This film wasn't as good as the first one because the endless action scenes were boring. It seems to help films to have a small budget so they have to keep the explosions down. In that case, they work on having a better script and more scenes where actors get to develop their characters. Cut some of the explosions next time, guys.
Reviews
16 Reviews
Finding Dory
(2016)
Loved Hank and the Freedom for Fish Theme
28 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I thought this was a great movie, but maybe that's because it's more for adults than for children. I'm not a fan of sentimental stories, but this one really caught my imagination. People are looking at the wrong thing when they complain about Dory's story being weak or overly sentimental. The important theme here is how we treat intelligent sea creatures like whales and octopi. They're hunted, held captive and even slaughtered as food in some parts of the world. I love Hank's attitude and the way he takes over at the end to save the whole truck load of fish from imprisonment in the Cleveland exhibit.
Besides that, the animators have done a great job. The way the fish move looks very realistic, and the colors are beautiful. The job they did on Hank is especially notable, as he moves very gracefully for a seven- legged creature, and manages to combine octopus and human characteristics. That's pretty hard for something as alien as an octopus.
Besides that, the animators have done a great job. The way the fish move looks very realistic, and the colors are beautiful. The job they did on Hank is especially notable, as he moves very gracefully for a seven- legged creature, and manages to combine octopus and human characteristics. That's pretty hard for something as alien as an octopus.
Sorry, it sucks.
2 July 2011
Have the producers of this franchise forgotten that the original fans of the Transformers have grown up now? Apparently so. With a little work on the script and animation, it would have had much broader appeal, but the result is a movie aimed only at teen-aged boys, which is actually offensive to other demographics. The jokes were stupid and crass, and the themes too childish for someone of LeBeouf's age and maturity. Presumably the inclusion of good-quality actors was to make it seem they would present good characters, but I suspect that after they saw the script, it was only good pay that kept them at work on the production. Sorry, this is the last of the franchise I'll be going to see.
The Matrix Reloaded
(2003)
Sorry, it sucks.
23 May 2003
Sorry, it sucks. It's turned into a Chinese action flick. In other words, they don't know what it was they did right the first time around. Are the last two films one script padded out to two movies with all the long fight scenes? Ugh. Dull and boring. Plus, Keanu Reeves is a world class athlete, and we got to see nothing of it because of the wires and the choreography--it was beautiful photography, but no soul. I don't think the film will be seeing much return business from about half the original audience the first film attracted.
The Who and Special Guests Live at the Royal Albert Hall
(2000 TV Movie)
Terrific video!
6 October 2001
This is a terrific video! Be sure to get the DVD, as there are bonus features that you don't get on the VHS tape. The Who rock through a shortened set of their hits, and then bring on guests in the second half of the show for rare numbers that add an extra dimension to the event. The second disk includes rehearsal segments and a Daltrey interview, plus presentation of a check to the Teenage Cancer Trust for the one million pounds raised by the benefit. The video is crystal clear and the sound is excellent, whether you're using only your TV speakers or an expensive surround sound system. Townshend plays lead at his best, and a camera mounted on Entwistle's bass gives you a surreal view of the world's greatest bass player at work. Buy it!
The Messiah XXI
(2000)
This is a great update on the original!
21 April 2001
Courtesy of a friend, I finally got a look at this show--not quite for Easter, but pretty close--and got to see first hand what the funding flap was about. It's a good show--definitely a collision of styles, but well integrated. Well attended, too. There's a big audience.
From what everybody said, I'd expected the whole thing to be R&B, but they have the classical chorus there after all. The R&B choir and soloists perform against the backdrop of the classical rendition, and they end up with a nice contrast. Gladys Knight is terrific, as is Jeffery Osbourne, and I think they both loved doing it. Knight really carried the whole thing. She had minor problems converting the style, but nothing serious, and just glowed during her solos. As everybody said, Chaka Kahn is the weakest, but it's a matter of energy rather than style. She's perfectly competent at R&B.
So Roger Daltrey is a strange addition to this little group of artists. You'd suspect maybe Jeffery Osbourne recommended him. I seem to recall Osbourne worked with the British Rock Symphony one summer. Anyhow, Daltrey has a talent for suggesting different styles. He has a tendency to suggest the classical here (slight range problems these days, but still very gripping), and provided the important transition to the R&B. He did a short solo with the R&B artists at the finale, and doesn't quite have that "horrible vibrato" down yet, but he blended very well.
If an official version of this ever gets to be widely available, I'd certainly recommend it. I think I'd be somewhat bored at a performance of the original "Messiah." It's very powerful music, but the whole thing is so long and so dense that generally what you get is just a couple of excerpts instead of the whole deal. Adding the R&B segements broke it up and made it something completely new and entertaining.
From what everybody said, I'd expected the whole thing to be R&B, but they have the classical chorus there after all. The R&B choir and soloists perform against the backdrop of the classical rendition, and they end up with a nice contrast. Gladys Knight is terrific, as is Jeffery Osbourne, and I think they both loved doing it. Knight really carried the whole thing. She had minor problems converting the style, but nothing serious, and just glowed during her solos. As everybody said, Chaka Kahn is the weakest, but it's a matter of energy rather than style. She's perfectly competent at R&B.
So Roger Daltrey is a strange addition to this little group of artists. You'd suspect maybe Jeffery Osbourne recommended him. I seem to recall Osbourne worked with the British Rock Symphony one summer. Anyhow, Daltrey has a talent for suggesting different styles. He has a tendency to suggest the classical here (slight range problems these days, but still very gripping), and provided the important transition to the R&B. He did a short solo with the R&B artists at the finale, and doesn't quite have that "horrible vibrato" down yet, but he blended very well.
If an official version of this ever gets to be widely available, I'd certainly recommend it. I think I'd be somewhat bored at a performance of the original "Messiah." It's very powerful music, but the whole thing is so long and so dense that generally what you get is just a couple of excerpts instead of the whole deal. Adding the R&B segements broke it up and made it something completely new and entertaining.
Chasing Destiny
(2001 TV Movie)
I love this movie!
22 March 2001
I love this movie! I've watched it a couple of times now, and who'd have thought Roger Daltrey would turn out more sexy than Casper Van Dien! I just wish there had been more of the music. I played the ending over and over, listening to the songs. The love story was sweet and funny.
Ballet for Life
(1997 TV Movie)
Excellent ballet
10 March 2001
I saw this ballet on Bravo channel and it was excellent. I gather it's a celebration of the life of Freddie Mercury, done to the music of Queen. The choreography is modern in style and the music powerful and inspiring--as usual with Queen. The dancers were very accomplished and interpreted the music dramatically. I'll have to look for more of Bejart's work.
Chasing Destiny
(2001 TV Movie)
This is a solid, good-quality movie with good production, direction and performances from everybody.
6 March 2001
This is a solid, good-quality feel-good movie with excellent production, direction and performances from everybody. It is very conservative--has no (visible) sex or violence and doesn't take chances by making any kind of radical statement--but it still managed to hold my interest. The best thing about it is the Burning Prairie Band playing at the end: Roger Daltrey, Drake Bell, Carmine Appice, Kelly Keeling and Denny Laine. They sound great.
I'd recommend this for any of the gals--including young ones. It's interesting, unoffensive, and a great opportunity to watch some real musicians at work. The guys will like the guitar work there at the end.
I'd recommend this for any of the gals--including young ones. It's interesting, unoffensive, and a great opportunity to watch some real musicians at work. The guys will like the guitar work there at the end.
Amy
(II) (1997)
Is this a remake of TOMMY?
18 February 2001
I hope this is a tribute to The Who's TOMMY rather than a rip off, as the plot and the style are very similar. The rock opera about a child who became psychologically deaf, dumb and blind after witnessing a murder debuted in 1969, and has since been made into a movie and an award-winning musical.
Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula
(2000 TV Movie)
I'm always a little bit suspicious of made-for-TV movies, but I'll definitely recommend this one.
31 October 2000
I'm always a little bit suspicious of made-for-TV movies, but this is a good one. It's an excellent script and good directing--plus everyone turns in an excellent performance. Rudolph Martin is especially terrific as Vlad Dracula, and Christopher Brand makes Bruno a very striking character. Jane Marsh comes across as very delicately beautiful, and the kids are unusually convincing. Roger Daltrey does an excellent transition from middle-aged to old, and Peter Weller emits no clue to give away the ending. There's great support from the supporting cast.
The producers have handled the subject extremely well, considering how much gore they could have spilled, and it turns out to be an intense, dramatic movie. It investigates the characters and suggests how they were warped by the times and politics, and also touches on the metaphysical implications of such viciousness. They've let up a little too much at the end, I think, and tried to skew the whole thing so it looks like a romance--would have been better to end it with just a shot of the castle.
The producers have handled the subject extremely well, considering how much gore they could have spilled, and it turns out to be an intense, dramatic movie. It investigates the characters and suggests how they were warped by the times and politics, and also touches on the metaphysical implications of such viciousness. They've let up a little too much at the end, I think, and tried to skew the whole thing so it looks like a romance--would have been better to end it with just a shot of the castle.
Highlander: Endgame
(2000)
So-so movie, but the sword work alone is worth the price of admission.
4 September 2000
So-so movie, but the sword work alone is worth the price of admission. Every time I got to thinking "this is dull and boring" they'd whip out those swords and leave me with my mouth hanging open. Minimal special effects there, the real thing. Panzer and Davis don't really know what they're doing; they've just lucked into a terrific storyline and some good people. Here they've tried to rehash the whole TV series in two hours, and the script is messy with details that might fly on TV (probably not), while all they accomplish is to knock off a few more immortals (in case nobody knows that yet) and neglect the interesting nugget in the whole thing--the existence of an immortal sanctuary run by renegade watchers to stop the game. The directing is good and the scenery gorgeous; Adrian Paul and Christopher Lambert carry off melodramatic parts with acceptable dignity. Jim Byrnes and Peter Wingfield make an appearance to satisfy the fans, but don't materially participate. Mistake there. These are characters that developed in the TV series for a reason, both complex foils for Duncan's broodings. The movie could have benefitted from Joe Dawson's warmth and Methos' cynical pragmatism and dark undercurrents. It was nice to see that Byrnes, Wingfield and Paul carried over well to the big screen, but they need a cleaner script, please.
Like It Is
(1998)
Paul Oremland shows a lot of talent in this debut.
27 March 2000
Paul Oremland shows signs of being an excellent director. There are some awkwardnesses in this film that should have been reshot, but also many of the scenes are excellent, and especially the street scenes seem true to life and very atmospheric. Except for the fight scenes, this movie could cross over and be enjoyable for women. I'd love to see what Oremland can do with a larger budget.
Buddy's Song
(1991)
A very good movie.
27 March 2000
This movie never quite develops quite enough drama or humor to make it really striking, but it did hold my interest. Parts of it are quite entertaining, and it does touch on some very important issues. Roger Daltrey did an excellent job in his starring role.
Rude Awakening
(1998–2001)
Okay, it's bad, but I like the message.
11 October 1999
Okay, it's bad, but I like the message. The show is heavy parody but not quite farce about "recovering" alcoholics who really need to recover. Some of it is actually funny, too, like the tricks Trudy plays on Antonia.
The guest stars are a nice treat. I especially love the episodes with Roger Daltrey.
The guest stars are a nice treat. I especially love the episodes with Roger Daltrey.
Summer of Sam
(1999)
An interesting statement
6 August 1999
You can tell this is an interesting movie from the number of people who have felt compelled to comment. If you're plot-oriented, then it's likely to be disappointing, as it's pretty much documentary. However, the interesting thing about it is the subtext, a statement about people's failings and how the skewed complexities of human nature lead us to wrecked marriages, riot and death in the heat of summer.
Spike Lee ties the whole thing together with The Who and their music. It's interesting that the band itself has become so pervasive and complex a symbol that it's useful to other artists who want to talk about violence, self-destruction, and human failings--but also the triumph of humanity over it's baser instincts. Ritchie, the punk and the Who fan, is the character who finds himself and retains his integrity in this movie, even though he can't quite make himself free.
Spike Lee ties the whole thing together with The Who and their music. It's interesting that the band itself has become so pervasive and complex a symbol that it's useful to other artists who want to talk about violence, self-destruction, and human failings--but also the triumph of humanity over it's baser instincts. Ritchie, the punk and the Who fan, is the character who finds himself and retains his integrity in this movie, even though he can't quite make himself free.
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