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Reviews
Ghost World (2001)
A good film that could have been great
First off- I'd like to say that I enjoyed this film- the acting was good, and the plot original, however I left the cinema feeling deeply disastisfied. This film lacked one thing- an ending! It felt like the writers had reached the end of their timelimit, and decided 'lets put a "The End" sign up now.'
The film raised many interesting questions about issues such as isolation, lonliness, relationships and growing up but it provided very few answers. Instead the director (who was also the co-writer) chickened out and took the easy mystical approach by providing a mythical ending to a film whose strength was the realism of its characters.
Since I'm moaning about the writer/director I should note there are a few sloppy loose ends and the general good look of the film is spoiled by a few poor cuts.
The film does however demonstrate that Thora Birch has a great future ahead of her, remind us that Steve Buscemi reminds us again that he is a great actor, and Scarlett Johansson needs a better agent as her character disappears halfway through the film.
Overall a good film which with a little more thought, and a lot more writing at the end could have been great.
Cruel Intentions 2 (2000)
Warning: Possibly the worst film I've ever seen
Be warned! This is possibly the worst film I've ever seen. If you enjoyed the good acting and witty plot of the original - don't watch this film. The young cast deliver tolerable performances but die on screen under a hail of friendly fire from their own side. In particular the blame must attach to the script writers who do not have a single original idea and appear not to have understood the fact that even apparently nasty characters have emotions (the portrayal of which made the first film so good).
Instead the writers seem to have gone in for a combination of sub-Dawsons creek teenage angst and dialogue intercut every 15 minutes or so with crude sexual scenes which must have been cut from such 70s British 'classics' as the amorous milkman. At every point the writers seem to have opted for the lowest common denominator wether it is the twice repeated gratuitous scenes of lesbianism to the stereotypical English Butler, Psychotic German chef, Asian maid etc. The producers must share some of the blame for the obvious budget limitations, and the director appears to have been incorrectly billed- surely only Pinocchio could produce such wooden direction!
Altogether 1/10 and no stars to the BBFC who gave this a 15 rating in the UK!
The Hole (2001)
A chilling film, with a plot line which keeps you guessing
An tense and atmospheric film following four teenagers from an English fee-paying school who plan to spend a weekend partying in an abandoned bomb shelter but end up locked in for 10 days with food and drink running short.
The film is held together by Thora Birch who has a very challenging role as Liz, the films central character. The rest of the largely unknown cast provide excellent support.
What brings this film above the run of the mill teen thriller is the intelligence of the writing which places this film nearer "Se7en" or "Fight Club" than "Scream" or "I Know What You Did Last Summer".
A must see for anyone who likes a film whose scares come from something deeper than loud bangs and psychos in masks, and whose characters have more depth than your average high school cheer-leader.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
One of the all time great feel good-movies
This film was never going to win the Oscar for best original screenplay, some of the direction is corny in the extreme, and the acting is satisfactory.
Despite these defects this has got to be one of the greatest feel good movies of all time. The plot while undemanding is cheerful and optimistic and the combination of music and dance thoroughly uplifting.
This is also one of the few films which you can watch over and over again and get the same level of enjoyment (a fact which I think both its admirers and critics would agree on!) And its continuing television popularity is testimony to this.
Sonatine (1984)
This film will last in your memory
This beautifully made film is poignant, and will live on in your memory long after you have seen it.
I saw it on television ten years ago, and I still remember it and wanted to vote for it when I actually got round to recording my opinion on IMDB.
The plot follows to girls from Quebec and reflects the 'pass on by' attitude to those in need of the 1980s, and I am sorry to say also of today. Well worth a watch.