good movie when we see one, and in this case, we've seen one... repeatedly, it seems. Though we know from the start that their love is doomed, we still get wrapped up in Jack and Rose's affair. We find ourselves hoping against hope that the ship's sinking will not separate them. (And we find ourselves wishing Cal would fall overboard.) And when the Titanic DOES begin its downward lurch, our nerves are shot to hell as Jack and Rose try to escape a watery death, only to find a new obstacle. And another. And another.
To be perfectly honest, I can't find very much wrong with this movie at all. The story paced itself so well that its 3 hour running time flies right by. (I didn't believe it when people told me, which is why it took so long for me to go -- I was sweet-talked by a good friend of mine to go with her.) The movie deserved all of the Academy Awards it received, and even one or two that it didn't. (Though, as a sidenote, I'd like to put in my two cents' worth about DiCaprio's "snub". His was not an Oscar caliber performance, so a nomination was not warranted, especiallly in comparison to those that were nominated.)
A splendid surprise, for me, was the appearance of Kathy Bates (Misery, Dolores Claiborne) as Molly Brown. Her words were such a nice contrast to the other rich people, and I found myself laughing my head off at some of the men's reactions to her. She was the "Jack" of the First Class section. She not only had a good mouth on her, she had heart. She saw Jack's desire and did everything in her power to help him. In the lifeboats, even though she was outvoted, she felt a great deal of compassion for those that were in the water. She wanted to turn around and pick them up, even when the others in the boat refused to help.
Zane's character was pure evil. Rose's mother, while her motives were semi-understandable, went about things from totally the wrong angle. And Rose herself? All she wanted was love.
If you're one of the ten people who has still not seen the "T" movie, as some of my online friends call it, you are really missing something spectacular.
This movie is rated PG-13 for brief nudity, mild language, and some intense scenes of disaster related peril.
SCORE: 10 A masterpiece of modern storytelling. Excellent character conflicts, a startling depiction of a true-life disaster. The story moves along at a perfect pace, and one's breath is sure to be taken away. Compelling, epic, and beautifully scripted, Titanic is a movie that will live as long as the legend. Highest Possible Recommendation! Return to top
Truman Burbank has been on TV his whole life. Everyone has enjoyed watching him grow up in front of the camera. The problem is, Truman doesn't KNOW he's on TV! His entire life is a simulation, and he's an unwitting television star. The people that he thinks he knows (and he sees them every single day!) are just actors portraying his friends, family, and strangers that he meets on the street.
Then one day his life begins to crumble as little glitches occur that give him an idea that his life isn't what he thinks. A fixture falls out of the sky and crashes right behind him. The signals from the "behind the camera" crew come through on his car radio. Little things that he notices all add up to one incontrovertible conclusion: He's in the Twilight Zone.
Okay, that's not really the conclusion, but he does question his existence and eventually embarks on a quest to fulfill his dream. A walk-on character inadvertantly caught his eye, and she had to be "written out", but not before she tried to tell him the truth, and he's pined for her ever since. Can the people in the booth "convince" him (via his fear of water and other means) to stay in the largest television studio ever built? Or will his love for this guest star win out? Tune in next time!
Strange premise aside, this is a very entertaining movie! Carrey delivers his best performance ever! The supporting cast also do a fabulous job, and you almost believe (for a brief moment) that you're watching this television show -- and that it's all real. Ed Harris as the show's creator Christof (who, incidentally, was Truman's legal guardian when the star was a minor) is both sympathetic (he has a hit show that's about to collapse) and diabolical (he'll go to any length to keep the star from leaving). We like Ed.
As to the premise itself, I hear tell it was also an episode of the Twilight Zone (hence my earlier reference, get it?). I myself have never seen that episode, but having seen the Truman Show, I'd like to. Often, as a child (during that whole "who am I and why am I here" phase we all go through), I imagined that my life, boring as it was, was on display for all the world to see -- much in the way Truman's is. I'm sure some of you did that as well. (Hey, we can form a support group, or something!) So this movie hit home in THAT department.
Rewatchability? Not sure. I'd have to see it again to tell you. (That was not an intentional joke, by the way.) But for the first time through, it's great!
Now that Carrey has proven to the world he's not just another rubber face, I'm hoping he'll get more roles like this -- full of heart, full of meat. Full of life.
This movie is Rated PG for some mild language, and that ever-present thematic elements thing.
SCORE: 9 Carrey's latest is, once again, his best (performance-wise)! I'm continually impressed with Jim Carrey's abilities, and as long as he doesn't abandon comedy entirely, I'll always embrace the more serious roles. Fine acting, great story, what more can you want in a movie? See it with a friend. Highly Recommended!
I will admit something that, recently, I have not admitted to anyone. Tom has talent! I suppose I felt betrayed that he'd left his comic background with Philadelphia (for which he won an Oscar) and Forrest Gump (ditto)... I vowed to myself I would not watch another Hanks movie.
Then I went back and watched Punchline for the third or so time, and realized-- HEY! This is a pretty serious movie! Then I got bored and watched Apollo 13, and thought, Golly! It's not as boring as most non-fiction I've seen!
So imagine my genuine surprise at actually enjoying That Thing You Do, about the musical group "The Wonders" and their one single hit. Tom Everett Scott stars as Guy Patterson, a talented drummer who works in his father's appliance store. When his three friends ask him to replace their drummer for a gig, he agrees, and the "One-ders" begin a nonstop career to the top of the charts! They end up playing an Italian restaurant, make a demo record of their song, get discovered, and wind up with Play-Tone records, on the fast track to success. Yup, that's about all there is to this movie. So why did I like this movie so much?
Perhaps it was the umpteen familiar faces, like Peter Scolari as a TV show host, or Kevin Pollack as the sleazebag disc jockey hosting a rock n' roll show. Giovanni Ribisi (of "My Two Dads" fame) as the original drummer, who broke his arm (hence the replacement). Liv Tyler (Silent Fall) as the ever-present roadie. Okay, she's actually the backbone of the group, providing support not only for the band, but her boyfriend, lead singer Jimmy. Finally, there was Ethan Embry (I'll always call him Randall, sorry) of Dutch, as the bass player.
Or maybe it was the characters themselves. Jimmy's love for music, Guy's charisma... Faye's absolute charm. The four band members interact the way I would imagine a real band, with the arguments about tempo (It was Guy who made the song so upbeat-- it was originally a ballad), the sheer excitement at hearing their song on the radio, the "What to do next" discussions... and, of course, the overwhelming and sudden popularity.
The neat thing about this is, you don't even have to worry about hearing "That Thing You Do" seventy billion times... Yes, they sing it that much, but you hear it all the way through three, maybe four times, and it is interspersed with other songs, both of the Wonders and other singers in the movie. It's a catchy tune, too!
I think the choice of the name "The Wonders" was an interesting touch on Hanks's part, too! After all, they did only have the one hit song... and we all know the cliche, don't we? Well, whatever it was, it all came together to make a good, entertaining movie.
Surprisingly.
This movie is Rated PG for some language, but nothing very major.
SCORE: 7... I thought that it was a solid film. It's not a blockbuster, by anyone's standards, but the charisma and chemistry between Liv Tyler and Tom Everett Scott are fun to watch. Jimmy (Johnathon Schaech) is uptight but loves his music-- and you can see it! Embry's "Bass Player" is convincingly idiotic (maybe he got hit in the head after Evolver) and fun-loving. It's a true tribute to those in times past, present, and future who will make it big, only to fall to "One Hit Wonder" syndrome. Recommended!
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