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The Women (I) (2008)
1/10
Diane English should be thrown of the Business!
1 March 2009
What an absolute horror! Diane English got it all wrong. On the DVD she claims that "The Women" is all about the women. Wrong. The original film is about gossip. She takes a very timeless story and butchers it in her updates and gives it a happy ending. Seriously?!? I thought everything to do with the Norma Shearer character was obnoxious in the original, but Meg Ryan (or what used to be her face) was dreadful.

Can I also put a big SHAME ON YOU out to the hair stylist, costuming, and makeup people for this film? Annette Benning is a stunning woman, the face of Paramount, yet they managed to make her look like a dowdy old hag. They made Jada Pinkett Smith unrecognizable and Debra Messing look like a troll. And, Bette Midler.. What did she have to do with anything? Her character was completely wasted and pointless. The script was mindless and everything out of these women's mouths was tired and unfunny. How many times did I have to announce, watching this DVD, "Oh that was supposed to be another funny joke". The jokes are right out of the 1980's, cliché, and so recycled that they make used unmatched, thread worn socks from the Salvation Army desirable for purchase. Diane English's women are sad people - they're all really cardboard, materialistic, shallow, and fake.

Horrible, horrible, horrible train wreck. Needless to say, I hated this movie and everybody in it. What a waste of time, my intelligence, my money, and the cast.

To Mick Jagger I can only say this - stick to films like ENIGMA from now on. Never attach yourself to this kind of garbage again! See the original and get that the story is about different women, all with their own insanity (including the co-dependent Mary), whom are not to be admired. Their gossip leads to nothing but trouble and it never ends.

Oh, and while you're at it see the 1990's film GOSSIP because even that was pretty good and way better than this junk!
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The Holiday (2006)
10/10
It's about Love, Actually
4 December 2006
Although this is indeed a chick flick, I hope men will enjoy the show. Unlike all other Nancy Myers films, this one is actually entertaining and sweet. I loved it, the audience had a great time, and there was applause at the end credits. It will be one of my favorite Christmas movies.

Favorite scenes: Hannukah party and Eli Wallach's performance throughout the entire film. The Santa Ana winds was also a nice touch, it makes me miss Christmases in San Diego (just for a moment).

It's odd, but the love stories are not what make this film so good to me. It was the friendship between Kate Winslet and Eli Wallach's characters. They brought each other back to life. I especially love how he told her not to be the supporting actress in life, but to be the starring role.

There's a romantic love of Old Hollywood in the movie that was magical in a way. It was nice to hear what Eli's character had to say about his past and to hear him and Iris discuss great women in film (Stanwyck and more).

Another good touch, which is seldom done in contemporary romantic comedies, is closure between Kate's character and the character Rufus Sewell plays in the film. There's no loud fight or over-the-top Bridget Jones action, it was a bittersweet moment, but filled with emotion and thought.

Jude Law played his part very well, as did Jack Black. Cameron Diaz was cute, but nothing spectacular there. Finally, the cameo from Dustin Hoffman was a hit with the audience.

This is one movie that I plan to see again in the theaters this Holiday season.
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Close My Eyes (1991)
9/10
Spellbinding
17 April 2005
The film is really haunting and keeps you spellbound. While the film appears to portray sex scenes for nudity's sake, that's not really what is going on.

Okay, okay, this is no Pulitzer Prize winner and Alan Rickman, Clive Owen, and Saskia Reeves can act better than they do in this movie. Butt, I think they each brought so much into the picture that other, less talented, actors would have failed to make this film work as well as it did.

The dynamic between Natalie, her brother Richard, and her husband Sinclair is very strange. If you let yourself go and immerse yourself into the story, then you can enjoy it.

The story is about very taboo subject matter, at the time when AIDS/HIV finally came into the public consciousness. But, I do think the screenplay by Stephen Poliakoff is very well written and the film strongly succeeds because he also directed it.

I can compare the story to that of Jane Campion's "The Piano". It is risqué, bizarre, and seemingly shallow. It is also thoroughly compelling. The characters are otherworldly and mysterious, yet very commonplace. You can almost identify with them and by the end of the movie you will find yourself wanting to know more. It is as if you have been looking into a snow globe at a fantasy world come to life, just on the other side of the looking glass. Everything is madness for this trio....

"Close My Eyes" is a journey into the "What if ? ". The most difficult question is, "Why ? ". Only Natalie and Richard can answer that question, or can they? If you are a fan of Clive Owen, Alan Rickman, and/or Saskia Reeves, check it out.
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Dave's World (1993–1997)
9/10
Great show
18 February 2005
Okay, so this is not The Dick Van Dyke Show, but it is a decent sitcom. And that's what I loved most, this was a real sitcom. No drama or social commentary in any of the Dave's World episodes. They were just funny and stupid. This is far overdue for DVD.... As for the Dave Barry comparison. Dave's an excellent writer, I have all of his books. But, that doesn't mean his story on film would be very entertaining. Harry Anderson and Patrick Warburton gave standout performances - enough so that I remember them in roles other than Night Court and Seinfeld, respectively. Harry captured Dave probably better than anyone else could. I was very disappointed when this was canceled.
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10/10
Meow, drool, pant
7 April 2003
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS.

Richard M. Tyson and Sherilyn Fenn are super hot together. Great movie, much better than the Zalman King's first hit movie, "9 1/2 Weeks". The whole scenario of rich Southern belle meets muscle bound trucker is campy, but steamy. Look for great cameos by Herve Villachez and Christy McNichol. This is model actress, Milla Jovovich's first film. Features the terrifying Louise Fletcher and the Christmas song guy, Burl Ives, both as the baddies. **** You can see Richard M. Tyson's genitals!! In a DVD/blu-ray player, even on the Full Screen (P&S) side there is nothing to be seen at the 89 minute mark. However, on a computer Richard Tyson's bone is definitely there. Not much later in that same seen, the actual meeting at "Two Moon Junction", when he's stroking himself (just before the church scene), you can see it there, too. Anyway, this film is One of my favorites! It is just so super sexy and cute.
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Jude (1996)
4/10
Love and Life are Tragic
24 March 2003
Life and love can be tragic and beautiful. The ways of society and the heart are not simple and can be quiet opposed.

Jude is a masterpiece as a novel and film. Yes, it is quiet the most painful story, but all lives worth living have pain and heartbreak, love and laughter. This is no sugar-coated romance, but a dark, dirty, tragedy. What affects me so is the timelessness of this story. Michael Winterbottom truly made a wonderful film - he did not write the story folks.

Christopher Eccleston is a master actor, he brings such a full-blown sense of the man "Jude". He really knew this character strongly and I feel that he has a level of intelligence and feeling that is rarely used in modern male actors.

Kate Winslet is a stunning actress. Hard to believe that she carried the level of passion and maturity in "Jude" as Sue Bridehead at the ripe age of 20. She is truly one-of-a-kind and deserves all accolades placed upon her shoulders.

I had no problem with the love scenes and nudity in this movie - although that could be because Chris Eccleston is so incredibly attractive. Isn't love-making crucial and appropriate for two people in love? I don't understand how some people commented poorly on that. It seems quite acceptable for me.

Don't look for mushy weepy romance in Jude. You will find power, grief, passion, love, and bravery. Jude and Sue possess more bravery than most people living today, the tragedy is that they risked everything for their love - which destroyed them and the lives of their children.

Masterpiece film making and acting. Bravo!
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Shallow Grave (1994)
10/10
Whoa!
26 November 2002
Very gruesome and violent, but boy is it effective! Eccleston is amazing. His transition (as David) is so graceful that you never know what he'll do next. None of the acting is over the top. Great film, I love it!
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7/10
This is Diaz and Eccleston's movie
25 November 2002
Take away all parts of the movie that were "present" day and stick to the flashbacks. Then you would have had a great story. Faith and Wolf's story and their relationship was the best part. Diaz and Eccleston were wonderful. Brewster was ponderous to sit through. Surprised to see Blythe Danner as mom. She was great. Also look for Patrick Bergen as the father, always like him (Sleeping with the Enemy). This is a very hippy, save the world, kind of film. Don't care for it much, but I recommend seeing it for Diaz's performance alone. She has excellent range and it should be used more. Eccleston is, as always, compelling. He's wonderful!
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Office Space (1999)
10/10
Fans of Spike and Mike take note!
25 November 2002
Best office movie ever!! Take 9 to 5 and put computer programmers in the role, add a dash of corporate hell, and the 1990's and you get Office Space. Nothing bad at all to say about it. This is San Diego, California at its worst. Mike Judge knew what he was writing about! A must see!
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eXistenZ (1999)
4/10
ho hum
25 November 2002
I much preferred Virtuosity to Existenz. Plot is okay, but the cameos made the movie. Look for Willem Dafoe, Christopher Eccleston (Shallow Grave, Jude, Elizabeth), and Ian Holm (Cornelius in The Fifth Element). Worth looking into, but some parts are very graphic and slow. The box refers to it being much like the Matrix. Since I didn't like that, it's no surprise that I wasn't really blown away with Existenz.
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Swept Away (2002)
4/10
Not so bad
28 October 2002
Hey, I thought the movie was well made. The storyline is just bad, in my opinion. Madonna was good. I thought that Jean Tripplehorn stole the movie though, she was hilarious! I don't know if I'd see it again, based solely on the story, it's a depressing ending.
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10/10
Superior Filmaking
28 October 2002
Every element of this movie is top of the line.

From acting, cinematography, music, to script.

One of my most favorite movies of all-time - and I'm not that crazy about Jane Austen either!

Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman Shine. Hugh Grant is splendid. I absolutely adore this movie!

The Special Edition DVD is great because it provides Emma Thompson's Golden Globe speech. It's very funny, check it out.
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Night Court (1984–1992)
10/10
Season One DVD Review
28 October 2002
The first season is still my least favorite. But I've just watched every episode on the DVD set and can at least appreciate it now.

Seems like they tried to have an ongoing gag where the the court reporter part (?) - Mac's job - would constantly change. There was no explanation why these people just disappeared. Possibly it was setup that way because in real night courts, the court report would change nightly.

We get Mel Torme jokes from the start. That's fun.

These episodes are well written. There is a delicate balance between drama and comedy - neither overwhelms the other. But, casting was just not a perfect fit during this season.

The only real extras are an interview with Rheinhold Weege and his commentary on the pilot. It's not a lot of information. For die hard fans, though, it's a treat to see what Dan Fielding's namesake looks like.

It's still a great set. The 1st season runs much better on DVD than in reruns on t.v. Future sets can only get much better.
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Gothic (1986)
4/10
Unforgettable
24 June 2002
I saw this movie once a long time ago and, although it completely horrified me, I was mesmerized. It was so memorable.

Recently I watched it again, and it still remains dark, macabre, terrifying, and utterly bizarre. But, regardless of all that, I like it! It's truly a roller coaster ride, but you'll never forget it. Some people may find it sick and twisted, maybe a little long, but I loved it. The actors were amazing. That's all I can say.

Also, Thomas Dolby's music really makes an impact.
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