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Reviews
The Game (1984)
You expected Meryl Streep?
I won't provide a plot summary (several already provided here), just some comments. First, other reviewers: Oh, come on guys. This is a fun little movie ... assuming you can read the synopsis off the Mill Creek "Chilling" box set, you shouldn't be surprised with what you saw. It's in the top 10 percentile of "Chilling". For an '84 movie, it had some plot, some character development, some humor, and a crazy ending. The plot is interesting and has some surprises (not to mention some puzzlers - ghost or dream?) The mood shift about two-thirds of the way through struck me as a positive ... a lot of fun (Benny Hill anyone?).
Now, I just wish I could find a copy of my FAVORITE from the era, "Bloodsuckers from Outer Space".
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
This plot has been used before
May be a spoiler, but it's a stretch!
As I watched this mediocre movie, I kept thinking that I had seen it many times before. I had. The exact story line has been used in, for example, Towering Inferno, Poseidon Advanture, Airport and many more. The story line is 1) something bad happens, 2) some people need to get from point A to point B, 3) bad incidents keep happening to annoy them, and 4) they finally get there (the potential spoiler). Forget the junk science...no, DON'T forget that the story was "suggested by" a book by Art Bell and Whitney Strieber, those two alien abduction/government conspiracy/UFO/etc zealots.
On a completely unrelated topic, the CG (digital) effects were great.
Straight Up: Helicopters in Action (2002)
A great IMAX experience!
I don't know if I have ever found a "bad" IMAX movie after many viewings. Straight Up is consistantly SUPER. Viewed with a 5-and10-year old, it was a great experience for them as well as the adults. Advice is: see it!
Tex, the Passive-Aggressive Gunslinger (2000)
Balaban is great- where can I get this video!
Fans of Christopher Guest's superb movies (Best of Show, A Mighty Wind, etc.) will recognize Bob Balaban as a regular in those great movies. He gets to star in "Tex" and is great - in the spirit of Guest's movies. In fact, I was surprised not to find Guest in the credits in some role. I really wish there were some mechanism to get a DVD, VCD, tape or whatever of the 10 minute video (IFC plays it but only as part of "short films", not listed individually ahead of time). Did I say "see it if you possibly can"? See it!
National Security (2003)
Set your expectations first
It's not a bad "silly cop" type movie. If you go in with this as your expectation, you'll enjoy some laughs. It is, however, devoid of rocket science. I'm not sorry I went. Enjoyed the interaction between the two racial perspectives. Some really funny concepts (dueling steering wheels in the driver-ed car).
The Scarlet Clue (1945)
It's classic Charlie Chan but...
Any C.C. fan (I'm one) will enjoy this feature. To be honest, however, there are moments when Toler seems un-rehearsed on what to say, do with his hands, etc. Not bad, just missing some of the humor I usually associate with C.C. movies. It's a valued member of my (sadly incomplete) Charlie Chan collection.
The Master of Disguise (2002)
My nine-year-old loved it; what else do you want!
This is not "A Beautiful Mind" but with Carvey who would think it is. My nine-year-old grandson laughed almost uncontrolably all through the movie. I enjoyed that very much! Enjoyed the movie moderately. It's an on-target market for its intended audience and a lot of fun. Expectations are everything. I give it a 6.
Gekijôban Poketto Monsutâ: Myûtsû no Gyakushû (1998)
This movie may not intrest parents, but it has qualities!
I'm a 59 year old granddad and took my very literate 6-year old grandson. Pokemon is puzzling and uninteresting to adults, but it has its redeeming virtues. The most impressing to me is the taxonomy; i.e., 151 characters with a multitude of attributes and characteristics...which the kids enjoy learning. The movie has a very constrained level of violence (Pokemon are NEVER killed or severely hurt). The ending message is that violence is not the answer (action and lots of moving color are not the same as violence). Parents...it's cool! You won't be as involved as you are in Toy Story 2 (Another 6-year old fav), but try to learn at least a few Pokemon characters, go to the movie and you and your kids will share some good, and important, times.
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Good movie...Formula is wearing thin
This is a really good Saturday afternoon...nothing else to do...type movie. If you liked the last one go see this one. It is pure formula and if you want an intelectual 180 minutes, go elsewhere, but for fun this one is great! A real plus here is the (as usual) special effects. I had this recurring feeling that I was watching the "Thomas Crown Affair 2".