When I first heard this film was coming out I put this on the top of my list to see. Being half black half white I am very lucky to have not experienced too much racism in my life but this film really hit the core of racism in the US and everywhere else it was saying for once there is hostility from every race and also that people can CHANGE. The acting in this film is magnificent and Edward Norton is in what I think the best role he has ever played and Edward Furlong plays the adoring younger brother with his usual talent. The scenes with the flashbacks and when Norton is in Prison are shot in black and white and this is very effective for the main reason being like the same effect as The Wizard of Oz when Dorathy leaves Kansas and comes into color when she comes to Oz when Norton comes out of prison and has reformed his Nazi ways he is in color. The whole film is shot in a documentary style which in turn works very well because this film is so true to life and could easily be a film crew shooting a family. I found this film amazing and should be able to wake up all the Nazis racists and other backward people into realising that, that way of life can only end up in tears.
Reviews
18 Reviews
Enemy of the State
(1998)
An excellent thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and will keep me looking behind my shoulder for a long time!
4 January 1999
I LOVE this movie. I'm too young to recall All the President's Men, or The Conversation which was made the year I was born so I haven't seen it. And these are the two films that Enemy of The State are supposed to have ripped off. From what I've read it's true but so what. I think the majority of films these days have taken bits and pieces from other films. I think most of the time the film-makers do this purely out of respect and admiration for the films they are getting bits and pieces from. But back to the film, from the very beginning it had me thrilled. The credits I thought were visually amazing and for me there wasn't one bit of the film I was bored or dis-interested. Will Smith is very good in his role as the pursued innocent lawyer Robert Dean and does as critics say "A Jim Carrey" He is in quite a serious role but manages to keep a light comic touch to it. Gene Hackman is excellent as the illusive Brill and Jon Voight does the standard evil politician role. It was great to see Lisa Bonet again after a long absence from the silver screen. The computer hackers are slightly amusing but just annoyed me most of the time. But I do love this film even if it did take a lot of ideas from other films. It kept surprising me right up to the end when Hackman and Smith double-cross the bad guys. This is a great film, I loved it and it will keep me paranoid of people listening and watching my every move for a LONG time!
Friends
(1994–2004)
The best sitcom.....ever?
12 December 1998
I LOVE Friends and have watched it steadily from the very beginning. I'm orginally from New York so it's nice to see home. (Well sort of!) I was just going to comment on Friends on general but I just read the comment from a person in Knutsford and I just had to respond. Now I just saw the Friends episode when they are in London and it annoyed me how they portrayed english people as such IDIOTS. I've lived in London for the last 12 years and people do think I'm english, so this did offend me. Yes, there were good actors but I thought they were just downright crap. Jennifer Saunders was underplaying the part of Eddy from Ab-Fab but it wasn't funny it was BAD. Tom Conti and Hugh Laurie were laughable characters and I think Fergie, and Richard Branson's characters were pointless. And do americans really think all english people talk like they've got a plum in their mouth...well surprise they don't. But I do think the person from Knutsford was wrong in saying Friends is tired. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I think Friends just gets better and better. There has never been an episode where I haven't laughed. Russ, Phoebe, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, and Joey are great characters and I hope Friends goes on for a while longer.
Far and Away
(1992)
A great love-story
12 December 1998
When this first came out I knew I had to see it, bad film or not, (I think it's good) because I'm half Irish and my ancestors basically did the same thing as Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise. They immigrated from Ireland over to New York during the potato famine. I think this is a truly beautiful film. When you have love stories such as this one, I think it works so much better when the two "lovers" slowly build up their relationship throughout the film, so you're constantly thinking will they or won't they? I don't really like Tom Cruise as a rule but I do think he plays his character well. I do think Nicole Kidman is a superb actress and she shines in this movie, I think much more then her husband. I love the way Ron Howard shows the different locations in such a beautful way. From the misty cliffs of Ireland, (God that sounds tacky!!) to the dirty glamour of New York, to the lush outdoor wilderness of Oklahoma. All in all this is a great film with John Williams genius score making it all bthe much better
Romancing the Stone
(1984)
A tacky, but funny action movie
12 December 1998
When I first saw this movie way back when I was a young adolescent I became infatuated with Michael Douglas after seeing this movie, I can promise you that infatuation has gone and has been gone for a long time! But at the time he reminded me of Indiana Jones. And this movie is sort of a simpler take on the Indiana Jones movies, but it's still cool. The plot is simple as it was back then. Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) is one of those trashy romantic novelists and she secretly longs to be carried off into the sunset like one of her heroine's in her books. But when her troubled sister posts her a treasure map from South America. Joan ends up having to travel to South America after her sister gets kidnapped by a couple of cons (One of them being Danny Devito in a great role) who want what is at the end of the map so therefore need the map which is in Joan's incapable naive hands. Another lot (Secret police) want the map themsevles and she gets put on the wrong bus and ends up in the middle of nowhere and when held up by the head of the police Michael Douglas comes to the rescue. What follows is their extremely funny trek through the south american jungle. This is a great film, tacky but so were most of the movies in the 80s. That was what the 80s were all about. Tacky movies, clothes, music. But hey in 10 years time everyone will be saying the 90s were tacky and that old phrase will of course be used "It's oh so 90s!" But this film is great, give it a try, but avoid the sequel at all costs it's rubbish.
Rush Hour
(1998)
A great action "buddy, buddy" film
9 December 1998
I've always liked Jackie Chan movies. I'm not especially a martial arts/kung fu movie fan but there's something about Jackie Chan that shines to the max in this film. When I'd read that Chris Tucker his partner in this movie was a wannabe Eddie Murphy with an annoyingly twangy high-pitched voice I must say I was put off a bit but I went to see it regardless and.......It's EXCELLENT, Jackie Chan's best 'Hollywood' film by far. Chris Tucker is not an Eddie Murphy wannabe, he's just the next generation Eddie Murphy. And don't forget you have that with everything. Matt Damon is supposed to be the next Brad Pitt, Matthew Mcwhatsit! (From A Time to Kill and Contact) is supposed to be the next Paul Newman, Skeet Ulrich is the new Johnny Depp, Neve Campbell is a young endangered Jamie Lee Curtis and of course the new generation brat packers (Christina Ricci, Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Love Hewitt etc) but back to the movie it's quite a simple plot Jackie Chan a cop in Hong Kong runs some dangerous gangstas out of Hong Kong to America. There they kidnap the daughter of the Chinese Diplomat. He sends over his trusted Cop Chan to cover the case and the FBI wanting full control of the case get a local LA cop to "babysit" Chan In comes Tucker and the two themselves after a shaky (but funny) start decide to bust the case themselves with hilarious results. This is a superb film to watch and the fight sequences are amazing as usual when you have Jackie Chan on board. This is a great film to watch if you haven't seen Jackie Chan yet. And for the truly devoted Chan fans there are the usual hysterical out-takes at the end when the credits are rolling. Go and see it now, you won't be disappointed
The Goonies
(1985)
Great adventure film for kids
4 December 1998
This film is great fun to watch. A group of kids nicknamed The Goonies try to save their small town in Astoria from property development hell. They find an old treasure map and go in search for the lost treasure of One-Eyed Willy. What follows is a great load of gags and little adventures. Great to watch with the kids. This bunch of actors were supposed to be the new generation of brat-packers but it never really hit off for them, pity but it's still a great film!
Scream 2
(1997)
An excellent follow up to Scream. A thrilling sequel
3 December 1998
I have never really like sequels (who does) apart from the obvious pointed out in Scream 2 (T2 The Godfather part 2 and my own favourite Return Of The Jedi) but this is truly excellent not as good as Scream but it kept me guessing right up to the end. As Randy said the bodycount is higher, there's more gore, and there are more suspects. All in all this is a cool film, the first few minutes are very thrilling not as good as the first part in Scream Jada Pinkett-Smith and her boyfriend are killed nastily like Drew Barrymore but with Drew Barrymore there was more of a build-up which I enjoyed more, but this doesn't stop Scream 2 being good. Just one thing I can't believe Sidney's delicious boyfriend Derek (Jerry O'Connell) is the fat klutz from Stand By Me!!
Scream
(1996)
A scary modern version of the old school horrors
3 December 1998
I LOVE this movie and could go on about it forever, but don't worry I won't. When this first came out I didn't think it would be all that hot, and also I wasn't a big fan of horror films apart from Halloween but I was eventually persuaded by my friends. And I'm happy they did. I love this film. The plot is quite simple. It starts off with Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore) being horribly killed. We then go to the aftermath. At the school she went to the press are having a field day and Sidney Presscott (Neve Campbell) is having to deal with this and it also being the year long anniversary of her mother's murder. Then the murders start up again, first with the high school headteacher, then Sidney's best friend Tatum (Rose McGowan) At first Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) is suspected but he is then released. It's then a free for all with everyone suspecting everyone else. I won't give away who does it but I must say I was surprised. Neve Campbell is fantastic as tortured Sidney, Skeet Ulich is great as the suspicious boyfriend Billy, Courteney Cox is excellent as the bitchy all for herself journalist Gale Weathers (A refereshing break from Friends.) Jamie Kennedy is cool as the film buff Randy, and David Arquetted is sweet as the quirky, nerdy Deputy Duey. This is a great film but the first 10 minutes where Drew Barrymore is killed is of course the most thrilling and scary. This is a great film. If you haven't seen it yet where have you been the last 2 years? Get your head out of the sand and rent it now!!
The World of Suzie Wong
(1960)
The world of Hong Kong through the eyes of a beautiful prostitute
3 December 1998
I first saw this film when I was 12 years old at my granny's house, just after I got back from living in Hong Kong with my parents for 3 months. This is an enchanting film about the trials and tribulations of a young beautiful Chinese prostitute and how her life changes when she meets an older white American painter. Then what follows is the riveting story as their love blossoms and the things they have to deal with ie: Her being a single young mother and encountering other (white) people's racisim. The scenery is amazing and when the yearly monsoon strikes, disaster comes with it. It is a beautiful love story and fairly original for the time it was made. Watch it, you'll like it as much as I did.
Boogie Nights
(1997)
An up close and personal look at the 70s porn industry
2 December 1998
When I first went to see this film I was quite dubious. I wasn't too happy to be 'paying' to see a movie about the porn industry (not my favourite subject matter) with Mark Walhberg and Burt Reynolds who weren't two of my favourite actors at the time but all that has changed. I was surprised to see it was an excellent film. This isn't solely about the porn industry, this is about the people behind it and their lives and feelings. Mark Wlahberg is superb and Burt Reynolds is at one of his very best, the rest (Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, John C. Reilly and many others) hold their own respectively. The opening scene at a nightclub which is just one long cut makes for excellent veiwing, and one powerfully emotionally raw scene where Dirk (Eddie at the time) gets thrown out of home with only the clothes he's wearing on his back. All in all it's an excellent film and is well worth the watch. If you ask me, this should have swept The Oscars instead of silly, stupid, no-story, Titanic. This film focuses on 'real' people's feelings instead of special effects. But even so you don't need a few gold statues to say whether this is a good film or not, this is excellent with Oscars or without.
Jerry Maguire
(1996)
A top sports agent is sacked and has to face up to the harshness of rejection
2 December 1998
I'm not really too hot about Tom Cruise, but this film changed all my opinions about him. I think this and Rainman are his best works by far. Jerry Maguire (Cruise) is a top sports agent but when he does a memo stating his film should be more human, he gets the sack. He leaves taking the goldfish, his one client left Rod Tidwell (An excellent Cuba Gooding Jr) and one of the accountants Dorothy a single mum (Renee Zellweger). This film is superb and really deals with people's emotions. Tom Cruise is excellent as the confused Jerry Maguire, Cuba Gooding Jr is both funny and sweet as Rod Tidwell and got a well deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscar (Show me the money!) Renee Zelleger is very good as Dorothy who is hopelessly devoted to Jerry. This is a good, fun film to watch and I must admit I had a tear in my eye at the end, and the 2 little boys in it are realy cute
When Harry Met Sally...
(1989)
Can men and women be friends?
2 December 1998
I love this movie, and could go about it forever, but to break it down, this film goes through the years showing us the on-off friendship with Harry and Sally. The script is fantastic with so many quotes I can't start to begin. One that always springs to mind 'There's a man staring at you in personal growth' This film had me riveted from beginning to end. Everything from the cast (Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan cast perfectly as Harry and Sally) to the script to the foot-tapping soundtrack. This is a perfect film, a classic, watch it. What more can I say?
Willow
(1988)
A suberb fantasy adventure
2 December 1998
This film did bomb at the box office. But I myself think the film is great. Val Kilmer in one of his very early roles and at his most delicious!! This film was thought up by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard and should have gone down a storm with the public, but it didn't, but I still like it. It breaks down that there is an evil queen (Bavmorda) who has been told that in the prophecy there is a baby so powerful that it will kill her. She must kill it so she grabs all pregnant women and waits for the baby's birth. She will know it's the right baby by a mark on its arm. The baby is born but a midwife saves it and like Moses places it on rushes and floats it downstream to a dwarf village where she is discovered by Willow who then sets out to return her to the Dyganys (the big people) and on his way comes across Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) and Bavmorda's daughter Sorcha (Joanne Whalley) who then turns against Bavmorda and gets together with Madmartigan (Trivia: Joanne Whalley was later Val Kilmer's wife, they are now split up) and 2 hysterical brownies who kept me in stitches throughout. They experience some pretty funky adventures with some good special effects for the time it was made. All in all this is a cool film so give it a try.
Pretty in Pink
(1986)
A girl from the wrong side of the tracks and her complicated life
2 December 1998
This movie set in the mid 80s era of brat-pack movies is a unique shining star. Molly Ringwald is Andie a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who has romantic interests from both sides of the spectrum; Duckie (Jon Cryer) who's puppy dog love for her is both sweet and endearing to watch, and Blane (Andrew McCarthy) the rich guy who has everything going for him. What follows is Andie having to deal with this, the bitchy cheerleader type girls at school, her loving but dishonest father (An excellent Harry Dean Stanton) and through all this will she get an invitation to the prom? This is a great film with both Blane and Andie having to deal with their friends disagreeing with their relationship. Steff (James Spader at one of his very best) Blane's best friend, who tries to make Blane decide between Andie and himself when really he just wants a finger in the pie. Annie Potts as Iona, Andie's quirky older best friend is excellent and her weird and orginal costume changes throughout the movie are a high-point. This is an emotionally raw film a rarity at the time it was made. If you ask me this should have swept the Oscar nominations with Molly Ringwald getting Best Actress, but hey regardless of the miss of Oscars, watch this, it is a powerful film and a great piece of film making
Grease 2
(1982)
We're going back to Rydell....Again?
2 December 1998
Ok, kill me now.... I LOVE Grease 2 Not as much as the orginal mind you, but hey this nearly could have been as good. Here we have Michelle Pfeiffer in one of her very early roles, but still quite good. We are once again back at Rydell with a new ensemble of T-Birds and Pink Ladies. Miss McKee, Frenchie, Blanche, and Coach Calhoun are still regular fixtures but everything else is new. Like Grease we have an outsider, sadly for us Brits a very stereotypical English guy who is surprise surprise Sandy's cousin. What follows is him trying to get one of the untouchable 'Unless you are a T-Bird' Pink Lady. What follows is a whiole group of songs just as good as the first bunch, namely 'Reproduction' and 'Let's Do It For Our Country' and the guy trying to get the girl. Does he succeed? You'll have to find out. Don't be put off that its a sequel. Give it a try you might just like it
Jaws
(1975)
A chilling account of what happens when a shark strikes
2 December 1998
I saw this movie on telly when I was quite young, and from then on it gave me an obsession with Steven Spielberg and sharks. Since then my obsessive nature with anything to do with sharks has died down, but I still love Spielberg and his work. This film started the whole summer blockbuster and along with it started the whole hook thing where the first few minutes of a film leave you hooked and wanting to see more. Those first few minutes had me on the edge of my seat with my heart pounding. I later found out it was so convincing, because Susan Backlinie who played the helpless victim Chrissie was being yanked too hard on her feet by the divers underneath and those were real grimaces of pain. Roy Schneider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw make a perfect trio and the film really starts to focus on these 3 characters and really starts to get thrilling as they leave land to kill the dreaded 25-footer. What follows is a fascinating portrayal of the 3 different ways these men handle what is before them. Roy Schneider's classic line 'You're gonna need a bigger boat' has been ripped off time and time again most recently with Godzilla 'We're gonna neeed bigger guns' A classic chilling film masterpiece from beginning to end. This does for water, namely oceans but large swimming pools can have the same effect what Psycho did for motels and showers. If you haven't seen it yet, what are you doing get off your butt and rent it now!!
The Glass Slipper
(1955)
An orginal take of the classic fairy tale Cinderella
2 December 1998
I saw this movie first when I was very young. I was fascinated by Lelie Caron after seeing GiGi and my Granny had this in her vast video collection. It is a great film taking a new twist on the Cinderella story incorporating ballet in it, which is great to watch. Though Michael Wilding is quite a disappointment as Cinderella's prince, but can be overlooked. The fairy godmother is funny and good fun to watch. With her list of favourite words 'Apple Dumpling' 'Windowsill' 'elbow' and of course Cinderella. Leslie Caron is cast well and plays the tortured Cinderella well. The sets and costumes are magnificent. All in all a very pleasant film to watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon
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