mdlee Reviews

So You Think You Can Dance (2005– )

America's "Favorite?" Dancer

[8/10 · 11 August 2008]

This season, I am more disappointed than in previous years. With the choreographers out doing themselves as if they were in a secret competition of their own, and the dancers having more ability than ever before, I feel that Katee should have won. On the finale, did she not have more callbacks than the other three? Was not her work more consistent than the other three? As a former competitive ballroom dancer for almost 14 years, and having adjudicated hundreds of ballroom competitions, may I say that it is the job of the man to present his lady and basically show her off.

Except for lifts, the girl always does more work than the man. Joshua was excellent this season and if Katee could not win, then I am satisfied with Joshua as the favorite.

But....no one will ever convince me that she wasn't the best dancer in the final four. And, her humility and lack of "mugging" for the cameras during the phone numbers was refreshing to see.

Lastly, Katee paid for her training with money and the sweat of her body with practice after practice, Joshua and Twitch are virtually untrained. I think that Katee's desire to be a dancer, her commitment and dedication to this point in time, and the fact that she delivered a superior product EVERY time out the entire season....well...this time I think America got it wrong.

I hope that if there are any friends of Katee reading this forum, please let her know there is one viewer who voted for her (lots and lots) and will be looking forward to seeing her future successes in dance.

Sincerely, Morgan Lee

Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue (1991)

Unfair Rating

[7/10 · 12 January 2007]

I noticed that the overall IMDb rating for this film was a lowly 3.2. This seems a bit unfair. The story is good, not great, and may at times be bit predictable. But the acting is quite good with a very sympathetic performance by Tom Skerritt. Robert Davi shows a warm side in much contrast to the "heavy" he played in a James Bond Film. Wendy Hughes couldn't have been more cold and calculating in much contrast to the warm and loving character she played opposite Peter Falk in "Happy New Year" or the playful character she played opposite Pierce Brosnan in "The Heist." Lastly, Zalman King as a filmmaker has tried to elevate the adult genre to an art form. If not familiar, try to see his most successful series: "Red Shoes Diaries." Sometimes you can catch an episode on late night Showtime.

It might be said that not every film is meant to be "Gone With the Wind" or "Citizen Kane." There's nothing wrong about a shoot-em-up western where the gunfighters never seem to run out of bullets. And although "The Fast and the Furious" may never make IMDb's top 250 list, it was a good enough film for the producers to make two sequels.

It's all about entertainment and since the world's population is so diverse, we all like different types of movies. One could guess that some viewers who are offended by nudity may have been "turned off" by this film, which also may account for the low 3.2 rating. But the film is worth a watch.

Finally, Nina Siemaszko is excellent in this film. She brings across her vulnerability, frustration, disappointment, etc. Her performance must have been good, because other producers noticed and she had a nice supporting role in "The American President" and a recurring role for 3 or 4 years on "The West Wing." On a personal note, I would urge all of us to respect the IMDb and the lengths they go to provide this forum. Let's give fair comments to all films we view. We may actually affect the careers of some of the industry people.

The Black Windmill (1974)

One of Caine's best thrillers

[8/10 · 6 July 2006]

In 1965, Caine created the role of Harry Palmer in the Ipcress File. It was good enough to spawn two follow-ups: Funeral in Berlin and the Billion Dollar Brain. By 1974, the movie-going public was used to seeing him in the role of a secret agent. Here he gets in trouble, and although you know that by the end of the film he will emerge victorious, or will he? I'm not telling. But the excruciating fun is in trying to figure our what will happen next. Filmed in Europe, Black Windmill" is directed by Don Siegel. Clint Eastwood credits Don for his success as a director, and, of course, Siegel also directed some of Clint's best movies. The pacing is even throughout and builds to a suspenseful climax. Let it not be overlooked that Donald Pleasence in a supporting role is at his usual best. The human chameleon that adapts beautifully to whatever role is given him. John Vernon is especially menacing. To me, seeing old movies a second or third time is like visiting with old friends. Everybody has their own "Casablanca" and "Shawshank Redemption." If you haven't seen this one yet, please do. It will become one of your "old friends" which I'm sure you will visit again and again.

Rawhide (1951)

A taut, suspenseful western thriller

[8/10 · 28 October 2004]

I was a teenager when I first saw this movie at the Carmel Theater in Hollywood. Tyrone Power was a WW II hero, and was a personal favorite from the 1940 western "The Mark of Zorro."

Hugh Marlowe had a nice, sympathetic role the year before in "All About Eve." So consider this teenager's surprise when he learns that Hugh is the bad guy.

Tyrone and Susan Hayward have appeared in several film together and here make a very good team once again. The rousing opening music theme was used before in the film "Brigham Young." Both films were directed by Henry Hathaway who might have said, "Let's use that music from Brigham Young." The strange thing is that there are different music credits for each film, so someone is not getting his just rewards and someone is getting credit undeservedly.

A previous review of this movie stated that this film was so predictable. Well, in the 50's all the heroes survived in motion pictures. The fun is here you don't know how the hero will survive (without a gun) and how he will save the others.

There is real suspense here and fear for the safety of the baby. This film is an excellent effort by both cast and crew and truly deserves a viewing.

Ash Wednesday (2002)

a good, tight, suspenseful drama.

[14 October 2004]

October 14, 2004. I viewed this film last night and I must say that I was in suspense the entire film. I truly believed that the younger brother was in imminent danger. The older brother (Ed Burns) was in danger as well. Trying to convince his brother of his stupidity was done not with yelling or shouting, but understated by a character who by his admissions had lived two lifetimes by the age of thirty.

I am a movie fan who does not expect "Gone With The Wind" or "To Kill a Mockingbird" with every film I watch. This film had an excellent cast who performed beautifully. The director kept an even pace throughout because of the impending double-twist surprise ending.

One gifted actor, who never gets enough credit from the public, only his peers and producers and directors is James Handy (Father Mahoney). I see him constantly appearing in one movie after another as well as numerous guest-starring appearances on TV. He was especially "despicable and conniving" on N.Y.P.D.Blue. Usually plays unsympathetic characters. He, like the rest of the cast were truly believable.

I don't know whether or not you'll be talking about this film for years and years. But I do know that most of you will enjoy this approximately 90 minutes of suspenseful entertainment, will recommend viewing to your friends and may watch this film a second and third time. I know I will!!

Three for One (1990)

A clever idea, a nicely told story of romance and revenge

[5/10 · 1 January 2004]

Boys will be boys and sometimes men will be boys. This is the story of three men who were forced to take their first honest look at themselves and realize only too well that all of us are responsible for our actions. Martina Castel carries the lead extremely well and is certainly an eyeful to look at. Kudos to the makeup artist. If I say much more, I'll spoil it for those who watch.

I love films much too much to spoil a good story for anyone else. I might say that not all films are meant to be "Gone With The Wind." This is not an epic, rather a pleasant diversion, nicely directed by Bruno Mattei (credited as David Graham) in a neat 80 minutes.

Nick of Time (1995)

How are we gonna' get out of this fix?

[8/10 · 5 September 2003]

When you see the name Wes Craven, John Carpenter or Brian de Palma, we know that we can trust that we're in for a couple of hours of fine entertainment.

Although not as much a household name as the directors above, John Badham knows how to tell a suspenseful story as well as any of the other "kids on the block." Please look up his filmography and see all the countless house of excellent entertainment he has brought us; not only on the big screen but on television as well.

In "Nick of Time" John carefully guides us through one disaster after another. Johnny Depp conveys his frustration and fear that he might not be able to prevent any of the bad things that will happen.

Christopher Walken again proves that he is as comfortable being the "heavy" as he has been the "hero."

At a time when sometimes the good guys don't always win and the bad guys sometimes "get away with it," this is one cinematic thriller that should keep you on the edge of your seat the whole 90 minutes.

The Bourne Identity (2002)

Two hours of excitement without stopping to take a breath.

[8/10 · 21 June 2003]

Far superior to the 1988 TV mini-series, this current offering improved on the original quite successfully. I personally wish the story would have continued for at least another half-hour if not a full hour more. Matt Damon is much more believable than Richard Chamberlain; and Franka Potente completely outshines Jaclyn Smith.

Because of how spy dramas, suspense thrillers have evolved over the past several years, nowadays you're never quite sure whether or not our hero will survive. This allows for a heightened sense of suspense.

Doug Liman directed a great thriller which I will watch again and again, and I thank him for the lovely tour of Paris....the cinemaphotography was superb.

One minor disappointment was that there was not enough of Clive Owen who is a truly great actor and deserves more screen time.

Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)

Faithful to Arthur Conan Doyle Guidelines

[8/10 · 23 July 2002]

An excellent mystery, written as if by Conan Doyle himself. Directed by a true master: Barry Levinson, who doesn't get enough credit for his excellent work. Can anyone pretend they've never seen a Sherlock Holmes film? If this was the first, wouldn't you be intrigued to watch further Sherlock Holmes mysteries? The story is extremely well constructed. It maintains a high level of suspenseful urgency throughout, thanks to Levinson. For a fictional character that has endured a century or so, it never contradicts any of Doyle's writings.