drplw Reviews

War of the Worlds (2005)

Brilliantly Terrifying

[8/10 · 4 July 2005]

Spielberg's version of WAR OF THE WORLDS is a rather dark vision and utterly terrifying at times. It does what it is supposed to do: scare the living daylights out of you. In an age of terrorism, the film shows us how totally horrifying terrorism is. One can interpret WAR OF THE WORLDS as analogous to our own times. Indiscriminate death, wholesale, delivered with fear tactics and absolutely scary.

The story of the protagonist father, played by Tom Cruise, is wholly predictable, yet in keeping with the tradition of a hometown hero who saves his children and himself from a horrifying fate. Cruise is great as is Dakota Fanning, both deserve awards for their performance.

However, I believe there exists a major flaw in the film that truly bothers me: The demise of the aliens is not dramatically realized. It just happens and is explained to us by the narrator, Morgan Freeman.

Destruction and annihilation are considerably realistic, thus absolutely terrifying. The aliens and their technology are very foreign and exceptionally well done, yet I was on the edge of my seat throughout. Gorgeously edited, John Williams' unique score at times frightened me to death, or should I say, to attention.

This is not entertainment, it's really serious stuff and might agitate some viewers. Not recommended for small children or sensitive types.

Batman Begins (2005)

Batman Begins is a Cinematic Masterwork

[10/10 · 27 June 2005]

There really is nothing like it. Totally original film-making, it's awe-inspiring, gripping from beginning to end. As a film lover, I hesitate to use masterwork unless the film is absolutely a miracle of achievement. BATMAN BEGINS is such a masterwork.

Sure, it portrays violence throughout the film yet for those who abhor such violence, this film is the rare exception because underneath, we are witness to the process that makes a human being ethical who is dedicated to justice.

This is not your typical superhero epic about good and evil, though good and evil are both inherent to the story line. After all, the film is based upon the good old American (World) values of good triumphing over evil.

The film shows us in graphic detail how the Batman legend came into existence. Though the scenes are fantastical, the story is believable. Bruce Wayne's transformation into Batman is as heroic as you'll ever see. The message is about facing one's greatest fears and pushing through them, no matter what.

Hans Zimmer's musical film score is among the best I've ever heard and is equal to the awesome image making. The film is many steps ahead of the earlier Batman films and stands out sharply against the background of its Superman and Spiderman competitors.

As skilled an editing job as you'll ever see. Breakthrough cinema, an experience I'll never forget.

The Aviator (2004)

Leo's Masterpiece

[10/10 · 19 January 2005]

There is no doubt that THE AVIATOR is the masterpiece of both director Martin Scorsese and actor, Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio becomes Howard Hughes. The actor is so profoundly absorbed in the role that the DiCaprio we know from other films cannot be found in this film. It is a bravura performance of great depth and magnitude. DiCaprio richly deserves his first Academy Award.

I have never know much about Howard Hughes. This film opened my eyes to him as a personality, a businessman, aviator and his lavish lifestyle. DiCaprio no longer is the "pretty boy" from other films. The expressions he takes on are not handsome, the deeply furrowed brow, one could actually watch him, as Hughes' character, think his way through challenging situations, the mark of a highly gifted actor. Watching DiCaprio evolve into the paranoid schizophrenic Hughes in the latter part of the film is a stunning example of pure acting. Leo deserves recognition for recreating a most difficult personality.

Though the film is long, it never slows down nor gets boring and it commanded my attention from start to finish. It is masterpiece cinema for these two men and for other actors too. Cate Blanchette must be commended for her role as Katherine Hepburn. Every role was played by first rate actors.

If you want to understand a piece of American history from the 30s through the 1940s, this film will illumine you. It may not be the greatest film ever made but it sure is cinema to the max and worth seeing, without a second thought.

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Superlative - Oscar Worthy - A Great Film

[11 January 2005]

It's the most engrossing and engaging film in many years. Based on facts about the Rwandan genocide of the early 1990s, this film is heroic, dramatic, historical and burning with searing truths.

Now the story comes out for anyone to understand, the history behind the enmity between the Hutus and Tutsis, the two distinct African tribes of Rwanda. The story is told through the action of Kigali's 5 star hotel manager and his family. It is deeply moving, touching and fortunately the film spares the viewer of most of the war, though there are a few scenes that bring home the horrific facts.

There is very little of overt war and killing, it is in the background but not in front of the viewer very much. The story is about one man's heroism in the face of extreme adversity. The relationship between the protagonist and his wife is beautiful and real. The acting is transparent, it is so incredibly good that I felt I was watching the real thing.

In the early 1990s the civil war in Rwanda was well publicized in the press and the genocide became a world tragedy. HOTEL RWANDA gives us unforgettable insight and it is a film worthy of Best Picture, no doubt in my mind.

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

In the top 100 films ever created. Period.

[10/10 · 21 January 2002]

I saw it 4 times in theatres and couldn't get enough of it. There is magic in the film, the music, characters and production. It is simply a phantasmogoria of delight, innovative, romantic, haunting, and O so wonderfully tragic. I was in love with all the characters simultaneously - a very rare occurance.

Baz Luhrmann is simply a genius of geniuses. His vision, new ideas, and depth of discovery is awesome. I purchased the DVD to give to a friend for Christmas. Watched it on a large screen and still weep and joy for Christian, what a great character. I sure wish Ewan had won best actor in a musical or comedy at Golden Globes. At least he was honored but it would have been so uplifting had he also won. As it was, Nicole was honored, rightfully so and so was the film - best in its category.

I deeply hope that Oscar recognizes the greatness of Moulin Rouge. It deserves to be re-released so that those who missed this masterpiece, will have the opportunity of seeing it for the first time. Moreover, I affirm here and now that Moulin Rouge will be nominated in all the following categories: Best film, Best director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best supporting actor, Best screenplay, best art direction, best musical score, best song in a motion picture, best costume design.

It deserves this kind of recognition. For those naysayers who didn't get the film, for those who said it was over the top, don't believe them. If you haven't seen Moulin Rouge, you missed out on a fantastic masterwork of cinema. Just go buy it, rent it, or watch it at a friend's house. It is the best darm film of 2001.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

A Masterpiece of Masterpieces - One of the greatest films of our time

[10/10 · 4 July 2001]

A.I. stands in a class by itself - it single handedly will define the path of grand film making. It is so gorgeous a creation, it left me breathless. It remains the grandest film to be reported to humanity in our time. Just go see it!!! The message is ultimately spiritual in nature. It is one of love. It is of such a high vision, that Spielberg has created the 2001 of the 21st century and released it in the year 2001.

This is absolutely BREAKTHROUGH cinema. An adventure one can never know where it is going. Every scene is a surprise once the story moves out of its first phase. This is the movie that will set the tone for filmmaking in the 21st century. See it at the highest level of consciousness, from your visions, and above all, from your humanity. There is nothing like it.

The issue here is the environment, the greenhouse gases that can doom the earth into a global warming and then another ice age. This is the premise of A.I. David is the outcome of our present environmental policies. The Earth is warming, ice caps are starting to melt, seacoast cities will be drowned by rising seas. Spielberg was correct. Holland will go first since most of the country lies below sea level. New York is exactly at sea level. The depictions of seeing Manhattan destroyed are uncannily accurate. It's scary. Robots were the outcome of this story. With hundreds of models by dozens of makers, we see them in the dump, looking for spare parts, all the old models, and recent ones such as Gigolo Joe. Yet there was nothing like David. He was imbued with human affection and love, plus the intelligence to create his own destiny. He was a masterpiece and so was this film. There is nothing of "God" in this film. Everything IS "God". The world and the whole cosmos in all dimensions and time. This encompasses what we call "God:.

A.I. addresses these issues that are of great importance to our world and it does so with the greatest of sensitivity. This is a work of profound love and compassion. It is filled with humanity. It took a genius young actor pretending to be a robot under the direction of arguably America's finest living director who is paying homage to America's most influential director, Stanley Kubrick, to convince us that David is indeed a robot who teaches intelligent universal Beings about human love.

The alien beings are exquisite creatures and utterly beautiful, formed from the shadows and shapes of the aliens in Close Encounters of the Third Kind made in 1977, these Beings are majesterial and memorable forever. What this famous director accomplished is a feat of the highest magnitude. We should all be saying to ourselves, Thank God, I have lived long enough to see this masterwork. What an honor and privilege it is to experience a work so great, it can change the lives of those who see it.

Spielberg masterfully asks us questions to ponder about the universe and our lives. Think about them. A.I. IS the most important film of our lifetime just as 2001 was a generation ago. The beauty of this film being released in 2001 is synchronistic.

To my mind A.I. is a "tour de force" a masterpiece par excellence and one of the greatest films ever made. Why? because it addresses philosophical and metaphysical issues right on with a direct hit. Because it forces viewers to think deeply and ponder the great questions of life. Because it is courageous enough to think far ahead of our time and give us the opportunity to consider the ideas of humanized robots and about the nature of love in this world.

If you have any kind of spiritual awareness, take your favorite friend(s) and go see it, prepare to be stunned beyond belief! Thank you Kubrick and Spielberg. You have utterly transformed my life by confirming my greatest hopes.