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Reviews
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Surprisingly thoughtful
When this movie came out I was still a young teenager and hadn't really developed a critical taste for movies yet. Now I tend to lean more towards the off-beat or the art house type flicks. However, as my sister was watching this movie the other day, I realized that it went a little farther below the surface of your average mass-marketed teen pleaser. Sure there are plenty of shallow moments, but at the same time, there is a very potent undertone. Though more and more of their peers are disappearing and being found with their blood drained, the teens are too wrapped up in their own little world to recognize the problem. In fact, when one of their inner circle is found dead, the girls mourn because Kimberly never got her leather jacket back from the dead girl. Also, notice the discussion for a dance theme that has to be socially aware. These are moments that are not only funny in a black sense, but also a scathing criticism of the vacuous teenage culture of the '90's. So don't be so quick as to write off this movie as another low-rate teen flick. Much more lies beneath the surface.
Drawing Flies (1996)
The Lost View Askew Film
As a long-time fan of Kevin Smith's work, I was so excited I was squirming when I heard there was another View Askew film. The day of its release I was at the rental store with it in my hand. With such great anticipation, however, I must say it was met with only mixed feelings.
This is the tale of five people in Vancouver who have been living off welfare checks until one day they are cut off. Stumped as to what they are going to do now (and certainly not inclined to go get a job), they wander the streets aimlessly until Donner (Jason Lee) comes up with a plan to run off to the wilderness for a camping trip. He, however, has ulterior motives as he leads the group deeper into the Canadian wilderness.
Though this film had the feeling of the other View Askew films, it just didn't measure up. Smith only produced this film; he did not write and direct it as was the case with the Jay and Silent Bob series. It is quite clear that it lacks the brilliant dialogue that makes Smith's films the gems that they are. Though the analysis of Scooby-Doo is hilarious and there are the occasional zinger lines, for the most part it is flat and lifeless. As a matter of fact, there are moments when it feels as if the screenplay is non-existent and the actors are merely on camera ad-libbing as best they can. Even Jason Mewes fails to elicit the usual uproarious response and Silent Bob's cameo is expendable.
Still, the film does have its strengths. The overall feel evoked is that of an indie film and the grainy black and white footage is reminiscent of Clerks. By far, however, the biggest plus of the movie is Jason Lee. Whether playing the coarse Brody of Chasing Amy or the delightfully wicked Azrael of Dogman, Lee is always a treat to watch, and this is no exception. He is by far the most under-rated actor on the scene today. Lastly, the final twist of the film is incredible. Though I saw it coming, it was still enough to elicit a laugh from me. What the screenplay loses in the middle, it almost makes up for in the closing sequence.
Overall, this is not a bad film. It's better than the vast majority of crap that the Hollywood studios manufacture for the masses. Perhaps too, my high opinion of Smith's films and my great expectations for this one jaded my opinion a little. However, don't expect another Clerks when you watch this one. I rate it a 6 out of 10.
Left Behind (2000)
One of the worst films I've ever seen.
Let me start by saying that the fact that I am an atheist no doubt skews my perception of this movie quite a bit. However, I would like to think that I am open-minded enough to enjoy a film about religious things if it is done well. This one was not. I was forced to watch this while at a friend's house, he no doubt having the intention that it would provoke a change in me. It was agony, all right, but not from fear of God's wrath. Just the agony of having to watch a worse-than-B-movie in its entirety.
I know the movie is based on a best-selling novel, but if the book is this bad, then I have no idea how it sold so much, aside from religious fervor. The plot itself is very basic. God comes back; the unsaved remain; some of them try to do what's right and stand up to the antichrist. However, there are so many things that stand out as glaringly stupid, I can only hope the book doesn't have them too. The examples are too numerous to mention, but I will cite my favorite one. An anchor for a CNN-like news network pulls some strings and gets a flight attendant hired on at the UN. She then in about a week or so becomes the right hand man to the antichrist. Man, that anchor has some connections, eh?
There are other things that bothered me, beside the horrible acting. Chiefly, the demographic make up of those who are "left behind." If you'll notice, those still on earth after the rapture have been none-too-subtly portrayed as breaking some assumed religious code. Those who have lit up a cigarette, those who have unorthodox body piercings, etc. We all know there will be none of that in Heaven. What is more disturbing is there is only one non-white ethnic person who is carried on up into glory. Several more African Americans remain. Coincidence? I'll leave that question unanswered.
The bottom line is this: movie-wise, Troma Pictures has produced more quality work. As a platform for bringing about revival, it also fails miserably. If you want your friends scared into religion, try taking them to church. Take it from one on the outside, the movie only serves to distance non-believers more. The main thing I carried away from the entire flick was an amazement at how intolerant fundamentalist still are.
Remember the Titans (2000)
Sentimental and Predictable
To say that Remember the Titans didn't stir some emotion in me would be a lie. Having been out of high school almost seven years, the scenes on the football field stirred that old burning desire to be back on the gridiron cleaning people's clocks and having that sweet taste of victory in my mouth (although that actually happened a lot less than I'd like to admit). And to see the way the two races forged friendships and integrated did cause a rush of emotion as well. However, by the end of this movie, I knew all too well that my emotions had been deliberately played with and that this was the entire point of the movie.
This film evokes the typical stereotypes of both a sports movie and a free-you-mind flick. The whites and blacks who play for the newly integrated Titans are hostile to each other at first, and then miraculously at football camp they all become friends. They are then met with the same prejudices they once shared when they return home, and the movie chronicles their struggles to remain friends as well as the rest of the communities fight to become more tolerant. It's a great message, but one that has been done before. Furthermore, it is such a formulaic account here that it's hardly worth the initial emotion it evokes.
On the field, the same formula (and this paragraph might be a spoiler, but then again, I'm sure you can already determine the outcome). The Titans face tough opponents but come together to defeat them all, and, on the last play of the game with only a prayer, they somehow manage to score the winning touchdown and take the state championship (gee, haven't we seen that 300,000 times before?).
If you like the emotional roller coaster ride, then this is your movie. If, like me, you tire of seeing the same formula plugged into movies with only the names of the characters different, then avoid this like the plague. All in all, when the emotions subside, I realized that this movie left a bitter aftertaste.
I give it a 3 out of 10.
The Bone Collector (1999)
Yet another carbon-copy serial killer flick
As if we hadn't seen enough sadistic serial killer flicks, The Bone Collector is now on the rental shelves. This cardboard cut-out flick is your typical long, drawn-out game of cat and mouse that culminates with a twisted, implausible motive to an overexaggerated psychopath who has taken way too many pains to leave way to many hints which the experts have figured out way too easy.
I have always been a big fan of Denzel Washington. From Glory to Malcom X and especially Devil in a Blue Dress he has never ceased to impress me. He does have some moments as this know-it-all parapalegic, and I understand that the fellow can only move his index finger, but for the most part his character of Lincoln Rhyme lacks depth and interest. Angelina Jolie on the other hand is brilliant as usual. The now-Oscar winner is perfect as the hard-boiled rookie who is (in yet another gross stretch of verisimilitude) picked by Rhyme to work the crime scenes. Queen Latifah is surprisingly tolerable. And why the hell Ed O'Neil was cast is beyond me. He was funny as Al Bundy, but he is so pathetic as an detective that there wasn't even a smile on my face. And you thought he could get no lower than a shoe salesman.
The thing that did impress me was the forensics aspect. Having taken two classes in investigation, I noticed how technical the knowledge was in this movie. Most of this comes from the Jeffrey Deaver book from which it is adapted, but Jeremy Iacone also had to know a good bit to script this. Still, when Jolie's character (Amelia Donaghy) moves one of the clues, then sits it back down and photographs it, I had to cringe. I think the French would call that tainted a la O.J.. Ouch. Still, as technically correct as this film was, it was equally improbable.
Deaver's book of the same title was lackluster at best, yet far better than the movie. Yet another of Iacone's intolerable offenses were his changes in the plot. For starters, there was no heat in the book between Officer Donaghy and Rhyme. But I suppose your typical Hollywood screenwriter knows that there has to be some sort of sparks flying for the masses to keep interested (as if the grisly images of tortured bodies weren't enough). On top of that,
(and this is a spoiler for the movie and the book, so if you have not seen it, skip to the next paragraph)
though Iacone decided to add Rhyme's mentioning a desire for euthanasia, he ends the movie with a horridly sappy Yuletide reunion with Rhyme and his estranged sister. However, Deaver ends on a much darker note, leading the reader to believe that Rhyme went through with his plans. A much more credible ending, but we all know how Hollywood has to have that feel-good uplifting BS at the end.
With a twisted plot, a less-than-terrifying villain, and one bloody disgusting image after another, this movie is your average run-of-the-mill serial killer flick. Silence of the Lambs and Seven were both brilliant, but I've seen them. Why not scrap this equation for movies and plug in some different numbers. Why? Because serial killers sell, and the average moviegoer is not bright enough to figure out he is watching the same movie with a different cast. Though it is almost worth the watch just to see Jolie's tough chick performance, I would recommend those serious movie fans pass this one up.
My verdict: Make it a dust collector on the rental shelves.
The Chase (1994)
A Great Satire
Though this movie is lacking in many respects, it does have some genuinely funny moments, and is a great satire. This movie takes the incident of a kidnapping and uses it to run with a scathing criticism of the news media and how they blow things out of proportion for better ratings. As Jack Hammond says when speaking to a news reporter, "That's what this is all about, right? After all, we wouldn't them to change the f---ing channel, would we?!" It is scary to see the striking similiarites between this film and the cavalcade of cops and newsvans behind O.J. Simpson, especially when one notes that this film came way before that chase. There are still melodramatic moments, holes in the plot, and weak writing in this movie, but all-in-all it is worth a look. All those who are fed up with the media and their games will appreciate this movie.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Surprisingly thoughtful
When this movie came out I was still a young teenager and hadn't really developed a critical taste for movies yet. Now I tend to lean more towards the off-beat or the art house type flicks. However, as my sister was watching this movie the other day, I realized that it went a little farther below the surface of your average mass-marketed teen pleaser. Sure there are plenty of shallow moments, but at the same time, there is a very potent undertone. Though more and more of their peers are disappearing and being found with their blood drained, the teens are too wrapped up in their own little world to recognize the problem. In fact, when one of their inner circle is found dead, the girls mourn because Kimberly never got her leather jacket back from the dead girl. Also, notice the discussion for a dance theme that has to be socially aware. These are moments that are not only funny in a black sense, but also a scathing criticism of the vacuous teenage culture of the '90's. So don't be so quick as to write off this movie as another low-rate teen flick. Much more lies beneath the surface.