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Reviews
Peter Pan (2000)
Okay, but lacks heart
It must be nice to be able to afford to mount a theatrical production and cast yourself in the lead. Yes, this show looks good, but it lacks warmth - portraying the magical Neverland as a dark, almost scary place. Cathy Rigby's Peter, while technically good, comes across as an unlikeable bully with an extremely irritating (and unnecessary) English accent. Hook and the pirates did a wonderful job, John and Michael were good, the Indian dancing was great (and glossed over the fact that Tiger Lily couldn't really act). The thing that really bothered me was the fact that Wendy and the Lost Boys were played by adults. There are so many talented kids out there that could have done just as well while adding realism and genuine energy. For that matter, I'd like to see someone break tradition and have Peter Pan actually played by a young boy. Maybe if I ever find myself with a couple million dollars to spare, I'll make my own version...not starring me.
Go (1999)
Kicks "Magnolia"'s butt
"Go" succeeds where "Magnolia" failed so horribly: by having far more interesting characters and stories, and interweaving them in a meaningful way. The dark undertones started to get to me a little and had me thinking that maybe it wasn't as good a movie as I'd first thought, but my uneasiness faded as the movie drew closer to the end. Scott Wolf and Jay Mohr were great, and Sarah Polley gave her usual high calibre performance. All the supporting roles were well done too. Yes, it can get a little graphic, but after watching "Summer of Sam" last night, it seemed tame by comparison and an all-around better flick. Hmm...I just realized that both movies involve talking pets. Coincidence? I think not!
Gettysburg (1993)
Long, but worth the time
Gettysburg is (obviously) about a battle, and that's what it sticks to: historical figures, strategy, the emotion of war. No doomed romances, or even fancy special effects. The story is told from both sides: we get to know the individuals, and we find ourselves liking and disliking characters from both North and South. These factors give the movie a sense of reality and honesty without all the stuff that often gets thrown in just to manufacture a blockbuster. Jeff Daniels and Thomas Howell gave my favourite performances of the movie, and I really liked the relationship between the brothers. Some parts did drag a bit, making me wonder why the four-hour length was really necessary, especially when sitting through a seemingly unending sequence of marching, marching, marching....Overall, an interesting and entertaining movie I would definitely recommend.
Summer of Sam (1999)
Yuck, yuck, yuck (And did I mention yuck?)
Summer of Sam had some interesting components and the potential to be a good movie, but it had too much going against it. First of all, I was put off by the unnecessary and gratuitous sexual content and the use of the F-word every two seconds. There were way too many subplots involving blatantly stereotypical characters, and as a result the movie seemed to drag on forever. The only good thing about the it was the performance of Adrien Brody, but some aspects of his storyline seemed pointless and almost embarrassing. Also, Spike Lee should have thought twice about casting himself, even in a bit part: he spoke v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y (seemingly because he can't remember what he's supposed to say)which made him very unrealistic as a reporter covering a hot story. Summer of Sam is not a horrible movie, but you need a strong stomach and the patience to try and make sense of it all.
The Sandlot (1993)
A cute movie
I rented The Sandlot because I loved Tom Guiry (now grown up) in U-571, but I really enjoyed the movie as a whole. It wasn't just about winning the game, but having fun playing it. It has a strong sense of nostalgia and friendship that make you wish you were a kid again. The young cast did a great job - they were really natural and funny. That kid with the glasses is priceless! I could definitely watch The Sandlot a few more times and still enjoy it.
U-571 (2000)
It's just a movie!
I went into this movie very aware of all the debate about historical inaccuracies, and I was determined to ignore all that and just think of it as a completely fictional action/drama. Yes, movies about the US single-handedly winning the war drive me crazy, but like I said it's just a movie. And I liked it: the movie was suspenseful and I enjoyed the performances of most of the cast. Matthew McConaughey was decent, and the supporting cast did a great job playing the cliches they were given to work with (though it was an effort trying to keep straight who was who). I especially liked Thomas Guiry as Trigger, but liking him made me nervous because I know the fate of guys like him in movies like this! Bill Paxton was wasted and didn't do much with what he had. Just don't expect a masterpiece: ignore the historical flaws and unanswerable questions (like how does a mess steward know how to work a submarine?) and it's an entertaining flick, well worth renting.
Newsies (1992)
I'll be singing these songs for the rest of my life!
I'm a big fan of musicals and Christian Bale, so naturally Newsies is my kind of movie. The songs are great, the choreography is amazing, the singing and dancing ability of the young cast is unbelievable. There are some slow sections, namely almost any part involving the adults (why is Ann-Margaret even in this movie?!). It would have done better if they'd stuck to what makes Newsies great: the kids. All the Newsies and Bill Pullman did a great job, and I especially loved Max Casella as Racetrack.
Newsies is one of my all-time favourites. I will never get tired of singing the songs or trying to do the dance steps, and I'll never stop wishing that I was that talented!
Toy Soldiers (1991)
A fun movie & a great cast
Yes, it's not a great cinematic achievement, but Toy Soldiers is a fun and entertaining movie. The young cast does a great job with both dramatic and comedic aspects of the story, and I particularly liked Shawn Phelan as Derek/"Yogurt". I've seen this one plenty of times over the years, and will probably see it several more. Just don't think too much and you'll love it - enjoy!