Change Your Image
Matthew-Barison
Reviews
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
Don't give up on the series.
Throwing in the towel is exactly what I was planning to do after seeing The Spy Who Shagged Me. However, Goldmember was really amusing. I don't need to get into all the characters (you don't really want to read about them,) but I will tell you that the abundance of Myers' is very well done and the developing connections between all the characters is quite fun to follow. Scott remains the wildcard, and although this movie by no means resolves the Powers/Evil dynamic, it seems to me that this angle will play itself out like Steve McGarrett v. Wo Fat in Hawaii 5-0.
Although this is essentially a goofy spy movie, the spy plot is totally unimportant. If you like Tom Clancy or a good Harrison Ford thriller, you won't enjoy this movie. The true action is on the level of the relationships and feelings these characters hold for each other; I know that may sound crazy, but I found it thoroughly intriguing. As an earlier poster noted, this move is DEFINITELY for the OUT crowd - you'll read it on another level. I will note that my straight counterparts enjoyed this film and it will definitely appeal to anyone in the mood for a funny and strangely touching film.
Lan Yu (2001)
Disjointed Fluff Lite
I really wanted to like this movie. The actors are good looking, honest and real, and the very fact that it is a Chinese film is intriguing. However well intentioned this film was, I believe that it fell quite short of its mark.
The story is of two guys who have a relationship; there is not much new here. Although there are some wonderful uses of interesting camera angles and a decided lack of score, Lan Yu was not able to unify these elements into an effective picture.
Don't get me wrong, however, the film was quite interesting. But when I left I felt cheated; the ending is a huge disappointment, and the entire intermittent narrative voice is really unnecessary. Although well intentioned, this film gyrates between excess sentimentality (Chinese film style,) and touching humor; although some movies can pull these two strains together, this one could not.
Whereas other reviewers have stated a great emotional complexity, I caught no such vibe from either of the main characters. Unfortunately, I really did not care that much about either of them, and was unable to believe that their love was as great as they both proclaimed at various times. Although sweet, this movie was really just fluff lite.
Pumpkin (2002)
CrazyTouching
I enjoyed this movie very much, especially coming from a college that prides itself on a vibrant and preppy (redundant?) frat life. The plot is never very difficult to follow, and the movie veers into excess sentimentality at times; however I think this bordering on the absurd was all part of the plan. This constant jumping between extremely comic and touching moments made the movie enjoyable and justified its length. However the end lead me to believe that the film-makers did not know how to end this story... a general lack of finality to all the social questions upon which it touches. If you are into zany humor, or more importantly, empathize with those who are stuck within their own situations, you will likely enjoy this film.