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Gladiator-4
Reviews
Personals: College Girl Seeking... (2001)
Hot, hot, hot!
Tara Patrick is a goddess, and enough reason alone to see this movie. A young college student (Brittany O'Connell) is studying deviant sexual behavior for a project. To do this, she has encounters with various men and women and the results are one hot and steamy movie. But the best part, obviously, is Patrick. She lights it up in three scenes, including one lesbian scene. See it. You won't be disappointed. Just make sure you get the unrated version.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
A different side of Spielberg, and not bad
This was definitely reminiscent of a Kubrick movie. The futuristic set designs, costumes, slow camera work. It takes the greatest director today (and possibly ever) to pull off that effect, and Steven Spielberg did it. Though like everyone else, I was somewhat aghast at the ending (Let's hope Spielberg does another Kubrick and starts re-editing the film to end where it should have, You'll know where.) But all in all, A.I. was never less than mesmerizing. Haley Joel Osment will be nominated for an Oscar, that's all there is to it. Hopefully, Jude Law will be, too. A.I. stuns with its cool effects, chilling scenes (The Flesh Fair is a scene Kubrick himself would be proud of) and use of normal everyday objects designed as they might look 30 years from now. Not to mention John Williams' music. He's on track for a sixth Oscar. Will the movie win? Hard to say, given the divided reviews and the Academy's general distaste for anything Spielbergian. Oh, well. I can't wait for Minority Report.
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Best Film of 2000 or 2001
Granted, Pearl Harbor hasn't been released yet. But we can now see why they held the release date of this gem until this year. Because if it had come out last year it would have soaked up the Oscars, beating Gladiator like a red headed stepchild. Everything about this movie is brilliant, from the raw power of the actors' performances, especially Jude Law, to the dreary cinematography, visual effects and stirring musical score (Even though parts of it seem to oddly resemble Schindler's List) Look for this movie to land a slew of Oscar nominations next year, if the Academy remembers it. Here's hoping they do.
Fantasia 2000 (1999)
Stunning
When I went to see Fantasia 2000 I didn't know what to expect. I'd seen the first one and while it was good I almost fell asleep. But needless to say I didn't have to worry about that. Fantasia 2000 is perhaps the best Disney animated film ever, better than the first. The Pines of Rome and Firebird Suite are probably the two best sequences, though all 8 are pretty equal. The picture is awe-inspiring.
But what I liked the most is how they gave Donald Duck his own segment, like Mickey Mouse in the Sorcerer's Apprentice. Donald was always my favorite, and this film will surely be your favorite. I can't wait for Fantasia 3.
The Searchers (1956)
One of the best
I just bought the Searchers for DVD. In fact, it was the first movie I ever watched on DVD. I first saw the movie in 1991 but didn't really understand the depth of it until I saw it again a couple months ago. Ethan Edwards has to be one of my all time favorite characters. He embodies a lot of the great American flaws yet somehow manages to overcome them in his own way. A lot of conflict for one man, and who better to handle it than John Wayne? When Wayne showed up 13 on the top 25 male acting legends I thought the AFI had gone mad. Granted I didn't live in the 50s but I remember John Wayne a helluva lot better than Fred Astaire. But back to the movie. The scene before the Indian raid on Aaron's house is so chilling. You feel the same as he does, alone, not knowing where the Indians are, only hearing their mournful coyote cries. Wayne's performance, along with Jeffrey Hunter and Ward Bond, are Oscar worthy. I wonder if this won any Golden Globes. Those seem to be the only awards that truly reflect merit. Because this film should have won Picture, Director (Ford is, in my mind, better than Kubrick and the equal of Spielberg), Actor (Wayne), Cinematography, Music and script. Definitely better than the 96 the AFI rated it on its 100 best films list. Now if they would kindly move it up past Butch Cassidy, Wild Bunch, Shane and Giant I'd appreciate it. Long Live John Wayne.
Gladiator (2000)
One of the best movies I've ever seen.
As high as my expectations were when I went to see Gladiator, they were met and exceeded. This film rests squarely on the shoulders of Russell Crowe, who gives a performance that is superior even to the one he gave in the Insider. I'll be shocked if he isn't nominated again this year. Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard's score is the best I've heard in years, and Ridley Scott keeps the action moving at a frenetic pace, right up to the last match. While the film may draw comparisons with Spartacus, keep in mind that it is a totally different movie. And Crowe's performance easily outmatches that of Kirk Douglas. The early favorite for Best Picture, go and see Gladiator. I promise you won't ever forget it.